The Golden Age Universe
At Deaths Door – Chapter 7
~Fran Gipani

Disclaimer- So I obviously don't own Merlin no matter how much I'd love to :'( but I do own my OC Brooke

Note from the Author- Thanks to all the people who have reviewed, followed and favourited this story, you guys are awesome :) Review at will and I hope you enjoy!
~Fran xx

Merlin sat on a chair next to Brookes bed, he had spent every waking moment that he wasn't helping Arthur or Gaius by her side. Talking to her and cleaning her wounds. "It's been two days Brooke, please, please just wake up. I am so worried about you." He slipped his hand into hers, hoping, praying that just maybe she would squeeze back. "Arthur has had at least three long council meetings since I came back; I wonder what they are about because he won't tell me a thing!" Merlin smiled sadly, "He usually tells me everything that goes on in those meetings, or he used to anyway…before he learnt about my Magic. Does Arthur still not trust me? I understand that he has every right not to but I have only seen him while serving him, he didn't come back to visit me after I woke up. It's as if he's scared of me…or he doesn't understand."

Maybe you should go speak to him then? He heard Brooke's reassuring voice in his ear.

"I should speak to him," he agreed, "I'll go now." Merlin said before leaning down and giving Brooke a small kiss on the lips. He stood up and slowly walked to the door before reaching out to push it open. Merlin jumped as the door was opened from the other side and he came face to face with Arthur.

"Merlin," Arthur said with a smile, "I need to talk to you my friend."

~O~O~O~

Arthur strode down the corridor towards Gaius's chambers; he knew Merlin would be there and there was something he needed to speak to him about. As he got to the door he was about to knock but he heard Merlin's voice, assuming his friend was talking to Gaius he was about to turn back but then he heard his name and he stopped to listen.

"Does Arthur still not trust me? I understand that he has every right not to but I have only seen him while serving him, he didn't come back to visit me after I woke up. It's as if he's scared of me…or he doesn't understand. I should speak to him, I'll go now."

Arthur heard footsteps on the other side of the door so he opened it to face Merlin who seemed a little startled to see him. "Merlin," he smiled widely, "I need to talk to you my friend."

Merlin looked a little taken a back but he answered anyway, "Sure Arthur."

"Follow me." Arthur said as he gave Merlin a friendly shove and turned to walk back down the corridor. Merlin closed the door and followed close behind his friend.

Minutes later they were standing at the top of one of the battlements near where Merlin had fallen almost six months ago, both were leaning their arms on the brick wall of the castle as they spoke. "Merlin, about six months ago you saved my life and the well being of the Kingdom. I don't think I ever thanked you properly for that."

"No need Arthur…" Merlin began but Arthur started again.

"There is though Merlin. If it wasn't for you then Camelot would be in ruin right now. I need you to know how sorry I am my friend, I rejected you without reason."

"I lied to you for five years."

"Yes, but you felt you had to. There is nothing to say that I couldn't be a little annoyed at you but what I did was uncalled for. You were living in a Kingdom with Magic banned and a King that would execute anyone who was even supposed of having Magic." Arthur sighed, "Frankly I'm surprised at how you managed to actually keep it secret from me for that long."

Merlin let out a bark of laughter before responding, "To be honest Arthur I feel the same!"

The two friends laughed with each other for a moment before Arthur went back to being serious, "Gaius told me everything you've done for me Merlin. There are no words that can express my thanks, especially with how I treated you at times. There are so many things I need to apologise for Merlin, I honestly don't know where to begin."

"Then don't. Arthur you talking to me now is enough and you did try and help to bring me back remember!" Merlin grinned before speaking again, "Arthur to do all that for you I have been poisoned, beaten, imprisoned; I have gone on endless quests to goodness knows where and I have polished more pairs of boots than I would care to admit but I couldn't care less and wouldn't have had it any other way. You are my friend Arthur and I would die for you. You don't need to thank me for that."

"Merlin I…" Arthur began but he couldn't find the words. It was a few moments before he spoke again. "Merlin, Merlin don't ever change."

"I'll try…" Merlin said with a laugh.

"I mean it Merlin." Arthur replied, "Since I first met you have changed so much, but don't change completely. You walk as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, and according to Gaius you do…but now you have someone to share that burden with. You were always wise Merlin but now it seems you have aged to match that; not physically but mentally. Keep your childish quirks Merlin, your clumsiness, your overly happy attitude. You may be the most powerful Warlock to ever have walked this earth but you're still an idiot to me." He grinned at the shocked look on his friend's face, "I want you to always be you."

There was no need to say anything after that. They both knew what the other was thinking, both knew their importance to each other and first and foremost they knew that they were brothers at heart. Inseparable. Nothing would ever be able to change that.

~O~O~O~

The day after Arthur had talked to Merlin the King stood at the head of the table with all the council members seated around him. There was something very important they needed to vote on, he took in a deep breath before he began to speak. "Today I would like us to vote on the motion of revoking the ban on Magic. This is to see what happens because I would like to know where you all stand with it all." Arthur said regally while staring round at his council. They all nodded and he spoke in return, "All those not in favour of revoking the laws banning Magic raise your hands."

Arthur counted the number of council members who raised their hands. "Thank you," Arthur said before asking, "Those in favour of revoking the laws banning Magic please raise your hands. He counted those as well before indicating for all of the council members to stand, "Before I leave I need to thank you all for your participation and patience with this. There a few things I need to attend to so I will leave you now." Arthur pushed the chair and nodded to them all as they bowed respectfully. With Gwen following behind him he left the room at a fast pace, there were some things he had to organize.

~O~O~O~

"Camelot!" Arthur called out to his Kingdom as he stood with Gwen on the balcony that looked out over the town. "Today I have something to say to you that for many will be a complete and utter shock." Whispers spread through the gathering of people as they heard the Kings words. Arthur waited for them to cease before speaking again. "Today, after 30 years without it's presence, Camelot will once again be opening her doors to Magic. Today I am revoking the ban on Magic so that only those who practice Dark Magic will be found and punished." There was a collective gasp of shock from the crowd that seemed to carry around the courtyard. No one could believe that a Pendragon would do anything of the sort. "That will be all."

Slowly the crowd cleared to reveal a shocked looking Merlin standing in the centre of the courtyard. He had been in the market at the time when Arthur had begun to speak and had walked over to listen. From the look on his friends face Arthur could tell Merlin could not believe his ears. He turned and walked from the balcony with Gwen close behind, as soon as he was out of sight he broke into a run. As he got to the front steps outside the main castle Arthur spotted Merlin who looked just as stunned as he had before but nowthere was a wide grin spread across his face.

As Arthur reached him Merlin pulled him into a tight hug, "Arthur I…" He whispered into his friends shoulder, "Thank you. I don't think words could possibly describe…"

"It's a pleasure my friend. My pleasure."