Thanks for all the amazing reviews everyone! Their amount brought a smile to my face, and reading them made me a very happy girl! :)
Glad everyone seemed to like the last chapter.
Just to be clear though; NO, Arthur and Morgana aren't related in this fic. I mean, they love each other like brother and sister, like in the first season, but they aren't actually family -although "there is more than one kind of family" ;)-. You guys seriously didn't think I would do that to Elena and Alexander, right? ;)
To JT: O dear, you're making me blush. xD I know the feeling though. Nothing comes in my way when I'm reading a story I like, either. Least of all sleep. Who needs sleep anyway? ;)
To Coby: It just sounded like something Arthur would say, -admittably in some other words- don't you agree? ;)
To Shalimar: Hope the following chapter reaches up to your expectations. :) Not much Mergana in this one though, sorry.
To Mustard Chicken: If you go back one chapter you'll see I changed the 'mom-mum' thing. :) Thanks for mentioning it! Things get a little confusing with the American-British English sometimes. :) And for that last line...I just love the fact everyone seemed to like it!
To asdf: Arthur and Morgana aren't relatives. Your state of mind: check ;) Didn't think they had to prove that though, 'cause no one really thought about them being siblings before Uther spilled the beans to Gaius. Tell me if you disagree though.
To merla: mind the 'yet' in that review ;) C'mon, don't we all look forward to a little Mergana baby? I mean, even Arthur likes Elena... ;)
Thanks for the reviews!
22. Aftermath
Merlin staggered to his feet, only to see his friends looking at him in… Fear? Shock? Awe? And they hadn't seen the worst part yet.
Ignoring the looks he was recieving, and Arthur's last exclamation altogether, he slowly made his way to the waterfall, and stepped right through it, into the cave Bayren had spoken off. There, right in front of him, was the egg. The last dragon egg there would ever be.
Suddenly Merlin's head shot up as he called in the ancient language only he mastered now.
"O Dracon, e male so ftengometta tesd'hup'anankes!"
As he had expected, he didn't have to wait long. Soon, the clapping of wings could be heard, and Kilgarrah appeared in the opening of the cave.
"I swore I would never set foot in a cave again, young warlock, though you know I cannot deny." The old dragon said.
Merlin grinned a weary smile. "I am sure you are willing to make an exception for this." He said as he motioned to the egg behind him.
Kilgarrah took a deep breath as he finally stepped inside.
"Long have I waited for you to call me Merlin." he told the warlock as he looked at the egg, holding so much emotion in his eyes Merlin couldn't help but feel it too. The gratitude. Respect. Hope.
He took a deep breath as he turned towards the egg, only to see it was gone. Suddenly Elena appeared beside him, smiled, and handed him the egg.
"I trust you with this." Merlin said as he held the egg out in front of Kilgarrah. "Don't break it."
"I won't, young Warlock." The old dragon promised, and something in his voice made Merlin believe him.
Merlin nodded as he carefully laid the egg in Kilgarrah's claws.
"I would command you to take care of it, raise it like it should be raised. To live in peace. But…"
Kilgarrah bowed his head as Merlin spoke.
"But you know I will do this without your command, Merlin. You have no idea what you just gave me." Kilgarrah said, looking the young warlock deep into his eyes.
Merlin smiled wearily. "Yes, I do." He said as he looked over his shoulder towards Elena, standing with Morgana. "I gave you a family."
Suddenly, something that looked like a smile appeared on the dragon's face.
"That, Merlin, you already gave me two months before."
And with one last bow, Kilgarrah carefully lifted the egg, turned and flew away, leaving a smiling warlock behind.
Suddenly, the reality of where they were and what had just happened seemed to seep in as Merlin turned to face his friends. He had eyes for only one of them.
"Arthur." he started again, but was once again interrupted, now by knights suddenly appearing from everywhere. Had they really been there all along? Why hadn't they tried to intervene? They stood in front of Merlin, as their captain got down on one knee, his fellow knights following suit.
"Long live the king!" They cried through the hollow cave, their voices echoing through the empty space.
And then silence.
A very awkward silence as Merlin just stared at them. This was something he hadn't expected.
"I…" he stuttered, and helplessly turned to Arthur. "I am not a king. I mean, I cannot rule a kingdom. I mean, I don't know how. I...I am not my father!" Merlin hysterically cried out.
"Excuse us for a moment." Arthur said as he pulled his manservant to the side. "What do you think you are doing?" He questioned him.
"Arthur, you know I can't be king." Merlin started to protest. "I don't know how. I am just a servant."
"You are far more than just a servant Merlin." Arthur objected, staring Merlin in the eyes. "This is not just something you walk away from."
"But…I can't." Merlin said again, as if Arthur hadn't heard him the first time. "Besides, who would protect you, if I was here?"
"No matter what you might think Merlin, I am not completely helpless. I am sure I can survive without you." Arthur said a little to harsh.
"Look," He said uncomfortably, as he saw the flash of hurt cross Merlin's face. "I don't like you staying here anymore than you do. I mean, I hate having to admit it, but next to a half-decent servant, you're more than a half-decent friend."
Merlin's eyes met Arthur's. Since when did Arthur talk feelings?
"Even now…now you know what I am?" He asked uncomfortably.
Arthur sighed. "Especially now I know who and what you are." He finally said, and Merlin released a breath he hadn't even realized he had been holding.
