A/N At the end! Enjoy!

Thank you for the reviews and all the follows!

Long, long, long chapter so I can have time to arrenge my thoughts for the next ones.

-It takes courage to stand up alone and speak... but it also takes courage to sit down and listen.-

Winston Churchill

"Merlin and Emrys."

The second the armory door was closed both men turned to assess the other. Lancelot determined that putting the future king and himself in an armory when Arthur was as angry as a bear was a very, very bad idea.

"You know." Arthur accused the Knight, eyeing Lancelot up and down with a grave stare, he took a sword in a silent but clear announcement that he didn't trust Lancelot just yet with that information.

"I've known for more than three years." Lancelot explained.

"Merlin said no one else knew." Even if Arthur was mad at Merlin he trusted Merlin's every word even now. Lancelot smiled inwardly, already Arthur was making all the right decisions—even if right now was not the time.

"I made him promise to keep it a secret till we were sure that you… well—" Lancelot's stare traveled to the sword Arthur was holding. "We wanted to give you time to understand."

Arthur raised the sword higher suddenly aware of the place they were in, however Lancelot did not move to take any shield or sword to protect himself. "How do I know you are the Lancelot I know. How do you know about Merlin? How do I know this— is not magic." And by 'this' Arthur's sword pressed just a bit on Lancelot's chest..

Lancelot raised his hands solemnly understanding the point of view. "I'm not Morgana, or some possessed puppet of hers. I'm Lancelot. Your knight."

"Prove it." Arthur demanded, there was a crazy look on Arthur's eye for a moment and Lancelot wondered how much dark magic Arthur had been subjected recently, events that maybe—as usual—Merlin had kept to himself.

Lancelot looked directly into Arthur's eyes for a moment. He didn't know how to prove it. Nothing he said would be worthy enough. It was proving to be a very bad idea to intervene without Merlin there. Merlin had told him to wait for a reason and Lancelot was seeing why now. Arthur trusted his knights with his life, however, when it came down to magic he distrusted everything and everyone, and he was on his right to do so having known the dark side of magic for such a long time.

Lancelot finally did what he had done years ago.

He slowly lowered his body to one knee, bowed his head and swore his loyalty to his king. "You taught me the values of being a knight, the code by which a man should live his life. To fight with honor, for justice, freedom, and all that's good. I believe in the world that you will build." Lancelot closed his eyes when he felt the movement of the sword. "I stood by that oath then, and I stand by it now."

There was a silence for a moment before Arthur took a step back and Lancelot heard him sigh. Lancelot looked up curiously and saw the relief on Arthur's eyes before they were stoic again, however, there was some warm in them now. Arthur motioned him with a hand to stand up and Lancelot rose slowly to his feet.

"I would never hurt Merlin. He's my friend." Lancelot said honestly. Right now they needed to trust each other if they wanted Merlin to survive in Camelot. Lancelot did not know what was going on, but he knew that if both Lancelot and Arthur were united his chances of survival would be greater. Merlin had told Arthur his secret, and Lancelot was taking the first step in the direction of bringing a new Kingdom where Merlin could be free. Arthur nodded and looked down.

"If Merlin told you to wait." Arthur asked tiredly but still aware. "What changed your mind?" Arthur asked gravely, his hand shaking slightly, betraying his otherwise calm facade. Although if Arthur was shaking out of anger or sadness, Lancelot couldn't tell. "Why are you telling me this now if you feared my reaction? Tell me a reason to bring this up now of all times."

"Im here on Merlin's behalf." Lancelot said eyeing Arthur, just how much did Arthur know? How much could Lancelot say? "I know you don't want to hear it but Merlin has saved your life more times than I can count."

"I know." Arthur said gravely and Lancelot blinked furrowing his eyebrows.

They were silent but none of them looked away, each of them dragging conclusions out of this.

"When?" Arthur finally asked begrudgingly after several minutes still holding the sword till his knuckles were white. "When did you found out about Merlin. How."

Lancelot eyed Arthur up and down before complying. Apparently Arthur's way for asking information came as orders delivered from a commander to their knights.

"When I killed the griffin a few years ago—well, Merlin did, he used his magic to protect me. I was practically walking to my death." Lancelot said honestly as he finally sat on a stool and clasped his hands gently on top his knees. "Of course no one could know so someone had to take the credit for it. He didn't tell me, he even lied to my face but I knew what I had seen. So I kept his secret." Lancelot saw as Arthur took the information in stride but Lancelot was a skilled observant and warrior to know any other man would have taken two steps back for such a blow. "He's my friend Arthur, my brother. We are on the same side." Lancelot said sharply, he wasn't angry per say but he couldn't understand why on Earth Arthur was angry at Merlin, and whatever he had done Lancelot was sure it couldn't possibly be that bad.

