And now, by popular request, a continuation of chapter 2 :)

Merlin slumped forward to rest against Arthur's shoulder. The king watched the younger man's eyes flutter as his strength waned and was suddenly seized with panic. It hadn't seemed like a mortal wound, but there had been quite a bit of blood...

"Hey, stay with me, idiot. How am I supposed to punish you if you go and die first?" He slapped his friend's pale cheek as gently as he could manage.

"'ll be fine," came the murmured response, blue eyes fully closing.

The warrior's chest constricted for a moment until he saw the slight curving of his servant's lips. It seemed appropriate that Merlin would pass with a smile on his face.

Stop it. He's not dying.

"Fine," he echoed. "I guess it would be too much to expect you to obey me now when you never have before."

There was no response and Arthur found himself embracing the man - desperate for assurance that Merlin was still there with him, still breathing.

"Rest, Merlin. I have a lot of questions for you when you wake up."

As if he'd only been waiting for permission, the warlock went completely limp. Arthur held him all the more closely, taking a moment to gather his wits before rising to make the trek to the encampment.

He needed Merlin. Merlin was his best friend, his staunchest supporter. These things were immutable facts.

But this person, this sorcerer in his arms, was this Merlin? Or was it, as Morgana had screamed, "Emrys"?

Was there a difference?

He held on tighter, carrying his burden into the privacy of the royal tent before sending for Gaius.

He hadn't felt it before, but he certainly did now. Every bit of him stung. It felt as if his veins had been stretched and widened to accommodate the new flow of power within him - and perhaps it was something along those lines.

Never before had such magic been contained in his body and it was restless, like a wild animal unaccustomed to its cage.

Loath as he was to do anything that might increase the pain, little could be accomplished without making an effort. Only a small groan was allowed to escape as he opened his eyes to candlelight and... Arthur.

"Merlin? You awake? Gaius left this for you to drink if you're up to it."

Mind not as present as it could have been, Merlin nodded, then grimaced at the potion. "If you wanted to poison me you could have at least chosen something less foul."

The king's face fell and he sat back after silently propping Merlin up with a blanket.

"I have a lot of questions for you when you wake up."

Right. He'd forgotten about that whole situation.

"So... questions?"

Arthur straightened.

"Just one, really: what happened to your jacket?"

"What?" Maybe he wasn't quite conscious enough for this.

"Your jacket," Arthur repeated, holding up the offending garment which was now half of what it had once been. The new edge was cleanly sliced - apart from one singed corner.

"First time using magic to travel," the warlock mumbled. It probably would have been fine if he hadn't changed his destination at the last moment. Probably.

The royal blinked, clearly having expected something more exciting (or maybe just something... more), then rose and picked up the candle.

"Well, you should go back to sleep. Gaius said your magic should have you fixed up by morning, but only if you rest." He fixed his servant with a stern eye. "We'll be returning to Camelot tomorrow so I want you fit to travel."

"Wait! That's it?" Merlin really wasn't conscious enough for this. Was this actually happening? "Aren't you going to ask how long I've had magic? Why I learned it? Anything?"

Blond brows furrowed. "You said you were born with it."

"I was!" The warlock hastened to affirm.

Arthur nodded. "You always were a terrible liar."

Merlin stared at him for a long while, trying to understand what was happening. His friend seemed to be taking this well, but there was one thing left.

"Can you still trust me?" His voice broke a bit and he could feel the beginning of tears gathering in his eyes, but this was important.

Arthur sighed, replacing the candle and settling back onto the stool by Merlin's cot.

"I've always known you've been keeping things from me. Things that made you sneak out at night or disappear for days on end." He halted Merlin's attempt to explain with a raised hand.

"I was... pleased when Guinevere told me you'd gone to visit a girl. I thought part of the mystery around you had been solved. Knowing how the knights can be, I wouldn't have blamed you for keeping a companion secret - though I'd hoped you would at least tell me..." he drifted off, melancholy in his eyes as he stared at the tent wall. Merlin shifted uncomfortably.

"But of course now I know that wasn't the case. Look, the point is, I've always trusted you when your actions were an enigma so why should that change just because I know now?"

Arthur's gaze was still firmly fixed on the fabric wall as Merlin gaped at him. They sat in stubborn silence for some time before the servant gathered himself.

"Gaius gave you the eyebrow, didn't he?"

The king's eyes rolled, coming back to face his friend.

"No."

It was then Merlin noticed Arthur's armor, lovingly laid out atop the royal luggage.

"Gwen spoke to you."

The royal fidgeted. "She merely... reminded me who you are."

Merlin frowned. This conversation was becoming more and more difficult to understand, but if Gwen had given Arthur advice...

"How... how did she take it when you told her?"

"I didn't tell her."

"But-"

"I'm not going to tell anyone if you don't wish me to."

Another staring match ensued, Merlin's completely overwhelmed gaze meeting Arthur's steady, reassuring one.

"It can't stay a secret," the warlock stated, though it sounded more like a plea to the opposite.

"Either way, things can't stay the same," was the king's answer.

Merlin nodded, shutting his eyes against the new wave of dizziness the action caused. A warm hand grasped his good shoulder.

"Don't be sad, Merlin. You'll be polishing my armor for quite some time yet."

He felt Arthur ruffle his hair and risked a glance in time to watch the other man depart.

"Now get some sleep. Don't want you to faint and fall off your horse... again."

The tent fell into darkness as Arthur departed with the sole light source, leaving Merlin to his fuzzy thoughts.

Yes, changes were coming, but they would be good ones.