Hello. New chapter today, Arthur's perspective, and the conversation between Merlin. This will be a big revelation for Arthur, Gwen, and Morgana. I hope you like it.

I'm not own from Merlin.

Arthur couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was probably a misunderstanding. But if Gwen really said it, it wasn't something to put aside. He had seen perfectly how that man was not normal when he had screamed minutes earlier holding Merlin in his arms. He had witnessed the magic in the contour. And when there was magic in between, nothing ever worked out.

Arthur got up from the couch where he had been sitting since he thought something was wrong in the basement. He had been able to see Telvar come out, with a face of no friends embedded in his bear face, and tears in his eyes. So that knew that the only one who was still downstairs was Merlin, just the person he was looking for at the time.

He had to talk to him about matters of the utmost importance.

He went down the stairs of the basement that was sinking into a sea of darkness next to Gwen and Morgana. When they got downstairs, they could only witness a lukewarm light coming from a lamp hanging from the ceiling. And there was Merlin, sitting at the table under the lamp, with his arms on his head, as one who has many things in mind (which Arthur knew from Merlin was not so), and with a lost look in the foundations of darkness.

Merlin did not even look at them, as if he had not even noticed his presence. Arthur approached him and sat in front of him. Morgana and Gwen followed their movement and sat in the remaining chairs.

The basement smelled of moisture and loss, something like a forgotten part of the shed, where the things you want to forget are removed. Merlin seemed to do the same. He seemed to be focused on forgetting and removing something in that damp basement.

Merlin lowered his arms and looked at each of those present at the table. The silence was uncomfortable as if Merlin could make the ambiance unsettling and tense.

Arthur had not forgotten the time when his friend had passed through a waterfall. Maybe that had to do with Telvar.

Arthur knew it was his time to take the knife and break the silence.

"Merlin, this man is not normal, and you know it. Tell us what you keep."

Merlin looked at him with a look that for a moment did not look like Merlin's. It was something more accusing as if poisoned arrows were thrown by them at any time. He had to say that this was the second time he felt of Merlin that it was said that he would not feel a third: fear.

"There's nothing to tell," he simply murmured.

Merlin didn't look the same. There had been no smile or sarcasm in his voice, simply seriousness. He was serious, and that was something Arthur didn't see him capable of. Like two days ago in which Merlin did not look the same, being so worried and cocky, for this was the same only that this time it was scary.

"Merlin, we remember the story you told last night," Gwen whispered. "We know that when you joked, you told the truth. You lied to us."

"I didn't lie to you," Merlin replied in a voice as sharp as a sword. Merlin was now looking at the wood on the table.

Arthur looked at Morgana to see if she could do something to bring Merlin to his senses, but she seemed to be a second Merlin. When he looked at her, she lowered her gaze at the wood. Her expression and gaze were the same as Merlin's. What was going on? Why was Morgana behaving like Merlin now, too? Did she know something they didn't know? Anything with Merlin? And he knew what to tell.

"I saw you, Merlin. I saw you at the waterfall."

Morgana and Gwen looked confused, but Merlin looked at him as if he already knew it and it made sense.

"I know. I was having a night walk."

"That sure has to do with Telvar, Merlin. Tell us the truth, that for something we are your friends." Seeing Merlin's gaze at that mention, he knew that there was still hope. "Why do you want to hide everything from us? I thought I knew you, Merlin, and now I realize I was wrong. I know you less what I expected, but it's not my fault, it's yours. I never would have said it, but you really hide something in all this, and you should tell us. Because, if not, when it comes to the truth, we won't know you. We won't be able to help you because we don't know who you are. A week ago I would have said you're a clumsy, useless servant, but I realized you're not. So, Merlin, tell us the truth, for your friends.

Arthur breathed a sigh of inner relief by saying all that. He never thought of saying such things. He had appointed him a friend, someone but a servant, someone he did not know... A little bit of everything on the "Never Tell Merlin" list.

"It is true," Merlin murmured almost unintelligibly.

"What do you say?" asked Arthur.

"It's true," Merlin said louder, looking nowhere in particular. "Telvar is that man I told in history, but before you slather against me, I have to say that I didn't even know it a few minutes ago. I didn't lie to you, I made the joke as a joke, that's all. I didn't know it at the time, but now I do."

"So, is it true that man is cursed by the same Cup of Life?" asked Gwen in fear buzzing in his brown eyes. "Is it true that in this very house is where his beloved found himself dead? Is it true that this man is the lonely man who is singing through the mountains?"

"It doesn't have to be all true," Merlin replied.

"What do you mean?" asked Arthur.

"He might be cursed but he could never have a daughter, for example. Or that it's just a few parts of his life. I tell you, this story was taught to me by himself. I never imagined it was basically his life. "

"But then it is true that it is his life," Arthur said, "He is the Cursed Man."

"Yes, but I know not the whole story is true, or it's not complete," Merlin whispered softly and sinisterly as if he wanted to tell a scary story right there.

"And what do you know?" asked Arthur with some impatience and restlessness, imagining, according to Merlin's expression in the dark and the lukewarm light of the lamp, that it would not be exactly some flowers and butterflies that he would tell.

"He met Balinor, the man we are looking for."

Well, there it is. I don't know if I will make a second part or continue with another chapter. In any case, I hope you liked it. You can tell me what you think and comment. Thank you to all the people who are reading this!

Next Chapter: Seconde part/ Morgana's perspective. Conversation with Merlin. Mergana.

LegolasHV