Hey guys!

So I'm glad that you liked the last chapter, and thanks for all of your reviews! I do hope that this chapter will be better, though I'm still experiencing slight writer's block again. I think it's mostly because I had to move some chapters around, and add a few extra ones to improve the ending a little, so I gave myself very little description for the last few chapters. Anyway, I hope that this goes okay!

Enjoy!

Megz

oxox

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"Are you sure there's no other way?"

Arthur was sat in the school canteen, arguing with his sister, Morgana. They were sat at their usual table, in the back corner, minus two of their usual companions, Merlin and Gwen. Arthur doubted Merlin even wanted to be in the same room as him right now, after what had happened between them earlier. There was no way Merlin was going to sit with them today, and it was more than likely that he'd convinced Gwen to do the same. In fact, Arthur was counting on it.

"I'm sure," Morgana replied sternly, fixing Arthur with an extremely intimidating and steely gaze. She could be very scary when she wanted to be, not unlike Uther sometimes. It was a characteristic that they definitely shared.

"Does it have to be now though?" he asked again, clasping and unclasping his hands on the table in front of him. He was so nervous, it was like he'd forgotten how to sit still. He just felt . . . wrong. There was a pounding in his ears, and he felt like he was going to be sick. His heart was beating rapidly, and he was now regretting the decision to tell Morgana about his plan. He knew she'd only push him when he tried to back out. Deep down though, he knew that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

"I can't think of a reason why not." she replied absentmindedly. She was looking out at the room over Arthur's shoulder, her eyes scanning the room for something, or someone. It didn't take a genius to know she was looking for Merlin. Morgana wasn't exactly subtle at the best of times.

"In front of everyone?" Arthur asked again, becoming increasingly more nervous. He tapped his foot on the floor, and ran a hand through his hair. Had there always been this many people in the canteen? It seemed like the number had been tripled. Too many people. Way too many people. He couldn't do this. Not in front of all of them. It was too much.

"Arthur, it was your idea." Morgana reminded him, raising one perfectly arched eyebrow.

"Well yeah, but . . . I didn't think it'd be this . . . public." he replied dumbly, looking down at the table.

He knew Morgana would have no problem with something like this. If she were in his shoes, she would've done this months ago. Arthur's sister wasn't exactly one to shy away from her feelings. When she wanted something, she made it known. And she'd be damned if she wasn't going to get it. Though Arthur wasn't sure sometimes whether that was the best way to be. His sister's abruptness sometimes scared away some guys, she "came on a little too strong" for them. That's why she should count herself lucky she had Leon. He was the complete opposite of Morgana, but somehow perfect for her at the same time.

"For God's sake Arthur, grow a pair would you?"

"Alright, alright . . ." he muttered, turning to look around the room again. Now that he took a second look, it didn't seem that bad. There weren't that many people in there.

In the back corner, by the door, two teachers stood, obviously keeping an eye on the proceedings, should any fights break out. Fights weren't really uncommon at Camelot High, though Arthur was quite ashamed to say he had been involved in, or helped cause most of them in the past. There were several tables scattered all over the canteen as well. He only recognized a handful of the people, which made it a little better. He could see Lance, Percival, Leon, Elyan, and Gwaine sat at a table in the middle of the room. For once, they were no longer surrounded by the other "knights", or the girls that were usually fawning over them. Arthur felt a small feeling of pride.

He could also see Elena, Freya, Kara, Isolde, Mithian and Sefa all sat at a table as well. He knew they wouldn't judge him for what he was about to do, and that thought gave him a little more courage. He knew that his friends wouldn't either. There wasn't much they wouldn't do for him. They'd already abandoned their entire friendship group for him, and a boy that they'd been told to hate since he joined the school. Arthur knew they would accept him no matter what, and that brought a small smile to his face. Until he realized.

It didn't matter. It wouldn't matter if there were ten people in there, or five, the word would get around to the rest of the school fast enough. And Arthur knew that none of them would be anywhere near as accepting. Not only that, but the two teachers in the room would most likely take the word to his father. And then things would get interesting.

But Arthur was quite surprised to find that he no longer cared.

When he thought about how important what he was about to do was, he couldn't think of a better way to do it. Letting everyone know at once was a lot easier than having to tell people individually. In fact, it was a lot more convenient. To have to keep repeating himself to everyone would just become boring. Although it would probably be better for people to hear it from him, it would save Arthur the trouble.

