Arthur woke to a ragged, misty morning. Everything around him felt damp and dirty. Slowly he sat up and looked across the embers of the fire to Merlin. He was sleeping, and not in a very comfortable position, on his side, his shoulder tucked under him, head to one side, exposing his neck. Arthur swallowed heavily. It had taken him a long while to get to sleep. Arthur had listened to him shifting about, trying to find a way to get comfortable while his wrists and ankles were bound.

He knew he should have gone back to Camelot last night. He could have pushed the horses, flinging Merlin's unconscious form over his saddle, to get back, and have had Merlin's head off his shoulders before midnight. But he couldn't. Arthur knew that was what he had to do, was obligated to do.

Getting up, moving quietly, so as not to disturb Merlin, he went out of the cave. The horses lifted their heads as he came out, then recognising him went back to grazing. Arthur checked the hobbles on them before setting off down the slope. The mist was thick, droplets of moisture clung to his skin, coating him in a layer. The world looked so unreal, the mist seemed to act like a barrier. Arthur felt like he was dreaming.

That would make everything all right, if he could wake up and find out that what he had seen was nothing more than a dream. That Merlin was not a sorcerer.

Arthur walked to the nearby apple tree without even thinking about it. He had seen it yesterday when he had gone to catch the rabbits. It would do for breakfast, although he didn't feel very hungry. There were some leftovers from last night as well. Merlin didn't care what he ate most of the time, as long as he got enough of it. Arthur couldn't work out where it all went. Merlin never put on any weight.

Using his shirt as an improvised basket Arthur gathered up a few, working mechanically, as he had the night before, just wanting something to do. He looked at the bright red skins, shining with the morning dew. Arthur stared at the one in his hand, staring at it as if he had never seen anything like it before. And the mechanics broke down.

Suddenly he stumbled back, roughly sitting down on the fallen log behind him, jarring his spine. Arthur didn't feel the pain, he didn't notice the apples tumbling to the floor. Instead he put his head in his hands, staring down at the bright green grass and red apples, seeing none of it. Something dripped down onto one of the apples, the moisture splashing out over the red skin. A second drip followed. Arthur didn't see them, his eyes were blurred with tears, and he wasn't aware of them tumbling to the floor.

All he felt aware of was the sickening sense of horror that had been gnawing away at him since yesterday. The worst part was, the reality made so much sense to him. How many times had Merlin been there and something had happened, something had been done to fix the situation. Arthur could pluck dozens of occasions out of the air, and the more the worm of dread eased through his mind the more scenarios came to him.

Arthur had grown up always being told, always believing that magic was evil, that it corrupted, and damaged and could not be trusted. And now he had to associate Merlin with that. Arthur couldn't do it. Merlin was not evil. Arthur couldn't think of a single thing that Merlin had done that could even be considered that.

Sometimes Merlin didn't think, sometimes he could be too loyal. Arthur had taken advantage of that on more than one occasion.

He closed his eyes, the rush of tears it caused dampened his cheeks, making him suddenly aware that he was crying. Far from stopping it, that made it worse. Arthur dropped his elbows down onto his knees and folded his arms, and resting his head down on them, started to cry.

The sound echoed around the small area as Arthur sobbed, gasping for breath.

He couldn't believe it was happening, the person who he thought he knew best, had completely deceived him, utterly fooled him. He had no secrets from Merlin, and he had thought it was the same the other way round. Arthur felt defiled by the betrayal. He couldn't stop the flood of grief as he realised he had to face the fact that his best friend had done this.

It could only occur to him now that that was exactly what Merlin was. His best friend. There were so many other people, who claimed to be his friend, but Arthur had always been suspicious, he was the king's son. Many people would see an advantage in ingratiating themselves with him. That was why he had lived with a false persona for so long, playing the over-privileged bully.

There had been the ones that played up to it, who became the ones he was suspicious of; the ones that had walked away and Arthur respected them for it. Then there had been Merlin; the one who hadn't tolerated it. It was for that reason Arthur had kept him out of jail, and the stocks, after their second fight. He was an idiot, Arthur would always firmly believe that. But he was a brave idiot, and one that didn't give up easily either.

Arthur didn't keep his servants for very long. Most of them willingly gave up after a week or so of enduring him. Arthur didn't think it had even occurred to Merlin to do so, he just carried on, enduring everything that Arthur threw at him, even if he did insult him. Arthur had always liked that, Merlin's insults, he thought lately that they had been developing an edge of affection. They were not really meant, at least not maliciously.

