A/N: Thank you for the wonderful reviews!

I had planned to post this chapter as the end of this very, very short story, six or seven chapters at tops, however, I had to agree with all of you and post the second part. I slaved myself over it. It's past 2 am where I am and finally, I'm happy with it.

QUESTION OF MOTIVES PART ll

'... you can't go back to not knowing'

Arthur was standing in the Main Hall looking out the window. The sun was just barely beginning to rise on the horizon, turning the night sky into a dark royal blue. Three hours had passed, but finally, the rock had been touched by everyone either living or a visitor inside of the castle, even Arthur himself had touched it. Questions had been asked. People had been assured that everything was fine, and once his father was sure no sorcerer— and it took quite a while to convince him,— was hidden between his people he finally accepted that the sorcerer had been probably been long gone.

The only people remaining in the room were his father, Gaius and the librarian, Geoffrey Mounmouth, the latter had a list of people on a parchment roll in which he had crossed with a line the names of those who had successfully passed his father's 'test'. It was that parchment and his father's next question that made Arthur almost jump, of course, the Crowned Prince of Camelot didn't jump, but never in his own castle he had felt such anxiousness. The prince looked towards Gaius, almost expecting to see Gaius's worried face, however, the old physician looked peaceful and serene. If anything, his eyebrow was higher than usual as he looked to Uther. He, too, looked almost normal, but Arthur now knowing what he knew wondered how many times he had faked his demeanor.

Arthur had been thinking for three hours. His thoughts popping up one after the other. The thoughts made Arthur's mind feel tired. After he had touched the stone, he had gone to stand behind his father's throne, nodding and showing his support of the King's actions. It was important to always show support. However, his mind was absent during the whole ordeal. His body had been there, standing upright, but he didn't even notice when Gwen, beautiful, warm, and precious Gwen had passed by him to complete the test. This indifference demonstrated how much the prince was putting into his thoughts. Until now, his brain was catching up with reality once again. He furrowed his eyebrows. If Gaius knew about Merlin, why was he so calm? Arthur certainly wasn't.

"So, Mounmouth, is there anyone on the palace list that had not been here tonight?"

Arthur found himself gripping the chair of his father more tightly that he should have.

"A few of the knights that are on patrol, sire, two nobles that are in Gaius's infirmary, a maiden that is out of town, and—oh." The librarian turned towards Gaius, most curious that confused. "Merlin. He's not on the list, how strange… is he gone on some errands of yours, Gaius?"

"He-"

"No, no, I remember," Geoffrey said jovially. "I saw him at the library today."

Uther turned towards Gaius; the king looked bewildered that a direct order had been ignored by a servant.

Arthur didn't even miss a beat before his father could even ask.

"Merlin? He was here with me when I came in. You must have missed him, he was one of the first ones. He touched the stone, called it a 'stupid test'" Arthur made a gesture of total annoyance. "I sent him back to his chambers." He looked at his father straight in the eye as he clasped his hands behind his back. "I didn't want our people to hear or doubt the power of the stone and your test, father. So I thought it was best to dismiss him quickly."

Uther nodded in response, if he had been angered by Merlin's actions he didn't show it. Arthur had wanted Gaius to support him but Arthur wondered if maybe the old physician was too stunned to do so.

Seeing Gaius was not providing any help, besides rising his eyebrow higher ( if that was even possible), he realized he had to say something more. He said something that made the old Arthur, the one oblivious to Merlin's magic, cringe. "Besides you must remember that Merlin was hired because he—because he saved me, twice now, father. If he were a sorcerer, I would have been dead ten times over now."

Arthur had the grace to scoff at the thought of Merlin being a sorcerer. Uther had been scratching his chin as he listened and tiredly he nodded in silent agreement. After a moment, he turned to Geoffrey.

"You heard my son, Monmouth, besides Merlin, as Arthur has made me the favor of remembering," He motioned to his head and Arthur controlled himself to not scoff at the sight. "The servant boy has saved Arthur on multiple occasions, even if the boy is never quite in his right senses he could never be a sorcerer. The boy is more clumsy and stupid as every day passes— no offense Gaius."