"Of course I am hurt and angry, and we'll have a serious talk about all of this at a more appropriate time and place, but... that doesnt change the fact you are my best friend." Arthur continued.
"Look Merlin, this trip taught me a lot about magic and it's users. I look at Morgana and Elena, and I see family. I look at the druids, and I see allies. I look at you, and I see a friend. Most sorcerers don't choose to practice magic. They just can."
"Warlocks." Merlin corrected quietly.
"What?" Arthur questioned him. "
Warlocks." Merlin repeated. "We who are born with our powers are called warlocks, not sorcerers."
"See," Arthur said, as if he was proving a point. "we fear something we don't understand. Magic is a weapon. To harm, yes, but also to protect, just like a sword. Is my father executing everyone with a sword? No. Then why would he kill those who have magic."
Merlin hesitated. Now would be the best time to tell him. To get it all over with at once. But he had already had so much on his plate lately.
"Arthur…" Merlin began anyway, but Arthur cut him off.
"I know Merlin." he said sadly. "It was a rhetorical question."
Merlin's face fell. "You…know?" he finally managed to ask.
"Yes." Arthur affirmed. "I know you lied to me. I know everything Morgause showed me was true. I know."
"But…" Merlin stuttered, clearly confused.
"You think you're the only one with gifts?" Arthur suddenly smirked. "The druid told me I would know better than anyone else what it meant to have a life taken for a life. Fabian told us the purge started right after I was born, while my father always told me it was years before that. I can put one and two together Merlin."
"Really? Because…" Merlin stopped when he realized this was not a time for jokes.
So that was why Arthur had been so quiet the entire ride after that. Or why he had been so insecure in Avalon. Merlin just thought it had been because of what happened to Gwen, or because he had to collaborate with druids.
"You're not mad at me? For lying to you about that?" He suddenly asked.
Arthur sighed. "Honestly Merlin?"
Merlin didn't dare to answer. Maybe he really didn't want to know.
"I trusted you, I…believed you. But now I look back at it, I'm glad you stopped me. My mother wouldn't have wanted that. I didn't want that."
Merlin let out a relieved sigh again.
"But the question is, why did you? Why did you not just let me kill my father, why save the man who ruined your life?"
Merlin swallowed the lump in his throat before answering. How many times had he not asked himself that question.
"Because I am not like him. And neither are you, Arthur. I think your father is already suffering for what he has done. I think he is suffering every day."
Arthur nodded. "Yes. But so are a lot of people."
"So…" Merlin said, trying to break the awkward silence after the most emotional talk they had ever had. "…does this mean you still want me as your servant?"
"Merlin…" Arthur said irritably. "You are a king. You're not supposed to be cleaning my boots while you could be…"
"Arthur…" Merlin interrupted him in a reprimanding tone. "Didn't I make myself clear before? I like to be your servant. Okay maybe cleaning the boots, and the armor, and the room, and the socks are a little much sometimes, but most of the time, I like serving you. And I will keep doing it until I die."
Arthur shook his head in amazement. What did he do to deserve a friend like this.
"And what are you going to do with Avain than?" He asked, trying to hide his emotions behind his normal bravado, failing miserably.
Merlin just smiled as he started to walk back to the knights and his friends. Suddenly he knelt down beside Fabian, the old storyteller, who in the meanwhile had been tended to by Elena.
"Are you alright?" He asked the old man worried.
"My Lord." Fabian suddenly said as he saw who had addressed him, and tried to get up. Instead of keeping him down, Merlin supported him up.
"There is no need to call me that." Merlin said as he looked the old man in the eye. "Do you have magic Fabian?" Merlin asked.
"No Sire." The old man answered cautiously. "That's the reason I had to leave Avian in the first place, after your father died."
Merlin nodded. "Do you hate magic?"
Fabian stood straight as he looked Merlin in the eye, clearly offended of being asked such a question.
"Of course not. Some of my best friends are magic users." he answered indignantly.
"Good." Merlin said as he nodded again. "So you think that people with and without magic can life peacefully next to each other?"
"Of course." Fabian said again as if it was obvious. "It has always been that way before Bayren became king, and it always worked."
This time Merlin smiled as he answered. "Good, because I want you to become Regent of Avian and make sure it will be that way again."
And for the first time since they had met the storyteller, the man seemed at loss for words.
"But…" he finally managed to stutter. "But My Lord, I am just a servant, I…"
Merlin smiled as he looked at Arthur before turning back to the old man.
"So am I. My father trusted you. I shall trust you."
Morgana smiled.
"This man will rule in my absence." Merlin suddenly addressed the knights as they looked up at him.
"He will be my eyes while I can't see, my mouth while I can't speak, my hand while I can't rule. His words will be mine."
The knights nodded before standing and bowing to the old man they had tortured only hours before.
"Don't worry." Merlin said to the old man. "You will do great. I know you will."
Fabian smiled. "You are just like your father." He said. "And that is as big a compliment I can give you."
They exchanged a smile before Merlin finally turned back to his friends.
"What?" he questioned them, as he saw them staring at him in shock.
"Nothing." Arthur said as he turned. "Guess this is just one of your wise moments again."
And with those last words, Camelot's party left for home.
You might have recognised the spell Merlin used to call for Kilgarrah, Yes it is the same one as in 'The tears of Uther Pendragon'. I had to use the phonetic spelling though, because I couldn't find the original spelling anywhere.