Alaia Skyhawk: Here's part 2. I'm gonna try add more Merlin and Will stuff :D

Oh, and there's a continuity error in this episode, quite a big one in fact... In all the shots of them riding their horses to Ealdor, you never see Hunith with them despite the fact she had to be on one of the horses. Seriously, did they make her walk? XD

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Music: N/A

"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: N/A

~(-)~

Chapter 56: The Moment of Truth ~Part 2~

To say waking to find Arthur in the camp was a surprise was an understatement. Three women stared in abject shock until the prince had blandly regarded Morgana while readying his horse.

'You might have fooled my father into thinking you'd gone to Sir Leon's estate, but I know you better than that. He's going to angry enough as it is, but this way he'll be easier to talk around when we get back. Now come on, we've got a long ride ahead of us.'

Merlin still found himself snorting in amusement at that memory, even now more than a day later. Morgana had complained about not needing a babysitter, Arthur had retorted that if she didn't then she needed to act like it. That had then resulted in several hours of blessed silence, until it got dark and they set up camp again. At that point Merlin had asked Arthur to give him a sword lesson, to get him away from Morgana and stop the death glares the pair of them were directing at each other. It seemed Gwen had a word with her during that, because by the time they finished the lesson Morgana had become either resigned or indifferent to Arthur's presence, he just wasn't quite sure which.

As for his mother, Hunith seemed both concerned and confused by what was going on, but he just kept reassuring her that none of their three escorts were going to turn back. They were coming all the way to Ealdor, and that was that. She'd accepted it after a while, although she remained concerned for them, but both her and Merlin's worries soon turned to what was happening at the village... Today was the day Kanan had said he would return.

Arthur seemed to notice their tension, a glance to Merlin urging the servant to pick up the pace. He did so, leading them along the narrow dirt road that lead to Ealdor, a road so little used that it could have passed for a game trail had it not been the width of a cart. They heard the screams of frightened women, and the shouts of men, well before the settlement came into sight. It was all that was needed to send the entire group charging in that direction.

Merlin gritted his teeth, feeling his anger rising again, but he kept it in check. The fact that his magic had made things rattle in Gaius' chambers proved to him he'd gotten stronger since first going to Camelot. He'd been this angry in the past, but it had never affected things around him. Now he needed to be more careful, or risk revealing his secret by accident.

He made his horse pause at the edge of the village, Arthur charging ahead after throwing a dagger past the head of a man about to kill one of the villagers. Merlin helped his mother down, before actually leaping from the saddle himself, drawing his sword and rushing in while the villager he now recognised as a man called Matthew lurched to his feet.

Arthur was already cutting his way through the first few raiders that challenged him, but Merlin ignored that. He could already tell that they were far outmatched by the prince's skill. Instead Merlin ran past him, taking up the fight to Arthur's rear, thanking all manner of the heavens that he'd convinced him to give him lessons.

Merlin managed to cut through his first two attackers quite easily, since they'd clearly had no formal sword training and were about the same size as him. But the third drove him backwards, crossing blades with him and pining him against the edge of a door. Despite the fact he had a sword inches from his neck, Merlin didn't let it bother him. With all the noise of battle, there was no way Arthur or the others would hear him do this.

He narrowed his eyes, staring at the raider's blade.

"Haethien."

The man's sword began to glow red hot, his eyes widening in shock and pain until he was forced to drop it. Merlin ran him through, not giving him a chance to cry out that he was a sorcerer. He might have felt guilty about it, had there been another way. But when you're fighting for your life and the lives of others, sometimes you have no choice but to kill.

Merlin stepped away from the now dead man, hefting his sword looking for another opponent, unaware that his little display of magic had been observed. He nearly broke into a run to Arthur's side when he only now noticed an attacker coming up behind him, but stopped when Morgana stepped into the fray and slew him.

She glanced at Arthur, smirking.

"Bring back memories of when I used to beat you?"

"That never happened."

His put-out reply to that seemed to signal the end of the serious fighting, Kanan, the man who had been stopped from killing Matthew, mounting his horse and calling out angrily.

"You pay for this! With your lives, all of you!"

He rode away with his few remaining men, everyone, villager and rescuer alike, watching them go. One of the villagers, the young man Merlin's age who had watched him heat the sword, approached the warlock with a serious expression on his face.

He frowned.

"You still up to the same old magic tricks again... Look, I thought told I you we didn't want your kind around here."

They stared at each other in silence, before Merlin broke out into a grin.

"I missed you too, Will." They hugged each other in greeting, two best friends that had been separated for over eight months. "It's good to see you again."

They let go, Will taking a step back and looking his friend up and down.

"So, I hear you're skivvying for some noble in Camelot these days."

Merlin shook his head.

