Hi! Here's the new chapter. Sorry if I'm late. Maybe there will be two more chapters if the next one will come up too long. For now, enjoy this and, please, REVIEWWWWWWWWWWW!

Thanks for reviewing!

Four days after their meeting with the Dragons, the new laws regarding magic were ready. They were clear and simple: magic was allowed in the Kingdom, but dark magic was still banned and every crime committed through sorcery was to be punished according to the same laws of everybody else.

This few lines of writing had cost Merlin entire days and a couple of nights in the library and in the vaults, an exhaustive reading of all the previous laws concerning magic and an excruciating headache that took various of Gaius's remedies to go away. Not to say that all work had to be done in secret, because Arthur wanted to announce his decision to the Council already having the laws: he knew that the Lords would have been annoyingly stubborn, so he wanted to make his intentions very clear. Merlin was almost sure that Lord Geoffrey suspected something, for he had glanced curiously at him many times during his time in the library. Then of course he had to sneak past the guards who were patrolling near the Vaults without them noticing, and, in addition to all of that, he still had to do his chores. Not that Arthur wanted him to, but, as Merlin had logically pointed out, if somebody were to know that the King's manservant had suddenly stopped to perform his duties, they could get suspicious… so yes, he still had to clean Arthur's chambers, polish his armor, wash his socks, etcetera etcetera etcetera… but not mucking the stables: Arthur had hired a boy solely dedicated to that particular chore, and Merlin was really grateful for that. Even without this, however, the last four days had been hell.

But the result of his hard work was on the table in front of him now, and he couldn't help but smile. That was his and Gaius's work, and there was a lot to be proud of. Surely when he had asked Gaius for help, the physician's reaction had been priceless, he thought smiling.

They had just come back from the clearing, and Merlin had immediately run off to ask for Gaius's assistance; nobody knew more about the laws of magic than the old man. He burst in Gaius's chambers in the exact moment the man was mixing some ingredients for a very delicate and complicated potion. The bang of the door startled him and the burette he was holding crushed on the ground.

"Merlin!" exclaimed reproachfully his guardian.

"Sorry Gaius, but I need your help. Arthur has asked me to revise the laws about magic, and you are one of the greatest experts I know…" Merlin began hastily.

"What do you mean, Arthur has asked you to revise the magic laws?" asked bewildered the old physician, raising his eyebrow.

"Well, who else was there to ask to?" asked confused Merlin. "You know, with me being Emrys and all that stuff, I was the most suitable…"

"Merlin…"

"… because he needs someone he can trust, you know, it will already be difficult to convince the Council… but I'm almost sure Lord Geoffrey will immediately support the King... "

"Merlin…"

"…But of course seeing as he has offered me the position…"

"Merlin!"

"… of Court Sorcerer… what?" asked finally Merlin, interrupting his explanations.

"What?!" exclaimed baffled Gaius.

"What what?" asked Merlin stopping in front of the other man, feeling more and more perplexed by his guardian's behavior.

"What do you mean what?!" shouted the physician. "How can Arthur promote you Court Sorcerer if he is not aware of your magic?!"

"But he is, aware I mean." Explained the warlock. "I already told you, he found out yesterday during the hunt and I spent all afternoon trying to convince him not to chop my head off. And, well, when I woke up this morning you weren't here, but I couldn't wait for you because we had to go and meet Kilgharrah… Gaius, are you alright?" asked concerned Merlin, seeing as his guardian had gone pale and was swaying on his feet. More concerned every minute that passed, the sorcerer supported the old man and helped him to sit down on a bench. "Gaius, what's wrong?"

"Arthur knows… chop head… Kilgharrah…" mumbled shocked the physician.

"I told you yesterday evening, didn't… " then he stopped. Ohi. The previous evening he had been so stressed by the events of the day that he had just entered his chambers and fell asleep on his bed without removing his clothes. Oh… "I didn't tell you, did I?"asked sheepishly.

Gaius shook his head, still traumatized by the sudden revelations. However, he recovered pretty quickly: "How could you be so foolish?" he exclaimed smacking the younger man on the head. "How could you let the King find out about you? How many times have I told you that your magic is a secret you have to protect with your life? What if he executed you on the spot, eh? You stupid boy…" And the rant went on and on. Merlin flinched more that ones and patiently waited for the old man to tire his voice. In the end the physician sat there, panting, but still looking as if he had other things to say.

"Look, Gaius" Merlin cut in, "I know I made a mistake. But now everything has resolved for the better. Arthur has accepted me and has decided to change the laws. Gwen and the Knights accept me too. It's done. So, will you help me?" asked hopeful.

