A/N

I know this is late but I just finished with finals so forgive me.

This is set in Season 5 before/around the The Dark Tower Episode

Merlin blushed as Mordred laughed at one of his and Arthur's earlier adventures. They were currently in the cave under Camelot where the Great Dragon used to be chained. King Arthur had given the druid and warlock permission to use the cavern secretly to train, talk about magic, practice their spell casting in secrecy, etc. since no one was allowed down there and talks with the council to abolish the ban on magic were in the works.

"He made you eat rat." Mordred restated shaking his head his expression a mixture of horror and amusement.

"There was a famine and Arthur wanted payback for feeding it to him in the first place."

Mordred pressed his lips together tightly, "So… how was it?"

Merlin let out a small chuckle, "Honestly it wasn't that bad. I mean if I was blindfolded and had no previous knowledge that it was rat… but I did so I gagged and did my best to keep it down. Luckily though I only managed to eat a few spoon fulls before Mor-" Merlin trailed off shaking his head.

"Before?"

"The famine had been going for a few days not to mention the draught we had before it. All the grain stores were gone as well. We were all rationing food. Starving really."

"Merlin get to it."

"Alright, so Morgana had come in she was starving so we… well Arthur really decided to give her some of our food."

Mordred's eyes widened and mouth opened in shock, "You fed Morgana a rat!"

Merlin bit his lip trying to look serious and nodded up until the young druid started laughing causing Merlin to snort and eventually laugh along with him.

"No, wonder she hates you," Mordred said jokingly causing Merlin to roll his eyes at him.

Morgana had been so different then. She hadn't been filled with darkness. She actually had wanted to help people not hurt them.

Merlin cleared his throat, "Right, so I think that Arthur should be finishing up with his paperwork by now. At least he better be." Merlin said rising to his feet Mordred following his lead.

"Right. If you want, I can go with you help you with your chores… You don't have to do laundry today do you. I've heard about his socks from Gwaine apparently they can knock someone out cold."

Merlin laughed, "I did that earlier and he's not that far off. I swear one pair will knock you out and the other will wake you up. Are you sure you want to help it's quite boring, not as exciting as being a knight?"

Mordred nodded, "It's alright. You forget that I was a druid we had our fair share of chores in our village. Besides all the other knights set out with the Queen and Sir Eylan on their pilgrimage to visit their father's grave."

Gwen had felt the need to pay tribute to her father's grave especially since it was nearing the anniversary of his death, but also because she had started thinking more and more about him ever since Merlin had brought him up a few months ago with the ordeal with the Disir. Also, this was the first time that she would be able to go accompanied by her brother it was an important moment for them both.

"Alright." Merlin told Mordred as they started moving towards the cave's entrance.

Arthur groaned as he heard Mordred and Merlin snickering for the fifth time.

He was working on a bill to show to the lords at the next council on abolishing the current laws on magic based on the talking points the smaller council session or committee meeting that Arthur held a few days earlier (with Gwen, Merlin, Mordred, Gwaine, and Gaius). As king, Arthur had the authority to pass whatever law he wished however due to the delicacy of the situation he had to tread lightly. So after back and forth debate between himself and Merlin and Mordred then listening to Gaius argue with Merlin and himself, they finally decided that best option for moving forward is to start small. By small it apparently meant officially renouncing the persecution of druids. Since Arthur had become king, he had stopped enforcing that law and had even pardoned a few druids that have been caught inside Camelot's borders so making it official should at the most only cause a small tiff amongst certain old lords and barons but not call into question his authority.

"Can you two shut up. I am trying to concentrate on this, and I can't with your constant snickering. Mordred when I agreed to let you help Merlin with his chores, I expected actual work to get done."

"We finished a while ago." Merlin told him.

"Well then get out. I'm glad you two are chummy now and let bygones be bygones and all that but I am working on this- He says picking up the piece of parchment and waves it in the air- for both of you so just… Just get out before I change my bloody mind, alright." Arthur growled slamming the parchment onto the desk.

Merlin and Mordred's eyes widened as they looked at each other than back at Arthur.

Is he alright? Mordred mentally asked Merlin.

Uhh not sure.

"Arthur?"

"I mean it, Merlin. I'm almost done. I've already practiced what I need to say with Guinevere last night. I've called for a meeting with the citizenry in the courtyard in an hour to announce the change. Just leave me be. I'm sure you two can entertain yourselves for an hour."

Merlin bit his lip but nodded, "As you wish, Sire. Let's go Mordred."

Arthur sighed as he crumbled up the piece of paper and threw it. He grabbed another piece of parchment and wrote what he felt and before he knew it, he finished. Rising from his seat he picked up the paper and walked till he reached the mirror in his room and turned to look at himself.

He closed his eyes and took a breath, "People of Camelot we have been through so much since I have taken the throne. We have experienced wars, loss, famine, destruction, pain, but we have also experienced victory, we have an abundance of food, we have rebuilt our strongholds, we've felt pleasure and peace. In other words, We all have persevered! And we've done it together.

Since before I became king, I always wondered how I would rule. I wanted to rule fairly, justly. I wanted to treat my people whether noble or humble with the respect they deserve. Because we all deserve it. Men are not created equal we are all different and given a certain role to live by but just because there are people different from us does not mean that they should be mistreated.

So, I Arthur Pendragon, your king have come to say something I should have said a long time ago. This is a most sorrowful subject, for it has brought suffering to many a good man. I have caused suffering, but no longer. The persecution of druids or any who associate with them is to be stopped! No druid man, woman, or child shall be killed, harmed or imprisoned just for being different.