"No, I wouldn't say I'm a skivvy."

"Merlin." Arthur call made him turn, the prince looking in his direction. "Gather the villagers. I need to talk to them."

Merlin resisted the urge to sigh.

"Yeah, in a minute. I'm just talkin..."

"Now, Merlin. There isn't much time."

This time Merlin did sigh, looking a bit bemused as he glanced at Will and answered.

"Yes, Sire."

Will watched him hurry away, before regarding the armour-clad man Merlin had called 'Sire' with dislike. But still, he gathered along with the rest of the villagers, standing near the back of the crowd when the warrior began to speak.

"I know Kanan's kind. He'll be back, and when he is you must be ready for him. First of all we have to prepar..."

"Am I the only one wondering who the hell this is?"

Will walked through the crowd, scowling at Arthur. To give him credit, the prince didn't take offence.

"I'm Prince Arthur, of Camelot."

Will snorted.

"Yeah, and I'm Prince William of Ealdor."

Hunith spoke from behind him in disapproval.

"Keep quiet. He's here to help us."

He turned to face her, frowning.

"He's made things worse. Kanan will be back, and when he is he'll be looking for revenge." He looked to Arthur. "You've just signed our death warrant."

"He saved Matthew's life!"

Arthur raised a hand to interrupt her.

"It's quite alright, Hunith, this is his village too." Blue eyes now stared at Will. "What would you have us do?"

Will suddenly looked uncomfortable, hesitating before speaking.

"We can't fight against Kanan, he has too many men."

"So what's the alternative?"

Will remained hesitant.

"Give him what he wants."

Arthur simply regarded him like he was a child, someone with no understanding of the world. The villagers were already muttering in disagreement with Will as Arthur spoke.

"And then what? Those of you who don't starve to death will have to face him again next harvest, and the harvest after that." When Will tried to protest that they would manage, several people stopped him by demanding how? Arthur continued. "The only way he can be stopped is if you stand up to him."

Will shook his head.

"No, you just want the honour and glory of battle. That's what drives men like you." He pointed to the west. "Look, if you want to fight, go home and risk the lives of your own people, not ours."

He stormed away, Merlin starting after him. Knowing her son would do his best to talk Will around, Hunith turned her attention to Arthur.

"I will follow you. If I am to die, then I want to go out fighting."

"That goes for me too."

"You can count me in."

More and more of the villagers spoke in support of her words, rallying to the cause and the determination to protect what was theirs. Merlin heard it, feeling both proud of the people of his village but also scared for them. He understood why Will was acting like this... He just didn't want any of them to end up losing a loved one the way he had.

Merlin found Will inside his house, one that he'd shared with his mother until she'd died of fever two winters ago. Furniture and possessions were strewn everywhere, the result of the raid, and watching his friend start to straighten things Merlin spoke from the doorway.

"He knows what he's doing, Will. You should trust him." He sighed, coming in and starting to help. "Look, when I first met Arthur I was exactly like your. I hated him. Thought he was pompous and arrogant."

"Nothings changed there then."

Will was still frowning, having righted a stand that bore a chainmail tunic and a yellow tabard bearing a crest. Merlin watched him carefully setting it to rights in pride of place.

"But, in time, I came to respect him for what he stands for, what he does."

Will didn't turn, dislike in his tone.

"Yeah, I know what he stands for. Princes, kings, all men like him."

"...Will, don't bring what happened to your father into this."

Will turned, glaring at him.

"I'm not! Why are you defending him so much? You're just his servant!"

Merlin stood straighter.

"He's also my friend, whether he admits it or not."

Will wasn't convinced.

"Friend's don't lord it over one another."

"It you'd actually watched me during a day's work for him, you'd know I don't let him get away with it either. When he's reasonable, I behave, when he's not I find my ways to make sure he knows it. He isn't the way you're implying he is."

"Well let's just wait until the fighting starts, and we'll see who he sends in to die first. I guarantee you, it won't be him."

"I trust Arthur with my life."

Will stared at him, advancing a few steps.

"Is that so? So he knows your secret then?" Merlin didn't answer, remaining silent, but that was answer enough. "Face it, Merlin, you're living a lie. Just like you were here. You're Arthur's servant, nothing more, or else you'd tell him the truth."

Merlin couldn't deny the hurt those words caused, but he didn't let them deter him. He remained resolute.

"There's a different between telling someone something because you trust them, and telling them when the time is right. Sometimes you have to hide things when you don't want to, because that right time hasn't come. I won't be a wedge between him and his father, something to cause him conflict, not until I think he's sure enough of himself to be able to handle it." He stared Will in the face, unfaltering. "Sometimes you have to do the hard thing, hide away, hurt yourself inside... and have faith that it will all be worth it in the end. And Arthur, he's already proven to me that he's worth it. I believe in him."

