Merlin awoke in a cold sweat, breathing raggedly. His eyes stung from the flourescent lights of the street lamps outside shining in through the window and attacking his unsuspecting retinas. He rubbed his aching temples and tried to steady his breaths, it took a while and he felt nauseated. What had just happened? He asked himself. His dark hair clung to his sweat slicked forehead and he felt constricted by his bed covers so he threw them back and pulled his knees to his chest, burying his face into his crossed arms and breathing heavily.

Slowly he stood and began to shuffle to the kitchen careful not to make any noise that may have woken Freya. Merlin was shaking and he didn't understand why. It was only a dream, a nasty one at that, but still only a dream. Really it was harmless, it couldn't hurt him but nevertheless it was certainly nerve wracking especially considering that Merlin had never suffered from nightmares before. Quickly he filled a glass with water and drank it in an instant before scurrying back toward his room.

Finally he looked at his alarm clock; it read 3:07am. Too early to text anyone but to be fair he didn't actually give a shit, he just needed to talk to someone, anyone. That person may or may not have been Arthur.

He began to tap out a message, unsure of what to actually say but he just needed someone to chat to. Arthur and Merlin had become close over the past few weeks and Merlin loved every second. He thought that it should feel weird between the two but it simply didn't. They fit together easily and Merlin felt comfortable around Arthur. As Merlin was typing he smiled at the memory of what Gaius had described them as, he remembered their conversation:

"I don't know Gaius, I used to hate him, well I didn't hate him, I just didn't like the way he treated me. I always thought he hated me though and now we're like best friends after about a week and it all seems rather surreal."

"Well you know what they say Merlin."

"What's that?"

"You cannot truly hate that which makes you whole."

"Alright Shakespeare"

"It's true though Merlin, you and Arthur you're just…well you're two sides of the same coin I suppose."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Just that you're meant to be in eachother's lives. In a way you're sort of meant for eachother, that your destinies are entwined."

"How poetic"

"Oh be quiet, I'm an old man now shoo I need to go through some paperwork"


Merlin, although he didn't want to admit it, was starting to feel like Arthur may just be one of the best things to happen to him. Alright so he felt something more than friendship toward the man and he was almost certain that Arthur did not reciprocate those feelings but even if they didn't become anything more, friends was definitely something Merlin would be happy about. What Gaius had said made some of sense to Merlin even if he didn't know what he meant exactly, the words just seemed to fit. They seemed to describe their relationship perfectly.

The dream had unsettled him and right now Arthur was the only person that Merlin wanted to talk to, albeit if that made him seem clingy.

Sent: Arthur
3:10
'Hi sorry if I wake you up I just wanted to talk'

Five minutes or so went by and Merlin gathered that meant he was not going to be getting a reply. However, just as he was placing his phone back onto his bedside table, it vibrated.

Received: Arthur
3:17
'It's fine I'm up anyway, couldn't sleep, whats the matter? x

Merlin smiled at the little 'x' he liked that Arthur- masculine, butch Arthur- used kisses on his texts. Contrary to popular belief, Arthur was in fact a huge softie with people he cared about and Merlin could count himself lucky that Arthur cared about him.

Sent: Arthur
3:18
'Sounds a bit stupid but I had a nightmare :/'

Received: Arthur
3:19
'That's not stupid Merlin, I get nightmares too x'

Sent: Arthur
3:19
'Seriously?'

Received: Arthur
3:20
'Yeah. Do you want to talk about it? Xx'

Sent: Arthur
3:20
'No thanks, I'm still a bit freaked out by it, I kindof just want to talk about anything else to take my mind off it x'

Received: Arthur
3:21
'Okay well try and get some sleep Merlin, it'll make you feel better and if you want to you can talk to me about it tomorrow yeah? X'

Sent: Arthur
3:22
'Okay, thank you arthur x'

Received: Arrthur
3:22
'No problem that's what friend are for J x'

Sent: Arthur
3:23
'Why couldn't you sleep anyway? X'

Received: Arthur
3:24
'Just stuff on my mind x'

Sent: Arthur
3:24
'Would you like to talk about it now? X'

Received: Arthur
3:26
'I don't really want to talk about it at all Merlin x'

Sent: Arthur
3.26
'You sure? I'll listen, I promise. You can tell me tomorrow if you like x'

Received: Arthur
3:27
'For fuck's sake no I don't want to talk about it leave it.'

