I Never Betrayed You

Part 1

"I just finished your sword and your armor." Merlin said as he placed the tray down in front of him.

"Merlin. I know." Was all Arthur could say.

"Know what? That I broke your vase!" Merlin questioned worriedly.

"No. Merlin. I know. About your Magic." Merlin dropped the clothes he had been collecting and slowly turned towards Arthur. His eyes were wide and his face was as paler that Arthur had ever seen. He looked like he was about to throw up.

"Me? Have magic? That's... that's stupid why would I have magic? I mean... I just.... how?" Merlin asked defeated.

"I heard you and Lancelot the other night." Arthur looked in his eyes and only saw fear. Which was odd, Merlin was always the strong one always the one with the plan, even if it was awful. Always was the brave one.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for lying. I'm sorry for betraying your trust. I... I know that now it's just the word of a sorcerer but. I am sorry." Merlin said slowly as his eyes teared up. Arthur never imagined he'd see Merlin cry. Merlin didn't cry. He laughed and went on with life.

"Why haven't you told your father?"

"In all honesty? I don't know. I almost did. But then I saw how you hugged Gaius before we left. You hugged him as if when you let go him got you would lose him. No one that was truly evil could do that. No one truly evil could love. But you do." Merlin could feel hope bubbling in his chest, but he didn't want to be disappointed so he got rid of the hope and replaced it with fear.

"Am I going to the prye?" Merlin's voice was so small that Arthur wasn't sure he had heard him right. Still, Arthur's eyes widened. Did Merlin really think that he would die?

"You think I'd kill you?" Arthur's voice sounded broken. And the sad thing was, that he felt a lot worse than his voice let on.

"No.... I mean maybe.... You could." Merlin looked up into Arthur's eyes and stared.

"Why would you betray me like this?" It was all Arthur could think. Why?

Merlin's eyes suddenly went angry. And it scared Arthur.

"No. You have no right to call me a traitor. You can call me a fugitive. You can call me a lair. You can call me a bastard. You can call me sorcerer! But you CANNOT! Call me! A traitor." Merlin started shouting. "Because there was never a moment when I betrayed you! There was never a moment where I wasn't at your side! There wasn't a moment where if you were in trouble I wasn't there to help you!" Merlin's voice cracked as his face got red with anger.

"I have been there for you since day one! Who do you think made the chandelier drop on the witch that posed as Lady Hellen? Who do you think summoned Valiants snakes during the fight so your father could see? Who do you think sent the white orb while you were in that cave? Who do you think killed the griffin? Who do you think saved you from Lady Sofia!? I even gave Uther, your father, who hates magic an enchanted sword when he went against the black night so he could kill the undead. I formed the wind funnels when those bandits were about to kill you in Ealdor! I'm the one that made Anhora (think that's right) give you another test! I even traded my life for yours when you got bitten by the questing beast! And that was only my first year! So don't you dare say I betrayed you. Because I didn't. I never have. Never will." Merlin finally took a moment to calm down.

"That's why whatever decision you make. I will stand by." He got down on his two knees and looked towards the ground.

"But if you do kill me. Kill me now. I don't want to get burned." Merlin's voice went quiet again. He was scared.

Arthur couldn't move. He'd never seen Merlin so angry. He'd fought Merlin before but never had it been this heated. Saying that Arthur was shocked was an understatement. Arthur was numb. He couldn't feel. He couldn't think. When he finally came back to his senses Merlin was kneeling on the floor asking for death. Arthur just stared.

He stared. And stared. And stared. For a good five minutes. For those five minutes, Arthur thought about killing Merlin. And he couldn't. He couldn't kill his best friend. His brother. If he did he would have killed himself not too long after. He knew what he had to do.

"Well. Merlin, do you what I do to people who have treated me the way you do?" Merlin could hear Arthur grab his sword. Merlin tried everything to stay calm. His mind was going so fast it couldn't concentrate on anything other than breathing.

In and Out.

In and Out.

In and Out.

"Merlin of Ealdor. I hear by dub, you Sir Merlin. Knight of Camelot." Arthur tapped both of Merlin's shoulder.

Merlin's head shot up. He looked up to see Arthur smiling.

"If you've done more then you said you did. Lancelot was right. You are the one I should knight. So I did. Do you really think I could kill you? I know I can't. If I did I would have killed myself within the day. I accept you, Merlin. Magic or not." Merlin let out a nervous laugh. He suddenly found himself crying.

"Why are you crying? I thought you would be happy?" Arthur crouched down to his friends level. Eyes full of concern.

"I am happier than I ever thought I could be. It's just a relief." Merlin wiped his face and smiled at Arthur.

Arthur stood and held out a hand to Merlin. Merlin accepted and stood with him. Once Arthur got Merlin to stand Arthur attacked him in an embrace.

Arthur held Merlin as he cried. Tears of joy. Arthur couldn't believe he thought Merlin was a traitor. The word just didn't fit. Merlin The Traitor. Nope. That sentence just shouldn't exist. They both stood there holding eachother till a thought came into Arthurs head.

"George will have to be my Manservant now."

"You ruined the moment!"