OK... onward to chapter 5 as always thanks for reading ..:) Reviewing or commenting welcome! And special thanks to mersan123

A/n OK, this chapter is a little long. Sorry about the guys. But there's just so much Arthur should be shown. After all these finally meeting the real Merlin! There so much he needs to know so he can patch things up with Merlin… So I've decided in order to do it justice. I have split this part of the story over two chapters. I really hope you like reading it. As much as I did writing it.!

Chapter 5

Arthur watched mesmerized as the images formed a clear picture of a young boy, with that head of hair and those ears, it could be none other than Merlin... Arthur chuckled as he watched a very young Merlin toting a basket all most bigger then himself. Arthur was about to make a comment. Just then three more figures appeared in view. The biggest, steps even closer to Merlin. He yells to his buddies. "Hey guys look it's the fatherless FREAK! FREAK, FREAK,FREAK." Arthur flinched at the words. Although, No one would ever dare speak to Prince Arthur that way let alone King Arthur. He could however remember the pain he felt every time someone said. "Oh, your highness you have your mother's eyes."

Arthur was white knuckling the side of the well. As he watched Merlin was viciously shoved back and forth between the three bullies. Arthur hears little Merlin's plea's."Just let me go please? I have to get these things home to mother." The biggest of the bullies grabs a fistful of Merlin's shirt. "Hey, guys! The fatherless freak needs to get this stuff home to his mommy" the last was said in a high nasally faucet-to voice that grated on Arthur's nerves. Arthur could see little Merlin's fist mottled at his sides. yet he made no move ever in defense of himself or attack on the bullies. As the other boys destroyed the contents of the basket he had been carrying." I do not understand this Arthur says to the Merlin in the well. You told me you were born with magic... why let that lot get away with abusing you like that?" As if an answer to Arthur's question the images in the well changed. Merlin was now standing in front of a house that are there recognized as Hunith's this image provided a clear view of Merlin's face.

A chill ran through Arthur just as he saw Hunith open the door. For he realized that the damage done to young the Merlin's face was not that different than what he himself was responsible for doing. He thinks for a second he might be sick but then the sound of Hunith's frantic voice brought his attention back to the well. "What's happened Merlin? What if you done?" Arthur watches Merlin walk into the house. Shoulders hunched. Arthur is both surprised and confuse by Hunith's reaction.

Arthur had met Hunith before she did not seem like an unreasonable woman and yet her son whom Arthur knows she loves very much. Comes home looking like that and she accuses him of being in the wrong? Arthur found himself talking futilely back to the well. "It wasn't his fault," Arthur watches Hunith turn Merlin's face from side to side. "My poor boy, please tell me you didn't use any magic Merlin?" Arthur could see Merlin's jaw clinch as he answered.

"No mother, I did not use any magic. Though I should have. I wanted to very badly." Hunith forced Merlin to look straight into her eyes. "No, Merlin you should never use your magic unless it is you're very last resort." Arthur watched, As Merlin let out a frustrated growl. Much to Arthur surprise, he found himself in an agreement with Merlin.

"What good is having powers like mine if I can't use them? I don't want to run the village or take over the world." Hunith smiled affectionately "of course not Merlin I wouldn't believe that of you for one second. That's not the issue." "Then what is the issue mother? It's not that they hit me I can get used to that." Arthur saw Hunith flinch at the idea of her son getting used to being hit. "They destroyed our supplies things we need to make it through the winter that we saved up for that you especially work hard for.

They destroyed it all while I watched. When I could have stop them with a blink of my eye. I don't mean hurt them. I mean just stop them from destroying our stuff. Can you understand how that makes me feel?" Arthur was shocked by the depth of emotion Merlin was expressing he couldn't have been more than 10 maybe 12 at the most. To have to feel that way at that age... There is definitely more to Merlin then Arthur ever realized. What scares him the most is that he knows he's just started seeing the things the well wants to show him. Arthur refocuses his attention back on the well as he listens to Hunith's reply. Taking Merlin's face in her hands. To make sure she has his full attention.

