I'm really sorry for the delay, I've honestly been very busy in the last few days. College does that to you from time to time. Anyway, no more waiting, here is the rest of the story, hope you enjoy it!

Arthur lead their party along the winding path that would take them back to their camp. He could already hear the voice of it's inhabitants. Just as he was about to criticize the security of their fortification, a shout resounded: "The king has returned!"

Arthur smiled and they turned round the corner, the knights already striding out to meet them. Guinevere ran towards them, and threw herself into Arthur's embrace.

"I'm so glad you're back", she whispered against his neck. Arthur pulled her closer, then leaned in for a kiss.

She finally pulled away, slightly flushed.

"Did they help you? Did you recruit someone?" She peered over Arthur's shoulder, who glanced back at the hooded figure in the druid garbs.

"Well, they did their best", he answered, feigning disappointment. "A rather sickly sorcerer, but he was the best they had. Pity, really, we could have used a real warrior, someone with battle experience, but he will have to do."

Guinevere looked shocked at his callous words. Arthur concealed a smile as she approached the druid.

"We are very grateful for you help, Sir", she addressed him cautiously. "Please, what is your name? I'm Guinevere, if you need anything-." She curtsied slightly.

"How about a hug?" Merlin pulled back his hood, revealing his grinning face. Guinevere gasped, covering her mouth in shock. Then she threw herself at Merlin, fiercely clutching his neck.

"I've missed you so much!", Gwen pulled back, wiping her eyes. Arthur smiled. She was truly beautiful when she was happy. People were gathering around them, not sure of what was going on.

"I KNEW IT!" Gwaine pulled Merlin into a bear hug. Merlin nearly fell, laughing. "You arse, you have magic! I knew you were strange, but did you really have to take it all over the top like that?"

"Sorry, Gwaine, I'll be better next time", Merlin grinned, the skin around his eyes crinkled. Then he spotted the lone figure behind the crowd surrounding him.

"Gaius!" Merlin weaseled his way out between the knights and all but ran towards his guardian. The old man wrapped Merlin into a tight embrace. They held each other for a moment, then Gaius said something to Merlin, too softly for Arthur to hear. But Merlin smiled, his face lighting up and Arthur pretended he didn't notice how Merlin's eyes were watery. Gaius discreetly dried his tears with his sleeve. Arthur looked back at Guinevere, quenching the jealous pang in his chest. He had people who loved him as well.

He cleared his throat loudly. "Quiet please!" He waited for a moment for the crowd to settle down. His knights, garbed in their filthy cloaks, still carried the crest of Pendragon with pride. But mingled between them were a few peasants, mostly young men with no place to go. He also caught glimpses of long hair, the few wives that had remained with their husbands, along with young women who mostly helped Gaius in the infirmary. Between them children mingled, some clutching the hands and legs of their parents. Others stood by themselves. Arthur took a deep breath.

"People of Camelot", he began. Then he paused; where to begin? He surveyed the crowd again and spotted Merlin, who nodded at him encouragingly.

"These last few weeks have been trying and harsh. We all know that, should we not be able to return to the city, we will perish. I know that. These hardships have been brought upon us by two powerful sorcerers, one of which has once been a friend to the house of Pendragon. Now however, they will stop at nothing to bring us to the ground and it might seem they have succeeded." He paused again, making sure he had every person's full attention.

"The greatest peril Camelot ever experienced coincided with the disappearance of my personal servant, Merlin." He noticed Gwaine and Lancelot exchange a look. "I believe it is no secret anymore that he is a sorcerer and has been practicing magic during his life as my servant."

Few men stirred, their eyes flickering towards Merlin, but their attention stayed with Arthur.

"My father has hunted his kind down. Even after the Great Purge, many have been executed for using magic, some rightfully so. However, I have decided to retract the general ban on magic."

He paused as muttering of disbelief cursed through the crowd. Some people looked outraged, others completely lost. Merlin simply stared, mouth hanging slightly open.

"Magic has threatened Camelot many times, but has saved it even more times. It has been reported to me how often magic had stood on our side, without my knowledge. This very week, the druids have helped us regain our most powerful ally. Merlin has saved my life more times than I can count. And while his usefulness as a servant may be questioned, his loyalty can not. Therefore, I stand here today and tell you, that magic is a tool. It can be used for the good and Merlin stands among you as living proof of that. He and I will ride into battle together, to challenge Cado and Morgana to combat. Merlin will fight for us and so will I." Arthur closed his mouth and waited.

People started muttering again, casting sideways looks at Merlin, full of wariness. Yet Merlin was surrounded by Arthur's best knights, as well as Gaius and Gwen, who grasped his hand. Merlin himself looked only at Arthur, straight and confident. It was why Arthur knew he had made the right choice.

Arthur looked back. His 'army' looked rather pitiful; ragged peasants with the occasional guard or knight thrown in the mix. Most of the men skilled in battle stood at the front rank. All in all, there were no more than one hundred men.

Arthur clenched his jaw; if something went wrong, none of these men would survive. He looked at Merlin for the last time, then nodded at Lancelot.

Lancelot turned towards the army. "March!" The troops started moving forward, in a jumbled mess The ranks dissolved, if there ever had been any. Arthur fought the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. This was the worst army that had ever been led into battle in the history of Camelot. If a fight would actually commence, they would be massacred.

"Don't worry", said Merlin softly, riding next to him at the head of the army. "They are just supposed to be a distraction. If anything goes wrong, they will flee."

