Disclaimers: Still belongs to the BBC. I made up Aderyn, but they can have her if they treat her nicely. ;)

A/N: So we come to the last chapter and epilogue. I hope you have enjoyed this story. Anon gave me good advice about en expression I used in the first chapter and it has been amended. As for this chapter, I have decided not to let Merlin go through each and every magical event in his conversations with Arthur, but I have selected a few that I thought were important for the further development of their relationship. The rest you have to imagine – or I might transfer them to series of drabbles – who knows. Anyway, cheers for sticking with me. :)

Chapter 9

A New Era

Aderyn moved her tall form back a step or two when she saw the white scales of the dragon rustle softly. The signs were clear, he was coming to! And they had no guarantee that Merlin had actually managed to reach him.

Aithusa could still be Bane and torch anything in the vicinity, and return to whom he perceived as his master: Morgana.

Merlin was doing his damnedest to avoid a confrontation and with his hand still on the huge creature's forehead continued to chant his dragonlord command. Then finally he stopped. And they all three held their breath.

Eventually Aderyn felt the tinkling of another mind touching hers, Kilgharrah extended his long neck and Merlin felt a lump forming in his throat.

Aithusa was thoroughly confused, but responding to the dragonlord's call, blinking his clear, orange eyes to look at them all.

Aithusa, Merlin called, reminding the dragon of his birth.

I am summoned, the dragon thought back. I heed your wish and salute you, oh dragonlord.

Relieved beyond words, Merlin now placed both hands on the massive head and started whispering to Aithusa in dragon tongue, telling him that he must go with Kilgharrah, that they had been separated, but now they were together again. Then he fell silent and closed his eyes. After a few second he suddenly open and widened his eyes, turned round and yelled at Aderyn:

"Stand back. Stand back. He's getting up now."

Both seer and dragonlord hastened to get out of the way as the big form almost shook the ground as he staggered to his feet. Ripping up trees and bushes, Aithusa had soon covered aunt and nephew in dust and leaves, but the worst was to come: He shook himself.

It was a veritable storm and rain of pebbles, dirt, grime, branches, twigs, leaves and all sorts of bugs that Merlin did not care to think about. When the dust settled, they dared to open their eyes and look up at the magnificent sight of two dragons, white and red, that now stood side by side. Merlin felt his chest swell with pride and love. The last two dragons to walk this world. His dragons! His responsibility as the last dragonlord.

Sensing his musings, Aderyn leaned over and whispered in his ear:

"You'd better hurry up and get some children, Nephew, or there will be no one to look after these boys after you're gone."

Kilgharrah easily heard her comment and cocked his head, sporting the hint of an evil leer. Aithusa looked a little confused still.

Merlin blanched.

x

Upon their return to the castle, the King called his manservant to the conference room. In the hallway, Merlin left Aderyn in the care of Gwaine's broad smile, designed to make any woman swoon. However, Aderyn was not any woman; she simply patted his arm amiably and said: "Why don't you show me your playground?"

"I could show you much more than that..." he started. The seer stopped him laughingly. "Ah, to be young again … but let's just leave that for now, shall we? I don't want to compromise this place's "natural resources"."

Her comment had Gwaine roar with laughter and they went down the hallway, arm in arm, leaving Merlin a little jealous. There were so many things he would like to ask his new-found relative, but for now, Arthur needed more answers.

The warlock entered the conference room, finding a very tired king going through preliminary reports of recent occurrences.

"Where's Aderyn?" he immediately asked.

"I left her with Gwaine."

"Wasn't that a little risky?" Arthur pointed out, "you know the man's reputation with women."

"Risky for him or her? I know Gwaine. He's not about to abandon wariness just because he's guarding a woman."

Arthur didn't reply, but beckoned Merlin to approach instead.

"What was the result of your dragon hunt?"

"Oh, they're both gone and won't be back," Merlin assured him.

Arthur widened his eyes, slightly upset at his manservant's easy manner about the most dangerous creature in the world.

"Merlin, how can you possibly know that?"

"I know. Trust me."

