(*_*) (*_*) (*_*) Chapter 15 (*_*) (*_*) (*_*)

The castle was full of noise, people who were running around trying to make sense of what had happened. Arthur stood on the tallest tower, looking towards the woods, where he knew that the druids were hiding.

He waited to watch Merlin and Gwen return.

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Merlin was tired although he did not show it, the whole day had been an emotional drain as well as a physical one and he was ready to sleep forever. But he knew that he would have to wait before he could fall into his small bed in Gaius' chambers, so he didn't let it show. He smiled and made the children laugh, keeping their spirits up on the long walk back to Camelot.

"I'm tired Merlin."

He smiled down at the young girl who was still holding the white rabbit, he bent down and allowed her to jump on his back, they walked out of the forest and Camelot Castle was in sight giving them all a bit more energy.

Ron has been shoved onto a horse –given to them by the druids – and was being pulled along unmercifully.

They finally walked out of the forest and into the castle's shadow, soon they were at the gate and Arthur ran to meet them. "Merlin."

He smiled wearily, "Hi Arthur, listen put Ron in the cells and make sure everyone goes home safely, I feel ready to collapse." Some of the knights grabbed Ron and dragged him to the cells, Arthur watched as Merlin allowed the young girl to slide of his back and to the waiting arms of her father. "Death count?" Merlin asked

"None" Arthur replied steadying his friend "listen I'm taking you to Gaius, you were fine before you left. Said you were on half power."

Merlin was now half-asleep, "why would Ron do that?" Arthur was confused but Gwen replied, now steadying Merlin on the other side.

"He was jealous Merlin."

"But I would have given him the money otherwise." Merlin mumbled

"I know that, but he didn't. He just wanted to be the best." Gwen continued as they guided Merlin towards the castle.

Eventually they got Merlin to bed; he was asleep instantly. Arthur looked to Gwen for an explanation.

"We went to go see Ron and Hermione, she's gone home, but Ron said Merlin had to go with them. He had to marry Ginny, he got really angry when he said that his name was no longer Harry James Potter. Then Merlin said that he would never leave my side because if I died he would grab the first sword he saw and kill himself with it, were it not for his promise to protect you and Camelot. That if Ron wanted to try and take him back then, if he succeeded they would just have a dead hero." Gwen stopped and looked into Arthur's eyes "Do I really hold that much control over the future of Camelot?"

"You hold that much control over our main protector" Arthur replied before signalling for Gwen to continued, Morgana, Uther and Gaius were all listening intently as well.

"Well, Ron was still angry that Harry would dare claim to hold the name Merlin, saying Merlin was a wise old man who was the only person who could cast wandless magic. He said that Merlin was a coward and had only come to Camelot to hide from an evil wizard. Merlin disagreed saying that someone called Nimueh was worse and that he had already killed her. Ron said that Merlin was turning dark. Merlin and he had a fight in which Merlin won, using magic but with no stick – or wand – and no words either. Again he told them to leave only this time we turned to leave as well. But Ron," she paused and tried to calm down from the shock, "next thing I know, I've been pushed to the ground by Merlin and a green light sped over our heads. Merlin got really angry – I've never seen him like that before."

Arthur interrupted "Green light?" Gwen nodded "But Merlin said that green meant death."

Gwen nodded, "I've never seen him so cold before, it was scary. But then he smiled at me. He sent Hermione back saying that Ron's family didn't need to suffer any more and that she should tell them that Ron fell in the fight against Voldemort, then after a small fight with Sir Gallaway we came back. You know the rest."

They all spoke for a bit longer before going to bed. Gaius offered Gwen his bed but she turned it down saying she wanted to sleep close to her betrothed.

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Days later and the people had got used to seeing Merlin use magic to help them, they had all liked Merlin before hand and the king had made a speech explaining how Merlin had been using his magic and how he had vowed to protect Camelot with his life, using a more binding vow than the knights.

Merlin was shouting at Arthur, "move your legs"

"I am!" Arthur shouted back.

"Quicker." Merlin replied, after a few more minutes "Stop"

Arthur did so panting. "bloody hell Merlin. How can you do this?"

