As Courage, there are two more things that you will need to complete this Quest: Strength and Magic.
These words seemed to haunt Prince Arthur's thoughts the past week since he returned to Camelot with the Fisherman's Trident. There were only two other people that joined him on his quest: Gwaine and Merlin. He knew that Gwaine was the Strength that the troll had told him about. After tossing and turning in bed, he gave up on trying to find sleep yet again. He got up and poured himself a glass of wine and thought some more on those words.
It can't be Merlin, could it? he asked himself. It was the only logical explanation. There was nobody else that was there. Magic in the heart of Camelot. He downed the drink. There was only one way for him to find out. He strode to the Physician's Quarters with purpose and knocked on the door.
Gaius opened the door. "Sire, what can I do for you? Would you like a tincture to help you sleep? Or get rid of any nightmares?"
"No, thank you. Is Merlin here?"
"Yes, he is. He is upstairs in his room. Shall I fetch him for you?" Arthur nodded his head. He sat down at the table waiting for Merlin to come down. He stood up when Merlin came down.
"Merlin, good. We are leaving Camelot for a couple of days. Please make sure that everything is ready. We will be leaving in the morning as soon as I have made all the arrangements with my father. I need to hunt."
"Very good, Sire. I will be waiting for you just outside the castle." Arthur left the room. When he left, Merlin felt a chill in the air. He did not know why he was dreading this hunting trip.
He got everything ready before he fell back asleep again for a few hours. Gaius woke up him with some breakfast. "Gaius, do you think he might suspect me?" Merlin asked sincerely.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, there was something about him when he came in last night, like he was on a mission. I have seen that look before when he hunt. And when he left, I felt a great chill in the air."
"Well, I guess we will both find out when you get back if your feeling was real. Either he did find out your secret, which I have no way of knowing if he does, or he just really needed to hunt. Either way, good luck. And if he does ask you if you are a sorcerer, I suggest that you tell him the truth. The truth will come out eventually. And if you lie, and he knows the truth, he will never trust you again."
"Thank you Gaius. I will see you when we get back." Merlin went to the stables and prepared the two horses. As he was just loading the last of the parcels to his horse, Arthur descended the steps and joined Merlin. "All is set," Merlin declared. Arthur just nodded and straddled his horse. Before they knew it, they were on their way to the woods. Merlin had no idea where they were going. It seemed Arthur did not know either.
At the end of the day, they decided to camp. Merlin prepared the camp, cooked the rabbits that they caught, and they ate in silence. Arthur was trying to gather his thoughts. After they were done eating and cleaned up, Arthur took a deep breath and decided to start the hard conversation. He was hoping that he was just overreacting.
"Merlin, there is something that I wanted to talk to you about, outside the reach of Camelot." Merlin's heart lurched in his chest. There would be only one reason why they would have this conversation outside of Camelot. "When we were on the Quest to find the Fisher King's Trident, the troll that was guarding the bridge said something that has been bugging me. I want you to answer the question truthfully. He said that I was waiting for Magic and for Strength. I know that you are not strong, by all means, so that only leaves Magic. Do you have magic?"
Merlin did not know how he was going to answer this. If he did tell the truth, there was a strong chance that he was going to lose his head or burn at the stake. Although maybe there would be a chance that this could be the first step to shape the future. He threw caution to the wind and answered simply, "Yes."
Arthur took a sharp breath. "And you did not tell me? How long have been a sorcerer?"
"I was born with it. I use the magic only for good, only to help you. It is my destiny. Together, it is said that we will make the greatest ag and bring peace for years in Albion."
"Knowing our laws, why do you stay in Camelot? If you were to be found out, especially by my father, it would mean instant death."
"I know. But I do everything for you. I have seen the great things that you will bring to Albion when you take over. I believe in you. It has been foretold, even before our births."
"Is there anything else that you can do, other than magic?"
"I am also the Last Dragon Lord."
"But how is that possible. The Last Dragon Lord died on the way back to Camelot?"
"He was my father. To become a Dragon Lord, it needs to be passed down from father to son. And when my father died, that was when I found out. I didn't even know he was my father until right before we left to find him. Gaius told me the truth."
"Did I really give the Dragon a mortal blow?"
"No. I ordered him to leave and never return."
"If I ask you to, could you call him?"
"Yes," Merlin hesitated. Arthur nodded his head. "We are going to have to go into a larger clearing. There is one close to here."
"Then let's go."
Arthur did not know what to expect when he came into contact with the Great Dragon. The last time he saw him, the Dragon tried to destroy all of Camelot, and he tried to kill him. He looked at Merlin with some suspicion, but he was thankful that he was at least being honest with him about his talents. He did not know if he should report him.
When they got to the clearing, Merlin called for Kilgarrah. Arthur looked up at the skies and soon felt winds like a hurricane. Before he knew it, the Great Dragon landed in the clearing. He arched his gigantic eyebrows. "What is this, Merlin?" he demanded. There was a hint of anger in his voice.
