The whole Great Hall was full of people. Every noble who was in Camelot at that time, every servant, most of the knights and some of the guards were there. Gwaine watched them; every one of them were summoned there by the King. Through the night there had been whispers of Merlin's arrest. It was reached every corner of Camelot. Gwaine had seen the people on the inner court, waiting the news. Arthur was standing front of his throne, waiting, not speaking to anyone. Gwen was sitting, her eyes at Arthur, trying to be calm. And finally the doors opened and the silence fell.
Every eyes were following him. Only Leon was escorting Merlin. There were no shackles. Merlin's clothes were normal, clean and he looked surprisingly lively, not like a prisoner who was spent his whole night in dungeons. Gwaine frowned. Something about Merlin was wrong. He was still sick, but he was holding himself with pride. He was fearless, in his eyes hardness what no one has ever seen. When he stopped, he bowed formally, but not like a servant. Gwaine looked Elyan and Percival and they nodded. They had noticed it too.
The power what Merlin hold.
Arthur watched him for a moment and when he spoke his eyes never left from Merlin.
"We are here to hear Lord Myrrdin Emrys…"
There was wave of whisper and Merlin eyes widened a bit, but Arthur just went on.
"…also knowing as Merlin, who is accused of sorcery."
Now it wasn't anymore just a whisper.
"Silence!" Leon roared and Gwaine grinned. Everyone quiet down, staring Merlin who was standing composedly and now he seemed less and less like a servant.
"Merlin, will you swear to answer truthfully for every question?" Arthur asked.
"Yes, by my own life." Merlin's bow was light, not meek or soapy. Arthur nodded.
"Are you a sorcerer?"
"I'm warlock, born with magic. There is no one like me."
Gwaine glanced Percival who shrugged his shoulders.
"Are you a son of Balinor the Dragon Lord?"
The whisper begun again.
"Yes, his only child." Merlin answered and they could hear that he was proud of it.
"So its makes you as the last of the Dragon Lords?" Arthur demanded to know.
"Yes."
"Did you set free the Great Dragon under the Camelot?" Arthur's voice was hard like stone. Gwaine hold his breath. He couldn't believe this!
"Yes."
This time it took more time to crowd to quiet.
"Was it you who commanded the dragon to leave and lied that I was killed it?"
"Yes."
"Why you set it free?"
"Because of you."
This time no one spoke.
"Why me?"
"You were dying by the Questing Beast. Kilgharrah, The Great Dragon, advised me how to save you, but before that I have to swear by my mother's life, that I will someday give him his freedom because he was prisoned by Uther." Merlin explained.
"Did you know that he would attack?"
There was distress in Merlin's voice when he answered, but he didn't hesitated, "Honestly, no, but I should have seen it coming. He wanted the revenge. I should have knew, but back then I only could wish best. I tried speak to him, but he refused to listen. Then we went after Balinor and…" Merlin strove to continue. "Only then Gaius told me that he was my father. And because Balinor died, I inherited the power over dragons. And I commanded Kilgharrah to leave and never come back if I don't say so."
Arthur studied him for a while, then continued.
"What about the Questing Beast? I though that Gaius found the cure."
"There is no cure."
"Then how?"
"Life from life. I offered my own life to save yours."
Gwaine shook his head. Percival muttered something like; does he have any self-defence instinct?
"But you are here." Arthur reminded him and Merlin sighed.
"Because the high priestess tried to trick me and eventually it was her life what saved yours, because I was forced to kill her."
"Who was this priestess?"
"Nimueh, the same one who was King Uther's friend and who helped Ygraine to become pregnant."
"And that child… was me." Arthur more like stated it but still Merlin nodded.
"Yes."
Gwaine couldn't believe it. And it seemed that no one else too. Gaius raised his hand.
"I swear, that's the truth. I was there. I was Uther's trusted."
Both Arthur and Merlin looked him gratefully, and fast Arthur continued again.
"When Morgause told me about my mother, was it true?"
"Yes."
"But you said it was a lie."
Merlin shifted his weight to leg to let. "Back then I lied. I didn't want you to murder your own father."
"Did you poisoned Lady Morgana?"
Gwaine though he would laugh anytime soon. This was so ridiculous.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because her sister Morgause was enchanted her. Morgana was the source why almost everyone on the Camelot was about to die. I poisoned her so that the enchanted would be broke. It was the only way. Eventually Morgause wanted so save her sister, so she have to remove the enchant, so Morgause took Morgana with her." Merlin answered dryly.
"So whole that time my sister was with her?"
"Yes."
"Why Morgana came back?"
"To kill your father. She believed that killing him, we who practise magic would be finally free. What fool she is."
"You didn't help her?"
Merlin actually looked hurt. "Because of you, I wanted Uther to live. I didn't want you to become like your father, who was blinded by his own grief and hate. Not every magic being want to hurt you, there are we who want just a peace. And you are our hope."
First time Arthur smiled.
"What I have heard about Emrys, I though it was you. Why you are here in Camelot?"
