Alaia Skyhawk: Yep, poor Merlin's little bravado just got smashed. Will's words have hit him really hard, you'll see what I mean l when you read this :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Music: N/A

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

~(-)~

Chapter 57: The Moment of Truth ~Part 3~

It was probably about half an hour before Merlin could bring himself to move, to come out of the cottage Will had left behind. All this time, ever since the beginning in Camelot, he'd told himself that protecting Arthur was fine and he didn't mind doing it. Even when he'd found out he was Emrys, he kept telling himself that it was ok, he'd just do his best. He'd come back to Ealdor, having continued to tell himself all that, and now his friend had showed him just how fragile those words were.

A wall made of words, to hold back doubts, is easily broken when there is no foundation to hold it up. In the space of two conversations, Will had shattered months of confidence, only it hadn't been confidence... it had been bravado. Despite all he'd done and achieved, the battles he'd fought and the victories he'd gained, behind the upbeat façade Merlin was still a novice warlock in far over his head. He talked big when faced with a foe, he'd talked big when faced with Will, but they weren't the ones he was trying to convince when he did that. He was always trying to convince himself.

That thought in his mind, he finally moved to the door and stood there looking out at the village. Ealdor had been his entire world for nineteen years, before he'd gone to Camelot and been thrust into a new world of intrigue and danger. Here he'd just been a farmer, but there he was a servant, a sorcerer, and a sometime swordsman even if he wasn't particularly great at the latter.

Here all that had mattered was growing enough food and helping his mother. Patching the cottage roof when the thatch needed replacing, or chasing the livestock back into their pens whenever one of them made an escape. In his spare time he'd hung around with Will, pretending sword fights out in the woods, running circles around him using magic for fun.

In Camelot things were different. There he had the responsibilities of his job as Arthur's manservant. There he had Gaius sending him on errands that took up much of what spare time he had. There he'd studied his magic to protect Arthur and the city. There, protecting Arthur and everyone went hand-in-hand with hiding his magic. There, there were so many people that it was easy to stage things so others could take mundane credit for the unknown magical victories. It was so much simpler there, but now he was here. His two worlds had collided into one jumbled mess, and the rules of each didn't work with the other.

What was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to deal with this? He was supposed to be Emrys, a great magical protector, but to be honest he felt like a fraud. A lost little boy tramping around in someone else's boots, pretending he was something he wasn't. But that begged the question as to what was he, if he wasn't that? Was he 'Emrys the protector', or was he 'Merlin the freak of magic' who was so far from normal his rate of learning spells scared people? He couldn't answer it, or maybe he didn't want to. Instead he spotted Arthur sat sharpening his sword, clearly deep in thought and more that a little troubled. Not that anyone who didn't know him well would see that.

Concern for Arthur overrode his thoughts for now, and he walked over to sit beside him. He knew part of what was bothering the prince was what Will had said when Matthew had come back dead. The words had bitten deep, just like the ones said to him had done. Explaining what was behind those words, would perhaps make things clearer for the both of them.

"William's father was killed, fighting for King Cenrid. So he doesn't trust anyone of nobility. In Herwen's time, the family would have been compensated, but under Cenrid they get nothing. They're left to fend for themselves, more often than not they're left penniless. Will and his mother had to rely of the charity of others in the village to see them through the months after it happened, until Will was able enough to take up all the work his father had used to do on the farms. Ealdor is a close community, and everyone looks out for each other even if some of those here don't get along."

Arthur lowered his sword, ceasing to sharpen it and remaining sombre.

"Do you think the villagers believed him?"

Merlin shook his head.

"Nah, he's always been a troublemaker. They're used to ignoring him."

"And if he's right?"

Merlin turned his head sharply, concerned by such obvious doubt. Arthur had to keep his faith up. He frowned a little, realising that he couldn't afford to have doubts right now either.

"He isn't."

Arthur looked over to where the village men were resting, having spent the morning being talked through combat drills to prepare them for the fight ahead.

"I'm treating these men like soldiers, and they're not. You've seen them fight, they haven't got a clue." Merlin stayed quiet, unable to deny he had to agree with that, and Arthur's expression turned ever more grim. "...You need to tell them all to leave the village before Kanan returns."

