Disclaimer: Merlin belongs to the BBC

"Arthur," Merlin called softly, looking around the trees. Morgana and Esyllt were standing back, holding hands, and leaning against a tree.

"Merlin?" came a voice directly in front of them. A thick fog was hanging over the woods that day, and it was difficult to see more than a metre in front of him.

"I'm here!"

"Merlin," Arthur sighed when he came into view. "Finally. These woods are a bloody nightmare today."

"Believe me, I know," Merlin laughed. "But, I have someone for you to meet." He looked each of the knights in the eye, hoping to convey the seriousness of the situation.

"Ok," said Arthur. "Is it Esyllt?"

"And someone else," Merlin said mysteriously, ready to protect Morgana if it came to it. Despite being told of her change in heart, Merlin wouldn't put it past one of the knights to try something. Hotheadedness was a prerequisite of being a knight.

"Lady Morgana?" he called out behind him. Arthur inhaled sharply, but did nothing.

She stepped into view, Esyllt still clinging on to her hand. Her hair was scraped back from her face, with a few strands hanging loose. She was pale, and her hands were shaking slightly. Her outfit was a far cry from the elegant dresses she used to wear in Camelot; she was now wearing ripped trousers, similar to Merlin, and a baggy top.

"Arthur," she murmured when she saw him. Merlin stood still waiting to see what would happen.

"Morgana," the Prince said quietly.

"I- I wish to apologise," she said, not daring to look him in the eyes. "I didn't trust you, and I fled without even talking to you. I can see the way you treat Merlin now you know he has magic, and I should have known that you would treat me the same way."

"What do you mean?" Arthur asked in confusion. "I don't treat Merlin any differently."

"Exactly," she said softly. Merlin looked on with a growing smile.

"Look, Lady Morgana-" Arthur started.

"Just Morgana, Arthur, not 'Lady'. I am not a lady."

"Fine," he said, "Morgana, then. Merlin told us you were enchanted. Is that true?"

"I believe so," she answered. "As does Merlin."

"You can rest assured; she will do nothing to harm anyone now, right Morgana?" Merlin interrupted.

"That's right. And I am so sorry," she said.

"She saved me," added Esyllt, fed up with no one looking at her. Gwaine smirked when he saw her and looked between Merlin and Morgana.

"Been busy, hey Merlin?"

"Gwaine," he sighed amusedly. "You know where we got her from."

"I'm not a dog," the druid girl pouted.

"Of course not," Merlin assured her, and gestured for her to come forward. She did so.

"This is Esyllt everyone," he said to the knights and Arthur. "Esyllt, this is Prince Arthur, Gwaine, Elyan, Leon, Lancelot, and Percival."

"Nice to meet you," she smiled at them all.

"How come you're polite to them?" Merlin complained.

"I like them," she replied, sticking her tongue out at him.

"You like me more though, Esyllt, right?" Morgana teased.

"I love you more than any of them!" she laughed, skipping over to the woman.

Esyllt, young as she is, is very perceptive, Merlin mused, by joking around with Morgana, she is letting the knights see a side of Morgana none have ever imagined. Hell, I never imagined she could possibly act like this. I've never seen her so care free.

"Argh," cried Merlin one night back at the cave.

"What?" asked Morgana, looking over at him.

"I am so fed up with all this," he groaned. "I want to be in Camelot. I want to see Gaius. I want to sleep in. A. Real. Bed." He fidgeted on the floor, trying to get as comfy as he could with his legs and back still sore and the floor cold and hard.

"Why don't you just conjure one?" Esyllt asked.

That stopped Merlin for a minute. "Huh," he said. "Why didn't I think of that?"

"You're too used to hiding," Morgana remarked absently. "We all are."

Merlin nodded in agreement, his eyes flashing gold as he muttered in a strange tongue. A moment later, Esyllt was squealing as three new beds appeared next to her. They weren't particularly comfortable looking, but it was better than the floor.

"My magic's settled down," he informed Morgana. She smiled at him, relieved. For weeks after Merlin had woken up, his magic had been going haywire, erupting at random moments and not listening to his commands. It had been as if it had had a life of its own.

"Your emotions have calmed down, Merlin," she told him. "I reckon that was the problem – you hadn't gotten control over your own mind, so your magic wouldn't listen to it."

