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Something was tickling my face, it was soft and smelled of lavender, and I turned my face away and into the sunlight that I felt hit my closed eyelids. I wearily opened them. The sight that greeted me made my heart stop. Morgana was curled into my side, her arm over my waist and one of her shapely legs entwined with mine. Her hair spiralled beautifully onto my chest and her lovely face was the picture of innocence.

I had never been so close to her and I felt our bond give a lurch, but I felt no desire to act on it. I had never had a woman so close to me and her presence was soothing and my magic sighed at the closeness, creating the warmest feeling of content. I sighed and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead unable to resist. I stoked a finger down her bare arm up to the shoulder where her night dress started. The lace was beautifully sewn, obviously done by a seamstress of some talent, but it paled in comparison to Morgana's beauty.

My fingers on her arm made her stir and she rolled away out of the sunlight and then sat up with a start blinking in bewilderment. I laughed and gently ran a hand down her clothed back tracing her spine. She hissed in surprise and turned to face me,

'Merlin,' she reached out and cupped my face and I leaned into her touch.

'What is it?' I asked,

'Nothing, just forgot where I was, I think sleeping beside you helps me sleep.'

I smiled and kissed her palm then pulled myself out of bed and crossed to the window and stared out at the courtyard below. I was shocked by the time, it was obviously mid-afternoon and I had not been around to serve Arthur.

I wondered at our relationship, was I still expected to be his servant? I was proud to be his servant, but was that what he wanted? I wasn't sure; I was going to have to talk to him about it. Whether we liked it or not our relationship had changed and the ban on magic still existed, by all counts I should be dead. I guess deciding what to do with me wasn't going to be easy, especially since the whole of Camelot knew I was with Morgana and had heard I had magic.

'What are you thinking about?' Morgana asked, I turned and watched in awe of her, as she rose gracefully out of bed and crossed to the screen to change.

'Arthur,' I said turning back to the window.

'What about him?' She asked.

'Does he still want me to be his servant? What role do I play now that my magic has been revealed?' I asked this question to myself as well as to Morgana, but it was her that provided the answers.

'Merlin, Arthur just wants you to be his friend, that's all that he's ever wanted from you. He may not show it, but he loves you, he needs you and you need him, I would be a fool to come between you,' Morgan said.

'But our friendship has changed so much, I don't know how to behave around him anymore,' I answered.

'Just be yourself, you're still the same funny, clumsy boy Merlin.'

'Thanks,' I said laughing.

'You know what I mean,' Morgana said laughing too.

Morgana's advice to be myself was all well and good, but I had never been myself around Arthur, not really. I was never free to stand out from the crowd when I was Arthur's servant, I was expected to fill a role and I did. The role being Arthur's idiot loyal servant that answered (albeit with a few choice insults) to his back and call.

'Why don't you just go talk to him?' Morgana asked. She stepped out from behind the screen having managed to do the fastening on her own this time, I noticed with some regret.

'You look stunning Morgana,' I said. She did, she wore her old silk dress of the richest red that set of her colouring perfectly, she looked every inch the seductress and princess I knew she was.

'You only say that because the bond tells you too.' she replied blushing.

'Don't be silly; it's common knowledge in Camelot that you're the most beautiful woman in the whole of the five kingdoms,'

'Well, I'm all yours,' she said winking at me.

'Indeed you are,' I whispered never taking my eyes from hers.

I closed the gap between us and gently pulled her body to mine never loosing eye contact. I leaned in and smelled her scent; lavender and honey and all things wonderful. I traced her hair in my fingers feeling its silky softness and lowered my eyes to her lips. They captivated me so; red and full that curved so invitingly that I couldn't resist tasting them. I gently pressed my own against hers and marvelled at her reaction. She sighed into me and wrapped her arms around me bringing me closer. Her lips moved with mine in an intoxicating dance.

It was a slow kiss, nothing of the urgent passion like the past times, but it was still filled with everything we felt for one another, the lust, the love, the bond, the magic. I could feel her magic beneath her skin, not as powerful as my own, but strong, it wanted me to tame it, it wanted me to draw it out of her. I felt my own magic rise beneath my finger tips and I pressed my fingers to her neck and dragged them down to her cleavage.

The response was extraordinary, she let out a scream as my magic touched her and I could feel through our bond the intense pleasure she felt from my magic touch. I pushed magic into my lips too and followed the path my hands had taken to her breasts and gently licked the top of them. She groaned out her pleasure and arched her back into my lips.

'Merlin what are you doing?' she asked me confused not understanding the intense pleasure she was feeling which wasn't normal.

'Magic,' I replied cheekily, stopping my movements and raising my eyes to hers.

'That's cheating,' she scolded pathetically, trying to catch her breath.

'Not really, I'm just using the advantages of what our bond gives us,' I said.

'That's a fancy way of putting cheating,' Morgana said smiling now.

I laughed in reply and walked over to the chair where my shirt and jacket were waiting. I stripped off my night shirt and changed aware of Morgana's eyes on me all the time.

'I'm not the only one who's beautiful, Merlin,' she said admiringly.

'I'm all yours,' I mimicked, and beamed when she laughed, I loved her laugh.

'Come on let's go see what King Pratt is up too,' I said and smiled again when she laughed and took my hand.

We found Arthur in the council chambers as usual; he was lounging on his throne with the knights of the round able around him but not his advisers thankfully, as they didn't like Morgana much.

'Ah, look who finally decides to grace us with their magnificent selves,' Gwaine said striding forward and collapsing to his knees in mockery.

'Cut it out Gwaine,' I said laughing, whilst Morgana blushed at my side.

'Sleep well?' he asked wiggling his eyebrows

'We did actually,' I replied not acknowledging his innuendo.

