A/N- So...Long time no see. Yeah, I get it. Aren't you glad I took a trip from school, giving me this time to finish it? But now I have to get all of my homework. Oh well. As long as I get plenty of reviews, favs, and alerts popping up in my inbox *wink wink nudge nudge* I'm happy!

Thank you so much for betaing MerlinFan1996!

Disclaimer: WHAT? I OWN MERLIN? NO WAY! No, seriously. I don't. *tear*

Warnings: Spoilers for season 1, 2, and 3. Oh, and a giant cliffie.

Now, without furthur ado, chapter 14!

Benugan!

As soon as the warlock began to collapse, Gwaine rushed forward to catch him. Laying him gently on the ground, the knight checked for a pulse. "He's alive," he called, a relieved exhale leaving him.

Nimueh slowly walked over to the group. Before she could get very far, Arthur had snatched up the dagger and held it at her throat. "Don't move," he growled.

The witch held up her hands, trying to convey that she was no danger. "I am sorry. Truly I am. The boy enchanted me with that same rose, I was unable to do my own bidding. I know how important Merlin is, to both you and the kingdom. Please believe me when I say it was not my fault."

The knife did not quiver or remove itself from her neck. "And how am I to trust you, sorcereress?" the prince snarled.

"I do not ask you to trust me, only to believe. I have many a thing to show you, granted by the One himself. If you do not let me, then I will not be held accountable for what has to be shown and seen."

Arthur looked at the witch before glancing at the still young man. He muttered under his breath, "I should kill you both right here and now."

Nimueh's lips twitched in false amusement. "But you will not. I can already see that you are reluctant to admit to your best friend having magic, even when the evidence has been out and proven. If you let me, I will give you more reason to ground your next actions."

From the ground, Gwaine looked up. "It's up to you. Are you going to kill Merlin, not that I wouldn't fight to stop you, or will you accept him?"

An internal war waged in his heart as Nimueh spoke again. "He is right. Will you allow me to do as is needed?"

Should he betray his father and keep Merlin secret, or kill him and make Uther proud? Or maybe banish Merlin to never come back? That would work. Right?

Right?

Arthur sighed and dropped the dagger, hearing it clatter to the floor. "Do not enchant me, witch," he said. "I won't stand for that."

Nimueh noticed vaguely the weary tone he used. "I will not use magic against you, prince, but I need you to see many important things. Will you follow willingly?"

"I shall."

"Then let us begin."

The woman touched a cold hand to the prince's forehead and said words, words that Arthur did not and could never fully comprehend. A sense of slight nausea overwhelmed his senses. But more overpowering was the warmth. He closed his eyes and relished it, hearing all noises fade away into the background.

Sounds crashed back to him a moment later and the warmth was replaced with a slight chill. He opened his eyes and saw he was in a small hut, nothing really suitable to live in.

A woman lay in the far corner on a bed and clutched a small bundle of clothes to her chest.

The prince ducked in a small alcove before she saw him, but was irritated when Nimueh laughed beside him. "These are merely shadows of the past," she explained. "They cannot hear you, cannot see you, cannot feel you. They can never be changed, and should never be. I wish you to see all this."

Slowly, Arthur came out from his hiding spot just as a gurgling noise came from the young woman. He crept forward when she laughed at seemingly nothing. He stood on one side of the bed and gazed down at the bundle.

In the rags was a young babe, no less than a week old, with bright blue eyes and a mop of raven hair. His ears stuck out comically and Arthur didn't need to see the neckerchief the baby did not wear yet to know who it was.

"My Merlin," the woman whispered, eyes full of compassion and love. Hunith, the boy's mother.

"Not but a few days after he was born, Hunith knew her child was special," Nimueh said softly.

The babe's eyes flashed gold, startling Arthur, and he was intrigued to see a small rattle lift from the table to float over into the waiting child's hand. The mother chuckled. "Oh, Merlin," she exclaimed fondly, "what am I to do with you?"

"We have seen enough here. Let us move on." Arthur nodded grudgingly, not quite ready to move on from such an adorable and wondering sight.

A bright flash and Arthur found himself outside. A young Merlin, maybe seven or eight, was walking and talking with a boy about his age. The prince got close enough to hear the words.

"I'm telling you, Will, Mum loved it! She said to say thank you for the flower! It's in her favorite vase by the window!"

