Ok, this used to be the last chapter, but with some help, I have decided to redo this last part...
Hope you all like it better than the old one.
Merlin slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes before looking around. "What happened?"
"You don't remember?" Gwen asked
"I remember going hunting, then Morgana attacked, I got in the way, and then everything went black. Everything after that was filled with pain and a short conversation with Gaius."
"We went to find you a cure. You're alright now." Lancelot said.
"A cure, how?" Merlin asked.
"Well, we went through these magical caves, met a nice family in a magical kingdom, met a bunch of dead people" Arthur listed, "Oh, and discovered you have magic" He smiled.
Merlin stared at him in shock, "You can't be serious"
"Oh, we are, we all know about your magic and noble deeds" Gwaine smirked.
"Y-you c-can't know. You aren't mad" Merlin stared at the group with a mixture of fear and shock, he started hyperventilating.
Gwen quickly stepped towards him and grasped his hands, "Merlin, please, we understand what you have done for us. We know that you aren't evil."
"Y-you won't k-kill me?" He asked through each breath.
"Of course not, you are our friend. Why would we try to kill you? Have a little faith" Gwaine said.
A moment passed before Merlin's breathing finally calmed down, "Thank you" He whispered hoarsely. The others smiled in response.
"So how did you manage to get through the caves of Iseri?" Gaius asked.
"Oh, it's such a long story." Gwaine sighed dramatically. The others rolled their eyes, but smiled and sat down. The knights, Gwen, and Arthur told their story uninterrupted, except for a few questions for Merlin. Once the story was over, Merlin was trembling slightly.
"Merlin, why are you shaking?" Percival asked.
"Y-you know what I've done. All the people I have hurt and even killed." His shaking became more violent.
Arthur quickly grasped his shoulders and shook him, "Snap out of it Merlin! I didn't go all that way to save your ass just to have you make yourself ill. Stop being such an idiot and calm down!"
Merlin stopped shaking, too busy looking at Arthur with large eyes. The room was silent, everyone waiting for a reaction. Another moment passed and Merlin shook his head and cleared his throat, "Right, yeah. Sorry" He smiled sheepishly.
Arthur narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but slowly let go of his servant and returned to his seat.
"We all understand that you did those things to protect Camelot." Leon assured.
"Besides, you have saved all of our lives at least once; I think we owe it to you to overlook a few things." Gwaine winked.
Merlin smiled, and then frowned, "But what about Uther?"
"Don't worry about my father Merlin, He won't know about you, I promise." Arthur assured.
"How can you promise that? He's your father!" Merlin started pacing, "I mean; that was one of the reasons that I never told you. I didn't want you to have to choose between me and your father."
"Merlin, it doesn't matter. I have seen the wrongs that my father has done. I still love him, but I will protect you, no matter what." Arthur said.
"Thanks Arthur" In a quick motion, Merlin embraced Arthur. The prince froze for a second, but returned the hug happily.
"Aww, why is the Princess the only one who gets a hug?" Gwaine pouted.
Merlin chuckled and gave the knight a hug. "Anyone else?"
Everyone else just smiled, "Okay" He was about to return to his spot on the table, but someone stepped forward. Merlin turned to look at the person when he stumbled back a bit.
"Merlin?" his friends were looking at him with concern.
The warlock didn't answer; too busy staring at the woman in front of him.
She smiled, "Hello Merlin"
Instead of answering, Merlin knelt (kneeled?) on the floor. "My lady"
The others were looking curiously between Kynthia and Merlin.
"Rise Merlin, there is no need to kneel. And please, it's Kynthia."
Merlin nodded and slowly rose to his feet.
"Wait," Arthur said, "You know her?"
"No, but her magic aura states who she is" Merlin explained, "I didn't even know that the Old Religion was created"
"Everything is born from something Merlin." Kynthia smiled.
"That still doesn't explain how you know her" Elyan said.
Merlin sighed, but Mathias cut in, "Everyone has a unique aura surrounding them. There are very few who are able to sense them, even less who can see them. Merlin may not know Kynthia, but even the weakest sorcerer will recognize her aura."
"That sounds like it would come in handy" Percival stated.
"Merlin, can you see these auras?" Lancelot asked.
Merlin shook his head.
"You have the ability; you just need to harness it. With a bit of teaching, in time, you will be able to see them." Mathias said.
"Wait" Arthur said, everyone looked at him, "If your aura is so strong, how is it that you have stayed hidden all these years?"
"I am powerful enough to hide my aura. I can hide in plain sight." Kynthia explained.
"So why bother to keep yourself hidden? I'm sure that you have no threats. Why doesn't anyone know what you look like?" Leon asked.
"I am a woman; sorcerers will come from all around to challenge me. I am just saving them from wasting their time. Besides, there is no real reason for people to know who I am. They either believe in me, or they don't."
"What do you mean by that?" Lancelot asked.
"Some sorcerers aren't connected to the Old Religion as others are. Some only believe the Old Religion to be a way of life, but it is so much more than that." Mathias said.
"The Old Religion is the balance of the world; it is what keeps everything together. It is the source of magic and will exist longer than the time of man." Kynthia continued.
"Is that how long you will live?" Elyan asked
Kynthia nodded, "I have existed since the beginning of time and will continue to exist till the end. In the beginning I was well known by magic and non-magic users alike. Everything was peaceful, only little conflicts. I have hidden in the world before, but usually not for long. When the Great Purge started, I had to hide. I blocked off my kingdom, taking in any who sought my protection." She frowned, "I could not save all of my people and many became corrupted. The Old Religion was injured, so many innocent people died. I became ill, very ill because of it. I could hear their cries and feel their deaths."
"That must have been awful" Gwen whispered. She had tears in her eyes. Everyone else was shocked.
"Are you better now?" Lancelot asked.
"Yes, Uther stopped his killings and I have recovered quite well." Kynthia smiled.
"That is good to hear" Gaius said, "It must have been a hard time for you."
"It was for all of us" Mathias said. "The people in the kingdom could sense her pain and often came to the entrance of the palace to pray and meditate."
"I'm sorry Kynthia" Arthur said.
Kynthia smiled, "It is not your fault Arthur. I blame your father, and you are definitely not him."
"That may be true now, but I have killed many of your people. I longed for my father's praise and killed innocents in the process. I am truly sorry for that."
Kynthia approached the prince, "Arthur, you are still young and still a prince. Relieve your guilt by changing what you can and keeping both an open mind and an open heart. You have faced many hardships in your life, and I fear that there will be many more to come. Trust in yourself and your friends and you will be the great king you were destined to be."
Arthur smiled, "Thank you"
A comfortable silence washed over the room, but was broken by Kynthia, "Merlin, I never got my hug"
The room filled with laughter.
Okay, how was that? Less holes? Hope so...
I know that this ending isn't the best, but I thought I'd try a little humor ;)
No, this isn't the last chapter; I plan on writing one or two more.
Review please...I do take your opinions into account!