A/N: So there wasn't a reveal in the finale. I'm less than pleased with that. Oh well. Maybe next series.

By the way, I'm warning you now, this is the sappiest chapter yet. I blame John Powell, lack of sleep, and the general sentimentality of the Christmas season.

Have a very merry Christmas!

The first thing Merlin noticed about the room was the books. There were mountains of them, sprinkled with papers and scrolls. Amid them all like a proverbial pioneer was the portly castle archivist, who snapped his head up in surprise at the newcomers' sudden entry.

"Change of plans," Arthur told the man. "Give us a moment, would you, Geoffrey?" The archivist glanced at Merlin and seemed to understand. He bowed curtly to Arthur.

"Of course, your majesty."

"Thank you," Arthur said as he left. After the door clicked shut, Arthur spread his hands and turned to Merlin. "Do you like it?" he asked expectantly. Merlin, who was still trying to figure out what was going on, shrugged noncommittally.

"Well, I… Suppose, it's…" He shook his head, then gave Arthur a sharp look. "Arthur, why are we here? What is this place?" He pleaded, looking around. The room was round and there were stairs curving against wall, so they must've been in a tower, but Merlin couldn't recall having ever been in this particular tower before.

"This," Arthur said with a touch of pride, "is where you'll be living from now on."

Merlin was nonplussed. He wasn't sure he believed anything Arthur was saying. "Arthur," He felt the need to remind him: "You just fired me!"

A look of guilt crossed the King's features. "Yes, I suppose I did…" He scratched his cheek and avoided Merlin's gaze. "You know, that wasn't entirely fair of me, I am sorry. I suppose I had too much fun with it." Merlin still didn't understand. He watched Arthur with a look of complete befuddlement. Arthur saw it, so he quickly explained: "I'm giving you a new job, Merlin." He said.

"A new job?" Merlin's said incredulously. "What kind of new job?" He wasn't sure what Arthur was playing at, but so far it wasn't funny, and Merlin's normally quick mind was racing to catch up. He hadn't the slightest idea what to expect.

"A job that hasn't been filled in Camelot for many years," Arthur told him, suddenly more serious than before.

"And what's that?"

Arthur drew breath as if to answer, but then he smiled and tilted his head. "Well, why don't you just go look at the plaque outside the door?" Both men looked toward the door. "It's been gathering dust for a few decades, but it should still be readable." When Merlin sent a skeptical glance in Arthur's direction, the king shooed him off. "Well, go on!" For some reason, the expression on Arthur's face reminded Merlin of someone watching their best friend open a present they'd specially planned out. So far, he wasn't particularly liking this present. Still skeptical, he went to the door and stepped out. Arthur followed eagerly, a huge smile on his face. Merlin was frowning when he turned to find the plaque, but when he saw it, his face cleared into an unreadable expression of shock.

There, carved cleaninly into prominent stone slab: Court Sorcerer

"As I say," Arthur was struggling to keep his smile under control, "No one's held the position for years, but seeing as you make such a dreadful manservant, I thought it might suit you better than the next bootlicker in line." He smiled, proud of himself, but when Merlin didn't reply and didn't move, his smile slowly started to fade. "Merlin?" He asked, concerned.

It took a moment, but eventually Merlin turned to regard Arthur with a stunned expression. "You're… promoting me?" He asked.

"Well," Arthur rolled his eyes, "I don't know if I would go that far. It's not as though I had much of a choice. What, with dragons, magic, and all those other destructive shenanigans you seemed to have gained a penchant for, you've forced my hand. I've told you before, Merlin; you're absolute rubbish as a servant."

"But you… You want me to be…" His eyes cast over to the sign, then back to Arthur. "…Court Sorcerer?"

Arthur seemed to soften somewhat, and said sincerely, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Merlin didn't know what to say. He blinked rapidly, trying to take it all in. He glanced about himself, mind racing over all the implications of this 'present'.

"Mind you," Arthur said, "I hadn't planned on doing all this until after the wedding. Gwen desperately wanted to be part of the announcement, but with recent… developments, I thought it might be better for you if we just went on with it." He sighed to himself. "You truly have thrown it all off schedule, you know – the ceremony, the announcement, the feast…" Arthur paused and, watching Merlin with a smile, said slowly, "And now, thanks to you and your impatient dragon friend, I'll have to repeal the ban on magic without a queen by my side."

In all the years he'd known him, Arthur had never seen Merlin look up quite so quickly. He had to smile.

For a moment, Merlin could only stare. Then, "Repeal the ban?" he said quietly, almost unbelieving. "Legalize magic?"

"Merlin, I'm appointing you as Court Sorcerer. If that doesn't betray my sentiments on magic, I don't know what will." Arthur drew himself up with a more serious tone. "My father was gravely mistaken in his ruling against magic – and I'm afraid I haven't been much better." He looked up at Merlin, "I think it's about time I made things right," he said quietly. He and Merlin's eyes met, and for the first time in nearly six years of friendship, they were not merely looking eye to eye - they saw eye to eye. The Sorcerer looked at his King, and the King looked back, and each man in his own mind knew suddenly, inexplicably, that no matter what came next, he would now and forevermore consider the other as his equal; and beyond that, his friend.

