Thanks so much for the reviews. I don't actually know if this story is going to make 10 chapters. Hmmmm… have to wait and see.

Anyways, enjoy this one!

Xox

Chapter 8

"Merlin!?"

Merlin kept his eye contact steady with the prince's, trying not to freak him out. He had just revealed his magic to the son of a violent ruler who killed his kind. But Merlin had no fear as he sat in front of him, the man that he loved.

"Hi, Arthur."

Arthur moved away from him.

"What kind of trickery is this? You, you can't be Merlin. Merlin- is at Camelot. He should be dead right now."

"No," Merlin said, "I am here." He touched Arthur's hand. "This is me."

Arthur could not believe what was happening. Merlin, a sorcerer? How could he have missed it? Merlin had been lying to him all of this time. Arthur, he felt betrayed and hurt and happy. Why did he feel happy? What a dumb question, Arthur thought. He felt happy because he had seen Merlin again. Alive. Arthur was so confused. He did not know what to say. He had been silent for a couple of minutes now, just sitting there. He probably looked like the biggest buffoon.

"Arthur, are you alright?" Merlin asked.

"I…I don't know," replied Arthur. Merlin sighed.

"Look Arthur. I know you told me to go back to Camelot. And I was. But then I heard the knights talking as they rode past me, saying you were going to be killed. I could not just keep riding. So I turned back."

"You, you never got back to Camelot?" Arthur asked. Merlin shook his head.

"When I got back to Noresford. I could see the army being prepared. And I didn't even know where you were, or whether you were alive. Not knowing that scared me… so much."

Merlin looked down as if he was embarrassed by being scared. Arthur just sat there and listened to what he was saying. Merlin continued.

"I looked everywhere for you, trying to find you. But by that point you were already in the dungeons. I didn't have a plan, I didn't have any weapons. So… there was-only one way that I could save you. I knew the risk that I was taking, but I took it anyway. And here you are."

"How long have you had magic?"

"I told you, I was born like this," Merlin replied.

"You mean, everything you said under the cloak, was true?" Merlin nodded.

Arthur breathed in deeply.

"I don't know what to say."

"Arthur, you don't have to say anything. What matters now is that you are back at Camelot. And when you get back there, you either have to stop the war, or lead the army in it."

"Me?" Arthur said, "Why am I only returning?"

"Once I get you back to Camelot, I am not coming with you." Arthur was completely shocked.

"What? Why aren't you coming back?"

"Arthur, why would I come back? You know what I am, and I don't expect you to keep it a secret from your father. I will die Arthur, and even if you do keep it a secret, it will be found out eventually. I would be putting you in danger. I have no place at Camelot anymore, everything is different now. The king will probably want to kill me when I get there anyway, and I can't hide away forever."

"But I could talk to my father, once the war is over."

"Arthur, we don't even know if Camelot is going to survive the war."

"We are," Arthur said, "we have to."

Merlin sighed. He did not want to argue with the prince. The more he did, the angrier he became at the stubborn man.

"Get some sleep Arthur," said Merlin, "we have a long day of travel ahead of us. Goodnight, my lord."

And he bowed and left him. Arthur got up to follow him, but he could not see him anywhere. Arthur just lay down, bought his knees up to his chest and waited until morning.

Arthur woke up to the smell of bean soup and bread the next morning. He had to think for a few second of where he was, who he was with. He was with Merlin. He smiled and sat up realising there was a blanket on him that he did not recall putting there. The morning was fresh, the dew on the grass made it look more majestic than anything he had ever seen. But the day was going to be long, and he did not have time to stare at grass all day. He looked around to see if he could find Merlin, who was sitting up against a tree, watching him.

Arthur smiled at him, and received a small smile in return.

"Eat," said Merlin.

"Have you eaten?" asked the prince. Merlin shook his head. Arthur offered some of the soup to Merlin.

"I'm not hungry," Merlin replied. Arthur just looked down at his plate in response.

They travelled in silence, until the castle came into view. From the looks of the wall and the bundles of smoke coming from inside, one could be sure the battle had already begun. Merlin stopped his horse.

"What's wrong?" Arthur asked. Merlin got off his horse.

"This is where I leave, and you continue on," he said. Arthur jumped off his horse.

