SORRY THIS HAS TAKEN ALMOST A MONTH I'VE JUST BEEN REALLY BUSY AND I THOUGHT I RUINED THIS SO REVIEWS WOULD BE AWESOME

I looked at him with a shocked expression, not really understanding what he meant. I knew he wasn't the best servant but I would never say he failed me. I leaned forward and kissed the falling tears from his eyes. "You have never failed me." I whispered as I ever so lightly brushed my lips across his. I reached up and brushed the tears that were still falling from his eyes before leaning in to kiss him once again. This time it was more demanding but still holding the same meaning as the one before it. I felt more in this kiss than any other kiss I had shared with Gwen. Though, just as quick as it had started it was over.

"Stop." I heard Merlin whisper.

"Sorry I-.." I replied.

"No we can't do this. When we get back everything changes..."

"It doesn't have to." I whispered back.

"No Arthur, it does." he said back sounding more harsh than he had expected to.

I just stared at him and I realized he did have a point the chances of this continuing when we got back to camelot were slim.

"You should get some sleep Merlin." I said grabbing his arm as I walked off toward the fire.

"Yes sire."

"And Merlin..."

"Yeah?"

"We're not done talking about everything."

He just looked at me then settled down to go to sleep while I sat by the fire thinking about the events of that day. What had Merlin meant in what he said? Why did he fear me? I thought I was fair, to him, that he knew he was my friend. I'd hoped he knew. I felt tears start brimming at my eyes as I thought about the multitude of scars that riddled his pale skinny body. The secrecy of them didn't hurt as much as the knowledge that some of them, the better majority where self inflicted. I could never understand that. How someone reaches that point. Why would you pick a knife over a conversation? What else was he hiding? My thoughts were interrupted by another blood curdling scream coming from where my servant layed.

Arthur...my friend...promised...hurt me

I heard him yelling through his tears.

I'm sorry...I couldn't. Albion

He began shaking as if almost in complete agony. I tried to wake him up in fear of his wound reopening.

"Merlin...hey...hey. Wake up."

"Arthur?" he said confused then it's like the realization hit him and his eyes glazed over like they had been days before.

"Mer-"

"I'll keep watch you get some sleep sire." he said walking away from me.

"Merlin...look at me." I called after him softly.

He turned around the tears still falling.

"Goodnight sire." he said turning back around and sat on a rock staring off into the distance.

I realized how tired I was, "Goodnight my friend." I replied laying on the ground watching him, deciding we would talk tomorrow.