Leon shuffled away from Percival. Leon bowed his head and folded his hands in respect as Percival relayed the gruesome tale of what happened to his best friend. Merlin learned how Morgana was able to find him and Arthur. Gwaine ended up paying his life for their safety which seemed folly in the end. If Morgana hadn't figured it out, she'd still be out there. But Morgana was dead. Merlin was able to inform the Queen and the Knights that the wicked high priestess no longer walked the earth. He didn't tell them how, though, having to explain everything about the sword, Excalibur, secretly being forged in a Dragon's breath might've been a bit much for this reunion.

The company in whole veered towards the Round Table within the castle. When the ensemble all went to their seat around the table, the empty chairs gave them a cold slap to the face. They all looked around, purposefully making eye contact with each other as they sat down.

Arthur reached out to grab Gwen's hand as if she would fade from his sight. They became each other's gravity for the moment since Gwen still couldn't believe her eyes. When the King's ring was sent to her via Gaius, Gwen feared and prepared for the worst news when Merlin would return alone. Instead her husband and Camelot's King returned and all became well with the world. Well, in one sense of the word. The city was no longer in danger from Morgana and her allies. Otherwise, families were now broken from the battle at Camlann and the kingdom was still wary of any Magic.

Merlin would have the most trouble, Arthur reflected. His Knights trusted him as a friend. A clumsy fool, really, but a trusted and kind friend. The Knights will certainly be in for a surprise when they find out. Arthur remembered he was told just a few short days ago. Those days seemed like a year ago, the battle itself felt like a lifetime. The knowledge of Merlin's power had aged him. Awareness of Merlin's role of safeguarding himself for the prophecy made Arthur feel slightly foolish. Now looking back, he gathered that he was rather easy to deceive. No wonder Merlin called him a dollophead and clotpole. Here Merlin was saving his life day in and day out with no thank you because if he was ever found out, he thought he'd be killed. Honestly, Arthur was no doubt shocked by the news of his manservant being a sorcerer, but after finding out that he was actually a warlock, which meant he was born with Magic (which was very rare, which was why Arthur had to ask what that meant), Arthur became much more accepting towards him. Arthur had to admit that Merlin was quite bright and sometimes a little too forward for his own good. Arthur finally realized what his friend meant the second time they had met before Merlin became his manservant.

'I could take you apart with less than that,' Merlin mumbled to himself when Arthur mentioned that he could take him apart with one blow.

He was an arrogant prat, Arthur supposed. He was the Prince after all, everybody around him were of lower class. Merlin taught him to be kinder to everyone and showed him that any man could be a Knight, especially a compassionate one. Now Arthur just had to test that compassion.

He looked across the Round Table and cleared his throat. Now was a better time than any to inform them of Merlin's secret. He eyed Merlin and slightly nodded towards him to quickly warn Merlin of his speech.

"Now that we are altogether once more, I have some important news for you. Presently, I request that this information does not leave this room for his safety."

With that utterance, the soldiers guarding the doors left their posts to leave at the King's command. The Knights glanced around at each other and all eyes finally landed on Merlin. Once he felt all attention on him, Merlin sat back in his seat suddenly nervous. He sought Arthur's eyes, silently pleading for the King to disclose his secret.

Arthur nodded again. "All of you are my most trusted friends. Please understand that this subject is very delicate and your reaction will be a tell-all."

The Knights, at this point, both shifted in their seats, wondering what all the commotion was.

"Merlin is the reason I am here at your side today. He is the reason Morgana is dead. And he is the reason Camelot still stands as a whole. Merlin is a warlock. He has Magic. He was born with it." Silence bore down in the room as Arthur took a breath, "I am condoning his Magic. I hope to make this a first step in changing Camelot for the better. For far too long the Old Religion has been looked down upon and punished. I desire to change that. Magic can and should be accepted here. Merlin has saved us all because of it." Still the silence bore on, "Trust me, he has quite a different perspective of many of our quests and adventures over the years."

Merlin willed for someone to say something. Anything. Though he couldn't seem to make eye contact with anybody because he was scared of what he might face.

"Merlin?"

Merlin looked up and to his left startled.

"Merlin?" Percival asked once more.

"Yes, Percival?"

"Can-Can you show us? I-I mean, I understand if you wouldn't, but it would help me." Percival asked quietly.

Merlin shrugged slightly in response and held out his hand towards the open flames of a torch. Silently, he pulled it closer with a glow of his eyes until the flames came to rest floating over the center of the Round Table. He then manipulated the fire into a dragon, much like the one he used to show Arthur. Merlin cautiously glanced around the Table, eyeing everybody's reaction. Gwen didn't seem too shocked at what was said and shown. Leon sat wide eyed while Percival actually smiled and chuckled.

Merlin gave him a questioning stare after he ended the spell.

"Gwaine tried to tell me. He thought he was sure of it. I should have listened to him." His voice cracked at the end as he shook his face into his hands.

"Why didn't you believe him?" Merlin asked. He figured if anybody found out or thought more about it, it'd be Gwaine.

"Well, he was drunk whenever the topic came up," Percival revealed. "It seemed whenever he was drunk, his walls were brought down and worries slipped out after he talked about or to a couple young gals. He was always worried about you."

"What exactly he did he worry about regarding Merlin?" Arthur gently inquired.

"Sometimes it was how he was treated by you. I heard stories from Gwaine. The incidents happened before I came to Camelot. He would talk of all these heroic deeds almost in a tone of disbelief, like Arthur was actually able to do all of it. And then all the times that Merlin would end up getting the brunt of a punishment just because he was in the tavern. Gwaine would've vouched for him if he could. Merlin was almost never in the tavern."

"That was actually my fault," Gaius spoke up sheepishly. "The tavern was my excuse for when I sent Merlin on a mission of the Old Religion sort. It happened to be a great cover because I don't think anybody followed up on it, to my recollection." Gaius eyed Arthur with his last remark.