He started towards the door, Will calling out after him.

"And what would he have done to do that? Pay you a bonus for kissing his boots?"

Merlin stopped in his tracks, but didn't turn.

"I drank poison to save his life when a witch tried to kill him with it. He could have obeyed his father and let me die, but he didn't. He charged out of Camelot against his father's orders, and rode to one of the most dangerous places in Camelot to get the cure for me." Merlin turned his head. "He almost died, Will, my magic showed me what he did for me. He was inches from death, hanging by fingertips for his life, and he refused to climb to safety without getting the plant I needed first. He saved my life by risking his own, and an act like that deserves my loyalty in return... He has it, now and always. I'll wait for as long as I have to, wait for that right time to come."

William remained utterly silent at those words, not moving when Merlin left the house. The warlock knew he'd shocked him, but Will had no right to judge Arthur without knowing him. Labelling Arthur like he had wasn't right, it was like saying all commoners were like Kanan. It just wasn't true. People are what they make of themselves, birthright didn't matter.

That evening reinforced Merlin's beliefs, in the dark of night after everyone was asleep and the fire died down to embers. The only light at this end of the cottage, which had been separated into two by a blanket strung on a string, was a single small candle near his head. He and Arthur were sleeping on the floor near the door, his mother in her bed, and Morgana and Gwen the other side of the blanket next to that. It was certainly odd to have Arthur here like this, yeah, odd to have his feet so close to his ear.

Arthur didn't seem to be thinking like that though, although maybe because his servant's feet smelt far sweeter than his own. No, instead he was looking at the rafters overhead, thinking.

"Have you always slept on the floor?"

Merlin smiled to himself, so that was what was on his mind.

"No, I had a proper bed when I was small. I made myself a new one when I was fourteen and it broke. It's that um... 'table' by the far wall. The bed I've got in Camelot is luxury by comparison."

Arthur frowned, turning his head to glance at the rickety-looking structure made out of bits of log for legs, and branches tied together into a flat top.

"You used to sleep on that?"

"It was better than sleeping on the floor."

Arthur remained quiet for a moment.

"Point taken... Still, it must have been hard."

Merlin smiled to himself, unable to resist.

"Like sleeping on rocks."

He heard Arthur pause again.

"I didn't mean the bed Merlin. I meant for you, it must have been difficult."

Merlin sighed.

"Not really. I didn't know any different. Life's simple out here. You eat what you grow, and everyone pitches in. So long as you have food on the table and a roof over your head, you're happy."

Arthur continued to look at the ceiling.

"Sounds... nice."

Merlin laughed a little.

"You'd hate it."

"No doubt... Why did you leave?"

Merlin sighed.

"Things just... changed."

Arthur lifted his head a little to look at him.

"How?" He smirked, shoving his foot into the side of Merlin's face. "Come on, stop pretending to be interesting."

Merlin pushed his foot away, frowning a little to himself as he answered.

"I just didn't fit in anymore. I wanted to find somewhere that I did."

"Had any luck?"

Merlin smiled a little at that.

"I'm not sure yet."

That seemed to be the end of the conversation, Arthur rolling over to face the warmth of the embers in the hearth.

"We'll start training the men tomorrow. It's going to be a long day."

Merlin rolled over too, in the opposite direction, and blew out the candle. Yes, it would be a long day.

~(-)~

Merlin did his best to ignore how awkward it felt to be helping Arthur dress here in his mother's house, he also ignored the fact Arthur pretended to eat some of the porridge Hunith had made for him. He ignored the way Morgana teased him, or the look of disapproval Gwen directed at the prince, but he couldn't ignore his mother when she spoke to him as he followed the trio out of the cottage.

"He must care for you a great deal."

Merlin paused, pulling on his jacket and reaching for the axe near the door.

"Arthur would do the same for any village. That's just the way he is."

Hunith regarded him knowingly.

"It's more than that. He's here for you."

Merlin turned to face her.

"I'm just his servant."

"Give him more credit than that, he likes you."

Merlin sighed.

"That's because he doesn't know me, he's not ready to. And if he did know about me at this point, I'd probably be dead by now."

His mother shook her head.

"You don't really believe that, I know you don't."

Merlin regarded her sadly.

"No, but telling myself that makes it easier to keep quiet. Like I said, he's not ready to know yet. Or at least I don't think he is."

He left the cottage, axe in hand, heading to the surrounding woods to start cutting wood for the barriers Arthur wanted built. He was almost there when a voice called out behind him, and he turned to see Will following.

"Merlin, where are you going with that?"

Merlin's reply was a touch sarcastic.

"What does it look like? We need wood."

