Author's Note:

You may notice that this is following a similar story-line to the series. It will feature some things that mimic the series, however, I have changed things too. Some fates will be the same, but I am attempting to show a difference of if Arthur was to know of Merlin's magic and of course if Merlin and Arthur were some-what secret lovers.

xxxxx

The three of them arrived in the cave where the druids dwelled. Arthur, being as alert and yet unknowing as he always was, started yelling about how they better show themselves. He was waving his sword and looking around. Merlin wanted to act before Arthur had a chance to. He was afraid that something may be revealed to Gwaine that he wasn't sure should be quite yet, if ever. "Gwaine, would you please guard the entrance? You'll know if we need assistance." Merlin asked.

Gwaine nodded, eyeing his surroundings as he headed back.

"Arthur I need you to calm down." Merlin said, taking him by his arm. "Please. We want them to know that we mean no harm."

"But we demand the Cup of Life!" Arthur exclaimed. His words echoed throughout the cave.

Out from seemingly nowhere, hooded men and women emerged. One man, the druid chieftain, stepped forward. His eyes were deep, in the sense that looking into them for too long may confuse and concern. His expression was calm though. Especially for the way that Arthur was acting. Merlin recognized him, as did Arthur. He had been the one who thanked Arthur when they returned Mordred, the young druid boy, back to them.

"The Cup of Life has been retrieved by men of Camelot." He said, the words turning his expression rather grim. Merlin and Arthur exchanged glances. "Emyrus, I thought that you were in Camelot with Prince Arthur, the future king of Camelot." He spoke again.

"I am Prince Arthur." Arthur spoke up, lowering his sword.

"I was in Camelot, but... We are going back. We just needed to retrieve The Cup before…"

"Something worse happened? Emyrus, I fear that it already has." The man, Iseldir, spoke again. "You must return to Camelot and stop Morgana from becoming Queen. With you not there to protect the whereabouts of the cup, it may have fallen into the wrong hands, as prophecy revealed."

"How can I stop what's revealed in prophecy?" Merlin questioned.

"You have more power than you know."

Arthur looked to Merlin. "We must return to Camelot."

"Your prince is right, Emyrus." Iseldir said. "Arthur must become King of Camelot. His reign will change Albion forever. For the better. His destiny is to become king, and yours is to make sure that it happens." The man's voice echoed inside his head.

Merlin opened his mouth, but then furrowed his eyebrows. "Can he not know of his own greatness?"

"A time will come when he will find out. It is not now."

"Come on, Merlin. You may be known, but that doesn't change the fact that you may still remain my servant." Arthur called, already half-way gone.

Merlin nodded at Iseldir before turning to catch up with Arthur.

xxxxx

Camelot was still far, the sun was setting and it was becoming difficult for them to see inside the thickness of the woods.

"You know, Gwaine, you don't have to stay with us. There may be great danger ahead." Arthur spoke up. It was nice to have new company, to know someone wasn't against them. However, he did not want to endanger his friend.

"Come on, Arthur. I've gotten this far. I can't turn back now." Gwaine said.

"You are a loyal friend, Gwaine." Arthur said.

Gwaine waved him off.

The three of them stayed silent for a while. The forest was getting quieter as well. Until they heard a crunch of leaves. Before they could react, the man approached them. "Halt. Who goes there?" a familiar voice said. Once again, Arthur opened his mouth to speak and the man spoke before him. "Arthur?"

"Leon?" Arthur questioned.

"Bloody hell. You're back!" Leon exclaimed. "And you." He pointed to Merlin.

"No, please." Arthur said, holding out his hand. "Hear me out. Whatever you've been told is all wrong. Merlin is no –"

"Sorcerer!" Leon exclaimed. "Arthur, he's tricked you. He must be arrested and executed!"

"No, he hasn't. Listen to me. If anyone's been tricked, it's been all of you." Arthur said. "By the Lady Morgana."

Leon looked worried. He had served Camelot for a long time. Arthur knew how he were being torn right then, as he was - torn between listening to Arthur or his father, torn on questioning Morgana's trust, and torn on what to do.

"Leon, you know that I would never betray you. You know how I love Camelot." Arthur said sincerely.

"Then why did you leave?" Leon asked. "Everything's gone to hell with you gone, Arthur."

"I… I do not know." Arthur lied. He had to until he figured out what to do. "I am in the process of figuring everything out. I want to return. I know that Camelot is in great danger." Arthur said firmly.

Even though his heart sunk slightly as Arthur's words, Merlin understood. He was staying quiet until he felt that he needed to speak up.

"Is Camelot currently in possession of The Cup of Life?" Arthur asked.

Leon narrowed his eyes. "How do you know of The Cup?" He whispered.

