so at first, i definitly didn't like this chapter. it was so, so, but then i added a little and reworded some things and now i think i like it. my only complaint is that it doesn't follow the episode as much as it could or should and it is an important episode, but since everyone's seen merlin it doesn't really matter. so yeah i like this one and i like the next one which i may post today. i'm out of school today. i'd also like to ass that the title of this one is: In which arthur learns a truth, not the truth. the truth would be merlin and artemis having magic. sorry if i got you over excited. i wanted to name it In which Arthur learns the truth of his birth or something like that but nooooo it can only be so long. stupid fanfiction.

oh and since i feel like a kind person this week (when I'm in a bed mood I'm nice, isn't that weird?) i feel i must offer thanks to: TheMsMorra, who reviews me practically everytime i update. many thanks. your reviews make me happy. and thanks to my other reviewers whom i didn't thank earlier: Nimway Emrys, J.T.A., glass-bottles, (which is an awesome name), Lily Snape Luna Riddle (which is also an awesome name because I am one of the biggest Harry Potter dorks you will ever meet, I was harry potter last year for halloween don't ya know), and BiteMeBlondie. Merci. And since I'm thanking people thank you follow readers for reading and thank you creators of Merlin for being freakin awesome. that is all.

Enjoy.

"What is it?" Artemis asked the next week walking into Arthur's room. It was in the evening and she ad just finished what she had to be doing that day. There was a knighting ceremony previously that day. The odd thing was that it ended early and Arthur was now pacing back and forth and Merlin was undenting Arthur's armor.

"Arthur's been challenged by a woman," Merlin said.

"Oh?" she asked with a laugh. "Then it will probably end the same way as it did with me. Where is this woman? I wish to congratulate her for her boldness." Arthur annoyed gave her a look.

"She's outside practicing," Merlin said. Artemis looked at the window. A blonde haired woman stood there practicing with a sword. She didn't seem half bad either. Artemis's smile fell.

"Morgause," she said.

"You know her?" Arthur said.

"Sort of," Artemis said before going to the door and leaving. She went down the halls and out the palace. She stood several yards behind Morgause. "Are you here to cause destruction or are you a friend?"

"It depends," Morgause admitted swinging her sword again. Slowly, she set her sword down. She looked at Artemis. "Ambrosine."

"I welcome all sisters as long as they do not cause trouble in Camelot."

"To side with Uther Pendragon-"

"My loyalties are not to Uther Pendragon but to Arthur Pendragon."

"I am not looking to harm your Prince, Amber," Morgause said.

"I do not know what to think of you. Part of my believes you are like Numueh, but then on the other hand… I know you were once like me, a Servant." Morgause looked at her.

"I have heard of you. You are the one that replaced me."

"You overstepped your bounds. You interfered," Artemis said sharply. Morgause stared with venom.

"Is that what they told you? The Servants are liars," she struck back.

"You dare insult my Masters in front of me. What a bold move."

"I only speak the truth."

"I'm not here to play games. I am serious for once. Fight me," Artemis said throwing her glove down. Morgause looked at her.

"You have no weapon."

"I need no weapon." Morgause stared at her for a moment before without warning swung her sword at Artemis. Artemis ducked, and tried to kick out Morgause's feet. Morgause jumped and tried to kick Artemis in the face. Artemis rolled out the way. Artemis aimed for a central arm nerve. Morgause deflected it. Artemis went for a sharp kick in her thigh. It was perfect aim. She hit. Morgause's left leg was useless. Morgause swung again and again repeatedly, but she missed repeatedly. Artemis hit her sword arm. Morgause dropped the sword. Artemis picked it up quickly and kicked Morgause straight in the chest sending her flying back. Artemis held a sword to her neck. "You must swear to me that you will not kill Arthur Pendragon." Morgause stared at her. "Swear it!"

"I swear."

"Good." Artemis dropped the sword before turning and leaving.

