After sending Merlin to do his jobs, Arthur gathered the Knights. Gwaine, Leon, Percival and Elyan were all to join him on the hunt that day. He found them training and decided to ask them about Merlin as Gaius had said that he'd been late due to nights at the tavern. They greeted him happily. "I, for one, am excited to kill some animals. It's been a while since our last trip," Gwaine said. Arthur nodded but didn't reply. Instead, he asked, "Giaus has told me of Merlin being in the tavern more. Should that concern me?" he asked sternly. Gwaine and the other knights gave him an odd expression. "Sire Merlin hasn't been to the tavern in little over a month. Gwaine would know since he's always down there," Leon answered. Gwaine nodded in agreement. 

"It's true sire, he's not joined us for a drink in a while," he added. Now it was Arthur's turn to give the odd expression. "Why would Giaus lie then?" he asked no one in particular. "Perhaps you could question Merlin on the matter during the trip, I trust he'll be attending," Percival suggested. The king hummed in approval before walking away, leaving the Knights to talk.

Gwaine was the first to strike up the conversation, "I wonder what Merlin has really been doing. Maybe he stays up late practising how to deal with the princess," he suggested with a small laugh. Leon and the others rolled their eyes at the joke. "We should be concerned about this. If Giaus is lying to cover up something about Merlin, we should take action. He could be getting into trouble," Percival announced. They nodded in agreement. "This hunting trip will give us that opportunity."

By the time Merlin had finished prepping it was time to go. They mounted their horses and began their journey through the forest. Arthur was leading them followed by Leon and Percival by his side, Elyan and Gwaine behind them and Merlin at the back. The warlock seemed to be in a world of his own which concerned the others greatly. Without his remarks, they fell deathly silent. Gwaine pulled his horse back so he was alongside Merlin. "What's going on Merlin?" he asked a little worriedly to which he didn't get a response. He shook the smaller male lightly. Merlin jumped and nearly fell off his horse. He stared at him with wide eyes brimming with fear. "Are you alright Merlin?" he asked. Merlin gulped a little and nodded. 

"Just tired," he replied quickly. All too quickly. Gwaine let him be and resumed his place infront of him. He shared eye contact with the group, silently telling them that Merlin was anything but alright. They occasionally glanced back at him and each time they did he'd be spaced out. Gwaine kept seeing that look of pure fear on his friend's face and could only wonder what troubled him.

After a few hours of no luck at catching anything, a fustrated Arthur decided to set up camp. Merlin lit a fire and began on the cooking whilst the others set up tents. They all kept an eye on their friend just in case. 

By nightfall, they sat around the fire telling stories about scars they had received over the years. "I got this one from a bar fight, some guy decided to cut me with a shard of glass, then I got this one from a slave owner I owed money to," Gwaine explained pulling up his shirt to reveal the scars. They all chuckled lightly at him, all except Merlin. He seemed deep in thought about something, something important. "Have you got any scars?" Percival asked Merlin. 

"What that idiot? No way," Arthur replied dismissively. 

"I do but I hate them," Merlin answered quietly, staring into the fire. 

"Why? I bet they have some great stories! Go on show them off!" Gwaine insisted. Merlin shook his head. "No, I can't."

"Come now Merlin, let's see these scars. I'm sure we've seen much worse," Arthur assured him.
"Fine just don't stare at them for ages. It makes me uncomfortable," Merlin said.

He stood up and pulled off his coat, neckerchief and shirt. This revealed many, too many to count, scars on his chest and back. Some were old, some were new, some were small, others large. But all not belonging to the type of person Merlin was. He was an innocent and kind young man who couldn't have been through the trauma that came with such scars. Their faces openly showed their horror and Merlin was quick to put his shirt back on. He sat down and hugged his arms. He was obviously uncomfortable but they questioned him about them anyway. "How did you even get that many?" Elyan asked.

"More importantly who gave them to you?" Leon added. Merlin stared at his feet. 

"If I tell you the truth about some of them, you'll surely kill me," he said flatly, unknowing of the tear trailing down his face. "You have our word we'll do no such thing," Gwaine reassured him. The rest nodded their heads in agreement.

Merlin sighed quietly, "Where do you want to start?" he asked, clearly not in the mood for explaining his past. "Whip scars on your back. They're too old to be from Camelot," Arthur began. "They're from Eldor. When I was a child, around eight, crops began to fail and children were dying young. The town placed the blame on me and thought by punishing me, everything would return to normal. Obviously, it didn't work and they gave up after doing it for a week," Merlin explained grimly. "But why target you?" Elyan asked. "You were but a child when these events happened." Merlin visibly teared up. 

"This is where you'll hate me," he replied quietly. "You see I-I'm not n-normal." The tears were beginning to get the better of him as they danced down his pale cheeks. "I-I'm a w-warlock." They stared at him, some confused. "What's one of them?" Leon asked. 

"I'm born with magic, I didn't learn it. I am magic and magic is me. It-it wasn't my choice to-to be like this," Merlin answered, not allowing himself to choke on his tears.

Arthur stood up and placed a hand on his sword. Merlin heard his movement and stared at him. His eyes were full of pain, fear and self-hatred. He paled and began to shake. "Sorcerer," Arthur spat venomously. Merlin moved back, using his hands to move his body. "P-please I-I haven't used it f-for evil! I'm sorry I was born l-like this!" Merlin exclaimed. 

"You've lied to me and expect my pity!" Arthur shouted angrily. 

"Sire calm down! If he was using magic for evil, he would've killed you by now!" Gwaine shouted in defence. His frustration with the King was clear in his voice and body language. "P-please I k-know I'm a m-monster but you h-have to believe me. I've o-only used them t-to protect you," Merlin said in a voice drowning in pain. He put his hands defensively over his face.

Arthur sat down and rubbed his temples. Merlin had saved his life and helped him defeat enemies. He even drank poison to save him. "You're not a monster Merlin. I've known you for years and you're anything but. I've been meaning to lift my father's law on magic anyhow," Arthur admitted a pool of guilty beginning to form inside his body. "Why didn't you tell me before?" 

"Because you w-would've killed me," Merlin stuttered tears still pouring down his face. He was shaking violently and was paler than usual. Gwaine went to help him but he scrambled up. "I need to go be on my own," he said before running off.