"Merlin, I don't want you to go. We can fight together, we can win."

"Arthur, who are we kidding? If I fight with you and we do win, what will happen after that? Will we just go on pretending? I can't stay in Camelot. I'm not the same person that…" Merlin stopped himself.

"Same person that what?" Arthur asked, "That I fell in love with?"

Merlin did not speak. He turned and walked a few steps away from the prince, trying to hold back his tears. He felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Merlin, you do not know half the things about the person that I am in love with. He is kind, caring, selfless and the most beautiful person I have ever met. He may be a bit of an idiot sometimes, but he is bright enough for me."

Merlin smiled at the prince. He knew he was trying so hard to make him go with him. But Merlin's mind was already made up. He moved forward and pressed a small kiss to Arthur's lips.

"I love you, Arthur," he said. He turned towards Arthur's horse and raised his hand. Arthur gasped as Merlin's eyes flashed gold as he muttered something that Arthur didn't understand.

"The horse will take you through the quickest and safest route to the castle. Good luck."

Merlin got on his horse and turned it in the other direction. He gave Arthur a quick smile before riding off into the distance. Arthur watched him until he was out of sight. He got on his horse and watched as it led him towards the castle.

When Arthur got there, the kingdom was in peril. People were screaming and running everywhere, swords were smashing together. Arthur did not know which way to go first. But he knew that he had to see his father. He put on his cloak and sped towards the palace.

When he got to the court, his father looked ten years older than when he had last seen him. He was rubbing his forehead, which was creased with hard thought and was pacing up and down consulting with a few of Arthur's top knights. Arthur swallowed and walked towards his father. When his father saw him, his face went completely blank.

"Arthur," he said, "you're alive."

"Yes father," said Arthur.

"Leave us," he said to his knights. After they left Uther addressed him.

"What have you done?" Uther said. "Camelot is in deep peril because of your stupidity and selfishness."

"I am not selfish father," he said, "The only one who is selfish is you. You could have told me about the marriage before you announced it."

"I didn't think that it was important for you to know," said his father, "all I would have got from that was an argument with you, much like the one we are having now while Camelot is falling right outside our window!" Uther walked away from him.

"I can't believe you did this Arthur, after everything I have done for you. You had to sleep with your manservant, while you were visiting his kingdom. What were you thinking? Actually no don't answer that. First, how long has this been going on?"

"Almost a week," Arthur said.

"And you were willing to give up a lifetime of peace and prosperity between two kingdoms for the week that you spent bedding your manservant?"

"I, yes," Arthur said. Uther looked disgusted.

"Why!?" He demanded.

"Because I love him father!" Arthur screamed. There was a long silence between the two men.

"Because I love him," Arthur whispered, "More than anything."

"You love him?" his father asked. Arthur nodded. "How can you love him? He is your servant for God's sake."

"That doesn't matter," Arthur said, "he has saved my life more times than you know. And he is my closest friend. I care about him with all my heart."

"But… he's a man!"

"So what?" Arthur said, "He is still a human being. And he chose not to come back to Camelot, because of you." Uther looked proud.

"Because of me? Smart boy. If he were here I would have killed him on the spot."

"Don't talk about him like that!" Arthur yelled.

"Show me some respect!" Uther yelled back at his son. Arthur sighed.

"Please, father. Camelot is falling. Just… tell me what I need to do."

Uther sighed and ushered him towards the plans on the table in front of him.

Merlin sighed as he rode towards Ealdor. He missed Arthur terribly already. He hoped that he was alright. He was, he thought to himself. He's fine. Merlin bit back a groan. He didn't know- again! He had to stop thinking about Arthur. It's over. There is nothing. So… why did he still love him? All he wanted to do was keep Arthur safe, and he was doing that by not being with him. Right? Merlin sighed. He was an idiot.

He knew it was not the right thing to do, and he knew that he would probably die, but it was the only way to make sure that Arthur was safe.

He turned his horse around and sped off back towards Camelot.

"I'm coming Arthur," he whispered.

YAY! Another chapter down. Hope you liked Uther and Arthur's little bonding session. Scared a few of you when Merlin left didn't I? :P

REVIEW PLEASE!!!!

Until then next chapter,

xox