(Author's Note: Still don't own Merlin or the Arthurian Legend. Ok people, last part. I know it's sudden but it's time.)

Part 7 Confessions

{Merlin's POV}

"I realized it's time to stop hiding." I focused on the bandage in Gaius's hands and he let go as it began to float, then wrapped itself neatly around my arm. Gwaine's jaw practically bounced off the floor as my eyes faded back to blue. Then he did the thing I least expected him to. He burst out laughing.

"About time you told me! Seriously! I used to wonder if you ever would." I was stunned. He had already known?

"How long have you known?"

"Since the Perilous lands. I heard you and that dwarf talking, he called you Magic. Remember?" I nodded, smiling. Gwaine wasn't stupid; I should have known that he knew. He had never mentioned it though. He had probably thought I would tell him when I was ready. Gaius raised a questioning eyebrow at me.

"It's time. But before I do that, have you got scissors? I need a haircut. And probably a shave. Best to look presentable when confronting the King of Camelot." About an hour later I looked almost exactly as I had when I had left. Gwaine popped his head back into the room; he had gone to look for Arthur.

"He's in his chambers. He's expecting to see Robin now." Gwaine laughed and I stood. My arm was in a sling to keep me from moving it and tearing the stitches. I walked resolutely to the door then turned and looked at the three people who knew my secret and hadn't rejected me for it. The man who had become like a father to me, the man who had the honor both not to reveal my secret and not to take credit for the deed I had done, and the man who had waited patiently for me to tell him. They hadn't hated me for it. That gave me hope. Something I desperately needed right now.

"Wish me luck." They each nodded smiling reassuringly. I wasn't sure I would ever see them again. I squared my shoulders and walked to Arthur's chambers. I knocked something I wasn't used to doing.

"Enter." Came Arthur's reply. I took a deep breath and opened the door, stepping inside I saw him talking to one of the servants. He looked up at me for a second then went back to his conversation. Then he did something I had never seen him do. He stopped talking midsentence, mouth hanging open and turned to look at me again. A look of shock and disbelief spread across his face.

Never taking his eyes off me he spoke to the servant.

"Joana, please tell Gwen I will have to answer her question later. " Joana nodded and left looking curiously back at us. I stood there feet frozen to the spot unsure of what to do next. Arthur stood slowly. Then in three long strides he was across the room and right in front of me. I wanted to bolt, back out of my plan, run and not look back. I wasn't scared of him; I was scared of how he would react.

He was the truest friend I had ever had. More like a brother than anything else. I didn't know what I would do if he hated me for my magic. But a second later I got the shock of my life and forgot about my worries.

Arthur wrapped me in a bear hug. He avoided my shoulder and just held me there for a minute. Then he let go and stepped back.

"Merlin. Where the HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!?" I flinched and smiled.

"It's a really long story." He glared at me.

"Well then you had better sit down and start talking." This was my opportunity. I focused on his chair and brought it around behind her.

"You should probably be the one to sit down; it's a really long story." He grabbed the chair for support. He sat down hard shock the only emotion written on his face.

"Arthur, it's time I told you the truth. Don't stop me or pass judgment or anything until I'm finished please. Arthur, I have magic. I'm a warlock, which means I was born with magic and never had the choice most people have about whether or not to use it. I have always had this power and I have always done my best to only use it for good." And so I explained everything I had ever done. I explained how I had saved his life the day we met, how I had survived all those battles, how he and his men had survived everything we had gone through. I explained Kilgarah and why he would never attack Camelot again. I explained about Balinor, my father, the last dragon lord. I explained about Freya, briefly and with little detail, and about Morgana's decent into madness. I was hoarse by the time I finished with how I had managed to get us back into Camelot and how I had known how to take down Morgouse. I faltered here and there was a very long pause.

As I had requested Arthur had not interrupted once, though he had looked on the verge a few times. He set his elbows down on the table in front of him and interlaced his fingers.

"So why did you leave?" His face was unreadable. I cleared my throat and explained about Deric and his threats. He once again listened in silence. When he was sure I was done he looked at me stone faced.

"So what you're telling me is that you, Merlin, the most useless servant on this earth, the clumsiest man I know and possibly the most idiotic as well, are a sorcerer.. Sorry warlock?" I nodded scarred stiff.

"So you do cheat at dice?" I stared at him. What? Dice? He stared at me stone faced for another minute before he cracked.

He burst out laughing. He has officially lost it! That was all I could think for a moment. But his laughter broke the tension hanging in the air. I couldn't help it I started laughing too. And soon we had both dissolved into pure hysterics. I slid down the wall unable to stand for laughing so hard. Arthur whipped his eyes and walked over sitting down next to me.

"What did you think I was going to do? Not only did you save my life today but that was you last night too wasn't it?" I nodded catching my breath.

"And honestly I'm shocked I made it through these past seven years without you. You've never harmed Camelot. Hell from what you told me there wouldn't be a Camelot without you!" I finally caught my breath.

"Yeah. I'm honestly shocked the place didn't fall to pieces without me." Arthur punched me lightly in my good shoulder.

"Hey I don't do too bad. But seriously you're going to stay right? I mean come on Camelot needs you and the knights missed you. Gaius hasn't smiled in almost seven years and Gwen was devastated when you left." I raised an eyebrow at him.

"And I guess I kind of missed you a little tiny bit. You're fun to tease. So will you stay?" I smiled and nodded.

"Good. Well we'll need to get you some chambers of your own." I raised an eyebrow.

"Well now that I know, I can't just have you being my manservant. Plus George would be devastated if I fired him. Plus Camelot could use someone who knows about magic to help advice her King when things get weird. So how do you feel about Official Court Sorcerer?" It was my turn to have my jaw hit the floor.

"Wh… What? Are you serious?" He nodded. I was stunned.

"So the ban on magic?"

"Consider it lifted, at least for you. I can't outright lift the ban out of nowhere, looks suspicious. But I can suspend it. I still don't trust all magic, but you are constitutionally incapable of being evil. Far too much of an idiot to figure out how."

"Seven years and you're still a prat. I accept Arthur. Thank you. You have no idea how many times I tried to tell you." I grinned wider than I had since I had left Camelot.

"It's good to have you back Merlin. Just promise me one thing." I raised an eyebrow.

"No more lies. No more random disappearances, and no more excuses. You'll tell me the truth whenever you can from now on."

"I promise." I smiled and we shook hands. I was finally home, and Albion's future was growing brighter by the second.

THE END