A/N – the next chapter is here! Sorry for those who've been waiting. I know the chapters are quite short, but I hope you're enjoying it! I've also changed the spelling of Ygraine's name, as I've realised that the official BBC Merlin spelling is with a Y, so sorry for that... please keep the reviews coming, I'm interested to know what you think of each chapter and what you want from further chapters! Enjoy!

WORDS: 1500

WARNINGS: None.

CHAPTER 3

Arthur stood there with his jaw on the floor. Unable to stop himself, the words of disbelief slipped out and he forgot he was now in a very different Camelot. "Merlin, you can't be serious?!"

Merlin and Ygraine exchanged a bewildered and shocked look, before she exclaimed, "Arthur!"

Still unable to begin entertaining the possibility this could be even remotely true, Arthur turned to look at his mother, his mouth still gaping open. "I mean… he can't! Magic? No, that's not… Not… Merlin!"

Staring him down with a look of confusion and distaste, Merlin asked, "Did you call me here simply to enquire about my clothing or was it to comment on my professional service, your majesty?"

When Arthur, now just gawping and spluttering at Merlin, didn't reply, Ygraine answered instead. "I'm sorry. You may go, Emrys, thank you for your time!" she said with a quick smile and small nod, before turning to her son. "Arthur what on earth has gotten into you? Are you sure you're alright?"

"Merlin can't have magic… that's not possible. I mean… you wouldn't change that… it can't be!" he protested. When she just looked at him as though he'd gone mad, he hastily added. "Nevermind, I er… it's alright."

"Arthur, you've known Emrys for years! He was employed by your father several years ago, after he saved your life. You know that! Why are you acting so strangely today?"

Ignoring all other comments, Arthur stopped and just muttered, "He saved my life?"

"Son, I wouldn't be surprised if he's saved your life more times than you could count on both hands! You've told me yourself how many battles he turned, how many spears he stopped." She exclaimed through bemused laughter. "Surely you remember?"

"Yes. Yes, I do. I know I'm acting strangely. You're right, I'm not feeling too well this morning. But everything is alright. I promise!" he smiled, "Will you do me the honour of joining me in the council chambers for breakfast?"

Ygraine sighed. "Well… if you insist."

"I do!" he said, moving closer to her. Holding her shoulders, he leaned in once more and kissed her cheek, savouring the feel of her warmth so close to his, for fear he may never feel it again and he would wake up in a few minutes. "Please." He added as he parted from her and looked into her eyes.

She nodded reassuringly, and with that, Arthur turned and left, his head spinning. This wasn't possible! None of it was! His mother was alive. That alone was enough to make him dizzy, but everything else that followed? Simply refusing to accept the idea that Merlin was, in this life, a sorcerer, he marched down the corridor, headed in no particular direction, buried deep in thought.

As he made his way out into the open air, Arthur sighed heavily. After walking some short distance across the palace gardens, he found a quiet spot and sat down in the grass; still somewhat damp from the morning dew.

Merlin. A sorcerer. That was hard enough to accept - almost as hard as the idea that because his mother didn't die, magic was never outlawed, and was now practiced freely amongst his people. The thought of witches and sorcerers roaming so freely amongst everyone else sent shivers down his spine. But then… surely if they were truly all evil, magic would have been outlawed anyway? His father had always taught him that magic was evil and malice at its very core – well, the father he knew anyway. He had no idea what the Uther of this different world would say. It was seeming more and more like the father Arthur had known, and the one on the Djinn had given him were two very different people.

Now he was just stuck questioning his father's true motives for banning magic. He couldn't lie – he couldn't imagine losing Guinevere, and if she'd fallen victim to magic, he wouldn't have hesitated to outlaw such practices. But did that mean his hate was out of place? Perhaps. He could never really know for sure, because how do you undo a lifetime of hatred? It was going to take some time getting used to this...

All the same – Merlin?!

Shaking his head, Arthur muttered, "Can't be. It's not possible... he can't!"

How could Merlin, of all people – that bumbling idiot who served his meals and tidied his bedroom, be a powerful sorcerer?

