Arthur jogged into Gaius' chambers, Merlin in his arms. "Gaius!" He cried, "we did it!"

Gaius turned, and smiled to see Merlin grinning at him. Arthur set him down and the warlock flew into the physician's arms.

"Oh, Merlin! Merlin!" Gaius didn't want to let go of Merlin, scared that if he did, he would lose him again.

Merlin let the tears fill his eyes and spill over. "Oh, Gaius…I missed you." Merlin blinked back the tears and broke the hug.

"Merlin, don't you ever do that to me again!" Gaius hugged him again and sat down on the bench. Merlin and Arthur did likewise, Merlin relishing in the fact he could actually pick things up, be seen and heard once again. Life suddenly seemed so much more vibrant to him now, and he certainly valued it a lot more.

Hunith wandered in, carrying a basketful of herbs she had collected for Gaius. She screamed when she saw Merlin and flung her arms around her son, tears already streaming down her face. "Merlin! Oh, Merlin!" she choked out through the sobs. "Is it really you?"

"No, I'm really Arthur in disguise"

Arthur snorted at that remark, which provoked a laugh from all four of them. "I've missed you, Merlin, so, so much." Gaius wiped away a fresh set of tears and sat back down, face sombre.

"What happens now?" Merlin stared at the wood of the table. He knew Uther would work out magic had returned him to Camelot, and would waste no time in executing him. "I mean, Uther's going to know it was magic, there is no other logical explanation."

"You could always just show him how beautiful magic can be." Arthur suggested, knees under his chin. "Father has only ever seen the bad side of magic, so I'm told."

Gaius sighed. "It's worth a try, but there is a risk Uther will see it as a threat."

Merlin sighed. "We'll have to take that risk." He didn't want to, and he felt his heart pick up speed at the thought of having to die again.

"He could go to Aealdor." Gaius' voice caught in his throat.

"No" Merlin sat up. "Aealdor is still within the Camelot kingdom. I'll only be hunted down like a criminal. I won't be safe anywhere."

Hunith sighed. "I'm behind you, son, in whatever you do."

"We all are." Arthur said it, and it touched Merlin, and everyone else's hearts.

"There isn't really an option then, is there." Merlin took a sip of the tea Gaius had handed out, suddenly realising how hungry and thirsty he was. He drained the cup and his stomach rumbled loudly. Gaius chuckled, got up and quickly made some food. Merlin leant back and let his mother comb his hair with her fingers, something he would usually complain about, but he was so glad he was back he didn't care. Gaius put a plate of food down in front of Merlin, and he ate it so quickly he surprised himself, and got hiccups, which amused everybody.

Suddenly, the door burst open and Uther stood in the doorway, a face like thunder. "Arthur Pendragon, courtroom. Now." He turned, his gaze lingering on Merlin the longest before he completely turned and strode away towards the courtroom. Arthur said nothing and followed with a pale face, thoughts whirling about his head. The plan he had thought about suddenly didn't seem as good anymore, and he had a growing feeling that Merlin was doomed. Again.

Uther paced the courtroom, eyes never leaving his son. They both stayed silent for a minute, the only sound was the harsh footsteps of Uther's boots, echoing around the huge room. "Speak!" Uther finally spat out, the venom in his voice stinging Arthur a little.

"What do you want me to say?" Arthur stepped a little closer, chin jutting out in an expression of defiance.

"Explain! Explain why you deliberately defied me, and went behind my back in everything I've ever taught you."

"You never taught me anything!" Arthur's voice rose to a shout as the pent up anger inside him broke free. "All you ever taught me was how to fight, and how not to run a kingdom." He paused. "This is about Merlin, Isn't it."

Uther stopped and glared at his son. "How long did you know?"

"I didn't, not until he saved my life!" Those last, three, shouted words echoed round the room, ringing in the air and then fading to a whisper and then nothing. Arthur took in a deep breath and looked at the floor, feeling his father's eyes burning into him. He forced himself to look him in the eye, "Why do you hate magic?"

"It is evil, dark. It is the single biggest threat to Camelot. You of all people should know that."

"Is that why you trapped the dragon? No, father. It's because you are scared of it, and you know it's true."

Uther knew he was defeated. "No, that dragon, it is an evil creature."

"It isn't. It is a wise and faithful one, magical and old, and it has seen far more than any of us ever will in our lifetimes."

"How do you know?"

"Because, father, I have spoken with it."

Uther started. "What?"

"I have spoken with the dragon." Arthur stood tall. "Not all magic is evil, father. You only fear it because you know it has more power than you." He sighed. "Give Merlin a chance. Let him show you how beautiful magic can be."

Uther looked at his son, standing defiant and tall before him, and suddenly he saw himself, defying his own father those long years ago, fighting for what he thought was right. "What if I don't?"

"If you execute him, I will leave Camelot and break all ties with you. You will never hear or speak to me again, lest you ever see me." He stood tall, and looked his father directly in the eye. "Execute him and you will execute me. I mean it."

Uther stepped closer to his son. "You are my son, my only son. You can't…"

"I will."

"I will have you locked up."

"I shall refuse to eat or drink." Arthur jutted his chin out again in that familiar look of defiance.

Uther sat on his throne, defeated. He knew there was no changing of his son's mind. He just grunted, and Arthur understood. "Get him. You know what'll happen if he does anything. He's been warned." Uther's tone was curt and harsh, but it spoke of defeat and guilt, and Arthur picked it up. He nodded, turned, and went to fetch Merlin.

"What do you think is going to happen?" Merlin half heartedly nibbled on a slice of bread, levitating a bottle of herbs in the air with his free hand, much to his mother and Gaius' annoyance. He laughed and caught it in mid air. Setting it down on the table, he returned his sombre expression and looked to Gaius. "What will Uther do now?"