"Two lifetimes, Arthur, but you're picking it up quicker than I am. Now I know you can dance but what about gymnastics?"

Arthur looked at him confused so Merlin elaborated "Cartwheels? handstands? flips? Spinning on one foot?" as he said each one he demonstrated

Arthur just looked at him some more "those are things for jesters" he explained in a way that made complete sense to him but also made Merlin want to hit him.

"ok so you fight me and I'll just use those four movements" Merlin replied trying to show why this was important." The fight was slightly more fair but it still end with Arthur on the ground and Merlin with his sword pointing at Arthur's throat

"Give," Arthur groaned "How?" he asked

"Because," Merlin replied, staying standing on his hands "you have been taught by people who did not think that it was right for the prince to do such lowly things, because you didn't learn them no one else will." He returned to his feet "because I have no such problems showing you up I am able to move in this fashion, to show that when you think you've cornered me, you're wrong and I now have the upper hand. You were doing the right thing by always moving."

"I do know that much Merlin, I can't win if I'm fighting someone who is always moving if I stay still."

"But you rely on your shield too much" Merlin continued. "Don't bring it next time."

"What?"

"I have no shield Arthur." Merlin pointed out

"Yes but that's your own fault, why should I give up my shield?" The prince asked

"Arthur you asked for my teaching, I am teaching you to fight like I do with no shield and two swords." He could see the knights gathering for their training and smiled at the prince. "Ok try this, use your other arm for training the knights. You're right handed, so wield the sword in your left and shield in your right – if you must use the shield. I'm going to check on the girls."

He shrunk his weapons, put them in his pockets and went back to standing on his hands before walking off upside-down through the castle courtyard until he got to the steps, he turned to see Arthur and the knights still watching as well as most of the occupants of Camelot so he grinned and continued up the stairs being extra careful. When he got to the top he brought one leg down and the other, he stood up and waved at Arthur who shouted up at him.

"Show off"

Merlin continued to grin before walking through the castle, people still continued to stop and ask him questions and he did his best to answer them.

"Sir..."

"It's Merlin."

"Yes sir, I mean Merlin um, I was wondering could I help design the Lady Gwen's dress?" Merlin smiled at the young girl who he knew was always drawing sketches

"Well, Gwen is planning to speak to the seamstress later, how about you come with me now. I used to see you in the kitchens drawing all the time, they always looked good." The girl blushed "Why are you working in the kitchens anyway?"

"We need the money. My sister is ill, so I work and draw on the sidelines until she is better and I can put money towards getting material" They had got to the room Merlin had been given, he opened the door to see Gwen and Morgana talking.

"Is there any reason why you meet in my room?"

"No" Morgana grinned at him, Gwen smiled at him but didn't move, Merlin gestured the young girl in.

"Hi Sarah" Gwen greeted her.

"Hi" she replied shyly, clutching pieces of paper to her chest. She looked for support from Merlin he gave it and she spoke a bit louder. "I wanted to ask if I could help design your dress, you and Merlin were always nice to me."

Gwen smiled at her and soon the three girls were gathered round the table looking at the sketches.

Merlin grinned at the sight before quietly leaving, he went to Gaius' rooms.

"Hi Gaius"

"Hello Merlin, finally remembered about me now?"

"I never forgot you Gaius." Merlin replied with a grin, "I'm bored so I thought I would see if you want help, I can't do potions but I can gather ingredients and stuff."

"I couldn't ask the Lord Protector to do that" Gaius replied

Merlin groaned "Stop it Gaius, you are not asking. I am offering" Gaius shook his head

"You got enough yesterday."

"I have too much spare time, I'd even clean the leach tank by hand. I'm that bored."

The old man laughed and they talked for ages, Gaius was trying to get Merlin to tell him about his life in the future but Merlin continued to refuse. "I remember it once a year, and that's painful enough. I don't want to relive those years, it hurts to much Gaius. Everyone died, almost everyone that I knew and then I find that the people I looked up to were plotting behind my back. That one of my best friends had no problem casting the killing curse at someone I love. I won't tell you Gaius. I refuse to talk anymore about it until All Hallows Eve." He looked old and Gaius let him off but was now even more curious.

"You've got a meeting with the king in a few minutes." Gaius reminded him.

