AN: So here it is, the final chapter. Thank you all for reading, favoriting and reviewing. Enjoy, and please tell me what you think:)

Chapter 7 – Not All For Nothing

Arthur had been pacing his room for hours and just when he admitted defeat and sat down at his desk to actually get some work done that demanded his attention, Merlin burst into his room more agitated than usual.

Arthur forced a smile which didn't quite reach his eyes.

"So nice to see you, Merlin!"

"I'm sorry." Merlin blurted out hastily. "Gaius needed some help."

"Don't apologize. It's not like you had somewhere else to be." Arthur dropped his pen down on the desk angrily and looked around with a dramatic motion of his hands. "Look at the sorry state of this room!"

Arthur's chamber was a mess, Merlin had to admit. It was as if a tornado had gone through it. Without saying a word he started to put everything back to its place. He was thankful for the distraction for it gave him some time to think about how to break the news to Arthur. He wasn't sure that it was really anything new for him, but telling it out loud was still a frightening concept. He had kept his secret for so long it had become second nature.

The king sat quietly and thought about how to choke a confession out of his manservant. It wasn't just about his dream of having a true and trusted friend by eliminating all the lies that kept a wall between them. In all honesty, Arthur had become tired of ducking, hiding, pretending to be unconscious for Merlin to be able to work his magic in nasty situations. At first it had been fun, especially when he had made it a point to peek at his servant here and there because Merlin with all that power at his command had truly been a sight to behold. But all that had become old very fast.

He wanted Merlin to be able to use it freely, without shame or fear, even if only in front of his king.

"Merlin." he started in an admonishing tone. "Do you have nothing to say?"

Startled out of his thoughts Merlin looked at him, unconsciously fingering his neckerchief.

"What do want me to say?" he was truly lost.

The blond grumbled but decided to play along.

"Yesterday we were talking about my idea of lifting the ban on magic, you got all defensive and you ran away screaming."

Merlin pretended to make an effort to remember.

"No." He shook his head. "I don't remember any screaming."

This time Arthur choked back a groan.

"I meant figuratively."

"No I don't remember screaming figuratively. If I recall I excused myself properly." he fought back a smile.

He had been squirming this whole time and now as he looked at Arthur he realized that the king was just as nervous as he was. He was scared out of his wits, but he wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to make Arthur uncomfortable.

"Merlin!" he roared dangerously but softened his tone immediately because he was fully aware that it would get him nowhere. At least not where he wanted to go with it. "Come here."

His manservant put down the clothes that he held and went to desk opposite of Arthur.

They were so close that the blond man could have touched the other's shoulder had he wanted to, but that table reminded him of the unseen wall between them. That thought spurred this conversation in the first place.

"I wanted to hear your opinion about this. You know that I always appreciate your thoughts…" the king began in a solemn tone but he was cut off.

"Really?" Merlin asked incredulously. „I thought only an idiot would heed the words of and idiot."

"Quit trying to be funny. It really isn't your strongest point." he sighed. So choking out it is then, he told himself.

Arthur looked down on his desk and got ready for the inevitable. This little game they were playing was getting tiresome. Especially for him.

Just as he was opening his mouth, he looked up and caught Merlin's gaze and what he grasped there made the words stuck in his throat.

The look the king gave him almost made Merlin cry. That deliciously expectant look was all the reassurance he needed. It was so full of trust and strength that some of it poured into him as well. This was it. No more secrets.

"Arthur." he whispered "I have magic." He didn't know where he had got the stamina to hold the king's glance but he couldn't look away. He had to see it all. The subtlest twitch in the corner of the eyes, the slightest tremor of facial muscles, anything that would indicate an inner turmoil. But strangely enough, he saw nothing like that.

Arthur sighed and a gentle smile spread across his lips.

"Thank you." was all he said.

"For what?"

"For telling me. I was starting to think I would have to use force."

"Since when…" Merlin looked away and couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.

"I've known for about a year." The king stood up and got around the table to stand in front of the sorcerer.

"Why didn't you say something?" He was beginning to feel stupid. When no answer came, he realized just how inappropriate his question was. He should have been the one to say something. "So…will you really lift the ban on magic?"

"No way!" Arthur answered honestly.

"What? You said…"

"I said I was thinking about it, but I didn't say I was planning to do it in the immediate future."

Merlin couldn't grasp the rules of this game anymore.

"So what was this? A trick?" He felt this whole drama had been for nothing.

"Exactly. I wanted to get you to admit it. But I wasn't lying, I'm really thinking about it. Just won't do it, not yet."

"I don't understand." He was more confused than ever, and having Arthur put his arms around his shoulder in a friendly manner didn't help much.

"Tell me this. Does Morgana know about your magic?"

"No, I don't think she knows. Why?" The moment the words left his lips he knew the answers.

"As a known sorcerer and trusted friend of the king, you'd be the first target for anyone who wants to attack the kingdom. You're our secret weapon. And for the time being, it's better if you stay secret."

Merlin knew his king was right. He knew that the ban wouldn't be lifted anytime soon, but the kindness Arthur showed overwhelmed him. Who knew that the clotpole can be so understanding? Whenever he had dreamed about finally revealing his magic to Arthur, he never imagined it would go this well. He was waiting to be awoken from this particularly bizarre dream.

"Does that mean I'd still have to polish your armor and muck out your horses?" He grinned.

The blond man managed to keep a completely straight face despite the relief he felt.

"I'm afraid you have no choice."

Well, maybe not that understanding. But they now had the chance to build the friendship they had always been dreaming of. So this hadn't been all for nothing.

The End