Gaius thought about it for a moment and then nodded with a slight smile. Merlin thanked him cheerfully and bolt for the door, but not without hearing the words that the old man was muttering to himself: "Court Sorcerer… well well…"

A knock to the door jolted him from his thoughts. He immediately stood up and hid the sheets. It would have been slightly awkward if somebody were to enter and find the King's manservant sitting at the King's desk in the King's chambers with a document that legalized magic in front of him. The door opened, and Gwen entered, smiling at the uneasy expression of the Court Sorcerer-to-be.

"Come on, Merlin. Arthur is already going to the Council Chambers. We should go too."

"Of course, My Lady" Merlin said and, grabbing the papers, trailed after the Queen.

In front of the great doors, the King was waiting for them. He took the documents from Merlin and asked to him: "Ready?"

Merlin smiled nervously: "I was born ready."

Arthur smiled and the three of them entered the Chambers, with Merlin behind the monarchs. The Lords stood up when the King appeared on the door and waited until he and the Queen sat down on their thrones to sit up as well. Merlin went to his usually position behind a pillar and waited there for what was to happen. He did not have to be nervous. It was not that Arthur would announce him a sorcerer at the first meeting. First the magic, then the new addition to the Court. Actually, Arthur had wanted to announce Merlin's new work together with the magic laws, but Merlin had pleaded and begged, and in the end Arthur had reluctantly accepted, understanding his friend's difficulties at the prospective of revealing himself to other people.

After the first formalities, Lord Killian took the word: "Your Majesty, I think it's better if we review the last statistics about the crops of the past three months. I, together with others Councilors, was wondering if…"

The King interrupted the Lord by raising his hand. "For how much that would have been interesting, I have another more urgent matter to present to this Council, a matter that holds great importance to me."

"What is that, my Lord?" asked curios another Councilor.

Arthur pause for a moment and then said: "The ban on magic."

The Lords glanced confused at each other. Then Lord Kent asked, hesitantly: "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but… what is the problem with that law?"

"His existence." Stated firmly the Once and Future King.

Now there were agitated mumbles through the hall. Eventually, Lord Killian stood up and, voicing everybody doubts, asked frowning: "Surely His Majesty is not proponing a change in the most sacred law of this Kingdom? This was your father's legacy, my Lord, he would not be happy if somebody were to alter even by a word his strongest decree…"

"Well, now I am the King, aren't I?" asked the other eyeing the nobleman. "My father's times have passed, now this is my kingdom, and I can rule as I see fit…"

"But surely" continued sternly the Lord, "you are not proponing to change…"

"Actually" interrupted the King forcefully, "I have already written the new laws. I hope you will accept them, they are fair and respect everyone's rights." After saying that, he passed them the sheets, waiting for the first reactions. And he did not have to wait for long.

"THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS!" shouted Lord Doulby, who had been one of his father's most trusted advisors. "You are planning on legalizing magic! You are planning on welcoming that filthy scum in this kingdom! Are you mad?! You will bring this reign down! You…."

"Lord Doulby" said vehemently Lord Geoffrey. "He is your King! You can not speak like that."

"But this is madness!" exclaimed the other Lord.

"If, forgive me Sire, if His Majesty could enlighten us about his reason…" said tentatively Lord Kent.

"Of course" said the King. "You see, I have always had doubts about my father's beliefs about magic, but it has been the last few days that have given me more than one reason to take this step. I have understood that magic is not evil, but it is the heart of wielder that decides the actions. Magic does not corrupt, magic just exists. In the last 20 years we have just seen the atrocities that this power can cause, but if you think carefully, you will find that all the sorcerers who have attacked this kingdom, have done so in fear and revenge for my father's unjust laws and killings. My father's hatred has driven out his own daughter, my sister, and led her to become one of our greatest enemies. I won't make the same mistake. I'm ready to admit that our laws are wrong and I'm ready to revise them, in order to guarantee wellness and fairness for everybody. What are your opinions?"

Merlin had listened to Arthur's speech while looking at the Councilors' faces: most of them were shocked, but a few were thoughtful, and Lord Geoffrey wore a strange expressions that was a mix of pride and understanding. The warlock smiled at that. Geoffrey was definitely an ally.

By the end of the speech, nobody talked anymore and kept pondering the King's words.

"Surely this is a jest" said eventually Lord Killian. "You have lost you father and your mother to the evils of magic. Magic can not be trusted. If a sorcerer were ever to enter this castle we would be all dead in less than an hour."

