A/N - Thanks to the kind review left by MinistryOfMagic13, I just wanted to let you guys know that Arran is actually included in Scotland. Its an island just off of Glasgow's west side and you can catch the ferry from Ardrossan. I'l be editing it in later, just if any of you were confused.

Consequently my friend just spent a week over there for her geology field trip (I wasn't jealous at all :P) but she did come back with loads of tales and facts about the island that I plan to put into this fic.

Hope you enjoy the update.

The truth of a legend

Chapter 4

I am what I am,

I do what I do,

But I can't hide.

.:Arthur:.

Lights and shadows passed over his eyelids making him want to shrink away, curl deeper within the warm blanket and block out the world for at least a few more minutes.

"Arthur?" Merlin's voice drifted over him, pulling sluggishly at his brain. The tone of voice, without the customary cheerful 'rise and shine' shouting at him into awareness, caused a hint of worry to pool in his stomach.

Arthur groaned. It could only mean one thing. Merlin had mess something up or something somewhere had gone very wrong and it was now his job to try and patch things up.

"5 more minutes" he grumbled, turning over and preparing to delve deeper into sleep once more. A sharp pain in his side caused him to pull the movement up short however, and another groan passed his lips.

"Ow" he murmured. A small chuckle sounded from beside him, making Arthur open his eyes to the world finally.

Merlin sat on the ground beside him, a small grin twitching at the corner of his mouth, yet the smile didn't reach his eyes. He was looking down at his hands, that were moving restfully in his lap.

"What the?" he said as his eyes slid past Merlin's figure and took in his surroundings. The field glistened with morning dew and sunlight beamed down onto them both.

That was the point at which Arthur remembered.

Mordred.

The feel of steel sliding past his armour and piercing his skin.

Blood leaking from the wound and the cold fear that had crept upon him.

Merlin finding him and revealing his magic.

The desperate journey to try and get back in time.

Lying in a field, Merlin's arms trying to lift him back before they both finally collapsed and he had just held him.

"I died" Arthur finally said.

Merlin's face jerked upright, eyes locking onto his for a second before he dropped his gaze once more.

"Everything's going to be alright" he mumbled.

Arthur pulled himself into a sitting position, wincing as he felt the movement tug at his wound. "What happened?" he asked once he finally settled into a position where just breathing wasn't painful.

"I made you better" Merlin grimaced, still not meeting his eye.

"I thought your magic couldn't save me. I don't understand" Arthur wished Merlin would just lift his head. So he could see the emotions that were always written plain as day flitting across his face. But Merlin was still resolutely looking down at his hands.

"I found a way" he sighed quickly getting to his feet and walking a way off. "I'm going to refill the water skins. You must be thirsty" he called over his shoulder before disappearing into the woods.

Ignoring the pain in his side, Arthur scrambled to his feet, taking off after Merlin.

He caught sight of the black haired head just inside of the wood's border.

"Merlin!" he called out.

Thankfully Merlin stopped but didn't turn, allowing Arthur to catch his breath and ease the pain shooting through him.

"What are you doing?" he said once he felt he could breathe properly again.

Merlin whipped around, an agitated expression on his face. One hand came up to pull against his hair as he looked wildly around. He looked so lost, so unlike the Merlin he had come to know. He always seemed so sure of himself, of what he was doing, despite being an idiot most of the time.

"It was old magic" he finally said, nervously shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"So why didn't you try it before?" Arthur was getting worried, uncertain on what to do when faced with this side of his friend. "Merlin, what have you done?"

Merlin finally met his gaze and Arthur was startled to see wetness beginning to glisten in the blue irises.

"What else could I do"

He looked so pained that Arthur took a step forward, wanting to reach out to him, to comfort him. But Merlin hastily retreated looking panicked once more.

"Merlin" Arthur tried, reaching his hand out and keeping his voice soft, like he was soothing a startled horse.

"It was old magic, but the rules still had to be followed"

"Merlin your not making any sense, just tell me what you did" Again Arthur took a tiny step forward, relieved that Merlin stood still this time.

"The balance has to be restored. For a life, there has to be a death"

Arthur stood still for a few minutes, letting Merlin's words sink in. His brain understood what had happened, what Merlin was implying, but it was impossible. It couldn't happen like this.

Letting his hand drop, Arthur mirrored Merlin's restless movement, suddenly overcome.

"I'm sorry"

Merlin broke the silence, his whispered words making Arthur want to crawl back into sleep and not have to deal with this. He couldn't deal with this.

"I have to go"

"No!" Arthur cried, as Merlin began to walk away again. Reaching out his hand, he curled it around Merlin's, bringing his friend back close to him.

