Chapter 5: Arthur's POV

"Ah merlin there you are. I take it you had a pleasant night in the stocks last night." I smirked resting my elbows on my desk and clasping my hands in front of my face. Silently enjoying the frustration on his face as he picked rotton tomatoes out of his hair and tossed it in the trash.

"Oh of course. It was absolutely terrific." He spat glaring at me as I chuckled at his anger.

"Well maybe next time you will think twice before skipping out on me. I will never repeat this, and if anyone asks i will deny it, but I needed you Merlin. You have become one of my closest friends. I can't face this alone, and if I can't fiqure out his identity and am to die I at least want to know that I was not alone when it happened. Yes the other round table members will be there, yes Gwen may even be there, but i want you there. You are my brother in all but blood. So please merlin don't make me face this alone. I'm... I'm scared merlin. I'm scared that the kingdom will be left without a king. I'm scared that Gwen will be left a widow and forced to carry the burden of the kingdom alone. Most of all I'm scared that you won't be there when i take my last breath and I will be left to die knowing my brother would rather get drunk in the tavern than be there for me as I die. So please merlin I need you to be there tonight. Promise me." I brokenly begged turning away so he couldn't see me fall apart. My shoulders slightly tembling as a tear escaped my eyes and slid sweetly down my cheek, caressing my pale skin in my grief and fear. I could hear Merlin sigh behind me as the sound of his quiet foot falls slowly approached me. Next thing I know there's a hand under my chin turning my face once more to his. So that i was once more staring into his endless blue eyes.

"Arthur. You are my best friend. I would never leave you to face your battles alone. I will always be by your side, even when your being a prat." He softly teased smiling gently up at me. His eyes crinkling at the corners as his honest blue eyes met mine.

"I promise I will be there." He stated a serious expression taking over his face. I could feel the tension seeping out of me at that. As long as Merlin was there. I knew there was nothing I couldn't face. Brothers till the end.

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LATER THAT NIGHT JUST AFTER SUNSET

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Walking confidently into the council room I froze, my heart shattering within me, as I gazed around at all my round table members, Giaus, and Gwen yet failed to see one goofy young man sitting in his seat. Hoping he was just running late as usual i anxiously sat down casting worried glances at the double door entrance. Praying that he would come stumbling in with his usual excuses for being late. But when Rumplestilskin appeared in front of us I knew. Merlin wasn't coming. He had broken his promise. Turning away from the doors and pretending to be scanning the list of names I held in my hand I allowed a single tear to slip silently down my cheek, as my heart shattered into a million pieces.

"Are you ready sire? What is your guesses for tonight? Who am I?"

"Yes right um..." i started snapping back to the present and deciding to worry about Merlin latter.

"I fiqured since you said you could slip easily between the cracks with out being noticed that you can't be a nobel, so i am guessing you are a servant." Rumplestilskin instead of anwsering verbally, merely nodded agreeing with my deduction.

"Ok um are you George? No ok maybe morris. Alright not moris? Robert than? Not him ethier huh. I guess I'm back to square one than as that was the last servant i knew well enough that it could be." I sighed defeated throwing my list to the ground, and resting my head in my hands. After a few minutes of silence I felt a hand on my shoulder prompting me to look up. Where I am met by the hidden face of Rumplestilskin as he offered me some comfort.

"Arthur. I know you grieve for the assumed absence of merlin but..."

"Not assumed if its true. He isn't here is he. He abandoned me when I needed him most. How could he do this to me. He promised he would be here for me and yet..." i trailed off burying my face in my hands in an attempt to hide my tears.

"Princess i am sure merlin had a good reason for not being here." Gwain tried. Attempting to cheer me up.

"Yeah Sire. You mean the world to merlin. It would take hell freezing over to stop that boy from coming to your aid. Even than he would find a way." Leon offered helpfully.

"Maybe your right. But he still didn't come, and after he swore he would." I sighed, my heart clenching painfully within me.

"Not everything is as it seems Arthur. Maybe he is closer than you think. Well if you are out of names for tonight I will see you tomorrow. Your final night. All i can offer you Arthur is my plea to review everything I said carefully, as my identity is not as mysterious as you may believe. There is one person you have continually overlooked believing him to be too much of an idiot to possibly be me. Only when you realize who that is will this game finally be over and your life be spared. Be strong my friend and don't lose hope, until tomorrow." With that he vanished leaving me to ponder his words. Someone too stupid to be Rumplestilskin. The only one I could think of that matches that description is merlin, but there is no way its him. Shaking away the thought of my manservant possibly being a demon I instead focused on finding my friend and getting an explanation to why he broke his promise.