A/N: I am really sorry this part took so long. It kind of got away from me, as you can probably tell from the word count.
Title: Sunrise
Author: FlYiNgPiGlEtS
Summary: This time, Merlin really is in the tavern. And Arthur is determined to find him, so he can make things right.
Ratings: K+
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, the knights, Gwen, Gaius and Geoffrey of Monmouth.
Pairings: no slash. Gwen/Arthur (err… quite a lot of it, actually.)
Spoilers: series 1-4 only, I think.
Warnings: um… alcohol? Is that a warning?
Disclaimer: unfortunately, I don't own Merlin; it belongs to the BBC and Shine.
VII: Sunrise: Part II
"Arthur?"
Arthur looked up from the plate of sausages and eggs one of the servants – not Merlin – had bought him for breakfast, to see his Guinevere's curious chocolate eyes and sweet smile. He tried to smile back, but it was a feeble attempt.
"Are you all right?"
"Fine," Arthur mumbled. "I'm fine."
The queen didn't look convinced, but decided, instead, to ask, "How was your walk?"
"Fine."
Gwen eyed him with concern. "Arthur, what's bothering you?"
"Nothing."
"Arthur."
"It's nothing."
"Did something happen between you and Merlin?" Gwen wondered, voice kind and calm.
"No," Arthur snapped.
"Whatever it is, I'm sure you'll work it out. You two can never stay mad at each other." She smiled slightly. "I'm glad you have a friend like him."
"We're not friends."
Gwen's forehead creased slightly. "Of course you are."
"We are not friends," the king repeated firmly. "He is my servant, nothing more."
"Arthur!"
Arthur stood abruptly, chair scraping across the flagstone floor, and Guinevere fell silent. "There's somewhere I must be." And with that, he stormed out of the room, leaving a stunned queen in his wake.
Despite passing it almost everyday, Arthur couldn't remember the last time he had actually been inside the palace library. He'd very deliberately avoided it as a child, much preferring to practice with a sword than to read the ridiculously large books his scholars were always giving him, and now that he was king he had never really found the time to take up reading. Guinevere was always telling him just how wonderful a good book could be, and Merlin teased him constantly for his lack of intellectual hobbies, but between kingly duties and knightly training, it was hard to find the time for unrealistic stories.
That was probably why, when he stepped into the library that morning, Geoffrey of Monmouth gave him a peculiar look and raised his eyebrows so high Arthur decided he must be taking lessons for Gaius. The king gave him a slight nod before proceeding to march towards the nearest shelf, scanning the worn spines of the large, dusty books avidly.
"Sire?" Geoffrey asked, from his place at his wooden desk. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Yes, actually," Arthur replied. "I'm looking for a book about magic."
Arthur hadn't meant to be so blunt about it, but he wasn't in the mood for spending his morning searching for the books his father had deliberately hidden (or burned) during the Purge. Besides, Geoffrey's flabbergasted expression would have been hilarious, if he wasn't still reeling from Merlin's revelation.
The old librarian recovered quickly. "Is there a specific volume you are looking for, sire?"
"No. Just a book… about magic. Any book about magic will do."
"I'll see what I can find."
Geoffrey shuffled off to the back of the dark and rather cold room, leaving Arthur standing at his desk. The king shifted his weight awkwardly, focusing on the many, many shelves, rather than the constricting pain in his chest, that was growing with each passing moment, each time he thought about his traitorous manservant.
Traitorous friend.
No. No, what he had told Guinevere was true; Merlin was not his friend, and never had been. By sunrise tomorrow, the traitor would be gone from Camelot, and Arthur wouldn't feel this way any longer. He just had to bear the hurt, the false betrayal, for one day, however impossible it seemed, and then it would be over.
Arthur was startled out of his thoughts when Geoffrey returned with a large pile of books, the covers of which seemed to have been deliberately damaged or graphitized, in order to disguise the contents. The librarian let them fall onto his desk with a loud thud, a heavy cloud of dust exploding from the worn covers and making Arthur sneeze.
"These were preserved during the Great Purge." Geoffrey looked slightly nervous. Arthur knew 'preserved' meant 'hidden from Uther', but decided not to mention it. After all, he was seeking them out himself. "A Brief History of Magic, Magic Through the Ages, The Art of Magic and Ancient Legends and Myths. Will these suffice, sire?"
"Exactly what I was looking for," Arthur lied – because he hadn't known what he was looking for at all – and feigned a smile. "Thank you, Geoffrey."
Geoffrey gave a slight bow and Arthur hefted the books up from the desk, dismayed by their weight. With a brief and slightly awkward smile that defiantly didn't give the impression that he was up to something (it did), and trying to hide the books he now held in his arms best he could because it defiantly wasn't against the law for them to even be in existence (it was), the king left the library and decided that next time he wanted to do some reading, he would send Merlin.