Merlin stared at him. He wanted them to abandon their homes, to give up hope? If they did that then Ealdor was as good as dead, they would never be able to return. Kanan would make sure of it. He would not let this home of his childhood be destroyed when there was still a chance to save it. It was that realisation that made his decision, the one he'd been struggling to make since returning here. He would do what he had to do, if he was needed to do it.

"No, we're going to stay and fight, and we're going to win."

Arthur looked at him, neither of them aware of Hunith being able to hear them through the cottage door.

"Merlin, it can't be done. The odds are too great."

Merlin refused to back down. Arthur was going to fight regardless of if or not the people evacuated, and while hiding his magic might not be possible in this clash of his two worlds, protecting both of them was.

"It can. We're going to make Kanan rue the day he ever came to this village. All you need to do is get the men ready for battle, and the rest... will take care of itself."

Arthur didn't look convinced.

"How?"

Merlin didn't flinch at that question, simply saying what was needed to be said.

"You've just got to believe in them. Because if you don't, they'll sense it, and the battle will be lost before it's even begun."

The words seemed to sink in, giving Arthur the resolve he needed. He rose to his feet, Merlin watching as he strode away calling the village men to their feet to train some more. Those words he'd said to the prince, could just as easily be said to himself. He had to believe in Arthur, because if he didn't then when the day came that his magic was revealed, Arthur would know if he didn't fully trust him. And if he didn't have real faith in him, then what reason would Arthur have to trust him in return?

The day wore on into evening, and the villagers began to gather inside the largest of the houses. Sitting around the fire in the centre, food was passed around and an air of tension and edging fear pervaded the air. Merlin continued to watch Arthur, watched as the prince took note of the fearful murmurings and walked to the fire's edge to speak to them all.

"Tomorrow morning, the women and children should gather what belongings they can carry, and go to the woods."

"We're not going anywhere."

Eyes turned to where Gwen had also stepped forward, and she frowned at the prince. Arthur remained solemn, he'd expected a protest like this from her, or at the very least from Morgana.

"I know you want to help, but the women can't stay here. It's too dangerous."

Gwen pulled herself up straighter, defiant and dare Merlin say it... commanding. He actually blinked, since for the most part Gwen had only ever been mild mannered and generally polite in his presence, except when she was telling him off. He'd never expected to hear her stand up to Arthur.

"The women have as much right to fight for their lives as the men do."

Arthur didn't seem to notice it, but then he didn't know Gwen as well as his servant did.

"The women don't know how to fight."

"The more of us there are, the better chance we stand." The village women all began to step forward further into the light, all of them determined as Gwen stared him down. "We're staying."

He was being outvoted, and he knew it. Arthur remained silent for a moment, before bowing his head in acceptance.

"This is your home. If you want to fight to defend it, that's your choice... I'd be honoured to stand alongside you." The villagers began to nod, Merlin the only one that didn't move as Arthur continued. "Tomorrow Kanan attacks. He's brutal, and fights only do kill. Which is why he will never defeat us."

That got Merlin's attention, and he broke from his thoughts to smile to himself and murmur quietly.

"That's it, Arthur. Don't be a prat, just believe in them."

Arthur began to walk a circuit around the fire, looking at the people he passed, speaking to them all.

"Look around. In this circle we're all equals. You're not fighting because someone is ordering you to, you're fighting for so much more than that. You fight for your homes! You fight for your family! You fight for your friends!" The fear was fading from the gathered people, their spirit rising to the challenge of Arthur's words. "You fight for the right to grow crops in peace. And if you fall, you fall fighting for the noblest of causes. Fighting for your very right to survive! And when you're old and grey, you'll look back on this day and you will know, that you earned the right to live every day in between." His voice was rising, valiant and true. "So you fight! For your family, for your friends! For Ealdor!"

Merlin rose to his feet, taking up that call.

"For Ealdor!"

