Hiya! Just want to say if anyone is reading my other story 'Secrets to be kept', I've not given up on it. I'm just having a break. While I do I'm writing this :) It's very much a bromance story between Merlin and Arthur, and some of the other knights. Constructive criticism would be very useful. Read and hopefully enjoy :)

Arthur had known about Merlin's magic for a few months, after he had used magic to save his life. Needless to say he hadn't been expecting it. Arthur almost had him arrested when he found out, it was Gwen that had convinced him not to. They argued for days about it. Merlin trying to get him to see why magic wasn't evil. It wasn't really the magic that had made him so angry though, as he was beginning to see magic as a force for good anyway, it was the lies.

Arthur had only really forgiven Merlin when he asked Arthur if he wanted him to leave, for it made Arthur really think about what Camelot would be like without Merlin. He realised he didn't know what he would do without his friend. Who, even after finding out he was a warlock, he still trusted. Arthur knew Merlin would never intentionally hurt any of them, which is why he hadn't banished him straight away. Arthur even began to feel guilty for making Merlin feel like he had to go. As it wasn't because he didn't have any friends left there. Because apart from Leon, all the knights had forgiven him almost as soon as they found out. Even Leon, who had been loyal to Uther, came around eventually

Arthur couldn't say it happened straight away, but over time he had come to accept Merlin's magic. Which meant he had to think of the laws of Camelot. He agreed to go with Merlin to see the druids and talk about a treaty between them, to start the slow return of magic to Camelot. Until the laws were lifted though, they decided it would be better if Merlin stayed as Arthur's servant.

Merlin could honestly say he had never felt so good. He didn't have to hide any more, and could actually be himself around his friends.

Merlin had told Arthur everything about his magic, or so Arthur thought. Somehow Merlin couldn't bring himself to tell Arthur about Freya or Balinor. Or any of the other times Arthur had hurt him. He knew that Arthur already felt guilty for what his father had done, he couldn't tell him and thought he never would.

Until a few months after. Arthur decided to go on a hunting trip. Just taking with him the knights of the round table, and Merlin. Though that went without saying. They rode through the forest, the sun seeping through the leaves in the trees above.

"It's not fair though. How come you can destroy an entire army, and I can't even start a fire." Gwaine complained to the warlock.

"What are you talking about?" Arthur asked curiously, having been talking Leon.

"Gwaine decided yesterday he wanted to become a sorcerer and now he's giving up because after half an hour of practise he can't do any spells" Merlin said smiling.

"You couldn't expect to be able to do any magic after half an hour." Elyion said.

"It takes years of practise doesn't it." Percival said.

"Merlin doesn't need to practice." Gwaine moaned.

"But I'm not a sorcerer am I?" Merlin said.

"You should probably go on with what you do best, Gwaine." Leon said.

"What? Drinking?"

"I was going to say protecting the King and Camelot, but that works too." Leon said smiling. Merlin laughed along with the others until something made him stop. He could feel magic was near, evil magic. It was powerful too, which made him think of Morgana. It made the magic inside begin to rise to the surface, incase he needed to use it.

"Stop." Merlin said, and everyone became still taking in his nervous tone. He looked through the trees trying to see her. Hoping against hope that his feeling was wrong. He saw what could have been a shadow coming through the trees, but as she came into the clearing Merlin saw it was Morgana. Just as he feared.

"What is it?" Arthur asked. He followed Merlin's eyes to Morgana, and gave a sharp intake of breath. He gave his knights a warning look. They had all agreed a long time ago that they wouldn't tell Morgana about Merlin being Emrys, and Arthur wanted to make sure they remembered it. He only managed to catch Gwaine eye though and he gave a slight nod. All the others were keeping their eyes firmly on Morgana.

"It has been too long dear brother." Morgana said with a smirk. They all got off their horses, the knights grabbing their swords and pointing them at Morgana menacingly. She didn't so much as blink at them. Her eyes were on Arthur.

"Morgana." Arthur said darkly.

"What do you want witch?" Gwaine demanded.

"Only what is rightfully mine. The throne of Camelot." Morgana said.

"You've already tried to take it and have failed." Arthur said. "You may be powerful Morgana but you are nothing compared to the might of Camelot." Morgana eyes became dark with fury. She seemed to be fighting to keep herself from screaming at him.

"That may be." Morgana said angrily. "You're right, I may have been going about this the wrong way."

"What do you mean?" Arthur asked. It wasn't like Morgana to admit weakness, even back when they were friends.

"I've only been attacking Camelot with powerful allies and armies. I can see now. If I want to destroy Camelot, I only have to destroy you." Morgana said evilly. Merlin knew this would happen. That she'd try to harm Arthur in some way, he started to silently cast a protective charm over Arthur. So that he would be protected from Morgana's magic. He began to feel light headed, it was a powerful spell and weakened him. Hopefully he wouldn't have to use any magic though. He didn't want Morgana to know who he was.

"We won't let you harm the King." Elyion threatened.

"Do you really think you can stop me with swords?" Morgana asked, giving a high pitched hysterical laugh. "When did I say anything about wanting to hurt him anyway?"