And then he realized, with a sinking feeling in his stomach and a prominent aching in his chest, that tomorrow, Merlin would be gone. Because he was a traitor. Not his friend; never his friend.
Arthur was halfway to his chambers, and was rather smug at how stealthily he'd managed to move through the palace, when Leon intercepted him. He should have been pleased, really, that one of his knights finally realized he was up to something – the four guards he had already passed only greeted him merrily and told him to enjoying his reading – but he couldn't help but grit his teeth as he forced an obviously inconspicuous smile.
"Leon," he said, as a way of greeting the knight, sounding a little over-cheery.
"Sire, we have received news from Nemeth. King Rodor…" Leon trailed of, eyeing the books in Arthur's arms. His eyes narrowed in confusion. "Are those books about sorcery?"
"No," Arthur blurted. "Of course not. They're, err… poetry."
The knight's eyebrows shot up. "Poetry?"
"Don't tell Gwaine?" Arthur winced; he sounded as though he were asking a question, not making a demand.
"Arthur, what's going on?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Just…. Widening my knowledge of…. Poetry. It's just fascinating." Arthur cleared his throat awkwardly, in a rather feeble attempt to retain his manhood."Now, what was that about Nemeth?"
Leon looked as though he couldn't decide if Arthur had gone mad, or if the king was up to something he shouldn't be. He seemed to realize that, whatever it was, he should probably stay out of, but, more likely than not, wouldn't. "They have lifted their ban on magic."
Arthur nearly dropped the magic books. Nemeth, during the Purge, had sworn allegiance to Uther and his ploy to rid the land of magic, in order to maintain their treaty with Camelot; Uther would have destroyed their agreement and widened his manhunt of magic into their lands had they not adopted such rules. Now, even after Uther's death, King Rodor continued to uphold the law, especially while Morgana was still a threat, as they believed magic did more damage than good, and that it was a force to be carefully regulated. Something drastic must have happened to change the king's mind.
"Lifted it?"
"Yes, sire."
Arthur would have liked to say something much more intelligent than a flabbergasted "why?", but that was all that came out.
"I don't know, but King Rodor asked that this be delivered to you." Leon held out a large envelope, sealed closed with an imprint of Nemeth's crest.
Just about managing not to drop the books, Arthur took the letter off Leon and gave the knight a genuine smile. "Thank you, Leon."
The knight nodded and turned to leave, but Arthur called him back. "Leon. Tell me, what do you think of Nemeth's decision to lift their ban on magic?" At first, Leon looked nervous, as if afraid to speak out about magic, so Arthur prompted him to continue. "I value your opinion; I won't hold it against you."
"I think… that magic, in general, can be both good and bad," Leon replied. "I have seen it save innocent lives, and have seen it take them; I have seen it heal wounds, and inflicted them. It is a matter of control and understanding. If Nemeth are able to ensure the safety of their people, while magic is practiced freely, then I believe that it was a wise decision. But if they allow their people to be consumed by the power that comes with magic, then I fear what will become of the kingdom."
Arthur considered these words. "Thank you, Leon. That will be all."
The knight gave a small bow and scrambled off, leaving Arthur to his 'poetry'.
Arthur,
For many years now, and despite our previous misunderstandings, Camelot and Nemeth have been strong allies. I have seen Camelot flourish under your just rule and am more than glad that our kingdoms have found peace, but the reason that I am writing to you is not one of allegiance or loyalty. I feel that I must inform you that I, and the people of Nemeth, have come to a decision that the practice of magic, from henceforth, will be permitted within our kingdom.
The decision to lift magic was not an easy one. I have seen, first hand, the evil that magic can and has been used for, and I believe we would all be fools to underestimate such power as it. But just as I have seen evil, I have seen the kindness in the hearts of those who posses such powers and witnessed myself the good they strive to do. It is both detrimental and beneficial; we have chosen to see the benefits, and to ensure whatever dangers it may pose are handled efficiently.
You, like many others, may think that I am a fool to believe such things, but I hope, perhaps, that what I tell you next may enable you to better understand my decision. As you may well already know, a terrible plague had swept through a number of villages within Nemeth. There was not a single physician able to cure it and we had suffered a great loss because of the illness. It continued to overcome even the strongest citizens of Nemeth and I feared what would become of the kingdom if we did not take action. I had no choice but to seek help when my dearest Mithian fell victim to the disease.
I sought help first with the Druids. They were able to lessen the symptoms of the illness for a short while, but not cure it, though they told me that they knew of a man who could. Not a day later, a man well into his later years, who is know to the Druids as Emrys, rode into the courtyard and declared he knew of a way to cure Mithian. The Druids bowed at his feet, but you can imagine my incredulity when a man as frail and aged as he claimed the ability to free us from this epidemic. Still, I allowed him to try, for I was desperate, and had no other choice.
