Chapter 20:

"Merlin," Mithian called softly as she cradled his head in her arms. His face was completely pale, the color completely drained from his features. He looked completely drained as if he hadn't slept in weeks.

"What do you think happened?" Elyan asked in concern.

Mithian looked up to see all of their worried faces. "I'm not sure," she answered honestly. "but he's exerted a lot of magic today and he couldn't have slept for long. He's exhausted."

"That is correct Princess Mithian," a voice agreed from behind them.

Arthur turned around immediately, unsheathing his sword at the intruder. "Who are you and what's your business?"

"I am Iseldir," he announced, and a few others appeared behind him. "I am a friend and ally of Emrys."

"How'd you know where to find us?" Arthur asked, remaining on guard.

"It's alright, Arthur. You can stand down," Mithian reassured. "the Druids have long sought shelter in the forests of Nemeth." She nodded towards Iseldir, allowing him to walk over to where she held Merlin so he can check on him. "How were you able to find us?"

"We have a camp not too far from here," he answered. "we have felt the presence of Emrys from there." He placed a hand on Merlin's forehead before looking to Mithian and then up at Arthur. "Emrys draws his magic from the earth and this energy allows him to heal. However, he has used up much of his power in a short period of time to the point where he has little energy to sustain himself."

"Can you help him?" Gwaine asked in concern.

"I can," he started to say. "but I'm not sure you may agree with my method." He glanced at the King of Camelot.

"I have no quarrel with magic," Arthur informed him. "please do whatever you can to save him."

Iseldir nodded, closing his eyes as he recited a spell. Merlin stirred slightly, but he was no longer as pale as he was before. He still remained asleep, but the color had been brought back to his face. "That should sustain him until he can wake on his own."

"Thank you," Mithian wiped the tears she hadn't realized had fallen.

"He is strong," Iseldir reminded them all. "when he wakes he will still need more rest. Do you have ample food and water?" Arthur nodded, glancing to their horses where their supplies were all held. "I believe this is where I should take my leave."

"You're not staying?" Arthur asked.

"I'm afraid not," he responded. "I must head back to my camp. I understand you are looking for you people," his eyes turned to Mithian. "they are all safe at the edge of the forest, close to the palace. I wish for his full recovery."

Arthur noticed the others about to take hold of his sister. "What are you doing with her?"

"We will be taking her to the Isle of the Blessed," he answered. "there she will be put to rest. Don't worry, she is long gone from this world."

"How can I trust you?"

"My allegiance is to Emrys and the Once and Future King," he bowed. "the Lady Morgana will repent for her sins at the Isle of the Blessed."

Arthur nodded slowly, allowing them to take his sister. Iseldir bowed once more before taking his leave with the others.

The group of them began traveling through the forest while Merlin still remained asleep for the journey, sharing a horse with Mithian so that she could hold him as they traveled. As it neared nightfall, they had decided to make camp for the time being and continue searching for the survivors in the morning. Percival went to help Merlin off the horse and place him down on the ground gently.

After they had gathered firewood and Gwaine had began cooking the stew for the night, Mithian sat by the log carefully laid Merlin's head on her lap while he slept. They all sat by the fire quietly, and Mithian threaded her fingers gently in his hair. She couldn't really eat until he woke up and she knew he was alright.

"How long have you known about his magic?" Percival asked curiously.

Mithian looked up with a smile as the others met her eyes with the same curiosity. "Honestly, I've always known," she answered. "since the day we met as children. He healed me when I scraped my knee," she chucked at the memory.

"How?" Gwaine asked curiously.

"I don't know," she chuckled. "I don't think he knows either. One second I was bleeding and the next it was as if I never fell in the first place."

"Do you know why he left Nemeth?" Arthur asked. "If he knew magic was forbidden in Camelot, why would he go there?"

"He had very powerful magic," she answered. "he could barely control it and this one night he set fire a huge fire in his quarters he shared with his mother. It scared him to say the least, and he went to Camelot to see if his uncle Gaius could help him."

"There was no one who could have helped him in your kingdom?"

Mithian shook her head. "My mother was the only one who knew how, but she had long since passed," she said quietly. "Gaius seemed to be his only option and then he learned of his destiny as Emrys his first day in Camelot so he was forced to stay."

"Merlin's known about his destiny since the first day he was here?" Arthur asked absentmindedly. "He's been protecting me this whole time."