Will snorted, following him under the forest eaves.

"We both know that you don't need an axe to fell a tree."

Merlin turned.

"And I remember the trouble it got me into. I nearly flattened Old Man Simmons."

Will laughed.

"Yeah well, he deserved it. Stupid old crow."

Merlin returned his smile, glad that his friend seemed to have cheered up a bit.

"Hmm, he never did like me anyway."

"Even less after that."

Awkward silence fell, the cheer fading away, and Merlin began to frown.

"Why are you being like this?"

Will strode over, seating himself on a fallen log.

"You know why." Merlin sat down beside him, waiting for the question he knew was about to come. "Why did you leave?"

Merlin's expression turned sombre.

"It wasn't what I wanted, but my mother was worried. When she found out you knew about me, she was so angry."

Will sounded a bit hurt by that.

"I never told anyone."

Merlin sighed.

"I know that, you've kept quiet for almost eleven years ever since that day we met that sorcerer. But mother, she saw how careless I was getting. Sending me to Camelot, to Gaius, was what she believed was right... and to be honest, now that I've been there, I agree with her. I'm wiser than I used to be, more careful."

Will was watching him, thoughtful.

"You'd be able to defeat Kanan on your own, wouldn't you."

Merlin looked at his boots, evasive.

"I'm not sure, maybe."

"So what's stopping you? So what if Arthur finds out."

Merlin stood up, starting to become frustrated with his friend.

"I don't expect you to understand."

Will also rose, equally conflicted.

"Try me!"

Merlin turned.

"This is bigger than the both of us, the path I have to walk. One day Arthur will be a great king, but he needs my help if he's to live that long." His expression turned bleak. "I learnt more than just some new magic, and caution, while in Camelot. I've learnt that there's so much more depending on me than just my friends and family. I'll do everything I can, my way, and out of sight just like I've been doing there. You just have to trust me."

Will started to look angry.

"Trust you? Trust you to do what? Hide in a corner while people die?"

Merlin flinched when a part of the log they'd been sat on shattered almost explosively, pressing down on his magic and the spike of resentment and frustration that had caused the outburst. Will was still staring at it in shock when he spoke.

"My magic is a lot stronger now, now that I'm learning to use it better, now that I'm using it for what it is meant for. But I still need to learn more control. But even so, I've already done so much with it, good things, even if I've had to do things so that others wouldn't notice and someone else would get the credit. I've defeated a witch, stopped a plague. Saved King Uther from a flesh eating magical beetle that got put in his head. I've killed a griffin, two evil fae, and saved Arthur's ass enough times that I've about decided to stop counting."

Will hesitated.

"You've really done all that?"

Merlin nodded.

"Yeah, but that's not the most important thing. I've been changing Arthur, for the better. Like I said, when I met him he was as arrogant as they come, a complete bully, but now... He followed me, Will. I rode out of Camelot on my own, I didn't ask any of them to come with me. Morgana and Gwen chose to come because they see me as a friend, and I know Arthur did the same even if he'll never admit it. You should have seen his face when Mother told him about Kanan, he was furious. He got her an audience with his father based on nothing but that and his sense of justice. He's got it in him to set things right, I can see it in him, and that's why I believe the prophecies that talk about the two of us."

Those last few words proved to be a mistake, as Will ceased to relax and listen and instead erupted in disbelief.

"You're refusing to use your magic for this because of some stupid prophecy? Some nonsense written down by a nutcase a few hundred years ago?" He jabbed a finger at Merlin's chest. "Are you saying you'd rather hide your magic for Arthur's sake, than used it to protect your friend's and family?"

Will stormed away, leaving Merlin standing there conflicted. He didn't try to stop him, he didn't have the heart to, not when those words had cut into his resolve far deeper than any knife. If it was a choice between saving his village and hiding his magic from Arthur, could he really let them die just for the sake of destiny?

That conflicted feeling only got worse the next day, when a woman's scream heralded the arrival of a horse at the edge of the village. Draped across its saddle was Matthew, whom Arthur had sent to keep watch for Kanan... and he had an arrow in his back. He was dead, the note fastened to his corpse warning that this day would be their last.

Merlin remained fixed where he stood, watching Matthew's wife wailing as she held him, Will once again speaking out against Arthur while he remained there silent. And then, when he followed Will to his house to try stop him from abandoning the village, his friend's last words to him once again cut him to the core.

'I'm not the one abandoning these people, Merlin... You are.'

~(-)~

Alaia Skyhawk: I've cleared a few of the intervening scenes out of this part, since there didn't seem much point in interrupting the flow to narrate Arthur training the villagers when in a book sense he'd already said he was going to do that. Nah, I wanted to concentrate on tweaking Merlin and Will's scenes for maximum impact :)