"I am sorry. I would not have called you unless it was important. Arthur found out about what I am and asked to see you and ask you questions."
His face softened and growled a chuckle. "So, you are not as dumb as your father then. What can I help you with Arthur King?"
"I cannot believe it!" Arthur gasped. "You're alive!"
"Yes. It was by the kindness that Merlin showed me."
"Merlin said that there has been a prophecy about the two of us."
"Yes, you are like two sides of a coin. It has been foretold for centuries that you and Merlin will bring the greatest age of Albion, together."
"But how is it possible? Magic is still outlawed."
"Under your father, yes. But you have the chance to make the change. The Druids say that Merlin is the most powerful sorcerer in the world. And when you become King, you will need Merlin at your side. Many enemies will come at you from all sides, and you will need his help to protect you."
"Thank you for being honest, the both of you. I think we should be making our way back to Camelot early in the morning."
Kilgarrah bowed his head. Arthur did the same. He turned to go. Kilgarrah turned to Merlin. "Good luck. The road is going to be tough now for a little while, but I believe it is for the better. If you need anything else, just let me know. And Merlin, I don't think it would be wise to tell him of the Witch. I don't know how he would take it."
"Thank you, old friend. Until next time."
"Merlin!" they heard Arthur shout. Merlin smiled, and waved goodbye to the Great Dragon. Kilgarrah pushed off hard from the ground and flew off into the night. They walked back to the campsite in quiet.
When they came back, Merlin tried to start the fire, but he was too nervous that he was having a hard time striking the flint. Arthur looked over and saw this and said, "Why don't you just use your magic?"
"I guess I am just used to doing it naturally." He turned to Arthur who nodded his head, wanting to see this. Merlin took a deep breath and lit the fire with his magic. He made a dragon figurine dance in the fire.
"Is there anyone else in Camelot that knows you have magic? Or anyone else that has magic?"
"Sire, I don't think that you want to know that answer," he replied, not wanting to throw Gaius under the bus.
"I do," Arthur pressed.
"Lancelot found out. When we were fighting the Griffith. I destroyed it with magic. And he saw it all happen. And Gaius knew from the first day that I arrived. I used magic to save him from falling and breaking his neck.
There was a poignant silence. Arthur still could not wrap his head around the whole thing. "I think we should leave tomorrow and return to Camelot. Until I figure out what I am going to do with the information you have just given me, I think it is best if you take a couple of days off. When I have come up with a solution, I will call for you. Agreed?" Merlin nodded. "Good, get some rest. We have a long ride back to the castle tomorrow."
The next morning, Merlin was already up, and readied the horses before Arthur had woken up. They mounted the horses and rode back home. Merlin made his promise to Arthur and stayed in Gaius's apartments, while Arthur considered everything that he had been told and saw.
A few days passed. Merlin never stopped pacing his room, anxious for the conclusion that Arthur came at. He hoped that he would not be a head shorter at the end of this. The fact that the guards had not come to arrest him was a good sign. Every time there was a knock on the door, he would jump in nervousness.
Finally, the day came when Arthur had made his decision. He walked to Gaius's apartments. Gaius let him in and made some tea. "Gaius, before I talk to Merlin, can I ask you a question?
The old man nodded. "Did you know that Merlin was a sorcerer before you took him in?"
"Before, yes. His mother sent me a letter asking me to keep him safe. The people in the village were starting to talk. I took him under my wing, trying to keep him out of harm's way, and helping him stay out of trouble. But you know how well that has panned out." Arthur let out a small chuckle, remembering how many times Merlin had landed himself in the stock for some reason or another. "I think you should give him a chance," Gaius suggested strongly.
"Is he here?"
"Yes, he is upstairs in his room. He has not left, just as you have requested of him." Arthur nodded and walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. Merlin let him in and pulled a chair from the desk in the corner of his room, and pulled it out for Arthur. Arthur thanked him and sat down while Merlin sat on the bed, tension written all over his face, and the way he sat.
"After some due consideration, and a lot of thinking on the subject, I have decided to help you keep your secret. I have been advised by many, to not give up on you. I am not my father, and I wish to prove it. I know now that magic is not always bad, but it comes at a price. I cannot give you a position now, but when I become king, I would like to give you the position of Court Sorcerer. You will be one of my highest advisors. I am trusting you."
For the first time in days, Merlin breathed. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome. But that does not mean that you can slack on your duties. You will still be my manservant. On top of your duties as my manservant, I would like to learn about the Druids and your magic, if you would teach me in private of course, to make sure that my father does not find out."
"I can live with that," Merlin said with a smile. He was relieved at Arthur's decision.
Years later, when Arthur became King, he kept his promise to Merlin and makes him Court Sorcerer. And together, they made Albian a place of peace, until Morgana wanted to claim her birthright and started the war Merlin was at Arthur's side until the very end. And even to this day, Merlin stays by Arthur's side, waiting for the day he will rise again to bring peace to Albion once more.