It truly was the most wondrous thing I had ever seen. With a few simple words, Mithian was cured. I could see the life return to her. I know that I have not seen anything so beautiful.
The miracles did not stop there. Emrys taught the Druids of a way to cure the disease themselves, by giving them small essences of his power. Almost as quickly as he had came, he was gone, claiming, rather jokingly, that there was another king who needed him, though not before he cured me of the terrible affliction also. I owe him my life, and promised that I would repay him in anyway fit; he told me he sought no reward, and that our happiness and good health was all his wished for, before riding off to this other king. Mithian, who thought perhaps she recognized him, though she could not tell where from, thinks we will never see him again; I fear that she is right.
Magic saved the person I hold dearest and, of course, my kingdom. Nemeth surely would have fallen, if not for this Emrys, and I would have lost my darling Mithian. I am only able to write this letter because of Emrys. What kind of man would I be, I ask you, to ignore the acts of this kindly sorcerer and continue to prosecute his kind? It was only right that I repealed the ban. The people supported my decision, having seen the good magic had done for them, and so that is how this reform has come about.
Now, as magic slowly returns to Nemeth, I already see the benefits of my decision. I know that it was right and that Nemeth will be stronger because of it. I only hope that you, too, see the validity of my choice and that perhaps you will also be able to reassess your prejudices, as I have.
Ever faithful,
Rodor.
Arthur jumped when the door open and dropped Rodor's letter on the open pages of Magic Through the Ages. He scrambled to close the book, but Guinevere had rounded the table before he even managed to grab the cover. There was no way he was getting out of this one.
"Leon told me you were reading poetry," Gwen said, a hint of amusement creeping into her voice, though the hurt from his earlier display of petulance was still evident in her eyes.
"Uh… yes," Arthur replied. "Poetry."
The queen slid into the chair opposite him, picking up The Art of Magic and studying it intently before raising her eyebrows at her husband. "Arthur, would you like to explain what, exactly, is going on?"
"I'm sorry for my earlier behavior," Arthur said humbly. "I am… there is…"
"Whatever it is, you can tell me."
"See, it's… I banished Merlin."
"You did what?" she cried. "Why on earth would you do such a thing?"
Arthur winced. His chest still burned, and the sensation reminded him oddly of the many pyres his father had forced innocent men upon. If it had been Uther who discovered Merlin's magic, then banishment would have been a mercy; but now, to Arthur - and probably to Merlin too - it felt like the opposite. Had he made the right choice? Was it truly possible for Merlin to cast such a spell that he would feel such real friendship towards the sorcerer, and betrayal now that the king had discovered his lies? The books he had read told him what he was already beginning to believe; that no such spell was in existence.
"Arthur," Gwen murmured, worry creeping into her voice as she looked down at the magic books spread across the table in front of her. "What does magic have to do with this?"
His silence spoke wonders. Guinevere's eyes widened in shock. "I always thought there was something, but… no. Surely, he can't… Merlin? Merlin has magic?"
Hearing her say it made it so much more real and Arthur couldn't breathe. His eyes prickled with the horrible sensation of tears and all he could think of was the trust he had put in Merlin. Merlin, who had been his friend. Because Arthur knew that feeling – that feeling of brotherhood, that had grown so strong over the years that perhaps even this betrayal would not break it – could not be forged. It was too real for him to accept that it was another lie.
Guinevere hands were in his, squeezing tightly, eyes full of sympathy. "Oh, Arthur," she whispered. "What happened?"
"I found him at the window, the one that overlooks the entire kingdom, and… and we just looked at Camelot. Everything was as it usually was. And then," Arthur explained. "Then he turned to me and said he was a sorcerer."
Arthur ripped his hands from Gwen's and kicked his chair away. It tumbled across the floor with a loud clatter and he stormed to the window. "Merlin is a sorcerer. I have been harboring a sorcerer all this time! How could I have been so foolish?"
Gwen stood too, walking towards him. "You are no fool. None of us could have known."
"I should have known! I though I knew him; I thought he was my friend! And he betrayed me, just like everyone else!"
"There was no way you could have-"
"I couldn't bear to look at him, Guinevere. I told him to leave by sunrise tomorrow and never come back."
"Did you give him a chance to explain himself?"
"He is a sorcerer! He doesn't deserve-!"
"Arthur!" Guinevere cut him off. She looked outraged. "He has the same rights as any man, magic or not, to a fair trial! You cannot banish him without listening to what he has to say!"
Arthur balled his fists furiously. "Magic is pure evil! I do not need to put Merlin to trial to know that!"
"Do you truly believe Merlin is evil?" she demanded. "You do know him, Arthur. Perhaps he has lied to you, but you know in your heart that Merlin hasn't a bad bone in his body. He has always been loyal to you and to Camelot. I do not believe that he could possibly be evil."