"Four years?" Arthur said aghast and his hand shook, he pointed at Lancelot with the shining weapon. "For four years you have known?"

"It doesn't matter when it happened." Lancelot shook his head, this wasn't about who knew, when or how, it was about Merlin. Right now. "The reason I'm bringing it up—betraying Merlin's wishes— is because you refuse to listen to him—"

"Listen to him?" Arthur spoke, his voice cutting Lancelot's and his sword cutting the air between them. "That's all I have done lately! Hear as he talks about magic and spells I don't know hell about, hear him speak of things that happened years ago that were all of his making, he kept me in the dark for years Lancelot!"

"I understand—"

"You don't." Arthur spat as he took a step forward. "You figured out he had magic the moment you met him. You have any idea how I felt? You have any idea how many times I told him that I wanted magic to be eradicated! How many times he lied to my face?" Arthur raised the sword to keep Lancelot from speaking. "I'm fine I understand. I know why he did the things he did but don't dare say you get me because I trusted him."

"Don't you trust him now? God's Arthur. He's basically every step of the way saving your life and he doesn't even gets a 'thank you' from you!" In the dim light Lancelot was sure Arthur was trying to cover how hurt he was by his words. Lancelot gave Arthur a few minutes for Arthur to process the information… and what was to come.

In his own way Lancelot wanted to test Arthur, he was his prince and he would die for him if it ever came down to it, but on the other hand he had seen how much sacrifices and pain Merlin had to endure every day. Every single one of them. He was sure not even Merlin saw it the way but Lancelot did. The biggest heartache he had for his friend was the fact that Merlin had to hide who he was at heart. As long as Merlin could not walk around doing magic to help people Lancelot was going to suffer in silence for his friend. A friend that was kind, incredibly intelligent, an amazing human being, someone that had enough power within him that could kill every single human on Earth if he ever desires to do so…

'I wasn't born to be a leader, Lancelot, I was born to protect and serve.' Merlin had once told him. 'I'm good at helping others. It's just the way my magic is. Every sorcerer has a different kind of magic…a different stone to build on as to speak—to protect, rule, kill, cure, serve, eradicate, suffer, create— every person with magic can do all these things, however the rock is different for each of us, and mine… it just wasn't meant to rule.'

"He does everything just out of the good of helping people." Lancelot said slowly. "Just because that's how he is. He's the most selfless person… I have never met someone like him before."

He waited patiently for Arthur to say something, anything, however, Arthur looked like he was carved on stone.

"I know you don't want to hear it." Lancelot repeated trying to see Arthur's real feelings about this. "But Merlin decides to just be your servant every day instead of anything else. The moment he came into Camelot he choose to help you, despite—"

"THAT'S WHAT BOTHERS ME!" Arthur finally broke and jammed the sword on the wooden wall. All anger loose that even left Lancelot unprepared. "THAT'S WHAT BOTHERS ME. HOW LANCELOT?! How can he do that?! How can he bow to my Father, a man that hates magic, when Merlin could kill him. when he could claim the throne and have Magic restored? And still he's my manservant… do you know how I feel? You think I don't get it, but I do. I do understand Merlin, and it… it amazes me that someone like him exists and still he chose to lie to my face every day!" Arthur said disgusted. "I would've never hurt him! He told me the truth because he was about to die Lancelot. If it had been up to him I would have been on my death bed and even then who knows if he would've told me!"

Lancelot was beginning to get angry too. "He was afraid, Arthur! He's a human being too, wouldn't you be afraid if you had been him?"

"I know he was afraid that he would die!" Arthur said enraged pointing the sword in his direction, right at Lancelot's chest to get his point across. "I'm the prince I know what happens when someone is born with magic, Lancelot! Of course he was afraid, he was on his right to be."

"Why are you so dense?!" Lancelot finally snapped at his prince for the first time, pushing the sword that Arthur was holding against his chest to the side easily. "Don't you get it? You—Merlin could bring Camelot to its ashes Arthur, he can flee every dungeon you put him in and kill every enemy he faces, he can over take the throne any moment but he chooses every day to be your servant. To protect you. Us. To protect the Kingdom you so love and the earth we live. Do you really think he was afraid of his life when you found him that night in the closet?— Arthur, he wasn't afraid of dying!"

"Then—" Arthur blinked and his anger paused for a moment.

