Hey guys! So, I'm not going to lie, I rewrote this chapter probably four times before I settled on something I remotely liked, and I'm still not quite sure if some parts work. So, please enjoy.

Thanks to everyone who alerted, favorited, and reviewed last chapter. A few of the reviews entertained me, and I really hope you hear from all of you again.

Thanks for reading, leave me a comment if you can, and I don't own 'em.

Bye!

P.S. Last chapter was for Nerdofall who asked for a Merlin overwhelmed in battle type situation. I am really sorry I forgot to mention it last chapter. Thanks for the idea.

Arthur had only seen Draugrs in books. They were created by dark magic, made to guard relics and the resting places of powerful sorcerers, but he had never realized just how powerful they were until he faced an army of them. He had actually thought he and his knights were done for, until Merlin defeated the evil creatures. With magic. Oh gods, Merlin used magic.

Arthur jerked awake, sitting up too fast and making his head spin. Nausea rolled through his stomach, leaving him leaning over the side of the old, scratchy cot and emptying his stomach of everything he had eaten in the past twelve hours. He heaved a second time, his head pounding in time with his heart, his vision going white.

Soft, gentle hands grabbed him before he could fall off the cot, keeping him upright as he continued to empty his stomach. When nothing but dry heaves escaped him, the hands gently pulled him back onto the cot, slowly helping Arthur lie back down.

"It's okay, Arthur," Guinevere's voice murmured in his ear, "you're going to be okay."

"Where's…" he trailed off, breathing deeply as a second wave of nausea attacked him. When it passed, he tried again. "Where's Merlin?" When Gwen neglected to answer, Arthur forced his eyes open, his vision taking a moment to snap into focus. Guinevere had her bottom lip tucked between her teeth, her dark eyes uncertain.

"What?" Arthur asked carefully, attempting to sit up. Dizziness kept him down, but it didn't stop him from demanding, "Is he alive? Where's Merlin?"

"He's going to be fine, Arthur," Gwen replied slowly, sitting on the edge of Arthur's bed. "Gaius says he'll be waking up any time now, but…"

"But…"

"Arthur, he used magic," Gwen whispered averting her eyes. "Elyan told me."

"And…?"

Surprise flitted across Gwen's face as her eyes met him. "Arthur, he broke the law."

"He saved our lives," Arthur argued.

"I know, but I thought…"

"What, that I was going to execute him? Guinevere, I am not my father, I'm not going to execute someone without giving them the chance to explain themselves. And Merlin, despite his faults, deserves to explain himself."

"I whole-hearted agree," Gwen replied nodding, a small smile playing across her lips. "Gwaine will be happy to hear your decision, too. I think he was planning on smuggling Merlin out of Camelot."

"I need to see Merlin," Arthur insisted trying to sit up again. He barely made it a few inches before he had to lie down again.

"Perhaps you should rest a while before attempting to see him," Gwen suggested fussing with the blanket wrapped around his waist. She sniffed, keeping her eyes on his torso, and whispered, "I thought I had lost you."

"I'm fine," Arthur murmured feeling her hand wrap around his.

"I know, but…"

"Guinevere," he interrupted causing her to meet his eyes. He smiled and softly repeated, "I'm fine." She nodded, wiping at her eyes.

"What about the others?" Arthur asked, figuring it was time he changed the subject. "You mentioned Gwaine and Elyan, but what of Leon and Percival?"

"Leon has broken his arm, and Percival cracked a couple of ribs, but they are well. It was you and Merlin we were most worried about. You are suffering from a concussion. Merlin, too, has a concussion, but it's his right side that had Gaius worried."

"Why?"

"The rocks had fallen on it, could have done more damage than it did, and Gaius had to make sure Merlin's lung didn't collapse." Arthur felt his stomach clench at the thought, had lost good men because of injuries of that magnitude. "But that did not happen," Gwen continued hurriedly, squeezing Arthur's hand. "Gaius says he will be fine."

"Good," Arthur murmured squeezing Gwen's hand back. "That's good."

Merlin

It's another three days before Arthur is well enough to get out of bed. In that time, he had not seen Merlin. For some reason, it felt to Arthur like his manservant was avoiding him, regardless of what Gaius, Guinevere, or the others said. It was complete shite, Arthur didn't have time for Merlin's petty games, so after a long, hot bath, in his own chambers, he changed into a red tunic and clean breeches and headed back to Gaius and Merlin's chambers.

He hesitated for a moment before knocking on Merlin's door. A part of Arthur was convinced the younger man had fled in the middle of the night, leaving behind memories and a quickly scribbled 'please forgive me,' but the blond had a feeling Gwaine would have dragged him back here, making Merlin promise to stick around long enough to completely heal; making Merlin promise to take Gwaine with him because Arthur had learned a long time ago that for all of the loyalty Gwaine had given him, the verbose man would always be more loyal to Merlin.