"Trust you?" Arthur suddenly thundered, "a secret sorcerer has been my manservant and most intimate confidante for years and you ask me to trust that man?"

Merlin winced inwardly. It had been a long day, and the night was well under way. Were they really to have that whole conversation now?

"I can hear how that must sound, but Arthur ..." he paused and then locked his eyes with the King's before he continued.

" … you have always been able to trust me … implicitly."

"How can I possibly know that?" Arthur argued, spreading his hands in frustration at the paradox.

"Well, think about it. If my intention had been to kill you, wouldn't I have done it long ago?"

"Perhaps you were after my father."

Without knowing it, Arthur had hit a truly sore nerve. Merlin couldn't suppress a wounded shiver. Fortunately, the King misunderstood.

" … but, since you actually were the one who persuaded me to let him live when I could have killed him in anger, I guess that gets you off the hook," he admitted.

"However," he added, "how can you not see the potential danger you now represent? You are equipped with the most lethal and all-powerful weapon in the world. Who's to guarantee that you won't turn evil and cause suffering and death?"

Merlin looked at the King with a certain fatigue.

"Imagine yourself having the sharpest, most dangerous sword in the world. It is capable of slaying more enemies in one stroke than any other sword. A sword that grants you absolute power. Now, would you wield it more often because of that? Would you kill innocent people because of that?"

"No," Arthur agreed, "but that is a completely hypothetical situation and as such not a valid point..."

"It's not hypothetical at all," Merlin argued, "the sword exists and it is in your possession."

This stunned Arthur into silence momentarily.

"Excalibur? … But it ..."

Then he fell silent again, pondering.

"You're right," the King finally said, "it is powerful..."

Merlin stepped forward, eager to pursue his verbal victory. "Yet the sword has no will of its own; it is completely controlled by the person wielding it."

Arthur looked at him. "But if I go crazy, I might run amok with a highly deadly sword."

"That is the risk that comes from the combination of men and weapons," Merlin stated, "but there is one difference between swords and magic that you have not yet mentioned."

"What is that?"

"Swords are solely designed for mutilation and killing. Magic can be used for healing."

Arthur didn't answer. His brow was deeply furrowed.

"Magic is neither good nor bad, Arthur," Merlin emphasised, "it's simply an ability, a gift. Like somebody who is born with a gift for music. Now, you can scream that music into people's ears or you can sing a soft lullaby for your baby."

"Riiiight?" Arthur said, hesitantly, not completely convinced, "then do something …. nice and non-threatening magic right here and now."

This took Merlin by surprise, still so very careful about showing his magic openly. After contemplating the request, however, he held out his hand and produced … a rose. Arthur widened his eyes. Then quickly the rose metamorphosised into a … sphere of blue light.

Arthur looked curious at first and then the farthing dropped:

"Oh, my god … can't be! That was .. that was you?"

"Yes," Merlin said gently.

"But that's impossible! You were unconscious and dying!"

Merlin smiled. "My magic reacted on my subconscious concern for you and produced the sphere to help and guide you."

Arthur stood shaking his head in awe. He had trusted that sphere and followed it out of the cavern. It had helped him and shown him the way, without which he would have been trapped there forever. It had been Merlin's subconsciousness, the very essence of his manservant encompassed in that blue sphere. How many more times, Arthur suddenly wondered, had Merlin been there to help him? Save his life even? Always in the hidden, convinced that he would lose his life if discovered. He could have just left, back to Ealdor, in safety. Instead, this boy came to the one place in Albion that probably was the most dangerous place for sorcerers. Arthur continued shaking his head. Then he looked up.

"Merlin, over the next days, I need to know each and every move with magic you have ever done since you came here. I will not prosecute you for using magic in a time when it was highly forbidden, but in return I need to know everything!"

Merlin froze on the spot. Did the King just grant him an amnesty? Provided that he tell him everything?

Oh, dear.

The warlock idly wondered if that amnesty would still be valid once he was finished telling Arthur everything. Yet, what could he do but accept it.

"Of course," he said.

"Good. Well, there remains one nasty trial for us both tonight before we can turn in," the King said briskly.

"What is that?"

