Author's Note: All character's are played by the same actors from the show Merlin. I do not own any of them I only own the plot. I hope you enjoy.

Third-person pov.

Merlin has a lot of titles he goes by honestly it's a miracle he can keep track. In fact just thinking about all of them gave him a little bit of a headache but meh. Anyhooooooo, back to the present. Arthur decided that it was good day to go hunting even though he knows Merlin hates hunting and it's Merlin's day off...... he's such a prat. Really though Merlin is having a terrible day, it's the anniversary of his kingdom getting taken over and the whole royal family having to flee including him.

He's depressed as hell and having to trudge through the woods while constantly being called a clumsy idiot, because he has to keep the pretense of being a simple farmers boy, is annoying.

Ughhh, why couldn't he just tell them already. God he's such a chicken, they would probably help him get his kingdom back and get revenge for his father... but noooo he can't suck up the courage. He's a leader by blood. Yet, he still can't do it, he doesn't want to see the betrayal and hurt in their eyes. Apparently while he was lost in his thoughts he stopped because he was standing still and the knights and his king were nowhere to be seen. He may not like hunting that much but he's still great at it, so huffing in annoyance he searches for signs of humans and started tracking them. About ten minutes into his tracking he hears them speaking.

"Wait, where's Merlin?" Gwaine asks looking around frantically for his lost friend. Wait they seriously didn't even notice him missing until now. Wow, such great friends. Don't even get me started on their observance skills. They haven't even looked in my direction yet. You know if they ever find out about who he is he's going to train them and Arthur better, because this is just pitiful.

"He was right behind us a second ago." Percival said while worry and concern filled his eyes.

"He's probably just looking for herbs, it is Merlin after all I'm sure he's fine." said Lancelot. Even though he said that you could still see the worry in his eyes, he wasn't very convincing.

"Sire, there are known to be bandits in these woods." said Leon trying to convince Arthur.

"We should go back." said Elyan with determination in his eyes. Arthur rolled his eyes at all of them.

"You don't need to try to convince me to go and look for him, he's as much my friend as he is yours...... if any of you tell anyone I said that I'll put you in the stocks for a week." he said with a serious expression. They smiled fondly at the threat finding it amusing, they all knew he would actually do it. Gwaine was grinning like a maniac.

"Oh don't worry Princess I won't tell anyone." said Gwaine with false sincerity in his voice. Everyone rolled their eyes at the usually drunken knight and started walking in the direction they came from. Well I suppose it's time to make my appearance known.

"Won't tell anyone what?" I said making them all jump and look in my direction. Gwaine yelped, and Arthur tripped over a root, Merlin has to keep myself from chuckling.

"Merlin!" Gwaine screamed like a two year old and a happy grin on his face. Arthur looked cranky, very cranky.

"Merlin, where were you?" Leon asked.

"I got lost in my thoughts, stopped walking, looked up and you were all gone." He said. He didn't really want to lie to them when it unnecessary.

"You what!" Arthur shouted," If you ever and I mean ever worry me like that ever again I swear I'll put you in the stocks for a week and make you clean all of the stables!" now he's making me angry.

"What! How could you--" Merlin tarted yelling getting angry, than realization dawned across his face and a grin started taking the place of the scowl. "You were worried about me?" He asked with a smug voice.

"What-- No-- How Could-- Yes, yes I was worried, happy I said it. I Arthur Pendragon was worried about you Merlin my manservant." Arthur sputtered trying to deny what he said but in the end gave up and just said the truth. Huh, this gives Merlin a perfect time to tell them the truth or atleast hint to them. Then in the future they can't say that he never told them.

"I do have a last name you know, and it not "my manservant", Arthur." Merlin said while kind of making fun of him for assuming he didn't have one. The knights and him all looked shocked not many people that aren't noble have last names, oh if only they knew. Finally after about a few seconds of them gaping at me like a fish Elyan spoke up.