More and more rose to their feel, until all were standing repeating that defiant chant. Merlin was too caught up in the moment, too caught up in pride at Arthur, to notice that someone he'd thought had left had snuck in among the shadows to listen. No one saw William, no one saw the way he rolled his eyes at Arthur's bold words, and no one saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes either. When the villagers left to go to their beds, the prince remained to speak to a few who remained behind. Merlin left him there with Morgana and Gwen, returning to his own house to find his mother seated near the fire looking concerned.

He hesitated when he saw her hunched there, seating himself beside her after removing his jacket. Hunith reached a hand to stroke his cheek once he had, fear for him in her voice.

"I do love you, my boy."

Merlin frowned a little, confused.

"What's wrong?"

She lowered her hand to her lap, her gaze following it before she sighed.

"I should never have gone to Camelot. I've ruined everything for you."

Merlin shook his head.

"You haven't. Why would you say that?"

She raised her hair, regarding him solemnly.

"I know what you're planning to do."

There was a moment of stillness, until Merlin sighed in defeat. He should have known he couldn't hide it from her.

"If it comes to a choice, between saving people's lives and hiding who I really am... then there is no choice."

He half smiled as he said it, but it did nothing to quell her fear for him.

"You cannot let Arthur know about your gifts."

"Why not?" His tone was firm, even as inside he knew that once again his words were as much to convince himself as the one he was speaking to. "Maybe it's meant to be this way. And if he doesn't accept me for who I am, then... he's not the friend I hoped he was."

"Merlin..."

He smiled sadly at his mother, placing his hand on hers.

"If I ever want him to trust magic, to trust me when he learns the truth... Then I'm going to have to trust him first." He sighed. "But if it will reassure you, I promise I won't do anything obvious unless I absolutely have to. You have my word."

Hunith continued to look at him, before pulling him close and holding tight. Everything now depended on the outcome of the fight tomorrow.

~(-)~

The clear dawn, on any other day, would have brought smiles for a day of good weather, but today it didn't. Crops were not what was on the minds of the people of Ealdor. They did not concern themselves with wondering if any of the village roofs needed to have their thatch repaired. No, this dawn saw them checking their hastily built defences, several of them dousing a long trail of dry straw with melted tallow and oil that had been intended for candles and lamps in the winter months. The mixture would help the planned flames sweep along it, and let them hold for longer than such a shallow layer of straw would normally burn.

One man wasn't in the village for those preparations, having instead gone to a vantage point in the woods. There Arthur stood, at the place where the dirt road could be seen wending its way through the trees, and it was there that Gwen found him when she arrived carrying a bowl of rough porridge.

She regarded him with a certain degree of scepticism, half expecting what was to come given the way he'd skipped meals the past two days.

"Hunith made you some food."

Arthur accepted the wooden bowl she held, staring at its contents unenthusiastically.

"Thanks... I think."

His tone sent a flash of disappointment through her, and she frowned as she spoke in impulsive reprimand.

"Food is scarce to these people. You shouldn't turn your nose up at it." He stared at her in surprise, and she began to stammer as she remembered who it was she was speaking to. "I... I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. I'm sorry."

"Gwen."

She turned to hurry away.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. It won't happen again."

"Guinevere." His utterance of her full name made her stop, and he sighed when she nervously turned to face him again. "Thank you. You're right... And you were right to speak up. I should have listened to you and Morgana when you spoke to me yesterday. We're going to need all the help we can get."

Gwen took a step towards him.

"We'll be fine."

"How can you be so sure."

She looked resolutely at him, returning his solemn regard of her.

"Because I have faith in you... I-I mean, we all do."

She was becoming flustered again, but Arthur paid it no heed. Instead he nodded in gratitude.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, Sire."

Gwen hesitated for a moment more, before then turning and heading back to the village. Arthur watched her go, deciding to follow since there was no sense wasting his time stood out here. He ate the porridge as he walked, no longer grimacing at the grittiness of it as he had previously. Food like this made him realise just how privileged his life was, that the food he had to eat was always the best that could be bought.

He arrived back at Hunith's house to find Merlin laying out his armour, the servant lifting the first pieces until he raised a hand to stop him.

"No, not today. Put on your own." The two of them worked in silence, donning chainmail before the noble of the two added the rest of his armour and the commoner fumbled with his two simple wrist guards. Seeing that, Arthur reached out and finished fastening the second one of them for him. He then placed a hand on Merlin's shoulder. "You ready?"