"What?" Arthur asked in confusion.

"I said, I wanted to destroy you. I don't need to harm you for that. I can destroy you with regret and guilt instead." Morgana taunted. "Even if I did want to kill you I couldn't."

"Starting to doubt your ability?" Arthur asked, trying to hide his worry that Morgana might suspect a sorcerer was protecting him. Or worse that it was Merlin.

"No, you know why I couldn't. For a while now I have tried to find out the identity of Emrys." The knights and Arthur held they're breath, Morgana saw them become tense. She smirked at the sight of it. "I know that you've heard of him. The sorcerer that is said to be protecting Camelot. Well, I went to see the druids a few weeks ago. They took a bit of persuasion, but people give in so easily when the people they care about are threatened. Eventually they told me everything I needed to know about Emrys. They even gave me his actual name. Merlin" A kind of stillness set in around them, before Arthur broke it.

"You can't really believe Merlin's a sorcerer." Arthur began feebly.

"Don't try and lie to me." Morgana said sharply. "You know, you all do. The druids were kind enough to tell me about your treaty, and your plan to return magic to Camelot."

"Isn't that what you wanted Morgana? A Camelot where magic if free?" Arthur demanded.

"It does not make up for your sins. "Morgana screeched. "You don't know what you have done, to your supposed friends and your Kingdom. You will see! And you will pay Arthur Pendragon!"

"How? After all you have already said that you cannot harm Arthur while I am here." Merlin said coming forward to stand beside him. Arthur seemed uncomfortable having Merlin face Morgana, the same thoughts seemed to be going through Gwaine's head. "I am far more powerful than you."

"He speaks." Morgana said. "Even after the druids told me I didn't believe it was you, but it began to make sense after a while though. You were always getting in the way."

"You have not idea how many times I have stopped you Morgana and I will again. Whatever you are planning, I will stop you.." Merlin said powerfully.

"Not this time Emrys" Morgana said knowingly. "I know of your power, and I was thinking of what I could do with all that power. Camelot would only be the start."

"Merlin would never help you." Gwaine said.

"Who says he'll have a choice?" Morgana asked evilly. "I want Merlin's power, and I want to see my brother destroyed. I can't think of anything that would destroy Arthur more than his best friend turning against him."

"What are you planning Morgana?" Arthur demanded, glaring daggers at her. She ignored Arthur completely.

"Have you ever heard of the darkness Merlin. A spell that over time destroys all the goodness in a person, leaving only hatred. No one can fight it. Not even the all powerful Emrys. I think when you feel all that hatred you'll be less opposed to joining me." Morgana taunted.

"It's Merlin your after." Gwaine said. Arthur immediately pushed Merlin behind him, and the knights stepped closer to him protectively. Fury burning in their eyes at the thought of her hurting their friend.

"Don't you dare Morgana." Arthur said angrily.

"No one has enough power for that spell" Merlin said shouted past them. "Not even me."

"It's good that my brother has made so many enemies with magic then, I told them the magic would be used to destroy the King. And in a way I was telling the truth." Morgana smirked. "Goodbye Merlin."

She started muttering an enchantment under her breath, and her eyes became black. A kind of black smoke leaving them and making it's way towards Merlin. He tried to make a shield, but he was still weak from the powerful protective charm that he put over Arthur. The most he managed was a shimmering purple mist which would be enough to stop minor spells. It passed through it though, and then went straight through Arthur and the knights. Before disappearing into Merlin's eyes.

Arthur and Gwaine dropped to his side. The rest of the knights went towards Morgana, holding their swords tighter. Morgana weakened by the powerful enchantment staggered back slightly. Arthur looked at his friend worriedly. Merlin's eyes were tight shut, and his breathing was more like gasping. Arthur's heat began to beat faster, as he grabbed his shoulder shaking him.

"Merlin?" Arthur said desperately. "Merlin? Wake up!"

"Merlin?" Gwaine said, before hearing that hysterical laugh again and feeling his blood boil. "I'm going to kill you!" Gwaine yelled at Morgana. She just smirked at him. She used the last of her strength to mutter a spell and a blinding red light burst around her, and she was gone. Gwaine swore violently under his breath. With Morgana gone the rest of the knights went to Merlin's side.

"Merlin! You better wake up now or I will make you polish all the armour there is in Camelot." Arthur said, you could hear form his tone how terrified he was. Merlin eyes suddenly snapped open and, upon seeing them, pushed himself up and staggered back wards away from them.

"Merlin?" Arthur said warily.

"Arthur Pendragon." Merlin said, with a smug smile on his face. It wasn't Merlin though. Anyone close to him would have known. There was an overconfidence in his voice that wasn't like Merlin, it was more like Morgana. The usual light behind his eyes was gone. Now there was only darkness.

We have evil Merlin now then. In the next chapter he's going to be making Arthur feel guilty, I don't know if I'm going to make there a way to change him back though. What would happen if Arthur was forced to choose between killing his best friend and saving Camelot? Anyway review please with any ideas :)