"He was afraid of losing you!" Lancelot snapped, letting the silence ring for a moment to let it sink. "He was afraid of losing his friends! To lose his mother and Gaius! Don't you get it? All his magic can't make people love him! Can't make people accept it. He can't protect the people he cares the most about. If he's found out he can flee if he wishes so but guess who has to stay behind and die for him?" Lancelot yelled. Arthur couldn't quite see yet the magnitude. "You know why he moved to Camelot?"

I felt like I didn't fit anymore…

Arthur felt like he had been kicked in the stomach.

Arthur would have yelled in frustration if Lancelot had not been there. The biggest fear of Merlin wasn't people finding about his magic… was losing people because of it, at the realization Arthur swaged on his spot feeling like cold water was running in his veins.

Whenever he thought he had figured Merlin out he was wrong each time. He really wanted to kick something and cry at the same time, how could someone be so many things at once? How could Merlin live each day like this?

"In the Kingdom we live, we are thought to fear and hate what Merlin is." Lancelot said slowly after a moment and Arthur finally tired sat on a bench.

"A world were Merlin is something to be hated is a world that shouldn't exist Lancelot." Arthur said with hoarse voice as he looked desperate and Lancelot could see the guilt on his face. "It's Merlin we are talking about… what happened today It was my fault. He was only trying to help, as always, the idiot…" Arthur said with grief, all the anger had left him but the guilt… The guilt had been eating him for hours and all the training and effort and tiredness couldn't get rid of it. "Im not angry at Merlin, Lancelot, I'm angry at myself. How did I not notice? All this time… you were away for two years then came back and all this time you have known but me? We practically see each other every day… for god's sake he's my manservant my closest— and never… it never crossed my mind. All those times we managed to get alive miraculously and I thought we were lucky or that I had done something right but it was him. All the fucking time it was him watching my back. What does this makes me? You saw who he was and accepted him right away, choosing to keep his secret in an instant." Arthur looked down with dread, apparently now that they were both on the same side Arthur couldn't stop talking, for so long he had wanted to talk with someone and now that he did he just couldn't stop. Guilt took over.

All those times he had called him a coward, an idiot. God, all those times he had told Merlin that magic was the worst thing that happened to Camelot, and the list could go forever… the worse, Arthur thought, was that day when Merlin told Arthur to kill him.

Arthur understood the magnitude just now.

Merlin could have killed him, fled the city, literally burn his sword and melt it, could have done a million things to scape his fate… and Merlin had decided to die but his sword and stay loyal to the very end. Merlin had decided that the only person who deserved to kill him was Arthur and Arthur alone.

"I wanted to kill him, Lancelot." Arthur said in a whisper in need to hear some kind words for such a horrible thought from weeks ago. That thought had hunted him since that moment and even though Merlin had told him he knew Arthur wouldn't… Arthur had doubt it. A second, but he had doubt it. "There was a flick of a second where I really wanted to do it—What does that make me?"

There was a long silence where Arthur just kept his eyes low to the ground. A monster. To kill your best friend. To kill without a second thought. To just end a life so merciless. Not just a life. Merlin.

"It makes you human, Arthur." Lancelot finally said taking a seat in front of him, when Arthur looked up Lancelot had his representative warm smile. "Nothing less."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Arthur paced around the little armory swinging his sword aimlessly and lazily just to concentrate on something. He was so tired of the lies, of the deceives he have had to endure all this years and he decided if he was moving forward with this sorcery thing he would need to hear from every point of view possible. He rounded the armory five more times before he spoke again, seating once again with the sword at his knees.

"What do you know about Merlin, exactly?" Arthur questioned after a while, hoping his demeanor showed that he was ready to keep the conversation going.

Lancelot tilted his face to the side and crossed his arms. "Not much honestly, it's more about trust than knowing information. Sometimes he tells me, other times he just keeps problems to himself. Truth is besides making sure he stays alive and an occasional encouragement there's nothing else I can do." Lancelot said with grief. "Merlin is on his own most times than not."

"Useless," Arthur said understanding that part all too well. "It makes you feel useless."

"You have no idea." Lancelot sighed.

Arthur stood up and made another round in the armory. Swinging and cutting empty air as he went, processing what he knew now with movement.

"Do you know anything about Merlin's father?" Arthur asked when he was at level with Lancelot with what he hoped was a strong voice.

Lancelot eyed Arthur and when Arthur raised his brows he nodded in reluctance. "Yes…I wasn't here but he more or less told me when I came back."

Arthur waited. "And?"

