The sparring was helpful in keeping Arthur's mind off his problems, even if Leon did give him a funny look when he came out of the Council meeting. However, Arthur still had to wait until after dinner before he could get Gwen alone long enough to talk to her about what was on his mind, and the wait was torture.

At last Gwen's maid had hung up her gown, taken down her hair, put her nightdress on her, and left for the night. Gwen walked through to Arthur's room with a sweet smile. "Now," she said, taking his hands, "what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"How did you know I wanted to talk to you about something?"

"Arthur, you've been fidgeting around all day. It's pretty clear there's something on your mind. What is it?"

"Sit down," Arthur said, leading her over to a chair. She sat and waited patiently. "Gwen, brace yourself," he said seriously. "Merlin has magic."

"I know."

"You—what?"

"I figured it out after the Dark Tower. I confronted him about it and he confessed. I told him I would give him a week to tell you himself or I would."

"You figured it out." He gave a short laugh and sat down on the edge of the table. "You always were the smart one. So that was the reason for the hunting trip! And not… um…"

"What?"

"You don't think I'm gaining too much weight?"

"Arthur, people are supposed to gain weight after age twenty-five. It lends you dignity."

"Oh." Arthur sat up a little taller, clearly pleased with the idea.

"I want you to know something, Arthur," Gwen said, bringing the conversation back onto topic. "I made it clear to Merlin that if he wanted to leave Camelot before you found out about his magic, that he should go. He chose to stay—to risk his life throwing himself on your mercy rather than leave your side."

"He really has no sense of self-preservation," Arthur sighed, sinking into a chair and resting his forehead in his hand. "He told me about his magic—all about it. He has saved my life so many times with magic—has saved yours, and Elyan's, and my father's… Whenever magic has threatened Camelot, truly threatened it, he has defeated it. With magic of his own. But I have the laws of Camelot to think about." He shut his eyes and breathed deeply through his nose. When he spoke again, there was desperation in his voice. "Gwen, what am I going to do?"

She folded her hands. "The law would have you execute Merlin for the use of magic. Are you going to do that?"

"No, of course not!" He looked horrified.

"It seems to me, then, that you have three choices. You can pretend you don't know anything about his magic. Forget he ever told you anything about it." Arthur made no answer to that. "You could banish him." Arthur drew in his breath and shut his eyes as if the idea physically hurt him. "Or you could legalize the use of magic."

Arthur ran his hand through his hair, looking as if he wanted to throw up. "What do you think I should do?" he said at last.

Gwen took a deep breath, and touched Morgause's bracelet, which she had worn frequently since her return from the Dark Tower. "I think it's pretty obvious from what you tell me of Merlin's use of magic, from what I have figured out myself about it—and from my recent experience with Morgana—that the only way to defend Camelot against magic is to use magic. We know it has the ability to do evil. That is obvious. But it is also clear from Merlin's example that it has the ability to do good." She paused. "Perhaps magic is like a sword. It can be used to destroy the good, or to defend it. It all depends on the one wielding it. Those who wish to harm Camelot have no scruples about using the weapons at their disposal, whether they are legal here or not. But those who would use those same weapons to defend Camelot are hindered by her laws."

"So—we need to use magic to defeat Morgana."

"That makes it sound like an argument for the ends justifying the means."

"That's not what it is?"

She shook her head. "Arthur, Morgana first turned away from Camelot because of fear, not hatred. The hatred came later, when Morgause had poisoned her mind. But Morgana was afraid for a long time—afraid because she had magic. Not because she wanted magic, not because she went out of her way to learn it—because she was born with it. No one should be afraid that something they have no choice in will lead them to the pyre or the scaffold. It is what we do with those traits that matters. It is our will that makes criminals, not our birth. Your father executed children. They had done no harm. He was only afraid that someday they might. By branding those with magic criminals, he made them criminals: he made Camelot's enemies where there were no enemies. If magic were still legal, Morgause would never have fled Camelot, Morgana would never have turned against us. Perhaps it is the law that is the true evil. Perhaps there is good magic—healing magic, beautiful magic."

"Merlin told me that Nimueh was once friends with my parents," Arthur said quietly. "Her magic, strong as it was, was not feared then."

Gwen nodded. "As long as it is regulated by law, magic in Camelot could be a good and great thing. Perhaps, as the outlawing of magic has created such enemies, the legalization of it will make them friends."

Arthur was quiet for a long time. Finally he muttered, "Courage, strength…"

"What?"

"Something someone said to me once—when I was searching for the Trident of the Fisher King. He said that I would need courage, strength and magic to complete my quest." He smiled. "He said I was courage—I didn't realize it at the time, but I suppose he meant that Gwaine was strength and Merlin was magic." He put his hand on hers. "Perhaps I do need all three. But I need something else as well: wise counsel. And that is you." He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers. "Have I told you recently how glad I am I married you?"

Gwen smiled. "I can always stand to hear it again," she answered with a kiss.

Arthur kissed her back, and then sighed. "But the job of a king is to uphold the laws. If I start going back on them—what will the people think?"

"Arthur, the job of the king is not only to uphold the laws, but to make the laws just. You have changed many things since you became king—commoners became knights, queens." She smiled. "None of those things made your people respect you less. They respected you more, because you weren't afraid to admit that your father had been wrong about some things—that sometimes traditions needed to be changed. By publicly admitting wrong, you are not demonstrating weakness, but strength. And the people will respect that." She pressed her lips together. "You have a choice. You can cling to your father's law and banish a man who has been your most loyal friend, or you can change the laws, and let the people think what they will." She reached out and put her hand to his cheek. "You must do what you think is right. What will you choose?"

000

"Merlin, are you going to eat that stew or simply stir it around your bowl another fifteen times?" Gaius said. Merlin jumped and looked up. "What is going on?"

Merlin leaned back and pushed the bowl away. "Nothing. I'm just not hungry."

"Nonsense. You and Arthur come back from that hunting trip both looking like you've seen a ghost, Arthur gives you an unprecedented day off, and you haven't said more than two sentences in three hours. Tell me what has happened."

There was a knock at the door. Merlin didn't move. "Who could this be, so late at night?" Gaius grumbled, climbing out of his chair. "Sir Leon!" he said, opening the door. "Is someone hurt?"

"No." Leon had his official face on, the one he used to mask confusion. "Arthur has sent for Merlin. I'm to escort him to Arthur's chambers."

"Merlin can go on his own, surely."

Leon shook his head. "Arthur's orders."

Gaius turned around to find Merlin already risen to his feet and white as a shroud. "Merlin, what is it?" Gaius asked.

"I told him. I told Arthur," he said, walking over to the door.

A terrible fear gripped Gaius's heart. "Told him what?" he asked frantically.

Merlin turned to look at him, his eyes wet. He was trembling. "Everything," he said quietly, and followed Leon from the room.

TBC