"You have a last name?" trying valiantly to hide his shock but failing miserably.

"Yes?" Merlin asked still playing dumb, with fake confusion plastered on his face.

"What is it?" Gwaine asked while looking hopeful. Wait what, why hopeful. Maybe he shouldn't have given them clue, oh well too late to take it back now. If he deosn't tell them he'll look suspicious.

"Yeah Merlin what is it?" Arthur said while looking thoughtful.

"It's Ambrosius, Merlin Dracon Ambrosius, that is my full name." He said acting a bit shy and looking at the ground when he said it. He was waiting for shouts of outrage or your a prince! Maybe even laughter, but he didn't hear any. When he looked up he saw Arthur with shock, a bit of anger, but mostly sympathy, and understanding. Gwaine with tears bristling but they looked of joy. Leon with shock and sympathy. Percival with kind gentle eyes. Lancelot with confusion and Elyan with confusion. Huh wasn't expecting this reaction.

He must have said it aloud because as soon as he thought that Arthur walked up to him and gave him a hug. Merlin started to cry and sob into his shoulder both of joy and sadness. Joy of his friends not being angry and sadness from everything that he lost. After he felt his tears drying up he pulled back from the hug and saw that Arthur had been crying a bit too just not as much as himself.

"I'm sorry I never told you who I was before, I didn't know how you would react." Merlon said while wiping away the tears that didn't dry up.

"Merlin don't worry about it I'm sure you had your reasons. I've had my suspicions for a while now. Whenever something bad happens or I look to you for advice you adopt a princely posture. Plus sometimes you twitch when people call me sire, like you're trying not to answer or say something." said Arthur.

"Huh, I guess Guias was right, I am terrible at hiding things." He said. Lancelot and Elyan still looked like they had no idea what was going on. Gwaine still looked happy but a little puzzled. He then went down on one knee and bowed to Merlin.

Merlin Pov.

"My prince." Oh, so that's why he looked puzzled, I guess I can take away the disguise and look like myself now. But I really don't want him bowing to me and calling me titles, just the thought of him doing that made me shudder.

"Gwaine stand up." I ordered in my princely voice. He did so with confusion in his eyes. I grinned.

"I knew you looked familiar!" I chuckled and pulled him into a hug, but quickly grew somber, " Your father was a great knight." Gwaine looked shocked when I said that.

"Yeah?" he asked timidly, he didn't really know his father that much.

"Yeah." I said with a tearful smile. He gave me one back and gave me another hug. When he pulled back he asked,
"Merlin, why don't you look like.....you?" I gave him a sheepish look and rubbed my neck.

"Um, well you see, um, I kind of um, ughhhh. Why don't I just show you." I struggled to find the right words and just decided to the hell with it.

"Show us what?" Elyan asked looking a bit wary. I grinned at him.

"Why, what I look like of course!" it seemed none but Gwaine was starting to understand. So instead of giving them a heads I muttered a spell my eyes flashed gold and then I looked like me again. Which was good and bad. Good because hooray I'm me again. Bad because I look different, they can see the tips of my tattoos on my neck and I'm more muscular. My hair's the same length just styled differenty and I think I may have a stubble, reach my hand up and touch my face, in thoughtful gesture, yep definitely a stubble. I let them look for a little bit, I don't look like there Merlin that they've grown accustomed to. I mutter another spell and I'm back to wearing my armor.
I take the cloaking spell of my sword. It's beautiful. It was forged in a dragons breath and has been in the family for ages given to the first born son when he turns 16. They all look shocked, standing there gaping like fishes. I look at them a little sheepish.

Merlins Armor (his hood is down )

His sword

His scabbard(sheith)

I let them take it all in, it feels good to look normal again. Arthur is the first to break out of his stupor.

"Merlin," he said softly," what happened to your face?"

"What?" I asked incredulously. I touched my face.... Oh, ohhhh the scar on one side, oops may have forgot about that.

