A/N: So this is something that came to me, let's see how this goes! Not going to spoil anything, but let's say that I'm really excited to write dark!Merlin. How he gets there, you'll have to find out! :) Mysticism aside, here's the beginning of the fic. Enjoy!

The world outside Arthur's chambers had been calling to Merlin since that morning, and he had finally found an excuse to leave his clotpole of a king, that he had served for the past ten years. The sky was filled with soft white clouds that had been smeared into the brilliant blue. The forest was very green at this time of year, but unfortunately, it was also very wet. Merlin's feet would squelch in the mud as he walked down from the walled city of Camelot out into the wooded domain. The leaves of the trees had a melodic drip going on, already starting to calm his undeniable anger.

Arthur is a prat. A complete and utter prat. The first instant he saw Merlin, he wouldn't hesitate to drown him in chores for the day. He wasn't being any more of a royal ass than he usually was, asking him to do this Merlin, do that Merlin. Merlin my clothes aren't clean. Merlin my boots need shining. Merlin my stables need mucking out. Merlin. Merlin. Merlin.

Well Merlin had enough for one day, the sound of the king's voice setting his teeth on edge more and more as time progressed. He had stalked off to the woods for a break and fresh air hoping to get over himself and calm his frazzled nerves. Hopefully he could get back to fulfilling his destiny without wanting to punch his practical other half in the face.

He went a little ways down the path, keeping the top of the castle in Camelot in sight, and came across a small clearing. Some afternoons he would venture there and sit, and would carefully practice magic. It was his safe place that no one knew about, not even Gaius. He would spin the world around him into a swirling array of leaves and wind and water making dragons and horses that would fly here and there. It would soothe him and make him smile again. There were times when he would come to the little meadow when he had lost someone. He came when Freya died. And when he lost his father. Of course, Arthur had told him that "no man was worth his tears" after the encounter. How did Arthur react when his father died?

Merlin sighed. Then he lifted his hands and water from a puddle lifted up in a fluid motion. It slowly transformed from a blob to a dragon. Merlin felt his harmless magic in the back of his eyes as the water dragon flew through the air, a few drops dripping from its wings back into the murky puddle. With his other hand, Merlin moved twigs and leaves through the air and made more dragons to follow it. They flew through the air and around Merlin, immersing him in magic and making him forget about any pain he had been through or any loss he had taken. Or any annoying, unappreciative kings. The simple and childish action that Merlin had spent a few minutes occupied in made him smile. He felt momentarily free. Not like he could be executed at any moment if he was discovered, or at the least, exiled.

All of his muscles tensed at once at the sound of a very human gasp. The back of his neck felt cold and every inch of him perked up at the feeling of being watched. The dragons instantly fell from the air as the magic faded from his eyes, that he now assumed had reverted from the magical golden color to his usual bright blue. Merlin turned, all of his muscles on fire and ready to attack, and looked straight into the betrayed blue eyes of Arthur Pendragon.

Both men were speechless. Arthur's emotions went through betrayal, hurt, and anger. He had originally trudged through the field to apologize to Merlin, picking up on his annoyed mood earlier. Merlin didn't get annoyed often, but it had been happening more and more lately as the two had been through a great deal together. Merlin's patience had just run thin and he was boring when he was upset. So a happy Merlin meant a happy Arthur. But he certainly never expected to catch Merlin-Merlin-committing an unlawful act while out of his sight. An act such as magic.

Merlin stood incredibly still. Nothing passed across his face as he stood frozen in fear. Arthur's mouth hung open, still in shock. All he could do was look down at his boots, as he bit back tears.

"Why?" Arthur choked out; it was all he could ask. None of his thoughts could form into words. His anger bubbled in the pit of his stomach and he could feel Merlin's betrayal in his chest. His eyes stung.

"Arthur-" Merlin started, but Arthur put a hand up and clenched it into a fist, not wanting to hear what Merlin had to say.

"You-You're a...sorcerer" Arthur said what he was with venom. Merlin noticed his unshed tears, prompting some of his own to burn in his eyes. He thought his friend would be more open minded and understanding... not betrayed. Arthur was disgusted with him.

Merlin tried to reason with him and calmly said, "I only use magic to help you, Arthur. I use it for you and Camelot. I would never turn against you."

"Help? What help have you done? Magic only destroys; it's pure evil!" Arthur yelled to him.

Merlin's blood boiled at the king's accusations. If it wasn't for Merlin, he would be dead by now. If Merlin had wanted him dead, he would be. If Merlin wanted to take Arthur's throne he would have it by now. He had no response for what his friend threw at him. He had never felt such anger towards him. His blood pounded in his ears.

Arthur continued, "You don't even have a good argument. Magic is pointless, Merlin!"

Merlin could bite back his anger no longer, "How dare you!" Arthur was taken aback by Merlin's anger, as he had never been the target of it before. "How dare you say it is pointless when it has been magic that has saved your life countless times!" As Merlin yelled at Arthur, he grew closer to him until he was close enough to hear the king's heavy breathing and feel it on his face. "You are not the only one who has lost, Arthur Pendragon, so do not assume you know everything about magic."

Arthur grew even angrier when Merlin became cross with him. He had no right to be angry when it was he who had been betrayed. He pushed his friend off of him a bit harder than he meant to, causing him to fall over and land on his back hard. Arthur didn't expect a retaliation from his servant, but his reflexes took over. Arthur looked down into golden eyes that sent him flying across the field, landing in a mud puddle. With the breath knocked out of him, he scrambled to stand up ready to fight Merlin if the need arose. Merlin stood up with less effort but was ready to do the same. Ready, but he didn't happy about it as he slowly lifted his hands in a defensive manner.

"Is this really how it's going to be, Merlin?"

"This is what you made it, Arthur," Merlin replied with as much venom as Arthur had put into his question. Both of them glared at each other, their friendship withering away by the second.

"I have no choice but to arrest you." Merlin looked horrified, as if all of his fears had come true, because frankly they had. Arthur hadn't trusted him when he found out his biggest secret. He had never felt worse. "Why did you hide it from me?"

"This is why, Arthur," Merlin responded in a low voice. "I was afraid that this would be your reaction. I was right to keep it from you."

Arthur unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Merlin. He flinched, but not out of fear of being struck. Before Arthur could react, Merlin's hand flew up at Arthur and he shouted, "Gehæftan", and his eyes turned brilliant gold. Roots sprung from the ground and wrapped around Arthur's legs, immobilizing him instantly. His sword remained in his hand, but he could hardly move it as the roots made their way to his arms. Arthur yelled out shocked at Merlin's attack, also surprised it wasn't more violent like his first reaction had been.

"I can't let you take me, Arthur," Merlin said grimly. "The spell will wear off eventually if no one finds you before then."

Arthur thrashed against the roots that bound him and then looked up at Merlin with a look of raw emotion in his eyes. Tears threatened to fall from his eyes, but Merlin could see him forcing himself not to cry. It physically hurt Merlin to leave him, but his friend hadn't reacted well to his having magic. He had no right to feel betrayed when Merlin had sacrificed so much for him. Merlin wished he could stay and talk some sense into him, but he didn't want to risk Arthur's wrath. He didn't want his friends to have to watch him be burned alive, not even Arthur. They had lost enough. He had lost enough.

"Goodbye, Arthur," his voice came out rough and hoarse. With that, he disappeared into the trees and vanished from Arthur's view. He looked back in the cover of the trees to see and hear Arthur scream at the sky. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Merlin ran back to Camelot so he could leave before Arthur broke free of his spell.