"None taken, Sire."

The librarian didn't ask for more, and Arthur saw with a pounding heart that Merlin's name was crossed off the list. A weight had been lifted off of his shoulders.

"Very well. You are all free to go. I have kept you long enough, go and get some rest." Uther turned towards Gaius and nodded to him in silent gratitude for his help. Gaius walked out along with the librarian, but Arthur could feel his eyes on him till the doors were closed.

Arthur waited a moment for his father to say something, but when he did not do so, he bowed to his King and started to make his way out the throne room when Uther called him. Arthur turned respectfully, if Arthur was scared he didn't show it.

"Sire?"

"This… manservant of yours, Merlin."

Arthur tried hard to keep a serene face. "Yes, father?"

"I will not have my motives questioned in my court, let alone by a servant. You know I don't indulge much in the way you treat your own servants, but on this occasion, you better show him a lesson Son, for you will be learning a lesson too." Uther sat on his throne, eyes fixed on his son, and his left hand toying with the stone. "Don't let anyone question your motives and orders. You will be king one day, Arthur, you will do good in remembering that."

Arthur nodded in understanding and walked out. Once he closed the doors behind him, he released a heavy sigh. Danger. Since when he had thought that being around his father was being in danger? He glanced around, and once he was sure he was not needed anymore either by the guards or his people, he returned to his chambers where a certain sorcerer with much of explanations to give waited for him in the darkness of his closet.

Arthur dismissed the guards that he had left to watch the entrance to his room. Turning his head to sweep up and down the hall before stepping inside, he noted the lack of movement and entered his room silently.

A few minutes passed where all he did was stand there, back against the door, eyes glued to the wooden dark doors of the closet that contained so many secrets between them. Thinking of all the questions he had harbored in mere three hours, he wasn't sure he should be doing this: going behind his father's back, turning his back to everything he had been taught to believe. A war was unleashing inside of him, and he didn't know which side would or should win. Gwen couldn't possibly be of help this time, her warm soul and kind words could not, for the first time, provide him with an answer—and Merlin, the only other human he had always confided in, was the issue of his problem.

So many emotions swirled inside him, his hands involuntary balled into fists, clenching and unclenching along with the turmoil of feelings inside him. Part of him wanted to wrench Merlin out the closet door and stab him then and there, while the other part of him wanted to shake Merlin till he spluttered everything he had been hiding. He wanted Merlin to tell him the truth. Why? Why did he lie?

Because Merlin had lied to him for years. Years! And still…. Then why he had protected him a few minutes ago? Why, pray tell, had he lied straight to his father's face? For just… for just Merlin?

Finally, it was his own father's words that helped him through his predicament.

He was not going to let anyone question his motives. Even his own father. The complete silence compelled him to walk toward what would be a long night of whispered talks. He slowly walked to the closet, with small and silent steps, almost expecting Merlin to just burst out. When he got closer, he stopped again. His hands went to his hair in desperation still unsure of how to proceed, how to face this predicament. It was at that moment though that he heard the quiet sobs of his friend pass through the closet door and Arthur forgot all about his anger.

Merlin was crying for God's sake!

Suddenly, all Arthur could feel was remorse. He felt like, if he lost Merlin, he might as well never be king, because if he turned his back on Merlin now he was never going to be able to forgive himself. Merlin was his friend. Despite everything else, Merlin was his friend, and right now said friend needed his compassion... at least some understanding.

He didn't want to be that kind of king. A king that didn't listen, that just acted, that never wanted to hear different points of view or one that never wanted his authority to be questioned. He didn't want to be a king that would turn on his friends based on lousy opinions of them. He didn't want to be a tyrant.

Arthur realized he didn't want to be like his father.

