Leon kept casting curious looks at Merlin as they strode down the hall toward Arthur's chambers—at least, Leon strode. Merlin's step didn't have its usual cheerful, determined spring, and judging from the lack of color in his face, he was about ready to collapse. Leon wondered for the fiftieth time what on earth was going on. What was it Merlin had told Arthur? And why was Arthur summoning him so late at night?

But curious as he was, Leon knew that it was no business of his unless Arthur told him, or it threatened the Kingdom. So at the King's door he merely knocked, announced, "Merlin, Sire," and shut the door again. He didn't even think of listening at the keyhole.

Arthur leaned against the bedpost with his arms crossed as Merlin entered. Gwen, calm as ever, regarded him from her seat the table. As the door shut behind him, Merlin lifted his eyes once from the floor and immediately looked down again. He was perfectly white.

"Merlin." Arthur straightened up. "I'm sure you know why I've asked you here." Merlin nodded without looking up. "Gwen and I have been talking. You understand that I have to uphold the laws of Camelot." Merlin seemed to have frozen; Arthur wasn't even sure if he was breathing. He needed to get to the point. "That is why—we have decided to legalize magic in Camelot."

Merlin's gaze shot up to his own, his blue eyes going wide for a moment—and then his knees buckled. Arthur leapt forward and caught him, dragging him over to a chair and sitting him down. Merlin buried his face in his hands and burst into tears.

Arthur looked up at Gwen in terror and mouthed, "What do I do?" With an amused smile, she got up and walked into her own room, leaving them alone. Arthur looked down helplessly at his sobbing friend. Merlin's skinny shoulders were shaking. Arthur knelt down beside his chair and put his arm around him.

"I'm sorry—I shouldn't have sprung it on you so fast," he said at last. Merlin gave a little choking laugh.

"You're sorry?" He raised his head to reveal a huge smile. His face was shining, and Arthur couldn't help but smile back. "You're—you—"

"Don't hurt yourself, Merlin," Arthur grinned. Merlin laughed back, and Arthur slapped him on the back, rising to his feet. Gwen came back in with a handkerchief and handed it to Merlin, who mopped at his face.

There was a loud knock at the door, and Gaius burst in without even waiting for an answer. "Sire, whatever Merlin has done, he did it for love of Camelot," he said urgently, striding forward. "I beg you—"

"Gaius." Merlin stood up. "It's fine!"

Gaius looked from Merlin's smiling face to Arthur's and Gwen's and back again. "Merlin?"

"Gaius, I've decided to legalize magic," Arthur said.

For a moment Arthur thought he was going to have two crying men on his hands, but Gaius gave Merlin a big hug and the storm passed.

When everyone had calmed down and Gwen had somehow persuaded everyone into chairs, Arthur got down to business. "I'm glad you came in," he said to Gaius: "I need your advice on how to proceed. I'm afraid there may be a great deal of resistance to this change, and I'd like to make it as smooth as possible."

"There may not be quite as much resistance as you think," Gaius answered. "There are many in Camelot who have been hurt as much by the persecution of magical people as by the magical people themselves—and others who remember what Camelot was like before magic was outlawed. The important thing is to reassure everyone that they are still safe—that legalizing magic makes them more safe, not less so."

"That is precisely what I want your help with."

Gaius smiled. "I think I can do that."

000

It was nearing sunset, and the courtyard was full of people, milling about and talking. It had been announced a few days before that the King would address the people that evening, and that a feast and celebration was planned for afterward.

Servants poured out into the courtyard to join the townspeople, and knights began to line up along the balcony of the castle. The excitement in the air grew, and at last the King and Queen appeared and everyone fell silent.

"People of Camelot: It has been twenty-six years since the Great Purge," Arthur began, speaking loudly and clearly. "While the execution of those with magic undoubtedly rid Camelot of many who used their magic for evil, the Purge and the executions in the decades that followed killed many innocent and good people—both people who were unjustly accused of the use of magic, and people who had used their magic innocently, who had tried to use it for good." There was a quiet murmuring at this. "I hereby apologize on behalf of the Crown for the unjust executions carried out, both by my father and myself. Twenty-six bells will ring for the twenty-six years of fear and sorrow."

