A/N: Sorry for the delay. It was my birthday yesterday. I am now 19 and very upset about it. Enjoy reading.

Chapter Three

The Appointment

Once it was just the two of them left, Arthur relaxed visibly, "You're Emrys, you placed the healing mark on me."

"Unintentionally. My magic sometimes has a mind of its own," Merlin answered, his tone kinder and voice softer.

"You'll live forever?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, for as long as magic wants me alive. It's my life source," he answered.

"Are you okay with that?" Arthur asked.

Merlin looked at him confused, not expecting that question. "I haven't really thought about it. I'm just trying to keep you alive."

"I'm sure I haven't made it easy for you, have I?" Arthur said, resigned.

"Not really. You think I'm useless, when really I've probably been more help than most of your knights. Granted, I am this powerful sorcerer and all," Merlin said lightly.

Arthur huffed out a tired laugh. "What are we going to do?"

"Are you okay with this? My magic and I?" Merlin asked.

"You bring up some good points, and how can I ever see the good in magic if it's outlawed? I think it's time to redeem magic, but also set up guidelines for the consequences of using magic unlawfully, like murder and stuff like that," Arthur said.

"You'll need to have sorcerers on your side. I'm sure the Druids will be more than willing to assist you. They might even agree to an alliance with Camelot."

"Yes, well, ever since you branded me with your healing mark, I've been thinking a lot about the issue. I had to act during that conversation, when in reality I'm more accepting of this than I think I should be," Arthur said.

"You were pretending? It was all fake?" Merlin asked.

"Of course. With Emrys being you, it makes my next question easier to ask," Arthur said.

"Which is…?"

"I want you to be my Court Sorcerer, and my Advisor."

"You want me to be nobility? I'd be involved with the council meetings. Are you sure you're willing to trust a servant with such duties?" Merlin asked.

"Who knows magic better than magic itself, Merlin?"

"I guess you're going to be looking for a new manservant," Merlin teased.

"Oh god, I'm going to have request for it not to be George." Arthur said, laughing.

Six Months Later

Arthur, Merlin, and the council were in session discussing the new alliance with the Druids when a guard walked in and announced that Gwen wanted to have an audience with the King.

Merlin looked at Arthur with confusion. Gwen and Arthur's engagement had been broken when she decided to settle down with a knight. She explained that Arthur did not love her, and that he was settling for her. It was odd that Gwen would request an audience.

"Let her in," Arthur said, moving to sit on his throne with Merlin by his side. Merlin always attended these now.

The guard let Gwen in. She walked toward them and curtsied before smiling at them both. One of her 'You guys are not going to like what I have to say' smiles. It was pinched, and tight, forced.

"Your Highness, there has been sightings of a rogue sorcerer making his way to Camelot. I fear that his intent may be ill."

Merlin's composure shifted, "When did you hear this?"

"In the market. A traveler was buying fruit as he talked to the owner. I listened to get as much detail as I could. He's coming straight for Camelot."

"Nobody speak or move, I need to concentrate," Merlin said. He closed his eyes and focused on reaching out to his kin. The link stretched and stretched, growing thin, before clinging onto the life source. Merlin pulled back and opened his eyes, turning to face his friend, "He's two days out. Ready the knights, and guards, his magic wasn't pure, Arthur."

"Are your knights ready?" Arthur asked.

Merlin had been training people with unique abilities with magic to defend Camelot against magic attacks. "We'll see today. I'll be able to hold them off, but they'll need to handle anything that goes rogue."

"Leon, ready the knights, alert the villagers, this sorcerer isn't going to make it far in Camelot," Arthur said.

"Yes, Sire," Leon said, leaving the throne room.

Arthur looked up at Gwen, "Go home and stay safe."

"Thank you, Your Highness. Merlin," she said, hurrying out of the room to return home.

"I need to alert Gaius," Merlin said, going to leave.

Arthur grabbed his arm, "Merlin."

Merlin turned to him, "Yes?"

"Have you thought about what we talked about?"

Merlin sighed, "This isn't the time or place. Survive this, and you'll get an answer."

