A/N: I'm back! Thank you for all of your reviews, follows, and favorites!
Merlin's POV
I could hear a voice coming from somewhere. It sounded so far away. I couldn't make out what it was saying. Painstakingly slow, I reached out to it and it came into focus.
"...you sure Gaius?"
"He's been getting stronger each day, m'lord." I felt something cool on my face. A closer voice spoke.
"Oh, poor dear. I hope he wakes up soon." I struggled against the heavy darkness, trying to wake up. I think I managed to moan at least. The voices went silent. After a moment, they started talking again.
"The knights are getting restless; I've promised to tell them what happened if Merlin hasn't woken up by tomorrow."
"I'd like to know the whole story too," said the voice closest to me.
"I'll do my best," answered Gaius. "But truthfully, it's Merlin's choice if he wakes up or not." I wanted to wake up, but it was so hard to just focus on the conversation. The knights, telling them, the whole story…
I broke free of the darkness and my eyes opened. I sat up quickly and scared Gwen something fierce.
"Merlin!" she cried breathlessly. In an instant Gaius and Arthur were by my side. I fell back on the pillows breathing heavily and gritting my teeth in pain. My head felt about ready to split in two and my body ached just as badly. I had woken up, but now I just wanted to go back to bed.
I turned my head slightly and my eyes met Arthur's. "I'm never saving your life again," I told him. He grinned at me.
"Glad you're back Merlin." I gasped as Gaius prodded me.
"I'm sure I will be too, eventually. Will you stop that?" I asked Gaius loudly. He raised an eyebrow at me, but I didn't care. The physician looked at the royal couple.
"I think it's time you leave, Your Majesties. You can come and visit later. And Arthur, please alert the knights that they can stop pestering you." With some parting well wishes, Gwen and Arthur left. Once they were gone, Gaius passed me an extra pillow, knowing I would need it, and pressed it to my face. I screamed, letting out all of the agony I was currently feeling. A few moments later, I finally stopped and Gaius took the pillow away.
"Better?" he asked.
"No," I whimpered and gritted my teeth again.
"Well it's no wonder considering what Arthur's told me. Draining yourself nearly dry and then trying to use magic again! Honestly Merlin! Here, drink this." Gaius held a potion to my lips and I drank gratefully. Immediately, my headache lessened.
"Thanks." I paused. "Do you think it's gone for good now?" I could hear the fear in my voice. Magic was who I was. I was nothing without it. Gaius paused in his potion-making.
"I don't know," he said finally. "I certainly pray it's not. But whether it is or not, you are strictly forbidden from doing magic until you are completely healed!" The tone of his voice left no room for argument.
"How am I going to tell the knights?" I wondered. Gaius continued working as he talked.
"Whatever you do, make sure you tell them before any demonstrations you might try. That'll
dull the shock." I lay in silence for a while, listening to Gaius as worked. I think he thought I was asleep when I whispered,
"What's going to happen to me?" I hated how my voice sounded, but I couldn't help it. I was scared; true, and desperately scared. This was worse than leaving home, sneaking through the caves with the wilddeoren, fighting so many other monsters, and being defenseless without my magic, combined. The only time I had been more afraid was when I heard how bad Arthur's wound was. Gaius came over and put a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"I don't know Merlin. But I do know that it will work out for the best. Now get some rest. You're going to need it if you're ever going to get feeling better."
A/N: Yeah, I know it was short. But look! There's another one!
Over the next week, I slowly gained his strength back. It irked me to be getting better this slowly. I could barely sit up on the third day. It was especially annoying not being able to use magic. A part of me was dying to use just a bit to grab a glass of water or something simple, but another part of me was terrified that when I tried, it wouldn't work at all.
Arthur came and visited, but when he did he seemed pensive and closed off. I finally asked him what the matter was.
"Huh, oh, just thinking." I smirked.
"A dangerous pastime, sire." He smiled a bit.
"Well it's your fault. You've given me a lot to think about, Merlin." There was a moment of silence. Finally, Arthur spoke again. "Will you be ready for tomorrow?" I nodded. I had managed to walk around the room yesterday, so I was fairly confident I could make it downstairs.
"Good," he said. "And you're ok with telling them… everything?" Arthur was still uncomfortable with saying I had magic, which was understandable I suppose. I nodded.
"It's time they know."
"Alright. I've got some things to finish up. I'll see you tomorrow Merlin." He opened the door and was halfway out before he turned around. "And Merlin? Don't worry. It'll be fine." Then he left.
The next morning after breakfast, I stumbled downstairs to the throne room. I was shaky and out of breath as the guards let me in. It was a closed court day, so the only people in the room were the knights and the King and Queen at the round table.