Sent: Arthur
3:28
'Fine. I was only trying to help.'

Merlin threw his phone onto his nightstand and sunk into his pillows. Fifteen minuted later he was lying on his back staring at the dark ceiling when his phone buzzed and madehim jump out of his skin.

Received: Arthur
3:43
'Sorry Merlin. I really am, I didn't mean to snap I just don't want to talk about it. Not yet anyway xx'

Sent:Arthur
3:44
'It's fine. I shouldn't have pushed I'm sorry too. Still see you tomorrow yeah? Xx'

Received: Arthur
3:45
'Yeah xx'

Sent: Arthur
3:45
'Goodnight Arthur xx'

Received: Arthur
3:46
'Night Merlin, sorry again. See you tomorrow xxx'

With that Merlin drifted off to sleep with a smiled tugging on the corners of his mouth.


Ten o'clock rolled around before Merlin realised and he was woken up by a crash in the kitchen, quickly he hurried to where the noise had come from and found Freya standing over a broken bowl. She looked up at him guiltily and put on her best apologetic smile, he just chuckled and nudged her out of the way.

"God you're clumsy, move I'll clear it up"

"No it's fine, I'll do it Merls"

"No you bloody won't. You'll hurt yourself somehow"

She didn't try to retort instead she shrugged and walked into the living room and sat on te sofa. Just as she was about to switch on the television, the door rang making her jump. Merlin poked his head round into the lounge and both he and Freya exchanged confused looks.

"Bit early for your friends to be round isn't it?"

"Yeah, Mithian won't even be awake yet"

Freya hopped up from her perch on the sofa and skipped over to the door, when she opened it she was greeted by a smiling Arthur holding three cups of hot beverages and a bag of something. She smiled back at him and invited the man in.

"Who is it Freya?" Merlin called from the kitchen where he was still sweeping up shards of broken crockery.

"Arthur"

"Oh, Hi Arthur!"

"Hi Merlin" Merlin tipped the mess away into the bin and came to meet Arthur in the living room, obvilious to the fact he was still only wearing his boxers and a t-shirt.

"Bit early isn't it?"

"Well, I woke up early and I bought these" He held out the cups and bag. Merlin took the bag to look in it. "Got you a coffee and Freya, I got you a gingerbread latte because you seem like you'd like that." She grabbed her drink and took a sip. Merlin took a hold of his and smiled dumbly- it was only coffee for Christ's sake.

"Arthur you're a star"

"And, Merlin I got you a blueberry muffin because I know they're your favourite and Freya I wasn't sure what you liked so I got you a chocolate one" Freya's eyebrows shot up as she swirved her head to look at Merlin, who seemed to be in some sort of trance. Hearts for eyes, obvious hearts for eyes. It was sickening.

She grabbed her muffin and shuffled away to her room, not before calling behind her "Merlin I love your boyfriend! Marry him!"

Arthur went beet red and Merlin's ears began to burn, He laughed nervously and tried to shout back all the while stuttering his words "He's n-not my b-boyfriend Freya!" He was going to throttle her later. "Sorry Arthur, she's a little shit" He managed as he rubbed the back his incredibly warm neck.

"It's fine, lets just eat, You can tell me about that nightmare you had if you want"

"Oh yeah I forgot about that"

Merlin walked into the lounge closely followed by Arthur and they both sat down, probably too close, on the sofa. Both boys took a long sip of their still hot coffee and sat for a beat in amicable silence. Merlin spoke first.

"How did you know this is how I drink my coffee, and that blueberry muffins are my favourite?"

The question caught Arthur off guard because honestly he didn't know how he knew, he just did. It was like whenever Merlin was around him, his sense became hyper-aware and he could take in every detail of the other boy. Everything he did, Arthur would pick up on. Even before they were friends Arthur knew what Merlin's favourite muffin was, how he drank his coffee, even what his favourite film was. And that, well that scared him because never in his life had he payed so much attention to another person, especially without meaning to. After a moment of silence he replied.

