Merlin knew something was wrong. He could feel it. And sure enough, when they entered the druids cave, he saw that most of them were looking ill and feverish. He could see that although Arthur hated users of magic, he felt pity for them. It was written clearly on his face. As soon as they entered the cave, the word Emrys was whispered and echoed throughout the cavernous space. Arthur looked confused, and gripped the hilt of his sword tighter. He decided he had no cause to use it however, as nothing seemed to happen. It wa only a few moments before a druid made his way out towards them. Merlin recognised him as the one who had warned them about the cup of life, the magic goblet that enabled Morgana to take Camelot nearly a year ago, by creating an immortal army.
His face showed no malice, however, or anger. Only the calm facade that he had had during their previous meeting.
A few minutes later, they were seated just outside the cave, asking the Druid abou the Tears of Beleth. At the first mention of the name, the lines on the his face became sharp with anger, and he told them of Morgana's theivery of the Stones. He warned them of the powers of the gems, and about how the only wa to fight them was with magic. He also told them, whilst sneaking a quick look at Merlin, that only a sorceror with power to rival that of Morgana could enable them to win this fight. At that point however, Arthur refused to hear more of the subject, stating that he would never trust a sorceror, as the only occcassions that he ahd come across one had led to pain, misery and suffering. At those words, the druid took a piece of parchment from the folds of his robes. He handed it to Arthur, reassuring him that it was not magic, and telling him to read it when
"The one thing that you never could have imagined comes to pass. When you're whole life balances on a crucial decision. When your fate seems like it relies on the drop of a coin." Arthur asked what the scroll contained, but the only answer he recieved was "The truth. That which you need to know. That which will help you decide the future of Camelot and the land of Albion. Destiny, fate, loyalty, courage, sacrifice, fear and the path to forgiveness are all contained in the white roll of the parchment and the black stroke of the quill." After that, they spent a little time discussing the propertes of the stones, what morganas powers could enable them to do and how they could defeat her.

After taking their leave of the Druids, the pair of them decided to ride for the village where the attacks took place. For a little over two hours, they just rode and discussed what they had found out. About how only a powerful sorceror could enable them to defeat Morgana by destroying the stones. About how the power of the stones, if they were all unleashed, could make her virtually untouchable. About what stone they considered to be the worst. Though he was a warrior, Arthur surprised Merlin by saying that his gatest fear was the Shadow Stone. In response to Merlins questioning gaze, he simply said,
"Everyone had nightmares Merlin. Especially a king." Then, under his breath, in such a low tone that Merlin was not sure whether he was meant to hear or not, he murmured "and everyone has people they could not bare to lose..." Merlin decided that amongst all of the stones, though he feared them all, he was most afraid of the truth stone.
"Because," he explained, "everyone has secrets, whether big or small. Personal or those of a friend." He also murmured something under his breath, but Arthur was only able to cach the words, "secrets... hidden... life... death... betrayed" . After that they were both quiet until Merlin tentatively breached the subject of a sorceror again.
"Arthur, if it is true that we need a sorceror to win, surely we should..." Arthur immediately interrupted.
"No. Sorcerors are pure evil, untrustworthy. They should be wiped from the face of this land... No mercy should be shown to them. They ruin everything, destroy everything..." he continued to rant, but, to Merlin, his words seemed to be a blur. His blood had run cold and he had to hide the trembling that threatened to beak out. If Arthur truly thougt that, then he... Arthurs voice came back into focus. "... never trust them, the..." Merlin snapped.
"Arthur" he shouted, making him freeze, shocked. "How can you say all magic is evil. If you knew how many times your life has been saved by magic..." he stopped, wishing he could take back his words, but knowing, already, that he had said too much. Arthur was looking at him with a mixture of disbelief, anger, and-the one that made Merlin most afraid- suspision.
"Merlin" he asked softly, keeping his emotions in check, "What exacty do you mean? What do you know about..." He didn't get any further. Thay heard a laugh at the edge of the clearing where they had stopped, and turned to see Morgana staring at them, dressed in th same type of armour she had worn when they all went to save Ealdor. She complete the look with the manic glee in her eyes.
"Well, well. Isn't this a surprise."

