Disclaimer: IDOM

Okay, guys, so I'm in the library at my school at the moment because I signed on as a media worker, but no one's here to check anything out. Thankfully, that gives me some time to update. My computer at home is being mean to me, so I'd rather use a faster laptop so nothing gets lost or altered. :( Anyway, thank you all so much for the reviews! I really appreciate them. :)

This chapter's title is based off the song "Marchin On" by OneRepublic, and more specifically, the Timbaland remix version. I usually don't go for songs with this beat, but I really like how they remixed it. It's really cool. ;)

Because it was a pretty common question: Yes, guys, there's going to be a sequel. :) Right now, the working title is "Thicker Than Water." Little spoiler for ya there. ;)

Enjoy:

Chapter 25 - Marchin On

Arthur's fingers twitched as he woke up. The quilt that Guinevere had left for Merlin was soft beneath his touch, and the former king could feel several feathers poking out of the knitting. He took in a deep breath through his nose, his fingers bumping Merlin's side and reassuring himself that he was there at all. After so long without him, Arthur needed to know that he was there.

He couldn't believe how he'd survived without the warlock—his brother. He'd been an empty puppet, playing the world's never ending game of chess, and he'd obviously been manipulated by Morgana throughout that time. He hadn't been himself, just like he hadn't been himself in Camelot before Merlin had stumbled his way onto the training grounds and stood up for a lowly servant.

And, for all the hardship and pain that Destiny had caused them, Arthur would forever be grateful that she had caused Merlin to become his best friend.

The former king's eyes flickered open as brotherly affection warmed his heart. He lifted his head, bringing his hand round to rub his neck as pain spread from the back of his head. Despite the irritation, though, he hadn't wanted to leave Merlin's side. After all the time that the warlock had spent waiting for them, how could Arthur leave him alone now?

His eyes focused on his best friend's face, and Arthur felt a smile pull on his lips at the relaxed bliss on his face. His dark hair was tousled from sleep, and though he was a still a little too pale for Arthur's liking, it was good to see the hint of color returning to his cheeks.

At the memory of that fateful night, Arthur's fingers wrapped around Merlin's hand. What would have happened if Morgana hadn't come, if their memories hadn't been restored? Guinevere had told them bits and pieces of Merlin's life: his loneliness, his pain, his loses, and his disappointments. Would the warlock have carried on like that, hiding his pain and fear for fifteen hundred more years?

God, how he missed him. Obviously, he wasn't even aware that his partner—consultant—was his former best friend, but now that he remembered... He had missed him.

That feeling that something was always out of his grasp, the dreams, the nightmares, the empty pit in his heart...

Everything made sense now. Everything was complete.

"Merlin," he whispered. Arthur shook his friend's hand just slightly, rubbing his thumb along the warlock's bony knuckles. "Merlin."

His head shifted to the side, eyelids fluttering while Arthur continued to shake his hand. "Hmumphyhf."

A grin spread across Arthur's face, and he moved his hand up Merlin's arm to rest on his shoulder. "Come on, Merlin. The doctor said you could go home today, remember?"

"Humiwanme."

"Merlin, I don't speak gibberish."

The warlock licked his lips, though he still hadn't opened his eyes, and turned his head in Arthur's direction. "Arthur?"

"Who else would it be?"

Merlin shrugged as he finally opened his bright eyes, smirking. "Anyone?"

Arthur snorted and ruffled his dark hair, but when Merlin's eyes darkened, the former king squeezed his shoulder. "Merlin? What's wrong? Does your side hurt?"

He shook his head, biting his lip. "No," he answered. Merlin looked up at him, eyes tumultuous, and Arthur gripped his shoulder tighter in comfort. "I'll tell you later, alright? It's too early to explain everything. Let's get some breakfast."

"Alright," Arthur said after a moment. "Come on."

Carefully, Merlin threw the sheets off his legs, exposing the new blue plaid pajama pants that Guinevere had bought him. He shivered at the change of temperature and felt Arthur's helping hand on his elbow just as he gasped at the pain in his side.

"You alright?"

