"Merlin, are you going to tell me what we're doing out here?"

"Nope."

"Merlin, seriously, we've been walking for hours and you have yet to take this blind fold off of me."

"Just a little bit more, sire."

"Merlin, as your king I command you to tell me what we are doing."

"Arthur, as your boyfriend I demand you shut up and stop being a spoiled git. We're almost there."

Merlin pulled the blindfold off of Arthur, whose eyes adjusted quickly. He then realized that they were in a clearing in the woods—there was nothing out of the ordinary to see. Arthur looked around and then looked to Merlin, tapping his foot impatiently as he did.

Merlin gave him glare and walked to the middle of the clearing. Arthur heard him say some things, and then there was a loud roar. Arthur pulled out his sword and looked to the sky as a huge dragon descended.

Merlin laughed, thinking that Arthur was going to piss his pants. "Come, Arthur." he beckoned.

"Are you sure... it's safe?" Arthur asked hesitantly. Merlin nodded and then began to climb up on the dragon's back.

Arthur cautiously followed, and he heard Merlin say a few more things that Arthur couldn't understand, and then the dragon took off into the sky. The scene was beautiful—Arthur could see all over Camelot, and he quickly forgot that he was king, or that he had responsibilities, or that he was in danger of falling. None of that mattered, now.

Merlin turned around and smiled at him. "First time flying, eh?" he mocked. He had a cocky smile on his face as he watched Arthur's expressions. He felt great being able to make Arthur feel so good, to show him a side of the word that no one else could ever see.

The dragon roared and began to fly higher, giving them an even greater view of the world Arthur ruled.

Arthur couldn't help but tear up. He wasn't much of a crier for beautiful things but this was incredible—he could see for ages and the feeling of being lifted, carried, of soaring, it was too much. Arthur turned to Merlin and smiled; this was perfect, everything, the dragon, Merlin, flying, it was the best time he'd ever had. He pulled Merlin close and kissed him gently, doing his best to not lose balance on the back of the giant beast.

"I love you so much, Merlin."

"No way."

Merlin giggled and took another bite of his soup. Morning was starting to rise over the forest and animals were starting to spring to life. Soft cool mountain air lingered and provided Merlin and Morgana with company as they talked and carried about, being sure to be quiet enough to not wake anyone up.

"So... he kissed you... kinda, in the dark, kinda, at a planetarium?" Morgana asked, trying to piece together the story Merlin just told.

"Well..." Merlin began to explain, "I'm not really sure if he meant it, I mean I kinda leaned in too and it was really awkward and then he totally freaked out and ran away for almost three hours and we mutually used the excuse that it was really dark but... you could kinda see what you were doing." Merlin shook his head and blushed. "I was so sure he was into me, but then he does things like that and we agreed that it was an accident. Ugh." Merlin took another bite.

Morgana nodded her head in agreement. "I know what that's like... not know what the other person is thinking. It's a real gamble, love, you know?"

Merlin nodded to her back, still eating. It was amazing how quickly they had bonded. Merlin loved talking to Morgana; she was so much like him, smart, funny, charming, witty, everything a guy could ask for, well, if Merlin were straight that was.

Morgana and Merlin jumped as they heard rustling from one of the tents. They watched as Arthur slowly walked out in nothing but his boxers. A thin layer of hair ran down from his chest to his torso, along his tight stomach, carried by thin yet muscular legs. Morgana gave Merlin a wide eyed look as Arthur looked around the forest, then to Morgana, then to Merlin, then to his soup.

"... food," Arthur grumbled. He clumsily walked—well, stumbled over to Merlin, reached down and took his bowl and ruffled his hair with his hand and began to eat his soup.

Merlin couldn't take his eyes off the fact that his face was level with Arthur's boxers, which had no button and were hanging slightly open. Next to him, Morgana watched in amusement as Merlin tried to nonchalantly glance into Arthur's boxers but was quickly deterred as Arthur handed Merlin his bowl of soup back and walked off towards the forest.

"Uhm... Arthur?" Merlin asked. "Where are you going?"

"To piss Merlin," Arthur yelled as he continued to walk. "Would you like to come and hold it for me?"

Merlin went bright red at the request. He knew it was a joke, but the thought of holding Arthur's anything was enough to tighten his jeans. Arthur continued to walk off and as soon as he was out of sight Morgana turned to Merlin, her mouth a wide open grin.

"He's kinda... really hot," Morgana stated bluntly.