He agreed. "I haven't had a nightmare for . . . how long now?"

"A week," Esyllt said quietly.

He grinned. "Looks like I'm getting better then," he said happily.

"I'm glad," Morgana replied gently. Merlin's nightmares had not been . . . nice to see. It had broken her heart – already so shattered and hurt – to see the strong warlock writhing and crying out in fear. Nothing she or Esyllt did seemed to wake him when it happened. He had been sweating and hyperventilating, eyes rolling in fright. She could easily guess what he had been dreaming about during those long nights of pain.

"I still can't wait to get back to Camelot though," he sighed. Morgana stayed quiet. Neither she nor Esyllt wanted to go back; neither had a life there anymore.

"I just want something to happen," he said in frustration. "We've been here for weeks."

"Be careful what you wish for, Merlin," she warned. "Calm is good, remember? Haven't you had enough excitement?"

"Yeah," he agreed, "but I want my life back . . ."

"So do we all, Merlin," she murmured.

Morgana's warnings proved correct when, two days later, Merlin was woken by her cries. Esyllt slept on, unaware.

"Morgana," he whispered as he hurried over to her bed. She was whimpering now, tossing and turning, sweaty hair stuck against her forehead. "Morgana!" he tried again.

He reached out a hand, shaking her gently. Nothing happened. "Come on, Morgana!"

He had a sudden idea, racing over to where they kept the water; he grabbed some and flicked it gently at her face. "Morgana," he said again, desperately. He flicked more of the water on her face and tried shaking her again. "Come on," he muttered, beginning to gain an understanding of what Morgana felt when he suffered nightmares.

Morgana didn't wake for another five minutes, in which time Merlin had tried everything he could think of to rouse her. In the end, he had resorted to pacing up and down her bed.

"Morgana," he sighed in relief when he saw her eyes open. "You're awake."

"Merlin-" she croaked. He handed her water.

She tried again, "Merlin, Uther is- he-"

"Uther?" he asked in worry.

"The King," she rasped out, the hatred obvious even in her flushed state, "is dying."

Merlin sat down on the edge of her bed. "Dying?" he asked faintly.

"Dying," she confirmed, a glint in her eyes.

"What- What happened?"

"He was stabbed, in defence of Arthur. There was an assassin, I think," she said frowning. "I'm not sure, I can't- I can't remember properly."

"It's ok," Merlin reassured her. "He's definitely dying?"

"Yes," she said firmly. "But Arthur has decided to ask you to use magic to heal him."

"Arthur? He's- He's coming here?" Merlin said, overwhelmed. "He wants me to use magic on- on Uther? I'll get killed. Again."

"Don't do it," Morgana told him sternly. "Uther will not thank you."

"And I suppose this has nothing to do with the fact that you still want him dead?" he snapped.

"Merlin, I just don't want to have to rescue you again-"

"Of course, Morgana, that's all. You're worried for me, right? Not happy that someone's finally killed off the King?"

"No, Merlin, honestly, I am worried for you . . ."

"But you still want him dead more, right?"

"Merlin . . ."

"Look, Morgana, I'm going to meet Arthur, ok? Look after Esyllt. I'll see you soon, I'm sure." Merlin stood up, frustrated that Morgana still could not find it in her heart to put her hatred for the old king to rest.

"He's dying, Morgana," he said, in a last ditch attempt to reach her. "Don't you feel anything? He's your father!"

"He lied to me and abandoned me. He would have me killed, just as he would you!" she said desperately.

"Ok," Merlin said, resigned. "Ok." He sighed. "I'll come back as soon as I can, alright? Explain things to Esyllt, and don't let her come after me."

"Merlin-" Morgana started. He put a finger to her lips.

"Go back to sleep," he advised her. "I won't get hurt, and I'll heal Uther."

"Bye," she whispered.

"Bye, my lady," he said, walking out of the cave.

"I'm not a lady," she said softly. She wanted to cry. Was hurting Uther worth losing Merlin?

Merlin walked through the night, trusting in his magic to lead him the right way. And, soon enough, he heard the noise of footsteps.

"Arthur?" he called.

"Merlin?" Arthur's confused face appeared on top of a horse. "How did you know to come this way?"

