~ * ~

“Hush, Zlota,” Merlin whispered to his daemon who was hidden inside his red neckerchief.

Zlota, in her more discreet firefly form, was buzzing a little too loudly. It wouldn’t do for the other Arthur to see his daemon and then question it.

How he and his Arthur managed to keep their presence unknown thus far from this world’s Arthur was almost beyond him.

But they had managed it nevertheless.

Merlin was riding on horseback alongside the other Arthur – the two of them returning from the trip to see Morgause.

From the way Arthur’s jaw clenched tight and his stiff look, Merlin had a good feeling that Arthur was much too focused on other matters.

Like seeing his mother for the first time and hearing about the circumstances of his birth.

Merlin was feeling a bit somber as well – wanting to reach out to this Arthur though he knew he wasn’t his Arthur, still… the inclination to comfort Arthur – whether his or not – was still there.

He couldn’t help feeling a little guilty for locking up the other Merlin (with magic, of course, he wasn’t an idiot – and he had made sure that it was a spell that wouldn’t be easily countered) in a room, so Merlin could take his place on the trip.

Merlin and Arthur, who was currently invisible (his horse, too; though Merlin had entertained the idea of keeping the horse visible if only to see the look on the other Arthur’s face upon seeing a riderless horse acting as if there was a rider atop it. His Arthur, of course, shot down the idea with a “Don’t even think about it, Merlin.”) on Merlin’s other side, really needed to see Morgause. They couldn’t miss this chance.

The other Merlin would forgive him, he was sure, once he explained it to him.

Well, Merlin was almost sure…

But just then, Zlota flew away from Merlin and against his wishes, she turned into a phoenix and started flying wildly around.

Merlin wanted to hide right about then. Trust Zlota to feel the need to ‘spread her wings’ now.

He turned to see this world’s Arthur stop his horse and stare in disbelief at the sudden appearance of a great, big scarlet-gold bird.

“Merlin, where the hell did that bird come from?” He demanded of him.

Merlin could hear his Arthur laughing next to him. And he was certain Krola was laughing at him too.

Shaking his head, he said hurriedly, “I don’t know, Arthur,” he tried to sound convincing.

And before Arthur could issue a most likely well-deserved retort, Merlin silently spoke the spell to stop time.

Time stopped. The other Arthur was frozen -- his mouth still open as if he were about to speak.

When Merlin lifted the invisibility spell off of his Arthur and the horse, Arthur just looked at him, smirking. His wolf daemon was wagging her tail and saying something about, “—the look on his face!” as she barked in amusement.

Arthur directed his horse to halt, Merlin following suit. “You really are an idiot, aren’t you?” Arthur remarked.

Merlin groaned. “It’s not my fault Zlota decided to do that. I thought I made it clear to you, Zlota--”

His phoenix daemon nodded. “Yes, but we needed to discuss the plan before we reached Camelot. This world’s Arthur might do something he’ll regret. You heard what his mother said – that Uther was to blame for her death. Arthur would want to--”

Arthur interrupted Zlota. “I’ll talk to him,” He said decisively in a tone that was final.

Merlin gave him an incredulous look. “Arthur, he doesn’t even know you’re here. He’ll think he’s going mad seeing his double much less listen to what you have to say.”

“It won’t matter. Trust me, Merlin, this may be a different Arthur, but we are still one and the same in some respects. I know what to say to him – what will make him truly understand.”

After looking carefully at Arthur, Merlin relented and he appeared to acquiesce. He noted somewhat bitterly. “I am not surprised that Morgause pulled that kind of trickery.”

“I’ll just have to make him see the truth – the real truth of the matter,” Arthur said with determination. He sighed then. Looking to Merlin, he gave him a half-smile and said, “Despite all that has come to pass in our world, I am glad that I learned the truth of my birth from Gaius instead of that witch.”

“Yes, but remember, it took some effort to even get him to tell you,” Merlin reminded him.

“That is true, but the point is he did in the end.”

Merlin hummed in agreement. “So the matter is settled. You’ll take care of Arthur and I’ll go see my evil twin.”

Merlin grinned cheekily at Arthur.

“Merlin, if anything, you would be the evil twin," Arthur teased him good-naturedly. "I’m surprised you haven’t realized this by now.”

“I’d like to think I’m right in this matter.”

“Really, Merlin,” Arthur retorted. He rolled his eyes at him.

“No, if anyone would know about Merlin, it would be me.”

“Oh, trust me, Merlin. I know you. And you’re a hopeless idiot. No matter what world we’re in, one thing will not change: you’ll always be inherently good.”

Merlin appeared startled. “I didn’t know you had such faith in my goodness.”

The two of them looked at each other – realizing that this conversation was getting too serious to continue.

An awkward silence fell upon them.

“You shouldn’t be so surprised, Merlin,” Arthur said quietly.

Merlin shook his head quickly. “Of course not,” He agreed. “Thank you…for everything,” he said sincerely.

Arthur shrugged, leaning toward him a bit to grasp Merlin’s shoulder. “All that time ago, when I told you that you were a true friend -- I meant it.”

Merlin nodded slowly.

Arthur removed his hand from his shoulder and he sighed. “I am sorry that Morgause was of little help.”

Zlota went to rest on Merlin’s shoulder then, her feathers caressing Merlin’s face. “It was a foolish thought, I suppose, to believe she could offer another way. Why Morgause has followed us to this world, I am not sure.”

“She kept her daemon well-hidden,” Arthur noted. “The other Arthur didn’t even suspect. And even when Morgause was at the castle…”

“Her daemon was invisible. That was why.”