Merlin and Arthur immediately jumped down from their horses, facing Morgana. Arthur had drawn his sword, but was holding it by his side. Morgana laughed again.
"Arthur, Arthur... You should know that it is a bad idea to make so much noise in a forest, the sound echoes you see..." She glanced down at the sword held in his hand, and grinned. "...and you shouldn't draw a sword unless you a prepared to use it. No matter, it wont work against my little pets..." She pulled a stone out from the belt at her waist and spoke a spell, neither Merlin or Arthur moved to stop her, so shocked at her arrival that they could do nothing but stare.
When they finally came to their senses, it was to late. A swam of red demon spirits swirled around at her before heading straight to Arthur. He raised his sword, hoping that it would work against the mist like creatures, but it was not to be. Within seconds, they swarmed around him, trying to slash at any par of him without armour. Within seconds , Arthur was on his knees. He resigned himself to the fact that he was about to die and just as he felt a sharp burn on his cheek, he head Merlin cry out a word he had never head before, -just like Dollop-head, he remembered-. He saw a blue light surround him. Funny, it looked just like the blue orb that helped him find his way out of the chasm of the giant spiders... Was it death... was it... Suddenly, his brain snapped into gear, and he realized that the blue haze around him was repelling the Demons. Wondering at it, he turned to look at Merlin, and his heart froze in his chest. Merlins eyes were amber and the blue light poured from his hands. Merlin was a... a sorcerer...

Merlin saw that Athur was okay, and immediately poured more power into the blue light protecting him. The demons feared it, he could see that, but how much would it take for hem to retreat. A few more seconds and he found out. With nearly all of his energy spent, the Demons finally returned to the stone and he let the light fade. He glanced at Morgans, unable to face Arthur, and saw fear and shock on her face. "Merlin..." she stammered, "all this time... you were a... you protected him..." Merlin knew that if he was to beat Morgana in the weakened state he was in, there was only one thing he could do.
"Aye Morgana, I am the protector of the true King of Camelot. The soon to be King of the land of Albion and the Rightful Ruler of Camelot's lands. You may know me as... Emrys." He saw a look of fear cross over her face, and saw her reach for another stone. He knew he couldn't let her. He used the last dregs of his energy and whispered a spell. Morgana flew back, falling to the ground unconscious. Merlin fell to his knees, his energy spent, unable to stay on his feet. He glanced over at Arthur and saw the shock on his face change to an expression of rage, sorrow and fear.

Arthur got to his feet.
"Merlin?... you... you..." his confusion turned to rage. "You're a sorceror... you have been here all this time..." He couldn't think, all that he was able to think about was that Merlin was a sorceror... "Sorcery is evil... How can you be... You liar, Traitor..." He saw pain cross Merlins face at the words, and resignation. Still, he had the nerve to speak to him.
_

Merlin's worst fears had been recognised. Arthur hated him, thought he was evil...
"Arthur, please. Listen, I..." he tried to get to his feet and failed. He tried again, and only sheer force of will kept him upright. "Arthur, I need to..." Arthur interrupted him but his hearing was blurred, as was his sight. He closed his eyes to clear them and opened them to see a sword blade heading towards him.
_

Arthur hid the confusion and pain he felt with anger. He let it loose, moving closer to Merlin and preparing to strike. Saw Merlin fall to the floor again and flinch. It was the flinch that stopped him, reminding him of the time he had struck out at him when he first came to work for him, trying to scare him away without success. Merlin stuck with him through that crisis and all the others. He pulled his sword, stopping it just before he hit Merlin, and reigned in his anger. He grabbed Merlin's arm and hoisted him up, pinning him to a tree. He whispered, angrily, into his ear.
_

Merlin lost his balance and fell. He knew he would not be able to dodge the strike and couldn't hold in a flinch as he waited for the blow to land. Instead, he felt himself hoisted to his feet and pinned against a tree. He felt the blade press into his arm, and felt a sharp pain as it cut through his skin. He felt Arthur lean in and heard the vehemenous whisper.
"I owe you, so I am going to let you run. I am going to let you run, like the lying coward you are. But believe me, if you ever come near me again, I will treat you like your kind should be treated. If I see you, it will be the for last time."
_

Arthur had felt Merlin stiffen at the word 'Coward', then again at 'Your Kind', but payed no attention. He let go and watched Merlin fall to the floor. He stepped back, but his attention was caught by a fleeting movement at the other end of the glade. He ran after Morgana, but after only a few minutes, she evaded him. He needed to get back to Camelot. He ran back to the clearing but found no trace of Merlin, only a scrap of parchment slipped through the bridle of one of the horses. He read it, and felt a strange surge of warm emotion flood through him. It read, If you need help, Just ask for it. Arthur trembled as waves of emotion flooded through him. Pain, shock, disbelief, and loss, but no anger. He had no anger left. He suddenly felt cold. What had he done?
_

Merlin fell to the floor, and noticed Arthur take after Morgana. He tried to call out, but couldn't, he was frozen. He slowly got to his feet and stumbled over to his horse. He grabbed a scrap of parchment, scrawling on a message. Maybe Arthur would change his mind... but Merlin dared not get his hopes up. He grabbed his jacket and head into the forest. To the only place he knew he would be welcome. He sighed. It was a long way to the Druids home.

Arthur had nearly reached the edge of the forest, and had been unable to get the words from the parchment out of hs head. The black ink seared into his memory... the black ink... The druid scroll. He hastily dug it out of his bag and read it whilst riding. What he read made him feel even colder and hate himself even more...