Will. Merlin's friend who died to save him from the brute of a man. Arthur felt a sharp twang as he realized just how close the two boys were.

They were heading towards a river and Arthur kept right at Merlin's side as they walked, intrigued to hear what had happened.

"Well, I couldn't just sit there and give her nothing after she gave me such warm and lovely bread!" Will exclaimed. He blushed just slightly as the warlock went on about how much Hunith loved a certain flower the boy had picked for her.

Soon they came to the water where a group of older boys were standing with a bag. The prince watched as Merlin's face became one of rebellion and determination.

Will looked at his friend nervously. "Can't we just head back? We can always swim another day."

"No," the raven haired youth said calmly. "We came today, and I for one am not going to back down just because some condescending fools think they can boss me around. You can go back if you want. I won't hold it against you if you do. In fact, I think it would be better if you do."

There it was. The overprotective and too-wise-for-his-age personality showing through.

A glint appeared in his friend's eyes. "No way. If you're standing up to them, then I will too."

"Merlin!" Arthur groaned, even though he was aware the boy couldn't hear him. "Just go home! If this is anything like what I think it is, you stand a better chance if you stay away!" Of course the warlock couldn't hear him. And the prince had a feeling he wouldn't listen even if he could.

"Will, this is dangerous. I can handle them."

"So can I. I'm still going with you, no matter what you say."

Merlin shook his head knowingly before saying, "Fine. Let's go, then."

Arthur walked slightly behind them, watching as the events unfolded.

One of the boys turned around, the one holding the sack. "Look," he jeered. "It's the bastard and his friend."

"Shut up, Jaremy," Will snapped. The warlock placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a small glare. Arthur knew he was trying to get Will to stop, as his reaction would only serve to edge the bullies on.

"Naw. Don't wanna." The Jaremy boy certainly knew what he was doing.

Merlin stepped forward and said calmly, "We're going swimming. And you can't stop us."

All the children facing the duo laughed. "As if!" a skinny one flanking Jaremy's right said. His blonde hair contrasted with the leader's brown.

His words earned him a smack. "Be quiet, Banden! So, you dare challenge me?"

"No. I do not challenge you. I simply am doing what I want to do. It is your fault if you refuse us this." Merlin was strangely brave for a child his age. Then again, Arthur mused, he had magic he could command with a flick of his wrist.

Jaremy snarled, his dark grey eyes becoming even more feral. "Well, too bad. We have a job to finish. So you'll have to swim another day. Unless you do not mind this floating by you?" He held up the sack, which Arthur, Merlin, and Will realized was moving.

"What's in the sack?" Merlin growled.

"Oh, nothing important. Just a worthless kitten."

Will got a wide-eyed expression, one of complete disbelief. Arthur himself was disgusted. But both of these were far from what Merlin obviously felt.

The warlock's faced morphed into one of fury. "Put. That. Down," he snarled.

"No," Jaremy said tauntingly.

"You're going to regret that," Will observed. The prince didn't know what he was talking about until Merlin shot forward.

He rammed into Jaremy, taking him by surprise. Though the warlock was still nothing but skin and

bones as a child, he put such force into his attack that the bully fell to the ground. Instead of punching him once he was down like Arthur thought he would, Merlin reached for the bag.

"Get it!" Jaremy yelled as he threw the sack. One of his buddies jumped to catch it. Merlin hurtled off the leader before charging at the next bully. However, he was stopped short when Banden wrentched his arms behind his back.

"Not so fast," he purred in the boy's ear.

And there's a future creeper, Arthur thought.

"Let me go!" Merlin yelled.

Jaremy got up slowly, face burning red with rage and embarrassment. "You'll pay now," he hissed. He tried to appear unfazed by the warlock's intent and furious glare, but obviously struggled not to bolt. The bully grabbed the mewing sack and waved it in front of Merlin's face. "See this?" he taunted. "You just sealed her fate. Oh, yes, it's a girl." The warlock's gaze only darkened and Jaremy took half a step back, as did the other bullies.

"Let. The. Kitten. Go."

Jaremy tilted his head to the side as if considering. "Mmm... No." With that, he tossed the bag over the small edge of the ravine and into the cold waters below.

"NO!"