Arthur released his arm, and Merlin rushed out of the room to alert his surrogate father.

In two days, the knights, Arthur, and Merlin rode out to meet the sorcerer to meet him at the border of Camelot. Their horses were snorting and stamping their feet.

"All this for me? An escort from the King and his Knights?" A deep, throaty voice called out.

Merlin stiffened as the sorcerer came out of the brush. The man was dressed in expensive clothing. He had brown hair, and had black ink swirling around his arm in a decorative pattern.

"I am offering you a chance to turn around and to never cross the borders of Camelot again," Arthur called out.

"Why's that? I've done nothing wrong." The man called.

"Your magic says otherwise," Arthur answered.

"What do you know about magic?" The man called out.

"A lot more now than I did before," Arthur answered honestly.

"What are the grounds of my banishment before even crossing the border of your Kingdom?"

"The color of your magic," Arthur answered.

The man faltered for a second, "How do you know about that?"

Merlin focused and reached the link to his kin and shocked the man.

"You have a sorcerer in your very midst, dear King!" The man shouted, looking over the knights, and settling onto Merlin. "It must be you…you're not wearing the famous red capes of the knights of Camelot."

Merlin smirked, "It must be. Great deduction."

"What are you? Servant to the King? Trying to be the hero? The King will steal your victory from you, granted the possibility that you win." The man said.

"You don't know my King then," Merlin responded.

"I know your King quite well. He is the son of Uther Pendragon, and that is enough reason for me to hate him," the man answered.

"Even without knowing him? Knowing the laws of Camelot? Knowing the changes he has made in his kingdom?" Merlin questioned.

"Why should that matter?"

"Because if you were smart, you would know that Arthur legalized magic four months ago. Arthur welcomes the practice of magic in his Kingdom, as long as it is used for good, and not for bad. Which you are clearly hear to do," Merlin answered.

"His father persecuted us, that cannot be forgiven!"

"You're right, but should we cast the sins of his father onto Arthur? He is his own man and King now, we should offer him that mercy."

"When has he ever showed our kind mercy?" The man spat out.

"When I confessed to him about my magic. In fact, not only did he accept, he made me Court Sorcerer and his Advisor. Together, we successfully entered into an alliance with the Druid people, and the use of magic in Camelot has actually increased her prosperity and luck. His mercy toward our kind has helped everyone. Unfortunately, you come with ill will," Merlin said, instantly knocking the man out.

"Leon, would you like to do the honors?" Merlin asked.

"With pleasure," Leon said, dismounting and taking care of the knocked out sorcerer.

"That was easy, I almost wish there was more of a fight," Merlin said to Arthur as they turned their horses and began the path back to their kingdom.

"I noticed you kept him off guard, I was wondering when you were going to strike," Arthur chuckled.

"Yeah, well, I'm glad he fell for it," Merlin laughed.

"And now he will be properly dealt with," Arthur added.

"Indeed," Merlin chuckled.

The two were by themselves. "Do I get my answer now?" Arthur asked.

Merlin laughed. "I guess you did hold true to your promise of staying alive."

"Just a little bit, considering there was no fight."

"…Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes."

Arthur grinned, "Preparations will have to be made as soon as possible!"

"I'm sure they will be," Merlin said.

"First will be the ceremony, and then the coronation, which has to happen immediately. If I were to ever die, I would want you to reign over this land. I can trust no one else to rule Camelot as it should be."

"What about an heir, Arthur?"

"An heir, right. I'm sure we could ask a lady to carry our heir? It's been done before with the Queen's been barren."

Merlin frowned, "I'd rather we have someone carry then dabble with magic."

"Who would we ask?"

"Why don't we adopt? Does it have to be blood? What matters is that the child would be raised as ours…it doesn't have to be of Pendragon blood, does it?"

"That's always an option. It would guarantee us having a first born being male."

"I know there's a family who takes in orphaned children, maybe we could relieve their burden and bring in a young child?" Merlin asked.

"I'll clear it with the council, and then we can take a trip to visit them."

Merlin smiled to himself.