A/N: Two chapters in two days? Unheard of. Enjoy!

As they walked back to clearing where the knights had made camp, Merlin felt his anxiety grow. If Arthur was mad when he found out about his servant's magic, he certainly wasn't going to be happy to learn that Merlin was actually a prince of a foreign nation and lied about his past before coming to Camelot. If he could have his way, Merlin would prefer to talk to Arthur alone, maybe even avoid the subject all together. But he knew that it was time to tell his friends everything, and it would all go much faster if he told them all at the same time.

Just before they reached the camp, Merlin stopped, trying to collect his thoughts before revealing the last, and the biggest, secret he had kept. Reaching under his neckerchief, he gently touched the signet hidden there, and slowly reached up to unfasten it from the chain he used to keep it close. Now that everyone would know his true past, he no longer had to hide it and could wear it proudly. After seven years, he would once again be a prince of Dreócræft.

Cupping the signet in his hand, Merlin steeled himself for the coming conversation. Aurelius rested a hand on his brother's shoulder, giving him a nod of support. Merlin sighed, closing his fingers over the signet, then moved into the clearing. He wasn't surprised to find that each group of knights had moved to opposite sides of the camp, engaging in hushed conversations and darting glances at each other when they thought no one was looking. Aurelius moved to the Dreócræftan knights, presumably to warn them of what Merlin was about to do. Merlin supposed he should move to Arthur's group, but found himself merely watching the scene in front of him. He truly needed to work on his hesitation. As he finally turned toward his friends, Leon noticed his return, pointing him out to the rest of the Knights of Camelot, and Merlin quickly found himself surrounded by questioning faces.

"Merlin," Arthur began, obviously leading the group and his face betraying nothing, "would you care to explain why these knights claim to have known you before they came to Camelot?"

Merlin knew better than to trust the calm demeanor of Arthur's question. There was anger in the undercurrent of his words. Most likely hurt as well for Merlin's lack of trust. He couldn't bear the thought that his friends might think he had betrayed them. Again.

"I'm sorry I never told you before, but you have to understand the danger that I was in. I grew up in Dreócræft, but it's a bit more complicated than that and I-"

"Look, I understand why you hid your magic. But why didn't you tell me about this? Especially once I proved that I would cause you no harm for being a warlock? Do you trust me so little?" Hurt colored the tone of Arthur's questioning and Merlin felt even guiltier for not trusting his friends.

"It's not that I didn't trust you. Well, not completely. There was just so much I didn't know about what happened after the uprising," Merlin said, desperation bleeding into his voice. " I didn't know if it would be safe to tell anyone about my past. You have to understand, I didn't just live in Dreócræft. I was, no, I am…" Merlin trailed off, not knowing how to tell them he was of royal birth. As his friends began prompting him to continue his explanation, questioning why he didn't admit to knowing the Dreócræftan knights or why he didn't give them information on the uprising, he locked eyes with Aurelius, who was standing with their knights, watching his attempt at admission turn to disaster. Aurelius nodded his encouragement, and gestured to Merlin's hand, where he still gripped his signet ring. Quickly understanding what his brother meant, Merlin turned back to his friends and raised his hand, slowly uncurling his fingers. At the sight of the ring, all questioning stopped, save for one more from Arthur.

"Merlin," Arthur started, suddenly calm. "What is that?"

Merlin was sure Arthur knew very well what it was and what it meant. But this was his moment to confirm it, to finally come clean about everything.

"It's a signet ring." He paused, hoping they would understand what he was implying.

"Yes, we can see that," Gwaine interrupted, knowing well what such a ring meant, having seen his father's many times growing up. "But whose is it?"

"It's mine. It was the last thing I could grab before Dreócræft fell."

"You're of noble birth?" Leon seemed shocked. How could a noble resign himself to work as a servant in another kingdom? Surely such work would be beneath him.

"In a way," Merlin alluded.

"In a way? What's that supposed to mean?" Elyan was confused. What else could he be, if not a noble when carrying such a ring?

"You're the other prince." Arthur paled. "You're the prince that was lost during the uprising, weren't you?"

