One of the few towns under Uther who had supported the Purge balked when Arthur made magic legal again.

He could handle anything they thought of him, but he refused to accept their hostility towards Merlin.

Then came an opportunity to change their minds. Violent bandits were terrorizing them and Arthur took Merlin to fix it.

"Would you look at that? Appears we got here just in the nick of time. What do you suppose that makes us? Merlin?"

"Big damn heroes, sire?"

Arthur grinned as the townspeople stared in awe and Merlin magicked the problem away.

"Aren't we just."

If you don't get the reference, I feel sorry for you. Still, hope you enjoyed it.