A long silence enveloped them and Arthur peered into the darkness at the knight's face before he froze. Lancelot couldn't even meet his stare. For a few seconds Arthur just stood there, taking what this heavy silence meant and then he cursed as he jammed the sword on the ground between his feet. He put his hands on the hilt and waited for Lancelot to correct him. He needed him to tell him he was wrong.

That never came, of course.

"No. No Lancelot." Arthur said as he heavily sat on the bench, he had no more energy to stand right anymore, elbows on his knees and his face covered by his hands. "Please tell me this is not what I think this is. Please tell me my father didn't kill his. Or that I did. Tell me that his Father is dead but not because of me."

There was a long silence after that.

"I'm sorry."

Arthur felt like crying for the second time that day. God, he had hurt too many people in just twenty four hours and too many had hurt him in even less time. Morgana. Uther. Merlin. Agravaine. Lancelot. Gwen.

Someone made it stop.

He managed to keep his stoic face even if deep inside he felt like he wanted to go for another hour of training, however, at seeing the sad look on Lancelot's face Arthur's façade broke a little again.

"Who was him?" He asked terrified to find out. Was he a sorcerer like Merlin? Was he killed because of this? Merlin had told Arthur he had never met his Father, so maybe Uther, his own Father had made sure of that.

"He never talks about him," Lancelot said with sadness. "All I know is that he was a Dragonlord."

Arthur' eyes snapped to Lancelot's face.

Merlin had told Arthur about the Great Dragon. That it was alive and because he was a warlock it obeyed him. Arthur didn't sleep the night Merlin told him he was a Dragonlord, however, he didn't mention how you get to be one… Arthur had assumed that it was a privilege that you were born with when you are as magical as Merlin, however… if that had been the case from the beginning… why would they ever had gone to find Balinor in the first place?

"Balinor." Arthur mumbled and he saw the recognition on Lancelot's eyes.

Everything clicked in a second.

Arthur felt like he was choking, drowning and he lowered his eyes once again.

He had told Merlin no man deserved his tears. He had told Merlin to not cry for his Father, to not build a tomb… to forget about him and return to Camelot… because they had a dragon to kill.

A Dragon that had forged the same sword Merlin had gifted him.

Oh god.

The figurine he had seen Merlin admiring occasionally when he thought he was not watching… the dragon sculpted in wood. Arthur's eyes prickled with tears but he refused to let even one out. He had thought it was Merlin's way to remember such a person, a Dragonlord after all, or he thought that it was just the way Merlin was, always the emotional one. He had been wrong.

Merlin all the way back to Camelot had been mourning his dead Father.

"His Father died protecting him…" The more he learned about Merlin the more Arthur felt that he didn't deserve a friend like Merlin, not in this life or the next. "I didn't even spare a second thought about him."

"I don't think Merlin is mad about it. You didn't know." Lancelot said and Arthur shook his head remembering the fight, the horrible things he said to Merlin just a few hours ago.

"How, Lancelot? After I had hurt Merlin so much, after taking everything that makes a person human how can you say he's not mad? He should be." Arthur said lowering his eyes. "I would be."

Arthur wanted answers from the only man that could give them rationally to him. Gaius was basically a stepfather towards Merlin and Merlin was the subject on the matter, however, Lancelot and Arthur stood on almost even ground. Arthur needed someone that faced the same fears as he did.

"I took away his freedom; he can't use magic because he dies if he does and his only crime was being born, and stills he needs to hide such an amazing power from the world, for my benefit. He can't go back to Ealdor so he chooses to stay here, in the very heart of the Kingdom— the place that hates Magic—As my manservant. Do you have any idea how that feels? He's my friend, and he—he cleans stables and— and brings me dinner and wakes me up with stupid retorts in the morning and he's fine with that. Tell me how is that even normal? How any of this is fine?!"

All the anger of the day was boiling inside him and Lancelot was there bravely hearing everything he had to say. It was like when he finally found someone he could talk to he couldn't stop. All the nightmares and doubts and terrors that he has been having inside of him for weeks just decided to unleash.

"There are times that I want to tell him to leave, to tell him to pack his satchel and sod destiny. To find a life in a kingdom where magic was not looked down at and come back once im King. There are times that I wished my Father could see Merlin the way I do. Wanna know what he does instead? What my Father does for him? He forgets his name and looks down at him and if he could have his way Merlin would be killed along with Gaius, his mother and the rest of his family— honor and loyalty be damned if he ever found out— but I guess Uther beat me at that, isn't it? He killed his father! He said he was betrayed by Uther! For god's sakes I was there Lancelot. I was there and I didn't even spare the man a glance!"

