Well I got this chapter done sooner than I expected! I hope you like it and all its wonderful words!

Please review – because I love hearing what you have to say! Chapter 13 shall be up tomorrow night at the latest!

Merlin woke with a ringing in his ears and a throbbing pain in his head, like a thousand tiny people were in it and were punching away at his brain. Everything he saw was blurry like everything was behind unclean glass, so he blinked a few times to rid of the cloudiness of his eyes. He studied his surroundings – he was definitely in a bed, for it was the most comfortable thing he had woken up on in days, and he knew for certain he was in a tent. Carpets were sprawled out across the ground beneath his cot, many of them looking homemade, but well done, as they were covered in many beautiful and intricate patterns. The light from outside shown in through the entrance and the soft breeze pushed the walls of the ten inward. Merlin could smell various herbs and medicines as well as the lingering scent of pine coming in from outside.

"You're awake!" Arthur nearly shouted, and Merlin swung his head around to see the king seated beside the bed. "You had Gwain worried sick." Arthur, of course, would not mention how scared for his servant's life he was – Merlin didn't need to know of such details.

"Yes… It seems I am… Where are we?" Merlin still had to struggle for air every so often but his speech was much more clear and vibrant.

"We are in a Druid camp. I was skeptical at first, unsure of their true desires, but I know they are of peaceful people, so I let them bring us here. We're lucky they found us or else you would be… dead, by now." Arthur's voice faltered a bit around the word 'dead'. Merlin had, in fact, been very close to death.

However, the secret warlock was suddenly very concerned. Knowing the Druids, they more than likely spoke of him as Emrys and Merlin could only guess what kind of questions Arthur might have for him. Though, the king didn't have time to ask any.

"I told you to come get me once he woke up!" Gwain burst through the opening of the tent and had a true smile on his face.

"Yes, well, I didn't want to interrupt your chatter with those Druid girls outside!" Arthur joked, but Gwain just glared at him.

"They happen to be fine woman." The knight proclaimed.

"Ah – Yes, as fine as any other woman you set your eyes upon." Arthur argued, still laughing a little.

Merlin chuckled a bit before realizing how much it hurt. His shoulder vibrated in pain, so he stopped and sighed. "Do you suppose I could sit up?" Merlin asked with both sarcasm and sincerity in his tone.

"Here, let me help you out, mate!" Gwain walked over and helped the servant sit up-right. Merlin was in good enough condition to walk around even, he just couldn't get up with out a little support.

"I see you have awoken." The man that found them in the cave walked in, bowing his head in respect o Emrys, though Arthur thought it was meant for him, "If you wish, your wounds are now healed enough that you may come outside. Do not strain yourself, but fresh air may do some good," and with that the Druid left without another word and Merlin was now being helped out of bed by Gwain.

"His name is Terrell, he's the Druid that found us and healed you enough to be brought here… I hate to admit it, but, magic saved your life, Merlin." Arthur explained.

Merlin was now standing and with a little help from Gwain he walked out of the tent, Arthur following. Two women were standing outside and the minute they saw the warlock they bowed their heads in respect. Two children ran up and tackled Merlin to the ground, they all laughed. Arthur was still watching Merlin cautiously, worried that fall had caused his servant a lot of pain.

"Emrys! Emrys!" They shouted and hugged him as if they had known him for years. A gently lady, most likely their mother, came over and picked them up off of the fallen warlock. "I apologize, Emrys. They can get a bit over done while excited." She bowed and walked off, pulling the children with her. Arthur helped Merlin up off the ground before eyeing him confused.

"They've been calling you that ever since we arrived here, two days ago. Oh and let's not forget the fact that they bow every time they see you. What's going on?" The king questioned his servant.

"Nothing…" Merlin started walking away. However, Arthur began to get angry when every one they passed bowed to Merlin and he just waved his hands and shook his head telling them they didn't need to do that.

"It is good to see you are well, Emrys." A Druid said while stepping out of one of the many tents, and bowed his head like all the others had been doing.

"All thanks to you. Thank you very much for your help." Merlin smiled.

Arthur, however, was over the edge. Merlin just responded to someone calling him Emrys, and every one here acted as if they knew him. "What's going on here? Is Merlin even your real name!? What are you – some king? Why do they keep bowing?" Arthur had lost it, and everyone knew it. Though Gwian couldn't deny he had the same questions.

"Well… Emrys is my name –"before Merlin could finish, Arthur snapped.

"What?! So is 'Merlin' some sort of false identity?"

"-You didn't let me finish. Emrys is my name in the Druid tongue, Merlin is the name my mother gave me, and a name I'm proud to wear."

"Why do they bow to you then? How do they know you?" Arthur was absolutely confused and felt as if he suddenly didn't know who his best friend was.

"He is the lord of the Druids. Emrys is our leader." One of the male druids announced.

"What!" Arthur and Gwain shouted in unison, and then Gwain continued, "You're the bloody Druid king?"

Merlin sat down on a log with a large sigh and put his face into his hands. "In a way… I suppose…"

"Yes, Emrys is the greatest warlock to ever live, and he is, in a way, our king and our salvation." A Druid girl explained and confusingly her and all the other Druid's were completely calm.