After sitting there for some time, thinking about it, trying to find some explanation; some way in which Ygraine's death would somehow give Merlin magic, eventually, he had to come to accept the difficult fact that it had not – that Merlin had always had magic.

Perhaps that was why everyone was calling him 'Emrys'...

Feeling betrayed, confused and now very unsure of himself, Arthur stood up again, wondering around the gardens, trying to figure it all out. It was too much to take in – even the simple fact that he was here, and his mother alive!

Still, he had his mother back. He had a kingdom that existed in total peace, and had done for the past twenty years! Things were different. But things were better, there was no denying that. And right now, he wouldn't have it any other way!

Sighing heavily, Arthur turned; ready to head back to the palace. He'd been thinking about this for long enough, and his head was beginning to ache. But as he turned, he stopped short when he saw it – a peasant boy, standing across the field, as though he'd appeared from nowhere! He was looking at Arthur with the saddest expression, as though pleading him for something, and he was battered and bruised. His clothes were torn and seemed to be covered in something that looked suspiciously like blood.

His eyes widening with shock, Arthur began to run towards him, but paused for a moment and turned when a guard called his name.

"My lord," he said through heavy breaths, "The queen requests your presence in the council chambers."

Arthur nodded quickly, turning back to the peasant boy. Only he wasn't there. Arthur's eyes darted around – he could have sword a moment ago, the boy was there; standing in the field covered in blood and bruises. Confused and troubled, Arthur sighed heavily. It had been a difficult and strange morning... perhaps his mind was just playing tricks on him.

Still bemused, but trying to put it from his mind, he turned and began heading back towards the palace. He raced up the palace steps and ran into the entrance hall before slowing down. He didn't want to appear before everyone red-faced and out of breath! As far as they were concerned, he'd had a perfectly ordinary morning. Trying to figure out exactly what he was going to say to Merlin, and his mother, he turned the corner. But as he strode down the stone corridor, his heart stopped.

Right in front of him, Morgana was walking down the spiral staircase as gracefully as ever; her long green dress trailing behind her.

"Morgana!" he exclaimed, looking at her with eyes wide, absolutely dumbfounded.

She stopped in her tracks, squinting at him for a moment. Then she smiled. "Oh, for heaven's sake, Arthur! I know I don't look my best, but there's no need for that expression!"

He knew he was just standing there, looking like a fool, but he couldn't think of a single thing to say! She was here! She was alive, she was happy! She was in Camelot and, for lack of a better phrase – not evil! Absolutely gobsmacked, Arthur took a few slow steps forward, as though not really daring to believe it. It couldn't be, could it? His sister, back in Camelot... Just as things were!

As he continued to stare, astonished, she waited for a response. But he didn't notice – he was too wrapped up in his own scrambled thoughts, desperately trying to make sense of this. He couldn't help but wonder, was that really all it took – a mother figure in her life – to stop her from going down that path? Or was it perhaps having a father who didn't hate the magic she possessed? He looked at his sister – gazing into her eyes, seeing life and joy again. And then suddenly, all the hatred; for magic and everything else he'd despised; all the years of living under his father's shadow, all crumbled. If this was what it took to have his mother back, to have Morgana back – to have peace throughout the kingdom... well it couldn't really be that bad, could it?

Snapping his jaw shut, Arthur suddenly blurted out, "No, I'm sorry!" Exhaling deeply and smiling stupidly, he said, "You look wonderful!"

And she did. He'd never seen her more beautiful before. It wasn't her hair or her dress or her posture, or even her smile... it was more to do with the fact he hadn't seen her in several years, and every time he had, he'd had to fight back the urge to cry. She looked healthy, and she looked happy. She was here, and right now, everything was a kind of perfect he couldn't have hoped for. There was nothing more beautiful than that.

"You look absolutely beautiful!" he finished with a grin.

Morgana eyed him carefully for a moment, trying to figure out if he was sassing her again. "Alright, don't overdo it!" she replied simply.

Holding out his hand in a way he hadn't done for many years, Arthur offered her a hand. After a moment's hesitation, in which she looked into Arthur's eyes; somewhat bewildered, she took it and together they walked down the corridor, through the double doors and into the council chambers.