Merlin nodded, clearly a bit nervous.

"My throat's dry."

Arthur smiled, understanding.

"Me too." He took a step back, holding out his hand, and realising why he done it, Merlin clasped it as would a Knight given the same gesture. Arthur nodded. "It's been an honour."

Merlin smiled a little as well, once again proud of Arthur, proud of the man he was showing he could be. It was something that plucked at him when they let go, and Arthur turned away to pick up his sword. If he was so proud of Arthur, and Arthur being so honest and open with him, then maybe...

"Whatever happens out there today, please don't think any differently of me."

Arthur turned.

"I won't. It's alright to be scared, Merlin."

Merlin felt like his heart was in his throat.

"That's not what I meant."

"What is it?" Arthur watched as his servant hesitated. "If you've got something to say, now is the time to say it."

Merlin had to fight not to swallow nervously. Could he do it, could he just blurt out his secret to Arthur... here and now?

He didn't get the chance to answer that, Morgana coming in through the door and shattering that fragile instant.

"Arthur. They're coming across the river."

The prince followed her out, Merlin watching them go both relieved and disappointed in himself because of that. He hurried after them, taking his place with Arthur behind one of the houses. All around the central part of the village, men and women waited behind barricades for the signal. Across the other side from where he and Arthur were, Merlin could see Morgana duck behind a house to what was her responsibility. She would light the fires, after Gwen and a few others closed the trap.

He checked his sword, the one she and Tom had given him, hoping in his heart that the saying would hold. That a blade given by a friend would swing truer than any other. If it didn't, if things got out of hand, then it would not be enough to end this.

Barely two minutes after Morgana had come into the house, Kanan and his men came charging out of the woods. They poured into the heart of the apparently deserted village, about to fan out and search when the bandit leader ordered them to. That was when Gwen and one of the village women hauled on the rope linked to the last hidden parts of the barricades, a wooden fence of sharpened branches rising upright from beneath a concealing layer of straw.

He and Arthur remained in hiding, waiting for the flames to appear and take hold, but when precious seconds ticked by, the prince cursed.

"Now, Morgana. What are you waiting for?" He turned, just in time to see Merlin sprinting off to circle round to the woman's position. "Merlin!"

Merlin didn't listen, flinging himself out into the open.

"There's one! Get him!"

Merlin heard Kanan's shout and the snap of a crossbow, taking a deep breath and glancing in that direction with his eyes glimmering gold. The world slowed for an instant, allowing him to duck under the arrow. He ducked the second one the same way, finally arriving behind cover again and coming to a stop beside Morgana.

She was frantically striking the flints she held over the end of the straw trail, and she handed them over when he reached for them.

"Give me the flints!" She moved back to give him space, and after glancing at her to confirm her attention was on the raiders, he raised a hand to the straw and whispered. "Baerne."

The straw burst into flame, the oil and tallow on it hissing as the fire took hold. It quickly spread out along the trail, encircling the paths out of the village and sending Kanan's horses bucking and whinnying in terror. The fire was the final signal, Arthur's shout bringing the villagers out of hiding to attack the invaders. Merlin joined them, taking advantage of the chaos to hide his eyes as he continued to use his powers as he had that time against Arthur in the market.

Bandits who got close to him tripped, while the world slowed for a few moments at a time when he was forced to dodge a strike that otherwise he couldn't have avoided. He felled five men almost as fast as Arthur slew a similar number, even Morgana had taken down three, but ten men was still only ten, and there were still at least thirty more.

He watched as Arthur fought another, distracted by a moment where it seemed the prince might stumble and be vulnerable. In that time Merlin stood there, unaware of the mace-wielding raider charging behind him on a horse until said attacker was knocked from his saddle.

Merlin turned, seeing Will dressed in his father's chainmail and tabard, his friend seizing the weapon from the bandit's hand and clubbing him over the head with it. Will then grabbed the sword from the raider's belt, rising to his feet and turning to the stunned warlock.

Merlin started to smile.

"I didn't think you were coming."

"Neither did I."