He nodded, gently pushing himself off the bed. He was careful not to move his side too much, and by the time he'd climbed down from the bed, he was shaking from the exertion and Arthur's hand was on Merlin's opposite shoulder. It felt like a weight was pressing against his chest, making it hard to breathe. Merlin set a hand on his abs, fingers gripping his grey t-shirt as he stood on shaky legs.

Arthur didn't say anything, despite the bubble of concern within him. He just waited until Merlin's hand fell from his side and his body stopped trembling before he let his own hand fall from his friend's shoulder. He reached for the cane that leaned against the supply drawer and handed it to Merlin The warlock took the lead, sliding his feet into slippers that the hospital had provided for him before they left the room.

The bright lights from the hallway made Merlin squint his eyes, and it took his eyes a moment to adjust. He turned right, glancing right to see Arthur walking beside him, ready to help if need be. The warlock felt a smile pull on his lips just as he pressed the down arrow button on the lift and leaned on the generic cane.

"How'd ya sleep?" Arthur asked casually.

Merlin glanced at him just as the lift arrived. "Alright. The morphine is still wearing off. You?"

"Fine. I had a weird dream, though."

"Oh?"

The former king shoved his hands in his pockets as the lift was lowered by steel cables. "Yeah. I... Morgana was there, and she was talking about Mordred's sword."

"Ah."

"You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

"Um."

"Merlin."

The warlock bit his lip, though he knew that the talk was inevitable. "Erm... Maybe? She might have... visited last night."

"And?"

"And she explained some things?" he continued. Merlin examined his friend's face, surprise lifting his eyebrows. "You're not angry?"

Arthur just looked at him calmly as they stepped out of the lift and into another bright hallway. "No. Why would I be?"

"You mean other than the fact that Morgana visited me in the hospital and could have killed everyone and I didn't immediately tell you?"

Letting out a small laugh, Arthur pulled his friend to the side of the hallway, lowering his voice as other patients and visitors passed. "Merlin, I know that you're not going to tell me everything, but I know you well enough to know that you'll tell me what I need to know when I need to know it. You're still allowed to have secrets, old friend. Just know that I'm here when—if—you're ready to talk."

There was a moment of silence, and Merlin bit the inside of his cheek as gratitude flooded him. "Thanks, Arthur. I'm glad you're back."

The former king's grin broadened, and he nodded. "Me too. Anywho, what'd she say? I'm sure it wasn't a casual meeting."

Merlin chucked, shaking his head as they continued to the hospital's cafeteria. "Well, she sort of explained why she shot me."

The air thickened around them, and both of them knew that though they'd avoided talking about anything related to Morgana or the case or death or any serious conversation in general, they couldn't avoid the truth for too long. It was finally time to talk about it.

Both were grateful, however, that it was just the two of them and not their whole group.

"Oh?"

"It was more of a two-fold reason, actually. She said that it was to get you guys to remember. Gwen being attacked was an experiment, and because it worked, she tried it on the rest of you, though through different means."

"Traumatic experience," Arthur added. "I would say watching my best friend get shot and nearly die in my arms was pretty traumatic."

Merlin glanced at him abruptly before looking downwards and leaning on his cane.

Oh.

"Sorry, Merlin. I shouldn't have said it like—"

"It's fine, Arthur," the warlock interrupted. "It's just... Camlann was something I'd tried to push into the back of my mind before I met you in this world. I could almost forget it, though I could never forget you. But ever since I met you again... You're still the same man, and I kept imagining you dying again, in my arms, bleeding out, fatally injured like before, and I can't stop thinking that I won't be able to save you. Seeing you brought it back, but I'm okay. It'll take some time to push back down, but I'll be fine."

"I'm sorry."

Merlin just gave him a soft smile, taking the lead towards the counter and plucking a plate off a stack. Arthur followed him, helping the warlock fill his plate, even against his wishes, as he leaned on his cane. Once the detective was satisfied with the amount of food heaped onto Merlin's tray, they rang up at the counter and went to sit down.