"I guess that answers the question as to why he hadn't went back to Nemeth," Percival remarked.

"He was an absolute mess when you left, you know," Gwaine mentioned to her. "he actually did his chores and everything."

"He wasn't kidding when he said someone needed to protect us," Elyan joked, remembering their hunting trip.

Gwaine shook his head with a laugh. "He definitely was not," he looked to Mithian. "so any wedding bells in your future?"

Mithian widened her eyes, blushing ever so slightly. "I'm sure that's a question for Merlin to answer, but unfortunately I will still have my duties as the future queen. I can't be in Camelot and Nemeth at the same time."

"What of Elizabeth?" Arthur asked. "Now that she's back doesn't the line of succession change back to her?" Mithian looked to Arthur, pondering what he said.

"I'm not entirely sure," she answered honestly. "I've never thought about it. It'd be up to my sister. After all that she's been through, I don't want to just shove this responsibility on her lap."

"I understand," Arthur said. "but if she does reclaim her rights to the throne, you are most welcome to stay in Camelot."

"Thank you, Arthur," she smiled. "I understand it to be my duty, but I was never truly fond of becoming Queen," she admitted.

"I guess we'll see in the near future," Gwaine leaned back. "but I'm sure you and Merlin'll have magical babies running around the halls of either palace in a few years time."

Mithian coughed, her cheeks only brightening with red at his words. "Gwaine," Percival shoved lightly, and Arthur glared at him.

"What?" Gwaine asked. "Princess Mithian, you should have seen how mopey the boy was. I bet when this is all over, he'll pop the question or I'll give up mead for the rest of my life."

"Are you really willing to make that bet, Gwaine?" Elyan laughed, knowing how much the knight loved to drink. "For the rest of your life?"

"Honestly, I'd bet it too," Arthur agreed. Mithian's blush never escaped as she learned how Merlin felt about her from his closest friends. "he was an absolute mess when you left."

"That's not true!" Mithian jumped as Merlin woke from his slumber. After the initial shock, she leaned down and gave him a breathless kiss. "Well maybe a little," he confessed as he stared up at her in surprise once she pulled away. "but I thought I'd never see you again," he defended himself.

Mithian sucked in her lips shyly, seeing the knights look just as surprised as Merlin witnessing their kiss. Well all of the knights, except Gwaine who just smirked and winked teasingly at her. She ignored him and awkwardly moved to serve Merlin a bowl of stew as he slowly sat up.

"What happened?" He asked everyone, and the knights rolled his eyes at his aloofness.

"You knocked out," Arthur informed with an eye roll.

Merlin thanked Mithian for the soup with a smile, and began to eat slowly to regain his strength. "I should knock out more often," he whispered in response to Mithian's kiss. She only rolled her eyes, knowing he meant well but she couldn't stand to see him that way again. Mithian scooted over to him, her arm wrapped around one of his own as she leaned her head against his shoulder as he ate.

Gwaine leaned a little to Elyan. "Care to place bets?" Elyan shook his head, rolling his eyes amusedly at Gwaine's antics.

"We were just talking about how long Mithian's known about your magic," Arthur filled him in, looking around the group. "Did anyone else know?"

Merlin shook his head. "Just Mithian's family," he answered. "and mine. Gaius and my mother, of course."

Arthur perked his head up at hearing his physicians name, but didn't say anything as Merlin couldn't have kept it from his own uncle, the person he shares chambers with technically.

"And, uh," Merlin continued after a pause. "Lancelot."

"Lancelot?" Percival, Elyan, and Gwaine all asked simultaneously. Arthur remained silent as his last encounter of the man was of his betrayal.

"He caught me his first time in Camelot," he answered. "I should also tell you all that Lancelot did die when he crossed the veil," he continued slowly. He couldn't stand that Morgana almost tainted his honorable sacrifice when she brought him back as a shade.

"What of his return?" Percival asked quietly. All of them had missed their fellow friend dearly, never forgetting his honorable sacrifice.

"It wasn't the real Lancelot," he answered sadly. "Morgana used a spell to bring him back as a shade. When he came back, he had no memory of my magic and I found out later that he was only a vessel for one of her schemes." They all took a moment to register what he had said, though they couldn't be angry anymore as the person responsible for that plot is already dead.

"I'm sorry, Merlin," Arthur expressed sadly. "for having to keep all of this secret."

