Coming out of unconsciousness, Merlin was greeted by pain that spread across his entire torso. The slashes from the claws that had torn into him now throbbed with each breath he took. The initial pain from the injury was nothing compared to what he felt now as adrenaline had been pumping furiously through his veins and, in effect, masked the true extent of his injuries.

Perhaps that was why he had passed out while being moved to the infirmary. Vaguely, he recalled Catherine's voice continuously getting louder as she cried for him to stay awake. Her words had been drown out by a ringing noise that overwhelmed his hearing. Catherine's lips moved, but Merlin had heard her voice as though he were underwater. He had known by the look of panic in her eyes that she was concerned for him, but he had nothing left in him to care. Using his magic to that extent had ravaged him of what little strength he had at the time.

Merlin didn't need to look around the room to know he was tucked into a bed in a section of the infirmary. This room was slightly different from what he had woken up in the previous day. It was about half the size of the infirmary. A few candles cast a gentle glow across the room. Of course he would have to see all the infirmaries this complex held before even finishing a proper tour. A small chuckle formed on his lips. He must have been given something for the pain if he had found that humorous. Judging from how terrible he felt at the moment he seemed to be on the tale end of the dose.

Merlin reached toward the edge of the blanket and weakly tossed it towards his feet. With his entire torso revealed, Merlin was able to see white wrappings snake around him. Well, they weren't entirely white. Several red stains ran parallel to the injuries hidden beneath the wrappings. There was a light smell of a basic salve for dressing wounds that Merlin found familiar as Gaius used it quite often in Camelot.

His chest ached. He wished Gaius was here. In some ways, Merlin missed the worrying and oftentimes scolding remarks Gaius shot at him from time to time. If he had been here the aged physician would have berated Merlin for being so careless. Merlin smiled as he imagined what strong words Gaius would have to say. Even so, Merlin would have given anything at the time to consult with Gaius on what he ought to do with Arthur. Gaius was always one to know how to handle Arthur. The physician had been a father to both of them in some ways. Merlin had barely known Balinor before he died and there had been no one in Ealdor who would take a bastard under their wing. When Arthur needed the love Uther refused to show his son out of fear of being seen as weak, Gaius had been there for him.

Merlin glanced wearily around the room. He knew the healers would not leave him alone for too long and that sooner or later they would be buzzing about the room fussing over his injuries. He had just begun to try and clear his head of his depressing thoughts when a gruff and distinctly recognizable voice echoed across the room.

"You look terrible." Gwaine stated from a doorway across the room. Merlin started and a hiss escaped his lips from the pain of the sudden movement. His friend muttered a quick apology as he began to slowly walk closer to Merlin's bed. Merlin's gaze caught on the crutch resting beneath Gwaine's armpit and then upward where it rested upon Gwaine's heavily bruised face. His injuries did not stop a wide smile from filling Gwaine's tired features.

Merlin smirked at the comment and cheekily smirked.

"I'm sure I still look loads better than you."

Gwaine only grinned at that.

"The healers are stretched pretty thin at the moment. There were several with more extensive injuries than what it seemed. So that's why I'm stuck with this limp and you're not entirely healed. I would have thought that with all your influence among these people that they would have fixed you right up immediately."

Merlin scoffed. "I don't deserve treatment over one who needs it more."

Gwaine shrugged his shoulders. "I'm just saying. Now you'll be able to go about showing off your battle scars. They easily put anything I have to shame. Every woman will swoon over your heroic actions."

Merlin frowned. The scars would be quite impressive, but the memories accompanying those scars would not be pleasant to look back upon.

"I am surprised that you weren't worse off." Gwaine began again as though sensing his uneasiness. "Destroying the tunnel and all couldn't have been an easy task, especially when you were more hurt than I was."

Merlin didn't answer. He was ashamed of his lack of control with his power. First he had been unable to control the wyverns (a mystery that he would have to debate with Kilgarrah at a later point) and then he hadn't been strong enough to remain conscious to ensure everyone's safety. He had put too much trust in his own magic.

"It's a curious situation." Gwaine continued despite Merlin's seeming lack of interest in pursuing the conversation.

Merlin tilted his head in a confused manner. "How so?"

"You were unconscious, hell, I thought you were dead. When I saw the boulders falling, I thought I was a dead man too, but you still managed to keep me alive."

