Gwaine was in shock. His best friend and his fellow knight were sorcerers. How had they hidden it so well? Admittedly he had occasionally had his suspicions about Merlin, but still...And why had Merlin never told him?

Two pairs of ice blue eyes were staring at him, both shocked, wary, and still furious, the light of the fight still in their eyes.

Merlin spoke first, putting his hand up in an oddly unnerving and innefectual placating gesture, considering that the gesture could mean someone's death when used by a sorcerer, if accompanied by the right combination of words.

"Gwaine...!...It's not...I'm not...I..." He trailed off.

"You both have magic."

"Gwaine...I would never use it to harm Camelot. Or Arthur. I use it to defend him. I'm not...evil." He finished lamely. "Not everyone who has magic is evil or works for the destruction of Camelot."

Mordred nodded but did not speak, watching Gwaine carefully.

"...All those lucky escapes make sense now. Although you should probably shake it up a bit. Too many healthy tree branches falling onto the heads of our enemies gets suspicious." Gwaine smirked.

"...are you going to tell Arthur? I won't stop you...even though I could."

Gwaine put up his hands. "I'm just hurt you didn't trust me, but I understand. Merlin, I won't tell him. About either of you." Gwaine's eyes flicked from Merlin to Mordred. Merlin slumped, releasing his tension. "What were you two fighting about, anyway? You looked like you were about to kill each other."

"It's a long story." Merlin responded, evasively.

Mordred snorted. "Still at it, are we? Still hiding? I thought he was your friend, Emrys."

"Do not use that name! You're just trying to force me into an explanation!" Merlin glared at Mordred as the young man slumped down with his back against a log, looking for a moment in his sulleness like the teenager he was, despite his chainmail and sword.

Gwaine barked a laugh. "You remind me of two brothers I used to know...but seriously. I have questions."

Merlin swept his hands about. "Then ask them. You deserve answers."

"First off, what were you fighting about?"

"Mordred wishes me to reveal my true nature to Arthur."

"He is defying destiny by remaining in the shadows and masquerading as an inconsequential servant." Mordred muttered.

Merlin glared at him again. "There is no such thing as an inconsequential person, regardless of station. Everyone is important."

"You know what I meant, Emrys." Mordred returned, tiredly.

"What does he mean, Merlin? And why does he call you Emrys?"

"Emrys is what the druids call me."

Gwaine raised an eyebrow and sat down, obviously waiting for the long version of the story.

Merlin sighed defeatedly and sat down as well. "Mordred. You may as well take over. You're the damn druid. It's their prophecies."

"You're druids? What...Prophecies?"

Mordred sat up slightly. "I was. For a time. There are prophecies among my kind, about the Once And Future King who will unite the land of Albion in peace and prosperity for all peoples. Including those with magic. At his side is the great warlock Emrys, who will use his wisdom and abilities to guide him and keep him safe. Without Emrys the king will not succeed; Emrys is the key to freedom for all those with magic. Arthur is the Once And Future King, and Merlin is Emrys. Merlin is the most powerful warlock to ever live, and he hides like a coward." Mordred could not help the last bitter comment. "Like he is afraid and ashamed of who he is, of his own kin."

Merlin began to rise, furious, but Gwaine stopped him.

"Merlin is many things, but never a coward, Mordred."

Gwaine turned to Merlin again. "Why don't you tell Arthur any of this?"

"Too many reasons"

Mordred rolled his eyes.

Merlin sighed. "I released the great dragon. I killed his uncle. I helped drive Morgana away and did not help her when I should have, I accidentally killed his father due to the influence of Morgana while trying to heal him..."

"You tried to heal UTHER?!"

"I thought if magic healed his father he would be more accepting of it later! In the guise of an old man I made him pledge to remember my willingness to heal his father with magic. He died anyway, because of Morgana. She soured Arthur's mind toward magic because of it.."

Mordred quieted after this information but he still frowned.

"I have lied to Arthur for so long, Gwaine. He would hate me."

"Merlin. You're his best friend, even if he won't admit it. I doubt the princess could ever hate you. You're like two sides to the same coin."

Merlin raised an eyebrow at Gwaine's comment.

"'A half cannot truly hate that which makes it whole.'" Mordred quoted. Merlin shot him a look.

"Anyway, now that you have listed off all of the times you have failed, what things have you done that have benefited Camelot? You have evidently been helping him for years. He's still alive, so I assume you have had something to do with that..."