Arthur heard Merlin's familiar knock at his door, but refused to open it.

"Arthur?" Gwen asked. "Is everything alright? Why won't you let Merlin in?"

"He has magic." His voice sounded broken, as if every word was a shard of glass, tearing up his throat.

"What?"

"Magic, Guinevere." He repeated. He willed himself not to let the tears fall. His best friend, lying to him this whole time. "He's been hiding."

"Arthur." Merlin begged from the hall. "Please let me explain."

"Let him in Arthur." Gwen pleaded. "Let him explain himself."

"He lied to us." He argued.

"I know I lied Arthur." Merlin said. "Please." Gwen looked at him sadly. He hesitantly opened the door and let the manservant into the room.

"Arthur you have to understand..." He began.

"Understand what?" He retorted. "Understand that you've been hiding your magic?"

"I did it to protect myself." Merlin said, looking at the floor, nearly in tears. "I swear Arthur I would never use my magic to harm you or anyone else."

"How can I believe that Merlin?"

"Every time I've used my magic, I've done it to keep you and this kingdom safe." Arthur stood in stunned silence, looking at his closest friend. "Ask Gaius. Melanie. They will tell you the same." Merlin looked up from the floor and into Arthur's eyes. They could see the tears threatening to fall from each other's eyes. "What would you have done, had I told you?"

"I don't know." He admitted.

"Arthur." Gwen said gently, putting a hand on her husbands shoulder.

"Hang me. Burn me. Do what you want." Merlin said. "But do not think for one moment that I was ever your enemy. Remember that everything I've done, I've done for you." With those words he stormed out, leaving the king and queen to think.

"What do you plan to do?" Gwen asked.

"What am I supposed to do Guinevere?" He replied, sitting at his desk. "I can't kill him, not after all the good he's done. Nor do I want to. But we cannot forget the fact that he's lied to us since he first arrived."

"Do you think he deserves punishment for this? Imagine what it must have been like for him." Gwen looked down at her hands. "To have to hide who he was in order to survive."

"You think I should pardon him?"

"If his intentions were dark he would have revealed himself long before this."

"He did save Melanie's life. And probably, mine, more times than I knew of." He put his head in his hands and sighed.

"Then do what you feel you must." She kissed his cheek. "And I will stand by you no matter the choice." The King knew what he would do already. Merlin was his friend, his closest confidant. He couldn't punish him like a criminal.

"How could he do this to himself?" Melanie asked, stalking into her room and shedding her chainmail. Gwain followed her close behind, doing the same. "He knows what could happen to him for having magic."

"You nearly died Melanie." He reminded, pulling her down to sit on the bed with him. "Merlin saved your life."

"My life isn't worth him risking his own." She retorted. "I accepted my fate long ago."

"If it makes any difference," He pulled her to him. Her back pressed against his chest. "It was I who begged Merlin to save you."

"Which was foolish of you."

"I just wanted to keep you safe." He buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"I don't blame you for this." She assured, putting her hands over his. "If anything, I blame myself."

"Why would you blame yourself?" He picked up his head and rested his chin in her shoulder.

"I promised him that, no matter what, I would keep his secret if he needed me to. When it means his life I nearly die."

"You couldn't have known he would use magic to save you." He assured.

"You don't seem to surprised about this new information." She noticed.

"I've had my suspicions about Merlin having magic for a long time." He admitted. "Though I'd never confront him about it."

"I pray that Arthur is kind in his decision." Melanie sighed, leaning into him. "Merlin as done nothing but help this kingdom since he arrived."

"As much of a prat as he is," Gwain began, pulling her ever closer. "Arthur will make the right choice."

"For Merlin's sake, I hope you're right."