After the outburst the silence was a heavy blanket on their shoulders, only their uneven breathings and the night caresses where with them. The silence was answer enough to Arthur's troubled soul. The concept of Merlin still escaped him it seemed.

"You are not your father, Arthur. Remember that."

Arthur scoffed at the irony of the whole situation. If Lancelot only knew. "How do you know I won't become exactly like him? I mean, who assures me that? Who assures you that once I'm King I won't turn my back on Merlin?"

"Six months ago" Lancelot interrupted. "Merlin caught a horrible disease; nothing in Camelot could save him. You, Gwaine and I left for a two-week trip to bring the medicine he would need."

"Yes but he wasn't the only one who had it." Arthur remembered that clearly as day.

"I do remember, Percival had it too among a few dozens of the town's people so we left to get this medicine. We faced great trials but we never desisted knowing how many lives were at stake, even when the King told you to stay you decided to accompany us. You wanted to make sure everyone knew how much you cared for each soul we would be able to help." Lancelot said and watched as Arthur's eyes stayed glued to the floor. "We came back exactly two weeks later. We were tired and bruised, he had fought thieves along the way and we had barely eat at all in two days but you took a vial— even if other people were in more need, even if your knights were in peril, even if you didn't know the condition of your father—you took a vial and ran to meet Merlin. The first thing you did. Then you stayed the whole day by his side and when he recovered he babbled about everything that apparently we had missed while we were gone."

They were silent for a long time. The sun outside had died long ago, leaving the starry night that was barely visibly by the window, and the once warm place had begun to get colder as the minutes ticked by.

"Uther wouldn't have even given Merlin a vial," Lancelot said with doom. "I have nothing against your Father, he tries and does the best he can, I will die for my King any day but I know Merlin would be insulted if you ever compared yourself to him."

Arthur glared at Lancelot for a moment for speaking so boldly but after a moment, he put his hands like in a prayer in front of his face and closed his eyes. Arthur tilted his head to the window. It's just so much to take for one day he decided. Enough for a lifetime.

Finally, after only God knew when Arthur stood up and walked out of the armory in calmness, Lancelot behind the prince and once outside they looked at the gray and black stones of the castle yards away. The tilting stars adorned the sky and they breathed the fresh air that came from the woods. The field empty of any living soul, they stood there in what could only be described as the calm after the storm.

Arthur turned towards his knight and took Lancelot's shoulder with one hand in silent gratitude. Arthur wanted to say many things but in the end, he could only find a few words. "Thank you."

After a moment, Arthur lowered his hand and began walking to the palace with Lancelot by his side. Both men immersed on their own thoughts.

Neither of them noticed a crouched person on the side of the armory just under the barely open window. A person who was so astonished at what had been said that it wouldn't move for a few hours. Even when Arthur and Lancelot were out of sight that person didn't move till the night gave way to the light.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Merlin came back to the castle late at night. The moon was bright enough to light his way in the darkness as he hastily made his way down the path.

Merlin had gone and vented his frustrations by his favorite spot in Freya's lake hoping against hope that Freya could hear him and calm his troubled soul. Once he had regained his thoughts he had called Kilgarrah in airs to understand what they should do about Uther's predicament. What should be the next step. The dragon had not said anything useful as usual— Kilgarrah had told him enough times that he didn't care about Uther's life one way or the other. Besides the dragon just loved to talk in riddles to much of Merlin disgrace and Merlin had come to understand that as long as Arthur wasn't in danger, any pain that fell to Uther was fine by the Great Dragon.

So Merlin in the end had come and gone with a heavy heart. He felt a little better now after being with the Dragon though—, who had assured him that what was happening to Uther wans't his fault and warned Merlin about Morgana. (Not that he needed a reminder, honestly) The Dragon, just like Merlin, had a feeling that Uther's loss of memory wasn't but the beginning of a greater plan.

He came back from his reverie when he came to the unused door he used to get away from the castle at nights. He looked around in hopes of catching Agravaine leaving but after a few more minutes he gave up. Even with his suspicions about the man, Agravaine could come and go from the palace as he pleased. Just third in command after Uther and Arthur no one would question him even if Agravaine left by the front doors. He looked around the deserted woods just one more time before his eyes shined gold and the door opened unlocked.

Merlin had not even passed the threshold when he felt the presence of someone on the other side. He didn't waste time. No one with good intentions would be there waiting for him in the middle of the darkness. Instantly he raised his hand murmured a spell and the man in the shadows was tied by invisible ropes against a wall.

The man trashed for a few seconds while Merlin opened the door completely; the faint light of the moon reflecting on a very angered man and Merlin had just one clever thing to say:

"Oh, crap."