"He has tricked us – tricked us into believe that we were his friends! He wants Camelot for his own!"
"Merlin is the most loyal man you know, Arthur! He has always been at your side, protecting you. That guardian angel you and the knights are always crediting for your miraculous survival does not exist; it was Merlin."
"What are you talking about?"
"How can you not see it?" she asked incredulously. "Where was Merlin whenever Camelot was in trouble? When you needed him the most?"
Chest heaving with angry, ragged breaths and body trembling with barely-contained fury, Arthur only stared at her. Her eyes were wide and begging, asking him to see reason. But he couldn't. He couldn't think. So he picked up his scabbard and sword from where another servant had placed them on the table and thundered out of the room for the second time that day.
It wasn't uncommon for Arthur to turn up to training fuming, with Merlin nowhere to be seen. Usually, it meant they'd had a fight and that they were both off sulking in their own way - Arthur hitting things, and Merlin complaining to Gaius while helping the old physician do his rounds.
So, when the king stormed onto the training grounds and took to pelting one of the dummies as hard as he possibly could, no one questioned him or Merlin's whereabouts. Even Gwaine, who usually would have called him something insulting by now, knew to keep quiet and let him take out his anger with whatever weapon his so wished. It was practically part of the knight's code, to leave Arthur to his moods unless Merlin was around to keep him in check. And since Merlin had not chosen to join them at this particular training session, no one mentioned the fact that the dummy was already ripped to shreds and that Arthur was only hitting a wooden stick. They certainly didn't want to be at the receiving end of his anger.
Arthur, as common practice when he was this angry, ignored them. There was only one thing on his mind and that was Merlin's magic. Guinevere's words played over and over in his mind, on a constant loop.
It was Merlin.
How can you not see it?
Where was Merlin whenever Camelot was in trouble?
All those times when there had been danger, when they had needed a savior, Merlin was never there. Yes, admittedly, Arthur had always been too distracted to care, but he had always presumed he'd run off to do something for Gaius or perhaps hide. But, looking back on the many times Merlin had rode into danger, unprotected, by his side, Arthur knew it was a stupid to think that Merlin would hide. If there was one thing Merlin was not, it was a coward.
But Merlin had never been truly unprotected, had he? Magic was just as much of a weapon as any sword, as much of a protector as any armor. And Arthur was sure, now, that he had used it all those times when Camelot was in danger, and when he needed saving. That blue ball of light in the caves had been Merlin. Merlin had saved him then, and every time after that. Because Merlin had never been in the tavern, or hiding, or running errands; Merlin had been saving the day with magic.
Magic. Just as it had been his downfall, it had also been his savior. Morgana may have taken Camelot because of it, but the same force had also saved it. As any weapon, it could be used for bad, but it could also be used for good.
Suddenly, it was clear; it wasn't even the magic that hurt, and it wasn't magic that was evil. Merlin hadn't even betrayed him. No, it was the lies that were causing his agony. It was the fact that Merlin hadn't trusted him enough to tell him the truth before. Because these conflicted emotions were not a spell. Because Merlin was his friend.
And there was no punishment for keeping secrets. He couldn't banish Merlin for that.
Destroyed dummy and training knights forgotten, Arthur stormed back into the palace.
Guinevere was waiting for him when he burst back into their chambers, one of the magic books, Ancient Legends and Myths, open in front of her. As soon as he had discarded his sword on the bed, she asked, curiously, "Does the name 'Once and Future King' mean anything to you?"
Arthur took a seat in front of her, taking her hands in his. "My behavior-"
"I understand, Arthur. There is no need to apologize."
"You are too good to me," he murmured, kissing the tops of her hands. She smiled sweetly. "I don't deserve you."
"No, you don't," she joked.
The king shifted and frowned at the book in front of her. "The Once and Future King? I've defiantly heard it before. I think… I think Merlin might have mentioned it once. He said I was the Once and Future King."
Gwen gave a small laugh of amazement. "Arthur… if you are the Once and Future King, then Merlin is Emrys."
Arthur's eyes widened. "Emrys?"
"The most powerful warlock to ever walk to earth. Arthur, Merlin is a warlock; he was born with magic."
"Emrys? Merlin is Emrys?" Arthur couldn't contain his shock. There was a strange feeling in his chest, something oddly like pride. "He… he saved Nemeth."
"What?"
"But Rodor said he was an old man! How could Merlin possibly be Emrys?"
"'Emrys is said to have a number of guises.'" Guinevere quoted from the book. "'No one can know how he will truly appear, but take heed, for those who are ever fortunate enough to met with Emrys will sense his power, and know that it is him. The magic he possesses like nothing Albion has ever seen; there are none who will not notice it.'"