"Merlin!" Leon shouted. Within minutes, the knights had surrounded me and were clapping me on the back. I couldn't help but smile. "I'd say you look better," Leon continued, "but you really don't. How are you feeling?"
"Sore, but getting better."
"Well that's good to hear. Come sit down. We've been dying to hear what happened!" We approached the table and the knights directed me to chair on the left of Arthur. I raised an eyebrow.
"I get my own chair? I feel so special." Everyone laughed and they all sat down. It felt very odd to be sitting. The knights stared at us expectantly. Arthur and I looked at each other.
"What should we tell them first?" I asked.
"You should probably share your… secret first," he replied. One of the knights laughed.
"What, are you two in love?" Arthur and I instantly recoiled from each other, each of our faces a look of pure disgust.
"No, no, absolutely not. Never," I said firmly. He had Gwen and I still loved Freya.
"Say something like that again and I'll put my sword through your face," Arthur told the knight who put his hands up in mock surrender. Arthur nodded for me to continue.
"The truth is a lot harder to believe, actually." I took a deep breath. "I'm a sorcerer. I have magic. When I saved Arthur, I used most of it up, so sorry if this doesn't work." Everyone was staring at me like I was a lunatic, but there was an air of expectation in the room as I cupped my hands and muttered a spell. There were mild gasps as my eyes flashed gold and a tiny flame appeared in my hand. Carefully, I turned my hand outward and made the flame dance around the table, hovering for a moment in front of me, before disappearing completely. Silence and stunned stares met me when I looked around the table.
"Well, can't say I didn't see it coming," Gwaine said. The knights laughed and Percival shoved him.
"As if. Is that how you've managed to stay alive this long?" Everyone laughed, including myself.
"You mean that's how you've managed to stay alive this long." Everyone went, "Ohhhh…" Someone yelled 'burn.' As the table settled down, I couldn't help but smile brightly. I was ecstatic! No one was freaking out, threatening death, anything. A few of them were giving me wary glances, but for the most part… they accepted it.
Times really were changing.
Once everyone was quiet again, Percival said, "Well come on Merlin! Show us something else!" Noises of agreement came from around the table. I put my hands up.
"Sorry, but I can't. I haven't recovered fully and Gaius would have my head if I tried anything else." Disappointed groans came from the knights, but it was all in good humor. Once everyone settled down, Arthur spoke up.
"Well, I guess we should tell them the rest of the story before they explode, huh?"
"I suppose…" I agreed. So we told them. A half hour later, they had the whole story.
"Now, hang on," Gwaine started. "Now that we know you're a, well, sorcerer, I have some questions about the quests we've been on. Like trying to find the Fischer King, the man said we'd need courage, strength, and magic. You were magic, weren't you?" I nodded. Now that Gwaine had broached the subject, I had quite a bit of explaining to do.
"Did you know that rude, old sorcerer who used to bug us a lot?" Arthur asked. Everyone looked at me expectantly. I laughed nervously.
"Well, I guess that's one way you could put it."
"Merlin," Arthur said dangerously. "What do you know about him?"
"Quite a lot, considering, he's, well, me." The air was filled with surprised exclamations.
"No way!"
"Really?"
"The things he said about Uther!"
"Hang on a minute! That means you killed my father!" Arthur cried. Stony silence suddenly filled the room.
"Technically, that was Morgana. She had placed a trap on Uther. Any magic used on him, would instantly kill him. Ask Gaius, I'm telling the truth. I promise, I did my best Arthur." Finally, Arthur nodded.
"Alright. I believe you." Suddenly, he laughed. "You were that sorceress Mordred and I went to see, to get help for Gwen, too!" Everyone started laughing at that and I could feel myself blushing a bit. After a few more hilarious stories and a few serious explanations, Arthur spoke up.
"Well, besides stunning revelations that have been made today, there is some actual business we need to clear up. As you've all heard today, Merlin has confessed to being a sorcerer."
I really didn't like how that word 'confessed' sounded.
"You all know the law for magic in Camelot; death."
I really did not like where this was going.
"Therefore I have no choice in this matter. Merlin, according to the laws of Camelot, you are hereby convicted of sorcery. You are hereby sentenced-"
I closed my eyes and waited for the pin to drop.
"-to be immediately appointed to Court Sorcerer. As for the actual law, Gwenivere and I have decided to abolish it." I looked up, eyes wide with hope. Did he really say what I think he said?
"Times are changing and Camelot needs to keep up with it. We've lived in the shadow of magic far too long. And I'm hoping with Merlin's help, we can change it. He looked over at me and raised an eyebrow, expecting an answer. I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and smile.
"My lord, there is nothing I would enjoy more."
A/N: Tada! I hope this is ok. This is the last chapter (unless anyone has brilliant ideas they would like to share). Thanks for your support!