"Why did you wait so long to tell us?" Gwaine asked quietly, a little hurt almost evident in his voice. Merlin had been his first friend in Camelot, and his only friend for a while. Arthur, too, wore the same hurt look on his face as they both wondered why it took him so long to come out with the secret.

"I wanted to," Merlin answered, looking to Arthur. "you have no idea how many times I wish I could've told you, but I couldn't. Not after all of the wrongs you've witnessed being done with magic."

"Perhaps, but you could have shown me all the good," Arthur reasoned. "you claimed to be a friend yet you kept this from me for so long. And not just this, but also Mithian, your knighthood, your past home, and who knows what else."

"After your father passed away," Merlin began slowly. "I saw how it affected your stance on magic. I could never find a right time to tell you. If there ever was a right time."

Arthur blankly watched as the fire in front of them crackled, his conversation with Gwen last night repeating in his mind.

"It was never my intention to hide so much from you," Merlin continued. "all of you," he looked to the three knights. "my past in Nemeth never really happened to come up so I never said anything, and my magic," he paused. "I was born with it. I've had to keep it a secret my whole life. I learned early on how unaccepting people were of magic, and hiding it just became second nature to me."

"You were born with it?" Arthur asked slowly and thought about that for a moment, sighing. He could understand his apprehension for telling the truth. It would never have been easy to say something like that to someone who, his whole life, had been taught that magic had been evil. "I never knew that was possible until last night."

"I don't believe its a rare thing for people to be born with the gift," Mithian informed them. "it's rare to see someone have instinctive magic in this day and age, but I think every user has always had magic in them. It could have remained dormant for years since the law stops people from being able to find out."

"I think I see what you mean," Elyan nodded, Gwaine and Percival also understanding her explanation.

"That was almost the case for Morgana," Merlin said quietly. "her powers didn't truly manifest until a few years earlier, but she's always been born with the gift." He threw another twig in the fire blankly, thinking of the her recent pass.

"Well," Arthur changed the subject to something more positive, not ready to talk about his sister's passing. "these people will have a chance to connect with their gifts once more. I promise that we will begin the talks of dismantling that law."

Merlin took a deep breath, trying to swallow so that his tears wouldn't fall. He hadn't been able to get a chance to truly let it sink in. That all of the years of having to hide who he is, was finally coming to an end. Mithian threaded her fingers into his, lifting her head slightly to plant a kiss on his arm where she previously laid her head.

"I am in full support of magic returning to the land, but what of people like Morgana?" Percival asked. His village had been raided by Cenred's immortal army, and he admits that he's harbored a hardened stance on magic since that day.

"Right, what would we do with people who misuse their gifts for evil," Elyan added. Not too long ago he was possessed by a spirit of a boy who had been killed in a raid on a druid camp. "and how could we begin to repay them for the damage done?"

"We have a long way to go before we can truly restore balance back to the land," Arthur told them. "and luckily we'll have help," he looked to Merlin with a proud smile. "Merlin will oversee the magical laws and tribulations as an advisor of sorts."

"I will?" Merlin asked as he was just pushed another huge responsibility without consultation. Mithian snickered in his arm at his aloofness. Arthur tilted his head slightly and gave him a tightlipped look. "Of course I will."

"I mean who better to advise magical matters than Emrys?" Arthur asked, knowing of all the great words they used to describe him. "Speaking of, your battle with Morgana was great, but what other great tricks can you do?"

Merlin wasn't too fond of being called Emrys, but he was a bit more annoyed that Arthur called them tricks. "They're not tricks," he argued. "you don't see me calling your swords toys, do you? And it's just Merlin," he huffed.

"Wait, the earthquake at the tomb," Percival remarked. "that was you, wasn't it?"

"No, it couldn't have been," Arthur protested, always underestimating his servant at first. Then, he remembered the huge fight he had with Morgana, and the earthquake and storms he caused then. He also remembered all of the strange occurrences and tree branches suddenly falling seemingly out of nowhere. "was it really?"

Merlin remained silent, and Mithian picked her head up to look at him, impressed. "I had a feeling that was you," she said. "Merlin's magic isn't some silly parlor trick. It's an ancient and beautiful practice," she turned to the others. "I'm sure you'll get a chance to see it more in the open now that magic can be practiced freely."