Merlin looked away from Gwaine. He finally found his voice and answered. "It would have been my fault if you had died. I shouldn't have been so reckless with my magic. There must have been some other way to-"

"Stop it, Merlin." Gwaine interrupted. "You weren't reckless at all. You kept everyone in that tunnel safe and you even killed the beasts. The tunnel can be repaired. I believe you did what was best in that situation, mate."

Merlin gave a small smile and rubbed his aching head. "How long have I been out?"

"About a week."

"What!" He began to sit up despite his injuries, but was stopped by Gwaine's gentle but firm hands.

"I'm only joking." Gwaine laughed replacing the blankets that Merlin had dislodged. "It's been a few hours."

Merlin winced as he felt the results the movement had on his injuries. He swallowed hard, waiting for the pain to pass. He didn't know what would have happened to Arthur and the Knights if he had been asleep that long.

"Actually," Percival's deep voice cut into the room. His large form came out of the shadows. "You look like you need about a week of sleep."

Leon and Elyan followed suit and also came into view. Even in his injured state, Gwaine went on the defensive. He pulled himself up to his full height and glared at the knights.

"I hate to agree with Gwaine on anything, but he is right. You do look terrible." Leon stepped farther into the room. Gwaine limped forward and stood face to face with him. Even with an impaired limb, Gwaine was a formidable adversary and not one to cross if you knew what was best for your own safety.

"Get out." The tone in Gwaine's voice didn't leave room for any debating.

"Why don't you take a seat Gwaine. Your leg is still mending." Leon reached for his arm to guide him to the chair, but he wrenched himself out of his grip.

"I don't give a damn about my leg. I'll only say it one more time. Get out."

"It's alright, Gwaine." Merlin assured while looking amongst the group, worry was present on his face like bright paint on a canvas. "Where's Arthur?"

"He is safe. Do not be concerned." Elyan said. "We are all safe. Because of you."

"But-"

"Merlin," Leon halted Merlin's counter before he could even formulate it. "We know that you mean no harm to Camelot or any of us. We knew it all along we were just-"

"Idiots," Gwaine supplied.

"We were simply shocked." Percival finished while Leon shot Gwaine a glare. "Magic has been seen as serious crime for so long that we were blinded by that reason alone. We never even gave you a chance to prove the stereotype wrong."

"I'm talking on behalf of all of us when I say that we owe you an apology. You have saved us all more times than we know and above all you have kept our king safe. We judged you wrongly and only by the fact that you have magic instead of by your actions. For that we are all truly sorry." Leon said bowing his head in respect. The others followed suit.

Merlin stared at the Knights in shock. He was incredibly surprised and at a loss for words. He looked to Gwaine who's entire demeanor had change when he heard the Knights say what he had known all along. A smile now pulled the former knight's lips into a smile.

"I lied to you all." Merlin's voice cracked slightly. "I don't deserve this."

"No, Merlin." Elyan said placing a hand on his shoulder. "We don't deserve everything that you have done for us."

Merlin smiled at each of the knights. He had been wishing for this to happen for years. For his friends to know about his magic and for him to be accepted. After his magic was revealed he feared that this was beyond reach, but as he looked at each of the Knights, he knew that they truly meant everything they had just spoken. It was a surreal experience. His smile was quickly broken when he thought of Arthur.

Gwaine seemed to notice his change and gestured to the knights in the room. "If this lot can come around then I'm sure Arthur will as well."

Merlin only nodded. Arthur was the only reason he had been given his magic, yet he hated him for it. Not that Arthur's hate was entirely unjustified. He had only ever been hurt by those with magic. Now it turned out that Merlin too joined that growing list of people.

Merlin was ripped from his depressing thoughts when he heard Elyan say, "The healers informed us that your injuries will take some time to fully heal."

Merlin gave a nod in acknowledgement. He hated not being practiced in healing spells. If he had been proficient at them he wouldn't still be sitting there doing nothing. He could be helping those who needed medical attention.

He really ought to practice once this was all over.

"They also said that your bandages needed to be changed as soon as you woke up." Merlin's gaze switched to Percival who was eyeing the discolored wrappings tightly bound around Merlin's torso.