Eventually, Arthur broke the look and said, "We'll have to do it slowly, of course. We'll start by repealing the penalties attached to magic, try to get an idea of just how many magicians are in Camelot, and then slowly work to help the-" Whatever Arthur was going to say was cut off as two surprisingly strong arms grabbed him in a hug. He found his face half-smashed against a bony shoulder.

In years past, he might've had Merlin in the stocks for it. It was too audacious to endure, too humiliating and uncomfortable to have a servant hug him. Undoubtedly, Prince Arthur would have shoved him away and snapped at him for his idiocy, and even the newly-crowned King Arthur would have dismissed the gesture with heavy sarcasm. But Arthur had learned a lot since his coronation; about himself, about the world, and about Merlin. So despite the small voice in his head that just screamed at him to punch the skinny, big-eared clotpole in the face, Arthur merely smiled and, with incoordination that belied the lack of practice he'd had in this particular situation, hugged Merlin back. However, despite the deep feeling behind the gesture, it still felt awkward. He pulled away after a few seconds, and was only partially to see Merlin's face split by the biggest, happiest smile he could possibly manage.

"Arthur, I," Merlin laughed, trying to get a handle on his words and he practically bounced with glee, "I mean-" He looked up at the king. "Thank you." He breathed.

"Don't," Arthur said, shaking his head. "You of all people shouldn't have to thank anyone, Merlin." His smile was tinged with regret. "Now come on – let's see if we can't get you oriented in your new rooms so you don't trip over the floorboards."

Contrary to what Arthur had said previously, Merlin would be spending a few more weeks living with Gaius, until his new rooms were cleaned and furnished. When he'd returned to Gaius' chambers that evening, he was practically shaking with excitement, and the news of his firing and promotion spilled out within just a few minutes. Merlin was slightly surprised to find out that Gaius already knew of Arthur's plans. When Merlin asked him why he hadn't ever told him, Gaius looked at his ward apologetically.

"Arthur and Gwen swore me to secrecy. They only told me about it all so I'd be ready to have you move out when the time came. I'm truly sorry, Merlin." He said, but Merlin dismissed the apology. He wasn't really hurt – if anything, it explained Gaius' slightly aloof, strange behavior that'd kept him from noticing Merlin's ill moods.

"It's alright," He said, and broke into a smile once more. "I just can't believe it's all actually happening!"

The two shared many a smile that evening, and stayed up late into the night reflecting over all that happened over the past six years, all the hurt and danger and risk and pretending, everything that had finally, at long, long last, lead them to where they were now. At the end of the night, the father shared a look with the son he'd never had, and both of them broke into smiles once more. Well done, their eyes said, well done indeed.

"These walls will miss you, Merlin," Gaius told the boy, for that's how he would always see Merlin in some respect. Merlin smiled bittersweetly.

"I'll miss them, too. And you, Gaius." He looked up at his old mentor. Gaius gave Merlin a kind look, but shook his head.

"I'm not going anywhere, Merlin. I'll always be right here when you need me." He said reassuringly, then amended with a touch of humor, "Well, maybe not right here. I've half a mind to take over your room. It'd be nice to have some privacy after years with you under my roof." Merlin wanted to feign hurt, but he was smiling too widely for either of them to believe it. At length, Gaius rose and told Merlin they should both be in bed. As though he suddenly remembered something, Merlin shook his head.

"Not yet. There's something I need to do first."

It'd taken a nearly an hour of waiting up on the highest turrets of the castle, but eventually, Merlin spotted Aithusa's pale wings fluttering against the moonlight.

The dragon ducked his head demurely as he approached his lord, but Merlin reached his hand out gently. "Oh, Aithusa, I'm so sorry." He spoke quietly, "I was angry, but I shouldn't have done that to you." He didn't know what it felt like for a dragon to be ordered in their own tongue, but with the knowledge that his will was irresistible to them, he vowed to himself to never abuse his power like that again. "Forgive me?" He asked the little dragon. Immediately, as if he'd been waiting for his cue, Aithusa sprung forward with a trill and wound around in Merlin's lap, rubbing against him. He darted his head up and brushed against the warlock's cheek.

"Aithusa forgives father." He said, then more seriously and more quietly than Merlin ever heard him speak, "Aithusa loves father."

Merlin smiled. "I love you too, Aithusa." The dragon seemed utterly fulfilled by his words, and went up to rub against Merlin again. After a few more minutes in relative quiet, Aithusa seemed to sense something different about his dragonlord.

"Father is happy." He said, looking at Merlin.

Merlin smiled, thinking about it. "Yes," He said, his voice inexplicably thick as the day's events washed over him. His eyes shone with unshed tears; joy, peace, memory, and complete relief suddenly compelling him to weep. "Yes, I am very happy." He said, smiling ever wider.

"But why is father crying, if he is happy?" Aithusa tilted his head. Merlin suddenly let out a sound that could have been a laugh or a sob, but was in fact both.

"Because, we've finally done it, Aithusa – we're free," he told his friend through tears, laughter, and the biggest smile he could manage with both, "I'm free." It was the first time in his life that he understood what that word meant.

The next morning, the guards from the parapets below were still trying to guess why they'd heard such joyous laughter falling from the sky that night. They never did figure it out.