Merlin just stood there, swaying slightly as he stared blankly at the body at his feet. He had thought that when this moment came he would feel, relief, anger, satisfaction, something. He felt nothing, thought nothing; he was empty, all his anger towards Morgana gone. He would have gone on standing there forever, allowing the cold heaviness to seep into his limbs, had he not heard a noise behind him. He wished the battle would just be over as he spun to face the noise, sword at the ready. To his relief it was not the enemy he saw coming towards him, but Leon, Percival, and Gwaine.

"Sire…" began Leon, only to stop as he took in the scene surrounding Merlin, his eyes growing wide. The looks of astonishment on the knights' faces turned to shock and concern as they took in their friend's appearance. The King's face was unnaturally pale and covered with a sheen of sweat, his hands were shaking and he was swaying slightly, but the most alarming thing was the tear in his armor from which blood was seeping. All at once the knights began speaking.

"Sire, are you ok?"

"What happened here?"

"The battle is over, Sire, we won."

"Princess!" This last shout was from Gwaine as Merlin (who still appeared to Arthur) started to fall to his knees. Rushing forward, Gwaine caught him before he hit the ground and pulled his arm over his shoulder, supporting him. Leon took his other side and they started to move back towards the camp.

"Wait," Merlin rasped, his throat dry all of the sudden. " I need to see the dragon, where is it?" Noticing that Leon was about to argue with him, he continued, "Please, Leon, I must. Without his help we would have been lost." Leon nodded tersely, the look on his face making it evident that he wasn't happy with this course of action, not when the king was so obviously wounded. After gaining Leon's ascent, Merlin turned to Percival.

"Percival, go to the royal pavilion. Wake the man inside and bring him to us with all haste."

Percival shot him a bewildered look, but took off at a jog all the same. As the three men rounded the final bend in the valley, Merlin stopped abruptly, staring at the scene before him. In the background the camp could be seen, alive with activity as those who were relatively uninjured helped those who weren't as lucky to the healer's tents. But there, amidst the carnage and blood in the entry to the valley was a sight that brought tears to Merlin's eyes. Kilgarah lay on the field, his wings folded against his body and his head resting on the ground; around him stood a small ring of knights, their weapons at ready, in a defensive stance. Instantly Merlin was filled with anger. How could these knights of Camelot believe the dragon was a threat to them when he had just taken out over a third of the enemy? An instant later Merlin realized that the knights weren't facing towards the dragon, but away from him; they weren't attacking, but protecting Kilgarah. Merlin realized that Leon and Gwaine were staring at him with concern, though neither one commented on the tears streaking down his face. He began moving once more.

It seemed to take forever to reach the dragon, mainly because Gwaine and Leon were supporting nearly all of Merlin's weight, but when they did Merlin stepped forward on his own, ignoring the other men's protests. He slowly moved until he was next to the dragon's head. Once there he sank down, leaning back against one of Kilgarah's legs so that he was facing the giant head. Wearily one great, golden eye opened up to peer at him. Merlin felt the dragon's magic reaching weakly for him and he opened his mind to it.

"I have given all my energy; I trust the battle is over and your plan was a success, young warlock?"

"The battle is won; we could not have done it without your help, Kilgarah. Morgana and Mordred are dead and Arthur is safe. It is nearly finished now."

"Then I am proud to have been of service. I sense that I'm not long for this world now, just as I sense you have not come out the fray unscathed. "

"You have done so much for me, Kilgarah, that I will never be able to repay your for. I wish there was something I could do for you."

"Remember your promise, Emrys." The great dragon's voice was fading now. "Remember it, for I fear destiny has not yet finished with you."

Merlin could feel the tears streaking down his face unimpeded, but he didn't care. Reaching out he laid a hand on the dragon's head and let his magic flow through them both. "I shall remember it. Now rest; go and be at peace, my old friend." Merlin felt one last wave of peace and gratitude emanate from his friend before the dragon gave a huge shudder and let his eyes slide closed. Around him the knights all bowed their heads in respect and stepped back, allowing Merlin to sit in silence. It was only a few moments later when he heard confused and angry mutters of "sorcery" and "what kind of trick is this" and he raised his head to see Percival striding towards them follow by an irate looking King Arthur. Leon hesitated between Merlin and Arthur, his sword drawn, unsure which was the real king. Arthur strode straight past him to where Merlin slumped.

