There was a strange silence. After the clanging of swords and knights' screams it could only be heard a crackling sound from a fire. Little sparks were dancing in Merlin's eyes, and worried he was looking in the distance. He heard murmur behind his back and hurried to the place where king Arthur was lying. Mumbling, Arthur started to wake up. He opened his eyes and the first thing he saw was the face of his servant.

"Merlin? Where have you been?" he asked, confused a little bit.

"Nice to see you too, sire," Merlin managed a slight smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Could be worse," Arthur tried to laugh but the pain in his chest got in the way. "My side...," he groaned.

"Easy," Merlin whispered and placed his hand on the king's hand as he grasped his arm.

"It was Mordred..."

"I know," Merlin gave him a sad look; "and I couldn't save you."

"I'm here, Merlin, still alive," Arthur said slowly, catching a shakily breath between words. "Where are we?"

"I needed to take you to a safe place to stay for the night. The woods seemed like this. I hope it'll give us time to rest and Morgana won't find us," he looked at Arthur's bleeding wound. "I'm sorry," he started with tears in his eyes. "I thought I was in time. I thought I'd defied the prophecy..."

"What are you talking about?" Arthur frowned.

"I defeated the Saxons, and the dragon, though I knew it was Mordred that I must stop," tears were running down Merlin's cheeks.

"Merlin," Arthur got closer to his face; "there was a sorcerer, he defeated the Saxons," a slight smile appeared on his face.

"It was me," Merlin said, sniffling.

Arthur was looking at him, smiling in disbelief. It was ridiculous to him. But Merlin was still crying and the expression on Arthur's face changed to confusion. "Wait, what... this is gibberish, what do you mean saying that?"

"I'm... I'm a sorcerer," said Merlin with a trembling voice. "I have magic," he sobbed; "and I use it for you, Arthur, only for you."

A shock just painted on Arthur's face but after a moment he started shaking his head. "No, Merlin. You are not a sorcerer, I would've known," he shook Merlin's arm slightly.

"Look... here," Merlin nodded and held out his hand towards the fire and said: "Upastige draca," His eyes flashed gold and in the middle of the flames appeared a flying dragon. As soon as it disappeared Merlin turned back to Arthur afraid what his reaction would be.

Arthur was looking with shock at the place where the figure of the dragon was visible a moment ago. He looked up at Merlin's face, but as soon as their eyes met, he turned his head trying to move away from him. He didn't have enough strength though, so he was still avoiding Merlin's gaze.

"Arthur?" said Merlin. He saw that except for shock it was fear in Arthur's eyes. "Arthur..."

"Leave me."

Merlin's heart sank. "What...?" he had known that the king's reaction might be like that but for all this time and until now he believed it could be different, that Arthur would understand and accept him the way he is. "Arthur, please..."

"Don't, just... you heard," Arthur cut him off. "Just leave," he pulled his hand out from under Merlin's and tried to move away a little, but the pain in his chest has been preventing him from doing so.

Merlin pulled back. He lowered his head and rubbed his eyes because tears started to come again. Arthur didn't want to see him, probably he was afraid of him. What else did he expect? Merlin stepped away. He thought that maybe Arthur just needed some time and he would talk to him later. Merlin sat by the fire and looked up at him. He seemed to be sleeping. Merlin sighed. All he had ever wanted was Arthur to accept him, to accept that he has magic. But beyond all this, everything for him that matters now is to save Arthur's life.

Merlin couldn't sleep. Throughout the night he'd been watching Arthur sleeping. He was too afraid that his friend might stop breathing or someone might attack them. It was early morning and Merlin was still sitting by the fire with thoughts racing in his head. He heard someone approaching and after a beat he saw Gaius behind the trees. As he got to him, Merlin stood up quickly.

"Gaius," he said with relief.

"Is there any change?"

"No, actually he'd been sleeping all night," Merlin got a glimpse at what Gaius was holding. "That's all you got? What is it?"

"It's comfrey," Gaius replied sitting beside Arthur.

"But you should've got a yarrow or lady's mantle... or at least sticklewort. There must have been sticklewort!"

"Merlin," Gaius said calmly; "it was hard to search for any herbs on the hills, Saxons are there," he sighed. "And why don't you feed and water the horses? You can't stay here for much longer."

Merlin shot Gaius a look but obeyed him and headed for the horses. As he walked away Arthur opened his eyes and grabbed Gaius' arm. "He's a sorcerer," Gaius looked at him not knowing what to say but Arthur read his face. "You knew...," he sighed.

"Arthur," Gaius started; "he is your friend, you don't have to fear him."

"I want him gone," he said without hesitation. "I need a physician, not a sorcerer."