'Really? You'll have to tell me all about it later,' Gwaine said and the rest of the knights laughed.

'Gwaine' Arthur scolded.

'Yes princess?'

'That's my sister you're talking about,' Arthur said narrowing his eyes.

'That makes it even more exciting I bet eh Merlin?' Gwaine teased and I couldn't help but blush alongside Morgana who wasn't looking anyone in the eye.

'Enough!' Arthur said.

'Right you are Princess.'

'This isn't the time for this,' Arthur said. And it was only now that I noted the piece of paper in his hand marked with an elegant scrawl.

'What's going on?' I asked.

'I've just received a letter from King Bayard of Mercia, announcing his upcoming visit to acknowledge my coronation which he so elegantly tells me he wasn't invited too.' Arthur said.

'Oh,' I said.

This wasn't good, Camelot's history with Bayard wasn't a pleasant one given the past wars it had with Mercia, then there was the business of Nimueh who had tried to frame Bayard for poisoning Arthur with that goblet only to be foiled by me drinking the poison, which only confirmed Bayard's supposed attempt to kill the then Prince.

'It's not good news given our history,' Leon said.

'He did try to kill me, I don't see why I should accept him here,' Arthur said.

'He didn't try to kill you, that was Nimueh remember, and if I recall it was me that almost died,' I said.

'Well forgive me for trying to come up with an excuse to get out of this,' Arthur said.

'What's the big deal if he does come?' Elyan asked.

'It would be trouble,' Arthur replied 'and it's not a very good time given…' Arthur veered off waving his hand at Morgana.

'I can leave if it would help Arthur,' Morgana whispered.

'NO!' I shouted alarm reaching me as my magicmate bond with her spiked in anger at the thought of her leaving me.

'You could sneak out and visit me,' Morgana said grasping my hand and squeezing slightly.

'That won't work,' Arthur said and everyone turned to stare at him 'News has already spread that you're here Morgana, sending you away would just cause more confusion.'

'I doubt Bayard is going to be comfortable knowing that you have two powerful sorcerers in your court Arthur,' Leon said. 'His hatred of magic rivals that of Uther.''

'Then it will do him good to see magic used for good, besides it might make him think twice before attacking us in the future,' Arthur said.

'Maybe we're all just assuming the worst, maybe he just wants to congratulate you on your rise to kingship and wish you a happy future,' Percival said.

'I doubt that,' Gwaine replied.

'Me too,' I said.

'Well, I can't refuse him, relations with Mercia is bad and we have vital trades with them, and allies will be needed if the upcoming battle Morgana saw comes to pass,' Arthur said looking hesitantly at Morgana as if brining up her vision might send her off into another tantrum.

'The least we can do is hear him out,' I said 'and besides, as you said Arthur you have two powerful sorcerers to guard you and Camelot if things get out of hand,' I said smiling and giving Morgana's hand a squeezed. Morgana nodded along with me.

'Thank you Merlin,' Arthur said 'Thank you Morgana.'

'Come on haven't we got a training session to get to?' Gwaine asked.

'Indeed we have,' Arthur said.

I watched as the knights began to scramble heading in different directions to collect there things. News of Bayard had unsettled me, perhaps his motives for coming were peaceful but experience of living in Camelot had taught me that state visits were rarely peaceful.

'Quick Merlin, before he goes,' Morgana said shaking my hand and bringing me out of my thoughts, I looked at her in confusion.

'Talk to Arthur about your role here,' Morgana continued.

'Oh,' I nodded and called Arthur's name before he disappeared and watched as he turned back to face me, Morgana smiled at me and with a last squeeze of her hand gave me some privacy to talk to Arthur alone. I ignored the slight ache that came with our separation.

'Can I talk to you?' I asked Arthur who was regarding me warily.

'You are talking to me' Arthur joked then continued, 'what's wrong, is this about Bayard, don't tell me you've got some magical revelation about him to tell me have you?'

'No,' I laughed 'Although his letter does make me nervous.'

'Me too,' Arthur answered, his honestly surprised me, Arthur never admitted he was worried or scared.

'But if that's not it, then what's wrong?' Arthur asked.

'It's about my job,' I said awkwardly avoiding his eyes.

'What about it?' Arthur asked confused.

'Do I still have it?' I asked.

'Do you want it?' Arthur replied.

'Of course I do, I told you once and I'll tell you again, I'm happy to be your servant until the day I die,' I said.

'Then you have it,' Arthur replied.

'Even with me having magic?' I asked.

'Merlin, I can't repeal the ban on magic now, everyone including me is still in shock about your revelation and Morgana coming here only adds to it,' Arthur said 'I'd make you court sorcerer in an instant if I could but you're just going to have to be patient with me.'

I was shocked, I knew the ban on magic wouldn't be lifted yet for a long time, but my secret being revealed had put the steps in motion. But I had no idea that Arthur trusted me enough to be a court sorcerer.

'I'm an honoured that you'd consider putting me in that position Arthur, but that's not what I meant' I said.

'Oh,' Arthur said confused.

'I meant do you really want me as close to you as I was before, to be seen in public with you when you and everyone else know I have magic?' I asked and a look of realisation came over Arthur's face.

'Of course I do, the quicker people see that you aren't a power crazy beast, the quicker I can lift this ban,' Arthur said.

'That makes sense,' I replied smiling.

'You may be proud to be my servant Merlin, but it is I that is proud to be your friend and King,' Arthur said.

I smiled, here was the King that the prophecy spoke of; Arthur the wise and just, this Arthur I knew without a shadow of a doubt would lead me and my people to freedom and a golden age where magic would be accepted, I knew it without a doubt. It was just getting there, especially with Bayard and Mordred in the way that would be the problem.

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