Merlin's POV

I dash out of the tent in a hurry. I ignore the surprised looks of the druids as I pass. I run. I run to get as far away from Arthur as possible. I don't want to see him. I don't want to hear his voice. I want nothing to do with him.

How could he say those things? I know he didn't know about my magic but... it still hurt. It hurts so much. My heart stings as the words play back in my head over and over. Sorcerers are... they're all corrupted! I quickly shake the words from my head. Stop it Merlin! You'll kill yourself like this!

I keep running. I don't stop until I feel like I'm far enough away from him. I finally skitter to halt by a large tree. I slump my back against its trunk and slide down its rough surface until my bottom hits the ground. I curl my legs into myself, clutching them closely to my chest. I bury my head in between the two parts. Once again tears prickle at the corners of my eyes. I wipe them away quickly.

Stop crying you idiot. Why are you even crying in the first place? I pause. Why am I crying? Yes, the words stung but there's something else. Almost like... like I'm afraid. Afraid of rejection. Afraid that Arthur will hate me. I shiver at the thought. I don't want that to happen. I don't want him to hate me... to leave me.

Why? My brain asks. Why don't you want him to leave?

Because I love him... My heart replies simply.

Then why don't you go back? Why did you run? My brain asks in confusion.

Because I don't know if I can forgive him. My shattered heart answers.

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Arthur's POV

Merlin... It's painful to see him run away like that. Especially knowing that I'm the reason for it. I make up my mind. I need to talk to him. Sort things out. I'm about o sprint off after him when I hear Aglain sigh behind me. "Leave him," he says.

I turn. Aglain has a sad look in his eyes. The same ones he had when I was attacking him earlier. "I'm not going to listen to a druid. I'm going," I respond with irritation.

"I said leave him," Aglain's tone changes to one of frustration. "It's better for both of you if you just went your separate ways."

Rage burns inside me even more then it already was. "Went our separate ways?! I'm not going to leave Merlin alone!"

"Why are you so desperate to chase after him?"

I hesitate. Why am I? Why do I want to chase him? He's... he's a sorcerer, and sorcerers can't be trusted. So why am I willing to run off into the forest to chase after him? Why don't I want to lose him?! The questions float around in my mind. I mentally kick my stupid head. Why can't I answer his question? After another few moments I can see Aglain give a sad smile.

"You don't even know yourself. That is the reason why you shouldn't go after him, you can't even decide what he is to you," he says, turning around.

What Merlin is... to me? I think of who Merlin is. He's a kind person. Someone who will go out of his way to help a friend. He's selfless and always has others on his mind. He has the most beautiful smile. One that's contagious to all around him. He couldn't have faked all that. There is no way. Merlin isn't a corrupted sorcerer like my father says all people who use magic are. He is a kind and gentle soul.

I realize now what I was doing wrong. I shouldn't be asking my head these questions. I should be asking my heart and I know what it will say.

"It's because I love him," I answer loudly and clearly for all the world to hear. "He is everything to me."

Aglain turns back to face me in surprise. "You heard what he said didn't you? He's a warlock and you are Arthur Pendragon. Son of the man who condemned his kind. You two are like good and evil. Light and darkness. Opposites. Two things that don't go together."

"No, you're wrong. It doesn't mean we don't go together. All it means is that we need each other. We need the other in order to exist. There is no good without evil and no light without darkness. We are like two sides of the same coin. We are each different on the surface, a different design etched into each of us but we need the other side to be complete. What's a coin worth if half of it is missing?"

Aglain remains silent. He continues to look at me with pity in his eyes. He turns around and starts to clear away the potions and herbs. "If that is what you wish to do then go. I won't stop you but don't blame me for the pain that will come from loving him. I gave you the chance to turn away and you didn't. Know that you have condemned only yourself to this cruel fate." His tone sounds defeated, tired.

I turn away from the druid. I exit the tent and begin sprinting towards the woods, following the tracks Merlin had left behind carelessly.

-----

I manage to find Merlin rather quickly. In his haste he didn't bother to hide his trail at all. I arrive by a large tree where Merlin huddles. He has his knees pulled up tightly to his chest, his head buried between them.

I approach him slowly, not wanting to startle him. I sit down by the tree as well, my back resting against its trunk. I keep my distance. Unsure wether or not he wanted to see me. We sit there for awhile. In complete silence. I don't rush him. I'll let him go at his own pace.

After what feels like hours Merlin, finally, acknowledges my existence. "Is your cheek alright?" He asks.

I raise a hand up to it, feeling it start to swell slightly. I almost forgot he punched me. "Yeah. It's fine," I respond.

Silence follows. I shift in my spot uncomfortably. "I'm sorry I punched you..." He says eventually in a quiet voice.

I look over my shoulder at the young warlock. His head is still buried in his knees. "It's alright. I deserved it."

"No, you didn't. I was... I was being rash. You didn't deserve that punch. You didn't know." His voice sounds small. Broken and insincere. I don't blame him. I think I deserved it too.

"That doesn't mean I can say things like that. I hurt you with those words and I'm sorry."

"It's what you were taught I assume. A person can believe what they want."

"And that does not mean those things I said were justified. They were cruel words that no one should hear. I also have to admit that they are wrong."