"The debriefing in the conference room."

x

The large Round Table stood there in the middle of the room, its carved ornaments timeless and the smooth surface whispering of a glorious past. Already, it had seen many historical events and heard various legendary tales. And here members of the table were again - assembled . All the knights, Gwen, Gaius, Arthur and Merlin. Aderyn had been left in the throne hall in the company of another guard, less inclined to give into daydreaming. Knowing full well that everything would be all right, she seized the opportunity to lean back and relax a little. Before long, she was snoring pleasantly.

The Round Table was full and the knights looked tired, torn and dirty. It had been a long day. King Arthur understood that and felt it in his own bones, but he could not let the sun rise and start a new day before the Round Table had been convened.

"I will make it as short as I can, but today's confusing events need to be recounted in an orderly fashion so that you all understand what has transpired here.

This afternoon, Camelot was attacked by a white dragon under the command of Morgana. For unknown reasons, another dragon chose to attack Morgana's new weapon, sending it hurling to the ground. Shortly hereafter, Morgana appeared out of thin air and by magical means in the throne hall, carrying my wife as a hostage. Her aim was to take over the kingdom and its subjects and for that she needed a signed document. Geoffrey of Monmouth was called. However, before any signatures could be applied, Gwen disappeared from Morgana's grip and reappeared in my arms. Clearly, this was not Morgana's doing; she raged and prepared to slay us with magic. Someone in this room, however, stepped in and, also by magic, protected me and my wife, and Morgana was knocked unconscious. Most of you know who this person was, but for you who do not, I shall clarify..."

Arthur paused and turned to his right.

"... Merlin was the person in question."

Silence fell and the proverbial pin almost dropped. Though most of the knights had been present during the stunning scene, the actual statement of what happened had shocked them nonetheless. Gaius, having his growing suspicion confirmed, felt the colour leave his face and turned to look at his young friend as if making sure that the boy was still alive. Two more questions pressed on in his mind: Did Arthur know of Gaius' involvement of keeping Merlin hidden for all these years? And what was Arthur going to do about Merlin?

Then the King decided to break the silence.

"After what happened to my wife today, I decided that the only way to avoid future attacks by Morgana and other sorcerers is to fight fire with fire and since my manservant has shown himself to be proficient in this area, I then asked him to create a protective shield round Camelot. He informs me that this is now in place.

Morgana herself, alas, escaped our clutches before the shield was in place. We are still investigating how that happened."

"Last, but not least," Arthur continued, "it would appear that the woman that Sirs Gwaine, Elyan and Percival brought to the castle earlier today is actually sister to the late dragonlord Balinor. Since I am not entirely convinced of her innocence, I have decided to have her guarded until further notice. Hopefully further investigations into her role will determine whether or not she played a part."

Gaius' eyes were now virtually popping out of their sockets. Balinor's sister! Merlin's aunt! He knew that the woman had been closely related to the dragonlord, but he had no idea it was that close. He threw Merlin a glance and saw that the young sorcerer still stood next to his king, erect and relaxed. Apparently, they had already talked about all this. Now, there was a conversation he would have killed to have heard.

"I am sure," Arthur concluded, now in a lower tone of voice, "that you are all wondering what I plan to do to my manservant. He has, after all, turned out to be a criminal offender for quite some time, willingly breaking the ban on magic repeatedly according to his own statement."

Arthur turned to look at Merlin before he turned to face the assembly again.

"And the answer is: Absolutely nothing."

A relieved mutual grin waved through the group of knights, Gwen let out her abated breath and Gaius closed his eyes and sent a prayer of gratefulness to any god that was listening.

"It would seem that I owe my life to my servant on more than one occasion and I would show myself as a bitter and unfair king if I then took his life in return. So ... I hereby grant Merlin, also known as Emrys, a full pardon."

Cheers soared and some of the knights enthusiastically and spontaneously leaned over and shook the warlock's hand. Arthur leaned over too - only to whisper in Merlin's ear: ".. provided that the proviso is respected, of course."

Shortly after, Merlin found himself to be in a tight embrace with Gwaine, who wouldn't stop pounding his back forcefully.

