12. The proclamation

The boy had swiftly returned to the camp and delivered the news that Gilli had been killed by the queen's men. Anger and outrage at the injustice of the queen swept through the camp. 'If she wants a fight, then this is what we'll do!', shouted a young man and soon the whole camp was erupting with cries for retribution. 'We will not live in fear anymore, we'd rather die!' And so they marched on to the castle of Camelot.

'Merlin!' Gwen looked at him in search for help. 'Even the best knights of the kingdom cannot stand up to the magic of so many.'

Merlin had been weighing up their options. There was no doubt that fighting a force of magic that big was pointless. There would be many deaths on each side and the hatred that would inevitably follow would forbid any reconciliation in the future. He could not allow that to happen.

'Open the doors of the citadel. Let them come into the courtyard and then lock the gates behind them.'

Leon and Percival shouted almost in unison: 'My lady!' This was against any rules of warfare they had ever come across. Allowing the enemy to come right into the centre of the palace meant exposing the heart of Camelot. Leon eyed Merlin with slight suspicion: 'This will be the downfall of all of us.'

'Trust him, Leon.' Gwen's voice was steady and her advice was clear.

The crowd emerged only seconds later pushing its way past guards and knights. Men and women of all ages came barging into the courtyard. Angry shouting and spiteful fury was rife in the air. It took only seconds for someone to notice the gates had been closed behind them. Some men were turning towards the gate with the intention of blasting it open when Merlin appeared on the balcony.

His presence was felt to an extent that people stopped and looked up noticing him above. 'Who is it?' Some muttered under their breath.

Merlin raised his staff and cited a spell with a thundery voice. A luminous transparent mist slowly descended onto the crowd. It seemed to vibrate with magic and as it fell it calmed their mood. The anger that had filled their heart dwindled away and men and women just stood in wonderment watching the beauty of the magical veil that sparkled and twinkled around them.

'Emrys!' A young man had made the connection. 'It's Emrys.!'

Most people with magic had heard that name before. The prophecy that Emrys would finally bring peace to their kind was well known and often told amongst those who cared for it. Some fell onto their knees in reverence, others bowed their head, and there were those who simply could not take their eyes off the renowned sorcerer.

'You came here in anger.' Merlin started to speak and his voice was magnified tenfold by every droplet of mist. 'But what you look for is peace.' He saw many of them nodding.

'The queen killed one of our own!' shouted one woman. 'She has to pay!'

'Gilli betrayed all of us. He was the bearer of the curse and tried to kill the queen.' Merlin set the matter straight calmly. Expressions of astonishment and horror went through the crowd.

'But where is my husband, Kieron? It was the wife of the old man who had come to the Great Hall with Gilli. 'I am here.' A voice came from one of the archways as the man stepped into the light. 'It is true what Emrys says.'

'Magic will never be set free if you fight today.' Merlin continued.

'We have waited too long to lead the lives we deserve!' Another young man tried to rile the crowd.

'Use your magic against Camelot now and it is me you have to fight.' There was underlying threat in Merlin's voice when he spoke.

'You would strike against your own kind?' shouted the same sorcerer.

'I will fight for what I believe to be right. The queen is just and she has a good heart. She will listen to your plight. I promise it.'

Kieron stepped forward now. 'We should do as Emrys asks.'

His comment was met with approval from many. 'What will you have us do?'

Merlin asked them to leave in peace and return to the castle in the morning. A short discussion followed amongst the sorcerers, but the majority had already made up their minds. And as they left the mist that had surrounded them started to disperse.

'Are you sure this is the right thing to do?' Gwen was still somewhat uncertain about what she was going to do as she could not grasp what consequences it would have.

'I'm sure:' Merlin encouraged her.

When she walked out on to the balcony he followed closely behind her in support. The courtyard was packed solid. Every little space seemed to be filled with a person. The same people who had tried to take over Camelot the previous night now gathered harmoniously and expectantly. And they had been joined by many other inhabitants of the kingdom. Rumours that something monumental might happen had spread like wildfire.

Gaius, Niniane and all the knights were standing on the big staircase also present waiting in anticipation.

'Citizens of Camelot!.' Gwen started. It fell so quiet people could hear a tiny bird on one of the turrets whistling its little tune.

'Camelot has long prided itself as a force against the evils of magic.' Some sorcerers looked up slightly alarmed at her words. 'and this kingdom has suffered many times by the hand of dark sorcery. But without our knowledge magic has also protected this kingdom and helped it prosper. The sorcerer who was responsible for this and who saved so many of us in the battle of Camlan is standing here right next to me.'

The ordinary folk gasped in surprise as they realized she was talking about Merlin and whispers went through the audience. 'How can it be? 'He was Arthur's servant…!' 'Arthur must have accepted him'…..

'I owe my life to him and to the witch who saved me yesterday.' Gwen nodded in Niniane's direction. All eyes were resting on the young woman now. 'The events of last night could have cost many lives.' Gwen was addressing the men and women with magic now. 'But then you chose peace rather than war and this has turned into a chance for us to call a truth.'

Gwen's voice echoed from the walls of the palace.

'Magic itself is neither good nor evil. It is the person who wields it that makes it so.'

There were a lot of nods going round the courtyard.

'So I proclaim that henceforth people of magic will be accepted for who they are. As long as they abide by the rules set up by the court of Camelot they can live freely in this kingdom without fear of persecution.'

A little silence followed as people took in the enormity of the proclamation. Then a huge cheer went up as sorcerers embraced each other in delight. Their joy and happiness infected everyone around them and it felt as if a huge burden had been lifted off the kingdom.

Merlin felt tears welling up. He could hardly believe that this day had finally come. It was indeed momentous. Camelot had embraced magic. The unimaginable had happened. None of his kind would ever have to live in fear again. How much would he have liked to share this glorious moment with Arthur. How much would he have liked to hear his voice and see him amongst his people smiling. Merlin's heart was full of joy and pride, but it was tinged with sorrow.

He watched the crowds celebrating. They seemed to sense that this was the beginning of a new era, an era of peace and prosperity and of many good things to come. As he stood in silence he knew he had to make decisions of his own, now that another prophecy had come to pass.