Ok, here's the final part of the story!

I hope all of you wonderful reviewers will like the ending!

***

Merlin cast his eyes down, swallowing. After a while he murmured "I'm sorry. You were not supposed to discover it this way".

Arthur snorted. "Well, I guess I was never supposed to discover it, wasn't I?".

"No, it's not like this! Of course I would have told you! Just...not now".

"Why not? Why the hell not, Merlin, what were you waiting for? Am I not trustworthy enough?". Arthur's voice and words were harsh, but Merlin could tell there was hurt hidden behind.

"How can you think so, Arthur? You know I trust you with my life" said Merlin quietly.

Arthur gave a short mirthless laugh. He stood, and started pacing. Deep down he knew that Merlin was right, he knew he trusted him...hell, the boy had even showed him his deepest fears and his reasons concerning that whole situation a few minutes before. Still...those visions were not enough. Arthur was a down-to-earth kind of man, he needed tangible proofs, he wanted to hear explanations directly from Merlin's voice.

"I find it hard to believe. If you had trusted me so much, you would have told me. And anyway, this is not just a matter of trust: do you know that from now on you are to be considered a traitor? How could you be so stupid, staying in Camelot and risking your life everyday?".

Merlin shook his head. "I have been using my powers for good deeds...and for polishing your armour too". He smiled a little, then turned serious again. "There's no reason to fear me. I can explain why I chose to stay here and why I've been keeping my secret from you. I can show you".

"No! You have already showed me, and it's not enough!".

Merlin arched his eyebrow. "I...I already what??".

"When you were unconscious you took my hands and I could see...things. The times you saved me and...other things. Now I want to hear your voice, so start explaining!" Arthur ordered.

Merlin stood up as well. He leaned against the tree, sighing, and started talking.

"My mother sent me to Camelot hoping that I could find a purpose to my powers. My first days here were...very hard. I felt like the laws against magic were tearing me apart. What am I without my magic? Probably just...an idiot. What would you be without an arm, or a leg? You wouldn't be able to fight, so you wouldn't be yourself anymore. Then...someone told me something that changed my life forever. I was given the purpose I had failed to find by myself". Merlin paused.

"And? What was this purpose? And who told you?" Arthur plied him.

Merlin eyed him hesitantly. "Do you know that twenty years ago your father imprisoned the last of the dragons in a cave under the castle?".

Arthur's eyes widened. "Yes...nobody's allowed to see it. Is...is it true then? It's not a story created to lend grandeur to my father's deeds?". He was so shocked that the words slipped out, uncontrolled. He covered his mouth with his hand, deeply ashamed for his lack of faith in his father.

Merlin said softly "It's all right Arthur. Your father devoted himself to wipe away every trace of magic in this country, it's perfectly legitimate to doubt the existence of a dragon under the castle."

"Whatever...go on, Merlin" replied the prince, his brow still furrowed although he was slightly softened.

"Er...the dragon called my name, I could hear it in my head, so I found my way to the cave, and I...spoke to him. He said...he said that my destiny was to protect you, that our lives were entwined. I protested, of course, how could I be linked to a prat the likes of you – Arthur glared at him – but then I saved you from the witch's knife, I was made your servant and things...improved. Slowly. Sort of." Merlin concluded with a smile.

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "So you chose to stay here because a dragon told you I needed your protection?".

"Well...yes – partly. You know full well that I never flatter you without a reason, as most servants do. If I stayed...it was because I've grown to respect you, and admire you, and care about you. You're a friend" Merlin answered simply.

Arthur felt his cheeks growing hot, so he turned his back to Merlin. "You're a friend too". He cleared his throat. "But this doesn't explain why you hid your powers from me" he insisted.

"You said it yourself! My nature goes against the laws on which Uther has built his rule: if you had known, you would have had to choose between me and your father, and it's pretty hard to protect someone when you're dead, you know".

Arthur turned abruptly, and snapped "So you are convinced that I would have ordered your execution had I known your true nature! Why is it so hard for you to believe that I would have given you an opportunity?". The prince's shoulders were shaking with rage.

Merlin smiled sadly. "Just think about it, Arthur. You arrested Gwen once, just because her father had healed from the plague. If a perfect stranger had come to you saying he had magic, what would have you done?"