Merlin nodded and smiled in agreement, taking another bite of his soup. Morgana gave him a suggestive look, and said,

"And... he's definitely into you," at which Merlin chocked on his food and looked at her. He opened his mouth to say something but Morgana interrupted. "No, really, he's into you. I'm a beautiful woman, and he didn't even glance at me, but you," Morgana chuckled, "his eyes never left you."

Merlin stared off in the direction that Arthur had gone. He put his soup down on the ground and placed his head in his hands. Morgana rested a hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle rub. Merlin couldn't help but wonder. Did Arthur really like him? The Elder had shown him a world where they were together, maybe, just maybe, that wasn't a simple illusion, that just maybe, it was his destined future.

A few hours passed and the sun was high in the sky. As Gwen and Lance walked out from their tent together, Morgana did her best not to look heartbroken, but anyone with a brain could tell that she was. Gwen sat down and starting eating breakfast that Merlin had prepared for them all. Arthur came out of his tent a few minutes later, well rested, and dressed this time. He sat next to Merlin, even though there was little room on that log and a lot of room on the empty log just a few feet away. Morgana gave Merlin one of her looks and Merlin turned away, blushing.

"So..." Gwen began. "From what Morgana has told me, the ritual started last night, the dragon has to be broken out, then his armor penetrated with a spear that's been cursed with the soul of a child." Merlin and Arthur gave her a surprised look, and she took notice. "Yeah, a bunch of fucked up fuckers I know, but luckily for us, that ritual lasts a very long time. They've been going at it for almost ten so we should still have another ten to get in and prepare. Now, this is the important thing: we are not going to stop the releasing ritual. Instead, we are going to destroy the spear. Merlin, did you read up on being a dragon lord?"

Merlin nodded his head. "Yeah, I should be able to call the dragon back to us no matter where I am; I learned a few words, but I haven't had a chance to test the magic yet."

Gwen raised her hand and shook her head. "That's fine, we don't exactly have any dragons for you to test it on anyway. Just make sure you can tell him that we're his friends and that we're going to help him. We don't want to be burnt to crisps by his dragon breath. Now, I need to warn you all," Gwen leaned in close to the embers of the fire, her expression became cold and serious. "The Drinkers that will be there are going to be very powerful and very skilled. You all need to be on your toes and don't forget, they are very resilient to magic. Morgana is powerful enough that she should be able to still kill a few if needed but the rest of us will have to use hand to hand combat," Gwen looked to each person, "and if any of you want to leave or back out now, say so, I won't blame you, we should have back up but it seems that most of the other Knights are back up elsewhere, this will be up to us."

The group nodded in agreement, no one was going to give up, not this far in, not when they were so close to everything.

Merlin looked to Arthur who was looking down at his shoes, scared. Merlin wished he had stayed behind, where it was safe. Arthur had no idea what he had gotten himself into.

Arthur trailed in the back of the group as they set off. He watched Merlin and Morgana joke around in front of them. He felt jealousy well up inside of him. He wished he could be Morgana, a pretty girl, someone Merlin would want, someone Merlin would love, someone Merlin could see himself with. He turned his head and tried to distract himself with the forest or the travel, but nothing could keep his gaze long from Merlin and Morgana.

It didn't take long to get to the mountain that held Kilgharrah. It was tall and slender, rocky and bare. Gwen stopped walking and turned to the group, satisfaction and determination reflected in her gaze. "Well, here we are," she announced. "Are you all ready?" The group nodded in agreement. "Perfect then. Morgana, open the portal."

Morgana spread her hands and began to chant in Old English, and a light green bubble, no bigger than a football, appeared in front of her. Inside it was the scene of a cave, somewhere deep in the mountain. Morgana closed her hands and the bubble became larger and then opened into an actual hole in the air. Gwen tossed their bags in and then crawled in, the rest of the group soon to follow.

Once inside, Gwen pulled out a flash light and an old map, similar to the one Merlin had seen on the table at home. She walked briskly and helped them navigate through the deep cold labyrinth that was the mountain. The deeper they went, the louder they could hear the Drinker's chanting, doing their best to concentrate, to break the chains that held the mighty Kilgharrah.

Gwen stopped short of a drop off, the room was huge and in the center was a giant dragon, his scales we're a blood red and his body was held in chains, rooted into the side of the mountain, engraved with words of power, strong enough to restrain any beast. Surrounding the dragon at the base were at least thirty drinkers, the group could see the spear, resting on the back of the only Drinker not channeling.