"Right, sorry," Arthur bowed his head slightly, not meaning to sound belittling. "we still have to get through the next few days and who knows how long it would take before we could unite Albion."

"I'm sure Dragoon would be pleased," Gwaine thought of the strange old man. "how he always manages to evade arrest is beyond me."

Merlin cleared his throat awkwardly. "Yeah, Dragoon," he faked a cough. "uh, hm," he scratched his neck shyly with his free hand. "there is no Dragoon."

Arthur looked at Merlin as if he was joking. "What do you mean there is no Dragoon?"

"I mean that," he avoided their looks. "there is no Dragoon because, well, I am Dragoon."

"You!" Arthur was suddenly indignant as he remembered how the old man had him piggy back him through the castle. He calmed down, and his expression turned to one of seriousness. "My father."

Merlin gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry Arthur," he said solemnly. "I did everything I could, but there are limits to what magic can do."

"I understand," he said after a few moments. "it was Odin who killed him. I understand that now."

"Now hang on," Gwaine remembered how Dragoon knocked him out for charging at him after the old man threatened the life of the king. "it was you who knocked me out," he laughed at being bested by his mate.

"I was wondering how he knew my name," Percival crossed his arms.

"Wait," Mithian laughed seeing how worked up they all suddenly got. "who's Dragoon?"

"Apparently Merlin," Arthur answered, looking to the warlock with an irritated look. "you kicked me! I had to carry you!"

"None of you ever really did question why I'm never around when Dragoon appears," Merlin chuckled, turning to Mithian to answer her question in detail. "whenever I need to solve something with magic, I turned into this old man. It's a bit hard to fix magical problems without anyone knowing it was me so I used this disguise."

Mithian laughed at that, wondering how an older Merlin must have looked. "You must have had fun," she smiled.

"Too much fun," Elyan agreed begrudgingly. "I will never forget that he used us as steps to mount his horse."

Gwaine, Arthur, and Mithian snickered at that. Gwaine, being knocked out, and Arthur and Mithian not being there to witness it.

Percival hit him lightly in the arm. "We agreed never to speak of that again," he reminded quietly which cause the others to laugh again.

"Sorry I had to do that," Merlin laughed, though he did not seem sorry at all. "I didn't have much time before the fomorroh in my neck woke up. The creature forced me to do whatever Morgana commands, and at the time, it was to kill Arthur."

"You don't seem very sorry," Arthur pointed out, and Merlin shrugged innocently.

"Can't say I didn't enjoy it," he confessed with a smile.

Gwaine shook his head with a smile. "Can't imagine what else we've missed that Merlin's done."

Mithian started to laugh as she remembered one of the stories Merlin told her during her first few nights in Camelot. Particularly the one about the goblin.

"What is it?" Arthur asked, seeing Mithian laugh randomly.

"Nothing," she pursed her lips to hold in a laugh. "just remembered a story Merlin told me two months ago."

"Which story?" Gwaine asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and interest. "You have to tell us now."

Merlin furrowed his eyebrows, an endearing look in his eyes. He couldn't help but find her shy smile adorable. "It's the story about a rather royal donkey," Mithian finally told them. Merlin snorted and the king's cheeks turned red in embarrassment. "Arthur had been given the ears of one. He was even braying," she bit her lip to hold in her laugh, but the other knights burst into laughter.

"How did you know about that?" Arthur widened his eyes, only remembering Gwen seeing him that way.

"Gwen told me, and I told Mithian," Merlin answered nonchalantly. "but I swear that wasn't my fault. Gaius was possessed by a goblin."

"And how exactly did that happen?" Arthur asked pointedly, but none of them stopped laughing.

"I opened a book by accident, and it was released," Merlin said in defeat.

"So basically," Arthur surmised. "it was your fault."

"Father," Elizabeth called out. They were able to find many of their people, both who had escaped from King Odin and then later Sir Brennis. She had just opened the tent to see her father standing, thinking of strategies to take back his kingdom.

King Rodor looked up to see his eldest daughter walk in. "Did you hear back from Mithian and the others?" He asked hopefully. He had initially refused, but later relented and allowed Mithian to go along with Arthur to find Merlin, though he couldn't help but worry for his daughter.

Elizabeth shook her head, coming into to see him for something else. "I'm afraid not," Rodor looked down sadly. "but I wouldn't worry. You and I both know Merlin would never let anything happen to her."