Merlin threw his head back. There was a resounding crack as his skull connected with Banden's nose. He wrenched his arms out of his grasp and lunged forward. The boys tried to grab him again, but each time they retracted, holding various parts of their body. Merlin close lined Jarmey before diving into the water.

Arthur ran to the edge and watched with baited breath. Merlin did not resurface. The other children noticed and turned away. They ran from the scene, probably so they could not be blamed if Merlin died.

"Merlin!" Arthur and Will shouted at the same time. After a few more seconds, a mop of black hair appeared above the water. Merlin started swimming after the bag that was beginning to sink. Frantic mewing rose from the kitten as the sack traveled down stream.

"Merlin! It's going into the rapids! Get out!"

"No!" he called over the rushing water. "I have to save her!" The warlock swam faster until he was almost there. He reached out his hand, preparing to close his fingers around the tie...

...when it fell into the first part of the white water. Merlin tumbled head first, almost striking his head against a protruding stone.

"Merlin!" Will screamed. Then he witnessed something. As did Arthur.

Merlin's eyes turned molten gold. The bag moved out of the water and hovered over to rest on the shore. The warlock quickly swam over, worried about how the bag was no longer moving. He finally got to the water's edge, only to be pulled back in by a suddenly strong current. Will stood frozen for a second before jumping into the water after his friend. Arthur himself ran to the edge and watched anxiously.

Not a full minute later, two heads bobbed above the water. They gasped for air, Merlin mostly limp in Will's grasp. The boy swam them both to shore as fast as he could, then dragged them partway up the bank. He flipped them onto their backs, chests heaving as they regained their breath.

Will was the first to sit up. "What did you do that for?" he asked. "You have magic! You could have saved yourself!"

The young warlock looked up. "You don't... You don't hate me?"

"No! Why would I? Because you have magic? Naw, you're still the same old Merlin I know!" A grin split both of their faces.

"Thank you, Will. Thank you so much!" Merlin stood up and pulled the other boy to his feet before giving him as big a hug as he could.

Arthur looked on, amazed at his manservant's friend's ability to accept Merlin so quickly. It was truely inspiring.

Only a few more seconds was he allowed to watch this picture until a bright flash wisked him away. Arthur found himself watchin Merlin save Gaius' life, bringing the snakes in Valiant's shield to live, Cornelius Segan, the crystal cave, and many others.

What stuck out, though, was when Will died. It was not him who created the wind, it was Merlin.

And Freya. The druid girl that Arthur killed, that Merlin fell in love with.

Balinor, his father and the last dragonlord.

All these images depicted Merlin saving Camelot, Arthur, and Uther, not mentioning many others. How the warlock had handled all this and still stay the same as ever, Arthur didn't know. He knew that even himself would begin to crack with all that responsibility and trials Merlin had resting on his shoulders.

As the last scene faded away, the prince fell into a pit of black. But, it wasn't cold. In fact, it was nice and comfy, a welcoming embrace. Nimueh appeared across from him.

"So," she began. "Have you made a decision, Pendragon?"

Arthur lifted his chin. "I have. Now take me back." The witch nodded and waved her hand. They were back in the cave, Gwaine still holding the still boy.

"What happened?" he asked. "One minute you were there, the next, not. It's been five minutes!" the blonde jsut barely managed to keep his surprised out of his expressions. Of course, she was a sorceress, she could do what she wanted to. Instead, he simply shook his head and turned to her and nodded.

"My time here is done. The old ones are calling me back, so I must leave. Fair well, Arthur Pendragon. Goodbye, good knight. I will see you in the next life."

Gwaine and the prince had to cover their eyes against the sudden light that enveloped Nimueh. It was warm and cold at the same time. Bright, yet dark. It smelled of baking bread and cinnamon, the metallic stench of blood and war. Soon enough, however, it faded away.

"What happened? Arthur?"

The prince stepped forward. "I have made a decision about Merlin's magic."

Arthur unsheathed his sword.

A/N- Oh yeah. I went there.

*evil grin* Told you there was a cliffie!

*cowers from inevitable flaming pitchforks and pointy torches* Don't blame me! Blame my chronic OWCD! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! *runs away screaming* LEAVE A REVIEW PLEASE! I CAN'T HELP YELLING WHEN I RUN!

Please review? *puppy dog eyes second only to Merlin's*

~L~