Someday

Disclaimer: If you recognize it then I don't own it.

A/N: For Whumptober 2022 #27 Pushed to the limit- magical exhaustion

Merlin was one of the most powerful magical beings ever, yet in his frail shell of man, he was subject to all human frailties. He got hungry when he didn't eat. He got thirsty when he hadn't had water. He got tired when he didn't sleep. Or when fought in a long battle to save the clodpole's life.

He and Arthur had gone hunting in the woods. Camalot, a place that banned magic, had a lot of rouge magical users running around looking to take revenge on King Uther through his only son. It was Merlin's destiny to make sure that didn't happen. His magic made this both easier and harder to keep the ass alive. He was born with his magic, he couldn't change who he was. He felt like he was hiding a big part of himself from the world. From Arthur. He didn't know he had magic so he had to get creative. A fallen tree here, a spontaneous storm there, and a lot of head injuries to the crown prince. The hiding and lies were tiring enough to carry around all the time but piled on top of the poor image they made of him as he broke himself into pieces trying to save someone that only saw him as a buffoon and a liability and it seemed almost unbearable at times. He only wanted to do what was best but if anyone found out who he really was he would be killed. Yet he would die for Arthur.

His strength was weakening as the exhaustion settled into his bones as the battle continued. They had been beset upon by a group of angry mages and he couldn't deflect every spell, spearhead his own attack and protect Arthur alone from the shadows without revealing himself for all the world to see. Arthur had tried shooting them with his crossbow when that didn't work he had tried charging them with his sword. Merlin had to keep the idiot alive without revealing his magic. They were quickly running out of choices. If it came down to his life or Arthur's; Merlin would pick his friend to live. After all, they had gone through together, all they had done and shared, Arthur was more than his master, future king, and even his destiny. He was his best friend.

Merlin hated lying to him. Maybe it was time to show him and the whole world who he really was. He was made of magic in a world that despised it. Merlin walked out from behind the tree he had been hiding behind. The wind roared around him as explosive spells blasted around him. Merlin felt the magic flow through him as he finally let go. He let go of the deception, lies and worry. He glanced with golden eyes back at Arthur's prone form, sending a shield to protect and keep his friend in place so he could unleash all that was built up inside himself without the fear of hurting him.

"Merlin, what in the hell do you think you're doing?" Arthur covered his growing concern with anger, trying to fight the force that held him down. He couldn't really tell what was happening as the wind whipped around him. All he knew was magic was attacking them and his stupid manservant was standing out in the open like an idiot. Arthur needed to get up and destroy the sorcerers so he could save Merlin from the magic before it killed him. Like it did his mother.

Merlin hesitated before answering, "My destiny."

"Merlin, get down," Arthur ordered panic entering his voice.

"You should know by now that I never do as I'm told," Merlin got a dangerous glint in his eye as he stood strong before the forces of magic attacking them, acting as a shield for the future king of Camalot.

Arthur glared at him. The self-sacrificing idiot. He was going to get himself killed. A flash of light, almost as bright as the sun, exploded. Arthur's vision went dark for a moment. When it returned the woods were eerily quiet and still around him. Their enemies had fallen. The place where Merlin had stood was empty.

"Merlin!" Arthur shot up, no longer being restrained by magic. There was a path cut through the foliage behind him like something had crashed through it. He scrambled through the thorns and branches, that reached and caught at his clothing and skin. He barreled through growth hacking blindly with his sword, ignoring the sting and cuts as he made it to the other side. Panting and wild-eyed he searched for his manservant.

"You half-wit, where are you?" Arthur mumbled. He spotted a limp form lying on the forest floor. He ran towards it.

"You were worried about me," Merlin gave a little breathy snort trying hard not to laugh. His battered ribs would not like that. Arthur had seen him do magic but had still come for him. Not to kill or arrest him, but to find him because he was worried about him. The prince stopped short of him in surprise, sure he was going to find the charred mangled body of his friend. It took his startled mind a moment to register Merlin's amusement.

