I've been practicing my photomanipulation skills lately. I've been writing drabbles for them too.

You can see them by going to my deviantART gallery.

This is the last part of this~

Arthur rose to his feet, dropping his sword and turning back around to face the spot Merlin had stood only minutes ago. The bumbling fool couldn't have gone far; maybe Arthur still had a chance. He hurried forwards, first at a brisk walk but then his legs moved faster and before he knew it he was running through the forest, everything forgotten but the look of sheer agony that had flickered across his faithful servants face. Arthur had done that to him; Arthur had upset him. He would never forgive himself for that. He knew that the knights would be looking for them by now, worried that the prince had seemingly vanished into thin air. He almost laughed when he thought about what their expressions would be when they found the discarded weapons and bags. Arthur stopped suddenly and glanced around, he had no idea if Merlin had followed the same route. Would he have gone straight ahead? That was doubtful had he been a Knight, but he wasn't. He had no idea how to lose a perusing enemy, and that was something that constantly infuriated Arthur to no end. When he found him he was going to knock some sense into that thick skull of his – metaphorically speaking of course. Arthur sighed and looked down at his feet.

Despite the fact that he had magic, Arthur had no intention of hurting Merlin; that was the last thing he wanted. He was his best friend, his abilities didn't change that. Needless to say Arthur was certainly confused as to why he wasn't scared of the dark haired man, he'd been taught all his life that magic was evil and anyone who used it was evil and sought only to destroy and kill. Arthur shook his head. Merlin wasn't evil, he was Merlin; stupid, idiotic, wise, loyal to the point of suicidal Merlin. A smile tugged at his lips and he looked up, taking a step forwards but stopping almost instantly. He hadn't noticed before, but there, only a few long paces in front of him, was Merlin. Arthur felt joy rise up in his chest. He'd barely been gone for ten minutes but already Arthur had felt at a loss without him around, "Merlin?"

The dark haired man jumped and turned his head and top half of his body, "…Arthur?"

Arthur felt relief crash into him like flood water crashing through a damn. He took in the sight before him. Merlin was unharmed, he was alive, he had magic. Gods Arthur didn't care in the slightest. He took a step forwards, "Mer-."

"What are you doing here?" Merlin cut him off, voice sharp.

Arthur felt his heart thudding painfully in his chest. He noted that he was also getting a headache, "…I-…" he paused and trailed off, unsure what to say to his servant – nay, ex-servant. He doubted Merlin would want to serve him again after this. Did he want Merlin to continue serving him? Merlin was watching him with what Arthur knew to be a frown – it wasn't something that graced the pale manservant's face often, but it was definitely a frown. It looked wrong on Merlin's normally grinning face, "Merlin I…" he trailed off again.

Merlin turned his head away, "Come to arrest me? Come to drag me back to Camelot and watch Uther command my head detached from my neck, or my body burnt alive?" he paused, "I'm not sure which I'd prefer. Being beheaded would be quick and painless, but I wouldn't want to give you the satisfaction of me proving you right – after all you do take great pleasure constantly reminding me how much of a coward I am. However, being burnt alive would allow me to live longer, but the idea of being tied to a post while flames eat away at my flesh isn't a pleasant idea at all. I'm sure even you would agree with me on that, but then again maybe not. After all you are Prince Arthur, son of Uther Pendragon, the murderer of hundreds of innocent people. Hundreds of my kin."

Arthur stood in silence and allowed Merlin to rant. He had every right too after all. Arthur couldn't say he knew how he felt because he didn't. Arthur hadn't lost much of anything save for his mother. Who died because of magic. Arthur took a deep breath, he had nearly lost Merlin too. His breathing hitched in his throat for a moment before he found himself speaking, "I'm sorry." The look on Merlin's face would have be humorous had the situation not been so dire. The man stood there, facing Arthur with a shocked expression. Understandable, thought Arthur. The prince of Camelot never said sorry – to anyone, let alone a lowly servant. Arthur shook his head, no – Merlin wasn't just a servant, he was a friend; a close friend; Arthur's best friend, the first person to ever like him for who he was as a person and who didn't pretend to 'like' him because he was the prince. Merlin saw past that, had done since the day they met. The scrawny idiot hadn't given a damn who he was, that day Arthur had stepped over some invisible line and Merlin had stood up to him even after finding out his identity.

