Hello Dears!

Finally, I present a new chapter to you! Slowly but surely, the truth is coming out. And I might or might not have let two hints slip about future truths~~ Virtual hugs to anyone who manages to catch them, and vistual cookies and kisses to anyone who even manages to interpret them correctly!

Hopefully, I haven't lost my touch at writing Merlin and Arthur. I like this chapter though, so enjoy~~

Pairing: Is still Arthur/Merlin. I might stop putting "Pairing" at the start of each chapter since, you know, you already know XD There's still background/side Lancelot/Gwen (for all the story, I mean).


The Divine Battle

Chapter 8: Time of Truth

The sight that offered itself to Arthur and the knights had frozen them, mouths open wide as mercenaries died under a display of magic none of them ever witnessed before. Arthur wondered how such frightening power could also feel so comforting. Despite the way it unmercifully obliterated the mercenaries, to the king and his knights it felt as nothing more than a gentle warmth.

As if they had been recognized as friends and not foes.

Skye blue eyes drifted to the source of the magic, and at first he did not see him. He only saw the woman, with eyes staying emerald despite the show of magic and with the strange ears. But then she turned with all the care of the world into her eyes and Arthur felt his heart skip a beat.

"Mer… lin?"

The golden eyes locking on him seemed to hypnotize him. At first, Arthur refused to accept the sight. He knew what meant golden eyes, guessed what it meant for the woman to have been protecting Merlin. But how could he accept this?

How could he accept that his best friend had done magic? And for such powers… How long had it been able to do so?

The knights stood frozen, having reached the same conclusion. Leon, Percival and Elyan had no idea what to think. They had learned that magic users were evil, though each of them had their own doubts. And how could they associate Merlin and evil?

Gwaine stood in shock, but not for the magic. Merlin had been one of the greatest friends he ever found, so he could not let something like magic make him turn again the raven haired. Gwaine just wondered how he could have missed this.

As for Lancelot, he waited with worry for reactions. However, the first reaction he noticed was from Merlin, and in front of it he put a gentle hand on Arthur's shoulder.

Arthur startled a bit and glanced sideway slightly. Lancelot nudged his head toward Merlin, a hard look on his face. The blond could see a demand to look when he saw one, and his eyes went back to Merlin.

Something twisted his stomach at seeing the raven haired man stepping a bit behind the woman, his now ocean eyes watching each and every one of them with wariness and even fear. He was waiting for their reactions, swallowing while his eyes landed on Arthur again.

The woman glanced backward once, eyes softening, before she looked straight at Arthur. He straightened, and vaguely noticed his knights did the same. The woman gazed at them for some seconds, then surprised them by bowing slightly.

"Arthur Pendragon. Knights of the Round Table." She greeted, voice showing respect.

When she straightened again though, it was clear she stood as a shield to Merlin. A shield against them.

Arthur suddenly felt sick. Was this what he had become to Merlin? Someone to be afraid of, to be protected of? His eyes sought Merlin, and he realized something. So many emotions battled with the fear. Sadness, regret, hope, silent plea. It made Arthur recall something, the importance of the moment even bigger with hindsight.

The king recalled the conversation he had with Merlin earlier. The last pieces of the puzzle connected, and he realized magic had been what Merlin had been hiding, what they had basically agreed to talk about once they were back to Camelot.

Arthur had promised Merlin he could tell him anything. He had promised a quiet evening where they could share it. Merlin had been about to tell him, but instead he had been revealed before he could.

The tension existing in the small area seemed to lessen as all noticed the sudden change in the king's expression. His features had softened without his noticing, and like a mirror his knights did so too. Merlin stared at Arthur, waiting with the hope bigger now.

His breath stopped short for a split second as Arthur looked into his eyes once more, and smiled sadly. To his shame, Merlin felt his eyes moistening a bit.

It made Arthur's heart clench to see how much relief it brought Merlin that he had not been met with hate. But how could Arthur hate someone who so obviously had not known weither or not he could share this heavy secret?

"… Let's go home."


Despite the initial relief of not hearing words of hate or even being at the receiving end of a sword, heavy silence still stood as the group of men plus Gaia had started walking back home. The woman stayed beside Merlin's right, while Arthur had actually taken to walk at Merlin's left. The knights walked behind the three of them, observing as Arthur kept shifting glances at Merlin and seemed as if wanting to talk but not being able to start.

Merlin, for his part, walked with stiffness. He wanted to talk with Arthur, make things fine between them, but a lifetime of holding quiet trapped his tongue in place. He had not even been able to introduce Gaia, having only nodded at Arthur's offer to go back home. And seeing as Arthur nodded awkwardly in reply and started leading before falling in steps with Merlin and Gaia, Merlin knew the king too had trouble digesting everything.

The warlock could not blame him. He just felt glad Arthur seemed… alright. Shaken surely, shocked, but for once he seemed to be holding any reaction in favor of thoughts and letting time soothe the blow a bit.

Unless… Arthur was in a state of shock? What if it had yet to dawn on Arthur, and any minute now he would take out his sword?

