A/N Sorry this story is a bit later than normal, I got a bit of writer's block and the story just kinda stopped, but I worked it out. I hope you enjoy this chapter, it is a bit of a filler but there is some important things here too! Thanks again to everyone who reads, reviews, and follows this! It really makes my day!


The next morning passed uneventfully. Arthur spent the first part training with the druids against Emrys, who refused to perform any magic stronger than the shield or light spells.

Arthur couldn't believe it when he saw Gwaine was now friends with Emrys. Something had happened after they had eaten. Gwaine had lied through his teeth to get out of the chambers. They had been discussing Emrys, but Arthur had felt like they were discussing Merlin. Arthur had told Merlin to run when they spoke in the dungeon that night so long ago. Arthur had told him but didn't expect the idiot to listen. Especially after his declaration of always protecting Camelot, but then he vanished.

Then Arthur had to hunt his friend down. He knew it would be pointless Merlin had warned him the last time they spoke; he wouldn't be found, not until magic was legal or he was needed to save Camelot.

He called the patrols off and kept up the façade that Merlin was a traitor and slowly he and Guinevere began relaxing the laws. No one knew that they were rewriting the magic laws or overturning them entirely. It took much longer than he wanted. Months passed and there were no magical attacks on Camelot, for which Arthur was immensely grateful for and yet greatly disappointed.

Now Emrys was here and at first Gwaine had told Arthur that something was wrong. Not even a day later and Gwaine was cracking jokes with the man, granted Emrys did not always laugh at them. Arthur felt out of the loop, so he did the only sensible thing; he cornered Gwaine.

"Gwaine. What happened yesterday? You acted as if you didn't like Emrys, and today you are best friends with him." Arthur had pulled Gwaine aside after the morning training.

Gwaine flashed him a grin that Arthur ignored. "There is something magical about him." Was the knight's cheeky response.

Arthur gave the knight a pointed look, "I thought that was what bothered you yesterday."

"I got over it." The man said with a shrug. Then suddenly he turned serious, "We should be showing a united front. By a knight being friends with Emrys we show we trust them. We have asked for magical help but we remain aloof. Aside from the sorcerer assigned to each patrol no one talks to the druids. You are no better than the knights. Have you spoken to Emrys outside of the council or training? Who knows maybe you could be friends, an unlikely pair of friends but possible."

Arthur realized that Gwaine was right, and told him so, ignoring the way Gwaine dramatically gasped at the statement. "We'll have to get to know them. Let the knights of the round table know, we head out in an hour."

"Wait, head out where?" Gwaine gave Arthur a strange look.

"We will spend the afternoon with the druids." Arthur nodded decisively at the plan and left Gwaine standing in the hall.


Gwaine stared after Arthur until he realized what problems having Arthur and knights showing up at a druid camp could cause. He hurried towards Gaius's chambers knowing Emrys-Merlin had been headed that direction after training.

"Mrys!" Gwaine remembered at the last second to not use Merlin's name, but it made for a very odd emphasis Emrys.

"Gwaine, what's the matter? Is it Arthur?" Gwaine turned to Emrys-Merlin, I have got to pick one name, and this double name thing is driving me crazy. "Yes, Arthur's decided to be friendly. All the Round Table knights are going to spend the afternoon at the druid camp."

"Really?" Emrys said, this man in front of me is definitely Emrys, at least until he gets rid of the druid tattoo. "Well our afternoon should be interesting then."

Gwaine looked incredulously at Emrys, "You want him to come? Won't he find out who you are?"

"I'm known as Emrys at the camp, remember?" Emrys turned back to the bench where he was mixing a potion. "Only three people know who I really am; you, Gaius, and the druid chieftain Koran. Oh and Kilgharrah I suppose."

Gwaine watched as Emrys compared a potion to a drawing in a book in front of him. "What are you going to do at the camp?"

"Hmm?" Emrys looked up seemingly lost in thought. "Oh, probably the same thing as when you came, except the youngest at the camp is a boy of eighteen summers, so no playing with the children."

"Well glad you got a plan. I'm going to get the knights, 'fore princess is hollering for me."

Gwaine left as Emrys mumbled something under his breath about a prat. Gwaine grinned, it was still Merlin behind the age lines, blond hair, and druid mark.

As the knights and Emrys rode into the druid camp it went quiet. Emrys dropped his hood as he rode in, grinning all the while. Gwaine grinned in return, he had sorely missed the bright smile, but there was something guarded about it now.