"Well, there has always been something about him."
"It's incredible; he's incredible. And you… Arthur, it says here you are to unite the five kingdoms, and bring about an era of peace for all of Albion."
"That's impossible. I can't… we can't be these people. It can't be true, surely."
"Who would know about this?"
"I don't know, Gaius?"
"Then we ask Gaius."
There were up in an instant, heading straight for the physician's quarters. Arthur hoped, as they walked, that Merlin wasn't there. He was quite ready to face him yet.
Bursting into Gaius' quarters and demanding, like the pompous, arrogant prince he used to be, "Am I the Once and Future King?" was, in hindsight, a bad idea. There were a number of colorful words, a few smashed experiments and a good few disapproving looks from the queen, and when, a half-hour later, they were finally settled and all the mess was cleared up, Gaius still looked about ready to faint.
"How did you find out?"
"About what?" Arthur said, a subtle challenge creeping into his words. "The legend, or Merlin's magic?"
Gaius gasped. "How…?"
"So you do know." The king couldn't hide his hurt.
For a moment, Gaius looked as though he might pretend that he didn't. Then he seemed to think better of it, and a sad expression crossed his face. "Did you believe that I wouldn't?"
Arthur sighed. "No."
"So is it true, Gaius?" Gwen asked. "Is Merlin Emrys? And Arthur the Once and Future King?"
"I think you ought to be discussing this with Merlin," Gaius replied. "He is far more familiar with the legend."
Arthur gave Gaius a stern look. "We're asking you."
The physician heaved a sigh, as if he felt far too old for this conversation. "Yes. There are some who say that you, Arthur, are the Once and Future King."
Gwen frowned. "You don't believe the legend?"
"Like I said, Merlin is far more familiar with it than me."
"But you know what it contains, do you not? You know I am meant to unite the land of Albion."
"That I do know to be true." Pride crept into Gaius' voice.
"But... but how? How is it possible?"
Gaius looked truly wise, and old, when he said, "Destiny is a strange force, Arthur, one that none of us can ever hope to understand. But it appears to have chosen you and Merlin. Your destinies have been entwined irreversibly together and tethered to Albion itself. It was been decided before time begun that you would meet and that a wonderful Fate would befall you both, and the land that you are said to unite together."
Gwen pressed a hand to her mouth, eyes wide and sparkling with tears. "It's incredible. You were destined to meet before time begun."
"I felt… when we met, I knew there was something about him," Arthur admitted softly. "And I think… I think I felt it."
"Destiny?" Gaius finished, smiling fondly. Arthur swallowed and nodded. "You are two sides of the same coin. Destiny chose you, Arthur; you must promise me that you will never take that for granted. Without you both, Camelot would be lost. You may not believe it, but Merlin has sacrificed more than I dare think about for this kingdom."
"Nemeth have repealed their ban on magic." Arthur kneaded the bridge of his noise with his fingers. He didn't know why he had said that. Perhaps it was easier than promising never to take destiny - and Merlin - for granted. Or perhaps because he was thinking about all that Merlin had done for him, and Rodor's words. What kind of man would I be, I ask you, to ignore the acts of this kindly sorcerer and continue to prosecute his kind?
"An admirable move." Gaius nodded in approval. "Do you think it was the right decision?"
Arthur met Gaius' wrinkled eyes. "I don't know. But I think I've made a terrible mistake. I banished him."
Gaius didn't look surprised, only sad. It was worse, in a way. Arthur stood, stool scraping across the floor, and turned away from the man he had so often sought for comfort and counsel, unable to look upon not only the resignation, as if he had expected this, but the disappointment Gaius was so carefully trying to mask.
"Where is he?" Arthur asked. No elaboration was needed on the 'he'.
"I believe he is in the tavern, sire."
Arthur turned slightly, a half-smile on his face. "No, really, Gaius, where is he?"
"I'm not making excuses for him this time. Merlin really is in the tavern."
"Oh." The king blinked. "Then I'm going to the tavern. I need to make things right."
Merlin was not, contrary to popular belief, a regular at the tavern. In fact, this was the first time he had actually been inside the Rising Sun Inn to drink, rather than help Gwaine out of a sticky situation or meet with tournament-competing sorcerers, since coming to Camelot. The shock on the barmaids face when he, the king's personal manservant (as many people continued to point out as they whispered to each other), ordered three tankards of mead for himself was hilarious, and Merlin almost wished Arthur was there to see it. Maybe then he would realize Merlin was never really in the tavern.
But then again, he knew just how unobservant the king could be. He was, after all, his personal manservant. Or at least was his personal manservant. Now he was just another peasant – an exiled peasant, actually, just like his father.