"I'll do it." A voice said from the doorway before anyone could say any more.

As Arthur stepped forward into sight he noticed each of the knights held a slightly guilty look upon their faces. Arthur's gazed switched immediately to Merlin who's body stiffened under the King's stare. Gwaine glared at Arthur and limped closer to Merlin. His calloused hand protectively found its way onto Merlin's bare shoulder.

Arthur had been standing outside the farthest entrance to the room. He had been entirely unable to take the few extra steps he needed to enter. As he had been waiting several healers worked on Merlin. One of them muttered what Arthur could only think to be spells before the others began smearing a paste on the lacerations and bandaging his chest. It hadn't been more than ten minutes before they had left the room in a hurry to help the next patient. Arthur pushed himself against the wall as they rushed passed without batting an eye at Arthur. Their eyes were heavy and they each seemed more worn down than Arthur had ever seen a physician look, which was saying something when Gaius so often set his own needs aside for his patients.

Even when the room had finally emptied of everyone but Merlin, Arthur still couldn't move. He had stood frozen in his spot with his own remorseful thoughts to keep him company. He had heard Gwaine enter the room at some point. His wooden crutch rapped upon the stone floor with every other step he took. Gwaine stood by the side of Merlin's bed watching the young man's shallow breathing. Then, as if to prove it to himself, Gwaine laid a hand upon Merlin's chest above where his heart beat sluggishly in his sleep. Bowing his head, Gwaine took a shaky breath to calm what Arthur understood as his mounting nerves.

Arthur's heart had sunk in realization. Merlin was the only person Gwaine had now. Of all the tales Gwaine regaled during their hunting trips or tavern visits he never once mentioned his family, but who would when they are directly around you. It was why Gwaine had become so irate after Merlin had shielded Arthur with his own body from the wyvern. Gwaine's friendship with Merlin, himself, and the other knights extended to a familial bond. In all of Arthur's rage after learning of Merlin's magic, he had forced Gwaine to choose sides.

Arthur pulled his head up to feign confidence as he looked among the conflicted faces before him.

"Alone if you don't mind."

Gwaine tightened his grip on Merlin's shoulder and started to say something, but Leon cut him off and began leading him from the room. Gwaine initially resisted but conceded when Merlin directed him with a short nod. On the way out Gwaine sent Arthur a glare that would scare most Knights. Arthur bit back any remark demanding more respect from Gwaine. After all his actions, he understood Gwaine's hesitation to leave them alone. Hell, Merlin may have received more than bruises if Gwaine hadn't forced Arthur to stop attacking Merlin after he discovered his magic.

When they all left Arthur followed them to the door and shut it behind them. As he turned around he glanced at Merlin. The man was trying and failing miserably to hide his fear. Even through his shame for his actions, Arthur was mildly amused at this. He had seen this man perform great magical feats that he was positive no one else in this complex could accomplish singlehandedly. Arthur was also nearly certain that Merlin could kill him with a single thought if he wanted to. Yet, he was still afraid of Arthur.

Walking across the room, Arthur grabbed the wrappings from a table nearby and then proceeded pull up a nearby chair. All the while, Merlin stared directly ahead as if he were in a trance. There was no attempt to meet Arthur's eyes. Merlin simply kept his head bowed in a seemingly submissive manner, the complete opposite from when he had been shouting at Arthur just hours before.

"Can you sit up?"

Merlin nodded, not looking at Arthur. He used his arms to push himself up part of the way, but stopped and attempted to hide a grimace. It was poorly executed and prompted Arthur to carefully pull him up into a sitting position. His thin frame tensed even more as though it was trying to retreat into itself. Added guilt settled itself heavily upon Arthur's chest, but he continued with the task at hand. Arthur helped guide Merlin's legs so they draped over the edge of the bed.

"This may hurt." Arthur said softly as he began removing the bandages surrounding Merlin's torso. Merlin bit his tongue to keep himself from crying out as the bandages pulled at his torn skin Arthur knew of the added level of pain he was causing, but continued on at the same pace knowing the sooner he finished the sooner Merlin's pain would begin to dull again. When Arthur finished steadily removing the wrappings from his chest, Merlin released the breath he had been holding. A shiver spread through his body and the hair on his arm stood straight up as the coolness of the dark room met him.