Leofric was the druid that approached first, after bowing low to Emrys. Gwaine laughed quietly at the flustered look Emrys had; always the servant, he didn't like to be the center of attention.

Gwaine ignored the introductions and instead looked around the camp. It had been set up much like the last one, with lean-to's and small tents around fires. Gwaine could see druids throughout the camp, a little less than half had kept their hoods up.

"And the knight who looks like an idiot is Gwaine." Arthur's dry tone broke through his thoughts.

"I think you're the idiot. I've met these magic users when I first met Emrys." Gwaine shot the insult at the king and grinned at the glare he got in return. "I had one of the best meals I have ever eaten in their camp."

"Then you can pair up and show some of the knights around? Percival, you go with him, Leofric has offered to be your guide. Leon, Elyan and I will remain with Emrys." Gwaine quickly dismounted and headed towards the druid who gave him a suspicious look and led them further into the camp.


Arthur watched as Emrys lit the fire, the words of the old religion still sparked a sense of unease, even after all the training and spending an afternoon at the camp. After Arthur had split up the knights they had wandered around the camp. Emrys had been very kind to all they met and had introduced the knights to everyone, but he could tell some were avoided; usually the ones who had left their hoods up.

Occasionally there would be a flash of gold, a whispered word, and then something magical would happen. Arthur was particularly impressed when a druid and Emrys moved a boulder that had fallen from the cliff further from camp. Sometimes a druid would begin a spell and quickly cut it off when they noticed the knights or Arthur. Emrys would laugh and go to talk with the person, sometimes performing the spell himself.

Arthur turned his mind back to the present, Emrys was talking with the knights and had left Arthur by the fire with another druid.

"Rheda, correct?" Arthur vaguely remembered meeting the woman at the first council meeting. She does healing spells, he remembered.

"Yes, Sire." She had a quiet voice, and she seemed nice enough. Arthur decided to ask her the questions that had been bothering him all afternoon.

"Is Emrys a good leader?" Arthur felt like Emrys genuinely cared about his people, but he wanted to hear it from the druid herself.

"Yes, he has only been with us for a few months, but he is doing very well." Arthur turned to her in surprise.

"Why has he not led you longer? He is older than I, and I'm king. It must not be age that has stopped him."

She smiled at the king's interest, "He has lived most of his life away from the druids. He fled from his former life a year ago, fled from the place he had called home. No one is sure where that was, but he came into the camp a few months back."

Arthur went quiet, Emrys had to flee just like Merlin had. "Hopefully after Morgana has been taken care of, I can change the laws. It's my plan anyways. Too many of your people have been hurt by mine and my father's twisted views. I am truly sorry for the pain I have caused you."


Merlin laughed as each of the knights tried to say the words, Percival was the best at the pronunciation but lacked the power.

"It's a simple spell!" He said with a grin, "The first one the children are taught!"

He focused on the pile of wood near him "Forbearnan firgenholt" The flames began climbing the wood almost immediately.

"For-barn-en Finger-hold" Gwaine's attempt was hilarious and Merlin couldn't help but laugh. "It's faster with flint anyways," was the knight's grumpy response.

"It was your idea Gwaine." Elyan said trying to hide his own laugh, he had tried the spell and after several attempts had stopped when nothing had happened.

"Yes, you said something about surprising the enemy with your skill." Leon added, he hadn't tried to use the spell and Merlin hadn't forced it. Leon had spent years as a knight under Uther and now that Arthur's stance on magic was changing Leon was learning to accept magic as well.

As the conversation became more teasing Merlin looked around. He was happier than he could remember being in a long time. Arthur had accepted magic and was even talking to Rheda. The knights, his friends, were sitting with him in a druid camp and they weren't scared. He felt peaceful, Merlin knew that Morgana could attack any minute but he would always remember this afternoon.

"Thank you Emrys." Merlin jumped when he realized Arthur was right in front of him and talking to him. "It has been an enjoyable afternoon, but we must return to the castle. Perhaps we could to this again."

Merlin grinned at the king, "Of course, Sire. It was a pleasure to show you the good in magic."

Merlin watched as Arthur and the knights rode off, Gwaine with an over-exaggerated wink, and grinned, it seemed his luck was finally turning around.


A/N again, so yeah a bit shorter than usual, but next chapter should make up for it. I go on break from school so that should give me more time to write. You won't have to wait too long for the next one. Any guesses on what will happen? Thanks again for reading!