Arthur retreated back to the door of his room and this time he opened and closed it harder. The sobs stopped right away. Arthur gave Merlin five whole minutes to recover before he opened the closet door gently but surely, as to not startle the warlock that was hiding inside. Merlin was curled on the floor of the closet, sitting with his knees propped to his chest and his arms around his knees. The tears were dry on his face but even through his calm demeanor, Arthur could see his red eyes and downcast attitude.

Arthur stepped to one side; and Merlin sighed, haphazardly stood up, and walked out. Arthur could see all of his manservant's muscles tense and cringe from the posture he had endured for hours, and a part of him registered that if he was worried about this minimal thing. (The idiot chose to hide there himself, For God's sake!) He almost laughed at the idea of hanging Merlin.

Merlin and Arthur eyed each other for a second. Arthur opened his mouth to speak.

Merlin beat him.

"I'm going to die, aren't I? They know I wasn't there, they are probably looking for me."

"Merlin..." Arthur began to talk when Merlin interrupted, in normal circumstances, Arthur would have thrown something at him.

Merlin began pacing and—against what Arthur had imagined—he was more or less ignoring Arthur as Merlin babbled. "They are, isn't it? Oh God. Gaius will be so disappointed, after all he did to protect me…my Mom will be crushed… she warned me, time and time again…and I never listened! " Merlin whispered hysterically, a crazy and detached look in his eyes. "This is the capital of all places not-magical! Thinking back I think I deserve a price, I lasted years."

Merlin was definitely talking to himself now, and Arthur stood back, loss as what to say, unable to think properly anymore.

"Maybe it's better this way," Merlin said as he tried to control the tears.

"Merlin…" Arthur was torn between smiling or cringing at seeing his friend taking this so… so lightly, like him dying would mean nothing at all, like if he somehow was expendable. That thought registered like cold water running through his veins. Merlin thought he was not needed, not wanted. With so many friends, a loving mother, Gaius, even Sir Gwaine and Lancelot who loved Merlin like a brother... how? How could Merlin think he was expendable? That person would not miss him?

Merlin kept rambling and pacing around the room.

"Oh gods. What now? What now? Wait… Did Gaius try to protect me? Oh Gods, I just… I need to tell Lancelot. He needs to get Gaius out of Camelot if Uther— ugh…" Merlin ran his hands through his hair in exasperation. Looking at the door for a moment, almost expecting Uther to show up at the mere mention of the name, he muttered, "I have a letter already written. It's under a loose floorboard in my room under my bed. Give it to my mother."

Arthur furrowed his eyebrows, Merlin (And Arthur was sure) could not have possibly had gone and written a letter, he was trapped inside the closet! It gradually dawned on the prince that Merlin had written that letter before this. Once again he wanted to say something, but he choked on his own words. Merlin didn't even notice.

"Gwaine, tell Gwaine to deliver it, of course you wouldn't," Merlin said when Arthur had failed to answer him. Merlin wasn't mad; he was just delivering orders around as he kept pacing, blinking unshed tears as he tried to keep up his brave façade.

Arthur was speechless. As foreign as the thought of killing Merlin was to him, Merlin, apparently, had already come to terms with it eons ago. He was already talking about letters, last goodbyes, and protecting his precious people. Was this how all magic people lived their lives? Already knowing that sooner rather than later they would die? He felt sick just thinking about it.

"Merlin…" Arthur finally managed to say for the third time. "I'm not going to kill you."

"Of course not," Merlin said without missing a beat, however, he had stopped pacing as his voice was low and sad. "The king will. Tomorrow by sunset…in a pyre."

Arthur was sure that the next five seconds they both imagined how that would go.

"Kill me," Merlin suddenly spluttered looking up to look directly at Arthur's eyes. In his last moment of braveness before the end came, his eyes fierce and hands set. "If I'm going to die, I would rather die by your sword right now than tied to a pyre." It was Merlin's only request as fire burned in his soul.