"You weren't supposed to tell him that!" Merlin nearly fell over. This was not good – they just practically announced to Arthur that he had magic. He felt like running away, hiding, just getting anywhere he could that wasn't where he was now.

"Merlin…" Arthur said his name quietly, trying his best to hold down his anger.

"Yes, sire?"

"Please. Just. Shut up." Arthur put his fingers to the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"Well this is cool – I've got the most powerful sorcerer in the world as my best friend." Gwain said cheerfully, trying to lighten the mood.

"Warlock," Merlin corrected, "I'm a warlock, not a sorcerer."

"Merlin, Gwain… SHUT UP!" Arthur shouted – clearly angry at this point.

Merlin. Magic. Warlock. Merlin.

It didn't fit, none of it did. Arthur felt betrayed and lost. His greatest friend had magic and was apparently extremely powerful. Merlin had been lying all this time. However, Arthur knew one thing for sure – Merlin wasn't evil. His servant may have lied, but magic couldn't have corrupted him. Merlin was too kind and selfless to be evil. So the king made up his mind.

"You, Merlin, have a lot of explaining to do. However, I am going to hear everything you have to say before I do anything rash." Arthur announced. A large smile appeared on Merlin's face.

"Well, you better sit down, because it's a long story."

Two day's earlier…

"I can help," Said a deep voice from the entrance of the cave, "I can save him."

They turned to see an older man standing at the mouth of their shelter, the mark of the druids tattooed onto his arm. Gwain and Arthur suddenly had new hopes.

"Please, help him." The knight pleaded whilst laying Merlin back down.

"Stand back, I shall heal him enough as so we can travel back to my camp." The Druid walked over to the limp warlock.

Arthur walked over to Gwain, "Are you sure we can trust him? He is a Druid." The king stated.

The knight shot Arthur a look, you-didn't-just-ask-that-question kind of look. "He's our only chance at helping Merlin. You can hate magic all you want, but if it can save our friend, I say we trust it…" He looked over at the Druid whom was kneeling beside Merlin whispering words of the old religion and placing his hands onto the deep gash in the warlocks shoulder. "What is your name?" Gwain suddenly asked.

"You may call me Terrell." The Druid stopped chanting the odd words and stood to face the knight and king, "He is well enough for you to carry him. We must move swiftly, my healing magic will not be enough to sustain him for long. My camp is not to far East, hurry!"

Gwain rushed to gather their things and Arthur picked Merlin up with care. They were soon following Terrell through the woods to the Druid camp. Once they arrived, many people glared in disbelief in shock. The disbelief coming from the fact that Arthur Pendragon was carrying a wounded warlock and shock coming from the fact that Emrys was actually wounded.

They brought him to a tent and set him on a bed, he groaned in pain. A woman quickly came in.

"I was right to send Terrell out when I did. I sensed Emrys' pain and knew we had to bring him back here quickly." She looked to Terrell, "You have done well, go inform Neo that you have returned," Terrell ran from the tent and the woman was now facing Arthur, "My name is Edlyn. Please, I can heal him, but I need room and concentration – there is a tent nearby my daughter can bring you to so you may rest," She nodded toward a teenage girl at the entrance of the tent. Before Arthur left he looked back at Merlin.

"Please, take care of him." The king didn't want to leave, but knew he had to. However, the smile Edlyn gave him as he took his leave was reassuring at the least. Now all they could do was wait.

Arthur was listening with the intent to understand. Merlin was explaining all the small things he had done to help Camelot, and every thing he had to keep hidden. Only a few big things such as, Balinor, Freya, and Morgana were left out. However, Arthur didn't need to know those things to know how much his servant had given up for him. He was right in listening to what Merlin had to say – because for the first time ever he saw just how loyal the warlock was. Arthur saw how powerful he was too, and was taken aback. Merlin had the magic capable of destroying Camelot all on his own, yet he worked as a servant – a completely loyal, selfless, annoying, idiot servant.

Arthur also began to understand everything his friend had to give up and all the troubles he went through. It made Arthur angry that Merlin had to deal with all of those things by himself, so he promised himself he would never let his servant be alone again.

"You aren't mad? You don't hate me?" Merlin asked suddenly.

"No… I mean, I'm angry because you never told me, but I know how good of a person you are, and I know that these things you are telling me are the truth, so I could never hate you. You're my friend and you've done more for me than I ever thought possible for such an idiot. It makes me think that, perhaps, not all magic is evil – It's just the people who use it." Arthur explained, and realized as he finished, that not only Merlin had an exceptionally large smile on his face, but almost every single one of the Druids.

"I've dreamt about you saying that for so long… thank you." Merlin was so happy, everyone could see it.

"This doesn't change the fact that you're a complete clot pole." Arthur teased.

"That's my word, prat!"

"Idiot."

"Dollop head."

Everyone laughed.

I like this chapter – although the magic reveal was a bit cheesy. I will begin my work on chapter 13 immediately (because I got nothing better to do with my life than write). It shall be posted tomorrow! Hope you enjoyed!