MAGIC!

2 weeks after the wedding.

There was a scream outside and Merlin sighed.

So this was what Mordred was warning him about. A magical attack.

Arthur had told Merlin to lie low, only stepping in to save people, and however Merlin didn't like that, it was the king telling him to. The other knights weren't too pleased about it either, and although one of Gwen's wishes had come true, to move everyone into the citadel, the queen was rather annoyed at Arthur for keeping Merlin back.

'Why won't you let Merlin do something?' Gwen asked her husband, slight anger flashing in her eyes as she spoke. 'Arthur, what's wrong?'

'I can't Guinevere. Merlin is my best friend, he's has been with me for so long. I can't lose him as well as,' Arthur cut himself off.

'As well as whom, Arthur?' Merlin asked, ignoring the bit about him being Arthur's best friend. A few days after the wedding Arthur had quietened down, even with insulting Merlin. To begin with Merlin and Gwen thought it had something to do with his duties, but after a week of it they knew it wasn't, but when anyone tried to speak with him he wouldn't tell.

Arthur just shook his head. He couldn't answer. He wouldn't answer. He was the king and he could do as he wished. Even if his friends and family wanted to help. He wouldn't answer. He couldn't answer, could he?

'Arthur please, your pain will be easier to bear if you bear it with us,' Gwen said. There were very few people in the council chambers at the moment. Gaius had left Liam in charge of those who were injured and had stayed with Arthur upon his request. Lord Elyan, as he was known now, was chatting to Sir Leon, and Sir Lancelot was talking to Sir Percival. Only Merlin and Gwen were talking to Arthur, but Gaius was listening in.

Arthur glanced at Gaius looking for help. 'Gwen is right sire; pain is easier to bear when you do not bear it alone. I'm sorry. Had the circumstance's been different I may have said otherwise, but the kingdom needs to know.' Gaius gestured around him, 'your family needs to know.'

Arthur bowed his head. He had wanted it to be kept between him and Gaius, but he had to tell them now.

'Last week, he became ill, I asked Gaius to check on him, but it was nothing that could be cured, unless you can cure a broken heart and soul. Do you remember that day you could hardly find me?' Gwen and Merlin nodded, and by this time the rest of the room was listening. 'I was sat with him. He was week, weaker than he had been for ages, especially more mentally ill than normal, so I stayed with him all night, but once he had fallen asleep, I grew tired and fell asleep myself. By morning, I never said a proper good bye, or told him how much he meant to me. I couldn't tell you all. I feared you would think me weak. He'd taken his last breath while I was there. My father.' Tears flowed down Arthurs bright cheeks, and Gwen sat next to Arthur and rested a comforting arm around his waist. 'I can't let you go out there alone Merlin. I can't let you die too.' Arthur turned to Gwen and buried his head in her shoulder, not because he was ashamed to be crying, but he needed the familiarity and reassurance, and Gwen provided that.

'Sire,' Merlin addressed Arthur formally, 'I understand, but this isn't me. I know I can't do anything against your will, but I hope you will allow me to be myself. I can not let more innocents die.'

'Merlin, I can't let you. You mean too much, and that goes for all of you in this room.' Arthur lifted his head to speak, but it promptly fell back down into Gwen's shoulder once he had spoken.

Gaius drew Merlins attention to him and signalled for him to step outside. Merlin obeyed swiftly, knowing he to had things to ask.

'Merlin, you must understand I did this for Arthur's sake. For the kingdom to hear that Uther had died so soon after Arthur had become king, they would think it purposeful. I know that Arthur would not have done that, but there are some knights and commoners who do not trust monarchy so much now, because of Morgana. Believe me, if I thought he was doing wrong, I would have been the first to tell him.' Gaius said once they had stepped outside.

'But why not tell me or Gwen. He's needed to be comforted Gaius, and all he's had are the demands of knights and commoners about different things. He needed someone to be there for him. I know you were, but even with Liam you have been too busy.' Gaius bowed in acceptance, knowing he should have stuck up against the Prince. 'This could eat him away Gaius.'

'I know, but I could not disobey the new king.' Merlin sighed and walked back in while Gaius walked down to the make shift infirmary.

-XOX-

Arthur sighed as Merlin left the room following Gaius. He cuddled up close to Gwen and let her relax into his arms before the servants door opened.

'Sire, we are struggling too much. A young boy has joined and he has too much power for us. We need Merlin's help,' Gwaine was panting after having ran all the way up.