"He can't execute you. We'll make sure of it." Gaius sat down next to him and put a hand on his back. "If you have to be banished, so be it."

"I couldn't leave Camelot, what about my destiny?"

"I don't know, Merlin. I honestly don't know. We'll have to wait."

"I hate waiting." Merlin grumbled and finished his bread. He yawned and stretched. "I never thought I'd say it, but I'm so glad I'm tired!"

Both Hunith and Gaius laughed, and Hunith pulled her son into a hug. "I've missed you, Merlin."

"Merlin!" Arthur skidded to a halt at the door, panting. "Father wants you."

Merlin couldn't read the look on the king's face. It was set in a firm but expectant mask, demanding respect and beaming out authority. Merlin stood before him, struggling to control his speeding heart and the shaking in his limbs. Every nerve ending, every cell in his body was screaming at him to turn and run, to deny al magic doing and hide. Merlin took in a deep breath, "What would you like me to do, your majesty?" He looked expectantly up at the king, ready to conjure something out of magic.

"Impress me." The king's voice was calm, and Merlin could detect fear. He looked across at Arthur and focused on his hands. He placed them together, as if he was going to pray. With an unspoken spell, his eyes flashed gold and when he opened his hands a brightly coloured bird flew from them and lapped the room, singing a shrill tune. It flew back to Merlin and with a clap of his hands disappeared, its song fading in the echoes of the walls. Merlin then focused on Arthur, and levitated him into the air. Arthur wore an expression of complete unamusement as Merlin slowly turned him upside down and flew him around the room. Gently, he set him down again, and saw a flash of a smile in the king's face. He then focused on the middle of the floor and outstretched one hand. "Forberne" He murmured, the word sounding alien to both Uther and Arthur's ears. As they watched, a small fire ignited itself in the centre of the floor. Keeping focused on it, Merlin used his hands to command it, shaping the flames with silence and complete concentration. He shaped it and with a second low murmur, the flames took the shape of a wolf. It silently padded in a circle and looked at Uther with burning yellow eyes, almost pleading with the king to do the right thing, before at a quick flick of Merlin's wrist disappeared, leaving a rippling shape in the air and a faint smell of burning for just a second before rippling away to nothing. Merlin risked a smile at the king, and clapped his hands once. In his hand appeared a tiny, flickering flame. Merlin focused on it and raised it into the air as it changed colours, ranging from deep red to dark violet before fading to nothing. "Is there anything you request me to do, sire?" Merlin looked up at the king, fear swirling inside him.

Uther still wore the impenetrable mask of a face. "Make the wolf come back."

Merlin nodded and focused hard, worried that it wouldn't work. He took up a stance and let the energy well up. "Lupus" he pushed the magic forward and out of his outstretched palm. In front of his eyes, a shadowy wolf shape began to take form. It sat and gazed up at the king with its orb like eyes, as if it was pleading with him again, telling him he had nothing to fear. Merlin kept it projected for as long as he could before he felt the energy start to give. With another gold flash the wolf disappeared, its eyes seeming to linger the longest, staring unblinking at him until they faded in an almost eerie way. After showing several more tricks, each one different but creating the same effect of beauty, Merlin looked up at the king; feeling drained, and was relieved to see that Uther had got to his feet.

Uther looked at Merlin, the young warlock who stood before him, and had produced these things from thin air, standing so defiantly before him.

"Father…?" Arthur stepped forward and stood beside Merlin, eyes boring up into those of his father's.

"Merlin…That was…I can't explain it."

Merlin said nothing, heart hammering inside his chest. "Magic is…It's something some people can't help but have. Some people are born with it, people like me."

Uther nodded. "You are something…I don't know. Something is telling me you are needed here, needed by my son." Uther sat back down. "Tell me, how can you protect Camelot against the very thing that threatens it?"

Merlin started at this question, "Um, in the very same way, as a weapon. Magic is something that can protect or destroy, but it does not control the person who uses it, it is the other way around; the person controls the magic, uses it to their own needs. In my case I hide it away, keep it secret, only using it if I have to. As you saw when I saved Arthur's life." He paused, and then added, "Sire"

Uther mulled Merlin's words over, and thought about what Arthur had said before. He didn't have a choice. He couldn't risk losing his only son and heir to the throne. He looked at Merlin. "You have to swear that you will never use magic to undermine or destroy Camelot, or use it for your own personal gain. Swear it, on your life."

Merlin couldn't believe his ears. He placed his hand over his chest, and felt his heart beating hard behind his chest. "I swear." Merlin looked Uther directly in the eye. "I swear upon my own life."

Uther couldn't believe what he was about to say. Everything he had ever known was screaming at him not to, to have this warlock thrown in the dungeons and executed a sunrise, but something inside him was telling him to do the right thing. He sighed. "Merlin, I will watch you closely, and if you use magic again I will have you executed. Do you understand?"

Merlin swallowed and nodded. "Yes, sire, I understand."

Uther nodded. "You'd better, for your own good." He sat down on his throne. "You can go. Remember what I said."

Merlin stopped and turned. "Thank you, sire."

Uther nodded. "I never said, thank you, for saving Arthur."

Merlin nodded and swallowed. He didn't need to say anything more. He smiled at Arthur and left, every limb shaking, and heart singing inside his ribcage. He felt happy, and life suddenly seemed so bright and colourful, and he knew he was going to make the most of it while it lasted, because he had suddenly lost it, and you never know what you have until you lose it, or, as his mother had often said, you always know what you have, you just never think you're going to lose it.