All the citizens of Camelot were silent as the bells chimed out dolefully. Many heads drooped—some had tears on their faces. When the sound of the last chime had faded, Arthur spoke again.

"Camelot has entered a new age of peace with our neighbors. Despite the attacks of my half-sister Morgana, we have peace with our lawful neighbors on every side. I wish to extend that peace into Camelot itself—to its citizens who have been persecuted and who have lived in fear for twenty-six years. I wish the years of fear and sorrow to end. For this reason, I declare magic legal in all the lands under my domain."

The crowd exclaimed in shock, almost as one. Arthur waited a moment, judging their reactions. Finally he raised his hand and they quieted again, agog to hear what would come out of his mouth next. "I understand that some of you find magic frightening. It is powerful and mysterious, and you have all suffered under the magic of Morgana. But magic need not be a force for evil. With magic in Camelot we have more weapons to fight Morgana with, more allies to help us defend our city, fewer enemies at home and abroad. We even have greater chances of good harvests, and of finding a cure for injuries and diseases. Remember that before the Great Purge, magical people coexisted happily here with non-magical people. Magic did not harm Camelot's peace and prosperity—it guarded it.

"This does not mean that all magic will be welcomed. The laws which existed in Camelot regarding magic before the Purge will go back into effect. Nothing that involves Black Magic, nothing that damages property, people, or individual free will will be tolerated. The mechanics of pre-Purge magical law will be reinstated. There will be no retrospective punishment for the use of magic during its years of prohibition, unless the magic used contravenes the pre-Purge laws.

"With magic, Camelot is stronger, not weaker. Her citizens are freer and safer than under draconian laws, born of fear, that punished the innocent with the guilty. I assure you that you have nothing to fear in this reintroduction of magic. I ask you all to be brave as we enter what I hope will be a new age of peace. Be accepting toward your neighbors who have magic—you may someday need their love and acceptance as much as they need yours.

"In the next few days, riders will be sent out to all the villages in the land to announce the lifting of the prohibition on magic. At that time the laws regarding the use of magic will be announced. I would also ask that anyone who knows how to wield magic that may be useful in coming military engagements to come forward and train with the Knights of Camelot. Your country has need of you.

"The fear and sorrow of our twenty-six years of darkness are ended. I declare this night a celebration of the acceptance of magic in Camelot."

Arthur stepped backward to signify the end of his speech. There was a smattering of applause, some people actually cheering. There was much murmuring as well. Arthur gestured to the musicians who were posted in the courtyard, and they began to play a cheerful tune. Soon the crowd was merrier, and Arthur breathed a sigh of relief.

Gwen smiled at him and went back into the castle. Arthur, as he went to follow her, peered into the shadows by the door. "Merlin, what are you doing lurking there?" he asked, catching Merlin's shoulder and pulling him forward. "Come into the light!" Merlin gave a short laugh and did as he said. Arthur looked at him in the last golden rays of the sunset. There were tracks of tears on his cheeks, but he was smiling widely, and his eyes sparkled. Arthur clapped him on the back. "Let's get a drink."

"One thing first," Merlin said, stepping forward to the front of the balcony. He clapped his hands over his head, and a trail of sparks shot off into the sky. The crowd jumped, staring up in apprehension. Thousands of white petals floated down on them like snow among a rain of harmless golden sparks. The people oohed and aahed, and the children caught the petals out of the air and squealed with joy. Their parents laughed and lifted them up on their shoulders. And Arthur knew that everything would be well.

TBC


AN: Originally, I wasn't going to show the scene in Arthur's chambers. I was just going to let you guys sweat, and go straight to the speech scene. But then I decided that was cruel. :P