This is a new era of peace and to achieve it we must be more accepting of others. Since I became king, I have become more lenient with the druids. Now I am making it official. Any man no matter who he is, who does not abide by this law will be tried and punished accordingly.

The druids while no longer having to fear persecution for their beliefs must also abide by the other laws of Camelot. If they break the law, they will be persecuted accordingly because they broke the law not because of who they are.

Some of you might have concerns. To that I say worry not. Trust in me as you have before."

Arthur smiled exhaling. That would do nicely.

Merlin and Mordred walked through the town. After they have left Arthur's chamber's they went to see Gaius who asked them to make some last minute deliveries. To all they seem to be walking in silence.

How do you think his doing?

I am sure he is doing fine.

Really?

I trust Arthur.

He did, he and Gwen had been helping him the night before giving him ideas on what to say. He just had to put it all together on his own. Merlin was sure that Arthur would surprise them. He had changed so much from the cocky prince who mistreated his ser- okay well he was less cocky now let's not give him too much credit. He was also wiser now and could do this on his own. Merlin had offered to help write the speech, and when the king declined, he knew Arthur was ready to do this without his help.

The pair reached another door and knocked after an exchange of pleasantries Merlin handed one of the servants her master's draught with instructions of when and how it is to be taken then moved on to walk to the next door. They only had few more stops to go before they could head to watch Arthur's speech. Merlin would be with Arthur in his chambers as the king would be speaking to the people from his balcony and Mordred would be below with the rest of the knight in the courtyard.

Did you manage to send word to the druids?

Yes. I send word to an old friend and a couple of druid leaders telling them to spread the word.

Which leaders?

Well just Alator of the Catha, and Isledir but I also contacted Isidro the druid Gwaine and I met, and he spread word to his village leaders. I managed to get in contact with Gilli he's an old sorcerer friend I met he got the word around as well.

Mordred nodded as he knocked on the next door and gave the next potion to the man as Merlin told him when he should take it.

I send word as well. I'm not sure if they would believe it but once they hear from Isledir I'm sure that will change.

Will you tell the knights you're a druid after Arthur's speech?

I won't right out announce it, but I won't hide it. I won't hide who I am anymore.

Merlin smiled tightly as he knocked on the last door. He wasn't sure he wanted to stop hiding. He had gotten use to living in secret his entire life. He knew eventually he would tell the rest of his friends, but the entire city. He wasn't ready for Camelot to know who he really was. He always preferred the 'background stuff' instead of being center stage.

Arthur had just finished his speech and a wave of murmurs and yells were heard. Arthur wasn't sure if they were all in discord, but it certainly didn't sound good until suddenly it stopped.

"LONG LIVE THE KING!" he could hear Mordred yell at the top of his lungs and suddenly the phrase was repeated by another knight then another till the whole citadel chanted as one.

Arthur glanced behind him to look at Merlin who smiled his eyes shining with pride.

"That was brilliant, Arthur."

Arthur felt a swell of pride himself at his friends words, "For a second I was worried."

"I noticed, but you have nothing to worry about. Nothing can go wrong you have me, Gwen, the knights, the people by your side and those who don't will just have to deal with it. You're King Arthur Pendragon, the Once and Future King and the word of a king, your word, will not be contravened."

Arthur nodded about to retort when a sharp knock sounded, and they heard the guard ask for permission to enter.

Arthur allowed the man entry rising as he saw the guard enter with Gwaine behind him.

"Gwaine you're back. How was the trip?"

Gwaine had a solemn look on his face indicative of bad news. It was rather strange having to see it on the knight who always managed to make light of any situation.

"I regret to inform, Sire, that we were ambushed. Sir Percival and Sir Leon have been poisoned and taken to Gaius." He stops gulping as he looks at Arthur.

"But they will be alright. Right?", the king asks.

"Arthur, It was Morgana."

Arthur could here Merlin gasp behind him, but he could no longer see anything else, he was frozen to his spot eyes only on Gwaine noticing how the knight shifted slowly.

He spoke his next words cautiously, "What happened?"

He watched as his knight took a deep breath, "She took the Queen. We could not stop her. They disappeared without trace. I am sorry Arthur."

Arthur was sure his heart had stopped then. No.

"No." Arthur muttered out loud. Not Guinevere he couldn't lose her. Not again! "No!"

A/N

Hi everyone I am so sorry this is late to make it up to you I will be posting twice this month so keep an eye out. I already have the next chapter written just need to polish it up. I plan to post it either on the 27 of December or maybe on Christmas Eve as an early Christmas present it depends.

So what do you guys think of this chapter Arthur finally changed the law regarding druids! and magic is definitely the next step however with Gwen missing its just gonna have to be put on hold as the Knights journey to save their queen. The next chapter will be similar to Ch8 as I will be taking the Dark Tower episode and rewriting it to fit this story.

I want to thank everyone who reviewed since my last update and I also want to welcome the new readers who came along and favorited/ followed this story. Thank you all so much for your support I hope you'll stick around.

Thank you so much to

ch037, Taz, mersan123, OechsnerC, 'Guest', Mairai688, hitomi1993, Lahlahh12, SyphontheNightFury, EmoBandGirl22, ShadowBk, fireclaw239, liliyjoe, twixxxx200, epy12, SmallWeeb and Forget-me-not-poss!

That's all for this chapter please let me know how your thoughts.

Till Next Time

~Agent C.