There was a few moments of silence, filled by the soft chatter of others in the room, before Arthur brushed his fork against some orange chicken and glanced at his friend. "What was the second reason?"

"Hm?" he responded through a mouthful of spaghetti.

"You said there were two reasons why..."

"Oh, right." He brushed his face with a napkin, taking a sip of his milk. "The second reason is a bit more... me."

"You?"

"Yeah, I'm..." He swallowed thickly, feeling a knot in his stomach. He briefly explained what Morgana told him about Mordred's sword; what she did to it and what the bullet did to him. "It turns out that I'm not... immortal anymore. Or I mean, I don't have an extended lifetime. I—my body won't heal itself anymore if I'm—"

"I get it," Arthur smirked. "Isn't that a good thing, though?"

"Yes! I mean—yes, but..."

"Merlin?"

"Well, I've lived for so long and it's all... it's finally over. I don't have to wait anymore, but what if I...?"

Arthur's eyes softened. "You're scared of dying, aren't you?"

"Who isn't?"

"Merlin, listen, you're not going to... not anytime soon. As you've always done your best to protect me, I'll always do my best to protect you, no matter what. Alright?"

"And Morgana? She said that me having a normal life is as much to her advantage as it is hers. She could easily kill me right now, and I wouldn't have any way of coming back from it."

The detective tilted his head sideways. "Why don't we just take it day by day, alright? We have plenty of time, Merlin, and as sappy as it sounds, I want this time to get to know you again. Fifteen hundred years changes a person—and yes, Gwen had a very serious talk with us about it—and I want to get to know the person you are now. Okay?"

Even Arthur could see the smile pulling on his friend's lips. "Okay." They were both silent for a few moments while they took a few bites of their food, and when Merlin finally spoke, his voice was low and soft. "Morgana told me something else, too, about your father..."

The detective looked up, surprise and caution lighting his features. "What'd she say?"

"She said that..." Merlin eyed him sympathetically. "She said that she buried his memories. He'll never remember who he once was."

Biting his lip, Arthur looked back at his food, running his hand through his hair. "Maybe it's better that way. When you were taking me to Avalon..." He looked up, watching for any sign of pain in Merlin's eyes. "You said... you said that when he came back after... that he found out about your magic?"

The warlock nodded.

"If he remembered... No offence to you, Merlin, but you're just a consultant, and he's... Having you fired would probably be the best thing he could do. God only knows what he could do to you with all his connections. It's just... It's better, I think, that he doesn't remember. Maybe Morgana even did us a favor this time."

"Maybe," Merlin chuckled. "But Arthur..." He looked away, his voice softening as the pain that the detective had been looking for seeped into his eyes. "Where's Gaius? I mean, I didn't think my mother would be back, everything considered, but Gaius? He was always there. He was involved in the prophecies... Where is he?"

Answering truthfully, he said, "I don't know." He wanted to know, though, even just for Merlin's sake. Gaius had been a father to him as well, but Merlin... Merlin had waited fifteen hundred years, alone, without his father figure. Trying to imagine the hope of him coming back with the rest of them and then that hope being crushed when he's no where to be found... Despair swam in Arthur's chest, so he could only imagine what Merlin was feeling. "Sorry."

"It's not your fault," the warlock responded, shaking his head. "You haven't seen Mordred yet, have you?"

Arthur smirked at his friend's lighter tone. "Not yet. Do you think everyone involved will come back? I mean... "

"Nah. Not everyone, but Mordred was... Morgana mentioned that she hadn't seen him. I want to know what makes her think he's coming back, too."

"Why didn't you ask her?"

"Erm... She kinda used a spell to put me to sleep."

"What?" Arthur said, surprised. When several people glanced over towards them, he lowered his voice, leaning closer to his friend. "You let her put you to sleep? Merlin, God only knows what she could have done. What if it wasn't a sleeping spell, hm?"

"Arthur, I couldn't exactly do much when I was doped up on morphine and exhausted in the first place. My magic felt... off, anyways, so I don't know what good it would have done?"

Now, the detective eyed him with concern. "What do you mean off?"