For a moment no one said anything, Merlin just stood there, submissive as always, his eyes looking something very intently above Arthur's shoulder. Arthur took his sword from his belt and Arthur gave Merlin a point in his mind for bravely staying put at the sight of it. Arthur moved the sword from hand to hand, pondering on what he had learned from just hearing and watching Merlin for the past five minutes.

Arthur eyed his sword as he thought a hundred thoughts a second.

Merlin was ready to die. Right now. Merlin was a sorcerer… and still, he had not tried to flee. For God's sake! Merlin had magic, and Arthur was still in one piece, right? His mind was at a loss. Arthur knew that Merlin could have killed him a thousand times over the past few years—magic or no magic— but Arthur? Could Arthur just let it go that easily? The fact that his friend was a sorcerer, something that was born to be killed?

It was that thought that terrified Arthur, and the sword shook for a second in his hand.

'Born to be killed'

In the hours that he had time to think at the Main Hall, he had discovered that the trepidation of turning Merlin into his father paled in comparison to the fear he had of himself. Could he trust Merlin again? And more importantly, could Merlin trust Arthur? Because this time, with no secrets between them, it would be on both sides. They would have to trust each other completely if neither wanted to die in the process.

The question, itself, was simple.

Could they trust each other?

Merlin stood straighter when he saw the resolve in the prince's eyes. Merlin knew this was it. Arthur raised the sword to Merlin's neck, slowly and deliberately as Arthur's eyes never left Merlin's. Arthur's gaze was grave as something unsettled him beyond belief. Merlin didn't even blink when the cold side of the sword tapped him on the neck gently. Merlin, if anything, stood straighter, his eyes set, ready to take his death.

In that feeble moment, Arthur saw everything in Merlin's eyes.

Arthur was stunned by what he saw.

Arthur lowered his sword after a moment and tossed it onto the bed, then he walked to the table and sat heavily on a wood seat. The palms of his hands against his tired eyes, trying to ease the pain—and hide the unshed tears that he refused Merlin to see— the sun outside had started to rise and slowly the cold room began to feel warmer, and Arthur felt exactly like that. The night had finally given way to the morning, and slowly but surely, the sun was rising on the horizon. Just like his realizations.

His tired brain made the connection of something his father read to him years and years ago, when Arthur and Morgana were little and enjoyed hearing stories of knights, kings, and queens. 'It's either when the sun hides behind the mountains or the very first light at the dawn than any man gets their resolve.'

For a moment everything was quiet and then, Arthur laughed. It built up slowly, from his chest to his shoulders, first as soft chuckles and then whole-heartedly.

His most loyal person in the entire kingdom wasn't a knight, or a guard, nor even Gwen, it was Merlin! Merlin of all people!

"Arthur?"

"Take a seat." Was all that Arthur managed to say. After a moment, when he controlled himself enough to speak, he motioned for Merlin to move; and Merlin, almost scared and ready to bolt if showed any kind of threat than the one he had just faced, finally took a seat in front of Arthur. Arthur managed to smile causing Merlin to become more bewildered by the second as he anxiously looked around. Arthur let the silence grow for a moment as he finally found the words to convey his thoughts. "I have a lot of questions, but for now… I just need one thing. One answer, that's all I ask."

Arthur wanted to ask about a hundred things, but he was still afraid of what he would find out if he dared going there. Before he could comprehend the reality, Arthur needed to grasp that the man sitting in front of him, trusting him with his life and the other way around, was a sorcerer.

"Why? Why did you do it?" Arthur said gently, his demeanor sober once again, ready to face the answer. "Why did you lie?"

Merlin sighed, and his eyes shifted towards the window. A stray ray of sun hitting his skin, for a moment or two they were silent.

"Because I was afraid," He finally answered and then he shifted his eyes to his hands. It took him a moment before he could speak but Arthur realized this far gone Merlin was about to say the only thing that could make Arthur understand. "One day Arthur you will be king. You will be the best King that Camelot had ever seen. One day you will bring prosperity and peace to this land. I believe in you, Arthur, and I believe in everything you represent... so, I vowed to protect you till that day came… to be your friend and protector when you needed it the most— I know how hard the path has been set for you, but if I wanted you to become the greatest king Camelot will ever see I couldn't afford to be killed before time and in order to do that…"

Merlin didn't finish as he just shrugged with a half-sad smile and opened his hands.

