"You are a fool my dear brother, but you shall soon learn. Your friends have much to teach you, obstinate and stubborn as you ar. Perhaps it shall be a lesson well learnt" Morgana told him as he struggled against the ropes that bound him magically; they began to cut deeper as he struggled and he eventually gave in and settled for glaring at her.

"Our father was much the same wasn't he. Well, not our father, mine maybe. For however much he loved you, you were a child of magic, you bore his characteristics but you were not his. And yet he could not accept the magic in me. A pity really, I shall take to this new leadership like a druid to magic." She laughed as she waved her guards to take him away.

Arthur was surprised when he was returned to his chambers and not the dungeons, but upon trying to break through all the doors and windows he found them immovable. What seemed like hours later his door opened and joy spread through him as Merlin stumbled in as if he had been shoved, carrying a tray of food, and the door slammed behind him.

"Merlin!" He shouted jumping up and hugging the manservant to within an inch of his life. "I thought you were dead for sure when I saw you disappear down that corridor!"

Merlin was silent and limp in the hug and Arthur pulled back.

"What's wrong?" Arthur asked looking concerned at Merlin's downcast face.

"You'll hate me," Merlin mumbled.

"I down think I could," Arthur replied, tipping Merlin's chin up until he was looking at him again.

"You might want to sit down," Arthur led Merlin over to the bed and they both sat down.

"Okay, now tell me,"

Merlin too a deep breath in and then, "Ihavemagic, big magic, lots of magic, I'm Emrys, most powerful sorcerer ever, or else I was, but then Morgana figured it out, when she was with the druids or something but then she found a way to stop it, or contain it, I don't know, but I can't use it now and I've let you down because it was my destiny to protect you and Camelot and.." Merlin was surprised one breath lasted so long but he just couldn't stop and Arthur was there and listening. Just like a bandage, he told himself, just rip it all off at once

"Merlin." Merlin froze in his rambling and looked at Arthur. Like a deer in headlights Arthur thought, "Shut up."

"But you hate magic and now you'll hate me, and even if you don't hate me for my magic you'll hate me for not telling you, or now losing it because of Morgana's scheme,"

"Merlin," Arthur said slowly, "I don't hate you, and I don't think it's physically possible for me to hate you. You had good reason for not telling me." Merlin just sat there wide eyed and Arthur sighed. "Now if you're so powerful what did she do to restrain that, my father never found a way."

Merlin went red and stared at the floor again, arms hugging himself he looked so vulnerable Arthur felt like hugging him again. "Merlin?"

"She bound my magic to another life, one that she knows no one will kill because of me,"

"Who…" Arthur prompted.

"I'm pregnant,"