Looking down at his chest he saw angry inflamed skin. It was no longer bleeding but seemed as though it was threatening to at any second. Merlin sat there awkwardly as he waited for Arthur to continue. A minuted passed without any further actions. Merlin squirmed slightly while watching Arthur's eyes rove over his injuries. He nearly piped up until Arthur spoke.

"Which ones?"

Merlin simply stared at Arthur confused by what he meant. Arthur must have sensed his confusion as he clarified in a gentle tone.

"Which scars have you received for me?"

Merlin simply stared at Arthur and after a minute he shook his head. Arthur had no idea what he was getting into by asking this. Even through everything Arthur did to him after discovering his magic, Merlin didn't want him to find out this way. He had always imagined telling Arthur about this on his own terms.

"Please Merlin."

Arthur placed his hand on Merlin's shoulder in a friendly manner, but Merlin immediately pulled away. Arthur glanced to Merlin who met his eyes, surprising Arthur. They held their gaze for what seemed like an eternity. Arthur struggled to find the words again to ask when Merlin slowly pointed to a mark on his back that Arthur could have easily ignored if not pointed out to him. The scar was small but easily recognizable to all who travelled through the forests a fair amount. It was a mark that meant death for whoever was the bearer. Arthur's eyes widened in realization of what it was.

"Is that what I think it is?"

"If you are thinking that it is a serket sting then you would be correct." Merlin replied in a low voice.

"Only dead men bear that mark." Arthur's stomach turned at the thought. "How did this happen?"

"I was following Morgana when she and Morgause caught me. They weren't entirely pleased to see me."

"And they left you to the serkets?" Arthur's nostrils flared with hate he was feeling towards his sister. She had left Merlin of all people to vicious creatures whose sting was almost always fatal. "When was this?"

"At the time your father's health began to fail before Cendred's army attacked."

Arthur began to form together the unspoken pieces. "You were suspicious of her from the beginning weren't you?"

Merlin opened his mouth to answer, but found he couldn't. He settled for a nod instead.

Arthur let out a long breath. It was a little habit he had picked up when frustration from dealing with lords disputing over land or other arbitrary topics threatened to usurp his calm demeanor. "We could have saved a lot of lives had I been told."

Merlin fought stinging tears. Arthur's reaction to this hurt Merlin more than the wyvern. He found his voice. "You wouldn't have believed me."

"Merlin-"

"Don't try to deny it, Arthur." Merlin's tone left no room for argument. "Morgana was nobility. You had grown up with her and Uther cared for her. Compared to that I was just the idiot manservant with a mental affliction."

"That would have been a slight problem." Arthur conceded. There had been times when Merlin confided in Arthur about potential danger that he simply laughed off. Merlin stating Morgana was evil would have been no different.

Merlin snorted. "You think."

"How did you survive?" Arthur asked but Merlin's eyes widened. He opened and closed his mouth several times as though trying and failing to answer. Arthur assumed that it would have to be some sort of magic for him to still be alive. He decided to not push the issue for fear of Merlin shutting him entirely out. He ignored Merlin's lack of answer and continued.

"What about this?" Arthur asked pointing to the scar from the burn upon his chest.

"I was fighting a sorceress." He said bluntly. Arthur assumed that his lack of detail was for a reason, but he had already let Merlin slide on the last question.

"Pray tell, does this sorceress have a name?"

"Nimueh." Merlin answered bluntly.

"Why the hell did you go after her?" Arthur watched Merlin's expression darken.

"I didn't go after her." Merlin snapped. "I don't go looking for fights, I simply get thrown into them."

Arthur's gaze wandered to Merlin's bloodied chest, the proof of Merlin's previous statement. He glanced back to Merlin who had was looking at his chest himself. Merlin sighed, allowing the tension that had paired itself in his moment of anger to subside.

"After you were attacked by the questing beast Gaius and I looked for a cure." Merlin's breath shuddered slightly as he remembered the fear he felt at the time. "We came up empty handed."

"Then how am I still alive?"

"As there was no cure the only option was to strike a deal with a high priestess. You cannot save a life without taking another. Balance must be kept." Merlin looked at Arthur. "I went to her to offer my life for yours."

Arthur took another deep breath. It felt heavy, weighed down by the guilt of his actions mingled with the new knowledge how far Merlin was willing to go for him. "You and I are still alive so what happened next?"