That was what he thought of, as he drank his mead; his father and Freya and Will. His thought of Morgana and Agravaine and Uther, as well, and of magic and destiny and Camelot. But most of all, he thought of Arthur, and everything he had done for him.
At some point, Gwaine strolled inside. The tavern was the knight's favorite place to relax after a day of training and when he saw Merlin sitting in the corner, Gwaine knew his night would be significantly better than usual. It was one of his lifelong ambitions to get Merlin drunk, and it looked like tonight would be his lucky night.
So that was probably how they ended up on the table, singing about friendship or something equally as soppy, while Merlin thought bitterly about Arthur and his banishment, which he had yet to inform Gwaine of. He wondered if the other knights, who were gathered on the particular table they were using as a dance floor and laughing heartily at the drunken pair, knew. He doubted they did. Arthur probably hadn't told anyone, so they would question him.
It took him a while to realize that the man who had banished him that very morning had walked into the tavern, looking rather conflicted, though thoroughly confused and perhaps slightly angry when he saw Gwaine and Merlin on top of the table, singing at the top of their lungs (a sound Arthur would liken to wailing cats in later years).
Merlin decided it was the shock of seeing the King of Camelot in a tavern that made him fall off the table. He was not drunk.
Yeah, no one was convinced.
Arthur huffed irately. It was almost like nothing had happened when he yanked Merlin off the ground and shoved him onto the empty stool between Leon and Percival, before hauling Gwaine off the table by his shirt.
"What are you thinking?" Arthur growled, after he had dragged the unruly knight away from the table Merlin now sat at. "You got him drunk?"
"He was doing a pretty good job of it himself, before I got here," Gwaine replied, shoving the king off. "This wasn't my doing, princess."
"Drunk sorcerers have no control over their magic, you idiot," Arthur snapped, realizing too late he had just gone and revealed Merlin's magic to Gwaine, and also that he had actually used some of the information from the damned magic books Geoffrey gave him.
Gwaine narrowed his eyes. "Did you just say sorcerers? No, I'm not that drunk. Merlin's isn't a…" they both turned around, just as there was a loud yell of surprise from across the tavern. Merlin had conjured the same ball that had saved Arthur from those spiders, the one he had used to prove to the king just that morning that he had magic, and sent it spinning around the table. Gwaine's eyes widened and he exclaimed, above the commotion of the tavern, "Holy hell, Merlin's a sorcerer!"
There was a long, tense moment of silence. Then the tavern plunged into what could only be described as pandemonium. People started rushing for the door, yelling about sorcery and evil and Morgana, and there was so much noise Arthur couldn't hear himself think. Just as he was about to end the panic, another voice sounded above all the others, loud and clear and a little slurred,
"It's all right!" Merlin yelled, scrambling out of his stool and raising his hands in the air in a surrendering motion. "I'm not going to hurt any of you! I'm banished anyway!"
The screaming stopped and everyone turned to stare at him, wide-eyed and silent, as he stumbled towards the king. A goofy smile spread across the warlock's face, and there was a doubt in Arthur's mind that his manservant was well and truly drunk.
"That's right. Arthur Pendragon banished me," Merlin continued. "After everything I've done for him, he told me to leave and never come back. Be gone by sunrise, he said, or I'll have your head!"
No one said a word.
"Perhaps I should have told him about the time I slowed time to save him from Mary Collins. Or about the time I enchanted the snakes in Valliant's sword so that he could defeat him. How I helped Lancelot kill the griffin, how I saved Uther from Edwin Muirden, or how I saved Arthur himself from being sacrificed to the sidhe. Maybe about the time I brandished Excalibur in a dragon's breath so The Black Knight could be defeated, or how I conjured the wind in Ealdor, not Will, who died for you. He was my best friend, and all you could say to me was that I should have told you about the magic he didn't have."
Arthur, along with the rest of the tavern, only stared.
"Let's not forget the time you were bitten by the Questing Beast. I went to give my life for yours, but Nimueh tried to take my mother's, and then Gaius'. So I killed her, just as I killed Mary and Edwin and Sophia and Aulfric! And that was just during the first year of knowing you! And after that there was Cornelius Sigan and even more bloody assassins. There was vengeful druids, wildoeren, trolls, witchfinders and evil sorceresses who tried to convince you to kill your own father! And then – then there was Freya, the only girl I ever loved, who died in my arms! And I had to poison Morgana, to stop her destroying Camelot, and met my father for the first time, only to have him die as well. You told me no man was worth my tears, but he was, Arthur. Balinor was.
I'm a Dragonlord, by the way. The power is passed on from father to son. Kilgharrah – The Great Dragon – isn't really dead. I made him leave Camelot and never return. It was the first time I used my Dragonlord powers, and I'm glad I did it. I'm glad I lied to you about it, because you would have gone after him and you would have killed the last of my kin. Or what was the last of my kin. I saved the dragon egg from the tomb and hatched it. She's called Aithusa, the dragon, and she would never have harmed Camelot like you so feared when you set out to destroy it! That was another lie I'm glad I told."
