A/N: And now for the talk.

Merlin was silent for a long time, staring at his feet. Finally, he spoke in a whisper. "I was born like this."

"Born like what?"

"With magic. I could move objects with my mind before I could talk. My whole life, I've had to keep it secret. Had to keep myself secret. It's not just some tool or skill, it's a part of me. I can't imagine a life without it. I'd rather die."

"Yes, you've made that quite clear," Arthur said drily. "What does this have to do with you trying to help?"

Merlin swallowed. "Mother told me I was special, but everyone else…the villagers didn't know what I was, but they talked. They knew strange things tended to happen around me. There were whispers of magic, of evil. I didn't want to believe them, but…I didn't have a better explanation. I didn't know why I was born like this. I needed a reason, and then when I came to Camelot, the dragon gave me one."

"The dragon," Arthur repeated flatly.

"He called me, summoned me to his prison. He told me you were destined to be a great king, the greatest this land has ever known, and my gift was given to me so that I could help you. I took it to heart. Did everything I could to protect you, to cure you of your arrogance, to help you be a better man. When my village was attacked, I was afraid to use my powers—afraid that you would send me away, and I'd be unable to fulfill my destiny." Merlin swallowed again. "Maybe if I'd used my magic right from the start, Will would be alive. He was the only friend I'd had before I came to Camelot. And then he died, taking the credit for my magic because I was a coward."

"But you did help your village," Arthur pointed out quietly. "And your friend died anyway. Perhaps there was nothing you could have done."

"Maybe. We'll never know. Then one night Morgana came to me, terrified out of her wits, claiming she had magic. I asked the dragon for advice, and he told me not to help her. Told me she was dangerous. I didn't want to believe him—I couldn't just abandon a friend—and yet a part of me did believe him. I sent her to the druids instead of telling her she had a kindred spirit inside the castle. And then your father thought she was kidnapped and he sent men to slaughter the druids who were only trying to help her. I tried to persuade Morgana to come back, and in so doing I led the patrol straight to the druids. I never did find out how many died because of me."

"But you weren't trying to lead us to the druids?" Arthur checked.

"No."

"So you were just trying to help Morgana. You didn't tell her you had magic, but you did try to help her."

"Not enough."

"Merlin, I doubt she became corrupted simply because you didn't tell her you had magic."

Merlin snorted bitterly. "No, but she was alone and afraid, living right under the nose of Uther Pendragon. She'd been raised by a man who told her time and again that people like her were evil. She'd watched him execute hundreds of people like her—like us. Morgause offered her sympathy, understanding, a sense of belonging and kinship. And me? I poisoned her. Drove her straight into Morgause's arms."

"How the hell was poisoning Morgana meant to 'help' anyone?" Arthur demanded, anger finally seeping into his voice.

"She was the source of the spell that put the kingdom to sleep. The dragon told me that the only way to break the spell was to kill Morgana. So I laced a waterskin with hemlock and tricked her into drinking from it. Morgause was horrified, demanded to know what the poison was…so I made a deal. Morgause called off the attack, and I gave her the poison so she could cure Morgana."

Arthur fell silent, more disturbed than he cared to admit. It took a few moments for him to think of a positive spin on Merlin's latest tale. "You were trying to protect the kingdom. Even if that meant sacrificing one life to save many."

"At least Morgause had put everyone to sleep instead of killing them! If I hadn't intervened, maybe she would have simply killed your father and spared the people! Cenred's siege, the immortal army, the Dorocha—maybe none of that would have happened! Maybe Morgana would still be our friend!"

"You couldn't have known all that would happen."

"Maybe not that, but I'd had a vision of the dragon's release. I'd seen him attack Camelot, and I released him anyway."

"Why?"

"He made me promise. First when I needed a spell to stop Sigan, and then again during the sleeping spell…I had to swear on my mother's life before he would tell me how to wake everyone. I begged him not to harm Camelot, but…"

"But he attacked anyway," Arthur finished. "All that time, he was just using you. Preying on your insecurities. You're not the only person ever to be manipulated, Merlin. Just be glad the dragon's dead."

Merlin shook his head. "No he isn't. I was going to kill him, but…when Father died, I became the last Dragonlord. I am the last of my kind, just as he is the last—"

"Hold on," Arthur interrupted. "What's this about your father?"

"Balinor. He took shelter in Ealdor before your father's men forced him to flee to that cave."

"Balinor was your father?"

"Yes." Merlin sniffled, tears welling up in his eyes again. "I'd never met him before we went to find him. Hadn't even known his name. And then he died taking a blow that was meant for me."

"Like my father," Arthur whispered. He forgot the dragon as he thought back to the old man's—Merlin's—reaction when Uther died. "You really were trying to heal him."

"Arthur, I swear on my mother's life, I meant to heal him. I would never have purposely taken your father from you."

Arthur searched Merlin's face, looking for any hint of deception. All he saw was his friend's earnest face looking back at him, tear tracks on his cheeks. "I believe you." Arthur took a deep breath. "Merlin, I have a feeling we've barely scratched the surface of all the secrets you've been keeping from me, but…I don't think you deserve to die. Just…come inside. We can work this out."

Slowly, Arthur took his hand off Merlin's shoulder and stood up. Merlin stood up as well and glanced over the edge of the battlements. Arthur stiffened, but Merlin turned around and walked inside. Arthur heaved a sigh of relief and followed. He had no idea what would happen now—certainly things would never be the same—but Merlin was alive and he didn't want that to change.