"No," Arthur said, stalking over to the prone form. How dare he be amused when he bloody well almost got himself killed. The magical users were clearly dangerous and untrained. Their magic had been unstable and when they had all turned their attack on a defenseless but idiotic servant boy the magic had exploded out. The spells must have deflected off of each other, sending Merlin careening away but bouncing back at the users and destroying them. His father was right magic was dangerous and evil. It had almost killed his friend, instead, it had betrayed its own practitioners. Magic couldn't be trusted.

"Sure," Merlin grinned, sitting up, "What took you so long?"

"I thought you were hit," Arthur hit him hard in the arm for making him concerned. Only because he didn't want to go through the process of finding a new manservant of course.

"I was." His magic felt spent. Merlin just wanted to sleep and he could sleep soundly knowing Arthur accepted his magic, accepted him. Even though he was exhausted he felt a lightness in his soul he'd never felt before.

Arthur looked down his eyes widened in shock, "What the hell is that?" A large burn covered most of Merlin's right side. It was raw and angry looking.

Arthur demanded, stepping closer, "Let me see. What have you got there?"

"Nothing," Merlin tried to cover it with his shaking hands. It hurt enough without Arthur poking at it. He would have Gaius take care of it when they got back to Camalot if he was allowed to go back, "It's fine."

"Let me see it."

"I'm fine, thanks."

"Merlin," The voice was sharp with fury.

"Sorry," Sarcasm filled his tone, "I didn't notice you had suddenly become Gaius."

"It is not funny, Merlin," Arthur growled out, "This wound needs attention. I don't want infection to set in."

Merlin dropped his head with a sigh. He had no energy to even attempt to use magic to heal himself. Arthur was right but he was really hoping to ignore it for a little while longer. "Fine," He untied his bandana from around his neck and passed it over with instructions to find a certain plant to put on the burn before wrapping it.

"It was lucky that their spells backfired instead of killing you," Arthur said offhandedly as he went in search of the plant. A nearly hysterical laugh bubbled up in Merlin's throat. He didn't know if he wanted to laugh or cry. Or if the pain was in his side or his heart. He had finally been brave enough to reveal himself, his true and complete self to his best friend and it didn't even happen. Arthur still thought it was luck, a pure coincidence that they were both still alive, not because Merlin had magic. It had been Merlin, it had always been Merlin. He and his magic were the reason that they were still alive. He was still living a lie, deceiving the man that was the other side of the coin in his life. His body sagged as the weight of the world came crashing back down on his shoulders to continue carrying alone.

Arthur came back bearing many plants of a similar look. The prince had no idea of the turmoil going on inside the other man. He held them out to Merlin for identification. Merlin pointed to it with a shaking finger, without uttering a word. He was worried if he opened his mouth he would scream and never stop. He desperately wanted to tell Arthur the truth but he didn't know how. Arthur went to work doctoring to wound enough to get Merlin back to Gaius' expert care.

"Come on, that's enough already," Merlin yelped fighting the probing hands.

"Stop being a baby, Merlin."

"Is it over?" Merlin gasped out between pained panting.

"Though you tried you best to kill yourself," Arthur tied off the bandage, "It seems you will live."

"Why can't you just say thank you," Merlin rolled his eyes, "It's like your allergic to the word."

"You've been a brave idiot since the day we met," Arthur spoke softly, more to himself than to his servant.

"And you've been a prat."

"Thank you, Merlin, for saving my life."

"You're welcome, Arthur." They locked eyes for a long moment. Neither man was able to tear away from the look. They felt an understanding flow between them. Like there was something bigger than either of them yet part of them both. A destiny that couldn't be put into words. That they were two parts of the same song. Two harmonies while so completely different made the music complete.

"Let us never speak of this again," Arthur cleared his throat and turned away embarrassed.

Merlin scratched at his eyebrow trying to not meet the prince's eyes and reveal his light amusement. He knew the secret of the chords. He knew every note as well as any master musician. The secret sorcerer was just waiting for Arthur to finally learn the music so they could truly play the masterpiece together and bring about Avalon. Arthur was the Once and Future King and Merlin was Emerys and together they would do great things. As soon as the great prat learned to carry a tune in a bucket that is. Someday he would really tell Arthur about his magic.