The whole tavern was stunned. Merlin didn't seem to even realize they were there as he went on,
"When Morgana returned to Camelot, I knew she was evil. Morgause had twisted her and there was nothing I could do, but watch. I destroyed the skeleton army, not her; she was the one to conjure it, and her sister left me to the serkets! And when we went to the Valley of Fallen Kings and I healed you with magic, I saw Morgana kill you in the Crystal Cave, so I pushed her down the stairs. But then I saw the grief her death would have caused you and I healed her. I should have ended it all there, but I couldn't.
I stopped Morgana and Morgause again at Fyrien, by reflecting the fire and collapsing the roof, and came after you with Gwaine when you went after the Fisher King, knowing the bracelet Morgana gave you was enchanted to drain all your energy! And I destroyed the immortal army with Excalibur, after Freya gave it back to me, and put it into the stone afterwards. When Morgana took Camelot, and we went back to where I left it, I helped you pull it from the stone with magic. But Excalibur had always belonged to you, Arthur. Don't ever doubt that.
Arthur, I'm the old man that saved Gwen from being executed, the one you nearly burnt at the stake. I'm the one you went to when your father was dying. And the spell worked. I would have healed him, had Agravaine and Morgana not intervened. Agravaine was betraying you then and like always, you didn't listen to me when I told you he was. You didn't believe me, until you saw it with your own eyes! Even after Gaius was kidnapped and you banished Gwen, when she and Lancelot were both enchanted. Mithian shot Gwen after Morgana turned her into a deer, you know; I had to heal her, all while putting up with you threatening to exile me with her!
I killed Agravaine in the caves. He knew I was Emrys and I killed him. And even though he was a traitor, I felt like a monster. I have always felt like a monster. You and your father have done nothing but chase my kind. I watched as Uther executed sorcerers just like me, out of hatred and fear, knowing there was nothing I could do so save them, and wondering if I would be next. I was so alone. Yes, I had Gaius and Lancelot, when he was alive, and I could never have done any of this without them or you or the knights, but sometimes I felt like I have no one. I could never just be myself around my friends, because that would get me killed, and then what good would I be to you or this great Albion were supposed to create?
But that probably won't happen now, though. I have made so many mistakes. Too many. And I'm sorry for Morgana, and Agravaine, and your father. I'm sorry for the dragons, and the magic, and the lies. I'm so sorry.
And magic… magic won't be returning to the land anytime soon You hate me for something I can not control, something I was born with. You probably all hate me. But I won't leave Camelot. You'll have to kill me, because I am not leaving your side. Because no matter what happens, whether you hate me or whether you choose to burn me like your father would have done, you are my friend. You are my friend, and I will carry on protecting you – and Camelot – until the day I die. I told you that once before, and I intent to be true to my word. I will not leave."
Gwaine was first to break the long, tense silence that followed. He stepped between Merlin and Arthur, drew his sword and said, voice low and deadly, "If you're going to kill him, you'll have to get through me first."
Percival was on his feet next, taking his place next to Gwaine. "And me."
Elyan stood to Gwaine's right. "And me."
Leon rose and put his hand on Merlin's shoulder, in a silent, and me. Slowly, the peasants in the tavern began to take their own places around the warlock, until Arthur could no longer see him among them.
Looking at the protective crowd around the warlock, the king felt his heart swell at the display of loyalty. He stepped forward, and Gwaine and Percival stepped cautiously out of the way so that he could face Merlin. For a moment, they stared at each other, two blue pools meeting in a show of friendship and desperation and the truth. Finally, the truth. And then Arthur grabbed the collar of Merlin's ratty jacket and pulled him into a hug. Merlin rested his forehead on Arthur shoulder and the knights would swear, later, that they were both crying. The king and warlock's denials of this would, of course, be lies.
"Sire!" one man in the crown protested angrily. "He is a sorcerer! The law states-"
"The law is outdated!" Arthur put his arm around Merlin, who was now stumbling madly and looked to be on the verge of passing out, and looked at the people gathered around him. "Merlin will not be executed, nor will he be banished. That is my word and if you do not agree, you can bring your quarrel to the court when we review the laws on magic. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Court Sorcerer to get home."
Arthur had to practically carry Merlin back to the palace. Apparently the warlock's capability to speak for hours remained perfectly intact while he was intoxicated, but his ability to walk in a straight line did not. And, to add to what was possibly the strangest (and most enlightening) night Arthur had ever lived through, his earlier worries were confirmed: magic and mead were not a good combination. Merlin had already managed to turn three pigs bright green, and the tricks didn't stop there.
