Author's Note:

Hello readers,

I know we are not supposed to upload Author's Notes as chapters but I am going to put this story on hiatus, so I saw no other way to let people know as there will be no future chapters to footnote this to. Hopefully you understand and do not either report or remove this Author's Note. Thank you.

Now, as I just mentioned, I will be putting this story on indefinite hiatus. I am very sorry to people following it, I am not making this decision lightly and I hope you understand.

My reason for doing this is that this story is not working. I am NOT stopping this story because of critique, critique is good because it helps writer's grow and improve, the critique is caused by the same thing making me stop, which is that I just cannot make it work.

My problem is that I haven't seen the show Merlin in quite a while and so was writing more off the perceptions I have of the characters based on years of fanfiction reading and writing. Though some character development and deviation from the show is good I have built this story on shaky ground and can't find a way to continue without some integral part of it collapsing.

I could continue as is, but the characters are dissatisfying and incompatible with the plot, or I could radically change their behavior, but that would make them unbelievable and the story disjointed. Either way, it would be an unrewarding venture.

I have been considering this issue for some time, but the truth is that I am just not happy writing this story, and it's not fair to both me and the readers to write a story out of obligation, with no inspiration.

I did write on the story summary on my profile 'will not be abandoned.' I apologize for going back on my words, if it means anything I thought I was telling the truth at the time.

So the story is going on indefinite leave. I may resume it one day, or after some time has passed and I have gained some perspective I may decide to delete it from my account. Should this occur I will let you know and if anybody wants the word file I would be willing to email it to them (I believe you can't download stories? Not entirely sure, anyway, if you want the word file let me know.)

It's not much, but here is the first snippet from Part V that got written before I just couldn't continue.

"Part V: Confession

"What?" Arthur asked; he hadn't quite caught what Merlin had said.

At his question Merlin grimaced.

"I have magic," he said very distinctly and clearly.

Arthur blinked a few times in surprise, then smirked, ready to laugh.

But Merlin wasn't laughing. There wasn't any of his usual good humour in his eyes, or the expected bated mockery of a joke in progress. Instead he was just standing in front of Arthur with this look on his face like he was bearing his soul.

Arthur's smiled slipped a little.

"Merlin," he said cautiously, and then, low and hard, "that's not funny."

"It's not a joke," Merlin said. "It's the truth. I have magic. I was born with it and I have had it my whole life."

"I'm serious Merlin," Arthur said sharply, furiously holding on to the possibility that this was just a terrible joke because the alternative was unthinkable. "That's not funny. That's the sort of thing that could get you arrested in Camelot."

"I know."

Merlin sounded so vulnerable and serious that Arthur took a step back.

"Would you like me to prove it to you? That I have magic?" Merlin asked.

Arthur didn't answer; he just breathed and watched Merlin with a roaring sound in his ears. He was still desperately waiting for Merlin to start laughing, to take it back and say it had been a joke, trying to ignore the sickness he felt rising in his throat.

Merlin raised a hand palm up in front of himself. Through the whole movement he seemed to be waiting for Arthur to tell him to stop. He didn't though; there were no words in his brain.

"I'm sorry," Merlin said softly, and then looked down at his open hand.

Arthur wanted to keep his eyes on Merlin's, but couldn't stop himself from following Merlin's gaze.

"Leoht," Merlin whispered.

And he did magic.

He did magic.

There was a ball of light in his hand, burning off nothing, reflecting off nothing, just an unnatural iridescence shining from nowhere.

Arthur's hand, which still rested on the pommel of his sword, seized the metal convulsively. He did not stagger back and he did not charge forwards, he just stood there starring at the little light that changed everything."

Again I would like to sincerely apologize. I appreciate the interest and passion expressed by the readers over this story and I hope you can understand my decision.

Thank you,

~Olivebranchstories