"Morgana had a vision," he explained, falling into step besides Arthur as the Prince jumped down. "I came out to meet you and offer my services." He took an exaggerated bow, sweeping a pretend hat off his head. Arthur swatted him on the back.

"Hey!"

"Idiot," the Prince said affectionately. Well, Merlin liked to think it was affectionate, anyway.

"I'll have to disguise myself though," Merlin mused, "I don't think Uther will be happy to see me."

"He's- He's not conscious," Arthur said quietly, looking down.

Merlin placed a hand on his shoulder, choosing not to comment on the unfairness of having to stretch up to do so. "I should be able to help," he said.

"I hope so," the Prince replied, and jumping back on the horse, offered Merlin a hand up.

The two boys – men now – rode the rest of the way to Camelot in silence, the morning air devoid of their normal banter.

Arthur smuggled Merlin, hilariously disguised as the old sorcerer that escaped from being burnt a few months ago, into Uther's room. Arthur had been right; the King was unconscious.

"Make sure no one comes in," Merlin said to Arthur quietly, his breath catching in his throat as he saw the still, prone form of the once strong king. He forcefully brought his mind away from the scenes of fire that flashed behind his eyes, and concentrated on healing Uther. He was relying mainly on his ability to make up spells and his natural innate magic to heal the king. He wanted more than anything to stop and ask Gaius, but didn't think the King had time for that. Besides, he wanted to put that confrontation off to a time when he didn't see the scorching red of flames every time he shut his eyes.

He walked to the side of the bed, and closing his eyes, reached deep inside him for the magic that Merlin knew was simply waiting for his command. This was the magic that Uther wanted to strip him of, wanted to punish him for having when Merlin sometimes felt more like a slave of the magic than a gift he had purposefully chosen to own. Still, he had to focus on the task. Uther's ignorance was not something to debate at that moment. His eyes flashed gold under his eyelids, and warmth spread down to his hands. He muttered a few words in the ancient tongue, and his breath sped up as the magic flowed through him.

"He's- He's moving," Arthur said in amazement.

Merlin smiled, his eyes still closed. Finally, he dropped his hands, and opened his eyes.

"Arthur . . ." came the rattling voice of the King. Uther had his eyes open, and appeared to be ignoring the sorcerer bending over him.

"Father," Arthur breathed in relief.

See, Morgana, Merlin thought, this is what magic is supposed to be used for.

That was when things started to go wrong.

Merlin didn't know what had happened. Uther was awake, talking, his wound healing even as they looked on. But then . . . his breathing had gotten ragged, his eyes had shut, he had cried out in pain. Blood had seemed to be spreading everywhere and Merlin had been desperately trying to help, do something, while Arthur was crying his father's name. And then, in front of them, Uther had taken his last breath, and he had died. Died.

Gaius was currently in the room with Arthur, bending over Uther's prone form. Merlin was in the corner, hidden from view, known only to Arthur. Arthur's eyes were red and swollen and Gaius himself was pale.

"I'm sorry, Sire," Gaius said finally, straightening up, "the King is dead. There is nothing I can do for him."

"Thank you for trying, Gaius," said Arthur, his voice amazingly steady.

"You will need to prepare a speech for the people, Sire," Gaius added. "They want to know what is going on."

"I will," Arthur agreed quietly. "Will you-" he gestured to Uther's body.

"I will prepare it for burial, Sire."

"Thank you, Gaius," Arthur said, "for everything."

Gaius bowed quickly, before turning back to Uther. His eyes were suspiciously wet. Arthur left the King's chambers and Merlin wondered what on earth he was supposed to do.

In the end, he had to wait there for an hour while Gaius examined and cleaned Uther's body. Finally, two guards came in to remove it, and everyone left. Merlin snuck out of the room and out of the castle. He waited out at the edge of the forest, knowing Arthur would come when he was ready.

The light was filtering slowly across the grass in front of him when Merlin woke up the next day. Each individual blade of grass glinted in the sunlight and Merlin marvelled at how something so simple could be so beautiful. He checked to make sure no one was around before cancelling his spell that took attention away from him. He didn't have to wait long.

"Hey Arthur," he said softly when the Prince sat down heavily next to him. Arthur said nothing.