Merlin's interest seems to be peeked. He turns his head to look at me. His eyes are rimmed with red and they look slightly glazed over. As though he's looking at nothing at all. "What made you change your mind?"

"I thought about it. Really thought about it. I pushed away the things that everyone has told me. The presumptions I had. I started with a blank canvas, painting it only with what I had experienced. I have never met many sorcerers in my life time, most were always during battle, but the ones I have met... They always struck me as different then what my father made them out to be. There was this old women once, Alice I believe was her name, who would heal the sick, the injured. She would do it out of the kindness of her heart. She never charged her patients a coin. Then there are the sorcerers who are as people said. Corrupted and twisted. But those people... there was always a wrong that was done unto them. Betrayal for instance. A witch I had met once, Nimueh, she hated my father because of his betrayal to her but who wouldn't? Who wouldn't hate someone that has betrayed them? The answer I found was most people. Most people would. Then, I thought of you."

Merlin's gaze continues to bear through me. He seems to be listening more intently now so I continue on, "You are one of the greatest, no, the greatest person I have ever and will ever meet. You're brave, kind, gentle, and a total idiot sometimes but you always manage to make me smile even on my worst days. You're also a warlock. Something that has been drilled into my head as bad but I can't see you like that. You're everything but what has been told to me. That's what made me change my mind."

Merlin remains silent. He turns away, back to facing the forest ahead. Did I say something wrong? Did he not forgive me? "Do you forgive me Merlin?" I ask hesitantly, not quite wanting the answer, yet anticipating it as well.

I hear him sigh deeply.

-----

Merlin's POV

"I don't know," I reply solemnly.

I really don't know. I start to play with the cloth of my neckerchief between my fingers. His words stung. They dug a hole in my heart and I don't know if it would ever be filled. I do feel relief that Arthur has decided to change his perspective on magic, hearing him say those things made me feel all warm inside. I love him. I know that deep down I do but I can't just forget what he said and pretend nothing happened. Perhaps I'll forgive him one day but it seems today isn't that day.

I look over my shoulder at Arthur. He's looking back at me with concern and fear. He looks miserable as he waits for a more clear answer from me. I'm almost tempted to forgive him. To cave in and throw myself into his arms but I stop myself. I can't. Not yet. I'm not ready. I don't want to give him false hope. I can't forgive him until I know I can trust him with every fibre of my being, like how it used to be.

"I'm sorry Arthur," I start. I can see him visibly tense at my words. His shoulders stiffen and his eyes are blown wide. I can tell he's holding in a breath. "I just can't find it in my heart to forgive you right now. Though I do apologize for punching you," I finish, being more sincere in my apology this time.

Arthur remains silent. He stares at me in what looks to be pain and horror. He casts his eyes down to the ground. He starts to pick at the leaves by his feet. I can't tell what he's thinking, there's an unreadable look in his eyes. Eventually, he gets to his feet and turns back to face me.

"I understand..." He takes a deep breath. "I promise to make it up to you Merlin. I promise I will, but... until then..." He averts his gaze. "We can still see each other right? At the waterfall?"

I stare up at him in shock. I didn't expect him to ask that. I release the breath I didn't realize I was holding. I'm glad. Glad that he still wants to talk to me. Glad he doesn't hate me. Glad we might get a fresh start. I can see his hands are trembling beside him in nervousness. He's afraid of what I'll say. I give him a small smile. "We can try. One step at a time right?" I say.

He whips his head around immediately after the words leave my mouth. His blue eyes twinkle in the sun as his face brightens into a smile. "Thank you Merlin."

------

Arthur's POV

My heart stops when the words come out of his mouth. "I'm sorry," he begins. My shoulders tense and my whole body trembles. I fear for what he's going to say. I'm afraid he will reject me and by the way he started, I'm guessing that will be the case. He's going to leave me. I'm going to lose the only true friend I ever had. All because I can't keep my mouth shut or think for myself. I hold in a breath, bracing myself for the answer that's sure to come.

"I just can't find it in my heart to forgive you right now. Though I do apologize for punching you," he finally finishes.

I stop in my tracks. I don't move. I don't make a sound. My whole world seems to tumble around me. The person I love rejected me before I could even tell him. That has to be an all time worst. Yet, I expected this. I prepared for the answer so why did it still take me by surprise? I guess I clung on to that sliver of hope more tightly then I thought.

I cast my eyes down at the ground. I start to pick at the leaves sombrely, thinking of something to say. I can't just accept this! I need to at least try to make amends! I love him. I'm not giving him up without at least trying.

I abruptly get to my feet, startling Merlin slightly. "I understand..." I begin, taking a deep breath. "I promise to make it up to you Merlin. I promise I will, but... until then..." I avert my gaze, trying to hide my nervousness. "We can still see each other right? At the waterfall?"

I shut my eyes tightly and wait. I wait for what feels like forever before I finally hear his voice. "We can try. One step at a time right?"

My heart flips with joy. I can still do this! I can still save this seemingly hopeless love. I whip around in happiness. I shoot him a wide grin. "Thank you Merlin."

He returns a small smile in my direction. Still looking slightly weary of his decision. Unfortunately our conversation is cut short by a chorus of loud shouts, ranging from war cries to screams of terror. We both turn in the direction of the noise. It's coming from the druid camp!