"MERLIN! Untie me at once, you idiot!" Arthur trashed one more time against the ropes and Merlin closed the door behind him in a hurry but other than that did nothing else. Now with the door close at least he wasn't able to see Arthur's angered face. What was Arthur—?

"MER—LIN!"

"If I let you down you are not going to kill me right?" Merlin half joked and he could feel Arthur's glare in the middle of the dark. "Right, sorry."

Merlin murmured under his breath and a shining gold sphere raised over his heads, now he could see that it was Arthur indeed, who looked more aghast than ever in his life as he looked down to his feet— who were dangly a few inches from the floor— his back pressed against the wall by an invisible force and a burning light levitating over his head. Arthur looked speechless for a moment, like he always was when Merlin performed magic and then he glared at Merlin, trashing once again with no avail apparently remembering that he ought to be mad.

Merlin couldn't help it, he laughed but the sad look on Merlin's eyes didn't go unnoticed by Arthur.

"MERLIN!" Arthur yelled again but even in his yell Merlin could feel the anxiousness. Arthur kept on trashing. "I don't fancy looking like a tapestry so put—me—down—!"

"I don't think I remember the spell." Merlin joked and Arthur bleached opening and closing his mouth before he glared. Merlin had the feeling that if Arthur would have been able he would have thrown something at his head.

"Are you really the best sorcerer of all times? God, you are useless."

Merlin just grinned impishly and raised a hand. His eyes a beautiful kind of gold as the ropes 'disappeared' and Arthur fell to the floor ungracefully. He stood up hurriedly as he brushed imaginary dust from his shoulders.

"Very funny, Merlin." Arthur snapped irritated.

After that none of them said anything else. There was no quick remark, no 'you idiot' or 'ungrateful prat' and soon the hallway looked almost soulless even when the two of them were standing just a few feet apart, each with his back against the wall.

Merlin looked to the side—unable to face Arthur for the moment— and noticed a bag resting against the wall. He raised his brows confused.

"You were going somewhere?"

Arthur who had looked deep in thought raised his eyes to meet Merlin and followed his gaze.

"No— in fact I was waiting for you." Arthur said as merrily as he could muster and walked to the bag, kneeled on the floor just in the middle of the hall and opened it.

"Waiting for me? What for? What happened? Is your father alright?" Merlin asked rapidly, already thinking of spells even if he didn't know which one he would need. "What do you need me for?"

Arthur looked struck by those words before he composed his features and finally sat, legs crossed and motioned for Merlin to sit in front of him with the bag in the middle of them. Merlin hurriedly obeyed. Weapons? Maps? Agravaine head? Well—maybe not his head but a plan.

Arthur began taking things out. Two silver goblets, a pouch with what Merlin supposed was water, and then food; chicken legs, pork, but also fruits; apples, strawberries, and something like looked like a few pounds of mango, all of them in silver plates or wrapped in fancy table cloth.

"F—Food?" Merlin said aghast. "I thought—"

"I don't know about you, but I'm starving." Arthur said as he began filling his own goblet and attacked a few slices of apples. Merlin blinked a few times and looked up and down the hallway. Was he imagining this? Wasn't Arthur angry with him just a few hours ago?

Slowly, almost afraid Arthur would smack his hand away, Merlin reached for a slice of mango and after a moment where Arthur just filled Merlin's goblet with water Merlin indulged himself on the food, taking a few grapes and popping them on his mouth.

"God, I had no idea I was this hungry."

"Me too." Arthur nodded as he took a huge gulp of water. "I had to sneak into the kitchens like a bloody thief to get all these. I was afraid Rossmerta would even deny me food in the middle of the night.

"She's a scary woman." Merlin chuckled in agreement. "She follows the rules as if her life depended on it."

Arthur widened his eyes, that was an understatement.

"You don't say. When I was a kid my Father wouldn't allow me to have dessert. Something stupid about sugar being bad for my health, so I would pay my manservant a golden coin for every chocolate treat he could get me." Arthur whispered as Merlin said something like (You should pay me for that! I do it for free!) "The kid left quite rich after just a year working for me. How he managed to get past Rosmerta remains a mystery to these days."

Merlin sighed and shook his head with mirth. "So we have to blame that manservant for your weight then. I knew it couldn't be my entire fault."

Merlin raised his arms in defense for a punch that never came. When he realized that, he put them down slowly squinting at Arthur in disbelief, usually Arthur never passed something as aggravating as insulting his figure. Arthur— who had stopped eating— was looking intently at the floor, like the floor was the richest tapestry he had ever seen.

