Arthur knelt in front of the Disir.
"I have made my decision," Arthur announced.
"What... is... it?" The Disir asked.
"I realize now that not all magic is evil. It can be used for good. It depends on the person who wields, not the power itself," Arthur explained. "I, Arthur Pendragon, King of Camelot, will embrace the Old Religion and allow magic back into Camelot."
"You have... made the... right decision," The Disir replied.
Arthur sighed in relief as he stood and bowed his head respectively. The king then made his way out of the cave feeling as if the world had been lifted off his shoulders.
Mordred was about to follow when the Disir spoke in his mind.
"Emrys is now safe from death. His and the Pendragon's destiny remains intact, but beware Morgana. She will continue her hunt for Emrys. Protect them both, Mordred."
Mordred stared at the Disir and nodded a promise to protect them with his life.
Merlin woke to the sound of someone entering his room. He opened his eyes as he sat himself up and looked at the open door. It took him a second to realize that his own eyes were open and that he could move.
After allowing his vision to come into focus, he realized that his mentor was standing in the doorway, mouth hanging open.
"Gaius?" Merlin asked, surprised at the sound of his own voice.
Gaius moved forward and sat down next to the warlock. "He did it."
Merlin stared at the much older man confused. "Who did what?"
"Arthur made the right decision and the Disir saved you as repayment," Gaius explained.
"What decision?" Merlin asked still confused.
"I don't know, but it was the right one," Gaius said. "How do you feel?"
"My shoulder hurts, but other than that great," Merlin replied.
Gaius set to removing the bandages, that the warlock had failed to notice, and looked at his shoulder. As the elder man gently touched it, the warlock hissed pain.
Gaius looked at Merlin, sympathetically, then continued to examine his shoulder.
"It would seem that all you have to show for almost being killed by a Disir staff is a broken clavicle and a faint scar from where the staff hit you," Gaius diagnosed. "We'll have to keep your arm immobile for the next several weeks. A clavicle is tricky to heal."
"You're going to make me wear a sling?" Merlin guessed.
"That I am," Gaius confirmed.
Merlin was leaning with his back against the railing of the main steps to the castle as he watched Arthur and Mordred ride into the courtyard.
It didn't take long for the king to spot him. When he realized that the royal prat saw him, the warlock made his way down the stairs and greeted his friend with a smile.
Arthur being Arthur, completely ignored his immobile arm and pulled him into a bear hug.
Merlin hissed in pain as the man hugged him tighter. "Arthur, let me go."
Arthur let go and stepped back and finally noticed Merlin's slinged arm.
"I thought they healed you," Arthur stated.
"Of the poison and stab wound. Any injury that wasn't of their doing, wasn't," Merlin explained. "What decision did you have to make."
"I'm repealing the ban on magic," Arthur replied. "What else happened to your shoulder?"
Merlin acted as if he hadn't heard the first part. The ban hadn't been lifted yet. He'd have to wait a few more weeks, before he could say anything.
"Broken clavicle. Since there is little Gaius can do about it, he's instructed me to wear this thing for several weeks. Clavicles are a tricky to heal," Merlin explained.
"How did that happen?" Arthur asked.
Merlin gave him a one shoulder shrug. "Probably when I fell on the cave floor."
"Well I'm glad that you are alive and well," Arthur said with a grin. "And I'm sure you'll be back to polishing my armour in no time."