A/N: just wanted to take the time to thank everyone who is reading this for reading this. XD It really means a lot. And a special thanks to those who take the time to review. As I've told many of you, they make my day! ^-^

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

-)-(-

Wide eyes came from every direction. It was hard to tell whose were widest, Merlin's or Arthur's. But then a second past and everything changed. Merlin suddenly went white with fear while Arthur's eyes narrowed in anger. As the young king clambered to his feet, his servant began to back away, moving closer and closer to the ledge he had so often stood on to speak to the Great Dragon.

"That…was magic…" Arthur stated, calmly, carefully.

A tremble racked Merlin's body and he shook his head numbly. "Arthur…"

"Don't! Don't you dare try and explain."

"But Arthur, it's not-"

"It's not what, Merlin?" Arthur demanded. "It's not what it looks like? You're not a sorcerer? You haven't been lying to us…To me?"

Merlin shied away from the yell, letting Aithusa drop to the ground and motioning with a hand for the dragon to get behind him. Arthur's eyes darkened at that.

"So it's taken that…creature for me to realise where your heart truly lies." He scoffed. "You're a sorcerer, every bit as evil as my father taught me they were."

"Arthur, you know that's not true," Merlin tried to reason. "Why would I have stood by your side w-"

"Why would you attack me?"

The question came as a fair one and Merlin had the grace to bow his head in acceptance. He swallowed thickly when he saw Arthur's grip on his sword tighten. Did he think Arthur would kill him after discovering his magic? Perhaps if it had been any other day, Merlin would have rather confidently have said yes. However, today, after he had just attacked his own king, his own friend, he was suddenly not so sure.

Unable to read his friend's face, so deeply was it carved with confusion, that Merlin had no choice but to send Aithusa away. In a way, he desperately wanted to the hatchling to stay, to show Arthur it was an ally and not an enemy. But with Arthur as he was, there was no telling what he might do. And if Aithusa were to die…he would never forgive himself. He doubted Kilgharrah would forgive him either.

"Fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme. Fromum feohgiftum."

Arthur and Leon subconsciously backed away from Merlin as they heard the ancient words roll of his tongue. Elyan's shoulders tensed, but it was Gwaine's and Percival's reactions that made Merlin dare to believe that even a glimmer of hope remained in his seemingly hopeless situation.

They leant forward, intrigued.

But he then all but ignored them as a sphere of light formed by his side, hovering in front of Aithusa before heading towards the cave's second entrance, the one through which Aithusa always entered. "Aithusa, ảkolouqé," he commanded, voice a hoarse whisper.

The dragon obediently followed, skittering after the light, gathering his wings together before taking flight as the light disappeared over the edge. Seeing Aithusa slip from sight, Merlin finally allowed himself to sink to his knees, seeing no reason to stop Arthur now. He had done his duty, he had kept his kin safe. Now all that remained was to see what hand destiny would deal him. And if it was his destiny to die here, by Arthur's hand, he would accept it. Maybe that was the price he had to pay for his foolishness. Maybe this would be where his suffering would be put to an end.

"Arthur," he called, cringing internally at the pleading he heard in his voice, but knowing it needed to be there, "Please, as kindness to a friend, kill me if you must, but please don't harm the dragon."

The king's gaze had softened momentarily, but the last part of Merlin's request had niggled something deep inside, and his fury mounted again. "So it can destroy Camelot?" he growled. "Are you mad? Merlin, you know what happened when the Great Dragon attacked; you were there, you saw it. Are you trying to tell me that that dragon…" An arm gestured wildly in the direction Aithusa had gone. "…is different?"

"Yes."

"What was that?" Arthur stared at him incredulously, one eyebrow arched high. "Are you implying that that dragon is on our side?"

"He wouldn't harm you!" Merlin insisted.

There was no answer to that, Arthur simply folding his arms gruffly. An uncanny silence descended upon them. Merlin didn't know if the arguing meant his earlier actions were excused, but he highly doubted it and so was till a little uncertain as to whether he would be allowed to his feet. Not that Arthur could stop him, really. But his heart won out and he remained on the ground, waiting for Arthur to take the definitive step.

