Yeah, only my second fic, how interesting. It's a little bit crap, but hey, figured it's got correct grammar and spelling (hopefully) so it's definitely an improvement on many Merlin fics here! There'll be two chapters, almost finished the second, and please yell at me if I take too long in posting it. Enough babbling.

Merlin was standing in the doorway of Arthur's chambers, fidgeting nervously. The king hadn't noticed him yet; his back to the door, looking over reports on the outlying lands. Merlin stood there silently, courage dwindling every second he looked on his friend's back. He's too stressed, there's too much going on, I can't burden him with this now, it's too soon after the coronation, Merlin thought desperately. Truth was, he'd been telling himself this for the past two months. They had been true in the beginning, but their strength had been dwindling. There were no more excuses.

Merlin cleared his throat softly. Arthur turned, eyebrow raised in question at the quiet figure in his doorway. Merlin's conviction failed.

"Merlin? Anything wrong?" Arthur asked after a couple of seconds of Merlin opening and closing his mouth like a stuck fish.

Can't back out now, Merlin's merciless conscience whispered.

"Um, Arthur, I was wondering if you'd be able to call a meeting of the Round Table?" Merlin forced past dry lips.

"Of course, you idiot, but why?" Arthur flashed a grin at his clumsy manservant, still absentmindedly going over the reports.

"I have something to discuss with you. It's, uh-it's important." Merlin said softly, his stomach a pool of dread.

Arthur finally caught on to his serious tone, and gave Merlin a long, searching glance. "All right. When would you like this meeting to be?" He asked, devoting his full attention to his old friend.

"As soon as possible." Merlin was fiddling with the cuffs of his shirt, a sure sign of distress. "Also, could there be no guards present? I wish this to remain private."

Arthur's curiosity was peaked, both by the unusual request and by Merlin's formal, quiet language. He nodded his consent, and added "I'll send a messenger to the others to meet at half-one, is that acceptable?" Merlin nodded distractedly, too nervous to notice the change in Arthur's voice as he matched Merlin's formality.

"Thank you, sire." Arthur looked sharply at Merlin, gone from curious to concerned. "Is anything wrong, Merlin?" he enquired.

Merlin just met his gaze sadly, and left.

Again, Merlin was fidgeting, only this time it was in front of the curious stares of whole of the Round Table. They'd been sitting there for five minutes, watching Merlin repeatedly draw in a breath to say something and then chicken out. Eventually, Gwaine drawled, "Well, Merlin? You've got us all here with our curiosity devouring our insides, so spit it out before I leave, because I've discovered a newly opened tavern with a very pretty barmaid I want to acquaint myself with."

Lancelot frowned at his lack of tact and reproved him. "He can tell us in his own time, Gwaine, don't hurry him."

Merlin exhaled, letting his breath out in a long sigh, and finally spoke.

"No, it's alright. I've... I've brought you all here to tell you something, a secret that I've had for... for all my life, actually," he said, glancing worriedly at Arthur.

Lancelot hissed a breath through his teeth as he realized what Merlin was about to announce. The warlock shot the knight a warning glance, and opened his mouth to speak again.

"This, ah, this secret, it's... very important. And I don't think all of you will... will like it." Another glance at the king.

"Well, as long as you're not an all-powerful sorcerer out to kill us, I think most of us will be good with it," Arthur joked, in an attempt to lighten the sombre mood. Merlin flinched and shot a terrified glance at Arthur, and the king's smile faltered.

"Merlin?" Arthur softly questioned.

"It...it'd be better if I showed you, rather than told you." Merlin said in a very, very small voice, shrinking in his chair.

Arthur, dread settling in his stomach, nodded his acquiescence.

Merlin straightened, and without meeting any of their eyes gently cupped his hands and hunched over them, gazing down into them with fierce intensity, blocking the others' view.

His eyed flashed gold, and he brought his hands up to his face, gently cradling whatever it was in his hands. Then, raising them before his lips, he gently blew on his hands as he opened them, releasing a small stream of tiny golden sparks as one would release a captured bird.

The sparks seemed to multiply and merge with the sunbeams. There was a pause as the sparks settled and hung in the golden light.

Then...

The sunbeams streaming through the windows twitched, and began to dance. The captured light twisted and flowed around the table, streaming and winding in unintelligible patterns; there one minute and gone the next. In amongst the swirls of light and sparks, wispy figures could be spied; a galloping horse was glimpsed before it faded and stretched into an eagle that soared over Gwaine's head, dissipating as he reached a hand out to catch it. A darting hare, a lean wolfhound, a delicate cat, a majestic bear, a twisting eel, they all danced and played and wound themselves in and around the figures spellbound at the table. The sunlight danced, the dust motes and sparks floating and wafting with them, illuminating the entire room. The light swirled and danced before their eyes, creatures of all kinds there and gone in instants, the patterns and shapes forming a beautiful, haunting dance of light and magic. Merlin sat there, eyes glowing gold and an expression of pure joy as he sculpted the light into an artwork of beauty.

He whispered another word, and the light slowed, flowing back and dissipating into its proper place, the sparks that brought the light to life drawn back into the warlock and extinguished, magic gone from the air.

They sat, stunned, and Merlin saw tears in the eyes of several. He glanced back down at the table, shrinking again into himself as the euphoria of the magic faded. He waited for one of them to say something.

"Merlin... that was beautiful." breathed Gwen, breaking the silence. He looked to her, and saw her eyes full of tears and joy, as well as acceptance. He said a silent thank you to his friend.

Merlin cautiously shifted his gaze to the others on either side of her: Gwaine raised his eyebrow and smirked, Elyan shrugged and gave him a half-hearted smile after glancing at Gwen, Lancelot simply nodded, Percival stared impassively, Gaius sighed and shook his head, and Leon looked worriedly to the figure next to Merlin, chewing his lip, uncertain. Merlin understood; Leon's loyalty lay with Arthur.

The only person left. Arthur. His friend. Or maybe not, any more. Merlin's heart quailed as he thought of all the reactions the king could have. Slowly, so slowly, he raised his eyes to Arthur's face, dreading what he would see.

Arthur was staring straight forward into space, sitting ramrod straight, hands clenched into fists, resting on the table. Merlin could see his profile, and he saw his jaw working, his whole face etched into a rigid mask of control. He was holding himself back.

"Come. With. Me." the king forced through clenched teeth. He abruptly stood, still staring into space as he tried to settle his anger.

"Arthur, wai-" Lancelot began, but stopped at Merlin's quiet "no".

Lancelot looked at his friend in distress, and opened his mouth to speak, but closed it when Merlin shook his head.

Merlin pushed himself away from the table and his friends, and as soon as he straightened, Arthur immediately turned and strode to the door, not looking back.

Merlin offered a weak grimace that was intended as a smile to the others still sitting before slowly following his king to the door.