It is silently in the castle. King Arthur sits at a long table in the council chamber. In front of him on the table are lots of papers. He reads, takes a pen and signs and seals it. After finishing one Merlin hands him the next paper and it starts again. As Arthur finished with the last one, he looks up to his servant: "Ready? Please tell me that there are no more?" Merlin grins: "Finished for today." Arthur sighs and throws everything away from him, to place his head on his table: "I hate these days. I'm already dead. My hand hurts and my head smokes." His friend starts to pick up all the papers. He looks down to his king: "Come on, it isn't that hard. It is just once in a week. Look at me, I'm always working so much for you." Arthur sits up: "You? Working? You just stand here by my side. I haven't seen you working for a while." Merlin looks down to his king and shakes his head. He leaves the room carrying all the papers.
As he returns without them, his king sits at exactly the same place in the same position. He looks up to Merlin: "Merlin, keep on smiling! You always laugh about my jokes, don't you?" Merlin smiles. His king, watching him, adds: "This is a lot better." Merlin picks up the last papers. Arthur smiles: "Merlin, why am I the man who tries to entertain us? You should make me laugh!" He grins. But his servant only sighs and leaves the room. After finishing this, he returns: "I'm your servant, not your jester." Arthur likes this game: "You are not?" He provocates Merlin: "I fear you are right. I'm pretty sure, this juggling is the only thing you have learned. Maybe it was just luck?" He grins at Merlin, stands up and puts his chair arround to sit down to watch straight at Merlin. Merlin watches him doing this sceptically. But his king goes on, with his arms, he welcomes him: "Merlin, come on. Now it is your turn. It is your chance to impress me." Merlin looks to the door, he is isn't convinced. Arthur following his view, adds: "Don't worry. Nobody will see you. It's only me. You know why, it is this day. They all know how much I hate this work. Signing papers is so boring, that is why they all run away from me today. You are always the only one who stands by me." He smiles and his eyes shine. Merlin makes some steps closer to his king: "Are you sure, you want me to do this?" And his king nods: "Yes Merlin. Show me what you are able to do." He sits up in his chair and watches his friend with upcoming tension.
Merlin takes his position, he folds his hands and wispers some words into it. The color of his eyes change from blue to red and back to blue. Arthur watches it: "And now? I don't see anything?" Merlin smiles: "Don't be so impatient!" He opens his hands and throws its content in the air. Suddenly small snowflakes fall down on Arthur's head. Athur catches one, it melts in his hand. As the king looks back up, he watches the last falling down. After only a few seconds they are all gone. Only some watermarkes on the ground are to find. Arthur is fascinated, he looks up to Merlin. His friend smiles blessed and his eyes shine. Arthur smiles back: "Merlin, that was wonderfull. Seems you are not completely stupid. Thank you." Merlin's smile dies. In his eyes are now sadness and lonelyness: "I wished I could do that more often for you. Without beeing afraid to be watched by somebody." He looks down to the ground. His king makes some steps towards his friend: "Merlin, you know that I have changed the laws a bit. Camelot made a step into the right direction." Merlin nods: "I know. Will I ever be just me? The people of Camelot, will they ever accept magic again?" Arthur puts his hands on Merlin's shoulders: "Merlin, if we are alone, you can always be you. I trust you."
Merlin sighs: "I will always need to hide myself." Arthur shakes his head: "For the next time, you will. It is one thing to bring on some snowflakes, it is another side of magic what kills people and causes a lot of pain. That's why the people don't trust magic anymore. Magic frightens people. I'm not entirely sure to trust magic itself by myself." Merlin swallows: "I could never do something that hurts you Arthur." Arthur smiles: "I know that Merlin. But if I allow your magic, I have to allow all people's magic. And the people of Camelot, they wouldn't understand that. It has caused to much pain the last time." He shakes his head: "You can't expect them to forget that so fast. That needs time." He takes his hand off Merlin's shoulder to look into his eyes: "Merlin look at me." The young sorcerer looks up, both look each other into their eyes. In Merlin's eyes some tears appear. But his king smiles: "Hey, after all you don't need to hide yourself before me or Gwaine. This is better than nothing. And in emergency you can use your magic in public without getting executed afterwards. I know, this is not what you expected, it is just a small step. To small for you, but believe me. It is a big one for Camelot." The king and his servant, in this moment, both just stand there to look at each other. Both smile.