AN: I love Merlin, but I most definitely do not own it.

Last chapter! You guy have been great :) I hoped you enjoyed this. I know I did.

For days, all the castle could talk about was Merlin, the servant turned hero. Some of the nobles who had been close to Uther, were lobbying for some form of punishment, but they were ignored by the others who could clearly see that they needed Merlin on their side.

Some of them who still didn't quite trust him said they should leave him be, but mainly because they thought if they tried to have him killed, he would just call his dragon to come along and save him, then possibly sic it on Camelot.

Some of them thought he was dangerous, but that, due to his loyalty to Arthur he wouldn't try to escape.

And some of them just wanted him gone, but were to scared to say anything against him, knowing the king had already consented to leaving him in peace.

The first few days back to work for Merlin were both good and bad. Some people would skirt to the side when they saw him coming, avoiding eye contact. Merlin always felt his heart sink when this happened. He did not want people to fear him.

Sometimes, though, a servant would smile shyly at him in the hall, and he would smile back, hoping the gesture conveyed that they had nothing to be wary of, that he was still the same person. The knights, even the ones he wasn't particularly close to, as Gwaine said, knew they owed their lives as well as Camelot to Merlin, and therefore were friendly towards him as always. Perhaps it was because they, too, had been in the fight, but they seemed to know that Merlin was the type of fighter who was absolutely loyal. To Gwen, he was still her best friend, just a little more...powerful.

He knew it wasn't going to be easy adjusting. But as long as his friends could accept him, he could deal with it.
So, feeling lighter than he had in a while now that one of the secrets that had been weighing on him was off his chest, he went about his usual duties as Arthur's servant with a nearly ever-present grin on his face.

"You're in a good mood," Arthur noted a few days after the fight as he worked on a speech while Merlin cleaned his chambers.

"Well, yeah," Merlin said. "We won against Morgana, no one's driven me out of Camelot yet, and I no longer have to feel like I'm constantly lying to everyone's face anymore." Well, the last part wasn't true.

"You're cheerful," Arthur said, rolling his eyes.

Merlin shrugged. "It's true."

Arthur looked closely at his servant. Merlin certainly did seem happier since his secret got out. He felt slightly guilty at the fact that he had never noticed before. Despite his constant denials of it, there was an unspoken agreement between the two that they were best friends, brothers in all but blood. Merlin knew him strangely well, had insights into his his problems no one else could give. But apparently, he didn't know his servant as well as his servant knew him.

Feeling awkward, he cleared his throat. Merlin knew practically all his secrets, all his doubts and insecurities. The least Merlin could do was return the favor of trusting him with such secrets.

"Merlin," he said carefully, "is there...anything else you've neglected to tell me?"

The warlock stiffened. He'd been hoping this question wouldn't come up. He'd hoped that in the shock of revealing he was a dragonlord, no one would think to look closer at him. But he should have known Arthur would ask.

He took a deep breath and looked the king in the face. For a moment, he was tempted to do it. Just let all his secrets fall out. No more hiding. Not having to let his happiness at releasing one of his secrets hurt him by having to lie some more.

But as he looked back at Arthur, he could see that his friend meant well, but ...

He couldn't do it. Not today. Neither of them were ready.

"No sire. Nothing."

The king's eyes narrowed. Both of them knew Merlin was lying, they would have even if the telltale use of the word "sire" hadn't given him away.

"Alright," Arthur replied finally. "As long as you're sure."

He looked back down at his speech. Hopefully, some day, Merlin would feel comfortable enough to tell him.