"Just trust me, Leon. Please." Arthur begged.

"We may know how to help." Merlin spoke up.

Leon looked between the three of them. He sighed softly. "This goes against what I am sworn to do, to obey the King's orders. However, I truly do believe that you would never hurt Camelot, Arthur." He let out another heavy breath. "The druids used The Cup to revive me when a group of patrol was attacked for crossing Cendred's border. I informed Uther of this act. He feared that The Cup would not be safe with the druids, so I was sent to retrieve it." Leon still had his sword drawn as he spoke. "The Cup was stolen. We know there is a traitor amongst us."

"Morgana." Merlin whispered without meaning to.

"I was sent to look for any signs of Cendred's armies lurking about, or whoever else could've stolen it. Easier to be stealthy if there's just one of me." Leon said.

Arthur nodded, trying to think things over. He had a lot more information, but he still didn't know what to do with it.

"Sir Leon, Morgana has betrayed Camelot before and I believe she has reason to do it again." Merlin spoke up, finally. He explained the horrible things that Morgana had done up to that point, how she was plotting with Mogause all along. Then, he added, "And I vaguely remember Morgana as I started to manipulate Arthur into running away with me. It is clear now that her sorcery was used to drive Arthur from Camelot so that she could rule. The Cup was the first thing she saw that could be used to her advantage." Lying was the best thing he had to top the story off.

Gwaine and Arthur exchanged glances behind Merlin before Arthur spoke up. "I believe Merlin. He has full reason to be trusted after all the times that he has protected me, as well as Camelot. He is a mere servant and he has done all that he can to protect the kingdom."

Merlin kept his face straight. He always did at Arthur's words, especially in front of those who could not know. But a mere servant? The words stung though they had to be said.

Leon put his sword away. "I will return to Camelot telling the King that I have found proof that Morgause has The Cup."

Arthur nodded. "Wonderful. We will stay close by."

"Who is the other man with you?" Leon finally asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"You surely remember Gwaine." Arthur said.

"Once banned from Camelot, even though I saved Arthur's life. About four or five times now." Gwaine said with a wide grin.

"He has saved my life many times now, Leon." Arthur added.

"Arthur, why must you trust the most odd of people?" Leon asked, shaking his head.

xxxxx

As it was night, camp was set up deep in the woods. Gwaine had been allowed to sleep, as had Merlin. Arthur insisted on taking watch. He had too much to think about. Sleeping wasn't an option. It wasn't for Merlin either, though. He worried as much as Arthur did. But most of his worries were about Arthur.

Merlin got up from his spot on the ground, moving next to Arthur. They watched the smoke that was fading out, the embers floating up until they faded into the stars.

"It's funny how peaceful the land can seem when right now, it's so tense at the borders." Arthur spoke up. "At night, everything is so calm. It's like a different world."

Merlin smiled softly, placing a hand on Arthur's knee. "It's great that we ran into Leon, isn't it?"

"Yes, seemingly." Arthur said. "I'm not sure that I trust him, as bad as that sounds."

"Why's that?" Merlin asked.

"He said himself he was going against the king's orders. What if he went to Camelot and told father of my whereabouts. What if they come for us?" Arthur wondered.

Merlin hadn't thought of it that way. He shook his head though, having faith in good fortune. "No, if that were the case, he wouldn't have told us all of that information. If he didn't trust you so deeply, Arthur, he would've run me through with his sword right there, or taken me back to Camelot to be burned at the stake, beheaded …"

"Stop." Arthur said, eyebrows furrowed. "I wouldn't have let any of that happen."

"I'm just being honest." Merlin said.

"And I'm telling you that I will never let anything happen to you." Arthur said forcefully.

Merlin nodded, "But it's my destiny to protect you. Not the other way around."

"It just had to be my destiny to be stuck with you." Arthur teased, wrapping an arm around Merlin's shoulders and pulling him closer.

Merlin hummed in response, leaning into Arthur even though his chainmail was cold. "Stuck with a mere servant?" Merlin asked.

Arthur sighed softly, "You know that I did not mean that."

Merlin nodded. "And so, you know that Morgana used no sorcery on me. I've fallen for you all on my own." He said, with a half-smile.

"That was quite a good cover, Merlin. You're smarter than you look." Arthur said.

"I thought it was clever too." Merlin looked down at the ground.

"I wish it didn't have to be like this." Arthur said.

"Yeah." Merlin said, holding his tongue. He held back the selfish thought that, 'It doesn't have to be. We were just fine running away from Camelot. We could've reached the mountains and lived by a spring. We could've lived together in peace.' He was through being selfish. He had his time with Arthur. It was Camelot's time then.