"Merlin…" Arthur said after a moment and when both friends looked at each other Merlin smiled and this time he punched Arthur arm amiably. Arthur looked unsure at this and Merlin realized it was the first time he bumped Arthur on the shoulder as friends then Arthur just rolled his eyes.

"It's alright." Merlin said understanding what Arthur just couldn't bring himself to say. "Really, I'm used to it."

Arthur shook his head and Merlin knew that this was taking Arthur a lot of effort to just start.

Arthur was the kind of man who hated to see he had committed a mistake and also was a kind of man that demonstrated his thankfulness by actions more than words so right now—the apology Arthur was quietly delivering—was more than Merlin had ever expected: Arthur waiting alone in the dark for Merlin to come back, losing sleep, bringing food and sitting on the dirty ground to eat along with him in a hallway.

"No, no it's not and you shouldn't be 'used' to it. I should have never snapped like I did. I was completely out of line. I'm truly sorry." Arthur looked so sad and guilty that Merlin didn't have the heart to be angry with him any longer.

"What happened?" Merlin said with a impish smile. "Something happened."

"Lancelot told me— about you." Arthur said in a hurry before he glared in his direction. "You said nobody but Gaius knew."

Merlin dropped his plate with a loud clink and his eyes grew wide, he had not been expecting an answer at all. "Oh, no. Is he…?"

Arthur rolled his eyes at the reaction. "He's alive, contrary to common belief Merlin I'm not like my Father."

"Thank the Gods." Merlin said before he clasped a hand over his eyes in doom. "Sorry. Didn't meant it like that. Really. Anyway, how did it go? Did he punch you? Did you punch him? "

"Nobody punched anybody. We are civilized man, unlike you, who likes to hang people against a wall." Arthur snapped.

"I thought you were Agravaine!" Merlin excused himself.

"Well—I was not!"

"I know that now." Merlin defended himself and then like a kid he clasped his hands. "Anyway, what did Lancelot told you? What did you tell him? This is great! Finally! No more secrets. Gods, I wish I could have seen your face. Do you think Lancelot could recreate the entire conversation?"

"Are you sure?" Arthur said eyeing Merlin for any indication he was lying and as usual ignored his babbling self. "Don't lie. Who else knows?"

"Nobody else knows but you, Gaius and Lancelot. That's it." Merlin raised his hands in surrender. "Promise. This time for sure nobody else."

Arthur eyed Merlin up and down before he nodded.

"In any case he told me where to find you. He told that you sneaked in and out the castle past this door" He nodded to the wooden door behind Merlin as Merlin began eating again. "I decided to wait instead of going to look for you— in case we missed each other on the way."

"That just don't sound like Lancelot, he promised me he would not tell you."

"He's too loyal." Arthur said as he took anything in the plate.

"He would die for you," Merlin stated as clear as if the sky was blue. Arthur looked at Merlin as he ate, unaware that Arthur had been talking about Lancelot being loyal to Merlin and not himself but instead he took a gulp of water. Merlin was better off not knowing. "And he told me in great detail how bit of a prat I was being" (C'mon, Arthur I tell you that every day, no news there) "and…he told me about—about Balinor."

Silence.

The silence was thick, upending, a kind of silence that followed a storm or a calm. Arthur gave Merlin a few seconds to recover from such a blow; he looked like Arthur had kicked him and left him out of breath just by words. Merlin slowly dropped his hand down forgetting about eating his eyes casted low.

"I am sorry for your loss." Arthur finally said what he should had said a long time ago. "I know it's been a year or so but—I can't imagine finding him and losing him so suddenly. I should have been there for you. Make a pyre and put his soul to rest accordingly. Merlin, I'm sorry."

Merlin sniffled and looked away. "It's been a long time. You didn't know."

Arthur sighed and ruffled his hair in anxiousness. "That's the thing, isn't it? You should have told me—however…" Arthur said taking a huge breath seeing the look on Merlin's face. "I believe that the past is the past. I know there are a lot of things I still do not know about you Merlin but trust me I won't hold them against you. I just hope you won't hold my mistakes from the past on me either. This time onwards… we—we will have each other. No more decisions to be made alone."

Merlin was playing with a piece of strawberry and Arthur forced his next words out as he coughed. He was only glad nor Lancelot or Gwen were there to witness such… such emotional talks. God, he was getting tired of them. "Just—next time something like this happens, tell me. We can't restore magic if we don't trust each other with this information. I can't be the King Albion is waiting if we don't work together. If we do then I would not snap at you and I won't have to… well—"

"Worry?"

