Fifty-six pairs of eyes glowed and fifty-four balls of energy were sent into the air, two of them having fizzled against their owners' hands. They were of every colour of the rainbow and Arthur couldn't help but watch in amazement as they flew towards him, eleven more fizzling out long before they would have reached the castle. Of those left five would have done no damage upon landing, even if they struck someone directly. That left thirty-eight energy balls that would have caused severe damage and ten of those would also have left giant craters.
Arthur realized with more perception than normal that each person's magic must have its own individual colour and despite the danger he couldn't not watch their rapid approach. He wondered if it was because they were energy and not any specific spell but he could almost feel their casters' emotions. He was easily able to pick out Morgause's. It was an ugly brown from which he could sense a lust. He also found Morgana's, a brilliant green that contained far more hate than any of the others. This study of the sorcerers' magic, no matter how brief, meant that when the barrier appeared before them, created of a brilliant gold, he was more shocked than anyone, despite having seen it before.
He turned to look at his friend, the man he had known for five years. He was standing calmly, his eyes glowing gold. He looked completely relaxed, as if stopping the attacks of so many sorcerers was as easy as breathing. He was shocked at Merlin's power but what he found even more surprising was what he sensed from his friend's magic. He had known Merlin had a good heart, but he had had no idea just how good.
Merlin dropped the barrier and seemed to notice for the first time that all the knights were staring at him. He shifted uncomfortably under their gazes. "What?"
"Merlin, how powerful are you?" Gwaine asked.
Merlin's ears turned red and he seemed to be struggling for words when a scream of rage from below cut off whatever he might have said.
They looked down to see the terrified faces of the sorcerers and the furious ones of Morgana and Morgause.
Arthur tried to take advantage of the situation and called down to their attackers. "You may still leave in peace. I will give you one more chance to walk away from this fight."
Some of the men and women seemed to seriously be considering this but Morgana decided to take it upon herself to answer for them. "We will not leave until we can practice our magic freely and openly."
Arthur's brow furrowed in confusion. "But you already can." He said. Everyone on both sides looked at him in surprise and confusion. "I legalized magic nearly two weeks ago." He realized the looks everyone, even his knights, were giving him. "What? Wasn't it announced?" All the knights shook their heads in the negative. "In that case..." Arthur cleared his throat, looking extremely uncomfortable and called loud enough for the attackers to hear, "Magic is now legal in Camelot. If you stop your attack and return to your homes you will be able to practice magic freely and without persecution. You will be valued citizens of Camelot."
There was only a brief moment of hesitation amongst the sorcerers before they began to disperse. Most followed the roads back into the forest, presumably returning to their home villages. Only two walked towards the city, and both Merlin and Arthur couldn't help but notice that they were the two whose magic had fizzled.
Merlin is like them. Arthur thought. He has spent these past years having to hide. If he has this much power under those circumstances, how strong will he be now that he can practice magic freely? Arthur didn't want to admit it, but the thought terrified him.
Only Morgana and Morgause were left outside the walls and it was clear by their expressions that whatever was going to happen wasn't going to be good for Camelot. The pair began chanting in a language Arthur couldn't understand, but recognized as that used for magic. Merlin however must have either understood the language or at least recognized the spell because his eyes widened in surprise and…was that humor?
The pair finished their chanting and teleported themselves onto the wall. They arrived in a rush of wind and holding hands. "You will now die!" Morgause spat, "We have summoned a creature that when it arrives will kill you all!"
This should have worried Arthur, but he was too focused on Merlin. The man looked like he was struggling not to laugh.
"What is it? What have you called here?" Leon questioned, holding his sword in a threat.
"A dragon." Morgana said with a smirk. "And judging by what happened the last time it was in Camelot it will take our side and kill the lot of you."
That was it. Merlin burst out laughing. Everyone looked at him in surprise. He tried to get a hold of himself and explain but he couldn't do it.
Arthur, looking a touch disconcerted said, "I killed the dragon."
Morgana shook her head, smirking. "It was spotted just a week ago near the border of Camelot."
Merlin had finally stopped laughing, although he continued to chuckle every few seconds. "And how do you expect to control him?" He questioned.
At this Morgana gave her most evil smirk of all. "I don't need to. After being imprisoned for so long the dragon will want to raze Camelot to the ground. I don't know why it stopped last time, but without any dragonlords left there will be nothing to stop it."
At this Merlin smiled widely. Both of the sisters began to look a bit uncomfortable.
"I think I see it!" Gwaine shouted. They all looked in the direction he was pointing. The knights all looked worried and the sisters were smirking in anticipation, but to the confusion of everyone Merlin still looked like he had just heard the funniest joke of his life.
The dragon landed just outside the wall with a loud thump and raised his head to be even with the humans standing on the wall.
"Hello young warlock." The dragon said.
"Hello Kilgarah. It's good to see you again." Merlin said calmly.
Eight jaws dropped in utter shock.