Artemis watched as Morgause beat the living hell out of Arthur the next day. Arthur had strength, but Morgause was quick. At first, it appeared Arthur would win, but Morgause kicked him in the back of the leg. It occurred to Artemis that she did that yesterday to Morgause. She has managed to pick up some of Artemis's style from one fight. It seems she did have some skil. Arthur fell, and she held her sword to his heart. She pulled off her helmet. She spoke to him before removing her sword and helping him up. She walked in front of Uther before nodding and leaving.

"I have never felt more humiliated in my entire life. I was defeated by a girl," Arthur said miserably.

"I defeated you once," Artemis said walking in.

"You don't count."

"So… I'm not a girl?"

"No, you are a girl. I'm just saying your different."

"Apparently I'm a boy now. You have a brother, Merlin! Congratulations!" Merlin laughed.

"Of course you're a girl… a woman… I'm not stupid I can clearly see that."

"So… now you apparently look at me inappropriately?"

"You're twisting my words!" Arthur yelled. Artemis laughed.

"I know, and it's so fun." Arthur let his head fall back to the table. "I just came to tell you… be careful of Morgause. Yeah? She's… yeah…," Artemis didn't finish.

"How do you know her?" Arthur asked.

"Wow, is that the time?" she said looking out the window. "I have to go." Artemis left.

"He confided you to your chambers," Artemis laughed. She had came in with his laundry. There were guards at his door.

"It's not funny," Arthur said picking at the wall with a dagger.

"It is."

"I think you're enjoying this."

"Maybe a little," she admitted.

"How am I supposed to get out of here?"

"Ask Merlin. I don't feel like helping you," she said.

"Thanks."

"Yup," Artemis grin, but then grin fell and she turned serious. "Arthur, I know you want to go take on the challenge that Morgause gave you, and I know there's nothing I can say to change that, but… be wary. Morgause is… she won't harm you, but… I still worry what she will do." Artemis noticed a smug grin on Arthur's face.

"You're worried about me. You're scared I'll get hurt," he said waving a finger at her.

"No," Artemis said. "I er… just don't want to see what Uther will do if you get killed."

"Sure, if that's what you wish to believe," Arthur called as she started to leave the room.

It was like torture waiting for Merlin and Arthur to return. Arthur had left to seek out Morgause like he had said he would. His father was of course enraged by the fact that he managed to get past the guards. Artemis had Morgause's word, but that's all. Finally, Arthur and Merlin returned, but Arthur looked angry. He pulled his sword from his horse.

"What are you going to do?" Merlin asked. Arthur didn't answer.

"What's going on?" Artemis asked approaching Merlin.

"Morgause, she summoned Arthur's mother from the dead, and she told him that he was born of magic," Merlin said absently. He seemed confused. "She said that it was Uther's fault that she died." Artemis's eyes widened and she ran up the steps without a word. Merlin followed. They ran up stairs and down hallways. The doors to the meeting room were closed when they arrived. Guards guarded it. Merlin struggled against Sire Leon to enter.

"They're going to kill each other!" Artemis yelled. Leon stared before the three of them busted into the room. Arthur had a sword to Uther's throat. Uther looked terrified as he was pressed against his seat. "Arthur stop!" Artemis yelled. Merlin and Artemis ran forward.

"I know you don't want to do this!" Merlin yelled.

"My mother is dead because of him!" Arthur yelled.

"Killing your father won't bring her back."

"Arthur, put down your sword," Artemis said gently. "Or you will forever regret it."

"You've lost one parent. Do you really want to loss another? This solves nothing," Merlin added. Something had to get through.

"Listen to them Arthur," Uther said shakily. Arthur pressed on his sword harder.

"Put your sword down," Merlin said.

"You heard what my mother said! After everything he has done, do you really believe he deserves to live? He executes those that use magic and he has used it himself! You have caused so much suffering and pain! I will put an end to that!" He told Uther.

"Morgause tricked you!" Merlin yelled. "That was not your mother you saw! It was an illusion! Everything… Everything your mother said to you those were Morgause's words!"