"Nimueh didn't trade my life, but that of my mother's. I was going to go back to force Nimueh to trade my life, but Gaius beat me to it. W-when I got there he wasn't breathing. I lost my temper"

Merlin stopped. Arthur knew that there was something that he wasn't telling him, but didn't push the subject. He remained silent and waited for Merlin to continue on his own accord and not by Arthur's promptings. Merlin sighed as though he was unloading a heavy burden that he had carried for miles.

"She may have injured me, but I killed her. It was life taken so that Gaius could survive."

Arthur stared dumbfounded at his servant. This man sitting before him was riddled with scars, some that were not visible. Arthur would have died long ago if it hadn't been for Merlin. Arthur could see that now.

"Just how much power do you have if you were able to defeat her?"

Merlin flinched at this question and drew farther from Arthur. Arthur sensed that he had struck a major chord that had been blaring in Merlin's mind. Arthur was just about to disregard it when Merlin said, "I have too much power."

That was not the answer Arthur was expecting. He knew from living as royalty that one never ceases to increase their power and there was certainly never such thing as too much. Merlin on the other hand knew what power could do and seemed to fear himself for it.

"And yet you stayed a servant when you could have ruled Camelot." Arthur said. He slowly raised his hand and gently placed it on his shoulder again. This time Merlin did not pull away.

"Merlin, I have been betrayed by those with magic far too much in my life, but you never did. Even when I didn't deserve an ounce of your loyalty you continued to support me." Arthur paused. Merlin still refused to look at him. Arthur feared he had further damaged any prospect of remedying his actions by his approach. Perhaps he should have interrogated Merlin after he had apologized. He had let his damn pride rear its ugly head when he should have never been focused on himself. This had been about Merlin, yet Arthur had made it about himself.

"I also understand now why you never told me. I know that if this entire hunting hadn't ended up this way that you would have continued to save me from the shadows, taking no credit for your actions." Arthur paused and Merlin finally looked at him.

"I allowed myself to be blinded by my emotions and refused to listen to your reasoning for not telling me." Arthur clasped his hands together, noticing the slight discoloration along the tops of his knuckles and remembered the forced behind it when he punched Merlin. He caught a glimpse of Merlin staring at his knuckles.

"If Gwaine hadn't been there I don't know how far I would have gone." Arthur worked his jaw and felt tears stinging his eyes.

"I would have stopped you." Merlin said in a low voice.

Arthur clenched his jaw together and shook his head laughing once. "No, you wouldn't have."

Merlin didn't argue his point any further. Arthur sniffed and held his eyes closed for a moment. He wouldn't allow himself to selfishly give into his own emotion.

"I know I don't deserve forgiveness, but I need you to know that I regret my actions. I need you to know that I am sorry. I hope that one day you come to trust in me again as I trust in you. If it had been my decision I wouldn't have entrusted this power to anyone else but you."

The room was quiet after that as Merlin tried to overcome his shock. Arthur sat in quiet while hoping for a response.

Nothing.

The young king held his breath to keep Merlin from seeing how close he was to breaking down. He removed his hand from Merlin's shoulder and awkwardly stood. He turned around quickly from Merlin and tried to even his shallow breathing. There had been a part a part of Arthur that thought perhaps Merlin would come to see him once again as someone worth saving. As he moved closer to the door that hope dwindled. Arthur kept his direction and he suddenly found his hand gripped around the cool handle of the door.

"I never thought that I would live to see this day."

Arthur whipped around at the sound of Merlin's voice. His tone betrayed nothing as to what he was feeling and his head was tilted downward. Arthur took several hopeful steps towards him.

"Arthur Pendragon, apologizing." As Merlin looked at him, Arthur recognized a familiar twinkle that hadn't been there for a time. "And to me of all people. What's next, a hug?"

Arthur let out a short laugh. A wave of relief came over him. He struggled to respond but was at a loss as to what to say.

Merlin didn't hate him.

"Are you not going to say anything?"

The look in Merlin's eyes told Arthur everything he needed to know, but it was too much for him. Arthur looked to the floor as memories of his actions came back to him. Arthur knew he didn't deserve this. Merlin had been through hell for and because of Arthur. He knew the extraordinary man in front of him would face worse if it meant that Arthur was safe.