"Who are you? What kind of sorcery is this?"

Despite himself, Merlin felt his anger rise; he understood how confused Arthur may be, but really? He had obviously helped in the battle and, sorcerer or not, a little gratitude would be nice. "I, King Arthur, am the man who is responsible for winning this battle, saving your life and Camelot, and killing Morgana and Mordred. That is who I am."

"How do I know what you say is true," asked Arthur?

Before Merlin could answer, Leon stepped forward. "It's true, sire. He led the army into battle, and fought both Mordred and Morgana. They're both dead, we saw the bodies."

Now Arthur looked confused. "Why would you aid us? You're obviously a sorcerer and Camelot is not known for their kindness towards your kind."

Merlin shook his head. " I've told you before, you prat. I am happy to serve you 'til the day I die. And that's what I did; I had to make sure you would survive and this was the only way to do it."

"Merlin?" Arthur was astonished, suddenly recalling seeing the scrawny manservant appear out of thin air in the middle of his tent. He watched as the other man nodded, his eyes flashing gold. A golden mist appeared around him for a moment, and when it cleared it was Merlin's familiar face staring back at him.

Arthur just stood there gaping at him. Merlin shifted uncomfortably, partly from the incredulous gazes fixed upon him by Arthur and the Knights, and partly because of Arthur's armor. It was within his power to remedy at least one of these things and he promptly did so. His eyes flashed again and Arthur's armor vanished from his body, reappearing on the King, completely mended and polished. This seemed to have shocked the king out of his stupor and he crossed his arms.

"What was that for?"

"What was what for?" Arthur gestured at the armor. "Oh, it was uncomfortable. Honestly, I don't know how you can stand to wear that all the time. It's like carrying a blacksmith's shop on your back; it's hotter than Cook's ovens, and it always clinks." Merlin knew he was rambling, but between the stress of the past few days, blood loss, and pain he couldn't seem to focus enough to stop. Arthur took care of that for him.

"Merlin?"

"Yes, Arthur?"

"Shut up." The king paused, gathering his thoughts. "If you're a sorcerer th-"

"Warlock, actually."

"A what? Is there even a difference?"
"I'm a warlock, not a sorcerer. A sorcerer studies magic; I was born with it. Had absolutely no choice in the matter; it drove mum bonkers cause every time I'd get upset items would start flying around the house."

Arthur ran his hand through his hair. "Why? Why come to Camelot? You would have been executed immediately if my father had ever found out."

"I know that." Merlin sounded extremely weary. "There were many times when I almost did get executed. Thankfully on those occasions your overwhelming conviction that I am nothing more than a bumbling idiot actually came in handy. As to why I came; I didn't have a choice in the matter it was destiny." When Arthur gave him a look as if to say, "what kind of destiny could you have" Merlin just laughed wryly and asked, "Ever heard the name Emrys?"

"Emrys, as in the Druid story Emrys?" Four pairs of eyes stared at Leon with incredulity. "What," he said shifting nervously, "my nurse used to tell me stories of the fabled Emrys, a man so powerful he was said to be the embodiment of magic itself. They say that Emrys is loyal only to the Once and Future King and that one day he would defeat a great darkness, bringing peace and magic to the lands, but at a terrible price."

Merlin, Gwaine, and Percival were still staring at Leon with varying degrees of shock and impression on their faces. Arthur, however, had turned back to Merlin; something Leon had said had brought forth a memory. You are the Once and Future King, Arthur, and one day you will unite the lands of Albion and usher in a golden age of peace and prosperity. Those were the words Merlin had spoken to him all those years ago. Wanting Merlin to confirm what he already suspected he asked, "So what does all this Emrys business have to do with you?"

"I am Emrys, Arthur, a creature of magic. I am, and always will be, loyal to the Once and Future King, you, Arthur Pendragon."