A new dawn

It had been a whole week and everything was nearly ok again. Merlin had spent the next three days after his healing recovering in his own room, much to his annoyance. The young warlock had spent the second and third days bugging Gaius about wanting to get back to work - he felt very restless, just sitting in bed, doing nothing. Merlin wanted to be busy - it kept his mind of other things. Arthur shaped things.

The blonde king had not come to see him since he had woken up, Merlin was growing increasingly worried that Arthur didn't want to see him because of his magic. Although Arthur had taken it a lot better than Merlin had hoped at first, now he was more concerned than ever that Arthur would just consider him a traitor. He knew that Arthur probably hadn't come to visit him because he didn't consider Merlin a friend anymore. Despite Gaius's reassurances that Arthur just needed time to come to grips with this revelation - Merlin was expecting that Arthur would probably have him banished.

Merlin knew that Arthur's deeply engrained hatred of magic would almost certainly trump their years of friendship. So he stopped arguing with Gaius after the third day, and also because the old physician had threatened to give him a sleeping draught to shut him up. He had been cooped up in his tiny bedroom for seven miserable days, with only his worries and loneliness for company. He ate, slept and read but didn't really feel like doing any of it to be honest.

That was why, when Gaius told him to go straight to Arthur's chambers, he was incredibly reluctant. He knew that the king was probably going to banish him, at least he wouldn't be executed Merlin mused as he trudged his way to the king's chambers. His feet had trodden this path so many times, he didn't even have to pay attention to where he was going any more. Merlin was going to miss Camelot, he was going to miss Arthur, Gaius, Gwen and even most of the knights. He didn't think that he would miss having to keep his magic a secret, but it was worth it just for the pleasure of having friends. Merlin thought that he would return to Ealdor, to his mother who he rarely spent any time with nowadays. Then maybe he could find Gwaine or maybe Lancelot. . .

All thoughts of possible post banishment plans were wiped from his mind however, when he realized that he was outside Arthur's chambers. Merlin stared at the door for a moment, only this carved piece of wood separated him from this dismal future and a man who probably hated him right now. wouldn't it just be better to beat the inevitable to it and leave without the shameful chastisements from Arthur? He was about to turn around and leave when the door was opened from the other side and Arthur gestured for him to enter. Merlin hesitated a bit awkwardly before stepping through and into Arthur's room.

The room was unnaturally tidy - due to another, better servants work no doubt, everything was in its place. Except for Arthur's desk, which was a mess of quills, parchment and official stamps. Arthur went over to stand by the desk, fiddling with some of the papers there, not looking at Merlin. "Sire, before you say anything, I'd like to thank you." Merlin swallowed, Arthur had still not looked up from his papers, so he continued. "I'd like to thank you for the years of patronage and friendship that you have offered to me. And I would like to say that I respect your decisions and that I will think of you fondly-"

Arthur looked up in surprise at this, turning to face his manservant. "What are you talking about Merlin?" he asked. "I'm leaving and I thought that it would be easier for both-" Arthur cut him off with a shocked shout of disbelief. "You're leaving?!" Merlin blinked. "Um, yes I thought that was why you'd summoned me here? The whole banishment thing?" he mumbled. Arthur gazed at Merlin as if he was the most stupid thing that he had ever seen. "Merlin, you idiot, why would I banish you?"

Merlin was now incredibly confused. "So. . .if I'm not banished, then why am I here?" he inquired slowly. "Because, ice brain, I wanted to show you this." Arthur said in a tone that implied he was talking to someone very slow witted, he thrust a sheet of papers into Merlin's hand, who looked down at them with a frown. "By the powers invested in me, King Arthur Pendragon of Camelot, only son of Uther Pendragon. I hereby declare from this day forth, that the practice of sorcery is legalized - excluding necromancy and any other magic's that could cause harm. So may it be." Merlin stared up at Arthur, he didn't know what to say, his brain had pretty much shut down.

"Magic is now allowed in Camelot, you have shown me - shown the whole kingdom that magic is not inherently evil. It is only the user that decides what to do with it. I have always felt that my father was too harsh with sorcerers - I think that if we don't prosecute people for what they are, then they may stop hating us." Arthur smiled at him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Merlin felt tears spring to his eyes and he said. "Thank you Arthur. Thank you." Merlin had finally fulfilled his destiny - Arthur was king of all Albion, there was peace and magic was being returned to the realm.

Hi this is the last chapter! But if you want more there is going to be a sneaky extra chapter if i can get around to it, sorry i`m super busy with exam revision right now! My other fanfic might be less disapointing than this one, so please check it out - its called "are you satisfied?" and i`m afraid that `im very mean to Merlin in this one but warning! Don`t read if you don`t like GirlMerlin or Merthur! Thank you so much for all of the great reviews on this one though! They really made me feel better about my writing! Seeya! Also a shout out to BreathingMagic and candycanelila! You are the best and most loyal followers ever! Just like Merlin! :)
candycanelila