"I don't know. I just do, I suppose. You're my friend, I pick up on these things"

"Oh right"

"Anyway do you want to talk about this dream of yours?"

"Yeah, but promise you won't laugh okay. And try not to be weirded out."

"I promise" He held up his hand in a scout salute. "Scout's honour"

"You were never a proper scout Arthur"

"How would you know?"

"Morgana told me. You were a beaver and then a cub for six months before you quit. But you never made it to be a proper scout."

"That girl dishing out all my secrets. Damn her. Anyway stop going off topic, tell me"

"Alright. I wouldn't call it a nightmare per se but it still freaked me out a bit."

Merlin took a deep breath, when he looked over at the blond his blue eyes were fixed on him intently listening. If Merlin ever had doubts that Arthur didn't really care, well in this very moment all those doubts washed away because he could see that Arthur cared.

"Okay well you were there, so was Morgana, so was Mithian. All of us were except for Freya… It was weird because well I was the real Merlin."

"What do you mean?"

"The sorcerer, the wizard. The one who has all the legends written about him and you were the real Arthur. As in King Arthur of Camelot. From all the Arthurian legends"

"Wow, how is that bad?"

"Well it was strange becauseone minute we were all in this beautiful castle, it was amazing like Château de Pierrefonds."

"What now?"

"That castle in France, it's amazing. I'll take you there one day, the architecture is astounding."

"Alright, anyway…"

"Right yeah. So we were all there having this wonderful feast. The knights were Gwaine, Percival, Lance, Leon and Elyan. They were all sat around you. Gwen was sat next to Lance, Morgana in between you and Leon and I was there. Standing by your side."

"Why weren't you sitting?"

"I'm not sure. I was doing something, I had magic and I don't think you knew."

"I think I would know if you had magic Merlin."

"Funny that, you said exactly those words later on."

"Oh"

"But anyway, everyone was eating and then it all went dark. When the light came back we were in some sort of canyon. Two armies facing eachother. You led one and a boy with dark hair led the other. All of a sudden there was this huge battle, both sides charged I think I heard someone shout 'Camlann!' and then it all went quiet. I thought that was it until I saw you and that boy going one on one, he was quick but you were quicker and then everything seemed to slow down. I was on the top on a hill with some sort of staff there was purple lightening all very strange and then it happened~ Merlin shuddered and Arthur put a hand on his shoulder.

"What happened?"

"The boy, you called him Mordred and he stabbed you, through the stomach. I screamed and killed him somehow and ran over. You were dying and something or someone told me I had to take you to the Lake of Avalon. So there was this weird spell I did and a dragon turns up, he takes us as near as he can go to the lake but you're dying. So I tell you. I tell you I have magic and what you said earlier. 'I think I would know if you had magic Merlin' you said that.
There was a whole lot of crying and I was holding you, it was strange… and the dragon spoke. It was the same voice that told me to take you the lake and he said something that was weird but I can't seem to get it out of my head, he said 'Do not dispair young warlock. Arthur is the Once and Future King, you will see eachother again one day when he rises again. Your fates are entwined for you are but one side of the same coin and Arthur is the other. You have the same destiny."

"That's kind of crazy"

"Kind of? It freaked me out. You died, right in my arms you died and some giant fucking reptile tells me something not so disimilar from what Gaius said to me."

"What did Gaius say to you?"

"He said the coin thing."

"What does it mean?"

"No idea, but somehow it kind of makes sense you know? I don't know, it just seems to fit"

"I get what you mean"

"Anyway I don't want to think about it, let's watch TV"

Merlin grabbed the remote and turned the tele on, he skipped through the channels trying to find something to watch, he picked a re-run of Strictly Come Dancing and settled in the cushions he heard Arthur groan. When he turned he was met with Arthur, rolling his eyes in frustration.

"What?"

"You watch some really shit TV"

"Well I enjoy watching Strictly"

"It's a load of bullshit, you know talent shows are all rigged right?"