"Listen Merlin, I know this is hard for you to understand now. You are special I don't just say that because I'm your mother. You have a magic like no one has seen before your father was special to its part of the reason he had to go away to protect us and himself but in the end that wasn't enough because too many people already knew of his powers. And you my boy have more power than your father ever did."

"What's the point of having all of this so called power if I can't use it? Not even to help people" Arthur himself thought Merlin made a good point. And they both waited to hear Hunith's answer.

"I have no doubt that you were given all that power for a reason, a good one. I believe in my heart that you have a great destiny to fulfill. But love, Ealdor is too small a village to risk using magic in. All it takes is one person to go running back to Camelot with rumors of powerful magic in this little village. I can't lose you like I lost your father."

"Mother, Ealdor lies within king Cenred's lands not Uther's." "Merlin, you must listen to me. When it comes to magic the king of Camelot is neither fair nor rational. If he were to ever learn of the magic's that you can do he would hunt us both down and see us both burnt on the pyre. He wouldn't care that you would never hurt anyone with your powers. To Uther of Camelot anyone or anything having to do in any way with magic deserves death or destruction. In his mind; to the point that when it comes to his crusade against any and all things magic whether the other royals exactly agree or not they do not stand in his way for any reason.

Listening to what Hunith told Merlin gave Arthur all heartsick feeling. He knew she was telling the truth. He just couldn't help trying to imagine what it must've been like to be Merlin. As he watched once again the images changed ... The same scene as before this time though this Merlin was much older in fact this couldn't have been long before Merlin came to Camelot. Merlin's carrying a basket again. And it even looks like the same lot of idiots as before. At this Arthur begins to rant.

"Surely for the love of all that's holy he'll do something now?" But no things were going just about the same as they had before. Just when Arthur had decided that this nifty well of images was trying to drive him mad. A figure came running up who Arthur recognized as Wil Merlin's friend that he met when he went to help defend Ealdor. As he watched, the three bullies cornered Wil and they definitely had the upper hand. Arthur watches Merlin's face carefully, he can see emotions flit across Merlin's features anger, frustration, fear and finely something like resignation. The knowledge that he can't stand by and watch a friend take a beating that was meant for him when he could stop it. No matter what the risk.

Without even pausing to put his basket down. Merlin blinks, his eyes flash gold and the three bullies are picked up by an invisible wind there in each thrown back into a tree trunk where they all hit their heads and are knocked unconscious. Leaving Wil looking at his friend Merlin in shock. Merlin looked like he was about ready to puke or maybe pass out the spot. Arthur didn't think it was from the magic he used rather that someone had seen him use the magic. Wil, just smiled... "We could have a lot of fun with that."

"I guess I am the world's largest Prat. Wil finds out about Merlin's magic and he starts thinking about the pranks they could play. I find out and nearly beat Merlin to death. On the heels of that thought came another. He really didn't need my help defending Ealdor, but if he could have told me of his magic with my planning and his powers... Things could have gone so much better no wonder Wil was pissy.

With those thoughts the images in the well started moving faster... Hunith's conversation with Merlin in Ealdor about how he and Arthur needed each other. That one probably came first because of Arthur's last thought. And then the images went back to Merlin Calling Arthur out for his treatment of that servant. Arthur recalls that he instantly but secretly of course admired and respected Merlin. His actions were incredibly brave for a servant. Not one of his knights would have stood up to him like that not for merely tormenting a servant. They all seen it as the prerogative of his station.

"If I admit it to myself, Merlin's actions that day were the start of our friendship. Even though you did call me a prat. It was so refreshing to have someone speak to me as a person instead of a prince even if they were insulting me. And that is what you've always done."

He then sees Gwen and Merlin's conversation while Merlin is in the stocks. He realizes with the start. That he not only owes his physical life to Merlin more times than he even realizes yet, but also that if it weren't for Merlin fearlessly treating him like a person and keeping him grounded he would not have Gwen as his beautiful queen. Granted, she helped with some of the grounding. He chuckles remembering her telling him off for being rude. Then being embarrassed and turning red because she had lost her temper with him.

