Just as Dean had asked that they heard laughter behind them and suddenly Arthur was being grabbed and dragged away slowly. "Come now...surely you didn't think I had a few tricks of my own?"
"You waited for us to kill them!" Dean shouted
"Well of course! Why should demons get any credit!"
"What time line are you really from?" Cas asked with a furrowing brow. "Wait...you're a druid! You're from this timeline!"
"My, you're a smart one aren't you. Well, I should say thank you! If it wasn't for the dragon that chased me all the way here, I wouldn't have been able to find the rest of my...group. So thank you for that."
"What would a druid want to take control of Emrys for?" Cas asked as he stepped in front of Merlin, which made Merlin feel extremely protected, but also incredibly small.
"Emrys is supposed to unite the lands of Albion and with the help of the once and future king...Magic will once again flourish through the land. However, how could I believe such a fairy tale when my people still suffer at the hands of Uther!? This...boy..." she said as she dug a dagger into Arthur's back. "He is the once and future king but he doesn't even know who Emrys is! I have seen your time, and we are still hunted!"
"No, only those who use their powers to hurt others are hunted, and I think you fit that perfectly!" Dean bit back as he stepped forward. "We've let so many creatures live because they weren't actually hurting anyone. That includes witches. Hell, we have a friend who's a werewolf! You on the other hand, you claim you want that time to come, but you're ready to kill your only hope."
"Y-You speak as if you know!"
"That's because we do." Sam said as calmly as he could. "Actually in our time magic is embraced, enjoyed, and people have written stories upon stories of it's wonder and what it can do. There are those who wish they could use it, but can't. There are those who enjoy its ability and presence. So, yeah...we know what happens."
"T-Then..."
"Then you should probably let go of that half of your hope and give him back to us."
"I...No! I cannot just take your word for it!" The witch drew back ready to strike, but the knife never came. No, instead she was knocked back with a force no one was quite expecting.
"I will not let you kill Prince Arthur!" Merlin shouted.
"So, Emrys...you finally show yourself, well...it will be for nothing it seems. Your prince looks onto you with such hatred." Merlin chanced a look at Arthur and she was right, there was also shock, concern, confusion, and doubt. "You'll face the pyre soon enough."
"If that's what Arthur wants then so be it. You...You've hurt people. You didn't care who they were. You even recruited demons to use their vicious beasts. You would never belong in the kingdom Arthur is meant to build." Merlin lifted his hand to the sky and used the already visible thunderstorm to strike down the witch like he did Nimueh. It pained him to have to do such a thing, but it was necessary.
Once she was gone the sky cleared and revealed a beautiful night sky as it was still just before dawn. "Merlin...you have magic?"
"I...yes...I have magic."
"And the three of you...you knew he had magic?"
"We're from a different timeline. We traveled back in time to help save both Camelot and Merlin." Dean stated, trying to convince the distressed prince that they were trying to help."
"Wait...are you from the future?" Arthur asked stepping back slightly.
"Yes, we are, and anything you have heard either of us say aside from us being nobility...it was all true. Especially whatever we said about each other."
"I...I believe you."
"Arthur!" Everyone turned their head to one of the doors and noticed Uther was standing there cautiously. "Have the demons been defeated?"
"Yes, father. Along with the witch who had recruited them."
"Did you find out why they attacked us?"
Arthur looked at Cas, Merlin, Sam, Gwaine who seemed to be almost out of the area and out of Uther's sight, and finally Dean. They didn't show any signs of ill will, especially Merlin. So, he shook his head and looked at his father. "It seemed to be another witch who was after my life."
"I tell you Arthur...as long as those with magic live and breath there will never be any peace. They are all vile and treacherous creatures."
"Yes, I know father." Arthur said and noticed out of the corner of his eye at how Merlin flinches slightly. "The kingdom is safe. However, I do wish to speak with The King, his brother, and his servant alone. Would that be alright father?"
"Yes, of course. Ask them if they would like a reward as well. Good night, Arthur."
"Good night, father." Once his father retreated and people started evacuating the castle Arthur looked at the men in front of him and gave a heavy sigh. "Let's go to your chambers, Dean, and I want to know everything. Especially from you, Merlin."
"W-What...you're not sending me to the pyre?"
"That depends entirely on you."
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Arthur closed the door behind him after they were all back in Dean's chambers, and he started pacing the floor. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Dean and Sam sat on the bed while Castiel and Merlin still stood side by side next to Dean. "Merlin, how long have you had magic?" He questioned as he finally found his train of thought from pacing back and forth.
"I was born with it. I was able to move objects before I could talk."
This alone was enough to make Arthur take pause and examine his servant. "What do you mean you were born with it? That's impossible! That would mean..."
