A.N - So i posted this story way back around the end of season three, and it got a surprisingly good response. One problem, though, was that people kept telling me to post the next chapter, and adding it to story alert. After i'd finished. I thought it was a glitch, or something, until i got a review (the first one for a few months) from LunaShadowWolf, (that's from memory, sorry if it's wrong) again telling me to write a new chapter. I realised that it just didn't seem finished to alot of people, so i have tried my best to bring it to some kind of conclusion. So, here it is. Since i hadn't written this story for months, i'm worried that i haven't got the characterisation and voices right, but i spent ages changing things, so i decided that this was as good a it's going to get. I hope it is in keeping with the first few chapters, and that everything makes sense and such. Enjoy! xx

"Well, in that case, I have one last thing I'd like to tell you..."

Arthur frowned slightly, his mind running over the meaning of Merlin's words. He couldn't have meant that he actually was... no, don't be ridiculous Arthur. You're jumping to conclusions again. He inclined his head away from Merlin, a puzzled expression on his face.

"Well, out with it then. I'm certainly learning a lot about you today."

Merlin didn't speak. He stared at Arthur for a moment longer, and clenched his jaw, as if steeling himself for something. There was something in his eyes, Arthur thought. Some intensity that he had only caught glimpses of before. The silence stretched on and Arthur was beginning to be a little unnerved with the way Merlin was staring at him. Finally, the younger boy snapped his head round to face straight ahead. Still, he didn't speak.

"...Merlin?"

Merlin didn't reply, but stretched his arm out in front of him, as if reaching for something just out of his grasp. His arm shook like it was holding a heavy weight. Arthur's eyes widened. He didn't like the look of this, at all.

Suddenly Merlin spoke. Arthur didn't recognise the words, but the language was unmistakable. The Old Tongue. Arthur watched as his mouth twisted harshly to form the alien words, and his fingers curled and jerked violently. The prince was frozen in shock. Merlin? A sorcerer? The words didn't make sense. Then a sudden flash of gold in his manservant's eyes and the river rose up out of its bed and looped in the air, forming shapes and beautiful patterns. But Arthur didn't see. He was too busy staring, open-mouthed, at Merlin, who in turn hadn't taken his eyes off the water.

The quiet confidence with which he moved his fingers and the intensity of his gaze were strangely familiar to Arthur. He had seen them before, and never quite known what to think, or how to reconcile them with his usual perception of Merlin. But now, now everything fell into place. This revelation, as shocking as it was, made a strange sort of sense. Which was perhaps the weirdest thing of all.

Merlin's hand dropped, and his eyes closed. The water dropped back into a river with a slap, and the sound jolted Arthur out of his thoughts. Merlin kept his eyes closed, kept staring straight ahead, not wanting to look at Arthur, to see the pain and betrayal in his eyes.

"Huh." Arthur breathed, eloquently. Merlin opened his eyes, and looked at him searchingly, almost desperately. A moment of tense stillness, then Arthur breathed out sharply through his nose, jumping to his feet. Merlin flinched, but scrambled to his feet too, his gaze never leaving Arthur, who was currently backing away from him and shaking his head.

The prince was overwhelmed. He should be angry, aggressive, maybe a little scared. He had, after all been taught his whole life to fear magic. And he was angry, he was scared, but for the wrong reasons. Angry, because someone is lying here. Either his father, for teaching him that all magic is evil, or Merlin, pretending to be a loyal servant, friend, for all these years. The two men he trusted most in the world, mortal enemies by their very nature, and one of them had been lying to him.

But as he looked at Merlin, saw the deep, familiar sadness in his eyes; Arthur just couldn't believe that Merlin meant to hurt him, or Camelot. He stopped backing away.

"How long?" He managed after a beat.

Merlin swallowed, wet his lips, and stood to face Arthur before speaking.

"I was born with it." He said evenly, and Arthur heard the fierce pride in his voice, and knew that he was telling the truth.

Merlin stood a length away from Arthur, feeling like a nervous wreck compared to the prince's stock still form. His hands clenched and unclenched as he fought to stop them shaking. Should he keep talking, he wondered? Or is it better to stay quiet, and let Arthur think? He shifted uncomfortably on his feet in the silence. Finally he couldn't bear it any longer.

"The dragon told me when I first came to Camelot, that it was my destiny to protect you." Arthur didn't move. "I didn't believe him at first, or course: you were an idiot."

Not the best thing to say, under the circumstances, Merlin, he thought to himself, and cringed inwardly. Arthur's right about me and my big mouth sometimes, I should really learn to... but Arthur was smiling. His posture had relaxed and he was smiling hesitantly at Merlin.

"You're never going to change, are you?"

"No sire, not if I can help it." Replied Merlin, trying for a cheeky grin. His muscles failed him though, and it ended up looking more like he'd swallowed a holly leaf. Arthur blinked, finally, and looked away. Merlin could see him gathering his thoughts, and he could tell from his posture that everything was going to be ok. Arthur had understood. He felt his legs go weak at the thought that he had finally, after three years, revealed his deepest secret to the best friend he had, and everything was going to be ok.

Arthur snapped out of his reverie as Merlin sat down suddenly. He looked down at the warlockservantfriend who was looking back at him like he hardly dared to hope...and Arthur made up his mind. He closed the distance between them and crouched down next to Merlin, putting what he hoped was a reassuring hand on his arm.

"I said I wouldn't tell my father, and I won't. It seems I owe you more than I thought. Your secret is safe with me, but on one condition." Merlin's face had broken out into a huge goofy grin. "You tell me when you use magic, alright? No more secrets."

Merlin's smile shrunk, but didn't fade. He looked at Arthur warmly, grateful that he could finally be honest about himself.

"Deal."

So that's it. definitely finished now haha :) Hope you liked :D