The Moment of Truth (Part 2)

(MERLIN'S POV)

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Arthur stared at me in a stunned silence. I could tell by his slack jaw, and widened eyes that he did not expect that. I knew he probably had a lot of questions. Namely why Will hates Arthur when it was Kanen who delt the killing blow. Not that I could tell him he hates Arthur because I have magic and Arthur burns people like me. So instead I said nothing. I know he will no doubt be furious for me running off before anwsering those questions but right now my friend needs me. So nodding once at my mother I fled the room. Leaving my camelot friends behind in stunned silence.

Following the trail left behind by my furious friend. I hurried to catch to him. The moment he was in view and saw me following he sped up. I grinned at his pitiful attempt to out run me. He should know by now he can't outrun me. Making sure no one was watching. I allowed my eyes to flash golden causing a yelp to slip from Wills lip as he suddenly found his shoe laces tied together. (Ignoring the fact that shoe laces aren't invented yet.) Sending him crashing to the ground. Laughing in triumph i pounce on him just as he had turned over, and prepared to get up. Sitting on his chest and pining him to the dirt. I grinned down at his scowling face. My eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Thats cheating." He grumbled folding his arms over his chest and turning his face away from me. Laughing and getting off of him I extended my hand to help him up.

"No thats called using my resources." I teased pulling him onto his feet.

"What do you want Merlin. Why are you and that idiot here." Will sighed glaring at me. Arms folded grumpily over his chest once more.

"Well we originally came because my moms birthday is coming up and the others wanted to come along. Though to tell you the truth I am pretty sure Arthur just wanted to escape the visting princess." I laughed remembering Arthur's terrified eyes as he hid behind a bush. Will merely rolled his eyes at this.

"Though now I am pretty sure Arthur and the others now want to remain long enough to get rid of Kanen." Will scoffed at that.

"And how is the prince going to do that. He he faced against a band of bandits, plus Kanen with nothing but a sword and 3 women." Will mocked ignoring my frown at him basically calling me useless.

"Don't give me that look. I know you aren't defenseless but how do you plan to help without revealing your magic. I am sure the prince would be thrilled to discover his maidservant possessed the thing he hates most. Maybe he will even let you build your own prye."

"Arthur's not like that. He wouldn't kill me if he knew." I weakly replied not quite believing my own words.

"Sure. Than let me ask you this. If he truly wouldn't kill you the first chance he got than why haven't you told him yet?" At that I found I had no anwser.

"I will tell you why its because deep down you know you can't trust him. If you could you would have told him ages ago." Will spat sending one last glare my way before walking away. Turning away from the retreating form of my friend. I quietly headed back to the others. A million thoughts running through my head. Was will right? Would Arthur burn me at the stake if he knew? Have I just been fooling myself?

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Later after I had returned from talking to Will. I had found Arthur and the others gone. My mom told me they had left to talk to the villagers. After tracking them to the village square I had watched in silence as Arthur convinced the people to fight for their homes and children. To not just take this lying down. It had taken much convincing and arguing with Morgana over training the women as well, but finally Arthur had succeeded.

Which brings me to now 2 days later. Leaning against a cottage watching as Arthur finished training both men, and women (Morgana wore Arthur down on women fighting. She is truly a force to be reckoned with.) In the art of self defense before the battle. Will of course had put up a fuss and argued that they weren't going to win but he was ignored. So instead he retreated to his home to sulk. They had also already moved the children and those men and women who did not want to fight into the forest to hide. Seeing as Kanen could arrive at any moment.

"Alright good job. Go and rest up for now and prepare for battle. Kanen could arrive at any moment, and remember you can win." Arthur called tareing me from my thoughts as he tiredly approached me. Straightening I greeted the prince as he stopped in front of me a serious look on his face.

"You know there is still time to join the others in the forest." I snorted at that making it perfectly clear what I thought of that idea.

"Arthur like Morgana and I told you before we aren't going anywhere. You may have convinced Gwen to stay with the children, but if you think Morgana or I will just sit back and watch you fight you have another thing coming." He sighed nodding as if he knew my anwser before I said it. He probably did though.

"Yeah I know but I thought I would try anyway. Where is Morgana anyway." He asked looking around.

"She is with one of the other females borrowing some pants for the battle. Can't very well fight in a dress." I stated waving to my own brown shirt and black pants. My curly hair pinned into a messy bun. Nodding he turned to head back to my cottage. Biting my lip, and taking a huge leap of faith, I prayed Arthur truly was as trust worthy as I thought he was as I did something stupid.