"W-what?" Merlin stuttered, bring Arthur from his thoughts.

"I said I'm sorry." Arthur repeated, his cheeks burning. Did he really have to make him repeat himself? Arthur looked right at Merlin, unblinking, "I'm sorry for everything. I don't know anything about your pain. What a burden it must have been for you to hide such a big secret for so many years, with the threat of execution hanging over you every waking moment. I'm sorry for being such a blind idiot all this time. Sorry for being a prat; sorry for everything!" He fell silent, breathing heavily and looking anywhere but at Merlin.

"Six." Merlin said after a moment.

Arthur couldn't help but raise his gaze, "What?"

"Six times," Merlin began, eyeing the prince with a still shocked expression, "you've said you're sorry, all in the space of a few seconds."

Arthur nodded weakly, "…I am. I am so very sorry." Arthur knew that Merlin had started counting again, "I didn't mean it. Any of what I said back there." He paused and took a breath to calm himself, "I… it was… to find out that you have magic… I was, overwhelmed. I didn't know what to think. All my life I've been taught that magic is evil, used only for evil purposes. Do you, understand? I didn't mean what I said. I'm sorry Merlin." Arthur scolded himself for apologising yet again. Merlin was never going to let him live this down; he silently thanked whatever Gods there were that the Knight's weren't around. What would Gwaine be saying; something about going off to some tavern and making peace over a tankard of mead no doubt?

"You expect a half-hearted apology to make everything better?" Merlin asked quietly.

Arthur could only imagine what his face looked like right now, "H-half-hearted..? You, you idiot!" he threw his hands up in the air so that Merlin might better understand his frustration, "Do you have any idea-?"

"Don't care." Merlin interrupted, "There's no way Arthur Pendragon would ever apologise to a mere servant."

"I didn't apologise to a servant!" Arthur snapped before his face softened when Merlin eyed him, lips parted slightly as he watched Arthur – confused. Arthur stepped closer, "I apologised to a friend."

Merlin was silent for a long time, "Friend?"

Arthur ignored his repetition, "Will you come back? Will you come back to Camelot?"

"I never wanted to leave. That was your idea, remember?" Merlin couldn't pass up a chance to pick on him

"I'm sorry." Arthur said again, "Would you though? Decent servants are quite hard to come by."

"I thought I was only half-decent?" Merlin smirked before he added, "You don't mind?"

Arthur had almost forgotten what the entire argument had been about, "I…" he trailed off for a moment and appeared to be deep in thought before he smiled, "I don't. You're not evil, despite what my father says."

"You'll be committing treason." Merlin pointed out as he took a few steps towards the blonde.

Arthur nodded, "Yes… I will be but… I don't care. My father might be ill, but if he knew that you are a sorcerer, he'd order your execution and I…" he trailed off, hoping Merlin would get the idea and he wouldn't have to embarrass himself further.

Merlin smiled, understanding completely, "I suppose now wouldn't be the best time to tell you I'm actually a Warlock?"

"A what?" Arthur asked as Merlin reached him.

Merlin laughed, "Never mind. There'll be plenty of time to explain when we get back to Camelot. Speaking of getting back… do the knights-?"

"Oh dear… We should hurry back." Arthur sighed with a roll of his eyes, "They think I can't take care of myself."

"No they don't. Gwaine just likes to tease you." Merlin laughed again, "The others respect you without all that. Besides, Gwaine only teases the people he likes."

"He must love me then…" Arthur grumbled.

"Awh, need a hug to cheer you up?" Merlin grinned, holding out his arms and lunging for Arthur, who dodged with ease. Merlin stumbled, "Spoil sport."

"Don't push it." Arthur shot him a look.

"I am sorry, Sire." Merlin grinned and began to walk back through the forest, leaving Arthur behind. Arthur watched him for a moment before following. Merlin called back to him, "I think you need to go on that special food menu again! Clearly you're not as fit as you used to be!"

"Merlin!"

"Shut up?"

Arthur smiled, Idiot.