Arthur managed to hide his chuckle, but his wife couldn't help a half laugh that cost her some glances from the Lords. They really had no idea.

"First things first. It was not magic that killed my mother, but an accident caused by my father's deal with a sorceress." He sighed deeply and then confessed: "Queen Ygraine was barren, but my father needed a heir. Nimueh helped him, but warned him that the price for my life would have been a death. My father did not imagine it would have been my mother's, and neither did the sorceress. However, here I am, born of magic". The Councilors were stunned by this revelation. According to Camelot's laws the King would have had to be executed the exact moment of his birth. "But my father blamed all magic for my mother's demise and so started the Great Purge. Secondly, Uther's death was a plot organized by Lord Agravaine and Morgana. The Sorcerer that was accused to having killed him was actually trying to heal him, and if not for their scheme, my father would now still be alive. Dragoon has my complete trust, and it is time his name is cleared…"

"You seem to know this sorcerer far too well, my Lord, to give him your trust…" interrupted sarcastically Lord Doulby.

"Indeed." Assured the King. "I know this man, not as Dragoon the Great, who was merely a magical disguise, but as a true friend; I know his loyalty and his dedication to Camelot and to me. He has saved my life many times, even my father's, and if not for him, this Kingdom would have fallen years and years ago…"

"That's treason!" barked the Lord. "You have knowingly harbored a sorcerer in this castle for years? I can't believe that…"

"And you don't have to" interjected the King, exasperated by the man's disrespect. "I have found out about him just some days ago, but I already trusted him with my life. The magic did not change that. On the contrary it amazed me that he was willing to take the risk of execution to protect the son of a man who would have him executed on the spot just for being born. He, along with Gaius, wrote these laws." This elicited a chorus of shocked gasps, and a not very inconspicuous glance from Lord Geoffrey to Merlin's direction. Lords Killian and Doulby began shouting at the same time, trying to reason with the King, and then even with the Queen, hoping to convince her to change her husband's decision, but it was soon clear that the Queen agreed wholeheartedly with the new laws. And it was also clear that whoever this sorcerer was he had also manage to gain her trust. Running out of alternatives, Lord Killian suggested that the King could have been enchanted, but as soon as the word left his mouth, Lord Geoffrey stood up.

"That's enough!"he said. "How do you dare doubting your King?" Then he calmly addressed Arthur. "You have my support, my Lord." The he sat.

The other Councilors looked astonished at the oldest among them. "What?" asked another Lord.

The librarian explained: "I agree with the King's motivations. We need stability, and we need defense against the evil magicians that keep attacking this kingdom, in particular the Lady Morgana. And what better defense other than magic? If we can have loyal magic users on our side, this would be an inestimable advantage. We wouldn't have survived the last years without magic, Sire, would have we?" The King shook his head. "Then I am sure that we will still need it."

"And you would trust a random sorcerer?" asked disbelieving Lord Killian.

"If this Dragoon is loyal as the King says then yes. I trust my King. Besides" he added with a sly smile, "if he is who I think he is, he has my complete trust. I do not know more loyal man, and I'm sure you would agree…"

"Then who is he?" asked interested Lord Kent.

"His name does not matter at the moment" answered the King. "But you have to know that he has a very strong reputation amongst the magic users, in particular the Druids, who consider him as their Lord. Another powerful clan of sorcerers, the Catha, has sworn allegiance to him, and in addition to this he is also a Dragonlord and controls the last two Dragons in existence." Murmurs echoed in the hall, in particular at the mention of the Dragons. "He is very powerful, even more than Morgana." This caught everybody's attention. Geoffrey, instead, kept staring at the half-hidden servant with an amused smile. "He has killed Nimueh, defeated Cornelius Sigan and mortally wounded Morgouse. And yet, even if he is so powerful, he is ready to give me his complete loyalty. That's why, after the lifting of the ban, I will appoint him as Court Sorcerer and First Advisor to the King. That's my decision."

Lord Doulby didn't seem satisfied: "I see that your mind is set, Sire, but we can not give you our support if we don't know something more about this supposedly almighty sorcerer. If we could meet him before, maybe…" added with a smirk, daring a magician to enter the Council Chamber.

"I have never said to be almighty" came a clear voice from behind a pillar. "But there are people who believe me to be the most powerful warlock of all times."

The Councilors gasped, all but Geoffrey, whose smile grew wider, as the King's manservant came forward holding in his hand a bright red flame that kept changing shape: a deer, a horse, an eagle, finally the Pendragon crest. Then he extinguished the flame and fixed his golden eyes on the flabbergasted Lords.

"My name is Merlin. Nice to meet you."

TBC