"Gods no. I wasn't worried." Arthur crossed his arms and looked to the ground but Merlin raised his eyes amused. "I knew you would come back… eventually."

"Hmmm" Merlin said after a moment eyeing the blond prince. Arthur finally gave up and looked up like a five year old that was about to face verdict and Merlin grinned. "Well, apology accepted."

Arthur nodded relieved even if his face didn't show that much. Then a second later…

"Ow! What was that punch for? It's going to bruise! That was so—"

"You called me fat earlier I did notice—idiot. Now shut up and eat. We have a long day tomorrow—why are you even smiling?"

"Nothing. It's just since when Arthur Prat-dragon apologizes to anyone? I'm really honored. Really. The list must be so short… maybe just Gwen and me."

"Shut up, Merlin."

"Or maybe just me? Can I write this day down? Make it a holiday for the future? Can I tell Gaius?"

"No, there's no need. Trust me, it won't stay a habit."

Merlin had the grace to look deflated.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Agravaine watched in deadly silence as both friends exited the narrow hallway, always keeping himself in the darkness.

He had wanted to report to Morgana the events of the day, he had great hopes that their plans for having a tournament would be successful, however, when he had walked down the stairs he had seen a torch lighted by the end of the hallway yards away from him.

He quickly had dashed to the side of the wall and hastily had put out his torch as to not be seen. Once he was sure he had not attracted unwanted attention he had looked around the corner.

It was Arthur, he noticed, his nephew and –was that Merlin? What were they doing there sitting in the middle of the hallway at such hours…and were they eating? From such a distance he could barely see their faces, let alone hear what they were saying but the solely fact that they were there... almost waiting for someone made Aavaine blood run cold.

Did they know someone was coming and going through here? Did they know about him? No. That was impossible. He had killed the guards who had followed him the other day. If they knew it was him he would be already hanging up from a rope on the courtyard.

Then what were they doing there?

Maybe they had figured out someone had betrayed them.

In any case, he decided that in the end he would have to wait for them to be over, even if it took all night he would go and see Morgana. So he hid on the darkness keeping his back to the wall. Time passed and he noticed with a light heart that they were already leaving. He watched as they picked up their things and began walking to the stairs. Agravaine retreated further into an adjacent hall that leads to the crypts, far away enough so the torch's light wouldn't reflect on him and give him away.

When he heard their softballs and their talk he even stopped breathing, his eyes only focused on the two figures that appeared on his vision a few yards away.

That was when his mind stopped funtionating. Everything seemed to go in a slow pace.

Arthur— his hated nephew and his incompetent manservant were walking oblivious to his presence— however his mind wasn't focused on anything else… but the ball of light above their heads.

The light… the fire… it hadn't been a torch. Their figures came and went in a matter of a second and soon they were out of sight. The light retreated with them and their soft footfalls gave way to silence and darkness. In the middle of the almost tangible dark he felt something close to victory at the same time as dread and on Agravaine's face a dark smirk could be seen.

Agravaine didn't move from where he was for a while processing the information. His back firmly pressed against the wall with realization even after he was sure Arthur and Merlin—Merlin the sorcerer—were probably long gone.

With no further delay Agravaine walked down the hallway he knew perfectly not bothering to light up a torch. Morgana needed to know about this right away, as he opened the door almost blindly and mounted his horse he couldn't even believe it himself.

Merlin. Merlin had magic.

No, not Merlin.

Emrys.

A/N: God this chapter was way too hard to write. Lancelot and Arthur barely even talk in the show, I'm sure that over the year that Lancelot got to be a knight they talked a lot and were friends but that never happened in the show. I rewrote that part four or five times: I swear. I wrote, erased and wrote again before I was finally moderately happy with it. Still I'm not quite convinced but you tell me how it went. Please? I JUST wanted Arthur to be on a rollercoaster of emotions and Lancelot to be the perfect knight/friend, besides we already had a lecture from Gaius, it was about time Lancelot lectured Arthur, I hope that my fic shows that Arthur (finally) is growing up. My babies.

On a second note, Arthur and Merlin's part was my favorite. There's never really many struggles for me to write them besides having to erase lots of converstation otherwise the chapter would be endless. They are brothers from different mothers, they fight and amend things and life moves on and they just forgive each other each time. Gotta love that kind of love.

Yes. Yes yessss. Agravaine found out. *Doom music* and someone else did. Bets on who was it? Bets on what happens next because of it? All I know is that I expect LOTS of reviews when that chapter arrives.

Its already written just waiting for your reviews guys!

-Juliet'lovestory-