"The scar Merlin, when did you get the scar?" Arthur asked. I really don't want to tell him about it maybe I can get Gwaine to tell him. Yeah I can get Gwaine to tell him.

"Um,....... I...." I started to shake a little remembering what had happened. Crap, no panic attacks, no panic attacks. Lancelot must have seen this because he spoke up.

"Arthur that's his own story to tell and he just told us a lot of secrets already. How about we set up camp." Arthur looked a little agitated for being bossed around I mean he is the king of camelot for christs sake but obliged. I started to do everything I usually do when Gwaine tried to stop me telling me I was a prince and I almost had a panic attack. But I just told him that I was fine and that I would do it. Once everyone was done setting up camp and I was finished cooking up some rabbits that I caught, no one believed that I did except Gwaine, they all just stared at me and looked like they were contemplating whether or not to say anything. I just shifted uncomfortably against their gaze. It seemed forever before Percival finally broke the silence.

"You look so different now." he commented. I chuckled at the blatant statement.

"Yeah, I had to disguise what I looked like really well." I said

"So how old are you really then because I thought you were younger than all of us. You used to look like 18 but you look like the same age as Arthur now." Lancelot asked. At that I burst out laughing.

"Your, your first question is my age!" I burst out in between my laughs. I tried to calm down but ultimately failed and continued to laugh my head off. The knights looked like they thought I was going insane. "I'm, I'm 23" I managed too get out.

They looked shocked at that. Arthur the most.

"You're a year older than me?!" He asks incredulously. I laughed even harder at that. Failing miserably at doing so, after I gathered my bearing enough to calm down so now it was only a few chuckles here and there.

"Yes, almighty Arthur I am a year older than you." I say while mockingly bowing to him at the almighty part, with a smug grin on my face. Arthur looked furious, the knights looked amused and Gwaine, well Gwaine liked adding fuel to the fire.

"Wow I didn't know you could even turn that shade of red princess." He commented as if he didn't just condemn my death.

I know I might be being a little dramatic but oh well. Arthur got up still looking red as ever, I got up as well and started to back away when he took a step in my direction.

"Merlin?" Arthur asked in a sickly sweet voice. I visibly gulped.

"Yes, Arthur?" I asked while backing away ready to turn around and run. I mean I don't have to I could put him on his back in a second if I wanted, but what's the fun in that. At that remark Arthur lunged forward and tried to grab me but I was to fast and started running around camp. I ducked behind a tree when Arthur threw a goblet at me. The knights all started laughed looking on at there friends banter this being a normal occurrence.

"Oiy! Watch the head, you prat!" I shouted when he threw a rock, barely dodging it.

"Will you give up and answer the question about the scar then." Arthur asked with a smirk on his face. I frowned at that as did Gwaine. He knew what had caused it and it was a painful memory I really wished not to relive.

"No!" I shouted anger in my voice, we were just joking around and he brought that up again. Arthur's response was to just throw another rock. Instead of just dodging and hiding behind a tree, I decided to show off a little bit. I guess I did dodge the stupid rock but instead of hiding behind a tree I walked back over to the fire and sat down on the ground with a frown. Arthur not understanding my mood continued to mock me.

"Oh come on Merrlin, you afraid!" He said and threw another rock aiming for the back of my head thinking I wouldn't see it coming. My hand shot out right before it was about to hit my head and caught it. I brought it around to the front of my face so I could look at it. My frown deepened, I am so going to train his ass. I through the rock into the woods angrily, staring into the mesmerizing flames willing the memory to go away. I felt Arthur sit next to my on the ground.

"Merlin, I'm sorry I shouldn't have bugged you About. I just wanted to know what happened to cause a scar that big on my friends face. You don't need to tell me if you don't want to." He said with sincerity in his voice. I didn't even acknowledge that he said anything I just kept staring into the flames. The camp fell into a peaceful silence.