So I'm thinking that this will be the last chapter for this story and then I'm off to finish/start others! Hope that you've enjoyed what I've written and a big thanks to all who stuck with me since the beginning.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin

Merlin lay there, soaked in his own blood, trying to recover any strength that he could to heal himself. He was sure that he had at least three broken ribs, one punctured lung, the bones in his left hand were probably all broken and he had gashes all over his body. Cutting deeply from his ear to his chin and narrowly missing his left eye, ran three parallel wounds. Merlin could taste the blood as his body was wracked with another cough attempting to expel the liquid from his lungs. The warlock was in constant pain but after all that he had been through in his short life, the agony was ignored.

Summoning up what little strength he had regained, Merlin set about healing his hand and chest, though mostly he just stopped the pain and made sure that he wouldn't drop dead from his injuries. It wasn't long before he was exhausted once again and had to stop.

Fire crackled just behind the warlock, reminding Merlin that the woods were ablaze and that he hadn't tried to stop it. Lifting his head just slightly, Merlin could see the flames licking at the sky as they climbed higher up the old oak tree. It was beginning to lean violently, the inferno having done its job at weakening the tree to the point of it collapsing. Feeling his eyes blaze gold and the last of his energy leave, Merlin fell in to unconsciousness, but not before he heard the violent shrieks and screams from a lady dressed all in black as she erupted into flames.

Arthur wasn't sure what had made him rush after Merlin when he heard the message echo through the night sky. Something told him that he should still be furious at the lies that his servant had told him, the secrets he had hidden. And yet… Merlin was obviously going to meet Morgana, and after everything that Arthur had seen and all the hatred that had happened between the two sorcerers, Arthur couldn't just abandon the most loyal person he had met.

The trees seemed to move out of the way to let him pass and roots didn't dare to trip him up. It felt as if he was floating through the air, nothing could stop him and nothing would. The others were blundering around behind him, trying to keep up to their king. Arthur didn't give a second thought as to whether they would manage to follow him or if they would lose sight of him in the shadows of the forest.

He was so deeply lost in thought that he barely noticed when a flaming tree fell just in front of him. Startled, Arthur looked up and took stock of his situation. There was a wall of fire at least three times his height and growing fast. The king backed up a little and realized that the flames were running in a perfect curve both to his left and right. Assuming that the blaze continued until it formed a ring and that Merlin and Morgana were inside, Arthur began to run alongside the heat, trying to find an opening. What appeared next took what little breath was left in Arthur's lungs.

The fire had stopped just as abruptly as it had appeared. Arthur's first assumption was correct. The flames did indeed make a circle that surrounded a large clearing. There was a gap in the inferno that was about twenty paces large. The flames seemed to make an arch over the ground that hadn't been burnt, they were almost touching. The tree tops were barely visible through the smoke, neither was the night sky. There was something almost mystical and beautiful about the area even if the devastation that was happening was immense. Arthur took it all in at a glance before his gaze rested on the small shadow that was lying in the center of the blaze. A shadow in the shape of his manservant.

Arthur didn't remember much after that. It was all a blur. He didn't remember when the others had appeared, he didn't remember when Leon had found the charred remains of his traitorous half-sister, he didn't even remember when they had all returned to Camelot. All that Arthur could focus on was the fact that Merlin wasn't who he had always thought he'd been. Merlin was this all powerful sorcerer that had spent a good six years in service to a prince and then king who hated and prosecuted his kind. Arthur still had trouble wrapping his head around that fact.

He had already forgiven Gwen and had proposed a second time, he had ordered the repairs and they were well underway, he had made dozens of choices and yet he couldn't figure out what to do with Merlin. There was no chance that his servant would be executed or banished, but Arthur felt that Merlin deserved a punishment for all the lies he had told and all the secrets he had kept. Nothing too harsh of course, but something that the boy would never forget. And Arthur knew exactly what that would be.

The king was aroused from his thoughts by a knock at the door. He responded automatically with a bored 'enter'.

"Sire. Merlin has awoken." It was Sir Leon. He was about to say more, but Arthur stopped him by pushing past him and into the corridors. He walked as fast as he could whilst retaining some dignity all the way to what had been Gaius's chambers not stopping except to order Leon to go and fetch something from vaults. He entered without knocking.

Gwen was sitting next to the bed, helping the barely conscious boy in it spoon porridge in to his mouth. It was pathetic sight. The normally bright and cheerful boy that was apparently the most powerful man in Albion, was struggling with a kitchen utensil, head and body covered in blood soaked bandages.

At the sound of the door slamming, both servants looked up at him in surprise. They obviously hadn't expected him to come so soon. Gwen stood up and curtsied before walking past him, leaving the two alone. She gave his arm a light squeeze as she did so. Arthur slowly walked over and took her place at Merlin's side. Those deep blue eyes gazed up at him, filled with a wisdom and compassion that Arthur rarely saw in anyone's eyes.

The king knew that this man had done more for him and the kingdom, than anyone else, himself included. He knew what this man could do if desire so dictated. He could flood cities, burn forests, flatten mountains and destroy anything if he so wished. There was so much power trapped inside the servant's body that it would be easy. But when Arthur looked, really looked, into the boy's eyes, he saw just that. A boy. A boy that had been forced to grow up faster and see horrors that he should never have seen, in order to do a man's job. Arthur had never realized what his manservant had been through, just so that he could fulfill the prophecy that had been for told for centuries.

"Arthur…" Merlin's voice broke through his thoughts. He sounded pained and Arthur could see why. He had accidently grabbed on to Merlin's injured hand and was squeezing it harder than he should have. He relaxed his grip immediately and looked bashfully down at the floor.

"What are you going to do…" The servant asked.

"Well… I have devised a punishment for you…" Arthur watched as the servants face fell slightly before he masked his emotions. "It's something that I hope you won't forget in a long time." The door opened and Leon's face was visible as he stepped out from the shadows. Arthur stood up and took the object from the knight's hands before dismissing him.

Turning back to Merlin, Arthur gently grabbed his uninjured hand and placed the small item in the boy's palm. He stepped back and allowed Merlin to examine it before speaking.

"Do you know what it is?" Merlin shook his head. "It's a seal that has belonged to all Court Sorcerers of Camelot for centuries." Ignoring Merlin's bug-eyed look, Arthur continued. "It's yours now Merlin. The first meeting is in two days time and after that you are to be present at all formal and informal gatherings. I hope that this is punishment enough for all the secrets you've kept over the years Merlin." Arthur smiled one last time before he took his leave.

"And Merlin…" The boy looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "The stables need cleaning. Don't forget about the poor horses!"

The End

Hope that you have enjoyed this story and that you guys will read more fanfics that I post. Anyway, I have a poll up on my profile about what story I should write next. Please vote and REVIEW!