It had been about a week since Arthur had legalized magic and so far the world hadn't ended, nor had it changed much. No good magic users had shown up to pledge loyalty to him, but that hardly surprised him. Arthur supposed it might take a while for such news to spread throughout the kingdom, but more likely Merlin's strange optimism was just wishful thinking. Still Arthur was at least glad he hadn't been made to regret his decision… yet.

"I'll see you later then," Gwen said as she kissed him goodbye.

"Be careful," Arthur said, looking up from his work to gaze at her.

"I'm only going to my father's grave," Gwen replied.

"Elyan is going as well?" Arthur inquired.

"Yes and Leon, and Gwaine and Percival," Gwen replied.

"Maybe take a few more just to be sure. It's only been a week since I made the announcement," Arthur continued. "Who knows how the people will take it. It's never been more dangerous out there."

"You worry too much," Gwen laughed.

"And you do not worry enough," Arthur sighed, but Gwen just smiled. With a wave of her hand the love of his life walked out of the room.

Leaving Arthur to do this tedious paperwork. With a sigh, he got back to it. No one ever told him before he became king how much bloody paperwork there'd be.

What was probably a few hours later, Arthur was interrupted from his work by the arrival of his servant.

"What Merlin?" Arthur asked. "I'm trying to work here."

"Well see there's something I've been wanting to tell you," Merlin began.

"Well spit it out. I haven't got all day," Arthur grumbled. Rather than looking up at his friend, Arthur's gaze remained fixed on the documents he was trying to decipher.

"It's kinda a big thing," Merlin said. Arthur gestured for him to get on with it. "A big important thing that is worth you looking up at me for."

"I'm the King, Merlin," Arthur said. "You can't tell me what to do."

"Hasn't stopped me before," Merlin grinned.

"Merlin!" Arthur stood up, annoyed. Really sometimes he didn't know why he put up with such behaviour. Any other king would have their servant whipped for saying such things.

"There see, at least that got you looking at me," Merlin said with a smile. "Anyway what I'm trying to say is magic has been legal for a while now and I wanted to prove to you what I meant about good magic users who are loyal to you."

"If you had proof why didn't you show me when we were at the Disir cave!?" Arthur grumbled. "Really, Merlin, sometimes I do wonder about you."

"That's what I'm trying to explain," Merlin snapped.

Just then the door of Arthur's chambers burst open. The look on the man's face put every thought of Merlin's odd behaviour from the King's mind.

"What's happened?" he asked.

"The Queen's party has been attacked," the man said. "Percival and Leon are in a bad way."

At once dropping what he was doing, Arthur ran towards the door and down the hall. The first thing he noticed when he entered the room was who wasn't in it.

"Where is Guinevere?" he asked. The silence that followed made his stomach twist into knots.

"I told her to get away," Sir Elyan said. "She fled."

Before the words were even out of Sir Elyan's mouth, Arthur had made up his mind. The moment the sun rose they were going after her. Nothing else mattered. The fear and anxiety Arthur now felt made him crave solitude while he waited for the sun to rise.

He found himself back in his room, looking at her things without even realizing it. Merlin came in, without knocking, to tell him Leon and Percival would live. Arthur knew he should be glad of this but couldn't bring himself to feel any joy.

"There is something else," Merlin said.

"Yes you were trying to tell me something earlier," Arthur said, in an empty voice.

"More than just that," Merlin replied. "Leon and Percival were not attacked by normal snakes."

"Magic," Arthur sighed.

"Not just magic but Morgana's magic," Merlin continued.

"With it legal now how can we know it's hers?" Arthur countered. "It could be anyone's."

"It's Morgana," Merlin replied with great confidence.

"You can't know that," Arthur groaned. Why did Merlin insist on always acting like he was more knowledgeable, more powerful than he actually was. It was a wonder this attitude hadn't gotten him killed yet.

"I know because I can sense it," Merlin replied. "I can sense the evil coursing through their veins. That type of evil I have only ever felt once before and that was from Morgana's hate."

Arthur turned around to really look at his friend. "Is this like how you could tell that Disir's cave was a sacred space?"

"Kinda," Merlin replied, gingerly.

"I don't have the energy for your funny feelings right now," Arthur replied. He felt so empty. All he could do was think about his wife. Was she scared? Would they find her? Arthur knew what it was to lose her and the fear of it happening again consumed him.

"I'll see you at dawn then," Merlin said, before backing away.

"I lost Guinevere once before," Arthur said to his best friend's retreating back.

"You aren't going to lose her," Merlin replied, turning around to face him. Arthur couldn't believe him. All he could feel was despair.

"You're not," Merlin assured him again, walking closer. "We will find her. I swear." And then Merlin held out his hand to Arthur and Arthur took it. Somehow, though it made no sense, Merlin's words made Arthur feel just a little bit better.

"We'll bring her home," Merlin said, smiling.

"Why is it that when you say that I can almost believe you?" Arthur asked.

"I just have one of those faces," Merlin laughed. "Try and get some rest, sire. I'll see you at first light." And with that Merlin left the room.

Arthur tried in vain to get some sleep. He might have dozed off for an hour or so but he couldn't be sure. It was a relief when the first light came on the horizon. If nothing else this meant he could do something to find her. Doing nothing all night had been almost unbearable.

They followed Morgana's tracks all day, until inevitably the sun set. His knights said it was too dark to follow the tracks but Arthur didn't care. They would keep heading east or retrace the tracks. There had to be something they could do! He couldn't bear the idea of spending another night doing nothing.

It was Merlin who convinced Arthur it was pointless to continue in the dark. Though he knew that to be correct Arthur didn't want to hear it. Still he let the knights set up camp for the night without further protest.