"I always knew there was something about you, Merlin," he claimed in a low voice right by the warlock's ear, "and now that I know precisely what it was, I have a ton of laundry that I'm sure you can do with a snap of your fingers - literally."

Merlin grinned into the bigger man's shoulder. "Sorry, my friend. I'm still Arthur's manservant."

Merlin felt a heavy hand come down on his scrawny shoulders and it wasn't Gwaine's. "You know, Merlin, there is no reason why you shouldn't take care of my knights too. After all ... now that I know what you're capable of ..."

Oh, no!

x

As they were finally ready to call it a day (and night), Merlin decided to talk Aderyn's case right before the door closed behind Arthur and his queen.

"Arthur, wait a minute, does Aderyn really have to spend the night in the dungeons? I can vouch for her, really I can."

Arthur, despite his fatigue, cocked his eyebrows.

"Oh? You can, huh? Something more you want to tell me?"

Merlin swallowed. If Aderyn was to sleep in a proper bed tonight, he would have to tell Arthur one last secret and he wasn't sure how the over-tired regent would respond to it. On the other hand, the royal fatigue might just save the warlock's life.

"Well ... it turns out she's a relative of mine, but I didn't know until today."

Arthur furrowed his brow. "A relative? How is that possible?"

"It just ... is," the manservant answered feebly.

"Oh, no, no, no. I'm not letting you off that easily," Arthur emphasised to Merlin's great chagrin, "I'm not that tired. Who exactly is she to you, Merlin? And no lies! Remember the proviso!"

"Well ... um ... she's my aunt," Merlin admitted.

"Aunt?" said Arthur, his eyes somewhat empty.

Merlin fell taciturn, waiting for the famous farthing to drop. Though not sporting the sharpest mind at late, he knew Arthur would get it eventually.

"But she is Balinor's sister," the King said slowly. A soft gasp came from the room behind him; his Queen had got there faster. And then suddenly it dropped and his expression was almost comical.

"Noooo-ooo," Arthur breathed intensely. "That can't be!"

And then a huge pile of information made sense to Arthur Pendragon all of a sudden: Merlin's silent behaviour at the inn, Merlin's heavy tears at Balinor's death, both then and now ... Merlin's confidence about the dragons!

Consequently, the same Merlin suddenly found his neckerchief inside Arthur's fist and the King's face very close to his.

"Did you call that second dragon today?"

"Um .. yeah."

"Why didn't you just send the first one away?"

"It had been turned by Morgana."

"And now?" the King wanted to know.

"I turned it back to me," Merlin hastened to assure him.

"And why the hell did you allow the Great Dragon to maim Camelot in the first place those years ago?" Arthur asked, relevantly.

"I didn't become a dragonlord until my father died," Merlin replied softly.

" … Oh."

Arthur finally let go of the neckerchief, blinking with exhaustion.

"Perhaps I really am really, really tired," the King acquiesced. "I just go to bed. We'll talk in the morning when I have the strength to belt you round."

"Sire - what about Aderyn?" Merlin still nedded to know.

"Who? Oh, she's your responsibility from now on."

"Does that mean..."

"Merlin?"

"Yes, Sire?"

"Shut up."

And finally the door closed and Merlin was alone in the hallways.

x

Heading for Gaius' and his own quarters, Merlin felt light-headed and dizzy. In one day his entire life had changed entirely and he would have to adapt to the new order, but for now he could hardly encompass it all. It made his heart jump with joy, it made his chest cold with anxiety. The warlock was a veritable battle ground for conflicting emotions.

Halting a guard about to turn in, he passed on the order to have Aderyn sent to Gaius' quarters and referred the guard to the king, should he need confirmation, and then proceeded to the said place himself.

When he opened the door, Gaius was preparing some very late meal for them both and the old man greeted Merlin with a soft smile.

"We need to set for one more person," Merlin beamed.

"Aderyn?" Gaius guessed.

"Precisely."

"How did you persuade Arthur to let her go?" the old man asked, puzzled.