Tears were now falling silently down Merlin's face. Up this close, he could see how tired Merlin actually looked. It was like all fight had left him, making him look small and so breakable.

"You'll be coming back" Arthur said, needing something. To know that this wasn't forever. "Please?"

Merlin let a small smile touch his lips. Releasing one of his hands and placing it on Arthur's cheek. He was startled at how cold Merlin's skin felt.

"I'm happy to be your servant, till the day I die" Now Merlin was full on grinning, the tears splashing onto his lips.

"But I don't want you to worry about me" Merlin's hand tightened in his for a second. "I know the Gods will look after me and that one day, I will see you again" He stepped away, backing away slowly and only let go of Arthur's hand at the last minute.

Arthur watch him go, gaze locked upon the black head as it slowly slipped deeper into the woods.

Arthur's eyes slowly, the woods fading into the creamy white of the ceiling above him. His heart thudded, painfully loud in the quiet room. It sent tiny slivers of pain into his chest making his eyes sting.

How long had it been? Since he had last dreamt of that day?

After all these years he could still see the dew sprinkled over the forest leaves, still see the sunlight dappling through the canopy and striking the forest floor. Still feel his body frozen in place, watching Merlin disappear.

It wasn't until later that he had managed to unfreeze his limbs and go after Merlin. But by then, he was long gone, and Arthur had never seen Merlin again.

Sighing, Arthur swung his legs over the side of the bed. Hopefully today would all change that.

He had seen Merlin last night, he was sure of it. He would finally have the answers and with any luck he would have his friend back by his side once more.

.:Merlin:.

The shrill trilling of his alarm blared into Merlin's ears, startling him awake.

"Turn that bloody thing off Merlin" Will's groaned from somewhere beside him. Merlin let out his own sigh, reluctantly letting go of the dream he had been having and reached out an arm to try and get his phone.

"Bloody hell, where are you"

Merlin's hand fumbled over the top of his side desk, trying successfully to locate his small Samsung.

"Merlin, will you shut that thing up. My head's killing me" Will huffed, slamming a pillow on top of his head in an attempt to drown out the noise.

"Well that's what you get for drinking that much" Merlin muttered under his breath.

Finally he felt his fingers close around something small and plastic. "Finally"

Swiping his finger across to silence the alarm, Merlin took one last wistful look at his bed before stepping out of the warmth and towards the bathroom.

And I was having such a good dream, he thought as he waited for the shower water to heat up. Most of it was lost to the morning fog that always invaded his mind this early, but he could remember it had knights in it and dragons and castles.

Smiling he stepped under the spray, trying to hold onto the feeling of excitement that the dream had held. But soon, the dream and any feelings that had come with it was washed away as Merlin began to contemplate the day ahead.

Please say I won't be cleaning out rat cages again, he shuddered, remembering the awful smell and the burn of his muscles after he had scrubbed the 20th cage to the lab's cleanliness standard.

Although, he mused. If I offer to do it before he can even ask, maybe I'll get into his good books and I'll be able to get off going to this party.

The thought of the up and coming party, only filled Merlin with dread. Its not that he didn't want to go to a big fancy do, where he'll probably be able to introduce himself to some powerful people, who'll be able to advance his career. And the food will probably be spectacular as well. But disaster, always happened around Merlin. He was constantly an embarrassment to himself and the people around him, so Merlin did not think a night where he was going to have to be frequently apologizing for knocking over some champagne fountain or stepping on some poor woman's stilettos, sounded like fun.

With that thought in mind, Merlin exited the bathroom, towel wrapped securely around his waist. Will was still snoring and even drooling a bit on the pillow of the camp bed. After being dragged out to the pub, Will had proceeded to get very drunk, resulting in Merlin having to haul his ass to his own flat because leaving Will in any kind of drunken state alone would probably spell the end of the world. Or at least the end of civilisation as they knew it.

"Oi!" Merlin shouted, poking at the lump bundled under Merlin's pare duvet. "Get up, you moron, or you're gonna be late for work."

Will merely grunted into the pillow, hand freeing itself from the duvet to lazily swipe at Merlin's foot.

"Will, come on you great lump"

The brunette blearily opened one eye, glaring up at him. "I'm gonna call in sick. Who've no idea how much my head is pounding right now"

Merlin glared right back but the man just closed his eyes again and delved deeper into the covers, till only a few brown hairs were visible.

"Fine, just don't nick all the food"

But Will was already snoring away again. And probably drooling again. He made a mental note to himself to wash the sheets after Will was gone.

TBC…

A/N - Hope you enjoyed. Thanks again for all reviews, alerts and favourites, you guys are awesome!

The lyrics at the start are from Dido's 'here with me' which is also the song that was in the video that inspired this fic.

Harlisan.