Secrets

1. Revealed

Merlin and Arthur were on a hunting trip with the knights of the round table. Much to Merlin's disappointment. He loathes hunting. Always has done. As Merlin thinks it unfair of the defenceless animals getting killed, he makes it his job to make as much noise as humanly possible, much to Arthur's irritation. That was a bonus. Merlin can use stealth when need be, but Arthur doesn't know that. Merlin 'accidentally' stood on a twig which made a resounding 'CRACK' echo through the forests scaring off the stag they were about to kill. Arthur rounded on Merlin. "Merlin. You bloody useless fool. You just scared away our prey. Again." He hissed through gritted teeth.

"Sorry Arthur." Merlin said not meaning it. "These things happe-" He was cut off by a rustle in the bushes. Arthur obviously hadn't noticed. Snapping his eyes to the direction it came from, his eyes flashed gold as he uses his mind's eye to see what the threat is. A Griffin. "Damn it."

"What?" Just as Arthur spoke, a Griffin came out and started tailing them. "Run." Arthur, Merlin and the knights ran for it. After about ten minutes of running, they lost sight of the knights. The Griffin still chasing Merlin and Arthur. Arthur tripped and dropped his sword. The Griffin was about to strike Arthur down but Merlin acted on impulse.

Merlin held his arm out towards Arthur's abandoned sword. His eyes flashed gold and Arthur's sword levitated. "Fleogè. Bregdan anwiele gefeluec." He roared. His eyes flashed gold once more and the sword was encrusted with blue flames dancing on the blade. Merlin thust his arm towards the Griffin and the sword pierced it's strong, magical hide, killing it instantly. Arthur's eyes were wide with shock, disbelief and-was that fear? Merlin looked into his master's eyes for a second, before averting them to the ground. "I can expla-"

"MERLIN! ARTHUR!" A voice yelled from ten yards away cutting Merlin off. Merlin's eyes flashed gold once more, causing Arthur to flinch, as he searched for the source of the voice. It was Gwaine and the other knights. His eyes changed back to blue.

"It's just the knights." He said bowing his head once more. At that moment, Gwaine, Elyan, Leon, Lancelot and Percival, with the horses, came into the clearing. Arthur's eyes, if possible, got wider. Merlin kept his head bowed.

"Arthur, Merlin are you alri-" Gwaine was cut off when he saw the dead Griffin with Arthur's sword embedded in it's chest. "What happened?" Arthur was still looking at Merlin with those fearful eyes and Merlin's heart clenched, but kept his head down. At least he wasn't angry as of yet.

"Arthur killed it." Merlin lied. "Arthur tripped and and he threw his sword and killed the Griffin." Arthur's eyes grew wider still.

"Arthur killed it?" Leon asked in disbelief. "Last time we fought a Griffin, Arthur couldn't even scratch it let, let alone kill it."

Merlin gulped, head still bowed. "Maybe this time he found its weak spot and manage-"

"No." Arthur spoke cutting Merlin off. "No, I didn't kill it." He got off the ground and his eyes were still full of disbelief and fear. "Merlin did." The knights were stunned and gasped at the revelation.

"Merlin is this true?" Elyan asked with awe in his voice.

"No, I-" Merlin started to deny but was cut off.

"Yes. It's true. I saw it. Merlin killed it. Not me." The knights gaped at Merlin. Merlin avoided everyone's gaze. "We better head back to Camelot." Arthur took his sword out of the Griffin, wiped it clean and mounted his horse. Merlin went up to his horse, took hold of the reins, and started walking, leading the horse behind him.

He walked with his horse behind the group, fear filling his very bones. What's going to happen when they get back to Camelot? Will Arthur turn him in? Will he execute Merlin himself? Merlin couldn't help but think these thoughts. His felt his eyes water at the latter but he wiped them dry. It wouldn't do to break down. Especially now. The journey back to Camelot was quiet and uncomfortable. Arthur rode at the front, face emotionless, whilst Merlin walked at the back-like a respectful servant should-consumed with fear and sadness.

When Merlin walked through Camelot's gates as night descended, the fear intensified. He kept his head bowed guiding his horse to the courtyard. Arthur dismounted, handed him his reins roughly and walked off towards the citadel without a word. Merlin put all of the horses in the stable, before heading back to his chambers, to probably wait for the guards to take him away to the king. Merlin opened the door to his and Gaius's chambers to find Gaius mixing potions."Ahh Merlin. I've made dinner for you." He guestured to the bowl on the table.

"Not hungry." He says in a flat tone and went into his room. When Merlin lay on his hard bed, he broke down crying into his pillow preying that Gaius wouldn't come in.