Gaius looked at Arthur's wound. He was still bleeding a little. "I'm afraid I won't be able to help you," he said with a serious tone. "Besides, he just not only has magic. There are those who say that he is the greatest sorcerer ever to walk the earth."

Arthur raised his eyebrow. "Merlin?"

"And if you are to stand any chance of survival you will need Merlin to help you, not me."

Arthur looked up at the cloudy sky thinking about what the physician just told him. Gaius patted him reassuringly on the shoulder and walked away to where Merlin was feeding the horses.

"So?" asked Merlin.

"There's a fragment of sword in his chest."

"So I'll use magic to remove it."

"No, you can't do it with your magic," said Gaius and Merlin gave him a questioning look. "This is not an ordinary sword. The blade was forged in the dragon's breath," he explained.

"Aithusa...," Merlin whispered. Gaius nodded.

"The blade's point is travelling towards his heart. To draw it out we'll be needing a power as ancient as the dragons themselves."

"But there must be something we can do, Gaius," said Merlin who wouldn't want to even think that his friend could die.

"Well, only the Sídhe possess such magic. In the midst of the Lake of Avalon is an ancient isle. That is the source of their power."

"I must take him there," Merlin stopped for a beat; "but he won't let me... he won't allow that."

"He will," assured Gaius; "I spoke to him."

Merlin sat down under the tree, lost in his thoughts. He couldn't get rid of the feeling that Arthur hates him because of who he is. He spent the whole day just sitting there and making sure that horses were fed and watered because there was going to be a long road ahead of them the next day. Gaius was checking on Arthur very often. Merlin was watching him and was trying to catch Arthur's eyes but still, he seemed to avoid him and didn't even look in his direction.

"How is he feeling?" Merlin asked when Gaius came around.

"He's getting weaker," he sat down in front of him.

Merlin sighed and rested his head against a tree. "Do you really think that the Sídhe could save him?"

"I hope so. They are his only and last chance."

There was a moment of silence when Gaius spoke. "You were right to tell him, Merlin."

Merlin looked at him. "I can't lose him, Gaius," tears filled his eyes. "I can't... what I would do without him... I need him... Camelot needs him..."

"It will be all right, Merlin," Gaius embraced him into a hug. "Arthur will be fine," he pulled away from him, still holding his shoulders. "It's getting late, we should all get some sleep." Merlin nodded in agreement.

"I'll tell him we're leaving early in the morning," he said and headed towards him.

"Arthur?" he started and the king opened his eyes at the sound of Merlin's voice. "We need to leave at first light."

"I am here to give orders," he replied, not looking at him. "And I'll decide."

Merlin was sad about the way Arthur was behaving towards him, it was breaking his heart. "I can't let you die."

Arthur looked up at Merlin. "It doesn't change anything," and he turned his head away

Again that night Merlin couldn't fall asleep.

"Merlin, you look terrible," said Gaius when the young man showed up. He was getting the horses ready.

"Thank you, Gaius," he smiled slightly.

"That's better," the physician smiled back; "but you really look terrible. Don't tell me you didn't sleep last night."

Merlin rubbed his eyes. "Uhh... sort of."

"You're thinking too much, Merlin. How do you want to take him safely to Avalon in your state?"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. Didn't you forget something? I'm a sorcerer."

"Just take care of him," Gaius pointed at Arthur who was already on his horse.

"I will."

"Gaius!" called Arthur.

"Yes, sire?" he asked when he walked over to him.

"Give this to Guinevere," Arthur handed him the royal seal.

"But..."

"If I am to die," he cut him off; "I can think of no one else but her, who would succeed me."

Gaius was looking at Arthur and after a moment he nodded and hid the royal seal.

"How long does he have?" Merlin whispered to Gaius when he was closer to him. He glanced at Arthur.

Gaius sighed. "At best, two days."

Merlin looked away. He didn't want to waste time, every minute was precious to save Arthur's life. He was supposed to walk to the horses when Gaius stopped him.

"Merlin," he hugged him. "Good luck. I'll have your favourite meal waiting for you." Merlin nodded slightly. "Now go," said Gaius.

Merlin hurried to Arthur and to the horses. He gave Gaius a quick look and walked with them away.

They were riding through the hills. Arthur hasn't said a word since they left the woods. Merlin couldn't stand this incessant silence between them. Especially if he wasn't sure about Arthur's feelings.

"Arthur," Merlin wanted to draw his attention; "is there any chance that you will talk to me?" he glanced at him.

"What do you want me to say?" he answered after a few seconds.

"Anything."

Arthur turned to his servant and their eyes met, but then something else behind Merlin's back caught Arthur's eye.

"What?"

"Someone's coming," he said and Merlin turned around. In the distance, on the black horses were riding two men. They were getting closer to them very quickly.

"Saxons," Merlin jumped off his horse and walked over to his friend. "Don't speak and keep your head down," he threw a blanket on Arthur.

