You might want to watch "The Coming of Arthur" before reading this chapter or have it fresh in your mind, because this is a series of snippets from the two-part episode.

Uther sighed. "We've seen what happened to the last patrol that entered Cenred's land. You must go alone. I'm sorry to place such a burden upon you, but there is no one else I can trust."

"I understand, Father."

"You will be ready by sunrise, won't you Merlin?" Arthur asked, sitting on the edge of the bed to lace up his boots.

Merlin rolled his eyes. Uther might have been blind to the nature of his son's relationship with his manservant, but even he knew that "alone" translated to "alone except for Merlin."

"If I don't know where we're going, how do I know what to pack?" He asked, holding up a red cape bearing Camelot's crest. "Will it be hot? Will it be cold? Will it be wet? Will it be dry?"

"Don't be such a girl, Merlin," Arthur replied. "We're not going on holiday."

"Holiday?" Merlin said sarcastically. "What's a holiday? Is it anything like the honeymoon I didn't get?"

Arthur rolled his eyes, saw what Merlin was packing, and stopped him. "Not that. Nothing bearing the crest of Camelot. We're going undercover."

"This is ridiculous." Merlin dropped the cape on the floor. "Are you going to tell me where we're going or not?"

"Well, I can tell you it will be dangerous."

"Great."

"And I can tell you we will be traveling through bandit infested lands."

"Terrific. Sounds like the perfect romantic getaway. Then where?"

"I can't tell you that."

"You don't know where we're going."

"No, Merlin. I know where we're going. It's just, I can't tell you, that's all," Arthur said, exasperated.

Merlin grinned slyly and sauntered over so that he stood between Arthur's legs. "Right, 'cause if you do, you'll have to kill me, I suppose."

Arthur placed his arms on Merlin's hips. "Immediately and without hesitation."

"Great," Merlin said. "It'll be a surprise. I love surprises. Who doesn't love a good surprise?"

Arthur stood up and pecked him on the lips. "That's the spir—" He paused. "You were joking."

"Yes."

"Right, you filthy vermin. Which one of you's ready to face my champion in the arena?" Jarl called. "No volunteers? Well, I shall have to choose one of you toe rags myself, then. Let me see." His eyes alighted upon Merlin. "How about you?"

Merlin looked around, then pointed at himself. "Me?"

"Death or glory, boy. You should be honored."

Arthur clenched his hands into fists and stepped forward. Like hell he was letting Merlin go into the arena. All of the other men in the pit stepped back, including Gwaine. These strangers might not know anything about the young blonde with his strange, black-haired companion, but they knew that threatening one of them earned the vengeance of the other.

"Who is this so-called champion?" Arthur asked, gesturing. "Can he crush nothing but weaklings like this?"

"You think you could offer a better contest?" Jarl demanded.

"I guarantee it," Arthur replied.

Merlin grabbed his arm. "Arthur, no."

"Very well," Jarl declared. "But if you lose," He pointed at Merlin. "I'll feed your little friend to the crows piece by stinking piece."

Arthur growled.

Jarl chuckled and looked over at Gwaine. "Are you ready, my champion?"

Merlin groaned.

One thing that Merlin could never understand was why knights had to constantly try and one-up the other. If he had to listen to Gwaine and Arthur bicker for one more moment…

"No, you didn't. One more minute—"

"Oh, you flat—"

Merlin rounded on them. " One more minute and you both would've been dead. Neither of you won. Your plan was a half-baked disaster, and if it was not for that fire we would all be pushing up daisies."

He turned back around and kept walking. Behind his back, Arthur glared at Gwaine. Gwaine mouthed he's your husband!

"I can hear you two making faces!"

Merlin bent over Arthur, feeling his forehead. He was sick and shivering with fever, and he was covered in sweat. Merlin pushed his damp hair back from his face, pressing a wet cloth to the pink skin. He had no time—Gwaine would be back any moment.

"Geh'ælan," he whispered. "Geh'ælan."

Arthur showed no change.

Merlin gently stroked Arthur's cheek. "Come on, Arthur. Please. Geh'ælan."

Slowly, Arthur's shakes subsided and his forehead cooled. Merlin blinked rapidly, letting out a shaky sigh of relief as he kissed Arthur's forehead. Arthur was going to be all right.

Well, Arthur was going to be all right if he stopped being a stubborn ass.

"Where is he?" Arthur demanded, determined to rescue Uther.

"They're taking him to the throne room as we speak," Gwaine explained.