Merlin shook his head, twisting his fork into his spaghetti. "Not a bad off, just... I haven't really been injured... like this in over fifteen hundred years. I think my magic's just focusing on healing me. I forgot what it feels like."

"Oh."

"Arthur... I do have a question for you, actually," Merlin said hesitantly. "Morgana..."

"What?"

The warlock looked up at him, meeting his concerned gaze with curious eyes. "Morgana said that you and Gwen had met... had met Freya."

"Freya?"

"Think back to the trip to Avalon, you prat."

The detective's expression immediately changed from confusion to understanding. "Oh! Freya! Right. Um... I don't... I mean, I never met her, remember, idiot?"

"But Morgana said—"

"Wait," Arthur interrupted. "There was a nurse the night you were admitted... What does Freya look like? Oh, don't give me that look," he continued, smirking, "it's been fifteen hundred years since I even heard her name. Humor me."

Merlin clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "Last time I saw her, she had long, deep brown hair, almost black. She was shorter than either of us—maybe Gwen's height, with—"

"Chocolate brown eyes?"

"Yes! So you did see her?"

The awed look in Arthur's eyes built as he sat back in his chair, exhaling loudly in surprise. "I guess so. There was a nurse the night you were admitted who took care of you. She's the one who escorted Gwen and me to your room, but when I tried to find her later, another nurse, who'd worked here for years, told me that they'd never heard of her."

"Did she give you a name?"

"Um..." Arthur bit his lip, thinking hard. "Laura... du Lac, she said."

"My goodness, she really was here..."

"But how...?"

Merlin's eyes were wide with excitement. "Du Lac, Arthur, du Lac!"

"Okay," he said, confusion and feigned frustration written on his face. "What does that mean?"

"Du Lac is French," the warlock explained. "When translated to English, it means 'of the Lake.' Laura of the Lake. Lake Avalon. Come on, Arthur, it couldn't have been a coincidence."

"I'm not saying it was," he placated, "but why couldn't she just come out and tell us who she was?"

Merlin sighed. "Well, she couldn't just come out and tell you she was the Lady Freya of Avalon..."

"But why? Why couldn't she stay to watch over you, especially if what you told me is true?"

"Maybe... I don't know, Arthur. I haven't really seen her since I laid her to rest. She's just... She's been a voice in my head, guiding me, off and on for fifteen hundred years, but I haven't physically seen her since that day."

"Sorry," he offered sincerely. "She must have had her reasons. Who knows, maybe we'll see her again?"

The warlock smiled, crossing his arms on the table top. As the silence lengthened, however, Merlin's smile fell, and he looked back up at his friend, still eating his food. "Arthur, there is one more thing..."

"Hm?"

"The evidence we found outside of Hui's cell—the hair. We kind of need to destroy it."

Arthur's eyes widened, and he coughed, choking on his food before he drank some water to wash it down. He cleared his throat, looking at Merlin anxiously. "But, Merlin, that hair will trace back to Morgana. She could be convicted and put on trial. The evidence'll lead right to her. She'd go to jail, and we wouldn't have to worry about her any more. I thought you of all people would be pleased by that? Especially with what she did to you!"

"Of course," Merlin placated, eyes grateful. "I would love nothing more than that, but she has magic, Arthur."

"So?"

"So, what do you think she'll do to gain her freedom? What happened in Camelot? She's not afraid to kill, and even if she doesn't, they'll surely learn of her magic. If that happens... All hell will break loose."

Arthur looked at his friend seriously. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, criminals are hunted for days, terrorists for years, but warlocks and sorcerers? It would be another witch hunt, one that even the queen won't be able to stop."

"But we've accepted your magic... Even Elyan. And John... At least I assume...?"

The warlock felt a grin pull on his lips. "Yes, he knows too. What I told you all about my 'father' working for him was an exaggeration, though."

"I figured. So you were really in North Korea? You shouldn't have put yourself at risk like that."

"Arthur, I couldn't die in the first place. I wanted to help the injured. I wasn't actually fighting."

"I didn't say you were," Arthur quipped. "I'm proud of you, though, for wanting to help. Just... no more wars, okay?"