"I- I'm sorry," Merlin mumbled. "I really thought I was helping him, I don't know what went wrong-"

"I do," Arthur said at last. "Gaius found this on him." He held out a necklace to Merlin.

Merlin took it, immediately inhaling sharply as he sensed the strong magic on the metal.

"It's enchanted," he said.

"Yeah," Arthur agreed, "Gaius reckons the assassin somehow put it on him without anyone realising. Apparently it reverses the effects of any healing spells and makes them worse."

"I'm sorry," Merlin said heavily. If only he hadn't tried to heal Uther. . . He'd only made it worse, in the end.

"It's not your fault," Arthur replied, looking out at the grass.

Those words reminded Merlin of something, but what?

"The Prince will make a good king," the druid said softly, "but he is not there yet."

"You will have to help," Lucan finished.

Accalon looked at him sadly. "Remember, young warlock, that whatever comes to pass is what is meant to be. It is not your fault."

Just how much had those druids known? Could they have been hinting at this? Merlin wondered. Maybe he should pay them a visit.

"You can come back to Camelot now, you know," Arthur said absently.

"You're going to change the laws against magic?"

"Yeah," he said, "I don't think many people believed in them, anyway. They just feared the King too much to speak out."

"Thanks," Merlin said quietly, "but there's something I have to do first."

"That's ok," Arthur murmured. "That gives me time to make announcements and start repealing the law against magic."

"I'll see you back here tomorrow night?"

"Yeah," Arthur agreed. "Tomorrow."

Merlin didn't comment on Arthur's faraway expression. He just needed time to grieve.

"Lucan!" Merlin called loudly in the forests. "Accalon! Balen! I know you can hear me!"

"What is it, Emrys?" asked Lucan, appearing instantly from behind a tree. Merlin stifled a frown at their annoying mysterious ways.

"How much of the last few days did you predict?" he demanded.

"I don't know what you mean, Emrys," said Accalon, materialising along with Balen next to Lucan.

"You warned me, all three of you, about the events that were to come. How much did you know? Merlin asked in frustration.

"We simply watched the pattern of the skies and birds," Accalon replied calmly.

"The ways of life tell you everything," remarked Balen, staring into space.

Lucan took pity on the young warlock. "We didn't know exactly what would happen," he said gently, "but we listened and we watched and so we knew enough to warn you."

"You could have saved him," Merlin said furiously. "You, Accalon, you have enough power. Why didn't you?"

"Our healing would have only worsened matters, Emrys," Balen muttered.

"That's beside the point!" Merlin cried. "Why didn't you try?"

"Try to save the man who has hunted and persecuted our kind for years? Try to save the man who would rather see me dead than acknowledge that magic can be used for good as well as evil? Tell me, Emrys," Accalon said bitterly, "why would I have tried to save Uther?"

"He is a man, just like you or me," Merlin said quietly. "No man deserves to die in such a way."

"Even if he would have killed even more of our kind – peaceful as we are?"

"Yes," said Merlin. "Everyone deserves the chance to change."

"Naïve," snorted Accalon.

"Maybe," Merlin answered, "but at least I'm willing to give him a second chance!"

"Regardless," Lucan interjected before Accalon could reply, "it was his time to die. Some things in life, Emrys, you can not change. Uther's death has been set in stone for centuries."

"Life is not ruled by destiny, Lucan," Merlin snapped. "You could have tried."

"Disregarding destiny, Emrys? The boy whose whole life is governed by his?" Lucan asked, with his eyebrows raised.

"I chose my path, Lucan, no one else," Merlin said. "You should try to chose yours one day."

With that, he walked away, leaving the druids silent behind him.

"Merlin!" Esyllt had cried when she had caught sight of him walking, wearily, towards the cave.

Morgana appeared at the entrance when she heard Esyllt, and her face broke into a smile at the sight before her. Esyllt and Merlin were embracing, Merlin's body bent down, his head pressed against her smooth blonde hair. His expression was sad and exhausted, but, for now, he looked at peace, holding the small young druid girl who had defied all odds by surviving Uther's reign. She took one last look, and went inside, leaving the two to their reunion.

"Morgana?" she heard Merlin ask some time later. She looked up from the berries she was painstakingly washing, and smiled.

"You're back," she said gently.

"Yes," he replied, taking a seat next to her. "Not for long though."