They moved to stand back-to-back, dealing with another pair of attackers swiftly when Merlin pulled their feet from under them. Little magics like this, like those he'd used in Camelot, they were lost among this chaos, unnoticed... But they weren't enough.

The two of them stood, taking note of how the fight was going, and seeing villagers being driven back and wounded. Only Arthur and Morgana seemed able to hold their ground, and two experienced fighters would not be enough to win this.

Will shook his head.

"There's too many of them."

Merlin was forced to agree, unable to deny it. He took a deep breath, knowing that if he'd been of the verge of telling Arthur back in the house, then hesitating now wasn't an option.

His eyes narrowed, and he glanced to where Arthur fought just a short distance away behind them.

"Not for me, there isn't." He turned his gaze to the packed earth before him, holding his hand out as he intoned the words that might well condemn him. "Cume theoden."

His eyes blazed golden, wind starting to swirl before him. In moments it rose up into a small tornado, winds tearing at the invaders, knocking them off balance, and yet strangely leaving the defences mostly untouched. Horses and men panicked, some of the mounts charging away dragging their riders that hung from saddles by their stirrups. The villagers took advantage of the confusion, turning the tide to yank the few remaining riders to the ground so they could be battered into silence. In mere moments the winds had allowed almost all of Kanan's remaining men to be slain, a handful of stragglers fleeing with some of the villagers hot on their heels.

The flames of the burning straw were now dying out, the winds fading away, the villagers still taking retribution on those fallen raiders that were still alive. Into this Kanan got down from his horse, his voice a snarl of challenge above the victorious cheers of the people.

"Pendragon!"

A shaken Arthur turned to face him, forced away from whatever thoughts were running through his mind. Demands for answers would have to wait, until the bandit leader had been dealt with.

Kanan swung his axe threateningly, advancing on Arthur and lunging at him. The price sidestepped him, slamming him in the back with his shield to push himself to a safe distance to turn. Kanan tried again, losing his axe when it was struck from his hand, and kicking Arthur in the gut to buy himself time to grab another weapon. He pulled a sword from a corpse, brandishing it, but where he might have stood a chance with the axe, sword against sword he was no match for the prince.

It was with a look of great surprise that he dropped to his knees, the end of Arthur's blade pulling free of where it had been thrust with force through his chainmail. What was protection from slashing blows, was no defence against a determined stab.

Arthur turned away from him, advancing on where Merlin and Will stood, his expression thunderous.

"Who did that?"

Merlin felt his heart begin to pound, his mouth turning dry.

"What?"

The prince glared at the both of them.

"Wind like that doesn't just appear from nowhere. I know magic when I see it." He pointed. "One of you made it happen."

Merlin felt like something inside him was tearing in two, Arthur's cold reaction turning his blood to ice as he and Will glanced at each other. But before anything else could be said, Will suddenly leapt forward and shoved Arthur aside.

"Look out!"

"Will!"

Merlin's cry came only a moment after his friend's choked gasp, the warlock grabbing him to support him as Arthur turned from where he'd stumbled.

The prince looked shocked, ceasing the previous questions to instead stare at the man who now had a crossbow bolt protruding from his chest. Kanan slumping into death nearby after his last vengeful attempt at killing the prince.

"You saved my life."

Will, breathing in pained gasps, managed a smile of irony.

"Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking."

Arthur leapt into action, taking hold of Will by his other side.

"Come on, let's get him inside!"

They carried him into the nearest house, which happened to be Hunith's, and lay him on the hastily cleared table. Those who helped to do so quickly left, only Arthur and Merlin at the wounded man's side, Hunith, Gwen, and Morgana watching from near the door.

Staring up at the man he'd just saved, Will once again spoke.

"That's twice I've saved you."

Arthur regarded him, puzzled.

"Twice?"

Will nodded, still fighting for breath.

"It was me. I'm the one that used the magic."

Merlin stared at him, reaching for his shoulder.

"Will, don't."

Will shook his head, looking up at his friend even as Arthur did the same with dawning suspicion.

"It's all right, Merlin. I won't be alive long enough for anyone to do anything to me." He looked again to Arthur. "I did it. I saw how desperate things were becoming, and I had to do something."

"You're a sorcerer?"

