Merlin sat with his back to the door of the dungeon, shivering in the cold. He wished his clothes hadn't been burnt, or they could at least have reformed too. The sound of the door opening, hinges protesting loudly broke through his thoughts. He looked around to see Arthur standing in the middle of the cold room, quietly closing the door behind him.

"I bought you some clothes." He handed them to his manservant, looking anywhere else but at his naked body.

"Thank you" Merlin took the clothes and put them on gratefully. "What happens now?"

"I don't know" Arthur sat down opposite Merlin. "Father has realised you can't be killed."

"I'm a creature of magic then."

"Well, Gaius says nothing like this has ever happened before, and if it did it would be kept quiet."

"Well, everyone here knows, they've seen it." Merlin picked up a handful of hay and dropped it, watching the pieces float gently back to the dirty floor. "I'll probably be banished."

Arthur looked up. "I won't let that happen."

"What choice do you have?" Merlin sighed. "It will be Uther's only option."

"You said it, last night. You said you couldn't leave."

"What choice do I have now, Arthur?"

Arthur sighed. "I don't know, Merlin. I'll find a way, I promise."

"Sire, your presence has been requested by your father. Bring your manservant with you." A guard called in from outside, and opened the door for the two of them to pass through, making sure not to touch Merlin as he passed.

Arthur looked at Merlin as they passed through the heavy oak doors and into the cavernous room. Merlin gave him a weak smile before turning his focus upon the king.

"Father." Arthur stood before Uther, defiance already shining in his eyes.

"Arthur. After a lot of thought, I have decided." He looked at Merlin. "To let your manservant explain his predicament."

Merlin stepped forward. "That is something I cannot explain, sire. All I understand is I cannot die. I don't know why or how."

"Why did you use magic?"

Merlin looked up at the king once more. "If there was another option, believe me, I wouldn't have used it. I couldn't just let Arthur die! I would never have forgiven myself."

Uther raised an eyebrow. "Why did you study magic within Camelot when you knew it was forbidden?"

"I didn't study magic here, I never did. I was born with it." Merlin looked to the floor. "It's like you having blue eyes or Arthur's blonde hair. I can't change it, can't do anything about it."

"You can control it?"

Merlin nodded. "I only use it when it's a last resort." He turned to Arthur. "How many times have your enemy opponents dropped their swords for no apparent reason?"

"…lots of times."

"It was me. I made the hilts red hot. How many times have they tripped or stumbled, or dropped dead before you even made a move? It was all me, protecting you." He turned to Uther. "Protecting Camelot." Merlin paused. "Magic is not evil; it is how it is used that makes it so. It is the person who uses it who defines whether it is good or evil."

"Magic is a weapon." Uther stood up.

"So is a sword."

"What does that mean?"

"A sword, like magic is a weapon. It can be wielded to kill and destroy, or to protect."

Uther sat back down, mulling over what the warlock had said, and the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. He was torn, he knew what Merlin had said was true, and that he was a good man, but everything he had ever known rejected it. Was telling him to get rid of the danger that Merlin posed.

"Father" Arthur put a hand on his manservant's back. "Merlin doesn't deserve punishment."

"…No."

They both looked up. "What?" Arthur stared at his father, blue eyes meeting in a battle of wills.

"No. He doesn't." Uther got up and joined the two of them. "Merlin, I never thanked you. You saved Arthur's life."

"…I…It…You're welcome."

Uther laughed at Merlin's modesty. "You have proven to me that Magic can be used for good as well as bad. From this day on I shall make you the court sorcerer, but only if you swear to only use Magic to protect Camelot."

"What if I don't."

"Then I will have you banished, and in the event of your return be tortured until death. And then again, and again, and so on."

Merlin sighed, "I have no choice then, do I? I'll swear."

Merlin couldn't stop a grin spreading across his face as he walked back to Gaius' chambers.

"I can't believe it." Arthur smiled. "I really thought he was going to banish you and be done with it."

"What would you have done if he had?"

"Argue of course, and come with you."

"You'd leave Camelot for good?"

"If it came to that. You said it yourself, you can't leave me, and I can't leave you."

Merlin looked at the prince. "You mean that?"

"No, in reality I hate you and would throw a big 'no more Merlin for ever' celebration."

Merlin laughed. "Well, that's nice of you; it's nice to know the feeling is mutual!"

"Hey, you're still my manservant you know!"

"And you are an ass. A royal one."

They kept up their jubilant banter until they reached Gaius' workshop. Merlin pushed the door open. "Gaius?"

Gaius looked up and jumped. "Merlin!"

"Gaius, I have something to tell you." Merlin sat down.

Gaius put the vial of herbs he was sterilising down and sat next to Merlin. "What is it?"

"Well…I can stay in Camelot. I can't use magic, but I never could before."

"Merlin, that's great!" Gaius pulled Merlin into a hug and they both had grins spreading from ear to ear on their faces. Arthur quietly slipped out the door, the same Cheshire cat grin on his own face. He had his manservant back. And he was glad, Merlin meant a lot to him, even more so during the few weeks that had passed. Merlin wasn't only Arthur's manservant, but he was his best friend.