"He must be the leader," Gwen pointed out.

They also noticed something even more disturbing. In a small cage to the back of the room was a young child, who looked beaten and tattered. He was barely wearing any clothes, and looked as if he hadn't been fed in days. He lay against the back of the cage, sobbing gently.

"We're going to save him, right?" Arthur asked.

Gwen turned to him, looking offended. "Of course we are you fucking idiot, you think I'd just let a kid die?"

"No, no..." Arthur said apologetically. "Just wanted to make sure, is all."

The drinkers finished channeling and the chains around the dragon began to shatter and break. The dragon roared and the leader walked over to the cage that held the boy. Arthur drew his small sword; Gwen drew her sais, needing something stronger for this battle; Lance pulled a bow from his back; Morgana pulled out her tomb; and Merlin, well, he just raised his fists.

Gwen kissed her blades and exhaled slowly, feeling her spiritual energy focus and her body calm. "Now or never," she stated, and she jumped off the edge, ready to save the world.

After they had landed in the field, Merlin turned back to the dragon and said a few things that Arthur couldn't understand before the dragon flew off. Normally, Kilgharrah couldn't be bothered to be a "horse", but this time he had made an exception. He was quite fond of Merlin and Arthur's mating rituals and wanted to ensure their happiness, considering Merlin had ensured his.

Merlin turned to Arthur with a large grin, but that quickly faded as he realized Arthur was looking distressed. "What's the matter, sire?" he asked tentatively, walking up close to Arthur. A small glimmer of confusion and disappointment spread across his face. "I thought you were enjoying yourself?"

"I was Merlin, I was!" Arthur insisted. His eyes fell to the floor and he looked even more troubled. "The problem, Merlin, is that I can't do this," Arthur said, gesturing to the open field, and to Merlin, and to himself. "I can't do this hidden relationship."

Merlin's heart sank into his stomach. What was he saying? "Arthur..." Merlin said slowly. "I don't... I don't understand?"

Arthur turned away from Merlin and took a few steps. He sighed into his hands and then turned around. "The people are expecting me to marry, Merlin, they need me to be with someone who is strong, someone who can rule with me, someone who can be a gentle voice for the people." Merlin nodded in reluctant agreement; he knew this would come someday. Arthur needed to marry a woman who would be a wonderful queen, someone who would ensure his rein was a compassionate and benevolent one.

Arthur walked up to Merlin and placed both hands on his shoulders, his gaze was deep and gentle. Merlin turned away, unable to keep his stare.

"Which is why, Merlin, today, I am going to announce that I am no longer a bachelor. Today I am going to propose."

Merlin looked at Arthur confused and surprised. He'd had no idea Arthur had another woman in his life, let alone knew one well enough to marry. What other secrets did Arthur keep from him?

"I want you to be part of this, Merlin," Arthur said dearly. Merlin looked to his shoes, doing his best not to cry. He felt Arthur pull him close. "Come, I want you to be by my side," Arthur whispered into Merlin's ear. He pulled away and turned around, walking off into the forest.

Merlin followed, and did his best not to sob.

A few hours later they reached the gates of Camelot. It had been a silent journey with Arthur leading and Merlin sulking behind. Merlin quietly followed Arthur as he walked through the town, waving at people, beckoning them to follow. Merlin was confused but didn't say anything. He was too hurt and too cold to be able to say anything without seeming stupid or desperate or pathetic. He stumbled behind Arthur as they walked to the center of town.

"Please, people!" Arthur yelled, and the crowd fell silent. "I have something I need to say. As of late, you all have been asking me to take a partner, a partner to help me rule, a partner to help keep this kingdom together, and intact." The crowed became very dense as more people joined and Arthur turned around to look at Merlin, who was looking around for the woman Arthur was going to propose to.

"Today," Arthur continued, "I have decided who my partner is going to be and who I want to rule with me. I did not make this choice lightly, and I hope you will all join me in celebration tonight."

The King turned around and walked to Merlin, who was now looking down at his shoes. He took his finger and lifted Merlin's chin, meeting his gaze, and then the crowd gasped as Arthur knelt down on one knee, messing up his royal clothes against the dirty floor. Merlin looked down at him in awe and started to blush, what was Arthur doing? He watched the King reach into his back pocket and pull out something shiny. Merlin's heart started to flutter in anticipation, was he going to ask him to –

"Will you, Merlin, be my lawfully wedded husband?" Arthur asked.