Arthur ordered his troops to stop and cantered through the remaining field towards the gates, alone.

"Cado!" He shouted. His voice sounded feeble in the empty space. "Show yourself! I challenge you! Surrender or my troops will reclaim Camelot for themselves!"

Laughter issued from the city walls, and Cado appeared, well-groomed. "You do that, little man!", he shouted back. "If they don't miss the gate and run against the walls." He snickered again. Morgana appeared at his shoulder, embracing him from behind, smirking.

"This is your last warning! Surrender your magical weapons, come out and give yourselves into my custody and you shall not be harmed." Arthur's horse pranced nervously. Laughter was the only answer he got. Even though he had expected as much, Arthur felt a humiliating heat creep up his neck. He turned his horse an galloped back. Halfway back at his army he signaled towards Lancelot. The knight turned towards the troops. "Archers!"

The knights and guards stepped forward, pulling longbows and arrows from beneath their cloaks.

"Take aim!" As one, the archers drew their bows and raised them.

"Folly!", Lancelot roared.

A flurry of arrows flew towards the castle, like a swarm of angry bees. Arthur saw Cado stare up at them fearlessly, raising a hand. Yet the arrows stroke, clattering around the sorcerers as they cowered in astonishment. As the arrows fell, one pierced Cado through the shoulder. Arthur could hear his howl of pain as he reached his men. A piece of masonry shot at them and buried itself in the ground, several feet short.

"Fall back!" The turned and scampered, running back to the forest edge. Only the knights and Merlin halted short of the protective trees. Already they saw two horses nearing from Camelot, at a fierce gallop.

Cado reigned in his horse brutally, stopping it within earshot. Arthur saw his wound bleeding with some satisfaction. Morgana followed closely, unharmed.

"Fools, who do not recognize mercy when they see it", Cado hissed. He slid off his horse, and strode slowly towards him. Arthur could sense him reading his magic. "We wanted to let you live, if only for our entertainment. But now, the fun has stopped. Prepare to die."

Suddenly, the air was static. Arthur felt the hair on his arms stand up as the air crackled around him. Dark rain clouds loomed over Camelot. A storm was nearing. Merlin stepped into sight, a few steps in front of the small force.

"You will harm no one. This is your last chance. Cado, Morgana, leave now and you will remain unharmed, despite your crimes."

Cado's face contorted in fury. "You! Servant, how did you survive? Did the druids help you? Get out of the way, before I kill you, no matter how powerful you may be."

And he unleashed his force, causing the earth to shudder. The air compressed around Arthur and his ears popped, then it stopped. Merlin said something, and Arthur's sword slid out of it's sheath at it's own accord. More and more swords clotted the air around Merlin, as each knight became suddenly bereft of his weapon. The tips were pointing menacingly at Cado. Merlin spoke a harsh word, and they shot through the air. Cado managed to bark out an incantation, just in time. Morgana was too slow. She fell with a cry, a sword embedded in her chest. Arthur felt nauseous as he watched blood stream from beneath her clutching hands, before she collapsed. He heard her call out weakly, but Cado's gaze didn't waver from Merlin.

Merlin himself was gazing at Morgana and Arthur saw the deep lines of pain on his face.

"Go, Cado. Just leave. I don't want to kill you."

Cado sneered. "I underestimated you. I won't make that mistake again." He started chanting, his eyes a sick yellow. The air around him thickened, as though a fog was coming up.

"Cado, don't-" Arthur's heart picked up a beat at the panicked tone of Merlin's voice. "Think of what you're doing! You won't be able to control it, it will kill us all!"

Cado grinned through his words, his eyes gleaming all the brighter, the air around him swirling in twisted shapes. Arthur watched in horror as winged creatures appeared and dissolved again, as a cold winter blew in his face. Terrible eyes seemed to glare at him and he could swear he heard an unearthly howling in the distance.

"Cado, they will rip this world apart!", Merlin's words were hard and fast, yet weak against the gathering wind. "Stop it now or I will make you!"

Cado closed his eyes, his incantation increasing in speed. The shapes multiplied around him, moving faster and faster. Arthur could see their eyes and fangs as they strained towards him. The clouds above him rumbled and it started to rain.

"Merlin, do something!" Arthur yelled as the first drops fell. The screeches were getting louder.

The wind whipped at his clothes, raindrops pelting through the air. Arthur saw Merlin raise his hand. Lightning tore the sky apart as a bolt descended from the heavens. Arthur thought he saw Cado open his eyes in disbelief before the searing light hit him. The instantaneous thunder almost knocked Arthur over; then all was still.

Arthur looked at the smoking remains of Cado. Not much was left of him. Cautiously, he walked up to Merlin's side. The young warlocks face was unreadable.

Together they approached Morgana's body: It was unmoving and slightly scorched.

"It's over", Merlin said.

The return to Camelot was a sober one. Many streets have been completely destroyed, others severely damaged. An unpleasant hush lay over the city, that reminded Arthur uncomfortably of a graveyard. He sighed and turned away from his window. It would take time to rebuild Camelot, maybe even years.

Merlin watched him, hands clasped behind his back. "The council is waiting for you. They want to know what comes next."

Arthur walked over to Merlin and clasped his shoulder. "A new age."

They left the chambers together.

This is it! I hope you liked it and that I did every character justice, it was my first longer story. If you enjoyed the story, please be so kind to tell me by leaving a review; as always, mentions of favorite lines and/or concrit is much appreciated.