He gave a small smile, knowing Merlin was there gave him some comfort. "What did you want to talk about?"

"I have learned a great deal from being Queen of Mora these past years," she began to answer. "and since I was a child, I had been learning the teachings and practices of how to be a queen."

"Yes," he nodded questioningly, wondering where she was going with this conversation. Nevertheless, he payed close attention to what she was saying.

"As the older sister, I would like to reclaim my right to the throne," she declared. She had yet to talk to it about Mithian, but she knew her sister. Mithian would give up her kingdom for love, to be loved by someone with their whole heart. "if Mithian wishes to give up the throne, I would agree to take her place."

Rodor thought about that for many moments. "Why are you thinking of this now?"

"I've been thinking about it for a while," she answered. "you and I both know Mithian never truly wanted to be queen. I'm not planning to just take it from her, but if she wishes to stay in Camelot. I am willing to take my place as Queen of Nemeth," she asserted. "it is after all, what I was born to do as the eldest."

"Are you sure?" Rodor asked.

"Only if it is alright with Mithian. I don't want her to think I'm taking it away from her," she answered. "but I've gotten used to being Queen for many years, and it was the life that was always set out for me since I was a child."

This was true, it was never Mithian's path in life to become Nemeth's sole heir to the throne. They both were taught from a young age the laws and practices of court just in case. Now that Rodor was getting older, he had been a little hard on his youngest daughter. He would make sure she would continue to study her duty, but now it didn't seem necessary.

"We'll discuss it when we see her again," he responded.

Early the next morning, the group of six traveled through the forest in search of the survivors and hoped that Rodor and the rest of them were already there.

Gwaine sat up straight, trying to stretch his back while on the horse. "I had a lovely dream last night," he shared with everyone. "I ate a piece of cheese that tasted of apple pie," he continued and everyone gave him a deadpan stare. "You reckon they have anything like that in Nemeth?"

A few more beats of silence where they all just stared blankly at the knight, still wondering exactly how serious he was being.

Mithian, moving to sit up right and proper, blinked twice at him. "No, I don't think so," she answered wryly. "but I'm sure Merlin can make something up for you."

"Could he really," Gwaine asked excitedly. "Merlin, you absolute beauty."

"Mithian, really," Merlin asked and the princess laughed. "don't goad him."

"What?" Mithian asked innocently. "There was this one time Merlin made me a flower that smelled just like fresh apples."

"Smell and taste are two completely different things," he pointed out.

"But you could try?" Gwaine asked hopefully, and Merlin sighed.

"I mean I guess-"

"Ah, I'll take that as a yes," he interrupted with a smile. "I could almost taste it now." The rest of them scrunched their faces at his odd sense of taste.

"We're almost there," Merlin took the lead, sensing much life not too far from where they were.

"How can you be sure?" Arthur asked. "Another one of your funny feelings again?" Merlin only looked to him shrewdly. "Oh, don't tell me. You're using magic."

"Magic is apart of the earth, and it is apart of me," Merlin responded. "but also I could hear people not far from here, and feel them as well. It could be the survivors."

"So not magic," Arthur said. "just your big ears." Merlin ignored what he said and sped up his horse, the others following suit leaving Arthur slightly behind. "How do you know they're survivors and not bandits or some-" The king's mouth shut as they came across the camp. Mithian noticed Elizabeth immediately as her older sister exited a tent. Arthur sighed, seeing King Rodor come out as well.

"My intuition is never wrong," Merlin turned around to look at Arthur, who only rolled his eyes.

"Guess you're not as big an idiot as I thought," Arthur said as he dismounted his horse. Elizabeth noticed the new guests, seeing her sister amongst them and ran over to her. Sir Leon and King Rodor also came to greet the group, glad to see them alive. Mithian hugged both her sister and father tightly, relieved to know they were all alright.

"What news of the Lady Morgana?" Rodor asked once they have settled down. Arthur and Merlin bowed their heads to the ground, a haunted expression on their face.

Arthur swallowed, seeing the expectant faces watch him carefully. "The Lady Morgana is dead," he announced slowly. "she will no longer be a threat to us."

AN: Merlin's okay! lol I hope you guys liked this chapter, it was mainly fluff but Mithian bonding w the knights lol Thank you all for the support of this fic, it's my first time writing in a while and I appreciate you taking the time to read this :)