You certainly know how to cheer yourself up.

The gentle sarcasm startled Merlin. He faltered in his steps, though it easily passed as stumbling. Gaia reached out a hand to keep him stable, though hide a giggle with her other hand. Like a snowball rolling down, he heard Lancelot and Gwaine chuckle, making the other knights smile. And eventually, Arthur glanced sideway with his usual mocking look.

Merlin and Arthur locked eyes. Arthur's smile turned genuine, having the thought that Merlin had not changed, after all. And Merlin instinctively smiled back, thinking it might just be fine, after all. Just let Arthur have his time.

"So… Who might be this charming lady?"

Merlin groaned. Gaia blinked and turned to look at Gwaine. Then she smiled, seemingly innocent but Merlin knew better when he heard God snort before she even talked.

"I am Gaia, the High Goddess of Earth. You are Gwaine, aren't you?"

Merlin felt shock at realizing the importance of Gaia, more than before, but it got forgotten for now as he spotted Gwaine's wide eyes. Merlin started laughing, and only laughed more as he noticed everyone matched Gwaine.

Be no fool, Gaia knows best how to make the comments that slays you.

Indeed, she definitely wore amusement on her face now. Though, she grew serious again when the knights flushed and looked down while Arthur made a small sound that felt like a squeak.

"You-" The single word help all of the shock and awe from Arthur. "So they exist?" He blurted out, before frowning at his own lack of well wording.

"I take you mean the gods of the Old Religion?" Gaia sighed. "Sadly, yes. The Triple Goddess appeared to serve as leaders to the first people who worshipped magic. They are the one existing behind the Old Religion, though they do not govern all of magic."

"Who does?" Lancelot questioned curiously, unable to keep quiet. And somehow, he knew the answer before Gaia's eyes drifted to him in a meaningful look.

"Magic itself. Magic has no rulers, it is free. It is Magic that created the gods. Though, The Triple Goddess have lost their tie with Magic, as they let the power rule them over. They believe they have a right to govern what they should not, and try to change what they should not. This is why I am here. I cannot let them do it."

Arthur stayed silent, reeling in all the informations. He could worry all he wanted about magic, feel wary of it despite trusting Merlin not to be a foe, but now that a true Goddess was in front of him, he would feel silly sprouting hate or wariness. Maybe he should wonder if she lied or not, but it would also mean distrusting Merlin-who obviously held ties to Gaia-and…

Arthur could not do that. Their earlier conversation came back once more in his mind, solidifying again his belief that Merlin meant to reveal at least something on the general subject of magic to Arthur. Maybe it had not been Merlin's own magic but Gaia's existence, or maybe the opposite. He recalled the feelings showed in Merlin, too genuine to be fake.

And Arthur already knew he had fallen for Merlin. He had realized it, and would he have fallen for someone who was not true? He didn't think he would.

"Hold on. High Goddess?" It only registered now, the difference in name. Arthur couldn't contain his growing curiousness, too. "Is it a… title?"

Gaia smiled faintly, while everyone listened carefully. Even Merlin, who wanted to know more about one of the two Gods that had appeared in his life. "What would mean the title of High King?"

"The king above all kings." Arthur replied by habit. Then he processed, and froze in his steps. Gaia couldn't mean what he thought she meant… right?

"You have your answer. Although…" Her gaze drifted upward with a small smile. "I am not alone holding this title." Her eyes landed on Merlin next, who had stopped beside her but had already guessed this earlier. "Though, name holds some power. I cannot tell you more." And the warlock knew what she meant.

Merlin would have to find God's name by himself.

A new respect had showed itself in Lancelot, he had known about Merlin and the two gods, but now he understood better. And to think they had chosen Merlin… It did not surprise Lancelot, if he had guessed right something, and yet the new respect also went to Merlin.

His friend would never cease to amaze him.

"And how did you two meet?" The question came from Leon, showing a hint of suspicion. He could not help it, though it was not a suspicion directed to anyone. It came from a lifetime of having to doubt others and find the evil sorcerers hiding among innocent people.

Though he wondered if evil could still be used, now.

Merlin shifted on his feet, feeling the attention going on him. He glanced at Arthur, regrets showing once more. Not only about not having been able to tell Arthur everything before, but not being able to provide Arthur with something else than a dump of informations in the middle of the wood.

Merlin would keep quiet until they arrived home, but he had done so for so long he did not feel worthy of actually voicing any wish to not say anything for now.

Arthur, however, seemed to see right through him. "I think it is time to keep going. I will feel more comfortable having this conversation in my chambers." Just like Merlin and he supposedly would have done.

Leon understood the words for what they were, and bowed his head faintly. "Of course, Arthur."

Relief flashed briefly on Merlin's face, while the knights showed various emotions from acceptance to a pout-who else but Gwaine?

But everyone knew, and respected, that maybe this conversation should happen between Merlin and Arthur solely. The king and his manservant. But more importantly, the two best friends.

To be continued…