"Damn, ok I'll be back tomorrow probably."

He ran through the castle until he got to the meeting room. The guards smiled at him "you're cutting it close."

"I know, but it's no fun otherwise." They nodded and let him through.

(*_*) (*_*) (*_*) (*_*) (*_*) (*_*)

"My lord" Merlin bowed

"Protector" Uther replied. "I wanted to know what you think we should do with our two prisoners and how you feel your role as protector is working."

Merlin nodded "I'm enjoying my new role, that I don't have to hide anymore but I have too much spare time. Every day so far I've had to cut Arthur's practice short because he feels himself above some of my methods. I showed him today he was wrong and I'm hoping that tomorrow will be better. But until he stops relying on his shield and not his body we are going to struggle. I told him to train the knights with his opposing hand, but when I checked he wasn't. It could just have been for that moment when he was showing a particular move but I can find out tomorrow. The people seem to have got over the fact that I can use magic, maybe it's because I still do most things by hand. I've never relied fully on magic it just seems foolish to me. About Ron and Voldemort, I don't know." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair causing it to stick up at wild angles.

"I knew Ron for seven years and he was my best mate. But he was always jealous even though he had the one thing I wanted – family. I'd like to think that he was under someone's control but I've already checked him. He acted completely of free will and every time I see him he still thinks that he is in the right and that Gwen has cast a spell on me that puts me under her control, even though he knows that, that spell doesn't work on me, I can fight it off. If he was sent home he would be put into prison for life, but people have got out before. When he threw the curse I wanted him killed, but know... I don't know" He sighed again "Voldemort, I hate killing but I think death would be kindest. He can't stay and he'll never fit in, he hates you all too much. He would find someone like Nimueh and then Camelot would be in even greater danger. I will wield the axe myself, but I do not want to be the one who has to come to that decision. That is your role, I will just follow it out. I'm sorry I was not more help to you my lord"

Uther shook his head "No you have told me lots. I'm glad that the people have accepted you, you will find it more difficult when we have visitors but you will have to cross that bridge when we come to it. Voldemort will be put to death, if you are sure about wielding the axe, then I'll have that arranged for tomorrow. Ronald, will have to be killed as well he tried to kill someone in cold blood."

"Very well sire, but I request that my presence is not needed, I do not want to remember him as he is now, but as he was."

"You have my permission." Uther sat down on his throne, "I don't know what I can do about Arthur although. I was watching earlier, hopefully you beating him just using the movement of court jesters and mainly on your hands at the end will beat it into him."

"Sire, he requested my teaching and I am only too happy to give it to him. But if he does not try then I can't help."

"I know" The king replied "I had a message today from an outlying village, they claim to have magical problems."

"I shall check it out at first light my lord" Merlin replied quickly.

"Good, I shall speak to you again next week at the same time" The king dismissed him.

(*_*) (*_*) (*_*) (*_*) (*_*)

Weeks later Merlin still wanted to hit Arthur for his insistence that as everyone else in the kingdoms used a shield he would be at a disadvantage because he did not.

"Arthur" Merlin growled. "If you take your shield to training again, whether with me or the knights, you will watch me set fire to it. If everyone else uses the same technique and you use a different one then you are at the advantage. Besides not everyone uses the shield in all the kingdoms. I don't and I am trying to teach the same to you."

Arthur got annoyed, although he knew that Merlin was right "Well you were born an oddity anyway, whoever heard of someone being born of magic?"

Merlin's face lost any emotion, "I'm a freak Arthur I've known that all of this life and the past. I also thought that in this life I was The Protector and your swords teacher. Get someone else to teach you. I have duties to attend to."

He shrunk he swords and walked away, not caring that everyone was watching. He teleported and found himself at a castle that Harry Potter would one day call home.

He smiled as he leant against the wall, it wasn't quite home, for she was kingdoms away, but it was close enough.

He called up his patronus, which had changed forms from a stag, to a dragon. He smiled for he knew who it represented – Arthur. Maybe he was angry at him, but Arthur was still the other half of his coin. Damn him.

He spent a few days in Scotland, he got to know the locals and would perform magic tricks for the children, but he always knew that it was only for a short time. He had got over his anger quickly and often let himself teleport back to check on Camelot but he would see the people were safe before going again.

