AUTHORS NOTE: so na na naaaahhh here we are! please read and review (and in response to the reader who left a review claiming how unrealistic my season 6 was, and how it didn't follow the TV season 5 - that is because it FOLLOWS MY SEASON 5 - as it says in the summary - so if you don't like it or don't get it. Don't read, or read that first. Thank you. xx

**EPISODE 7 - EMRYS**

THE ROYAL CHAMBERS

There was a heavy pause while Arthur felt his world crash apart and Gwen's heart broke in confusion.

Merlin swallowed and stepped forwards, his hands in white fists at his sides, tears on his cheeks.

"I have magic... I always have… since the day I was born… probably before…" His voice cracked and he swallowed.

Gwen gasped and her hands flew to her mouth.

Arthur said nothing.

For what could he say?

Everything in his head tilted and swam.

He hurt and he was confused.

Arthur and Gwen stared at Merlin.

The kings heart burned, while his wife could barely breathe.

Tears dropped down Merlin's face and his chest shook with heavy sobs that he was trying to supress.

"I am so sorry…" He sniffed.

Arthur didn't have it in him to speak.

He wasn't sure that he was breathing.

Tears stung his eyes and he stared at his manservant and friend in shock, his mouth slightly open as rasping breaths left his lungs.

Gwen's hands shook and she moved one slightly in front of her face.

Merlin pressed on through his tears.

"I… I helped Eveline open Avalon so that you could retrieve Arthur Gwen… I command the great dragon and the one Morgana has prisoner… It was me who healed Arthur when he was injured when we went for the Kristonica… for I am Balinor's son… a dragon lord…" Merlin shook and he swallowed, "I have saved your life so many times Arthur and I…."

"And you never asked to be thanked." Gwen whispered, lowering her hands in front of her and clasping them in front of her tiny belly.

Merlin let out a sob and nodded.

Gwen found herself walking shakily towards him.

She did not stop herself.

"I… I don't know how…" She whispered and stopped just in front of him, "But look at you… you are Merlin…"

A small smile barely touched her lips and tears continued to fall.

She let out a breath of wonder.

"Merlin…" She whispered.

"Arthurs heart stopped beating.

She lifted her hands and cupped Merlin's face, her thumbs pushing his flowing tears away.

Her own tears fell down her face.

"Merlin…" Her voice shook.

He stared at her.

"You saved my life, this kingdom… and Arthur, countless times…" She let out a small sob and bit her lip, shaking her head at herself as she cried in wonder, "… without you none of us would be here…"

Slowly a smile spread across her face and she threw her arms around his neck, stretching all the way up onto the tips of her toes to press her face into his neck.

She hugged him tight and drew in a stuttering breath, still smiling in shocked acceptance.

Arthur felt no such emotion.

"Thank you." She whispered to Merlin, "thank you for everything."

Arthur felt his heart plummet in shock in his chest.

He staggered slightly and rested his hands on the table in front of him, racing himself as he tried to stop his head from spinning.

His eyes and hear burned and he screamed them both shut and swallowed.

Gwen pulled away from Merlin and took both his hands in hers, squeezing them before smiling at him, and turning to look at her husband.

He had paled and appeared to be struggling to breathe.

She did not know whether he was able to speak.

But he did.

"Get out."

His voice was cold and as clear as cut glass.

Gwen's face fell.

Merlin's was a pool of accepting despair.

"Arthur…" She whispered and stepped forwards.

He ignored her, straightening and staring hard at Merlin, his eyes full of a fright and confusion that churned in the pit of his icy stomach.

"Get out…" He hissed through his tears and emotion, "Now."

His anger started to build, and Gwen and Merlin could only watch as it blazed through the tears in his eyes.

"You lied to me…" He hissed and his voice cracked and shook more than he wanted it too, and he could not get rid of the tears in his eyes.

"For years you lied to me, pretending to be a useless servant… and all the while you were…" Arthur could not even speak the word.

His throat closed up and he drew in a furious breath, his eyes stormy.

"If it were anyone else Merlin… but you…" His back curled in anger, "You lied to me… and all the times I ever said that you were a coward I never meant it… I always thought that you were the bravest man I knew… the most honest… the most loyal…"

Arthur drew in a choked breath and shook his head.

"Now I know that I was wrong."

Gwen stared at her husband in worried disbelief.

Arthur narrowed his eyes, "Guards!"

The door immediately opened and guards stormed in.

Arthur glared hard through his hurt at his former manservant and friend.

"Clap him in shackles," He spat, "Take this sorcerer to the dungeons…"

"Arthur no…" Gwen gasped and rushed to her husband's side.

He gently silenced her with a stiff motion of lifting his hand.

His burning eyes never left Merlin.

It churned in his stomach, when he saw that the young warlock, as he saw him now, did not even fight the men he could no doubt have made fall with a flash of his eyes, without so much as a flick of his fingers…

Arthur would never admit that any part of him feared the man who he had once thought of as his only true friend.

The guards took one of Merlin's arms each and looked to the king.

Arthur locked his haw and turned his back on them.

"Take him away…"

They moved to drag him but Merlin dug his heels in.

He swallowed and drew in a breath, lifting his eyes to stare at the king, "Arthur please."

"No!" Arthur wheeled to face him, bellowing through his tears.

He furiously jabbed a finger at him and spat his words.

"You," He hissed, "Do not, speak, to me."

At his furious words Merlin straightened, and finally allowed the guards to take him away.

Tears fell down his face and as the door closed behind them Arthur turned and stormed towards his desk.

Gwen swallowed, "Arthur…"

He did not hear her words, for in his hurt and rage he crashed his hand against the things on his desk.

He sent them all the floor.

The back of his hand smashed against goblet of wine that had stood there untouched.

It landed with a clatter and he wine spattered over the stone.

The crimson stain almost glared like blood.