Arthur waited a beat before opening the door, stopping in the threshold to study the dark-haired man. It didn't escape Arthur's attention how unsurprised he had been by the fact that Merlin had magic. It had had been hinted at on several occasions, by many people, but Arthur had always chosen to ignore those people. They generally tended to be evil, out to get something, wishing harm and ill-feelings on the blond, but it really shouldn't have taken a desperate situation for the truth to come out. Merlin should have told Arthur a long time ago.

"Why didn't you ever say anything?" Arthur quietly asked, startling the younger man. Merlin turned his head, looking up from an old book, written in a language Arthur did not know, but recognized as something from the old religion. The younger man had an ugly, purple bruise over his swollen left eye, his ankle was elevated on a pillow, and he was dressed in a night shirt that looked far too big for him. In that moment, he looked so young yet so old.

"Arthur," Merlin whispered closing his book. "Have you come to sentence me to death?"

"No," Arthur responded softly, closing the door behind him. He crossed the room, leaning against Merlin's desk, crossing his arms. He ignored the surprised look on his manservant's face and instead said, "I just want to know why. Why did you never tell me? Was it because of my father? Were you afraid I'd tell him out of a sense of duty? Did you think you couldn't trust me?"

"Of course not," Merlin argued pushing himself up straighter, wincing when he pulled on his side. He took a moment to compose himself before continuing, "Arthur, I never wanted you to find out this way. I wanted to tell you several times…"

"But why didn't you?"

Merlin was quiet for a long time, Arthur almost convinced he wasn't going to answer, but finally the younger man sighed and said, "Out of fear, mostly."

"It makes sense, to be afraid for your…"

"No, not for me," Merlin replied quickly, looking up. "Arthur, when I first met you, you would have probably given me up in a heartbeat. Then I got to know you, and despite your pratness you were incredibly loyal, especially to your father, and I never wanted to make you decide between him and me."

"But what of after? When I became king?" Arthur tried to feel betrayed, maybe a little angry at Merlin, but he could only manage mild frustration. It was hard to be angry at Merlin when Arthur, himself, did not know what he would have done had the younger man told him when Uther had still been alive.

"I tried, Arthur, but then Uther died and…" he trailed off, sucking in a deep breath. "I always thought you'd blame me for that."

"But that wasn't you. And it wasn't Dragoon either if I am to believe Gaius. He showed me the amulet, around my father's neck…" Something crossed Merlin's face, but it was gone just as quickly, leaving Arthur more curious than before.

"Yes, but for a while you were anti-magic again. A-and I needed to be here, helping you. If you were to find out, even if you didn't kill me, you would have asked me to leave, a-and I can't do that."

"Why?"

"Arthur, there are things you need to know, things you are probably not going to like, but there also things that I cannot tell you. Things I've done, to protect you, to protect everyone in this kingdom; terrible things, things that you can't imagine."

"Merlin," Arthur started pushing away from the desk. He crossed the room, sitting on the edge of Merlin's bed, and turned to face the younger man. "You can tell me when you're ready, but I need to tell you something now. Remember Amelia and her servant?"

"Yes," Merlin replied softly, nodding his head.

"They hinted that you might not be truthful to me, tried to make me think you had magic, and I didn't believe it. But, over the past few days, I started thinking about it, and things started to make sense. At first, I was a little angry, I wondered why you never bothered to tell me, but after a while I sort of accepted it. I accepted that there was more to you than a clumsy, irritating, sometimes idiotic servant. And as much as I wish you'd have told me, I understand you had your reasons to keep it from me for so long.

"But, I need to know, had you not been forced to do magic in front of me, would you have told me?"

"Of course," Merlin answered slowly. "Eventually I would have told you, I would have told everyone, but…"

"Timing," Arthur finished and Merlin nodded. "So, just how long have you been practicing magic?"

"I was born with it," Merlin responded honestly. "I've been doing magic since before I could walk or talk, had my mother scared I was going to be caught and executed. In fact, that's why she sent me to Camelot, so Gaius could help me with my magic."

"I've never heard of anyone born with magic."

"I'm rare, really rare. I honestly don't think there's anyone quite like me."

"What about Morgana?"

"She's…" Merlin trailed off, biting his lower lip. "She's my opposite, I guess you could say. I'm not quite sure; I'd have to ask Kilgharrah."

"Who?" Panic and fear flashed across Merlin's face and Arthur raised his hands, saying, "Clearly that is something you cannot tell me."

"Perhaps someday," Merlin murmured toying with his blanket.

"Is there anything you can tell me?"

"I may have cheated during that mace fight," Merlin admitted quietly, keeping his eyes downcast, a sheepish look on his face.

"I knew it," Arthur stated triumphantly. "No one is that lucky."

"You were going to take my head off," Merlin exclaimed throwing his hands in the air, wincing when he pulled on his side again, "what was I supposed to do?"

Arthur's lips quirked up and he shook his head. He and Merlin clearly had more to talk about, but right that second it felt as if they had taken a giant leap forward in their friendship.