"You don't know that!" he yelled.

"Arthur!" Artemis yelled. "I know what you think you heard, but Morgause is a sorceress! I know of her Arthur! She was a Servant like me, but she was stripped of her title because she caused too much suffering and pain! Her job is chaos! Arthur, use logic! She is a lying, deceiving witch! This is what she wanted, to turn you against your father! If you kill him, the kingdom will be destroyed! This is what she wants!"

"Listen to them," Uther said. "They are speaking the truth."

"Swear to me it isn't true!" Arthur yelled. "You are not responsible for my mother's death! Give me your word!"

"I swear on my life I loved your mother. There isn't a day that passes that I wish that she was still alive. I couldn't have done anything to hurt her." Arthur looked hesitant, but he drop his sword before breaking down on the floor near Uther.

"Then it's true?" Merlin asked Artemis. They stood in a hallway on the first floor. Artemis seemed lost in thought from what had occured. "All of it?"

"No, not all. Uther didn't know the consequences. He didn't know the balance had to be preserved."

"And you've known?" he asked.

"The Servants of the World once thought of telling Arthur the truth. After all, it was his mother's death that set off the Great Purge. They hypothesised that if Arthur knew the truth he would nt see it the way his father did, and they were right. Arthur believed what his father is doing and did was wrong. He slaughters hundreds for the life of one. The Servants asked my opinion, after all I am the only Servant in Camelot. I told them what I thought."

"What's that?"

"I told them telling Arthur would be devastating. He wouldn't know how to react properly. He would act rashly without thinking, and the vision of Camelot they have would be destroyed. Arthur wouldn't be able to live with himself if he killed his father. Camelot would fall under a dark hopeless cloud, and they listened to me. For the most part, none of the Masters of the Servants of the World have a say in Camelot. They let me make the decisions for here."

"Which is a good thing," Merlin pointed out.

"Mhm," she replied. Artemis continued staring out the window. "He's probably an emotional wreck right now," she said speaking of Arthur, whom she was thinking of at that moment.

"Perhaps you should go see him," Merlin suggested.

"Me?" she asked.

"You always know what to say to make Arthur better." Artemis turned without a response and went to Arthur's chambers. He was looking out the window absently when she arrived. Artemis put a hand on his shoulder. He looked at her.

"Let us never speak of this," she said.

"You once told me why my father persecutes those of magic?" he said. Artemis was silent. Did he still believe what Morgause had shown him? "I know now. It's plainly obvious. Magic is evil." Artemis flinched slighlty before she sighed. She shook her head.

"No. The people who use it are. Magic is a grey thing just like all power. It's who uses it that makes it good or evil."

"You said Morgause was a Servant of the World."

"Yes. I did."

"What do you do to get kicked out of there?"

"You must show that you do not care what happens to humanity," she said. "And Morgause was only interested in herself. She was a great Servant. She was a blue like me, and she was going to lead us one day."

"What happened?"

"She was replaced… by me when the Servants felt she was too… vengeful. The blacks may wish to kill nearly all monarchs, but they believe that that's best for humanity. Morgause wished to kill Uther because he killed those close to her. We can not think about us when we must think of the world."

"Servants are selfless."

"I wouldn't say that. We all have our selfish moments."

"I've never seen you be selfish," he said.

"I am not perfect, Arthur," Artemis said quietly.

"I know. You can't swim. You can't joust. You can't do anything publicly. You're annoying beyond reason. You have one hell of a temper."

"At least, I'm not an arrogant prat!" she argued back, but it wasn't convincing because she was smiling. They stared at each other.

"I am so very in debt to you," Arthur said.

"One day, you will pay me back. When you become king, a prosperous, great Camelot is my reward."

"Sometimes I think you expect too much of me."

"I expect only what should be expected of a man like you."

"What kind of man is that?" Arthur asked. Artemis smiled.

"You are neither dead nor dying therefore I will not tell," Artemis said starting to leave.

"You are so very rude."

"Thank you," she said with a laugh before leaving.