The Knights of Camelot froze. Their friend, the goofy, unassuming, extremely humble servant was a prince?

After a deep breath, Merlin replied simply, "Yes."

And they finally saw him for what he was. No longer did they see their friend as the bumbling boy they thought he was, but rather a man of royal birth, who held himself tall and radiated power, both politically and magically.

After a moment's pause, while they all digested this new revelation, Arthur's eyes widened in dread. "I had a foreign prince scrubbing my boots and mucking my stables." Surely that could be somehow interpreted as an act of war, or at least extreme disrespect to Merlin's kingdom.

Merlin laughed, breaking the tension, and Aurelius, followed by the Dreócræftan knights, joined Merlin at his side as he placed the ring on his finger for the first time in years.

Thomas moved forward to complete a duty he had not carried out in seven years, his fellow knights assuming formation behind him and around their princes. "King Arthur and Knights of Camelot, may I formally introduce His Royal Highness, Prince Aurelius Ambrosius of Dreócræft, first born of King Balinor and Queen Hunith, heir to the throne. And also His Royal Highness, Prince Merlinus Ambrosius, second born of King Balinor and Queen Hunith."

Merlin had not heard his given name for a long time, much preferring to simply go by "Merlin". Inwardly, he groaned, knowing that sooner or later, his full name would be used against him.

"Merlinus?" Gwaine was trying to hold back a laugh.

Perhaps it would be sooner, Merlin mused.

"Yes, that is my full name. But," Merlin raised his eyebrow in his best impression of Gaius, "you can still just call me Merlin."

"Oh, but Merlinus just seems to suit you better, Your Highness." Gwaine was enjoying himself far too much in Merlin's opinion, but he was a bit more preoccupied with Arthur's reaction. The man in question seemed to be in shock, staring uncomprehendingly at his manservant-turned-prince.

"Arthur, are you alright?" Merlin was expecting anger, or even resentment at his admission. But he couldn't quite read the King's face, and that made him worried. Arthur might be able to mask his emotions from others, but Merlin could always tell exactly what he was thinking. Except for now.

"Arthur, please say something." Merlin tried to keep the desperation out of his voice, but found that he was failing. Anger he could take, but silence from his friend was too much.

"Merlin, er, Prince Merlin," Arthur corrected himself, finally turning to look at the warlock, "please forgive me, for I have not treated you properly. Had I known of your status, you would have been welcomed as a guest of Camelot, not forced to work as a servant."

Annoyed by the sudden formality, Merlin scoffed. "Oh please, Arthur. If you had known who I truly was when I arrived in Camelot, your father would have had me immediately executed." Softening his tone at the look on Arthur's face, he continued, "Please don't treat me any differently now that you know the truth. I never cared much about my status growing up, and I certainly haven't found a new love for it now. I'm still the same man you know, just a bit richer than you thought." Merlin smiled, trying to ease the tension, though his joke fell short.

"I apologize, but I must go collect my thoughts. Please excuse me." Arthur nodded respectfully to the two princes, then turned and disappeared into the forest.

Merlin sighed. Of course Arthur wouldn't just be okay with this revelation. He debated going after his friend, but decided to let him have some time alone. He just hoped that Arthur would realize that things didn't have to change between them. This sudden show of formality was ridiculous.

Turning to the rest of the Camelotian knights, Merlin braced himself for their reactions. As Leon, the most sensible of the group, began to bow in a show of respect, Merlin stepped forward to stop him. "Please don't. As I said before, I don't care much for propriety and you are all my friends. There is no need for such displays."

Aurelius chuckled. "You really haven't changed much, Merlin. Always so much disdain for the respect you deserve."

Merlin scoffed. "Just because you have a big head doesn't mean that everyone else likes to be bowed to."

Aurelius grabbed Merlin into a headlock and tousled his hair, the warlock squawking at the sudden assault. The knights of both kingdoms laughed at this, glad for some normalcy in the bickering between brothers. As Aurelius finally let his brother go, the group moved to sit around the fire, discussing topics of unimportance as they waited for Arthur's return.