So, penultimate chapter here. Sorry for the wait, I was without the internet! Thanks to shell22, Samerys707, Glacier22, MegamiTenshiHime, kibaxkaori, and hieisdragoness18 for your reviews! I'm pleased the twist went down well!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Arthur woke to the warmth of the sun on his face and the feel of comfortable pillows under his head. Cracking open an eye, his heart leapt to see his wife asleep by the bed, resting her head by his hand. On the other side of the bed, Merlin was asleep in another chair, his head thrown back and his mouth open, snoring softly.

The last thing the king remembered was a terrible pain and seeing his own sword pierce his chest, it was an impossible wound to heal or survive, yet here he was. Alive and safe.

Sitting up slowly, he called Gwen's name softly and she woke up quickly, a smile lighting up her face when she saw he was awake.

"Arthur!" she cried happily, flinging her arms around his neck.

"Hmm? What?" Merlin said sleepily, blinking in confusion.

Arthur returned his wife's hug enthusiastically. There had been a time when he truly believed that he would never see her, never hold her again.

"I'm so glad you're awake," she said, pulling back slightly. "Merlin said you would be fine but I was so worried."

The king chuckled, placing a kiss on her forehead. "You have nothing to worry about, Guinevere."

"I did try to tell her that," Merlin announced, "but she's strangely fond of you."

"Gwen, you look tired," Arthur said, seemingly ignoring the servant. "Maybe you should got to your chambers and rest."

Tradition dictated that the Queen have her own set of rooms in the palace, although Gwen had rarely used them, preferring to use Arthur's as her own, going so far as to have her clothes moved there.

The queen was no fool though and cast a sideways glance at Merlin and stood, placing a kiss of her own on the top of Arthur's head. "I'll let you two talk in private, then. Don't wear yourself out, Arthur."

"I promise," he said. King and servant watched the queen depart before Arthur swung back to the warlock, grabbing him by the front of his shirt. "Where did you take Gwen?"

"Does it look like I sent her somewhere dangerous?" Merlin demanded. "If you would just let me go, I'll explain everything."

The king had the good grace to look sheepish and let Merlin go. "Sorry," he mumbled.

"It's fine," Merlin replied with a grin, straightening his shirt. "I know what you're like when Gwen's safety is involved. But first, I'm going to ask you to let me explain everything before you start shouting."

Arthur sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I hate it when you ask me that, Merlin, it never bodes well. Fine. What is it?"

"Well, you're not going to believe this but you know when we were having that little heart-to-heart in Nemeth and I assured you there was nothing else I needed to tell you?"

"Yes."

"Er, I might have forgotten something."

"Merlin..." Arthur growled.

"But seriously, this is the very last thing," the servant said quickly.

"What. Is. It?"

"The Great Dragon is still alive," he said in a rush. "I couldn't kill him - not when I had the power to control him. He's helped me so much over the years and he wants nothing but the best for you. He is absolutely no threat. Not while I'm alive at any rate." For a moment, Arthur just stared at him and said nothing. "Arthur?" Merlin asked nervously. "Are you listening to me?"

The king began laughing slightly hysterically. "You're a Dragonlord? Of course you're a Dragonlord! Why I am even bothering to ask? I don't understand, if you were able to stop the Dragon, why didn't stop him before he attacked Camelot?"

Merlin hesitated but knew he would have to deal with the difficult issues surrounding his father sooner or later. "A Dragonlord's powers are passed form father to son, upon the father's death. I did not have the power before we left Camelot."

Arthur stared at Merlin for a second, frowning as he did. "Balinor was your father?"

Merlin nodded, absurdly pleased that the king remembered the name of the dead Dragonlord. "Yes."

"Did you know?"

"That he was my father?" Merlin nodded. "Gaius told me before we left to find him."

The king sighed, "I'm sorry, Merlin, I had no idea."

"It's not your fault," the warlock said. "I never told you."

"So you asked the Dragon to protect Gwen?"

"Yes. I didn't trust Mordred, so I asked him to take her somewhere safe while I went to find my mother. I thought you would be safe because Mordred was locked in the cells."

"And your mother?" Arthur asked tentatively.

Tears sprang to Merlin's eyes and his shook his head, biting his lip as he tried to get his emotions under control. Arthur leaned forward and pulled his friend into a hug. "I'm sorry, my friend." Arthur pulled back, "How did you save me, Merlin? I was dead."

The warlock shook his head. "I wasn't me. Morgana saved you."

"Morgana?" Arthur exclaimed. "Why would she save me?"

This was something Merlin was not prepared to fully discuss with the king. Morgana's words haunted him day and night and he found himself wondering if she was right. After all, he was not entirely sure that he could make the choice between magic and Arthur if it came down to it and he had to admit that in his grief, he had been contemplating the destruction of all magic and it was that which ate at him. When he was a young boy, he had feared he was some sort of monster but Gaius had given him faith that his magic was there for a reason, that he was not a freak. The burden of duty, of his friendship with Arthur had made him do things he was not proud of but he told himself it was for the right reasons, that protecting Arthur was the most important thing. Now though, he had to wonder if he really was turning into a monster. After all, both Morgana and Mordred committed terrible acts, utterly convinced of the righteousness of their cause.

"Merlin?"

"She only said she saw something in the future which made her realise you could not be allowed to die."

"Where is she now?"

"I don't know. She escaped." Arthur grumbled that of course she had escaped and sank back against the pillows. "I should let you rest. The Council are desperate to make a decision about Odin and Alined - now you're awake, they'll be expecting you to sort everything out."

Merlin stood and made his way over to the door, opening it, pausing as Arthur called him back.

"Thank you," Arthur said.

The warlock nodded and closed the door behind him.

Nearly done. Please review!