NOTE: Hey guys so I am taking the on hold off of this chapter. I sort of have a plan for where this story is going but I can't make any promises to how often I can update because I am still having Major writer's block. It is the summer though so I will try and update as much as possible but like I said no promises. Thank you if you stuck with me and enjoy. -Captain

(Arthur's POV)

The light was streaming through what little space could be seen through the bars of the cell and I groaned as I peeled my eyes open. My back hurt from sleeping on the floor and I shivered once I realized how could it was in here.

Merlin chuckled and warpped me in a hug, wrapping his jacket around me as well. I looked up and smiled at him, a blush no doubt tinging my cheeks. Merlin smiled too but it soon fell and I knew he had questions but didn't want to ask.

"Go ahead." I replied, preparing myself for the inevitable. I pulled myself away and sat a few feet away from him.

"Go ahead what?" he asked trying to play dumb and I shook my head trying not to smile.

"You have questions for me. Go ahead and asked them." I sighed because I knew that this wasn't going to end well and I feared what would happen. He didn't ask anything and dind't look like he would anytime soon either. "Fine I ask you a question since I have a few of my own, and you ask me one."

He nodded and I thought about what to ask. "When I asked you yesterday what you were hiding, you were under the truth spell... so why didn't you tell me about my father?" I asked. He took a deep breath before sighing and running a hand through his hair.

"There were a few things I could have told you. My loving you happened to be one of the three. It also seemed to be the one that would hurt you the least. I know if I told you the thing that was on the tip of my tongue you would feel betrayed but I never thought about telling you about your father because you either wouldn't believe me or you would be utterly destroyed by the fact that your father would do something like that."

"What was the o..." I started but stopped once he raised his hand.

"Alternating questions remember?" I nodded and he took a moment to sort through what he wanted to ask. "Why did you barge in on the conversation instead of staying hidden around the corner like you were?"

"How did you..." I shook my head not even wanting to know. "Nevermind. I barged in because he was hurting you and I cared to much about you to let that happen." He nodded and looked worried.

"What was the other thing you wanted to tell me?" I asked. His face visibly paled. 

"Answer me this first. I know you have magic because I saw it..." I felt the blood drain from my face and my heart thudded in my chest. This was it. Merlin is gonna leave me behind. He just chuckled before continuing. "I don't hate you. I have seen my fair share of good magic users." I sighed but waited fo rhim to continue. 

"Would you think me any different if I had the same abilities, maybe more powerful, that you have?" he asked. He was careful not to show any emotion in his face and he even looked down so I couldn't read his eyes. So he was smart.

"Why would I think you any different? I spent my whole life wondering whether what my father was doing was truly right. I knew I should believe him because he was my father but it felt wrong. The people he killed were always using magic for good when the were caught. I hated it. Then a few months ago, not too long before you showed up actually, I realized I had the gift myself."

Merlin looked up at me, relief flashing across his features and I was confused. Why did he look so relieved? I opened my mouth to ask once again what the third thing he was going to tell me was but suddenly everything made sense.

He couldn't watch when people with magic were killed. Things always happened to help even though I did't use my magic to help myself out. Merlin would always be in the weirdest positons when I checked on him and I just now realized that he was helping me. He always had. I couldn't kill something and yet he could even though he didn't know how to use a weapon.

He seemed to know things about magic that no one else did and found cures way too quickly for even Gaius. I looked up at Merlin, tears in my eyes as I launched myself at him, hugging him. "Woah there are you okay?" he asked slightly shocked.

I chuckled as I looked up at him. "Thank you for not being scared. For not hating me. Thank you for giving me a chance. Thank you for saving me and helping out all of those times. I was stupid not to realize sooner that it was you. Thank you for always being there even when I was being..." I couldn't find the right words.

"A Royal Prat?" he suggested and I chuckled, nodding my head.

"A Royal Prat." I agreed. I pulled his head down to mine and pressed my lips to his. "If there is anyone I want to spen my last moments with I'm glad it was you. Thank you." I whispered.

"Psst." someone whispered causing me to jump and hit Merlin. 

"Oh my god I'm so sorry." I quickly apologized.

"It's okay." he chuckled.

"Psst." the person whispered again. I looked towards the bars and the dark on the other side. A glint of armor indicated that there was a guard. 

"What?" I asked irritated.

"I can help you get out of here." he whispered.

"And why would you want to do that?"

"Because you two don't deserve to die. All you've done was help us and there is no evil in you. You two deserve to live. Tomorrow will be your execution so it'll have to be tonight. I'm going to need you to distract the guard as I knock him out. Then we'll make out way through the passages below the castle and to the grate. There will be a horse waiting for you there. You must ride to Ealdor. Merlin's mother will help you."

"Thank you." I whispered. He nodded before turning and acting as a loyal guard. I turned to Merlin. "We're gonna get out of here." I whispered excitedly.

"I know. But if we're leaving tonight, we need to get some sleep." I nodded and relaxed back into Merlin, trying to go back to sleep but utterly failing in the end so we switched spots. I played with Merlin's hair and soon he was fast alseep.

"See you when we wake up." I whispered before dozing off myself. We were going to get out of here. We were going to be safe. I couldn't be happier.