The warlock scoffed, rolling his eyes fondly. "Promise. But what I was getting at was you, the knights, Gwen, John... you all knew me before you learned about my magic. You knew me and knew how I was as a person. The world doesn't know me or what I would do with the power; all they would think about is their safety and the stories they've heard. Besides that, there're more magic users in the world besides me and Morgana."

"Druids, right? Where are they, anyway?"

"Um... I'll explain that one later, but you're still not getting it. People have learned about magic before, after Camelot, after everything else." Merlin's voice dropped low. "People would be worried about their safety, yes, but there're always those who are cocky and arrogant and think they can learn the secrets of magic and... use it for themselves."

"And you've...?

The warlock took a deep breath, calming himself before he continued softly, calmly. "Arthur, people in the past, powerful, horrible people, learned about my magic," he confided. His tone changed, and he quickly added, "You can't tell the others, promise? Especially Gwaine and Gwen."

Arthur thought for a moment, knowing that Merlin was going to confide something in him, something that hurt him so much that he didn't even want Guinevere, whom he had known the longest, to know. This was the first step, however, in gaining the warlock's trust, in proving to Merlin that he could confide in Arthur without getting everyone else involved, and the detective wanted Merlin to know that more than anything.

"I swear it," he answered strongly.

Merlin smiled at him, genuinely, before he took another deep breath and his features became more serious. "Okay, well, I was... um..." He exhaled, glancing at his friend nervously. "I was tortured... for lack of a better word. Well, experimented on works too, I suppose."

"What?" Arthur hissed furiously. People glanced at them questioningly, but the detective ignored them. When Merlin's eyes became flecked with gold, though, Arthur looked around to see that no one was glancing at them any longer. "What did you do?"

"Perception filter," the warlock answered.(1) "We can talk privately now, and they won't even register that we're here."

"Doesn't that drain your magic?"

"I can use a little," he answered. "I'll just sleep really well tonight."

"Not for too long, Merlin," he cautioned strongly. "I'm not sure how your magic works just yet, but I'm sure it's like any other energy you have stored. Now, what do you mean you were experimented on?"

"I mean that people have tried to get me to use my magic for selfish gain, and I refused."

"Couldn't you fight them? With your magic, I mean?"

"Some of them, yes, but others actually had magic and were able to put a magic-restraining band on me."

"A what?"

"It... it prevents me from using my magic. Not completely, but I couldn't reach enough to escape, and they... Well, you can imagine."

"Not that I'd want to," Arthur responded sadly. "I'm sorry, Merlin. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."

"We both know you couldn't be," the warlock added softly, "but that's what I'm getting at... If the world found out about Morgana, there'd be a witch hunt, and what happened to me could happen to a countless number of people, even those just suspected of having magic."

The detective nodded, finally understanding. "So we destroy the evidence. Okay. I'll tell the others. What should I tell them if they ask why?"

"Tell them... It's because of Merlin. And that you trust my reasons."

Arthur grinned. "Okay. Now let that stupid filter down before you faint like a swooning schoolgirl."

Scoffing, the warlock threw back. "Only kings faint, your majesty."

"Fifteen hundred years certainly didn't do much for your sass, did it, old man?"

Merlin laughed aloud, grinning. "Prat."

Arthur smiled broadly. "Idiot."

And things were just as they should be.

(1) Taken from good ol' Doctor Who.

I hope you guys liked my little Doctor Who insert there. I figured with all the weird things that must happen around Merlin with no one calling him out on it, especially in London, he had to have something like this so, sometimes at least, he can use his magic. Like, emergencies and such. *rolls eyes at self* I don't know...

One more chapter left! Sorry, guys. I'm really excited for you to read it. But alas, my friends, we shall have to wait until next week.

Oh! Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I'm going to be doing a Snow Sculpting competition with a few other people at my school. We're doing two figures hugging (Literally, we're calling it "The Embrace") and I get to design the clothing! :D For art, details is my thing, guys. I'm excited. ;D

Anyway, see you all next week! Have a good one. ;)