Arthur went to give that before a frown abruptly graced his features. His eyes switched between Merlin and the dark cave around them a couple of times, arms slowly falling to his side.

"Hang on…" he murmured, turning to glance at his knights who simply returned his confusion before facing Merlin once more. "That light…the light that led the dragon, Aiya…Aitha…"

"Aithusa," Merlin corrected meekly.

"Aithusa, that light…I've seen it before." Arthur's eyes widened. "In the cave! With Nimueh!"

"Who?" Elyan asked, watching Leon shudder with memories.

"A sorceress," Arthur explained. "She lured me into a cave to try and kill me. It nearly succeeded, until a light came…a light just like that one," a nod towards the exit, "came. It showed me the way out. That was you…" he breathed incredulously, eyes landing on Merlin. His servant nodded. "But how? You were dying!"

Merlin shrugged. "I can't even remember doing it. I only know of it because Gaius told me I'd done it."

"Gaius knew?"

It had been an ordinary question, one that anyone under such circumstances would undoubtedly have asked. Except, for here, it was entirely the wrong question. It reminded Merlin of the raw pain too soon and he snapped his mouth shut. The snap-fire reaction had Arthur realising what he had done and he immediately backed down, words leaving him. Unfortunately, that gave others a chance to speak.

"He always knew, didn't he Merlin?" Gwaine asked softly. "Knew right from the start? Is that why he was always making those cover stories of you in the tavern? He hiding your magical adventures?"

Even Merlin could not help but manage a smile at that. Without raising his eyes from the ground, he nodded slightly, remembering the many scoldings he'd given his mentor regarding him telling Arthur he'd been out drinking. Honestly.

"And when we went to those Perilous Lands," Gwaine recalled. "The man on the bridge told us, didn't he, that 'strength' and 'magic' had arrived. How'd I ever miss that one, ay mate?"

A sniffled laugh came his way. "You're the first to be ignorant, oh no." He wiped his eyes with a sleeve. "I would've liked for it to stay that way."

"By hiding a dragon?" Elyan pointed out.

Merlin flushed. "I've been doing well so far!"

"Too right mat-"

"Sorry."

Arthur's voice cut through the air like a knife, and everyone was quick to withhold their words, waiting for the next for words with great anticipation.

"But have we all just forgotten what Merlin's revealed? He's a sorcerer. He's like Morgana."

"No!" Merlin cried, an angry scowl distorting his features. "I'm not like her!"

"And why aren't you?" Arthur growled, matching him scowl for scowl. "You say you're my friend, but you knows what you've been doing in the shadows?"

"I've been saving your life!"

"So you can gain my trust only to use it against me?"

"Of course not!"

"Sire…" Percival urged, but Arthur shook him off angrily.

"I don't know what you're planning, Merlin. And I don't expect to give you to time for me to find out. I can never trust sorcerers. They have proven their true colours to me enough for me to know where their hearts lie." The king took a deep, shuddering breath and then turned to Leon. "Take him to the dungeons."

"Arthur, no," Elyan pleaded lightly. "This isn't the right choice."

"It's the choice I'm making and as my knights you will honour it," Arthur shot back bluntly.

"Sire, this is not the time," Percival reminded him. "We must farewell Gaius. Sorcerer or not, Merlin still holds the right at least to attend."

The words struck a chord and Arthur found he had to nod. "Very well. Merlin shall accompany us. But once the service is over, he will be locked away."

His orders were met with badly hidden displeasure, Leon biting his cheek uncertainly before stepping forward and hauling Merlin to his feet. The warlock stumbled and Leon was quick to steady him before coaxing him forward. The knight's heart dropped when he realised that he may soon be holding Merlin just like this and be guiding him to the gallows instead. The mere thought made his nauseous.

As they passed Arthur, Merlin pulled them up. Blue met blue as their eyes locked, servant to king.

"The price of Aithusa's life was yours or Gaius'," he stated bitterly. "You had better make my decision worth it."

-)-(-

A/N: so Arthur is not really playing nice here. But I think he's probably more ticked off at Merlin than anything else. ;) Reviews are always welcome.

~DeathGod777