"I don't care I like them"

"But they're crap, it's a load of talentless people frolicking around, how can you enjoy that?"

"If you don't want to watch it, leave."

"Why can't we just watch something good, instead of you forcing me to either leave or watch this pile of wank"

"Oh here we go"

"Excuse me?"

"I said oh here we go because you're making yourself into some sort of victim again. I'm not forcing you to do anything. It's a TV show. It's crap TV yeah I know but sometimes I like to watch crap TV in he mornings. Stop moaning about everything and get your head out of your arse."

"Don't be so bitchy Merlin"

"BITCHY? Seriously? You're calling me bitchy"

"Well at least I don't dream about you dying in my arms."

"THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS. WHAT THE FUCK?"

"Alright calm down"

"I will not! Don't come here and complain about my shows, I'm not forcing you to do anything so just don't. Why can't you just be polite, for once in you life?"

"I am polite, I brought you coffee and a muffin!"

"Yes you did and that was sweet and I'm grateful but your politness never lasts more that ten minutes, especially with me. You always find some way to insult me even if you don't mean to. So please just leave."

"Merlin!"

"No Arthur, just go. I'll talk to you tomorrow, let me just calm down"

So Arthur stood up and hung his head. He looked up slightly to look at Merlin and apologised but the boy had already stormed off to his room. He sighed deeply and strode out of the door. Freya was standing in her doorway, she had heard every word and Merlin didn't even see her when he marched into his room. She wanted to see if he was alright so she peered around the corner of his door and saw her brother lying face down in his pillows, she sighed and went to put the kettle on. It was going to be a long day.


Arthur walked out of Merlin's apartment building and headed striaght through the park. It was warm as the sun shone on his back but there was a slight breeze that ruffled his hair. He breathed in the crisp summer air. He was angry at himself for letting Merlin be upset, why did he always have to open his mouth? He thought.

That was just him all over though, never thought before he spoke. No it wasn't. That wasn't him at all. He was never like this with anyone else exept Merlin because Merlin made Arthur feel like his body was on fire, he couldn't formulate words and for some reason he didn't hav a verbal filter when it came to the boy. He always opened his mouth when he didn'y need to and say something so completely and utterly uncalled for and it made Merlin feel like shit. Most of the time though Arthur didn't realise and Merlin would just brush it off, but today. Well today crossed the line, he had told Arthur something personal, that he probably wouldn't even tell Morgana or Mithian and he had thrown that right back in Merlin's face when it didn't even have anything to do with their argument. The argument itself however was petty and stupid, he should've just watched the fucking show.

Before he knew it, Arhur was standing outside his sister's front door just about to knock. Morgana opened the door, her long black hair was tied in a pony tail. Really he and Morgana looked nothing alike, Arthur was well built, blonde and had bright blue eyes. The spitting image of their mother but Morgana had black hair emerald green eyes and she was elegant and fair skinned. She looked nothing like either of their parents which Arthur always found strange but she had their father's personality. When they were young Morgana always worried that she may have been adopted but Uther and Ygraine assured them both that they were blood.

He walked in and instantly she knew that her brother was upset about something judging by the way he hung his head in shame.

"Whats up?"

"Me and Merlin had an argument"

She rolled her green eyes"You two are pretty much in a relationship you know"

"What?"

"You two, you're perfect for eachother and yet somehow you don't see it. You keep dancing around eachother but I see the way you look at eachother and I know you both want to be together so why do you keep saying things that jeopardise that?"

"Because I like him Morgana! I really like him and that scares me because I don't know how to control myself. I keep saying horrible things without meaning to. I want to tell him how I feel but everytime I try I fail miserably."

"Oh little brother, you're in deep"

"I know… He's too good for me Morgs, I'm a piece of shit, I'm a real prick and he deserves so much better. I don't even know why he would want to be friends with me the way I treat him sometimes."

Morgana smiled affectionately and placed her hand on her brother's shoulder "Because he looks past that, he can see you're a good person Arthur so stop beating yourself up and go apologise to him. I know how you feel and I know that it's scary because what if he doesn't feel the same, well I can assure you that he does otherwise he would've given up on your friendship a long time ago."