When Leon and Percival woke in the middle of the night with the same dream about the dark tower, Arthur knew somehow it had to do with their quest. He asked Merlin about it and he said it was because of the poison.

"That poison should have killed them but it didn't," Merlin explained. "Almost like she wanted them alive to send a message. Which means the dark tower is most certainly a trap."

"It also means that's where she has Gwen," Arthur countered.

"And the fact that it's a trap?" Merlin inquired.

"Doesn't matter," Arthur replied. "It's Gwen. We have to try."

"In that case Arthur I do wonder if she'd stand a better chance if you knew of all the skills at your disposal," Merlin began. "I had planned to tell you the other day, but as we were interrupted."

Arthur couldn't begin to imagine what Merlin was on about, but he didn't say anything. Merlin seemed to believe whatever it was would help them save Gwen and that's all that mattered to him.

"I feel like I can finally tell you," Merlin began. "Now that you won't be faced with the choice of chopping my head off or breaking your own laws."

Arthur's brow furrowed. Even in the dark, he could sense how serious Merlin was.

"I have magic," Merlin said calmly, though there was a nervous edge to his voice Arthur had never heard there before. "And I use it for you, Arthur, even if you were unaware of it."

"Don't be ridiculous, Merlin," Arthur scoffed. "You aren't a sorcerer. I would know."

"Actually, I prefer the term warlock," Merlin replied.

"This is stupid," Arthur grumbled. "I'm going to try and get some sleep."

Just as he turned away from Merlin he heard a soft whispering sound and then he found his eyes fixed on the campfire. Soft sparks from the fire were rising up into the air and forming into the shape of a great dragon. It flapped its wings a few times then disappeared.

Stunned beyond belief, Arthur turned to stare at the man he thought he knew better than anyone. His first reaction was more instinct than thought. So many years of his father's words drilled into his head. Arthur took a step back from Merlin.

"I'm sorry I hid it from you for so long," Merlin continued. "Until now there just really wasn't any other way it could have been. I promised to help you get Gwen back and I intend to keep that promise."

"Making lights dance in the fire is one thing," Arthur countered. "But Morgana is on a whole other level."

"This won't be the first time I've faced Morgana," Merlin explained. "Trust me. I have more up my sleeve than fancy fire tricks."

Arthur almost couldn't believe his ears. It was one thing for Merlin to have magic, but quite another for him to be able to rival Morgana's magic — which he'd seen in action. Arthur just couldn't understand why someone so powerful would act so helpless.

"If you really are that strong, why pretend to be a servant?" Arthur asked. He was still standing a ways back, his mind stunned but trying to process what he was hearing.

"I have polished way too much armour to call myself a pretend servant," Merlin replied defensively.

"Okay, why be a servant then?"

"It's my destiny to serve you," Merlin replied. "As it has been since the day we met."

"I tried to take your head off with a mace," Arthur replied. He could remember it well.

"And I stopped you," Merlin added. "With magic."

"You cheated," Arthur said.

"Yeah well you were going to kill me," Merlin reminded him.

"Yeah I was," Arthur said softly. He could hardly remember the person he'd been back then. Without ever realizing it he'd changed so much and more to Merlin's credit than he'd ever admit out loud.

"Some men are born to plow fields, some live to be great physicians, others to be great kings. I was born to serve you, Arthur. And I'm proud of that. I wouldn't change a thing," Merlin said and Arthur could hear the pride in his voice.

"Lancelot knew," Merlin continued. "He figured it out when I used magic to enchant his spear that killed the griffin."

"Anyone else?" Arthur asked.

"Gaius," Merlin said. "My mother. That's it really. Well, except for the Druids and the leader of the Catha. Oh, and Kilgharrah."

"Sounds like there's a lot I need to catch up on," Arthur said slowly. "But right now all I can think about is Gwen."

It was true. Despite this rather overwhelming realization, Arthur couldn't really focus on the details right now, not with his Queen in such mortal danger.

"I know," Merlin said. "I'm sorry for telling you now. It was just that I thought going to such a magical place you are sure to need my help and if I can give it without hiding I believe it will be all the more effective."

Arthur nodded in acknowledgement and moved back to his sleeping spot by the fire. Despite the strange instinct deep inside that told him to fear Merlin's magic, Arthur knew he was in no danger. After all, Merlin had been at his side for almost ten years now. More than once he'd saved Arthur's life. With or without magic Merlin was an ally — or so he kept telling the angry voice inside.

Of course, this so perfectly explained Merlin's answer back when they'd faced the Disir. He'd known there were loyal and good magic users in Camelot because he was one of them!

Thanks for all the reviews! I answered all of them except for Blackdrake who wasn't logged in so I'm thanking them here. :)

What do you think of my second chapter? The events of the show after episode 05 are still going to happen but with the huge change of Arthur knowing about Merlin's magic and magic being legalized. I plan for this change to fix all the things wrong with the end of Merlin!

Also by now you have probably noticed the horrible title. I am blanking badly on it. Anyone got any ideas?

Sneak Peek Chapter 03

"She's a damsel in distress," Gwaine said by way of joining up. "I was born for this moment."

Then Arthur looked at Merlin. He didn't say anything, but there was something in his eyes. It was like he was asking permission to tell the others.

"If you aren't going to lob my head off then I feel certain they won't," Merlin smiled at his friend.

The knights looked confused until Arthur gestured to the fire and Merlin repeated the fire trick he'd shown the King last night.

When the glowing embers of the dragon faded once again, every eye was on Merlin.

"Someone's been lying to us a long time," Percival said.

"As I learned last night," Arthur added. At that every knight turned to look at the king as if for instructions.

"Merlin is with us," Arthur said. "He has made me a promise to help save the Queen and I believe he will honour it." With that Arthur indicated it was time to leave and every Knight gathered their swords and mounted their horse.