"That I didn't choose this? Then you would be right. I didn't choose to be hated and ostracized. I didn't choose to be the bastard child with mysterious gifts, or the problem child of the village. I didn't ask to be born a criminal, but in the eyes of your laws...or rather...Uther's laws, I am a criminal for being born."
Arthur's eyes went wide, and suddenly felt he need to turn the conversation even if it was to be temporary just so he could absorb Merlin's answer. "And you, Castiel?"
"What is it, Arthur?"
"You're truly an angel?"
"Yes, and I truly pulled Dean out of hell. He is known as the righteous man, and I am basically known as the angel that rebelled for the sake of one man."
"You rebelled? So, when you said from your many siblings...you meant the other angels?"
"Yes, I rebelled and I had many siblings. I don't have so many anymore."
"Why?" Arthur asked with confusion written on his face as he tried to understand why an angel would rebel for just one man, and why he no longer had many brothers and sisters.
"They..." Cas let out a heavy sigh. "They tried to get me to betray our father, and those that were still good. I ended up killing them anyway, because they had become corrupt...and when that was no longer a problem...they tried to come after Dean and his brother Sam. I couldn't let them hurt them. I wouldn't let them hurt them." A small grimace appeared on Cas' face as he looked at Dean, and then back at Arthur. "They say I'm lost, they say I've fallen, they say that my loyalties are confused, they say that I've gone mad, they say that I'm experiencing too many emotions, they say I'm too human, they say I have blind faith in the Winchesters..."
"But?" Arthur asked with widened eyes at everything the angel was saying to him, let alone the fact that he was actually talking to an angel. He had tried to see if there were any signs the man was lying but he wasn't. Arthur couldn't find any signs, so he believed everything the angel was saying.
"But I am not lost, because I have found my purpose and my home, I perhaps have fallen but I will do whatever I can for them even if I lose my powers, my loyalties are not confused, because they lie with the Winchesters...mostly Dean, I have learned emotions from them and I find them troubling at times, but it is an interesting experience and has made me able to communicate with them better, I don't mind that I seem too human, but I'm not human...yet, and I have learned through many many many battles along side and against the Winchester that my faith is where it should be. They have become my friends and the family that my real family wasn't."
"Dean..."
"Yes?" Dean looked up at him and noticed that the prince's face seemed to be showing immense concentration as if he were trying to piece together a bigger puzzle than he thought he was able to.
"You would trust a man with such powers? He pulled you out of hell, he is incredibly strong, he can fly, I imagine there are a great many things he can do that I can't even fathom..."
"Well, he can heal too...and since you know about that..." Dean lifted up his sleeves and looked at Cas. "Cas, could you please heal them? It seems a little redundant to keep the wounds as they are now."
"Of course, Dean."
Arthur watched with a calculative expression as Cas moved and hovered his hand over the wounds, and what was a calculative expression quickly changed to one of awe and astonishment. Once Cas pulled away Arthur noticed that the wounds Dean had previously were gone as if they never happened. "You have magic?" He asked as he still stared at Dean's skin as if he were waiting for the wounds to appear once more.
"I suppose in a way I do."
"And Dean...you would trust a man with magic? With powers such as his?"
"He has been a true friend. He's been there for me when I'm not even there for myself, and yeah...he pulled me from hell, but he's done so much more than that. He's risked his life for me when I never deserved it, and even when I thought I did...I didn't deserve it...not really. He may be incredibly powerful, he may have...magic, he may be able to fly away without us having any idea if or when he'll return, but he has been a true friend. He has told me what I needed to hear even if I didn't want to hear it, he has been like a brother to me, and I trust him with everything. Now granted...we have fought...many times...but we've always been friends despite our differences. If he suddenly didn't have his powers or he was completely human...it wouldn't change who he is or who he's been to my brother and I."
"How long did you know he was an angel?"
"Since I first met him face to face when he pulled me out of hell. He made it a point to prove to me that he was indeed an angel. He busted through the doors with no problem and he made our father figure, Bobby, fall asleep with just a touch of his fingers, and he showed me his wings after I stabbed him. At first I thought he was lying, because I refused that angels could exist, but then he showed me his wings and...well, then I just wondered why he did it. We didn't get along too well at first...not well at all, but after a lot happened we became friends and I helped protect him from his family. Then, he ended up protecting me from them too...a lot has happened in between those times and since then but yeah...I've known for a while. Hey, can I ask you something Arthur?"
"Um...sure?"
"Why are you asking us these questions? Is it because you're wondering how to handle the fact that Merlin has magic? Because that's what it sounds like." At his words the prince stepped back, shocked that he was caught so easily, but then he heard his servant clear his throat.
