Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, this is an alternate universe fan fiction in which I have used the characters, places, quotes and story from the BBC TV show which I do not own.

No-One Knew

~ARTHUR~

Arthur was woken by someone gently shaking his shoulder. His eyes opened with a snap and he was about to protrude his sword from where he had placed it last night when he saw who had woken him up. The sight of him standing there in all his glory eased a littler of the worry from Arthur's mind.

"Emrys!"

He was here now - he would help. Emrys was stronger than Morgana, was he not? Yes of course...but what if she overpowered him? Arthur shuddered at the thought. He didn't know why he was so worried though, he had seen Emrys' magic many a time. He was powerful enough, wasn't he? Nothing was going to happen to him, was it? If Arthur was really being honest with himself, Emrys was more than capable to protect himself and everyone around him. In fact if was Emrys that did the most saving out the the two of them. Then what was this? This instinct to protect Emrys...this urge to stand between him and harm's way...

"There is something I need to show you."

The said man started to walk away and Arthur made to follow, grabbing his sword.

They walked in silence for a while before Arthur's curiosity got the better of him.

"Where are you taking me?"

Emrys continued on, never looking back to see if Arthur was following. His walk over the uneven forest floor was elegant and graceful - his body betrayed no sign of effort or unease - his head sat high on this shoulders and the ebony cloak billowed around his regal and straight frame. He looked like the king of the forest.

As Arthur hurried to keep up, Emrys quietly intoned, "Do you remember what I told you back then in my cave?"

He nodded. "Yes, you told me the story of Bruta."

Emrys paused for a moment, a small smile gracing his face (not that Arthur could see), before continuing on.

"Yes - I told you the story of the sword in the stone."

"You told me that one day you would take me to the sword..." Arthur trailed off in dawning realisation.

"I was thinking about last night and how you were saying how you'd given up all hope, how you were a poor leader and a shoddy king."

"Shoddy! How would you know, you weren't even there!"

Emrys paused yet again, looking like a deer caught in the limelight.

Arthur huffed in (false but true) realisation. "Merlin."

He didn't catch the wince Emrys gave.

"Trust him to go blabbing to everyone."

There was something that he was missing, Arthur knew it. It was so very familiar and right at the tip of his tongue but for all he was worth, he didn't know.

"Come on." Emrys' voice was a little hoarse as he walked on leading Arthur thought the now less dense trees and to a clearing.

Arthur followed Emrys' eyes, and locked onto the sight of the sword in the stone, stunned by it which looked like an image instead of reality. Arthur followed Emrys closer to the stone when a crowd of people appeared out of the forest, all the knights among them. Emrys smiled. Arthur glanced back at him and then to the people. His people, the people of Camelot. Arthur felt hope bloom in him again only to be faltered when he looked at the stone.

It was stuck fast into the rock - there was no way he could pull it out! He knew no man with enough strength to pull it out!

"What the hell are you playing at!?" Arthur whispered furiously to Emrys. "There is no way to get that sword out! It is stuck in the solid stone!"

Emrys' words in the cave echoed through him.

"There is part of the story that you do not know. When Bruta was on his deathbed, he asked to be taken deep into the forest. There, with the last of his strength, he thrust his sword into a rock. If his lineage was ever questioned, this would form a test. Only a true king of Camelot could pull the weapon free."

Would he be proved a fool in front of everyone? Would Emrys do that to him? It hurt, the thought that Emrys might wish him harm. It hurt more that it should have.

"And you're going to pull it out."

"It's impossible."

"Arthur, you're the true king of Camelot."

Arthur looked back at the people. His people. He turned back to Emrys silently conveying hopelessness.

Emrys' voice was kind and gentle as he said, "You and you alone can draw that sword."

At his words, Arthur drew his sword and stuck it in the ground, approaching the stone slowly. He dare not look at the crowd. Nervousness and fear filled him as he looked at the hilt which only doubled as he placed both hands on it. He pulled. And pulled. No. No. Emrys wouldn't. He was his friend. He was his friend!

It did not move.

"You have to believe, Arthur."

He pulled, shaking with effort.

"You're destined to be Albion's greatest king."

Arthur let go of the sword in dispiritedness. He could not do it. He could not give hope to the people when they most needed it. He could not do his duty. He had failed. And Emrys, he...

"Nothing, not even this stone can stand in your way."

Arthur looked at Emrys, whose words awoken memories in his head.

"I protect you because all I know is that, for your many faults, you are honest and brave and true hearted, and you will be known as the greatest king this land has ever known. You're destined to be Albion's greatest king, and I will let nothing stand in your way."

His fear and lack of faith were replaced by something else. Friendship. Love. Trust.

With newfound faith Arthur stood again in front of the sword and placed one hand on the hilt. He closed his eyes, letting his trust in Emrys fill him. Emrys was his friend.

He heard Merlin's voice in his head. Merlin?

"Have faith."

Emrys was his friend. But Merlin. Merlin was his brother. Confusion filled him for a moment. Where was Merlin? He could not have missed him in the crowd - he purposely looked for and found each of his knights and Gwen in the crowd. Huh. That was strange. He didn't even think to look for Merlin, as if he were there...right beside him.

The fleeting thought was suppressed as he once again put his attention to the sword. Arthur lifted his chin, willing himself to believe, but more than that he let calm happiness encompass him.

A small smile played at his lips as the warmth of Emrys' magic filled him, and he replayed Merlin voice in his head, and he pulled the sword out of the stone.