"Why are you all so sure he likes me back?"

"Because it's as plain as the nose on your face that you both feel exactly the same about eachother. It's hard to miss especially because I've had about eight people tell me that you two are an adorable couple these past few weeks."

"Oh"

"Now stop moping and go apologise to the wretched boy. Shoo"


Merlin had been dragged out of his room by Freya, pushed on the sofa which was playing Strictly still and she had shoved at hot cup of tea into his hands. She had tried to get him to talk but he would just stare at her saying nothing and shrugged it off.

He had thought about it, he really really did like Arthur he made him feel safe and yet when he said things like that Merlin wondered why he even bothered. Obvously Arthur didn't like him back or at least not in the way Merlin like him. He wished they both felt the same. He wished that when they had an argument Merlin could just grab Arthur and kiss him, to make everything disappear so it was just the two of them for a moment that could feel like infinity. But those things only happen in fairytales.

Merlin thought he'd done it now, pushed Arthur away so that he wouldn't want to be friends with him. That was the last thing he wanted to do but he also felt as if he should be pushing Arthur away because as much as Merlin wanted Arthur to be in his life, he didn't think friends was ever going to suffice. He wanted more, he knew he did and he just didn't think Arthur wanted that.

Merlin was shaken out of his thoughts by the banging on the front door.

"Merlin! Merlin let me in!" He got up and walked to the front door, carefully opening it so he didn't come in contact with an angry Arthur.

But he wasn't angry.

As soon as door was open enough Arthur lunged forward, Merlin flinched but it wasn't an attack. Arthur flung himself onto Merlin, the shorter man squealed as the blond hugged him. He actually hugged him.

"Arthur wha-"

"Merlin, I'm sorry okay? I don't mean to say things like that, I really don't . You're like one of my best friends and I don't want to lose you because you're important to me and I just don't seem to have a verbal filter around you."

"okay" Arthur pulled away and stared and Merlin is disbelief.

"Okay? But you were so angry"

"I was Arthur and I thought after the way I reacted you wouldn't want to be my friend and now you're apologising so I can't really stay mad at you can I?"

"I s'pose not"


That was it really, they were back to best friends and they were both happy. Freya rolled her eyes constantly, Mithian made gagging motions, Morgana joined Freya in the eye motion, Gwen squealed and the boys didn't really care. All was back to normal and Freya had to go home.

Hunith had refused to let either of her children go home while Balinor was recovering, she didn't want them to be upset and Merlin understood but after four weeks of Freya staying with him it was time for her to go home. Balinor was still a little bruised but was up and about as much as he could be. Freya also needed to get her stuff ready for school which she was not looking forward to.

Reluctantly she packed up her stuff and got ready to leave. She hugged everyone goodbye and Arthur gave her and Merlin a lift to the train station. While Merlin was buying her ticket, Freya pulled Arthur to one side.

"Arthur can I talk to you?"

"Yeah, sure whats up?"

"I'm going to be blunt about this…Merlin likes you. A lot. And its annoying because he's acting like a love struck child and honestly just…just do something, say something because I know for a fact that you like him back" She finished and walked over to Merlin who smiled down at her oblivious. Arthur was stood there, dumbfounded. Jesus how is it that obvious?

Merlin was looking at him quizzically, one eyebrow raised. He placed his hand on Arthur's upper arm and squeezed gently"Arthur? You alright?"

He was shaken back into reality "Y-yeah yeah I'm fine"

Freya smiled at the floor and her train came into the station. She hugged Arthur and then her brother. She embraced Merlin tightly and kissed him on the cheek. "Bye dipstick, love you"

"Love you too bumcheek, text me when you get home"

"You know I will" She gave a two fingered salute and boarded the train. Arthur smiled at the exchange and Freya saw.

Arthur loved they way the two of them interacted it was nothing like him and Morgana. Although he and his sister were close it was nothing like Merlin and Freya and he couldn't find it in himself to be jealous. The way they were to eachother was utterly adorable.