"Arthur?" Merlin stepped forward with his thumbs thumb wrestling each other. "I...I wanted to tell you, but I just couldn't."
"And why not?" He questioned with frustration in his tone.
"I didn't want you to have to choose between a friend and duty, and I've only ever used my magic for you Arthur. You and Camelot. At least since I've been here."
"He's telling the truth." Dean interjected.
"And what would you know about it?" Arthur spat out. "You three arrived here not more than three days ago."
"You're right, and we're from the future...but that's how we know. You see...Wait...Cas, am I allowed to tell Arthur?"
"Well, it's not like we can do any more damage to the time line." Cas answered as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Right..." Dean chuckled lightly. "Well, in our time...There are hundreds of books about you, Arthur. The type of king you'll be, how you grew up, what your father was like...but in all of the hundreds of books...every one of them mentions Merlin somehow and him assisting you to and with your role as King Arthur...and it mentions he uses his magic and you're aware of it. This time period that we're in...in our time...it's known as Arthurian legend, and there are many tales of how you and Merlin fight together side by side. Sword and Magic. It also says that he guides and advises you even when you don't want the advise or think you need it. Not only that, but Merlin is the most powerful warlock to ever walk the earth, and he uses his magic only for you and Camelot. Millions...no...billions of people know about King Arthur and Merlin among many stories between the two of you. He has likely risked his life in ways that none of us can ever imagine especially since the threat of immediate execution hangs over his head."
Arthur couldn't say anything. Not only that but he was completely breathless. He couldn't believe that there would be legends about him, and the fact that most if not all of them involved Merlin somehow. Not just Merlin, but Merlin and his magic, which means he becomes accepting of his magic and uses it. Which then means that magic is welcomed back into Camelot. He looked at Merlin and played everything he had been told in his head. About the relationship of Castiel and Dean, and about everything that was said concerning him and Merlin. He glanced at Castiel and Dean for a moment remembering that they both basically said that they would remain true to one another if Castiel had ever lost his powers and became human forever. Then, he looked back at Merlin who seemed to be patiently waiting for Arthur's judgment. "Merlin, what do you want me to do?"
"You're actually asking me?"
"Yes, of course you idiot. Don't tell me you mysteriously went deaf in five minutes." The banter was so easy, Arthur realized.
"Well, honestly I would like to stay by your side. I'm not looking to no longer be your servant anymore, in fact it's the one position I have that allows me to stay close and fight for you...but I would also like for you to accept my magic, and when you become king...to change the laws on magic. A lot of people use it for good, and a lot of people like me are born with it and not given a choice. Magic chose us...it chose me more than anyone else it seems but still..."
"Did you truly mean it when you said if I wanted you to go to the pyre...that you would go?" Arthur asked trying to calm his emotions and his mind for the moment.
"Yes, if that is what you want. It's not what I want, but you are my friend Arthur...my best friend."
"Merlin...you lied to me, you betrayed me, you have magic, you've been right under my nose this whole time, I have no idea what you've done with your magic, and I should hate and despise you!" With every word he said he watched Merlin flinch a little but it quickly resided when he looked back at Cas and Dean who could stand next to each other so calmly and after everything they've been through...they were still comrades. "I should hate you...but like Dean and Castiel...no matter how much we fight...I can't find it in me to hate you." Arthur did not fail to notice the look of hope, joy, wonderment, and shock in Merlin's face. "However..." And just like that Merlin's face fell once more along with his head. "I can't be known to be consulting with sorcerers, my father would never hear of it."
"Then it's probably best you don't tell him." Cas added.
At Cas' words both Arthur and Merlin looked up at him and they began laughing at the very words that they had said to each other when Arthur had shot the unicorn. "Right you are, Castiel." Arthur said as he began to calm down from his laughter. "So...as long as my father lives...the kingdom cannot know about you having magic...but I know...so...as long as we are alone or you are not going to be caught...I can accept your magic. Also, you have to swear to me, Merlin, that you will never use your magic for anyone else aside from your mother, Gaius, me, or Camelot."
"I-I swear! I promise Arthur! You won't regret this you have my word!"
"Not so fast, Merlin. It also requires that you tell me everything that you've done with your magic, and I mean everything. The good and the bad."
"I'll tell you everything I swear! Although...it may take a long while."
"Then we will talk tomorrow. For now, I'm sure King Dean, Prince Samuel and their servant Castiel wish to rest for tomorrow when my father will likely want to speak with them."
"Castiel doesn't actually sleep. He's an angel...he doesn't need it."
"Either way, your secrets are safe with me. Now, let's see if we can see my father tomorrow without anything going wrong. Good night, you three."