"To protect you. You who will unite the Albion. My only purpose to be here, is you, that you will bring the peace what everyone need."
Arthur watched him, like everyone else, perplexedly. When Merlin said it, he said it with confidence that over run everything. No one knows how to even think otherwise. Arthur cleared his throat.
"Valiant's snakes?"
"I revealed them."
"The griffon?"
"I helped Lancelot."
"Was it you who helped my father to defeat the black knight?"
"Yes."
"When Cornelius Sigan tried to overtake Camelot, was it you who stopped him?"
"Yes."
"The troll?"
Merlin just smiled and Arthur shook his head. "Right, you were right back then. Then there was Freya."
This time Merlin looked uneasy and turned his gaze. Arthur looked apologetically and his voice was quiet.
"I'm sorry. I killed the one who you loved so much."
Merlin's sigh was deep and sad.
"She was cursed. There was no future to us. We dreamed, but it was only a dream. I never hold it against you." Merlin looked back to his king. "I was about to leave Camelot. Maybe it was what I deserved."
Gwaine noticed how Gwen moved moved hesitantly, opened her mouth to say something but then just shook her head sadly. Arthur moved on.
"Dragoon?"
"He's… me."
"What?" Gwaine yelped and everyone turned to watch him. "You little…" Gwaine stepped forward but Percival stopped him and grinned.
"Right." Arthur turned to look again Merlin who watched Gwaine and the knights with amusement. "Do I want to know?"
"Maybe later." Merlin grinned.
"If you ever…"
"Silence!" Leon commanded and Gwaine backed off. Arthur's face hardened again.
"Cup of Life. It was you and Lancelot who take over it?"
"And Gaius." Merlin glanced proudly his mentor.
"Dorocha?"
Gwaine noticed that everyone was now just listening with growing interest.
"Like you know, Morgana opened the rift. Lancelot… I was ready but Lancelot sacrificed himself before I could do anything." Merlin's head bent.
"And when he came back?"
"By Morgana. That wasn't Lancelot. Not like we knew him. Just a shade." Merlin looked over Arthur's shoulder at Gwen.
"You said that I shouldn't kill king Caerleon. And you were right. And when Guinevere was hunted you saved her life and hided her in your home village, out of Camelot's border."
"Yes."
"And you killed my uncle, Lord Agravaine."
"To protect you, I had to do so. He was allied himself with Morgana."
Arthur sighed. Long time they just stared each other. The crowd moved nervously. Gwaine though what was going on? Then Arthur spoke again.
"There is much more, it would take whole day and more to tell everything what you have done. But I have already heard it. I have heard them all. But I think this is enough. Enough to prove what you are. Do you have anything to add?"
Merlin shook his head.
"Really?" Arthur's eyebrow rose a bit. First time Merlin shifted nervously.
"Aithusa." He said quietly. Arthur frowned.
"Right. The new dragon. You went against my order and saved the egg."
"Yes. But I'm the dragon lord, he is my responsibility. He's my kin. I couldn't ever choose otherwise. And because it didn't put you to danger, I saved it."
Arthur nodded. "I can accept that."
Arthur drew his sword and put its tip against the floor and leaned forward.
"Is here anyone who can judge you, because I can't."
The silence was complete. Gwaine grinned madly. The heads turned to seek was there anyone.
"I can't judge the man who has saved me, my loved ones, my country, my city, my people so many times although he had done some stupid things. Even if he is a warlock. I just can't. Merlin who I know is my trusted and loyal friend and advisor. He is my brother, if not by blood but by the way how he had showed how to rule kindly and wisely. My debt to him is something what I can't repay ever. So I ask again, is here anyone who can judge him?" Arthur watched the people. They all waited. Merlin didn't dare to move a bit.
No there wasn't, and everyone knew that. If there was, no one dared to go against the king. Arthur turned his gaze at Gwen who rose and moved to stand beside her king. Her gaze was kind when she looked her friend.
"So from this day on the law of magic will chance. The people who are practising magic to good are free to do so. And those who not, are judged by the same way than other criminals. Under this law Lord Myrrdin Emrys is free from all charges." Arthur announced.
It wasn't surprised to anyone that Gwaine started to cheer first and soon everyone else was joined him. The queen cried, and Gaius rushed to hug Merlin, who looked happy and stunned. His eyes still never left Arthur who was now smiling like a fool. Merlin whispered something to Gaius who backed off and Merlin stepped forward. Then he kneeled and the silence fell again.
"I, the lord of the dragons, Myrddin Emrys, I swear allegiance to my King and Queen until the day I die."
This time the cheer rang out louder than ever before. Merlin speared his arms and his voice was powerful and overwhelming. And they felt the warmness of joy and happiness rushing over everyone.
"Hear my friends. We are free again. Come and show your loyalties to the king of the Camelot and his Queen. Come that we can build the new age what will shine over the centuries and will be remembered."
It's done. Merlin heard soon Kilgharrah's voice answering with joy.
And finally Merlin hugged Arthur and everyone could see the tiers on their king's eyes.
alright, you can kill me if you really want