Arthur just shook his head and leant towards Gwen's ear. 'Help me, what should I do?' he whispered to her. Gwen looked at him before turning to Gwaine.

'Merlin is outside talking to Gaius at the moment. We will get him to help when he comes back in. I'm sure he will be happy to,' when Arthur was about to comment Gwen spoke again. 'He is destined to be the most powerful sorcerer alive Arthur. He will not die today,' she said, he can not she thought.

-XOX-

Everyone looked at Merlin as he entered the great hall. Merlin noted that Gwaine had come into the room, so Merlin went to pour him a quick drink. Handing it to Gwaine, Merlin asked: 'What's going on? Why is Gwaine back up here?'

'They need your help Merlin,' Arthur said finally. 'They can not do this alone, Mordred has turned up. Please, go and help them, but be careful Merlin.'

Merlin nodded to him before following Gwaine Lancelot and Percival down to the battle.

When he got there he took several steps back. He had been out here an hour ago and it had not looked like that. Ruined buildings were everywhere, and Merlin saw many bodies, both familiar Camelot ones, and unfamiliar attacker's ones. It was good to know the Camelot knights could do something.

Merlin stepped over the body of a young lad who was probably going to the infirmary before he was shot down by magic. Merlin sighed.

Why was it that magic users didn't understand? Using magic like this wouldn't help anyone. It was good Arthur knew Merlin had magic, otherwise it would never be allowed again.

As Merlin stepped further into the open people stared, not only Camelot's peoples, but those of the attackers as well, they could feel the power radiating off him in his anger. There was a gasp as a fireball shot out of no where, but there was an even louder gasp as Merlin yelled 'scield' and a shied came up in front of Merlin. It wasn't the use of magic that made people gasp. It was the mouth that it came from. The loyal and trusted servant to the king was a sorcerer. He was committing a crime in front of everyone.

Merlin sighed as Mordred stepped out. 'Where's Morgana? Last I saw of her was two on one of knights, and she couldn't even defeat them with her useless magic.' Mordred sneered at him.

'Morgana is the one who has done all this. She knows who she truly is, unlike you. Protecting a Pendragon! Honestly Emrys, I know that you like him, but he will persecute you.'

'No Mordred your wrong –'

'What makes you so sure?' Mordred smiled again lifting his arm, 'already tried?'

Before Mordred could shout a spell Merlin had blown him backwards. 'In fact, yes I have,' Merlin said darkly before knocking the young teen out. He turned round, and was very displeased to see Morgana standing there, smiling at him.

'Useless magic, really Merlin?' She smiled, and without words fire blew out from her raised hand and headed straight for Merlin.

Merlin saw Gwaine, Lancelot and Percival restrain her before the fire hit him square in the chest. His eyes saw nothing of what happened next.

-XOX-

Arthur rushed towards the sound of battle, having heard someone scream for help, however when he arrived at the bottom of the castle steps he was less than happy at the sight that greeted him.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Leon rush towards Gwaine, Lancelot, Percival and Morgana. He saw them pick her up and carry her down to the dungeon; however, the sight which his eyes stayed on was one straight in front of him.

Merlin had a large hole through his chest, and Arthur could see his heart, barely beating, but slightly visible.

He was only vaguely aware of the movement around him, Gwen and Elyan running to Merlin and carefully picking him out of the debris.

The screams of a terrified mother – Hunith - as she saw her son being taken away; lifeless.

The sight of the blood on the ground from friend and foe.

It was all too much for the young king who sprinted down and out of the city, and in about half an hour was by a lake.

He sat there. Thinking and dreaming. Only truly understanding now why Merlin liked this place so much, but the stillness of the water unnerved him, the look of death it gave him, and all Arthur could see were faces. All the faces of the people who he had killed or had seen die, and as he sat by the Lake of Avalon he wept. He just sat and wept, and only when light was starting to show again did the entire world go black.

-XOX-

Unnatural pale eyes squinted open to see a sea of brown hair, the head facing the opposite way. From the stifled sobs Merlin could hear coming from Gwen he guessed something was wrong.

Trying to stretch out his aching limbs Merlin let out a yelp. The pain on his burnt chest was almost unbearable. When she heard the scream, Gwen turned around to face him, and Gaius gave a sigh of relief. Although severely injured, Merlin was alive.

