Author's note: Last chapter, save the super-short epilogue. Don't expect much for that- I could only think of a couple paragraphs to conclude things. Anyway, the awaited conversation! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Merlin and all its characters do not belong to me.

"Merlin, is it even physically possible for you to be quiet?" Arthur hissed as Merlin broke yet another branch beneath his foot, scaring away the doe that Arthur had been stalking. The prince was willing to bet that Merlin could be silent and was just making the noise to scare away all the animals. With all his secrets, it was more than likely.

Merlin just frowned and bit back a retort. Arthur had been more than irritable on their hunt, and he was beginning to think that it was the negative energy that the prince was constantly emitting that was scaring away the animals rather than his clumsiness.

Arthur just sighed, looking up at the sky and then realizing how dark it was. Finally, he thought. He faked a sigh, "Anyway, it's getting late. We should set up camp."

"Finally!" Gwaine exclaimed, voicing his thoughts. It had been Merlin's brilliant idea to invite the knight along, the warlock probably thinking that he would foil Arthur's plan by talking of some bar fight he got into two years ago. He sighed as Gwaine took a swig from his canteen. Arthur was guessing it didn't contain water.

The group set up camp, (though in Arthur's mind, 'the group' consisted of Merlin,) and Gwaine, with his constant drinking from his canteen, and the constant refilling from the bottles that he had somehow managed to sneak along, was asleep before Merlin had even finished cooking the deer they had caught, despite the warlock's best efforts. Merlin glared at the knight before pulling the deer off of the fire, Arthur attempting to think of a good start to the conversation. He went with the first thing that came to mind.

"So, Merlin, ready to tell me that big secret of yours?" Arthur didn't realize how stupid that sounded until it came out of his mouth. Merlin snorted.

"Don't tell me you're still not over that," Merlin said, then looked at Arthur, eyes widening when he saw the sad look in the prince's eyes, "Arthur?"

"Why don't you trust me?" Arthur said, trying to sound as defeated as he could. Merlin gaped, the warlock wondering how knowing Merlin had a secret could have made Arthur this sad.

"Well, you're a prince- I'm a servant. Trust didn't really come with the job description," he mentally slapped his forehead as Arthur glared at him. Was it 'Say Things You're Going to Regret the Second They're out of Your Mouth Night' or something?

"That's no excuse and you know it," Arthur said, and Merlin hung his head, "Despite what you seem to believe, I actually consider you as a friend," Arthur said, and Merlin gaped. The prince blushed. It had taken up most of the time it took Merlin to cook the deer to get the courage to say that, and Merlin's expression wasn't helping his pride one bit.

Merlin was stunned. "I never thought you'd actually admit it!" he said, his mouth still wide, "Will wonders never cease?"

Arthur creased his brow, "Well, it doesn't really mater, seeing as you don't seem to think the same of me."

Merlin frowned while gaping, which was quite an incredible feat. "I think of you as a friend!"

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

Merlin started to say something, then stopped, concern etched on his face. "That was in the past tense," he said, realization hitting him much like one of Arthur's goblets.

"Yeah," Arthur said, looking at Merlin with hurt in his eyes. Merlin's eyes finally met his.

"You know."

"Yeah."

"Say it, then," Merlin said.

Arthur raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"Say what you know, so I know you're not bluffing," Merlin said, not letting himself worry yet. He knew Arthur was still playing his game, he just didn't know if he had won yet. He sighed, looking at the ground, "Condemn me."

Arthur gaped at this as he realized what Merlin was implying. He thought that Arthur was going to have him killed! He frowned and stared at the warlock.

"Merlin, I'll have you know that I've had plenty of time to think about this, and not once did it cross my mind to hand you in. You have magic, and the blundering on this hunting trip, if nothing else, has proved that there is not an evil bone in your body."

Merlin looked up, eyes wide. Arthur wasn't executing him? "But, your father-"

Arthur sighed noisily, "But, nothing! The way I see it, it's my best friend-" Did Arthur really just say that? "-Versus my father's judgment, and if my best friend-" there it was again, "-has magic, if there is just one good person who practices sorcery, shouldn't that change my views? I've already gone against my father with Guinevere, should this be any different?"

Merlin gaped, not sure what to say. So he acted. Before Arthur could say, "Merlin," he was barreled over in a hug, Merlin wiping the tears out of his eyes on Arthur's shirt. The prince didn't enjoy that, but, considering how emotional this moment was for the both of them, he stayed silent. Merlin ceased wiping his eyes and smiled at Arthur.

"Thank you, Arthur. For not hating me."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, and Merlin decided to cry into his shirt again.

It was then that Gwaine decided to wake up.

"Aw, you two! I never would have thought, but you're so perfect-" He never finished that sentence, as Arthur quickly broke the hug and ran at the knight.

It was probably a good thing Arthur didn't know that Gwaine had been feigning sleep the entire time.