"I had to tell him about our family relation, I'm afraid," Merlin said, regret evident in his dark blue eyes.

Gaius straightened: "My word. How did he take that?"

"Better than expected, but then, he was very, very tired."

"And ... does he know about me?" Gaius asked with a hint of anxiety in his voice.

Merlin looked at the slightly worried old face and then realised what the court physician meant.

"Oh! I see. No, I haven't told him. But surely, if he didn't kill me, he will spare you as well."

"I'm not so sure," Gaius mumbled. His young friend patted his shoulder sympathetically. "Arthur has ordered me to tell him everything. You should probably tell him about your part yourself first."

Gaius sighed, hoping that Merlin would be every nearby to shield him from flying, sharp objects.

And then there was the expected knock on the door and Merlin went to answer it.

As soon as they had Aderyn unshackled and the guard sent away, they sat her down by the table, making sure she was taken care of. Formal introductions were made and the seer's eyes lit up when she understood that Balinor owed his life to Gaius. She grabbed the physician's hands with both of hers.

"I can't thank you enough. Compliments to your courage and altruism, I now have a nephew, and Balinor enjoyed a period of grace with a family."

"He talked about you, you know." Gaius said, his eyes soft and somewhat glazed.

"Did he? What did he say?" Aderyn wanted to know.

"He did?" Merlin interjected, "why didn't you tell me?"

"Because of how the times were back then, he expressed himself rather enigmatically, which made it difficult to determine whether or not there was anything to tell."

And then the old physician narrated what he remembered.

"So you see, my dear. It was your name that made me suspect your origin," he concluded.

The seer grinned, her voice thick with emotion. "He always called me that. His little bird."

Gaius nodded and then turned to his ward.

"Merlin, your mother never said much about your father, but she did mention one thing when I asked her about her chosen name for you."

The warlock looked at his old friend with a puzzled expression.

"She said: Why I called him Merlin? Because of the one thing that Balinor told me about his past - that before he fled, he managed to save a little bird whom he hoped would one day return and be allowed to live in peace."

Gaius paused before he continued, his voice gentle.

"I am not sure she knew he was talking about a person, but Hunith found that story so beautiful so when you were born, she felt your father had had a part in naming you if she called you Merlin."

Neither Aderyn nor Merlin said anything. However, underneath the table, two hands reached out and touched.

x

Epilogue

A couple of days later, Merlin stood in the castle yard, holding a robust bay horse that patiently waited for its rider. Aderyn was fastening the girth and making sure the saddle was placed correctly on the horse's back. The mount had been a gift from the King and to his great surprise, she had chosen a a very solid and well balanced horse contrary to the noble war horses he had shown her.

"I'm not heading for a battle, I hope," she had told him, "I'm simply heading home and the road is stony and long, so I need a horse that will carry me all the way and still some."

To Merlin she added, whispering:

" - and a horse that won't have me assaulted by envious thieves all the way to Alba."

Merlin grinned and the King, shaking his blonde head, let her choose to her heart's content.

And now, here they stood, the King having left them to say their goodbyes in privacy. It had been an amazing couple of days in which Aderyn had told him as many stories from her childhood with Balinor as she could remember, and the warlock in turn had told her about Balinor's last hours and his own life in Ealdor. Her nephew had, on his knees, begged her to stay, but she had smiled and said that though the whole voyage had moved her heart, she had still lived in Alba for the majority of her life, and it was, after all, her home. She had friends to return to and people to help in the constant strife with the Picts.

"You will come back?" Merlin needed her assurance. "Of course," she said. "I'll be back in a couple of months – and you can visit me any time you like. After all … you do have a knack of appearing when least expected," she added and winked at him.

"I so wished we could have visited my mother together," Merlin said wistfully.

"But you have much to do after the King has discovered your true potential. I shall see her on my way back to Alba and some time in the future, we will go together."

"I do wish you would accept an escorting guard on your trip," Merlin implored, his face somewhat concerned.

Aderyn looked up from her handy work.

"You are kidding, aren't you?" then she put her hands on her hips. "I made it all the way from the north – by foot. I dodged amorous drunkards, a vicious Druid priest and your own king, not to mention a very socially challenged witch. I'll be fine."