As he looked over at Morgana, hoping for some reassurance, he saw her eyes widen. Her mouth turned into a dazzling smile, and Arthur could tell she was just itching to start clapping her hands in glee. He didn't have to turn around to know what was going on, and who'd just walked in. He took a deep breath, before turning to look at the two people who'd just entered the room.

Walking over to another table, lunch in their hands, were Gwen and Merlin.

It was time.

"I just don't see why you have to ignore him now, that's all," Gwen replied, as Merlin slid into the seat across from her. Merlin had specifically asked her about an hour ago if she'd sit with him somewhere else at lunch, because he didn't want to have to speak to Arthur. He knew it was childish, and that nothing would ever be resolved between them this way, but Merlin just couldn't deal with him right now.

Of course, Gwen was reluctant to do so without an explanation, so Merlin had told her everything. He knew that she and Morgana weren't going to be happy. They'd spent so long trying to get the two of them together, they'd never even considered that when they got together, they'd mess it up in the way that they had. Morgana was already mad at him, because apparently there was something he wasn't getting. He hadn't talked to Gwen about it yet though, he was still thinking, trying to find out if there was anything he might've missed.

"Because . . . I just need time to think, okay? And I think he does as well. It might help to clear my head if I can spend a little time away from him. Every time we're together he just . . . I can't think straight," Merlin replied, and Gwen choked on her drink a little. Merlin couldn't help but crack a smile back at his unintentional pun. "You know what I mean. He . . . he clouds my judgement."

"Isn't that the way it's supposed to be though? If, when you're with him, all of the problems just go away, isn't that better?" she asked, leaning over the table so that no one would hear their conversation.

"I guess so, but problems have to resolved eventually, whether we like it or not. Surely it's better to get it out of the way now? Even if it means we can't be together at all, it's saving both of us a lot of pain in the long-run, right?" Merlin asked, looking at Gwen for some reassurance. Some confirmation that he was doing the right thing. But she just smiled pitifully.

"But then you'll just spend the rest of your life wondering about what could've happened if you'd just given him a chance. That's all he wants Merlin, is for you to give him a chance." Gwen replied, taking Merlin's hand across the table, and squeezing it comfortingly. "I know it's really none of my business, and that it's really between you and Arthur, but I really think you should just try and sort things out with him. If it doesn't work out, then it doesn't work out, but then at least you'll know that you tried."

"Thanks Gwen," Merlin replied, squeezing her hand back. A ghost of a smile appeared on his lips, "But I still don't think -"

But Gwen wasn't listening anymore. Instead, she was entirely focused on the other side of the room. Her hand slipped out of Merlin's, and she sat up a little straighter. She gave a little gasp, and her eyes grew wide in astonishment.

"What is he . . ." Gwen began, but her voice trailed off. Merlin looked at her, confused.

"Gwen? What are you -" he asked, but Gwen cut him off. She shook her head, and gestured behind Merlin.

"Look."

Merlin turned around to face the back corner of the room, just as everybody else in the canteen was now doing. They were all focused on one thing, on one person, and Merlin and Gwen even stood up to get a better view of what was going on. A crowd was forming in the corner of the room, all gathered around the one thing that had Merlin rooted to the spot. Gwen suggested they move closer, but Merlin felt like all the muscles in his body had seized up.

Stood, at the centre of the crowd, on his chair, was Arthur.

Morgana was stood at his side, looking gleeful, excited, and proud, all at the same time. Gwen moved to Merlin's side, taking his hand once more, comfortingly. But there was only one thing that Merlin could focus on, and that was Arthur. And as he began to speak, Merlin's heart began to beat wildly in his chest, like it was trying to burst its way out.

"As many of you know, I've made some terrible mistakes in my life," Arthur started, and Merlin couldn't help but notice he looked like he was going to be sick. Merlin didn't feel much different. "I've been a horrible person, and I've made all the wrong choices. I made friends with the wrong people, and completely mistreated the right ones. I thought that as long as I was popular, then I was loved, and if I surrounded myself with people, then I'd never be alone. But being popular, and being loved, are not the same thing. And being alone, is not the same as being lonely."

Arthur was getting slightly more confident now, looking out at the crowds of people. There was only one person that he absolutely refused to look in the eye. For he knew that if he did, he'd lose his nerve entirely, and he wouldn't be able to go through with it.