Will nodded, letting out a choked laugh, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Yeah, and last time I checked magic isn't banned in this country. But then, Camelot does ban it, so what are you going to do? Kill me?"

Arthur remained quiet, before slowly shaking his head and speaking after a moment.

"No, of course not." He glanced to Merlin, who was clearly on the verge of tears. "Do what you can for him."

He placed his hand on Will's shoulder for a moment and then left the house, Morgana and the others following him out and leaving the two friends alone. Once they were gone and the door closed, Will smiled again at Merlin.

"I told you he was going to get me killed."

Merlin leaned in closer, his hand near the arrow as he tried to think of some spell that might save him.

"You're going to be all right."

Will bit his lip, trembling in pain.

"We both know that I'm not. You're a good man, Merlin, a great man... And one day you're going to be servant to a great king. Now you can still make that happen."

Merlin had to fight not to sob.

"Thanks to you."

Will gasped in pain again, swallowing harshly.

"This place has been boring without you. It was good to see you again."

Merlin's hand now moved to his friend's hair, stroking it, trying to comfort him.

"Yeah, you too."

The terror was setting in now, Will starting to panic.

"Merlin, I'm scared."

"Don't be, it's going to be all right."

He shook his head, denying it, cringing in agony. His time was running out, and he fought to speak again even as his breath began to leave him.

"Merlin..."

He stared desperately at his friend, not looking away until at last his eyes dulled and he went still. Realising he was gone, Merlin closed his eyes in anguish and dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face. That was where his mother found him when she returned a short time later, pulling him to his feet and leading him outside. Once there, his expression told those present everything they needed to know, Hunith's words ringing out among them.

"Gather the wood from the barricades. We will give our dead the respectful end they deserve." She glanced at Arthur. "All of our dead. William was right, magic is not banned in these lands no matter how close we are to Camelot, and I will not condemn him for using it. He saved us all, and he will forever have my respect for that."

Around them the rest of the survivors nodded, moving away one-by-one to do as she'd instructed. Merlin remained numb during the building of the funeral pyres, numb and silent. It was Will who was burned first, as a mark of respect, still clad in his father's armour. It was there that Arthur stood beside Merlin, neither showing approval or disapproval of the village's choice. Instead he spoke only of his sympathy.

"I'm sorry, I know he was a close friend."

Merlin swallowed back the urge to shed further tears, staring at the flames.

"He still is."

Arthur glanced at him, a hint of disapproval at Merlin's choice now evident.

"You knew he was a sorcerer, didn't you. That's what you were going to tell me."

Merlin hesitated, but in the end could not waste Will's sacrifice.

"Yes... it was."

Hunith was watching them, listening as Arthur spoke again.

"You know how dangerous magic is. You shouldn't have kept this from me, Merlin."

He walked away to where Gwen and Morgana waited, leaving Merlin standing there. Hunith chose that moment to go to her son, placing her hands on his arm in comfort.

"You'd better be going."

There was a long silence before he replied.

"I don't have to go."

"Yes you do."

Merlin turned to her, guilt in his eyes.

"If anything were to happen to you."

"I know where to find you." She smiled, insistent and certain. "You have to go, Merlin. You belong at Arthur's side. I've seen how much he needs you, how much you need him. You're like two sides of the same coin."

Merlin paused at those words, letting out a small laugh at himself and smiling slightly.

"I've heard someone say that about us before." He sighed, pulling her into a hug. "I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too." She pushed him back to arm's length, her eyes filled with pride. "When you left you were just a boy, now look at you. I'm so proud of you." Most of the villagers had now moved away from the pyre, allowing her to speak freely. "When the time is right, the truth will be known. Until then you must keep your talents hidden. It's better for everyone that way."

Merlin took a deep breath, the two of them following after everyone else. She was right, Arthur just wasn't ready yet, and it would probably be a long while in coming before he was. Until then he would just have to be patient, and trust that no matter how out of his depth he felt... He'd succeed so long as he always tried.

~(-)~

Alaia Skyhawk: Ok, I admit, I totally bawled my eyes out while writing the death scene. Now I'd better get off to bed, because it's 1:30 am lol XD