A/N so I've read a lot of reveal fics and they are amazing, I like that people sometimes put Arthur's reaction as they would react. So this is how I think I would react to something like this, kind of in stages of depression and doubt but all in the space of like 30 seconds. When I started this, it was gonna be a multi chapter thing about Merlin getting captured and tortured but it somehow turned into this, haha. I will do another chapter on Merlin's thoughts during this and maybe another on how it was that Arthur found out so tell me in a review what you thought and if you think I should write a fic of how Arthur found out. Thanks, I'll stop rambling now!:P
Arthur POV
Merlin ran, he didn't know where to or why but his mind was telling him to so he did. He forgot trust and dignity, he just focused on staying alive and running seemed the best option.
Arthur was behind him staring at him, tears in his eyes and hurt scribbled on his face. It's not just that Merlin had magic; it was that Merlin had lied, for years and years, he had lied. He hadn't trusted Arthur even when Arthur had trusted Merlin with his life. They had developed a friendship but it turned out that it was built on a foundation of lies. Were they really friends then, or was Merlin just another sorcerer out to get him for his father's wrong-doings? Arthur knew people would judge him, judge him for being so bothered over a servant, a servant who was a sorcerer none the less. He knew other people would judge him for doubting Merlin after all he had done over the years but doubt him was all Arthur could do.
And could he be blamed? Clearly Merlin had doubted Arthur's trust, why shouldn't Arthur he? Sure, Merlin's life could have been at stake had he trusted Arthur with his secret but Arthur's life could be at stake if he trusted a sorcerer, a sorcerer who had every reason to hate him and want revenge. Truth be told, Arthur had had his suspicions over the years but since Merlin had never said anything, Arthur had laughed at himself for thinking such outrageous things. He kicked himself now, knowing that he could have confronted Merlin and have everything work out alright but he knew now that it wouldn't. That nothing would ever be the same again, but maybe that was a good thing, maybe now he could realise that in actuality he couldn't trust anyone. Maybe he would finally learn that the life of a king was one of isolation and loneliness. Maybe Merlin's betrayal could make Arthur a better king, maybe that's why Merlin had done it.
Arthurs head was spinning with excuses for Merlin, reasons why he would run, reasons why he would come to Camelot with such a secret. Or did he come to Camelot and then start learning? That would be more idiotic, so in Arthur's mind seemed more logical to be what Merlin would do, but was Merlin's idiocy a facade, just so people wouldn't suspect him of anything. It was plausible, there were times when Merlin seemed to be the wisest person around but then he would slip straight back into the role of village idiot.
His idiot, his Merlin, his best friend, whoever Merlin was, whoever he chose to be. That was who he was and that was the man that Arthur loved like a brother and the fact that he had magic changed none of that, it should have but it didn't.
What would Uther say right now if he knew his son was changing his views of magic for a friend, who just happened to be his manservant? What would he say if he knew his son was starting to chase after a sorcerer but for different reasons then he ever had before? What if he knew his son was shouting the sorcerers name and telling the sorcerer to come back, that it didn't matter that he mad magic? Would he be proud? No. He wouldn't, but that didn't matter to Arthur. Not anymore, his pride and honour had restricted Arthur's life for far too long and no more would he succumb to expectations. And that's why he's taking a risk, that's why he is running after his best friend, that's why he ran into Merlin hugging him. That's why suddenly everything his father had ever taught him slipped out his mind never to return.
When Merlin cried into his shoulder and told him he was sorry. That's when he forgot the lies, why he no longer called it betrayal and why he forgot the events of the past day.