Five whole minutes passed where each man didn't say or do anything besides stare at the wooden table. The whole room was lit up now, and it was about time (if they had gone to sleep, for Merlin to come barging in to wake Arthur with breakfast. The sounds around the castle began to be heard and Arthur realized this day was going to be a common day to most of the inhabitants of the kingdom.

Uther will once again sit on his throne, his guards will go on patrol, his knights will train, Gwen will look as beautiful as always, his people will trade and sell, and farmers will take care of their fields. Travelers will get lost and children will go out and play begging to get their knees scrapped, Gaius will raise his eyebrow, and Gwaine will go to the tavern. Camelot will have a normal day. If they were lucky, no eventualities will arise and late at night, everybody will go to sleep peacefully to await the next day.

Arthur will never admit it, not even in future years, not even when time passed and his children ask for 'Uncle's Merlin and Dad's Adventure Stories' and finally, after a full good life he dies, in one side his wife and the other Merlin, he never says it but for him today was just like in that story. Today, just at the break of dawn, he had understood that even if he failed; if he never became king, if Camelot fell, if Morgana succeeded in whatever she's plotting, if Gwen ever left him for a better man, if he ever doubted himself, the man beside him would not.

He always will have Merlin.

It was an unmovable truth, like his eyes were blue, and the sun rises every morning.

"Merlin…" When Arthur spoke, if his voice shook a little neither of them mentioned it. He waited till the warlock stubbornly looked up. "Thank you."

A silent conversation passed in a second between them; gratitude, relief, anger, friendship, understanding and in that second there was no barrier. Arthur was no Prince of Camelot and Merlin was no servant. They were friends, brothers united by destiny. Merlin managed to smile as silent tears ran freely down his face. He even laughed a little when reality hit him at full force, everything was going to be alright, stubbornly like a five-year-old he tried to get rid of the tears as he shook his head, chuckling. Arthur rolled his eyes warmly at the sight of Merlin.

"God, stop the crying, you idiot," Arthur said trying to ease the tension. "I'm going to punch you, so you can have a reason to cry."

"I can't help it!" Merlin's smile got even wider as he scrubbed his face trying to put his emotions in check. He sighed with relief and looked around happily. Arthur was sure that for Merlin his whole life had changed too. He bounced on his seat like a child. "Wait, does this mean I can use magic now?"

Arthur stiffened. Yes, Merlin was not evil or anything, but still, magic or what he thought to believe about magic was still engraved in his soul. It will take a while to get used to it, even more time to eventually get over the fact of what he had just discovered. However, as with any great changes, little steps must be taken: one at a time.

"I—um, I… yes, I guess..." Arthur tried to say in a confident tone, and Merlin bounced happily.

"Oh God! You are already the best-crowned prince there is—of course, because there is only one. I think that even Gwaine can do a better job than you at times— but... you are better than nothing, right?" impishly he shrugged. "Anyway, can you imagine how hard it was to polish and undent your armor while trying to use magic when people come and go to the armory at all times? Can you?!" Merlin shook his hands in front of him, trying to convey such a complex feeling.

Arthur put his hands on the table, a look of resignation on his face. All this power… and Merlin was thinking about how easy it will be to polish his armor now.

Arthur was still unsure if Merlin could kill him even if he wanted.

"You, the ultimate idiot, showing me the way to go." He had never been good with emotions and so far tonight had turned out a very emotional one. He even scoffed as he talked, slowly but surely trying to work his way back to normal, seeing that Merlin was back to his babbling and happy self. Arthur crossed his arms. "You and me, building Camelot for the better, who would have thought?"

There was a silence for a second.

"I did."

So there! Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it!

'Juliet'lovestory'