# 44!! only 6 one shots to go!! Remember to put in requests if you want to see certain one shots like a continuation, or if you want future one shots to have angst, humor, romance (ugh), or maybe something like an au of some episode ( which I actually have a few ideas for as I had a merlin marathon recently) and you know, the basics!!

So the poem featured in this is NOT MINE! I repeat NOT MINE! I got permission to use it from the actual author who is CaptainOzone on fan fiction.net. Their poem is titled 'Vir' if you want to go see the original poem or maybe check out her other stories! They're really great and Danny Phantom fans will love some of her works as well as Merlin fans, Harry Potter fans, Rise of the Guardians fans and The Flash fans!!!

One thing about Merlin that most probably never discovered of him is that he actually loves poetry. That's why when looking for an excuse during the return of Uther's ghost, Merlin thought of poetry as an alibi. Because that was the day he had finished his first original poem. He decided to name it Vir.

One thing about Merlin that most probably do know is that he is very messy and forgetful. That's how Arthur had managed to find his poem while Merlin was out collecting herbs as his supply was running low.

"MERLIN!" Arthur yelled, looking for his manservant who was late again.

Gaius was on a yearly trip to the lower towns to give everyone their check ups and Gaius refused to take Merlin with him, claiming he needed be the royal physician while Gaius was away.

Arthur entered Merlin's room and saw the mess it was but the strangely neatly made bed. Medical books were strewn across the room along with empty ink bottles, crumpled pieces of parchment and ruined quills.

Hmm, Arthur though, Merlin must've been working on something.

There was one parchment that caught his eye, The one that was no where near crumpled and a full bottle of ink next to it, both on the table, the rubbish kept at a respectable distance. Arthur walked over to the paper, figuring it was a explanation as to where Merlin was at the moment.

Ironic, it may seem,

That with my goofy grin agleam

and with my cheeky defiance,

You'd still come to me for guidance

Funny, it may appear,

That, with your mocking smirk clear

and with your heroic tread,

I'd still dare to call you "thickhead"

Yet... would you believe it true

That I'd willingly die for you

Yes, for every laugh we share

For each scar we have to bear

For you, I'd fight

For what's just and right

I'd endure the pain and strive

So that all might survive

I'd ride to the mouth of hell

Where demons dwell

Despite the darkness hidden by day

I'll be there every step of the way

Through every twist and turn,

I'm not afraid to burn

On that unyielding pyre

Of Destiny's fire

The sun may soon set,

Our time well-spent,

But our legend will remain

As we are evil's bane

Our bond will never die

So it'll never be good bye

And I'll stand by your shoulder,

Be your steady boulder,

Old friend,

Until the end.

Arthur set down the paper and took a bit to register what exactly he had read. Did Merlin write this? There was no signature so it could've been anyone but the first two lines sounded like Merlin...

Is this how Merlin felt? Would he willingly give his life for Arthur? And what did he mean by 'I'm not afraid to burn on the unyielding pyre of destiny's fire'? The pyre was reserved for sorcerers meaning Merlin would never have to face it...

Arthur would never admit it, but he searched a bit after that and found Merlin's magic book hiding under the floorboards. Merlin was a sorcerer.

Arthur thought about the poem and thought that if Merlin did write that, then there was no way he was evil, He was willing to die to protect someone who would've killed him on the spot.

After realizing that Merlin had magic, things started to make more sense. the mysterious winds, the falling branches, how Merlin beat him at gambling, how Merlin could juggle... the mace fight.

Oh, when Merlin told Arthur himself, he was going to get a giant earful of complaints, big enough to fill the big ears of his.

But would Arthur wait for Merlin? Would he confess to Merlin that he read the poem? What about the magic ban? What made Merlin learn magic?

All the questions made Arthur's head hurt so he left Merlin's room after putting everything back.

On his way out, Arthur saw the empty bottles on the table and saw the labels on them said some funky herbs he couldn't pronounce. He realized that Merlin must of been out gathering the missing herbs.

Right as Arthur realized where Merlin was, Merlin walked in.

"Sorry I'm late, I ran low on some herbs and had to go collect them, they're important herbs used in the salve to help heal wounds and knowing you and your thick-headed knights, I'll be needing it until Gaius gets back." Merlin rambled, putting the herbs back in their place.

"Did you just insult my knights?" Arthur asked, feigning offence.

"I thought that part was obvious." Merlin asked, staring at Arthur with a dead-panning facial expression.

"You know, I could have you thrown in the stocks again." Arthur grinned. Yep, there was no way Merlin was evil.

"I've actually came to start liking the stocks, it amuses the children." Merlin laughed.

"Well then you'll have no problem, then." Arthur said, knowing full well that he wouldn't throw Merlin in the stocks.

Merlin laughed and went back to what he was doing.

"Hey Merlin, uh I was looking for you in your room and I kind of...read the poem on your table." Arthur confessed, knowing he probably wouldn't be able to live with himself if anything happened to Merlin and he wouldn't be able to tell that he knew.

Merlin froze, knowing that there was only one poem he could've been talking about.

"And after I did, I had some suspicions and I found you book... of magic. Look, Merlin, I know your not evil, I would never execute you! I get that you were probably scared and I just want to know why you didn't tell me." Arthur continued.

"I... I didn't want to make you choose between telling your father about me or keeping my secret and lying to your father and then when he died, you thought it was because of magic and I couldn't tell you then because you hated magic more than ever. I- I just couldn't find a good time to tell you. I've hid who I am all my life, I guess the times you were ready, I was not. I'm sorry Arthur, I really am." Merlin stammered, trying to find a good explanation that wouldn't piss Arthur off.

"I see. Thank you, Merlin. I figured out that some mysterious winds and falling branches were probably you, and I'm just wondering what else you did to save me or anyone else." Arthur asked.

Merlin smiled "That's going to take a while."

From then on, Merlin and Arthur were closer. Arthur was making fun of him less often and, for some reason unknown to anyone else, and to some children's disappointment, Merlin seemed to be taking less visits to the stocks.