"Did you see that?!" Gwaine exclaimed behind the stumbling pair, after Merlin unwittingly turned the flames of a nearby torch into a rather lifelike figure of a dragon. "This is awesome! Merlin, mate, do you know how to-?"
"Sir Gwaine," Arthur called over his shoulder commandingly. "Am I going to have to instate a law banning you and Merlin from devising magical pranks?"
"No, 'course not," Gwaine shouted back. "And if you did, you know I would just ignore it!"
The other knights, who were also marveling at Merlin's various spontaneous displays of magic, chuckled.
"I heard your rather lenient on the law these days anyway, princess," Gwaine said, when the laughing stopped.
"Gwaine," Leon warned.
Gwaine ignored him, expression becoming serious. "Are you really lifting the ban on magic? And making Merlin Court Sorcerer? Because the man bloody deserves it, after everything he's done, but what about the past twenty-something years Camelot has spent living in fear of magic?"
"I know that it will be difficult to reassure them that magic is not a force to be feared," Arthur replied calmly, sounding very much like the worthy Once and Future King he was. "But I hope, in time, they will come to see the good that it can do, as I have. It may take some time, but I believe we can do it."
"I respect you for that," Gwaine told him sincerely.
Arthur stopped, momentarily, to look at the drunken knight. It was the first time Gwaine had ever admitted such a thing, and Arthur was doing a rather bad job of hiding his surprise and happiness. "Thank you, Gwaine. I hope you're not the only one."
"He's not," Percival promised, with a small smile.
"We will always stand by you and your decisions, " Leon added.
Elyan nodded. "You won't be alone in this, Arthur."
The king smiled at the four knights gathered before him. "Your support means a lot to me. Thank you."
Merlin hiccupped and muttered something unintelligible, interrupting the moment of companionable silence and understanding. They all laughed, and Arthur wondered just how he'd managed to make such a speech back at the tavern as drunk as he was.
Amid fiery dragons and rampant green pigs, they walked side by side towards the palace – towards their home, where a new era was waiting for them.
"Why are you helping me?" Merlin slurred, as Arthur dropped him gently onto the bed and begun helping him get those ridiculous boots of his off.
"Because, you drunken buffoon," Arthur said, chucking the boots across the messy room. "One day magic will be legal again and I'm going to need a Court Sorcerer. And I can't think of anyone else I would rather have by my side, but you, old friend."
Merlin blinked at him and stated, like an upset child, "You banished me."
"That was a mistake, and I'm sorry. I am truly sorry for everything, Merlin."
"I lied to you."
"But you trusted me as well. You told me the truth. And all those times that you didn't – well, I understand." Arthur tucked one of the ratty blankets that had been thrown on the floor around his friend. "And Merlin… I need you as much as Albion does. Maybe even more. So you better stick around."
"Don't worry." Merlin gave him one of his signature grins, eyes drooping sleepily. "I don't plan on leaving anytime soon."
"Good." The king ruffled his hair fondly. "Now get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow's going to be a busy day."
Merlin, for once, did exactly as he was told. Arthur smiled at the sleeping warlock, before walking out into the main room of the physician's quarters, where Gaius sat waiting.
"Thank you," Gaius said.
"I should be thanking you, Gaius, for being there for him while I couldn't."
"Shall we call it even?" the old man asked.
Arthur nodded, grinning. "Sounds good to me."
"I'm proud of you," Guinevere said, when he returned, beaming, to their chambers that night. "You did the right thing."
He snaked his arms around her waist and kissed her lips. "I may have promised Merlin the position of Court Sorcerer."
"So we are lifting the ban on magic, then." Gwen chuckled. "It may take time, Arthur."
"I'm prepared to wait."
"As am I."
"I think we can do it."
Gwen grinned at him. "I know we can. And I can't think of anyone better for the position of Court Sorcerer than Merlin."
"Nor can I."
His queen kissed him again. "Now, my Once and Future King, come to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day."
Tomorrow was, in fact a very busy day. As were the next seven hundred and twenty nine. But exactly two years after he had revealed everything, Merlin was officially made Court Sorcerer of Camelot. It had taken a number of visits to Nemeth, a lot of convincing and tedious amount of time, but they had done it. Not soon after, Morgana fell, and Camelot's true Golden Age begun.
Now, the young prince and princess of Camelot ask, every night before they go to bed, for their father to tell them the story of how Uncle Merlin became Court Sorcerer. And Arthur was always more than happy to oblige.
The End
Happy ending! Corny, I know, but I couldn't help it. I hope Merlin's speech wasn't took bad - it was really hard to write. I kept wanting to say 'in series one...' when I was listing everything he'd done (testing my Merlin knowledge of the episodes was pretty fun. I had a lot of help from MerlinWiki).
Let me know what you thought. Prompts and reviews always welcome :)