"I came to realize recently, how wrong I was, about everything. My friends weren't really my friends, and I wasn't loved, I was feared, which is a terrible thing to be. I can only apologize for the way that I treated you. All of you. Anything that I ever did to hurt you, or put you down, I am completely, and truly sorry. I left my old friends, and found some new ones. Ones that never fail to tell me when I'm being an idiot, or a prat.

However, I didn't come up here to apologize, at least, not to all of you. Because the only reason I did any of those things, was because I met someone. Someone who taught me how to be a good person. Someone who was never too afraid to tell me when I was wrong, something that not many other people would've done. They listened to me when I needed someone to listen, and yelled at me when I needed to be yelled at. And I think, somewhere along the way, I started to fall for this person.

But I screwed it all up. Because I was scared, because I wasn't sure. And I'm still scared, and I'm still not sure about what this will mean, for me, and for us. I messed everything up with this person, and I might never get a second chance with them. They might not even want to talk to me again after this. But despite all of this uncertainty, and fear, there's one thing that I'm completely and utterly sure of.

Merlin Emrys . . ."

Arthur paused for a moment, and turned to face Merlin. Merlin felt the breath catch in his throat, and his grip on Gwen's hand tightened. He could feel tears brimming in his eyes, and could see that Arthur was looking slightly shaky himself. It didn't help that everyone in the room had also turned to face Merlin, with confusion and pity mixed in their faces.

"I love you."

"I love you."

As soon as the words fell from Arthur's lips, he saw the whole room turn to him with a gasp of shocked confusion.

That was it. He'd done it. After years of wondering, and worrying about what people might say, and how he'd explain it to them, all it had taken was three simple words. And it felt . . . it felt good. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of his shoulders, and he wondered why he hadn't done it years ago. He no longer cared what people thought now, because they knew. He'd finally, out loud, admitted that he was gay. Not in those exact words, but just as effectively.

He couldn't help but smile, as he continued to stand on the chair. He looked around the room, taking in everyone's reactions.

Most people still looked confused, as if they couldn't believe that he, Arthur Pendragon, was in love with Merlin Emrys. And to be honest, Arthur couldn't much believe it himself. Still, he wouldn't change anything. Getting to know Merlin better, and falling for him, had made him a better person, in every way. And no matter what happened between them, Arthur hoped that, at least, would remain the same. He never wanted to go back to the way he was before, not if he had any choice in the matter.

As he turned to look at his friends in the corner, he saw that all of them, especially Gwaine, were beaming with pride. And the expression on all of their faces completely mirrored the one that Morgana wore, stood beside him. Arthur smiled back at them, when something amazing happened.

Gwaine stood up, getting out of his chair, and began to clap. The clap echoed awkwardly around the canteen for a few moments, before everyone else joined in. And Arthur felt an overwhelming feeling of pride, and for the first time, he felt what it was like to be truly loved. He'd thought when he was popular, that that was what being loved felt like. Being surrounded by people who never left your side, and having everyone know your name. But he was wrong. Being loved, was when you knew that people were proud of you, and that they respected you for your bravery, maybe even admired you. And it was an amazing feeling.

There was only one problem.

Because there was one person, in the whole room, who wasn't clapping and cheering with everyone else, and that was the one person that Arthur's eyes were automatically drawn to. The one person that mattered, the only person that mattered.

Merlin.

He simply stood, dumbstruck, staring at Arthur. And Arthur stared back, confused. Surely this was the part where Merlin said that he loved him too? That he accepted his apology, and that they could work things out? And yet, he did nothing. He just stood, watching, looking like he was about to burst into floods of tears or be sick, or both.

Everything else just fell away, and Arthur could no longer hear the crowds of people. He couldn't hear anything. He was entirely focused on Merlin. He was about to break through the crowds and run towards him, but Merlin beat him to it. He elbowed his way through the people, and Arthur felt a small sense of relief. Until he realized Merlin wasn't rushing towards him.

He was making his way towards the door.

Arthur couldn't even bear to watch him leave. He stepped down from his chair, and sat back on it, burying his head in his hands. His heart sunk with a deep thud, whereas just minutes ago, it had been beating rapidly in his chest, with nerves and fear. He felt a familiar dull ache begin to settle in his chest, and he sighed.

How had he gotten it so wrong?

Well? I know the ending was a little rushed, but I hope you liked it. I've wanted to write this chapter for a while, so let me know what you thought! REVIEW! :D