"As scary as the thought is now if it weren't for Merlin I would not have allowed myself to give Gwen a chance" he shivers at the thought of Gwen not being his Queen.

The more he watches the more Revelations occur. The next day in the market square when he challenged Merlin.

Arthur has no clue how he missed it then." Yes I do, I just don't want to admit it. I was so arrogant and cocky back then I couldn't see what was right in front of my face unless it stroked my ego." He watches the altercation between him and Merlin in the marketplace and he can see now what he couldn't see then. Merlin is using magic to stay ahead of his blows. Not really trying to fight back just merely make it look as if a lowly servant is giving a cocky prince a run for his money. All this time Arthur thought he won that fight taught Merlin a lesson. When truthfully it was Gaius's look of annoyance that distracted Merlin and allowed Arthur to think he won.

The images start shifting again.

Merlin saving Arthur's life from the knife in the banquet hall. The very deed that earned him his place as Arthur's manservant.

Valiant and the enchanted shield he watched in awe and horror as if he didn't recognize Merlin as the events unfolded. Merlin witnessing the snakes during the tournament. His conversation with Gaius, and Gaius convincing him he needed proof Merlin catching Valiant and feeding the snakes. Merlin going to Arthur. The snake killing Gaius's patient. Arthur watches himself take his embarrassment at his father's unfounded ridicule out on Merlin.

Arthur is confused as he watches Merlin take a torch off the wall light it in literally a flash of his eyes. ("Geez... Merlin why don't you use that trick when we are hunting, traveling or hungry?!")Merlin, continues down into the lowest part of the castle. Which as far as Arthur knew the king had declared that part of the castle off limits for safety reason's going back as far as Arthur could remember. "What are you up to Merlin?"

Down and Down Merlin goes through a massive iron gate that ends in a big cavern with a Ceiling that opens to the sky... "HELLLLLOOOO...I know your here! I need some advice...come on please!" Just who was Merlin talking to? Then Arthur heard the clinking of a great chain. All of a sudden the great dragon landed on a stone slab in front of Merlin. At this site Arthur's feet gave, he expected to hit the floor, instead he land in a stone chair. That seemed just that right height for viewing the well. Arthur looks around for Tailisen who meets Arthur's eyes with a smile and shrug. Arthur nods, a thank you to Tailisen once again returning his attention before him to Merlin and the great dragon. "I can't believe this! My father kept a great dragon chained under Camelot. No wonder he attacked Camelot. Though he looks to be chained pretty securely. There's been rumors about a dragon under Camelot since I was a boy. If he's been down there all that time why break out now? Something tells me I might just find out." His current train of thought makes him really curios. As the dragon addresses Merlin Arthur is indeed glad for the chair.

"What's troubling you this day young warlock?" asked, the dragon.

"I can't do this. I can't protect Arthur I have failed." Merlin said. Sounding completely discouraged. The dragon calmly watched for the next few minutes as Merlin frantically paced from one end of the platform to the other. After a few minutes the dragon calmly asks. Is Prince Arthur dead? Merlin stops pacing and faces the dragon throwing his hands up in the air in comic frustration shouting "No! He's not dead yet. No thanks to him or Uther! Will they listen to me? No, what could pour stupid Merlin know? He's just as servant…"

"Merlin!" The dragon said sternly. "That's not you talking. That sounds like Uther talking. You were born with more power than most sorcerers accumulate in their entire lives'. You came to Camelot to find out the reason for your powers. Arthur is that reason…he is your destiny, as you are his each of you is one side of the same coin."

Arthur on the outside of the well and Merlin both made a disbelieving rude noise at exactly the same time. This made Arthur laugh," Well at lease we agree on that though maybe I should be insulted?"

"This is not a joke! Young warlock" the dragon said sternly. "The prophecy of the sorcerer and the once and future king was recorded in the time of your ancestors." "What is this prophecy?" Merlin asked. Arthur sat forward in his chair to listen intently because he really wanted to hear all this prophecy as well. To see if he could understand what it is about this prophecy that inspires Merlin to have so much faith in him. At least until tonight Arthur thought feeling his chest squeeze tight.