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Merlin was back in Camelot, he had teleported himself to the tunnel to the dragon, for he knew that no one else would be there.

"MERLIN" The dragon shouted at him. He wanted to walk away but he turned round and followed the voice, "you called?"

"You said you would never visit me again."

"You were the one who called me" Merlin snapped back.
"Something is coming." The dragon said cryptically

"I know" Merlin replied as he leant against the wall, "Something magical and strong." The dragon looked at him in confusion "the air is cold and it whispers on the wind. Camelot is always in danger, but this time it is something inside the walls, something calling to be let out after hundreds of years of captivity. The threat is something that I could not easily miss."

"You can feel it?" The dragon asked in awe

"Can you not? I can feel every magical thing, that is just what is calling out the loudest. The druid boy is getting unsettled, a young sorceress is building her power, another druid child has been cursed. Can you not feel it?" He persisted asking the dragon

"Nay Emrys I cannot."

"I can feel the link between you and I" Merlin continued as though the dragon had not interrupted him, "there is a link between us, not like the link with Arthur, or Gwen, or any other user, a link between us that goes through one other, it feels like that without the other we are equals or at least you are only just below me but bound to listen." He continued to muse in silence. "You are the last of your kind and I am the first of mine, we are both alone and because of that I will forgive you, but I will not forget. I will visit you again but you must get over your problem with Uther, yes he was wrong in binding you to this rock, but he will not always be king. When Arthur is I shall free you – that is my promise, but you cannot try to hurt Camelot."

The dragon nodded, and Merlin smiled at him, "Very well. I'm Merlin Emrys, formerly Harry James Potter – The Protector, who are you?"

The dragon couldn't help but laugh "Kilgarrah, warlock, my name is Kilgarrah. When did you become The Protector?"

"When an old enemy of mine returned and when Uther found out about my magic, I am magically bound to protect Camelot and Arthur with magic and with my life."

They continued to speak for some time before Merlin left, "I must go back to Arthur and Gwen, I have been away too long."

"Goodbye Protector, come and visit me again."

"I promise Kilgarrah." Merlin replied as he walked out.

He stepped out of the dungeons, seeing Voldemort still in there, but Ron there no longer. "Tom" he said simply

"Potter" the other man spat. "I see you have returned, they said you had run away."
"Nay, not I, I left to clear my head so I had a better idea of my life. I am now back so your execution will be ASAP." Harry walked away, not caring that he was being shouted at; a guard came running to see what the commotion was.

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"Protector." He gasped to see him, "Where have you been?"

"I've been sorting myself out and helping those who needed it. But I have now returned. I must see the King and Prince Arthur. I have much to tell them."

"They have people out looking for you, you are to be placed in the dungeons for they believe you have broken your vow."

"If I had, I would be dead. But very well, I will rest here." He opened the door to the cell he had stayed in before. The door closed behind him and he sat on the floor, facing the door, the guard stared at him. "Well, go and get Uther then." He chided the young man.

"You're just going to sit there?"

"What else should I do? I have something important to tell Uther and this seems to be the quickest way to see him. So, go and tell the king I have returned."

Fredrick nodded and did so running out of the dungeons.

(*_*) (*_*) (*_*) (*_*) (*_*)

He ran to the door of the throne room, and told Sir Leon. "Sir, the Protector has returned, he says he has something important to tell the king."

"Where is he?"

"Sitting in a cell, of his own choosing. Waiting to be seen"

"Very well. I will let the king know that he is back. Go back to your station."

Sir Leon, walked into the throne room and bowed. "Sire I bring you news as you requested. Merlin has returned to Camelot."

Arthur stood up straight, for he had been leaning against one of the pillars. "Merlin is back?"

"Yes sire, he is currently sitting in one of the cells waiting for the king to visit him, he says he has something important to tell him."

Uther nodded and stood up. "I shall go at once, do you know where he has been?"

"I regret to say I don't sire." Leon bowed again

"Very well." Uther nodded and walked out, Arthur following behind him.

(*_*) (*_*) (*_*) (*_*) (*_*)

Uther walked down the steps to the dungeons to see Merlin sitting against the wall, playing with the straw.