"I don't even know what I would say."

"It's a simple yes or no answer, Arthur. Do I get a hug?"

All at once, the past few days were erased and the years of friendship were brought at the forefront of Arthur's mind. Before he knew what he was saying, Arthur fell back into the habitual banter he and Merlin shared daily.

"If I were you I'd feel honored in settling for the apology. Kings do not often admit their faults."

Arthur nearly spat out an apology before he heard a short laugh that mixed with a pained groan as it tapered.

"There's the prat I know." Merlin grinned through a grimace. "As amazing as this has been could you finish with the wrappings? It's cold in here."

"Stop being such a girl Merlin." Arthur smiled widely. "You know, if you hadn't gone and got yourself hurt you wouldn't need to be bandaged."

Merlin scoffed indignantly. "I saved your life!"

"Yes you did, but next time try to make sure your life is safe too. It's awfully boring waiting for you to get better all the time."

After the playful banter they exchanged, Merlin knew Arthur had truly meant everything he had said.

Arthur didn't hate him.

Merlin felt a load lift from his shoulders as Arthur went about meticulously wrapping the bandages across his torso and behind his back. His work was slow and sloppy, but Merlin wasn't about to tease him after everything that had happened. Arthur finished securing the wrappings and placed them upon the table. He turned around and came back towards Merlin, opting to sit gently upon the edge of his bed rather than his chair. He looked to Merlin and gave him a small smile.

"You can tell me everything now."

Merlin felt his stomach drop. Everything? All his mistakes and all the times he had failed were to be thrust out in the open. He tried to fight the look of fear that flitted across his face momentarily. Arthur didn't miss it.

"You're going to hate me."

"Merlin-"

"Lying to you about my magic hasn't been the worst fault I've done and remember what you did afterwards!"

Merlin's face flooded with worry after realizing what he had said. "I'm sorry, Arthur. I didn't-" Merlin silenced himself.

It had hurt Arthur more that he would have cared to admit, but he bit his tongue to keep himself from speaking. Merlin was dangerously close to entirely closing himself off. Arthur's own pride was not what mattered.

"Don't apologize." Arthur placed a hand on his back. "Merlin, I don't know what you are afraid to tell me, but there are times when we all make mistakes. Some we may hold with us for our entire lives. I would like to believe mistakes themselves do not define a person. It is what we choose to do in the aftermath that dictates the type of person we are. After all you have done for me, Merlin, I would never force you to do this."

The offer was tempting. Revealing his magic had been one of the hardest things of his entire life, but this may come to rival that. Arthur was offering to allow him time. Time that Merlin could use to push this conversation off until later, but it would just be postponing the inevitable.

"Careful," Merlin elbowed Arthur's ribs, prompting Arthur to remove his hand from Merlin's back. "People will start thinking we are actually friends."

Arthur laughed genuinely for the first time in several days. "We can't have that can we?"

Merlin took a deep breath and rubbed his hands together. He looked up and Arthur saw the tears welling in his eyes. "I know that no matter how much I would want to change the past I wouldn't. We may not be at this point today had situations been different."

"So you'll tell me?"

Merlin nodded. "Yeah, I'll tell you."

"I for one would like to be present for this conversation." Gwaine said returning to the room from the furthest entrance.

Arthur rubbed his temples frustratedly. "Have you been listening this whole time? What part of alone do you not understand?"

"The alone with possibly questionable motives part. There are two doors you know and you only locked one." Gwaine responded cheekily. He sobered after a moment. "I want to extend an apology to you, Arthur, about my outburst towards you in the tunnels and my insulting you after-"

"There is no need to apologize, Sir Gwaine." Arthur said extending his hand, which Gwaine graciously grabbed." You may have been out of line but you were putting Camelot first and trying to keep everyone safe and unified."

Gwaine raised an eyebrow at the King. "Sir Gwaine?"

Arthur sighed. "Unless you are still hell bent on leaving?"

"I think I'll stay." Gwaine smiled widely. "Someone will have to help Merlin keep your ego in check, Princess."

"Arthur," Merlin began. "It would make it a lot easier if everyone could hear so I don't have to repeat this conversation. Where should I start?"

"The beginning."