Summary: "All the odd scenarios they had been through, all the impossible things they had survived, it had been because of Merlin. Because Merlin believed in him, because Merlin called him his friend, because Merlin was not evil." After the battle of Camlann, Arthur asks Merlin to show him some of his magic. Set during S5E13. One-shot.

A/N: Written for school.

Arthur's Acceptance

"I defeated the Saxons, the dragon, and yet I knew it was Mordred I must stop." Merlin confessed.

Arthur patted his friend's shoulder, amused. "The person who defeated them was the sorcerer."

"It was me." The other man insisted, his voice getting caught up.

Admittedly, Arthur Pendragon was still processing the fact that his longtime servant had been a sorcerer longer than he'd known him. The king of Camelot had been taught that magic was evil, that sorcerers were best dead. But Merlin...all the odd scenarios they had been through, all the impossible things they had survived, it had been because of Merlin. Because Merlin believed in him, because Merlin called him his friend, because Merlin was not evil.

Arthur's wound didn't bother him as much as it should have. He was too busy thinking of his servant to notice the bulk of the pain. Somehow though, he knew that he was mortally wounded, that despite his best friend being a sorcerer, he would not survive. So he tried not to be angry with Merlin. After all, he knew, that confession had been difficult for the young warlock- it had been for both of them.

At first, as they travelled, it had felt like Merlin was a completely different person. But as they neared their destination, he realized that he was looking at the same Merlin he'd always known; a dedicated friend, protector, servant...his denial faded as he realized that the servant meant no harm to him, that he'd never hurt a hair on his chest on purpose.

So that's why, one night on their journey to the Lake of Avalon, he asked Merlin to show him some of what he could do.

"I- what?" The warlock stammered, looking up from where he'd been staring at the fire.

"I asked you if you could show me some of your magic." Arthur repeated.

"What do you want to see me do?"

"Anything." He breathed.

Merlin looked thoughtful for a moment, then inquired if his king had a coin.

"Merlin, why would I bring gold to a battle?"

"Is that a no then?"

Arthur raised an eyebrow. Obviously!

"I can work with that." The servant decided.

Even in the darkness, the king could see the sorcerer's blue eyes flash gold as he quietly murmured a spell. When he looked back to Merlin's hands, his own eyes caught a glint of gold shining through the darkness, the light of the fire reflecting off of something. He had summoned a coin of his own. Arthur wondered why his servant had never done such a thing before- he could be rich if he had. It just went to show that he didn't abuse his power.

Merlin tossed him the coin. He managed to catch it, but only just.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" Arthur questioned, puzzled.

"Nothing." His servant replied.

The king opened his mouth to demand what the point of giving him a coin was, glancing down at it. As he did so, the feeling of the metal against his skin vanished and the coin disappeared.

"It's gone!" He gasped, blinking in an attempt to understand what had happened.

He could hear the smile in Merlin's voice. "No, it's not."

Arthur looked up at his servant, surprised to see the warlock was holding the coin in his own hand. "How did it get over there?"

Merlin shrugged. "Magic."

The king managed to resist rolling his eyes. Before he could inquire what would become of the coin, he witnessed it vanish again. It was gone, just like that.

Arthur knew that Merlin had gotten rid of it- his servant had an almost pure heart. Using gold forged of magic would be as bad as stealing. Merlin wouldn't ever do anything of the sort.

"Merlin, I-"

"You don't need to say anything. I already know."

"I want to say it." Arthur insisted, silencing his friend. After a moment, he started again. "You have shown me that not all magic is evil. It is those who use magic who determine what for. I realize now that I owe you more than I could ever imagine. I'd like to thank you for that, Merlin. If we make it back to Camelot, then I promise I shall change the law. I'll make magic permitted in the kingdom, for those who wish to use it for good."

Merlin didn't say anything, but his teary-eyed smile said everything Arthur needed to know.