They rode back to Camelot in deafening silence. Sometimes Merlin would try to talk... to explain... to apologise. Arthur would just nod his head and say, "I know." and nothing else. He didn't chastise Merlin playfully when the servant got his foot stuck in a stirrup. He didn't shoot any annoyed looks when Merlin said they should rest at least 3 times a day. And when Merlin made them stop to get water and eat, Arthur let him check the wound without complaint. It was awkward and confusing. Arthur felt miles away from Merlin even as he let the warlock openly use healing spells to ward off infection in his leg. Eventually, he gave into Arthur's sudden muteness, and Merlin rode behind him until they reached the gates of Camelot.

The knights crowded around them, excited by their return. Leon grasped Arthur's forearm in greeting, and Gwaine laughed jovially about how hilariously anxious the castle had been since they disappeared. It had been four days. It was supposed to have been two.

"We were about to send a search party for you, sire!"

"There was no need, Sir Leon. We are quite alright. Now, you'll have to excuse me. I'm afraid many matters need attending to since my absence."

"Won't you at least come out for a drink, Princess?" Gwaine slung an arm around the king's shoulder and winked at him, "The old coots and paperwork will still be there in the morning!"

"Not tonight," Arthur said with finality and broke apart from the group. He nodded his dismissal and walked towards the castle but gave no orders or duties to Merlin. The knights and servant stood dumbly with the horses, their eyes trained on the back of the king's retreating form. Gwaine turned to Merlin questioningly.

"What the fuck was that about?" He asked, his voice laced with bemusement, "You two have a little lovers quarrel out in the woods?"

Leon shot the knight a look that clearly said, 'language' and rephrased the question, "Are you alright, Merlin? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Merlin suddenly felt surrounded, the fear from his magic's discovery still fresh, and he froze. Noticing his behavior, Gwaine reached out a hand to comfort him. Merlin flinched at the contact.

"I think I'm just gonna put the horses away and go to Gaius." He said apologetically before hurrying off towards the stables. He heard someone call after him, but he couldn't bring himself to acknowledge it. The stable boys quickly took the horses off his hands, muttering about the thick layer of dust coating both of them. Taking Merlin's anxiousness as busyness, they shooed him off to finish his other duties. Instead, Merlin ran as fast as he could to the court physician's chambers.

Slamming the door shut behind himself, and startling poor Gaius, he slid to the floor and rubbed at his face with his hands.

Gaius, who had dropped a vial when Merlin barged in, clucked his tongue and looked over to Merlin disapprovingly. "I'm sure Arthur couldn't have been that bad."

Merlin giggled a little bit at the unintentional irony of the comment and thumped his head back against the door. Gaius stepped away from his potions and walked towards Merlin curiously, "Are you quite alright, my boy?"

Merlin took in a deep breath and gestured wordlessly with his hands. Arthur. Knows. I. Have. Magic. Gaius sighed impatiently and kneeled next to his ward. He pulled over a chair to sit in and raised an eyebrow at the boy's antics. "You'll have to use your words, Merlin. I'm not quite sure what all that flailing means."

Finally, the warlock lifted his head and tears dripped unforgivingly down his face. Gaius's eyes widened at the sudden bout of emotions, and he pulled one of Merlin's shaking hands into his own. He soothed his nephew with hushed whispers and waited for him to talk. Eventually, as if forcefully pulled from his lips, Merlin spoke.

"Arthur knows I have magic, Gaius."

The physician stilled and looked fearfully towards the door as though guards were sure to march through it at any moment. He stood and pulled Merlin up with him, pacing in the small space between benches.

"Are you certain, Merlin?"

Merlin nodded jerkily and ran a trembling hand through his hair. "He saw me, Gaius. We got trapped. There was a monster. I tried to keep Arthur away, where I didn't think he could see me. I killed it. With magic. But he saw everything."

Gaius looked up sharply and let out a huff of air. He muttered to himself and sat down, only to stand right back up again. Trying to stay calm, Gaius used his best 'caring doctor' voice. "And then what, Merlin? What did he say? What did he do? How much time do we have?"

"He started crying..."

"Merlin..."

"He didn't yell at me. He didn't get angry or threaten me. He... he didn't say anything. He just asked me if I was coming back to Camelot with him or not. I don't know what he's going to do. H-he won't listen to me. He didn't ask for any explanation. I made him cry, Gaius. I know I should be scared, but I never imagined he'd react like that..." Merlin broke down, his body heaving with sobs. He choked on his words and hugged his arms against his chest. He felt so guilty and so anxious that he thought he might vomit. "I-I convinced myself that it was because of Uther that I lied to him. Then Uther was gone, and I kept lying! I had excuses. I said Arthur wasn't ready... o-o-or that he was too against magic. Or because of the dragon. Or you. Or my mum. But... he didn't say anything about the magic. He let me use it to get us free and to heal his leg. He just - I... I don't know. Gods, he looked so hurt. I can't even - I don't know what to do - I... I don't know what to do! Sometimes he's such a rude stuck up arrogant prick, and other times he's so caring and brave and kind. He didn't say he if was going to hurt me but didn't say he wasn't either. I-I don't know how much time we have!"

Merlin bit at his fingernails and hiccuped weak cries into his hands. Gaius stood in shock at the messy confession that had poured out of his dear boy. He slowly opened his arms and softly pulled Merlin to his chest. Hugging the boy through his sobs, he gently ran his hands up and down his ward's back. They stood together in a lulling quiet and comforted each other. After perhaps a few moments or a few hours, the old and wise physician pulled back and whispered, "Perhaps you should go stay with Hunith. Just until things calm down. Arthur may still be processing. I must keep you safe, Merlin. You are the dearest thing in this world to me."

"I-I can't leave. I can't leave Arthur. I don't know what he's going to do, but I won't run from it... I can't hide anymore, Gaius."

Holding back his protests and worried thoughts, Gaius nodded and pulled Merlin back into his arms. "I will always be by your side, my boy."

"Thank you."

That night they both slept restlessly. Merlin waited for a week, with no word from the king. No one came to call him to his duties. On the eighth day, when he could take it no longer, Merlin dressed in his usual attire and prepared to go collect Arthur's dinner. Right before he could reach for his door, Gaius barged into his room, almost hitting him in the process.

"Merlin!" Gaius cried, his eyes wide and wrinkled hands shaking. He steadied himself against Merlin's shoulders, and with a watery smile he said:

"Arthur has lifted the ban on magic. You are free."

Moments later, his head ringing with disbelief and joy, Merlin ran as fast as he could to the king's chambers.

'Arthur has lifted the ban on magic. You are free.''Arthur has lifted the ban on magic. You are free.''Arthur has lifted the ban on magic. You are free.''Arthur has lifted the ban on magic. You are free.''Arthur has lifted the ban on magic. You are free.''Arthur has lifted the ban on magic. You are free.''Arthur has lifted the ban on magic. You are free.'

"ARTHUR!"