A/N : Wow, you guys! Everyone has been so amazing about the last chapter, and you all deserve a zillion cookies! (starts spreading billions of cookies around) I know I'm back really soon, but I hope you like that particular fact! (grin)

Now, pretty pleaaase, you REALLY have to tell me what you think about this chapter, because it's an important one, I think! And I really hope you'll like it. Pleaaase let me know? It means the world to me, and maybe this time I'll bake you a pie!

XO, as always

Arthur

This time, he didn't even think of leading Merlin on and providing him with short, decisive answers. There was something so lost about his servant when he entered his chambers, the piece of paper clutched in his hand, and Arthur could tell that it was hard for him not to let out the sigh he'd been holding inside his chest.

"I don't know what to do with this." Merlin threw the paper down onto the table, observing Arthur's every movement as he slowly picked it up. "It's a dinner invitation. He'd like to explain."

Arthur nodded, biting the inside of his cheek. He might have turned this whole thing into a warlike reality, but the truth was that there was more at stake than a kingdom. It wasn't richess, it was trust. Emotions. This wasn't something you could solve rationally. And he certainly couldn't solve this on his own. "What do you want to do, Merlin?"

The sigh finally slipped through the small crack between the young boy's lips. "I was hoping you could tell me."

"Well, Merlin…" Arthur raised himself, pushing his hands hard against the arms of his seat when he did, and he walked over to the window, staring out at the courtyard before turning back to his servant. Merlin needed his help right now, and he hoped it would be enough. "I may not be the best person to see about this."

When he saw panic spread on his friend's face, he immediately continued, setting him at ease. "We're not a war, Merlin, even though it might seem like it. This really is about you and what you want out of this. I fear," he added lightly, hoping to lift some of the somber clouds that weighed on both their shoulders, "that we are actually going to have to work together on this."

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Oh, the horror."

"Mmyes." He walked over to Merlin, pressing the palm of his hand to his shoulder in a small, comforting pat. "You'll survive. Let's think about this."

-

Merlin

He didn't think he'd ever been this nervous. But he was sure he'd never felt this conflicted in his life. He remembered what Arthur had told him about always appearing brave in front of your enemy, and took a breath, hoping it would clear his mind. Wipe the insecurity from his face.

Tilting his head upwards, he glanced in the direction of the castle, faintly wondering if Arthur would be standing by the window, looking down at him. Looking out for him. He shook his head with a smile. Arthur wouldn't be caught dead spying on him.

He raised his hand to knock, but even before he could the door swung open, and he was there. Garreth, looking as confident as ever, stared back at him from two very familiar eyes. Arthur was right. He couldn't believe he hadn't noticed before.

"I'm glad you came, Merlin. Please…" He waved to come in, and Merlin hesitantly stepped inside. The place was cosy enough, he noticed, considering the fact that Garreth hadn't been living here for a long time. A sharp ache shot through his chest. Garreth hadn't been living with them for a long time, either.

"I made you dinner," he offered, his voice smooth and controlled – and Merlin wondered if his own would sound as poised when he finally spoke. Remember what Arthur said, he reminded himself, look the part, and he'll eat it right up. Right, Arthur. Remember how bad I was at lying? Acting won't do me any good, either.

"Thank you," he said, politely, preparing his victim for the sting. "But Gaius and I have already eaten."

"Ah," Garreth's eyesbrows shot up, as if he were surprised, and he lifted the jug of wine to pour them both a glass. "Gaius is a good man. I remember back in the day, when your mother and I were in trouble.."

"He's always there for me. Took me in without even hesitating for a second. He's like a father to me." He'd hoped the comment would have hurt him. He'd hoped it would have hurt so much that the breath was momentarily knocked out of his opponent, but it didn't. Garreth only smiled a little.

"I understand you're trying to hurt me, Merlin. I even understand why you're doing it. But I'd like to think that you'd have enough manners not to insult your host before his tale had been properly told."

Great. Just great. "Don't you try and make me feel like the bad guy. I don't deserve that."

"You're right." Garreth broke a piece of bread, his rough hands tearing apart the soft tissue. "But you do deserve the truth about why I left."

It hit him like a tidal wave. Like electrocution. The mere idea that he had been told a lie for his entire life was unphantomable, and so he reasoned he wouldn't – couldn't – believe it. Even before he heard this so called truth, he would dismiss it with one switch of the mind. One connection in the brain. He recalled an image of Arthur and copied it, the arrogance showing on his face.

"Let's have it, then."

-

Arthur

"You seem distracted." Morgana didn't look at him when she said it, but focused on her plate instead, trying not to attract Uther's attention to them. "Haven't heard a word from you all evening. You didn't even brag about killing that bear this morning."