Arthur looked puzzled. “I could see her daemon though.”

Merlin gave him a smug smile. “I broke through her spell so you and I could see it.”

Then Merlin urged his horse forward. “Come on, Arthur. The spell to stop time should last for at least another hour. My horse is getting restless. Let’s race.”

“Merlin, you know I’m going to beat you,” Arthur reminded him in exasperation.

But he pressed his horse onward despite his words.

“May the best man win!” Merlin cried. He cheered as his horse galloped ahead of Arthur, but the blond was gaining fast on him.

And the two of them raced across the landscape, Krola running with great enthusiasm alongside them and Zlota flying swiftly up high.

~ * ~

Merlin and the other Arthur were nearing Camelot when he heard his Arthur, back under the invisibility spell, whisper sharply at him, “Now is the time.”

He could hear him climbing off of his horse.

“Arthur! Wait a minute,” Merlin called to the other Arthur.

The prince was ahead of him, clearly intent on reaching Camelot and having a good, long talk with his father (oh, if only Merlin was reassured it would only be a talk).

Arthur turned his head to look at him. His impatience showed through in his voice. “What is it now, Merlin? Is there another bird flying about?”

Merlin shook his head. “I just – I’m sorry…what you heard from your mother. It must have been hard.”

“Merlin, I don’t want to talk about this now.”

“You needn’t blame your father for it.”

Arthur gave him a sharp look. “I didn’t say anything about that,” he said. “I appreciate your concern, Merlin, but I’m fine, all right? Let’s just get back to Camelot and--”

But Merlin interrupted him. “Well, I don’t think you are!” Merlin exclaimed, not letting this world’s Arthur let the matter drop that easily.

“Merlin--”

Merlin heard Krola snarl loudly. As predicted, Arthur’s horse was startled by the sudden sound.

Calming his horse down, Merlin saw that his Arthur had opened the window to the Shadow World. He could see the grey, foggy mist that was indicative of the place.

Arthur turned to Merlin. “Did you hear that, Merlin?” Arthur said, alarmed.

Merlin shook his head and then with a whispered word, Arthur’s horse was pushed forward in the direction of the window.

~ * ~

“What in the world--?” Arthur breathed out, finally seeing the strange opening into an equally unknown place filled with gathering mist.

He could do nothing as he was forced to go through the opening. Arthur fell to the ground as his horse disappeared.

“Your horse is back in the other world. Hold on a moment, I have to close the window,” A voice spoke though Arthur was hard-pressed to find the source of the voice what with all the mist obscuring what he wished to see.

Arthur stood up. “Who is speaking? What is the meaning of this?” He demanded.

A minute or so later, the mist cleared and out stepped…himself?

Arthur shook his head. Clearly, the stress and emotional exhaustion of recent events were getting to him because he was positive he was looking upon himself – an identical twin before his very eyes.

But that made no sense.

He really didn’t want to think that he was losing his mind, but there was no other explanation besides, quite possibly – sorcery.

“We need to talk, Arthur. About your mother. About our mother.”

“Who are you?” Arthur asked him once again.

“I am you from another world. You are not crazy. And I am quite real, I assure you.”

Arthur folded his arms. He did not look convinced. “No, I don’t believe you. I will not be easily fooled,” he said stubbornly.

The other man sighed.

But, in the end, Arthur listened to him.

~ * ~

“Okay, okay. Would you please stop that? That last one really hurt.”

The other Merlin just glared at him. He relented his attack though and extinguished the ball of fire he had formed in his hand. “That wasn’t fair, you know! You could have told me what you wanted. I would have listened.”

Merlin rubbed the back of his head. “All right, yes, you’re completely right. Arthur and I were in a rush. We simply had to see Morgause. I didn’t have the time to explain it to you and hope you’d agree. I can transfer the memories of the trip there and back so you’ll be on the same page as your Arthur. There won’t be anything remiss.”

“So it’s that easy, is it?” Merlin shot back at him. He sat down in one of the room’s dusty chairs. The room he had been locked up in was in an abandoned wing of the castle – most of the rooms here were not looked after due to a belief that these rooms were haunted, ridden with ghosts and foul spirits.

“I understand your frustration, I do, but there is some information we hoped she would offer us. Unfortunately, she could not. It was a wasted journey.”

“What about Arthur - my Arthur, I mean?” He asked, wanting to know.

“He saw his mother and he learned the circumstances of his birth from her. The truth was twisted a little bit. Morgause altered his mother’s words to turn Arthur against his father.”

The other Merlin’s interest was peaked. “So my Arthur knows about being born of magic?”

“Yes – and my Arthur is talking to yours right now. We feared the prince would do something he’d regret against his father.”

He looked uncertain. “Are you sure that’s a wise idea? Arthur will think he’s going--”

“—mad, yes,” Merlin finished with a sigh. “That’s what I told him, but Arthur was adamant on talking to your Arthur. I’m sure he’ll think of something to get through to him.”

“Is there any way you two will let me tell him about my magic? After your Arthur’s warning – waiting so long to tell him…”

Merlin saw how frustrated his alternate self looked. He knew he had to do something about it. It wasn’t fair that they had forced him to keep his magic secret from this world’s Arthur, especially when he was desperate to tell him.

“I have something to show you,” Merlin said then.

Maybe this would help the other Merlin. While he still couldn’t agree to this Merlin revealing his magic just yet, at the least – he could show him what he and Arthur had found…

~ * ~