"Uther . . .?"

"Is dead," Merlin finished quietly, looking away. Morgana decided not to ask for details.

"And Arthur?"

"In Camelot still, preparing for Uther's burial and, as we speak, getting ready to repeal the law against magic."

Morgana sucked in her breath. "Now?" she asked, hardly able to open her mouth.

"Now," Merlin confirmed. "He thinks the people were simply following Uther out of fear. None of them actually believed that magic was evil."

"Oh my God . . ." she said softly. "I never really . . ."

"Never really allowed yourself to believe? Neither did I . . ."

"Are we free now?" came Esyllt's young voice from next to them.

"Yes, Esyllt," Merlin murmured. "We're free now."

Morgana woke Merlin up the next morning with the news that she was leaving.

"Where to?" he asked, alarmed.

"I was thinking the druids," she replied. "I know they can still teach me a lot about my magic."

"Who knows?" Merlin muttered, "You might teach them something too."

Morgana smiled, taking his hand. "Camelot isn't my home anymore, Merlin, as much as I'd love to stay with you. Esyllt and I . . . We have no life there anymore."

"Esyllt's going with you?" Merlin asked.

"Yes," she said, "we talked about it, and she'd like to live with her uncle now her parent's are gone." She smiled down at the still half-asleep eight-year-old.

"I'll miss you," he said quietly. "Both of you."

"We'll miss you too," Morgana assured him. "You better come and visit."

"All the time," he confirmed. "Hear that, Esyllt? You'll see me fairly often."

She smiled sleepily up at him, and mumbled a quick goodbye.

Merlin sighed. "Well, I guess this is goodbye."

"For now," Morgana said softly.

"Yes," he agreed, "for now."

He pulled her hand up to his lips and, bowing his head, kissed the back of her hand quickly. "Goodbye, my Lady Morgana," he said, smiling.

"Goodbye, Merlin," she answered, wiping her eyes rapidly. She didn't look back as she walked out of their make-shift home, carrying the little druid girl with her.

"You're a lady now," he said to himself, "the Lady Morgana."

"Today is a historic day!" Arthur called out across the town square. The people were gathered for the second day running, the previous time being for the King's funeral. Merlin was glad he had missed that; his emotions were so tangled when it came to Uther that he didn't want to risk it. Besides, he was still technically a wanted man, despite being up on the balcony overlooking the crowds alongside Arthur.

"Today, I, your new king, will pass the first law," Arthur continued. Merlin had witnessed Arthur's coronation that very morning and had been shocked to find his eyes leaking a few tears. He blamed it on the suddenness of all the events.

"Or, more accurately, I will repeal an existing law." Mutterings started up below him. "I'm sure you have noticed the presence of Merlin, a man arrested for sorcery, next to me." Apparently, they hadn't, Merlin noted with interest, watching some of the shocked expressions.

"That is because, today," Yes Arthur, we get the today bit thanks, Merlin thought sarcastically, "I will repeal the law against magic. Magic can be used for good as well as evil, and in Camelot, we shall now see it in its full glory!"

Merlin stepped forward, closing his eyes for effect. He muttered a few words in a strange tongue, and smiled as flames flew up into the air. They circled around, creating patterns and swirls in the air, glinting different colours in the sunlight.

"Someday!" he called out, with his face raised to the heavens.

"Always!" Arthur cried.

Just as before, the word was echoed by first the knights, then the commoners.

"Always! Always! Always!"

This time, though, the flames circled overhead, harmless, as Merlin stood by Arthur's side, the Prince's hand resting lightly on Merlin's shoulder.

"Always," Merlin murmured.

"And forever," Arthur agreed.

Side by side, they stood, watching the flames twist above them, a symbol of change. And that was how they stayed. The Warlock and the King, together.

Finis.

This is the end of the main part of the fic. There will be an epilogue, already written, posted within a few days. I hope you enjoyed this, though!

Without wanting to seem rude . . . 4 reviews for this story in total. 4. I wouldn't mind if it was just that my fic was rubbish and no one was reading it, but I've had dozens of story alerts and favourites, but no one seems to want to review :( So just . . . drop me a line? One word - good/bad would be enough.

Please?

But thank you to those who did!

ForeverChasingDreams