Once the resurrected unicorn had galloped from sight, the two young men bent down and finished building the carne over the horn. They did so in silence, each lost in thought. As they finished, Merlin looked back at the moss covered ravine and froze. Now there were three unicorns standing there, watching them. He nudged Arthur's shoulder, none to gently. The blonde looked up with a snarky remark on his lips only to stare as well at the s0ight before them.

One of the creatures, smaller and daintier than the other two began to trot up to them. Arthur backed up a few steps, unsure of its intent but Merlin stayed still, that same look of wonder on his face as the first time he saw the unicorn in the depth of the wood. The unicorn came to stop mere inches in front of him. Arthur moved forward with a start, thinking the beast was going to impale Merlin on her horn.

Merlin reached out a slightly shaking hand to touch her nose and she delicately turned her head and lightly touched Merlin with her horn. Arthur watched, confused as his friend stilled with a sucked in breath.

"Merlin?" he said as he moved to pull his manservant away from the unicorn, not knowing what was happening but not liking it one bit.

The unicorn stepped back and gently pushed Merlin with her nose, breaking him out of whatever reverie he had been in.

He looked at her, confused, and said," I don't understand."

The unicorn just snorted and turned away, to trot back to the other two. As one, they wheeled about and galloped away, each going in a different direction. Arthur watched this and then turned back to Merlin who hadn't moved except to raise a hand to the spot on his neck where the horn had touched him. He looked like he was in shock, trembling and glassy eyed.

Arthur moved in front of him and put his hands on Merlin's shoulders.

"Merlin? What's wrong?" he squeezed the other man's shoulders as he said this to try to get his attention. Arthur was not usually the touchy, feely sort but he could see something was troubling his friend and he knew Merlin responded better to this than his usual manner. True to form Merlin blinked and looked Arthur in the eye.

"She.. Her horn… I felt or maybe heard her tell me I was not to blame and… and that I should not carry so much inside." He swallowed thickly and looked like he wanted to say more but averted his eyes from Arthur's. He looked down at their feet and Arthur was surprised to see a tear course down his cheek.

"Merlin, you know you can talk to me, don't you? A lot has happened recently and I. " Arthur paused as he recalled the most recent adventure they had before the unicorn incident. An adventure that ended with Merlin's village saved but his childhood friend dead. Merlin had been very quiet after they left the village and had not wanted to talk about it with Morgana or Gwen. He himself had not brought it up, as he was still a little hurt by Merlin not telling him Will was a sorcerer. He realized now that by doing that he had made Merlin believe he could not talk about it and therefore was not dealing with his grief. Arthur knew first had what keeping that kind of grief inside could do to a man. He saw it in his father everyday. The thought of Merlin becoming so bitter and filled with hate positively horrified Arthur, more than anything, more than this turning into a girlish talk about feelings ever could.

Moving his hands down to grip Merlin's arms, he tugged lightly before letting go and sitting down on the rocks near the carne. Merlin followed suit and sat next to the prince looking conflicted. Arthur just sat and looked at his friend. After a moment, Merlin cleared his throat and picked up a stick, poking the moss at his feet.

"When I was about eight years old, I had found a huge old oak tree near the edge of our fields that was great fun to climb. Will would go with me and we would spend hours playing in and around that tree. He had a great imagination and came with games for us to play. One day, we were high in the branches, pretending to be knights, watching for an approaching army. I saw them first, jumping up and down in my excitement to warm the city; the branch I was standing on just gave out. I would have fallen over 40 feet if Will hadn't caught my arm." His eyes were far away in time and space, his hand reaching up slightly as though to grasp at his friend. "He saved my life. We didn't tell Mother of course, she would have over reacted I'm sure. We were more careful with that old oak but we didn't stop playing there. Everything I did as I grew up, every triumph, ever tragedy, Will was there for all of it." He wiped another stray tear from his face and glanced sidelong at Arthur." He was a true friend and I loved him."

Arthur nodded. He was still a little uncomfortable with this emotionally driven conversation but this once he was going to try to not care. "I'm sorry for what happened, Merlin. I truly am. I guess I can't really completely understand what this must feel like. I never had a friend like that. Most people keep a distance due to my station and the ones that have tried to get close almost always did so to gain some kind of favor." He smiled slightly, picking up the stick Merlin had dropped and adding his own etchings to the sticky moss. "You're the only one, you know. The only one who doesn't care who my father is or what privileges you could gain by association with me. I guess I actually envy Will in one respect." He says ruefully, putting aside the stick.

"What could you possibly envy of a simply farm boy, Arthur?" Merlin asks incredulously.

"He got to grow up with you. He got to see all that has made you the man you are now." He smiled as he began to stand and stretch. "Course, I'm sure you got him into a lot of trouble now and again as that can't possibly have changed." He could see Merlin was smiling now, that glint back in his eye when they would banter.

"Sire, how could you say that? I don't start anything. I just try to help pick up the pieces as your royal pratness stumbles through some disaster or another. " He exclaimed, standing and crossing his arms in mock indignation.

Arthur just continued to smile that smile that annoyed Merlin to no end and began walking back to where the horses were tethered.

"You, pick up the pieces. Merlin, please. I am quite capable of taking care of whatever situation I get into, serving Camelot, on my own." He laughed as he mounted his horse.

"Of course, your highness, of course." Replied Merlin, clumsily climbing onto his very tolerant mount. He followed behind Arthur as he began to return to the castle at a trot. Merlin was sure now. Arthur wanted him at his side and come what may, Merlin would be there. Maybe that was why Will had saved him that day in the oak tree. It was his destiny to help Arthur and he was okay with that now.