Merlin looked ahead and his eyes flashed gold. Above the trees, not far from them, appeared a rising puff of smoke as if someone had set the campfire. When the intruders were close enough to hear him, he screamed. "Hey! Help us!"

They stopped the horses in front of him.

"We were ambushed," said Merlin when they got off the horses.

"By who?" asked one of them.

Merlin scratched his head. "These...," he looked at them; "two men. They stormed our camp," he pointed at the floating smoke.

"What do they look like?"

"Uhh... one was a... a knight."

"Was it a Camelot knight?" the man got closer to Merlin.

"Yeah, I think so," he tried to sound convincingly.

"Who is your friend?" he pushed Merlin aside to get to Arthur.

The man had pulled off the blanket and he and his companion drew the swords when they saw who he really was. Merlin's reaction was instant. In a flash he held out his hands towards them and as his eyes glowed he threw both the men a few feet away.

"You've lied to me all this time," said Arthur bitterly.

Merlin didn't say anything. They headed towards the woods. After long travel they had found a good place to rest. Merlin was trying to light the fire but every attempt was unsuccessful.

"Why don't you use magic?" asked Arthur who was lying behind him under the tree.

"Yeah... right," Merlin looked at the pile of wood which caught the fire immediately. "It feels strange."

"Yeah...," Arthur was looking at him intently. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Merlin glanced up at him. "I wanted to... You don't even know how many times I wanted to tell you but...," he paused.

"But?" Arthur asked quietly, looking in Merlin's eyes.

"But... you probably would have me burned at the stake."

"I'm not sure what I'd have done," he said looking away.

"And I didn't want to put you in that position."

"So that's what worried you," said Arthur who now found out why Merlin had sometimes worse well-being.

Merlin nodded slightly and took a bowl of soup and walked over to Arthur. "Here, you need to eat," he tried to feed him.

"What are you doing? Why are you still behaving like a servant?" Arthur asked suddenly, knocking Merlin out from what he was doing.

Merlin blinked, put the bowl aside and looked up at Arthur. "It's my destiny, as it has been since the day we met," he smiled a little.

The corners of Arthur's lips rose as the memories from that very first day he met Merlin had returned to him. "I tried to take your head off with a mace."

"And I stopped you using magic."

Arthur glanced at him. "You cheated."

"Yeah," Merlin chuckled and said after a moment. "I do this because of who you are, Arthur. Camelot's nothing without you."

"Maybe once it was true, but not now. There are many who can wear the crown."

"But they'll never be like you, Arthur."

Arthur was looking at him with a slight smile. He was impressed. After all this time Merlin has always been believing in him, there was not a day that he had ever doubted him. Even when Arthur doubted himself, when he lost all hope, Merlin has always been by his side telling him that he is making good decisions and all that he needs to do is just to listen to his heart and believe in what is right. That day when Arthur drew out the sword from the stone it has made him believe that he is worth being the true king of Camelot. But it would have never happened without his friend.

"And I also do this...," Merlin snapped him out of his thoughts; "because you're my friend and I don't wanna lose you," he held out a spoon of soup towards Arthur who ate without protesting.

"Now, get some rest. We're riding tomorrow morning," Merlin covered Arthur with a blanket. He himself laid down close to his friend and finally managed to fall asleep."

"I don't think I can go on...," said Arthur, barely keeping himself on the horse.

"We need to reach the lake," Merlin walked over to him. "We're nearly there."

"No... please."

Merlin glanced up at Arthur. He looked very tired and with each hour he was getting weaker. They couldn't waste any time, but because of Arthur's state, Merlin couldn't disagree. "All right, we'll rest a little bit," he helped Arthur get off the horse. "Lay here," he'd put him under the tree and lit the fire to make them warm.

"Merlin, whatever happens...," Arthur started.

"Hush... don't talk," Merlin silenced him, but Arthur did not give up.

"I'm the king, you can't tell me what to do."

Merlin chuckled. "I always have and I'm not going to change now."

"I don't want you to change...," he met Merlin's eyes. "I want you to always... be you," he paused for a beat. "And I'm sorry about how I treated you."

"So... so does that mean you're gonna give me a day off?" Merlin asked.

"Even two."

"Wow, that's generous," he smirked.

Arthur's head tilted down and Merlin quickly reached out to support it. "Get some sleep," he whispered.

Suddenly he heard a rustling. Merlin got up alarmed. He wouldn't have wanted to leave Arthur alone even for a second but he had to check if they're safe and if someone's not coming. Merlin was walking in the direction from where he seemed to have heard a sound. He looked back at his friend sleeping peacefully and then someone's scream tore apart the silence. Merlin rushed through the trees following the screaming. That's what he saw made him hold his breath.