Arthur tried to stand. "This may be my last chance."

Merlin put a hand on his chest, stopping him. "Arthur, there's too many of them. You'll never make it."

"I won't leave my father to die here alone," Arthur insisted. He turned to the others. "Gwaine, Elyan, take Gaius and make your way to the woods beyond the castle." He looked each of them in the eye, then nodded once. "I hope we meet again."

The three of them left, each with their own sign of respect to the prince. Arthur looked over at Merlin. "Merlin, you should go with them."

Merlin held up his left hand and smiled. "Nah, I've seen the woods already."

Arthur kissed him once, softly, and then they were out the door.

"It's rat," Merlin announced. Arthur made a face. "Oh, believe me, you've eaten far worse. I mean, I've definitely served you things I would never have touched, but you wolfed them down no problem."

"Merlin, for once, leave me in peace, please," Arthur said, ignoring the offered meal.

Someday Merlin was going to talk to him about his refusal to discuss emotions. He sat down next to him and laid his hand over Arthur's. "I understand. Your father lied to you about Morgana. I don't know why. I'm sure he had his reasons, but now is not the time for that. He's still your father. He needs you. Camelot needs you."

"I've known her all my life," Arthur whispered. "How could she do this to us?"

"I can't answer that," Merlin admitted, "But you have a duty to your father, to your people. You can't give up on them now."

"You cannot defeat an immortal army."

Merlin nudged Arthur with his shoulder. "We don't know until we try."

After a moment, Arthur turned his hand over, interlocking their fingers.

Arthur had given Merlin many reasons to be proud of him. And while Merlin had doubted his sanity often, he had never regretted his decision to tie his life to Arthur's—destiny or not. But the proudest he had ever felt was when Sir Leon, Gwaine, Lancelot, Percival, Elyan, Guinevere and Gaius all pledged their allegiance. Not to Uther, or Camelot, but to Arthur, and Arthur alone.

It was then that Merlin knew that the world was beginning to see what he saw: that Arthur was a man for the legends. The Once and Future King.

"Merlin?" Arthur asked, turning.

Merlin smiled. "No, don't really fancy it," he replied.

Arthur got that expression on his face that said if we were alone you'd be naked by now. "You don't have a choice, Merlin."

Merlin stood up, his eyes never leaving Arthur's. "Okay."

And maybe Lancelot was right about Arthur making Merlin a knight. The words of praise certainly did him good. But Merlin didn't want to be a knight, and he never had. He already had what he needed, and he knew that Arthur valued him. And he looked forward to the day that Arthur could fulfill his promise to be the greatest king Albion had ever seen. The day, he thought, when all hiding was over.

"Guinevere."

Gwen moved to join Arthur. "Yes?"

"Stay here with Gaius. I want you to gather firewood and make bandages. There'll be casualties."

"All right."

Arthur's jaw tightened. "Guinevere…" He took her hands in his. "If I do not return… The law is tangled, and men can be easily swayed. I do not trust them to honor Merlin's right to rule. He will need you. And if neither of us return…"

"But you will return," Gwen said fondly. "I watched you last night. You gave us hope, something to believe in. I saw the king you will become." She squeezed his hands. "I'm so proud of you, Arthur."

Arthur smiled. "We've come a long way from when I stayed at your house, haven't we?"

Gwen nodded. "We have. And it's all Merlin's fault." She released his hands. "Now go. I look forward to berating you two for being courageous idiots."

"How's your father?" Merlin asked.

"I don't know." Arthur stared out into the distance. "All this. Morgana. It's hit him hard."

"Perhaps we're heading for a new time. You may need to take charge, become…" Merlin paused, then forged ahead. "Become king."

Arthur clenched his jaw, then relaxed it. "Who knows what the future will bring."

Merlin pressed his palm to Arthur's cheek, cradling it for a moment. Arthur's eyes fluttered closed and he breathed deeply, taking in the warm touch before Merlin had to draw his hand away, in case anyone turned to look.

There was the sound of neighing and both turned.

Guinevere rode in at the front, her hair bouncing, a wide, proud smile on her face. Sir Leon and Lancelot flanked her, standing up straight and tall, a shining example of knighthood. Behind them were Percival, looking both stern and completely harmless at the same time, and Gwaine, who had hair in his face and the remnants of a smirk, like he had just thought of a dirty joke. Elyan, trying to look imposing and only managing to pull off thoughtful, brought up the rear.

Merlin gestured. "Your Knights of the Round Table."

Arthur smiled.