"When good magic's are all but gone; the magical Guardians of man;

have all but fled;

and the last dragon shall walk the earth;

along with the last of his soul kin;

that's when more darkness shall;

rise than ever before;

So too shall twin souls be born;

Two sides of the same coin shall they be; though at first they know it not;

A child born of magic;

With magic by his side;

HE shall rule the great kingdom of Camelot; The Once and Future King with the sorcerer Emerys souls entwined;

Shall bring peace and magic back to mankind; in so doing they shall bring forth the time of Albion whose Guardians they shall forever be entwined.

Shocked too stupid to react. By the weight of the prophecy he just heard. Arthur is once again brought two inappropriate laughter by Merlin's reaction. He watches as Merlin just stares at the dragon as if waiting for him to say more when he does not. Merlin then puts his hands on his hips. "Oh, is that all? As if I don't have enough to do. Here Merlin not only are you responsible for a spoiled Pratt of a prince and his future kingdom. Here's an idea, let's make it so that you're both responsible for the whole bloody world! Yeah, now there's an idea. Oh, by the way neither one of you can do it alone so yeah you better get used to each other. Or, more to the point I had better get used to being treated as the village idiot." Merlin said with some discussed. "Thanks for your help Dragon. I'll be off now someone's got to figure out a way to save the Pratt."

The shame becomes almost palpable as even after his inexcusable treatment of Merlin. Merlin still literally risks everything doing a spell in the open at the tournament to expose the snakes and saves Arthur's life.

He watches Merlin enchant the lance that Lancelot uses to kill the Gryphon.

Merlin find's a cure for Gwen's father. For the ...weird sickness... that seemed to come from the water. Arthur remembers Merlin manipulating him to kill a beast in the water. What he did not know then. Because his father forbid Gaius from speaking about it was that the beast was conjured by the sorceress Niemueh. Of course his father's blind hatred and twisted sense of justice leads to sentencing Gwen to death. Since she could not explain how her father was cured. So in the kings mind somehow that shows her responsibility for causing the sickness. Arthur is filled with an eerie sense of fear as he watches Merlin burst into the council chambers declaring he is the sorcerer responsible for curing Gwen's father. Arthur laughs out loud as he watches himself explain to his father that there's no way Merlin is a sorcerer he's just drunk and in love. Then all the sudden there's the white haired old man that got the blame for that incident.

Arthur's breath died in his chest until he thought he would suffocate as he realized that Merlin and the red robed old man are one in the same. Just as it was the red robed old man who he blamed for his father's death. But that can't be exactly what happened he realizes that he knows the old man is Merlin. There's been too many times that he has just seen Merlin literally risk his life to save the king. Surely the answer will reveal itself.

Images fly by he is somehow collecting the gist of what happened in them. Without them slowing down. It seems to be the ones such as the one in front of him now that slow. Maybe it's the moments where he has hurt Merlin in some way. He's watching himself refuse to believe Merlin when he says that Agravaine and Morgana are up to something and he shouldn't trust them. Watching the confrontation makes him want to kick his own ass for being so unnecessarily hateful.

Then suddenly his father's dying he sees himself ask Merlin and Gaius about magical cure possibilities. Only this time, He can see Gaius and Merlin only pretend to look for a sorcerer powerful enough and brave enough to set foot in Camelot. Arthur watches as Agravaine takes a horse and fleas the castle where he meets up with Morgana and tells her of Arthur's plan to use magic to heal the king. She then makes a talisman which she tells Agravaine to put on Uther saying to him that the talisman will calls any healing spell to fail or backfire no matter how strong the sorcerer. Arthur's hands tighten painfully on the chair arms. As he remembers his actions towards the old sorcerer/Merlin just when he thinks he can't feel any more shame. It's made worse by the conversation he's hearing that he didn't know about last time.

Gaius and Merlin are having a heated argument.

