Arthur startled when Gwaine withdrew from the shadows to follow them.

"Gwaine?" Arthur was surprised to see the knight. If someone had asked, he would have definitely responded to Gwaine to be still in a tavern after his victory.

"Just because of Merlin." Gwaine said quietly and Arthur turned to watch his friend who followed them.

"Are you alright Merlin?" Guinevere asked suddenly and Arthur groaned. Merlin wasn't alright and they all could see it. Merlin avoided their gaze.

"No, but, I will explain later."

Arthur looked Gwaine again who shrugged his shoulders.

"By the way, do you know where the prince Andrew may be?" Arthur asked.

"Oh, he? Yes, we dragged him here couple hour ago. Right, Merlin?"

"Yes Gwaine. And before you ask anything, he is alright Arthur. Don't worry. Just, very hung-over." Merlin sighed and Gwaine grinned.

"I think this was his very first time when he really celebrated something like this."

"I don't want to know what that meant." Arthur warned him to say anything more, so they fall in silence.

As they walked the Great Hall, Arthur became aware of the guards behaviour. They were on guard and ready to go. All of them glanced over the king questioning. Reason was the group of men who stood before the throne. They were druids, but among them Arthur saw some of his knights. As he had suspected, there was still magic left in Camelot. Although Arthur was given the day before a clear instruction that the Druids were free to move in the town, that they stood in the middle of the hall waiting for him made Arthur doubt that had Merlin had something to do with it. It was clear that someone had got the guards to agree to this and only Merlin or Leon was able to achieve something like that. And this time, Arthur bet for his money to Merlin.

The druids bowed when they passed them and rose to the throne and sat.

"I know you, don't I?" Arthur asked and Iseldir nodded.

"We have met. I'm Iseldir and these are some of my clan and these knights are our friends."

None of the knights didn't avoid their king's gaze.

"So, why you are here right now, Iseldir?" Arthur asked.

"We are here to ask, are you serious about the law?" Young druid asked and Iseldir created at him a little disapproving gaze.

"Yes." Was Arthur's simple answer and Iseldir bowed again.

"Then our leader will fight to gain the place in your court." He sounded pleased.

"Your leader? Why he isn't here now?" Arthur was surprised.

"Who said that he isn't here already? But, it's his choice and he has some enemies to watch out. Like your sister." Iseldir's look on his face not chanced at all.

"Morgana?" Arthur wasn't sure how to react to this knowledge.

"Morgana is our enemy. She has her own allies. Emrys, our leader, is at your side and he has helped you lot over these years. So, yes, Morgana is our enemy." Iseldir put it simple. "But there are also many magic users who are not druids or nobody's allies. They will show up before this week end. And we are here to offer our help to keep the peace until the the court sorcerer is selected."

Arthur wasn't though about that.

"Before I say anything to that I have to ask something sir Heylan and others."

Arthur noticed how the knights tensed.

"Can I ask, why?"

The knights looked each others and Sir Heylan stepped forward.

"My King, my Queen. We can hardly do anything. Our magic is weak. And not everyone who has talents for magic can really field it. And because we are here in Camelot, we have never really learned. Usually it took really long time to learn to master it."

"Usually?"

"There is, like always, exceptions. Like Emrys who has born with magic and have never been able to even make the choice to use magic or not."

This shocked Arthur who sat quietly for a long time before he asked.

"So, you know him?"

"I met him yesterday first time sire."

Arthur noticed that Sir Heylan sounded proud. "Then, tell me, what he is alike?"

The knight smiled brightly. "You can always trust him sire."

How it said it, made Arthur relax. He had know this knight his whole life and trusted him with his life. Then Arthur turned to look Merlin who looked again happy.

"Merlin, I'm sorry that I didn't ask anything from you about the new law, but now I ask. Do you think that I can accept these druids offer to help us?"

It wasn't only Merlin who looked shocked. It was half of attendance. Of course they all know what was Merlin's position, but before this day Arthur was never in public asked anything from him. And apologized.

But Merlin quickly returned to normal, and smiled.

"Yes sire, I think you can."

Arthur's hand fell off on his sword's handle and he rose.

"I accept your offer Iseldir. You all are welcome to Camelot. And Sir Heylan. You and your companions are responsible that everything go as it should."

"Thank you sire." All the knights bowed and Arthur offered his hand to Guinevere.

"Now that this is out of my hands, I think that the second day of the tournament should begin soon."

#

Merlin felt how he relaxed. All had gone well. Sir Heylan took the lead and quickly negotiated with Leon with the necessary things.

"Merlin?" Gwaine appeared on his side, and Merlin dimly realized his hand by his own arm. He tried to speak but couldn't. He felt how his throat strangled. Suddenly, he realized that he couldn't breathe properly.

"Merlin, calmly, don't worry." Gwaine's calm voice soothed him. Merlin fumbled with his hands and grabbed Gwaine. He pressed his forehead against the knight's chest and tried to breathe. He fell to his knees Gwaine with him. He felt how the arms close around him protectively.

"Merlin, breathe, just breathe. Focus on just to breathe. Everything will be all right Merlin, we find the cure. Just breathe, please. Breathe."

Merlin wanted to believe those words to be true, but at that moment the pain took the victory over him.

#

When Annis stepped inside the Great Hall, Gwaine had just lifted Merlin up off the floor and carried him toward the queen.

Annis stood there and stared Merlin's unmoved body. He seemed dead.

And then it hit.

Annis realized that this was her grandson. Her daughter's son. The grandson of Owain. This young man who was a pure image of her past love.

She couldn't hold her scream when she hurried toward Merlin.

Thanks. Lot and lot of alerts last night. Great.

And your reviews keep me alive :)

But I have tenosynovitis in my left hand. It hurt little bit to write so I don't know when I can update next time.