Now all that seemed to be crumbling around him. If he hadn't run to the opening of the cave, worried that Merlin could be in difficulty. If only he hadn't been so quick, he wouldn't have seen what Merlin had done, he wouldn't have reacted as he had. Merlin wouldn't be lying bound in the cave, while Arthur struggled with so many things. Or in fact one thing, killing Merlin now or taking him back to Camelot and having to face Merlin's public execution. It would be better to kill him here, Arthur didn't want people staring at Merlin like that, watching as the axe came down.

Arthur sniffed, his breath hitching heavily as he tried to control his tears. Slowly he raised his head and rubbed his face, brushing the tears away, while he concentrated on controlling his breathing. Lifting the edge of his shirt he wiped his face again and blew his nose. He sniffed again and ran his fingers through his hair, taking two deep breaths he started to slowly gather up the apples, using his shirt to hold them again. He staggered a little as he stood up, and he slowly made his way back to the cave.

On reaching the entrance he ran in, dropping the apples as Merlin gave a yelp of pain. He was shifting on the floor, grimacing as he did so.

"What's the matter?" Arthur asked, already reaching for his knife.

"I've got cramp in my shoulder!"

Without even thinking about it Arthur freed Merlin's arms and sat him up.

"Which one?"

"Right," Merlin told him through gritted teeth. Arthur grabbed Merlin's arm and started to massage the muscles. Merlin squirmed and grunted with the pain, but slowly it eased as Arthur worked, again concentrating on what he was doing. It was only when the pain passed, and Merlin relaxed that the situation changed. Merlin didn't dare turn round to look at Arthur, very unsure of what the prince was thinking. Arthur just looked at him, as Merlin studiously didn't look back. Taking up the knife again Arthur cut the rope around Merlin's ankles.

"Pack up what we need, I'll see to the horses."

Merlin shrank further down in the saddle the closer they got to Camelot. He kept his horse behind Arthur's, following him docilely. They had been silent as they worked, and then ate, both of them eating very little. Merlin had helped Arthur into his armour, a task that required no words between them, but was usually filled with Arthur's complaints and Merlin's insults.

There had been none of that this time. Merlin had worked quietly as he had dressed Arthur, and the prince had said nothing in return, and both of them avoided eye contact, although now and again it couldn't be helped. Merlin felt very aware of Arthur's red-rimmed eyes, and thought that he probably didn't look much better himself.

Arthur stayed very aware of Merlin following along behind him and he paused as he looked up at the formidable structure of Camelot. There was always something indomitable about it, now it also looked threatening. He could tell Merlin to ride away, just send him out on the road, send him home to his village, send him anywhere but Camelot. He could lie, and said he lot Merlin in the battle, that he had buried his body and then the problem would be gone.

It didn't seem as simple as that though, Arthur thought. The problem would never go, because he would always know. There would always be something lingering in his mind, and in his heart.

"Come on," Arthur said, without looking back and he turned his horse in the direction of Camelot. After a pause, Merlin turned his horse to follow.

They still hadn't spoken when they entered the courtyard, pulling up and dismounting as Sir Leon came to greet Arthur.

"Sire, we expected you back yesterday."

"Probably," Arthur said. "We were a little too far away to travel back yesterday. Where's my father?"

Merlin winced as he slid off his horse, and held the reins, waiting for Arthur to give the orders, to have him arrested and dragged away.

"In the council chambers," Sir Leon said.

"I'll go and see him."

Again, Merlin just waited, and then jumped a mile as Arthur yelled.

"For heavens sake, Merlin!"

As he looked up Arthur whipped him on the chest with the reins. Automatically Merlin scrabbled for them, struggling to get them in his grasp as he stared at Arthur dumfounded.

"See to the horses! And make sure the stables are mucked out. Then I want my armour cleaned!"

"Yes, Sire," Merlin mumbled, not looking at Arthur. Sir Leon frowned as he watched the interaction, and the sudden running tension that seemed to be between the two men. Arthur's aggression had a sharp edge to it that Leon had never seen before, and Merlin never reacted as meekly as he was doing.

"How was the mission? Did you locate the bandits?"

"Yes," Arthur snapped. "I'll see my father now, and report to him."

Arthur strode up the steps into the castle. Leon watched him for a moment, and then turned to look at a hesitant, subdued Merlin. Then turning on his heel, the knight followed Arthur into the castle.

Merlin gathered up the reins, his movements slow and exhausted looking, then he turned and led the horses away, dread mounting up in him as he wondered what Arthur was going to say to Uther.