Something in her tirade had caught Merlin's attention.

"Druid priest? Who was that?"

"Alator of the Catha. Stay away from him, Nephew. He's bad news even if he did profess to being your supporter."

"Alator," Merlin exclaimed, "I know him already."

"You do?"

"Yes, the bastard tortured Gaius. Morgana had hired him to extract information about Emrys from Gaius," Merlin told her, his voice deep with outrage at the memory.

Aderyn was shaking her head. "I'm not surprised. So that's how he knew about you. And why he asked me to keep your secret should I stumble upon your identity."

"He didn't … touch you, did he?" the young dragonlord said, his voice laced with trembling anger in advance. Aderyn smiled and reached out a calming hand.

"No, no. Don't worry about it. He did try, but I have a very efficient defensive weapon that all Druids fear."

"What is it?"

"By a touch and a glance I can show you your future. Now, some people might find that fascinating and these people are even willing to pay me to do it. But the Druids know what a curse knowing one's future can be. Because they know … that whatever they see, it can't be averted. It's a terrible, terrible knowledge to live with."

"And..." asked Merlin softly, "did you show Alator his future?"

"No," Aderyn said, "but when he reached for me, I reminded him that I could and that made him retract, wisely."

"I will contact him and tell him to stay the hell away from you," Merlin said in a low menacing voice. A voice that sent small shivers down Aderyn's spine as she heard the potential for dangerous and undiluted rage in the young man. All of a sudden she feared for Alator's life.

"Don't bother, Merlin-dear. The rumour that Emrys has been exposed and that the King supports him will keep the priest away from me. Instead, he might come to see you."

Merlin nodded.

"I shall be ready for him."

"Say hi from me," she grinned toothily and turned to finish adjusting the tack. She finally looked at Merlin and her eyes told him that she was ready to go and say her last farewell. Again he felt the familiar lump in his throat. He couldn't believe that she was going already.

"We'll meet again soon," she said softly, interpreting his expression correctly, "and remember, Merlin, you can always just 'drop in'."

The sorcerer nodded, unable to speak, but wrapped his arms round her instead, his gentle sigh muffled and drowning in her hair. She finally untangled herself from his firm arms, dropped a feather-light kiss on his cheek and turned to her horse. Then, as if on a second thought, she looked at him again, saying one last thing:

"Oh, I should tell you – there's no way that Morgana managed to disappear from the dungeons on her own."

"What makes you say that? The shield wasn't in place at the time."

"No," Aderyn mounted the horse that obediently stood absolutely still, proving to her that she had chosen the right one, "but the thing is, while the King, Queen and knights were busy gaping at the manservant turned sorcerer, Morgana was coming to. I gave her the future-treatment, which sent her down into her personal abyss of hell."

Balinor's sister squinted her eyes to ascertain her nephew's expression. Did he understand the implications of what she was saying? To emphasise the point, she continued:

"Merlin, when people are subjected to that, they become snivelling and drooling weaklings – regardless of their powers prior to my prediction. Morgana could not have performed the disappearance herself. She had help from the outside. And that's a fact."

Merlin looked at her, contemplating her words, keenly aware that the battle might have been won, but the war was still on.

"Thank you. I will tell the King."

"He must see that," the seer urged, "– even if he is a dollophead," she added with a smirk.

Merlin's clear laughter travelled through the alleys and streets of Camelot as his aunt rode out of the citadel.

x

In the mountains, the cold air was playing hide and seek among the sharp rocks. The young Druid with the dark hair of shoulder length put yet another blanket round the shivering form that once had been the formidable Morgana. Then he closed his eyes, concentrated and called her soul with his mind, but received no reply. The failure did not shake the adolescent Druid. He knew that everything took time and that he would reach her eventually. And then the long, arduous healing would begin and Morgan le Fay would rise once again.

The young man opened his clear, grey eyes, and never talking, he formed one statement in his mind.

Emrys. I have never forgotten.

x

All done! How did you like it? Tell me good and bad so that I might better myself till next time we meet. :-)