A/N: And with this chapter I will end this story. I thank everyone for all the great reviews and support. I'm sorry that you guys had to wait for some chapters longer than others and you all deserve to have a cookie. *offers cookie*. I also thank my new beta reader, who offered her help thanks to this story. And I can't believe how many mistakes I apparently made. (English isn't my first language).

I hope you guys all enjoyed this story and please tell me what you thought of it, what I can improve and what was already good.

Now about this chapter, I actually rewrote most of it, because I was not happy with the ending and I made a totally different ending. So that's why it took me somewhat longer to post this one. I always have trouble with the endings. Oh and please check out my other stories and future ones.

So enjoy this very last chapter!

xxx

It had been five days since their fight with the sheriff. After his death the whole city was filled with chaos. The villagers were happy to be free again, freed from that tyrant, but at the same time they feared who their new leader would be. Many thought that Guy would be the one to take control, but instead it was Marian who stepped up, calming and leading the townspeople. She did great, even though there were many who thought that women couldn't lead. Guy on the other hand just disappeared, fleeing the city because he feared what the people's actions towards him would be.

They buried Sir Robert as soon as they could, knowing that the man finally needed a resting place. It felt wrong that he was laid to rest so far away from home, but even so they would never forget their new friend. Merlin hadn't made it to the ceremony, because he slept for three more days before finally waking up. The queen was so surprised when he finally opened his eyes that she almost squeezed him to death. Gwaine didn't react much differently from her and tears could be seen in the corner's of the brunette's eyes.

Currently, all of them were standing at the city's gate, saying goodbye to each other. It was time for them to go back to Camelot. And although Merlin was still fearful about what he would tell Arthur, he knew that it was time to go back home. He missed the knights, Gaius and yes, even that royal prat.

Merlin smiled at Will, the younger man had tears in his eyes as he almost jumped into the raven's arms, tightly hugging the other. The raven just rubbed his back, and realized that during his time with the outlaws he had started to see Will as the little brother he had never had. 'I will miss you.' He heard the boy say.

'And I you. You're always welcome in Camelot.' The raven said before looking at the others. 'You're all welcome in Camelot.'

Gwen nodded. 'He's right, we would love to show you our home.'

Merlin grinned one last time at Will before turning to Robin, the last person he had to say goodbye to. He opened his mouth to speak, but the brunette was faster than him. 'I want to thank you for everything that you have done for us. I'm certain that without you we could never have won.'

'Don't worry about it, all I did was protect my friends.' They hugged each other, knowing that the two of them would be friends for life. 'We will see each other again.' With that said he released Robin and climbed on his horse.

The four of them started the journey back to Camelot, waving until their new friends disappeared from view.

The journey back went by quickly, even though the weather was terrible. All of them shivered in their capes, as the piercing rain drenched their clothes. Merlin still feared the thought that he had to face Arthur; yet, as they drew closer to Camelot something in him seemed to click, he was finally ready to tell Arthur.

'Merlin?' He glanced at Gwaine. They were close to Camelot, not more than an hour away. 'Are you okay? You look really pale.'

A bright smile spread over the raven's face. 'Better than I have been in a long time.' He said happily and the others started to grin at him.

'Are you going to tell him?' Gwen asked carefully.

He gave her a soft nod. 'Yes, it's time.'

A small laugh left Percival's lips. 'That's great, because I don't think that Gwaine could keep it a secret for long!'

'Hey!' Gwaine shouted, but the others just ignored him.

'We will all be there to help you' The large knight added, 'and I'm sure that Arthur will accept your magic, he truly cares for you.'

The warlock nodded, in his heart he knew that.

But before he could respond they heard a loud yell as the sound of metal clanging against metal spread through the forest. He locked eyes with Gwen for a second before encouraging his horse to charge forward, soon followed by his friends.

The red of Camelot's capes came into view as he saw the knights battle against a group of renegade sorcerers. His eyes shot over the group as he searched for that one person he feared to lose, eventually his eyes rested on Arthur as he saw his friend block an attack from one of the sorcerers.

He jumped off his horse and ran towards Arthur. His hands outstretched as he shouted words in the old religion, a burst energy spread from his fingers as it was shot towards the sorcerers, throwing them all against the ground while leaving Arthur and his knights untouched.