'What happened?' Merlin asked confused as he tried to sit, however was forced to remain lying by Gwen. Once Merlin had relaxed a bit, Gwen looked over to Gaius. 'Is everyone okay?' Merlin enquired.

'Yes Merlin, everyone is fine, thanks to you,' Gaius replied, not making eye contact.

'Where's Arthur?' Gwen took a deep breath when Merlin mentioned Arthurs name, however she was saved by answering as a lot of knights came running into the room.

'My lady,' Sir Cai spoke, 'we can not find him anywhere. Have you had any more thoughts on where he may be?' Gwen turned to stare at the knight, her still tears once again threatening to fall from her bloodshot eyes.

'No, I don't.' Her head fell and the knights made to go outside.

'Wait,' Merlin called to them and they stopped. 'If you're on about Arthur, he may have gone to the lake-' Merlin was about to finish his sentence when a coughing fit overcame him; however certain knights knew where to go.

Realising what Merlin had meant, Gwen also ran out to join the knights, which made Gwaine return just as Liam came back with fresh water for Merlin.

-XOX-

Gwen jumped of the borrowed horse, Gwaine's, and ran to where the man was lying face down in the sand. She quickly turned Arthur over and to her relief, saw that he was breathing.

Gwen walked over to the lake and dabbed her hand into the cool water. Walking back to Arthur she stroked his forehead with her damp hand and his eyes opened slightly. Gwen smiled down at him, and being careful with him, drew him into a hug.

When Gwen drew away she noticed how pale he was and asked the knights for some clean drinking water, which Lancelot provided, before helping him stand and going over to her horse. She let him on it and Lancelot offered his horse, which she gracefully declined before they started heading back to Camelot.

-XOX-

Straight away Arthur was sent to Gaius. He had been more than a day without food, had had very little drink in that time.

Meanwhile Merlin was experimenting with movements, and was trying to stand at the moment. Gwen walked over to help him, and Hunith, who had refused to leave Merlins side since he had been taken in, was also helping. Gwen and Hunith smiled when Merlin finally managed to move without support; however he was going to need a crutch to move for the next few days.

-XOX-

It was nearly a week after the battle, Merlin was still on his crutch, but other than that everyone was well. Arthur had improved and the kingdom had heard of his father's death meaning they had backed off him for a bit.

'Merlin, can you tell Gaius that I need everyone him in the courtyard this afternoon please. The kingdom has heard, but he needs to hear to. You will be on the balcony with me, Gwen and some of the knights,' Arthur told Merlin who was stood in the kings chambers with Gwen, Gwaine, Lancelot and Leon.

'Yes sire,' Merlin replied. 'I shall go now.' Arthur nodded him out of the room.

-XOX-

'Peoples of Camelot, I thank you for remaining loyal to me in our recent time of need. For those of you who have lost loved ones I am sorry, I too feel your pain. I have not called this meeting for a social call however. I am sure many of you saw my idiotic manservant, Merlin, using magic in our fight against magic users, it was under my command that he did so' a murmur went around the lower crowed. 'From this day forward, I wish to ask any magic users for forgiveness of what my father put you all through, and I would like to remove the ban on magic.'

A cheer went through the town, but Arthur held his hand up for quiet once more. 'I would also like to take away Merlins status as manservant and instead offer him the position of Court Sorcerer. Any who disagree with my view can tell him yourself,' and then Merlin whispered to Merlin, 'and if you disagree then tough, you are getting the job.'

Merlin smiled at the king, and only now it had happened did he believe his prophecy. Finally magic had been allowed, and the Once and Future king was fair and just to all.

Even now, when both the mighty Emrys and the great King Arthur are dead, we still speak of them in legends. The most amazing king England, or Albion, ever had.

AN – for those of you doing GCSE stuff, I hope you analyse some of this like I did when I was writing it xD honestly, my English teacher has got me into analysing to many poems, and now I do it with stories :/

This chapter has a really dark start to it, lol. It wasn't meant to.

For your information, Liam is not my character, he is Alaia Skyhawk from 'Whom History won't Remember' and 'A Question of Motives' (first shown in 'Sick Leave')

As I wrote this chapter I had tears in my eyes. It is the end :'( The longest fic I have ever written, and for the best fandom :) I'm going to miss it so much.

So, I hope you all liked the story and have enjoyed the last chapter. Please show your appreciation for it by reviewing. Thank you to the 5 reviewers of the last chapter.

AlbusProngsRebeccaPotter