"My lord" He stood up and bowed

"Where have you been Protector? You left and Camelot could have needed you."

"I came back often my lord, but I did not stay. I was angry and I allowed my anger to cloud my judgement, so I left. I spent time near a castle that was home in my first childhood, I helped them people there. And when I had set my mind at ease I came back home."

"What was it you wanted to tell me?" Uther asked again his face showing no emotions.

"There is something coming my lord, a power I do not know if I can defeat. It sleeps under the castle, but it is waking up, the anger is immense," he shivered "the cold in unnatural and whatever it is wants revenge for thousands of years of captivity. Something is rotten in Camelot and it is affecting the people here as well. I should not have lost my temper, but..." he sighed trying to work out the best way to explain it.

"It's like the little voice in the back of your head, the little voice that tells you, you should kill or that you should steal, the voice of doubt. Well the-whatever-it-is is calling on that doubt and amplifying it, making it bigger. I was angry because Arthur was refusing to listen to me, normally I would have just called an end to the session and gone back inside, but I got really angry and left. It took me sometime while I was away for me to realise why I was so annoyed. And when I did I allowed Magic to fill me so I could listen to the spirits all around."

Merlin stopped and Uther and Arthur just stared at him, Arthur summed up their thoughts "so something inside Camelot is trying to escape?" Merlin nodded, "and that something is what caused you to leave?" another nod "and me to get so annoyed with you trying to teach me other things and call you a freak?" a third nod. "Well..." Arthur took the key out of his pocket and undid the lock. "seems to me like we need to work out how to defeat this thing, or else keep it trapped, so you can teach me properly." Merlin smiled at the prince, he really was going to be the best King ever.

"I am sorry for leaving my lord." Merlin said bowing to Uther.

"Well you will make up for it by keeping Camelot safe. The sorcerer – Voldemort – has been judged and found guilty. He is to be beheaded in the square tonight."

"I will do it myself sire. It is up to me because I didn't kill him Sir properly the first time."

Uther nodded, "Very well, you will spend the rest of the day in the cells and then kill the sorcerer yourself and we shall forget this ever happened."

"Thank you sire." Merlin replied sitting back down in the corner playing with some straw.

"Any magic and I shall come up with a stricter punishment."

"Of course my lord, I would expect nothing less." Merlin stated.

(*_*) (*_*) (*_*) (*_*) (*_*)

Later that night Sir Leon got Merlin from out of the cell and handed him the axe when he got outside. He said nothing but Voldemort spoke "This is the young leader of the light – what would Dumbledore say?"

Merlin replied "I don't give a damn what he would say. You tried to hurt Arthur and Camelot. Now you're paying the price." And with that he brought the axe down and his head rolled off into a basket which Merlin then set alight, burning the rest of his body as well. "The war is over and I won." Merlin said his voice lacking in emotion. He walked off the stage towards Arthur, Gwen and Morgana.

"I'm finally free."

"Not quite" Gwen replied jokingly "You bound yourself to Arthur."

Merlin pretended to look Arthur up and down "Nah, no hardship. I can live with being bound to this prat. I've got you with me, and Morgana can warn me if anything is gonna happen"

"How?" Arthur asked

Morgana had told Gwen, so the only person that didn't understand what Merlin was on about was Arthur, they all laughed "What do you mean?"

The three of them walked away still laughing at Arthur "Come one tell me."

"Maybe when your less of a prat" Merlin shot back.
"Idiot" Arthur retorted falling into step with them, "Seriously though, tell me."

They refused to tell him anything which made them all laugh as they walked into the castle, almost all secret between them were gone and they were only keeping the last to annoy Arthur. Everything was currently good in the world until they worked out what was waking up underneath Camelot and playing with their minds.

(*_*) (*_*) (*_*) The End (*_*) (*_*) (*_*)

Hey I know it is a cheesy end – but I'm terrible with endings. I was going to do the next series but I realised that most of the stories wouldn't work with everyone in Camelot knew about his magic. So I thought I'd stop. Also I have other plot bunnies to work on. YEY and NOOOO because I am terrible at ending the stories but they have to end eventually.

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