Arthur stilled, his previous rage fading quickly, deep in thought. Finally he said quietly: "I understand. I won't say you don't have a point". He fell silent, though for a moment Merlin had the impression he wanted to add something.

"Arthur?" he called after a while. He walked forward, hesitantly lifted his arm and put his hand on the prince's shoulder. The warlock felt it tense, then Arthur sighed and relaxed in the warm touch, lifting his face and meeting Merlin's deep blue eyes.

"What, now?" Arthur asked softly. Two simple words. That felt heavier than Earth itself.

Merlin swallowed. "Now you have to make a choice. I...I won't ask you to lie to your father for me but...I'm asking you to lie for your sake. Please. You seem to attract every possible magical danger, and I can't bear the thought that, should your father find out about me, I'd be forced to leave you without protection. Not that..." Merlin stopped mid-sentence, blushing, and turned abruptly from Arthur.

Intrigued, the prince said "Go on, Merlin...not that what?".

"N-nothing..." Merlin hoped against all hopes that the prince would forget it. Arthur walked round his manservant, stopping right in front of him. "Merlin. Tell me" he ordered sternly.

Merlin sighed, defeated. "Not that..." he resumed, his heart pounding noisily, his voice so low Arthur had to strain his ears "...not that I could bear to leave you in any other circumstance". Merlin's cheeks turned an even deeper shade of crimson.

Arthur raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth to speak, but the other boy started ranting, gesticulating wildly: "I mean, I can't possibly condemn anyone with the burden of being your servant, I mean, what if your father chooses someone who always says 'yes sire' to you, I mean, it would be terrible, you'd soon reach unthinkable levels of prattishness – and that's saying something – and all my efforts to keep your head down would be wasted, and that's a shame because because because I'm really making a fool of myself right now, aren't I?".

Head cocked aside, Arthur curtly answered "Yes, you are". Then he took Merlin by his forearms, drawing closer until their brows touched and their lips almost brushed.

"I'm not going to tell my father, and I'm not doing this for my sake" he breathed.

Merlin swallowed, the intensity of the moment, the intensity of Arthur's gaze and words overpowering him.

The prince went on: "Now that I fully know you, now...now I promise you, Merlin: one day, when it'll be just the two of us...one day I'll make sure you won't have to hide the real you from any living soul in my kingdom".

Merlin's eyes widened and flashed gold, and he put Arthur in a tight embrace. Arthur hugged him back, the fondness he genuinely felt for the boy filling him completely. Then Merlin gently pulled away and chastely kissed him on the lips, sealing his promise. Arthur tried to suppress the grin that was already forming on his face, but failed, his happiness showing off on his features and matching Merlin's.

Then they felt it. A cool breeze started to blow around the two of them: their hair moved slightly, their clothes clutched a bit more tightly around their bodies. Arthur looked around and gasped: several strings of red and golden light were whirling round their heads, intertwining and glowing more and more brightly.

"Are you doing this?" asked Arthur, smirking.

"Er...no? I really don't know what's happening...do you?" said Merlin, dumbfounded.

"Hm. No, not really. Our know-it-all lady probably does, though" answered Arthur smugly.

"What??" Merlin's eyes were wider than ever.

The prince chuckled, silently watching along with Merlin the bright strings encircling their bodies, landing on their joined hands and then disappearing within their skin. Merlin, totally fascinated, wondered about the meaning of that phenomenon, planning to look it up in his magic book.

"Come on now" Arthur's voice broke the silence. "We should go back to the castle, I'm definitely done with this forest".

The warlock snapped out of his musings, smiled to Arthur and started walking.

"And...Merlin?" the prince's voice called him from behind. He hadn't moved.

Merlin turned and eyed him. "Yes?".

Arthur looked very serious. He stepped in front of him, lifted his arm and brushed his index along Merlin's jawline. "One day...one day, Merlin..." he trailed off.

Merlin's hand reached up, gently grabbed Arthur's and squeezed it tightly.

"One day" he said, his voice full of promises.

THE END

***

So, what do you think? I hope I didn't make the last scenes too sappy, I really tried to keep the boys in character!

Please, let me know your impressions!

Till next story!

Xx