Merlin hears the door to his cell open behind but he doesn't turn around. Merlin had been accused of using magic for the hundredth time and spent three days in the cell. Or so people think that he stayed there for the full three days, but Merlin escaped for a few hours a day to clear his name. Gaius had found the person that really used magic, in reality he pointed out Merlin's old self, and the sorcerer fled. Now here Merlin was. Tired, relieved, and most of all angry.

Merlin had been thrown in the cells many times. One for trying to hit Arthur, once Aredian had tried to throw him in the cells and almost succeeded, another time Guinevere had framed him because she was being controlled by Morgana. But this was the last time Merlin would stand to be treated like a prisoner.

"Merlin." Arthur says his name to get his attention when Merlin doesn't face him. Merlin turned and walked out of his cell without so much as looking in Arthur's direction.

"Merlin." Arthur called after him. Merlin still doesn't look at him.

"Merlin."

"Merlin."

"Merlin!" Arthur grabbed Merlin's arm after three times of just saying his name.

Merlin turned around willingly but did not look Arthur in the eye. Instead Merlin was looking at Arthur's red tunic. Arthur grabbed Merlin's head to try to get Merlin to look at him. Merlin struggled but eventually gave up and was looking at Arthur.

"What is wrong with you?" Arthur asks.

"Just because I'm not constantly basking in your glory that means something is wrong with me?" Merlin asked with his rage in his voice.

Arthur lightly hit the top of Merlin's head. "You will not speak to me like that ever again. Understand?"

Merlin's breathing sped up from his anger. "How many times have I saved your life?"

"Three times." Arthur said.

You have no idea how wrong you are, Merlin thought to himself. "How many times have I saved your father's life?"

"Once."

Again, you have no idea how wrong you are, Merlin thought. "How many times have a proven my loyalty to you, your father, Camelot, and… the war against magic?"

Merlin could barely get the last part out because of how much it hurt him. Arthur looked at the ground. "You have proven your loyalty more times than I can remember."

"Yeah." Merlin said. "So explain to me why you and your father and anyone would believe that I would try to use magic to hurt Camelot. I could easily poison you, which would hurt Camelot, but I don't. But I still get thrown in the dungeons every time there is a possible sorcerer."

"Not every time. Gwen was once." Arthur argued then folded his arms. "I apologize for everything that you have been wrongly accused of. But what's your reason for asking these pointless questions? Why bring this up now?"

Merlin waited for a second trying to think of something to say. He realized why he wanted to say all this when he remembered the day he first arrived in Camelot. Merlin sighed, "This will be the last time this happens Arthur. I'm leaving Camelot. Tonight."

Merlin turned around and walked away from Arthur. A second later Arthur called after him, "You can't just leave. What about Gaius? What about Guinevere? What about the Gwaine? What about me?"

Merlin didn't answer, he just kept on walking until he was out of the dungeons. During the entire walk he realized how long he has been wanting to leave Camelot. So, despite Arthur's yelling, Merlin didn't look back once.

Merlin packed all of his clothes into a bag to leave in an hour or two. Gaius stood at his door, staring at him without saying a word. Merlin put his last shirt in the bag and turned to Gaius. For the first time since meeting Gaius, Merlin was completely angry with him.

"What are you waiting for?!" Merlin shouted. Gaius didn't not even flinch or look hurt. He just continued to stare, which just made Merlin angrier. "Are you going to tell me how I'm stupid for leaving when my destiny says that I need to stay? Are you going to tell me of a place to stay instead of Ealdor? Are you going to tell me that it's a mistake that I have magic? What are you waiting for?"

Gaius did not look offended at all, but he did walk up to Merlin and hugged him. When he parted he said, "Be careful Merlin."

"I'm just going back to Ealdor." Merlin says in a calm voice.

"Don't go back to Ealdor." Gaius says. "This is your time to explore the world. Go to places that will let you use magic freely, get another job, find someone to share your life with. Just don't waste the time you have constantly in one place. I have already made that mistake and I can never leave Camelot until the day I die. Not that I'm not complaining."

Gaius walked out of Merlin's room and started work on a medicine of some kind. Merlin was only able to stand there and think on the words that Gaius had just said. Merlin decided that Gaius was right and packed the rest of his belongings and magically created a map off all the villages and towns in all of the kingdoms. Merlin decided that he would stay at a village in Anis' kingdom. He put his pack over his shoulder and walked out of his room, out of Gaius chambers and into the streets of Camelot for what might be the last time.

Arthur watched from a balcony as Merlin walked towards the gates of Camelot. Arthur sighed from the pain of losing a close friend. He felt a hand be placed on his shoulder and turned to see Guinevere, smiling at him.

"I know watching Merlin go is hard Arthur. But I get the feeling that we will see him again someday."

Arthur smiled back. "I get the feeling that you are right."

Arthur grabbed her hand and pulled her to stand next to him, overlooking the kingdom. Merlin was the main thing that they both focused on from the view. Arthur sighed again, but still managed to smile.