"Arthur." He paused looking over his shoulder a question in his eyes.

"There is something I need to tell you, but before I do promise me you won't think to badly of me when I do." He frowned at this turning fully around to face me. Walking over to my shaking body he placed gentle hands on my shoulders. Soft blue eyes staring into mine.

"What is it Merlin. What has you so worried?" He softly asked. Worrying my lip I shook my head.

"No promise first that you won't hate me once I tell you this." His frown deepened at this but he nodded.

"I promise. Now what is wrong?"

"I..."

"HE'S HERE! KANENS HERE!!!" A villager shouted dragging Arthurs attention away from me. Momentarilly forgetting about me Arthur raced toward the shouts hand falling to grip his sword. Sighing in esasperation I followed. I just hope he isn't to shocked after my reveal later.

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"Who did that! Who created that whirl wind!?" Arthur demanded striding angrily toward Will and I. The battle though long had finally ended. Will had appeared some time during the battle and had started cutting down bandits appologizing to me. When the bandits started surrounding us I knew I had no choice. So with will by my side I conjured a massive dust storm to take down the rest of the bandits. Ending the battle once and for all. Only problem is Arthur had seen. Though he didn't yet know which one of us conjured it.

Stoppimg in front of us. A scowl on his face. He crossed his arms angrilly over his chest as he waited for an anwser.

"Well I asked you a question. Who used magic." He demanded eyes flicking between Will and I.

"Arthur I..."

"LOOK OUT!!" Will shouted cutting me off and pushing Arthur out of the way of an arrow aimed at his back. I screamed i horror as the arrow instead lodged itself in Wills chest. Arthur spinning around drove his sword through the man who shot the arrow before returning to Will and I. Crouching down beside me. Arthur stared at Will in awe.

"You saved me?" Arthur said more a question than statement.

"Y...yeah I don't k...know what I w...was thinking. Thats t...twice I have saved you n...now." will stammered blooding leaking from the sides of his mouth as he coughed.

"Twice?" Arthur asked confused. I felt dread pooling in my stomach as I realized what he was about to do.

"Will no."

"Its ok Merlin. It was me. I c...conjured the dust s....storm." He coughed weakly eyes already beginning to flutter shut.

"Wha u do? Kill m...me?" He slurred no longer able to form complete sentences.

"No. Do what you can for him." Arthur sighed briefly looking to me before standing up and walking away.

"Will why did you do that." I cried tears leaking from my eyes. Instead of anwsering he merely smiled raising a shaking hand to my cheek.

"I l....love you M...Merlin." He whispered eyes falling shut and arm falling limply from my cheek to the ground. His chest moving one last time in his final breath before falling still.

"Will? Will? WILLL!!!!"

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"I assume thats what you were going to tell me earlier?" I ignored him. Choosing not to reply as I tearfully watched the flames consuming my deceased friends body.

"I understand now why you made me promise not to think differently of you. Though I wouldn't have treated you differently for your friends crimes." My eye twitched slightly as I attempted to contain my anger at his light use of crimes.

"But Merlin you should have told me. Sorcerers are not to be trusted. He may have been fine now, but it was only a matter of time before the magic corr...." He sqwaked surprised as I landed a solid punch on his nose. Hiding my golden eyes beneath my hair as I ensured it broke beneath my fist. He stared up at me from the ground in surprise as he brought a hand to his bleeding nose.

"You have no right. No right to talk about Will that way. Especially after he just saved your life. You didn't know him like I did. He may have been rough around the edges, and a bit grumpy. Yet he was still my friend, and I... I loved him. You have no right to descrate his memory with your prejudice. No right, oh and news flash prat. We aren't in camelot. Magic isn't out lawed here. I only to tell you earlier because I believed you to be a better man than your father. I respected you enough to give you a heads up. Obviously I was wrong. You are just as bad as Uther. You know what. I can't deal with you right now. Just take the others and leave. I will return to Camelot in a few days. Right now I need time to grieve and I can't do that if I keep wanting to punch your face in every time your mouth opens." I spat turning away and beginning to walk away.

Arthur jumping to his feet reaches out to grab my arm but I yank it away. Hissing like a cat at him. If I had claws they would be out and scratching. Arthur seeing this backed up. Holding his hands up in palacation. Huffing and sending one last glare his way I turned and headed home. Where my mom promptly wrapped me in a hug as I sobbed my eyes out not just for my lost friend, but for how wrong I was about Arthur. Will was right. Arthur really would light my prye if he knew.