"Merlin you must listen to me!" Gaius pleads. "Don't do this you can't it's too dangerous even your powers aren't inexhaustible. You know how the aging spelt tires you out. Now on top of that you want to do major healing magic of the kind that some can't perform at all Merlin you can't. You just can't. You could end up in a coma or it could kill you. What if he catches you? He won't be grateful Merlin if that's what you're thinking. I've known Uther many years I'm loyal to my king but if I have to choose between you or him right this moment it's going to be you. Merlin… This was Odin's doing not some magical monster or spell. Maybe it's just Uther's time? Have you considered, that if… If Uther were to die here tonight or tomorrow you'll be safer all people who have magic will be."

Arthur listens to this and is shocked to learn how much danger Merlin is planning to put himself in for a man who on more than one occasion let it be known he could have cared less if Merlin lived or died. Merlin's reply to Gaius cut Arthur to the bone. He could not stop the tears that started flowing unchecked down his face.

"Have you seen Arthur Gaius? He's a mess. I will not hurt my friend just to make my own life easier and make myself feel safer. Arthur has already lost his mother. I know what it's like to watch your father die in your arms and not be able to help him. I don't know how that would affect Arthur. He is… He's important to me if I can spare him that pain and possibly give him back his father then that's what I'll do. Even if it kills me. Besides, maybe this is what I need so I can stop lying to Arthur and tell him the truth about myself who I am. It's not about him knowing what I've done for him, for Camelot. I'm just so sick of having to lie and hide. Just like now you're right it would be easier if I could just go heal Uther as myself. But who knows maybe this will help get me their one day maybe this will help Arthur see that not all magic is bad. Instead of just what Morgana has shown him. So that maybe when he's king he might lift the ban of magic use in Camelot. It's not fair Gaius Morgana shows him all the bad. I use good magic to help him almost every day and yet he sees none of it."

"OK my boy, OK I understand let's not keep them waiting."

Back in Gaius's chambers Arthur looks around for Merlin he must be there for why else would it be showing Gaius's chambers? Arthur's eyes Passover Merlin's form three times before registering that is what he was seeing. Where the hell is Gaius's? "Oh, yeah that's right probably listening to me rant about death to all magic users."

Merlin look so frail curled up in the corner of the small room he uses. Arthur didn't think he could get any skinnier than usual but he had. Which seemed strange because from the sobbing. It didn't seem that long after the failed spell or rather sabotaged spell. This must be evidence of the dangers that Gaius mention. All Arthur could make out was I'm sorry I don't know what happened. I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I don't know what happened I'm sorry over and over and over.

Arthur turns around and addresses Tailisen "Turn this off. I've seen enough. I understand now I owe Merlin everything. You are right, about his sacrifices an indignities. I-"Arthur's voice broke on the last few words and he had to stop and clear his throat before he could continue. I think what upsets me the most is that I am personally responsible for making Merlin's life harder than it had to be on some occasions. If Merlin can forgive me for what is happen this night I promise things will be different. Merlin will be treated as he should be for all the things he's done whether he likes it or not Arthur finishes with a chuckle." Tailisen inclines his head toward Arthur in acknowledgment of his promises to Merlin. "There's a few more things that the well must show you. After that I will return you to Emerys." Tailisen said the name with a wide grin and raised eyebrow as if he were waiting for Arthur's reaction Arthur just shook his head repeatedly " I just can't picture Merlin little Merlin the big bad Emerys. That the druids practically worship as a deity. Not to mention sending Morgana running screaming at the mere thought that he's near. I believe you because I've seen the visions of what Merlin/Emerys did on the isle of the blessed and so on. I guess part of my problem is the knight and warrior in me just doesn't want to accept that someone I've personally used for a training dummy could've took down myself and my best knights without even breaking a sweat. Come show me these visions I must see. I need to check on Merlin. I have lots of apologies to start making." Not to mention, magic blanket or not I can't leave Merlin unconscious and alone in the woods all night. Do not worry for Emerys's safety. Do to the nature of this cave time runs differently inside the cave than outside it. You may feel you have been away for a few ours, but as far as the world outside this cave is concerned it has been less than 30 minutes since we left Emerys.