"Hm." He hummed his reply. "I'm sorry, Morgana. I know I'm not my usual charming self tonight." He grinned at her, and she rolled her eyes.

"I was wondering what was taking so long. I was worried you might have injured yourself." She smiled before giving him a slight nudge. "Let's have it, then. What's on your mind? And don't try to deny it, because I'll have you know I can see right through you." Morgana turned to him, a knowing look on her face. He wondered if she would ever know how much it annoyed him when she did that.

"It's nothing – " he brushed it off by taking a sip of his wine. "Just wondering if Merlin's still standing."

She nodded, intrigued. " So does that mean he's…going to see his father?"

"Yup." He turned to her, frowning. "Hang on, how did you know his father was even in Camelot?"

"Gwen." She simply said, but a devilish grin soon followed the answer. "Why, don't you and Merlin tell each other everything?"

"Oh, yes," he sarcastically supplied. "We braid each others hair, too."

Merlin

"I just wasn't ready for you, Merlin." An expression of panic came over him, almost as if he were reliving that very moment, feeling the walls closing in on him. "I just – I was too young, too inexperienced, and if I had stayed, I would have made a terrible father to you." He reached out to briefly touch the back of Merlin's hand, but his son snatched it away before skin touched skin and folded them neatly into his lap. "At least, that's what you mother thought. When she told me what she thought of me, I just… I couldn't help agreeing with her."

He sighed, and the tears formed behind his eyes. "You were everything to her from the day you were born. She couldn't risk the possibility of you growing up with a father who was still a child! When she asked me to leave, asked me to grow before ever coming back to claim you, I did."

Merlin was taken aback when the blue orbs connected with his, the intensity so fierce that it almost scolded his skin. "I want you to know that I've been trying ever since." His fist slammed down on the table, and it shook with the force of the action. "I didn't know I'd find you here, Merlin, but I'm glad I did. Because I think I'm ready, now."

Merlin shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. There HAD to be some sense to all of this, and it came to him – Garreth had never once tried to deny that he had left them, he's just said that it hadn't been his idea.

"Let me see if I get this." He began, speaking ever so slowly. It seemed as if his ability to function had been put on pause ever since he walked through that door, and he'd been operating on autopilot. Doing what Arthur had told him to do. Stinging the victim just the right way. The instructions were through now, and he'd have to do this on his own. "You're not denying the fact that you left me."

Garreth shook his head. "I'm not."

"But you say it was my mother who asked you to." He didn't like this, didn't like the idea one bit, but every single thought had been scrambled, and he just couldn't do anything by the book anymore. He'd think this through in the morning, think it through when he had found his sanity again, when he'd spoken to Arthur. "You can't just expect me to nod and smile saying it's okay, saying I believe you."

"I know, Merlin." Garreth lay his hand on his arm, and Merlin felt paralyzed and ashamed when he couldn't turn away. "I'm not asking you to. I just wanted you to know the truth."

"So this is your truth."

Garreth sighed. "You're putting it the wrong way. It's not my truth, it my version of the truth. It's reality, seen through my eyes."

"I'm going home now." Merlin nodded for no reason in particular, his head lolling as if only held up by a small, breakable thread. "Thank you," he murmured. "But it's time to go."

-

He lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. It had been hours since he'd left Garreth's, and he still had no clue what to think about everything that had happened. He turned to his side, only to bolt upright when he heard a movement near the door. It couldn't be Gaius, for a soft snoring sound could be heard from the other room – and so his senses became acute and every fiber in his being tensed, waiting for the stranger to appear.

The soft creaking sound of an opening door was followed by a pair of heavy footsteps, and the faint light that entered the room through the window framed the silhouette that stood in front of his bed.

"Any chance you're going to tell me what happened?" Arthur's voice filled the room, the question in his voice really sounding the part, unlike other times when it was just an order in disguise. Arthur really gave him a choice, this time.

Merlin sagged back into his mattress and pressed his fists to his closed eyelids, though he knew it wouldn't change anything. No clarity, no answers. "We need to figure this out, Arthur. Because I honestly don't know what happened, myself."

The dark figure nodded. "We can talk about it in the morning." He walked over to the door and went through it, only to be stopped by Merlin's small voice.

"Arthur… thanks for doing this."

He couldn't see if he got a smile in return. Couldn't even determine whether the prince actually welcomed the words or if it only added to annoyance. Nothing was clear tonight, and he hoped the morning would bring him something entirely different. Something pure.

"Get some rest, Merlin. You did good, tonight."

Ok, pleaaaase pleaaaase let me know? It means... so much! the world! the entire universe!... to me. Pies are available. (grin)