The knights quickly got back to their senses and started to tie up their attackers.

Arthur on the other hand just stared, his eyes fixated on the raven as Merlin froze under the man's glare, but it didn't take long for him to realize that Arthur wasn't able to recognize him, his face was still hidden under the hood.

He bit his lip, should he tell Arthur right now... but he wasn't able to talk as the others arrived. Gwen ran towards Arthur, as worriedly, she looked him up and down, searching for any possible wounds.

'Gwen!' The king gasped as he threw his arms around her, but after the quick reunion he pulled her slightly aside as his eyes shot to Merlin again. The raven shivered under the glare he again received, Arthur saw him as nothing more than a sorcerer, one of the people that would try to harm anyone and everyone the blond cared for... a monster.

The queen glanced at her lover's eyes before her own shifted to the warlock, knowing how they would hurt him. She gently brushed Arthur over the cheek as she walked forward, taking Merlin's hand in her own. 'Arthur.' She whispered back as the king tried to pull her back. 'He's our friend.' She said with a loving smile as she placed the raven's hand in the king's.

'Wha-?' The king fell silent as Merlin saw realization spread through the eyes he knew so well and for the first time he truly understood what Kilgharrah had always suggested, they were two sides of the same coin, their souls bound together for all eternity. There really had never truly been secrets between the two men, they just never had taken the time to realize it.

A shaking hand reached for his hood, pulling it slowly down to expose his raven black hair and face. Many emotions spread over the king's face; hurt, anger, happiness, sadness, betrayal, trust and eventually it just changed to a gentle smile. 'You... I would say that I'm surprised, but... it feels right.'

A single tear ran over Merlin's cheek as the same smile appeared on his own face. 'You accept... you understand?'

The king narrowed his eyes slightly. 'I don't accept.' The raven's face fell. '... but I think I can understand.' Merlin looked back in his blue eyes and Arthur sighed. 'I'm still hurt that you didn't trust me with... your secret... Why did you never tell me? Did you really think that I would hurt you?' The warlock just looked away and his answer was clear. 'Oh, Merlin...'

Their conversation was cut off as both Leon and Elyan walked up to them, smiling as they saw their friend. 'Merlin!' They said with wide grins and stood next to Arthur. The queen's escort completed the round table as Gwaine and Percival came up to stand next to Merlin. Gwaine's hand resting caring on the warlock's shoulder.

'Did you tell him?'

Merlin looked at Percival and nodded. 'Yes.'

'What did you have to tell?' Leon asked confused as he and Elyan clearly had missed something.

Arthur breathed deeply before speaking only one word. 'Magic.'

The situation was quickly explained two the two unknowing knights as Percival took them aside. Leon had reacted by reaching for his sword, which caused Gwaine to do the same, just in case. Elyan on the other hand just froze up, his mind clearly not yet knowing what he thought of it.

Soon after they returned to Camelot, both the king and the warlock were completely silent. At the castle Arthur took Merlin apart in his chambers, knowing there was a lot they had to talk about.

xxx

Gwen sat nervously on the stone floor in front of her and Arthur's chambers, her eyes settled on the thick wooden door as she knew the love of her life and her best friend were on the other side. The knights were not far away from her, Gwaine pacing nervously through the hallway, as the others just stood waiting in silence.

It was eventually Elyan that snapped. 'Gwaine, stop pacing!'

Gwaine glared at him. 'Just let me! It's my best friend that is inside and I have no idea what Arthur is planning to do with him. '

'He's also my friend!'

Percival tried to calm his friends down. 'Merlin is everyone's friend, we all care for him and I'm certain that Arthur wouldn't do anything to harm him.'

Just as the knight had finished his words, the wooden door was opened and everyone's eyes snapped back to the door as it revealed both Arthur and Merlin, both clearly tired, but with eyes filled with joy.

Gwen glanced at both of them and smiled as she realized that both men had grown so much in the short time she had been separated from them. They looked stronger and wiser.

Arthur cleared his throat. 'Well, what are you all doing here? There's still so much to do, if we want to undo...' His eyes locked with Merlin's. 'the law against magic.'