The very next day, Arthur called a very special meeting in the council chambers summoning all of the knights, Gwen, Gaius, Richard, Landon, Lil, Jake, Mark, Geoferry, the court geneolist, and all the councils advisors to attend.

"What do you think the meeting is about?" Mark whispered to the other kids as everyone made their way into the council chambers for the meeting.

"Dunno, but if my father summoned it, it must be important." Landon replied shurgging his shoulders.

Richard himself was far too busy taking in the area around him too pay much attention to the conversation.

The council chambers themselves were huge. At the very front of the room was a platform with two large wooden thrones sitting on top of it.

The room itself seemed to be held up with large marble plaforms standing all around each end of the room.

Near the very top of the walls, just below the ceiling and behind each side of the thrones, were several large glass stained windows that seemed to light up the entire room by bringing in the sunlight from outside the castle.

Arthur and Merlin were the very last to enter the room as they walked through the middle of the crowd on a large red rug that led all the way up to the plaform and divided the crowd into two separate sides of the room.

As they made their way to the platform they walked hand in hand giving a small smile or nod to who did the same to them before sitting down on the thrones at the top of the platform.

"Friends, Knights, Council members, I have called this meeting today to share with you some great news." Arthur spoke loudly and clearly to address everyone in the room starting off the meeting he had called.

He stopped for a brief pause as his eyes scanned the assembled crowd stopping when he met Richard's gaze.

"Richard, come forward."

Richard stood very still and confused as he felt everyone's eyes go on him. Why did Arthur want him to join him and Merlin on the platform? Had he done something wrong? No he couldn't have Arthur had said this was about good news, but he still wondered what did that have to do with him?

"Go on, Richard." Lil whispered to him as she gave him a little push forward.

Richard gulped nervously before slowing making his ways forward up the stairs onto the platform to face the crowd.

Arthur placed his hand gently on Richard's shoulder as he continued once more to address everyone in the room. "Yesterday, I discussed Richard's future here in Camelot with Merlin, Gwen, and Lancelot and they all agree with me that Richard shall remain living here in the castle as my ward. It is my deepest wish you all accept my decision and treat Richard with the very same respect you show my children, Landon and Lil."

Everyone seemed to be a little surprised at first but none more so than Richard himself.

'His ward? What's a ward? And why does he want me to be one?' Richard thought to himself.

"Congratulations Richard!" "Welcome to Camelot Richard!" He was being greeted and welcomed by everyone in the room with friendly slaps on the back and playful ruffling of his hair.

Richard tried his very best to give each one a warm smile and thank them for their kind words but in his mind he was still trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Merlin had to have seen the look of confusion on his face because he walked over to Richard and hugged him whispering "Is something wrong?"

"No..I just don't understand. What's a ward?" Richard whispered back.

Merlin smiled a bit at Richard's cute naviety. He was so young and still had much to learn. "Being a ward is kind of like when someone takes you in their family, adopting you, and raising you as one of their own." He explained.

"So you mean that you and Arthur-"

"That's right Richard. Arthur and I want you to be our new son."

Now Richard was at a mixture of emotions. He was both surprised that Arthur and Merlin wanted to adopt and raise him and happy that his life seemed brighter now with the promise of a new home and a new family that loved and cared about him.

"I have a family!" Richard yelled happily as he hugged Merlin back and ran over to Arthur hugging him and hugging Lil and Landon.

Today was officially the happiest day in his life because he knew now that he would never be alone again.