And here we are on the sequel.

Now before you kill me because of the chapter title. A year has passed since The Real Heir.

I haven't finished writing this yet (and I am not even close, I have written 14 out of 35 chapters), so this will be a once a week thing until I can get to writing it (which should hopefully be soon but I have got exams coming up (going to revise by day and write by night)).

Just don't kill me ... please.

The Assassination of Balinor III

Now don't get me wrong, the story of the Eorðdracas rise back to power was a good one. But there is more of the story to tell. And not all stories start the way we left them.

We left Balinor Eorðdraca, the third of his name, King of Camelot meeting his … well secret Queen. How was Hunith to know what she had gotten herself into? It wasn't like Merlin was in a better position. He had to have Arthur as a tutor to make sure that he was ready for the role that he had inherited.

If anything, there were times where Balinor wished that he just stayed in that cave. It had been one very long year. But there was so much that he had achieved. One of them being that he had managed to get most of council on his side to lift the ban on magic. When you have magic on the throne, it seems stupid that they cannot do it.

Arthur and Merlin had become closer. They spend nearly every minute that the sun was up together. Arthur is still trying to get his head around the fact that he has other family than just him and his father and that Agravaine wasn't his uncle. It seemed strange that he and Merlin were cousins. They looked nothing the same. But then Balinor had always said that Ygraine was always the odd one out in their family. She didn't have magic. Regan matched her golden hair but it got darker as he got older.

If anything it was what they had learnt. Uther was still under house arrest but Arthur didn't have the same sort of relationship with him. He obviously still loved him. He was his father but the same sort of trust wasn't there. Arthur was taking everything with a pinch of salt. Which was the best thing for the young Pendragon.

So a year has passed and Balinor had lived up to his name. Many of the people like to mention how similar he was to his late father. Hunith was equally as loved. Everything seemed perfect. And seemed is the right word.

"Your father was a good man."

"I know."

"He was my best friend."

"I know."

"I wish he was still here."

"So do I." Morgana replied.

"He was the one to stop me from hitting Uther after I found out Ygraine was pregnant." Balinor explained. "He was always right. It was frustrating."

She gave him a small laugh. "Merlin tells me the same thing. He hopes for the day I slip up. I doubt he would tell me even if I did."

"Definitely my boy." He chuckled. "How much do you remember of your father?"

Morgana looked down at the floor. "No much. I was 10 when he died. Most of my memories are of him waving me off to go to war. He always promised that he would return. The one time I asked him to stay, well kept asking him to stay was the one time he didn't return to me."

"I really wished I met your mother. Any bride that Gorlois would have chosen would be beautiful but it would have been nice to have met her."

"As would I."

Balinor raised his eyebrow at her.

"I never knew her. I believe she died when I was younger. I don't know the details but I believe she caught a fever not long after I was born. She wasn't strong enough to fight it. I haven't really asked anyone about it."

"My mother died in my arms. I sat up with her all night and we watched the sunrise. I think it is better for a child to bury a parent rather than the other way round."

"It is the way it should be."

"Now let's get off this chat of doom and gloom. Today is a day of celebration." Balinor held out his arm to her. "Come on, they will be wondering where we are."

"I'm proud of you."

"Shouldn't it be the other way round? Shouldn't I be proud of you?"

Merlin laughed at his mother's comment. "This time a year ago, you were just a simple peasant thinking how you were going to get through the winter."

"Simple peasant?"

"You know what I mean. You took on a lot of responsibility."

Hunith grabbed her son's arm. "Of course. I am just joking with you."

"I have a good feeling about this."

"That's a good start."

"We are going to be free again. I cannot wait to see magic being used in the streets again. It will be wonderful. It will be …" He trailed off trying to find the right word.

"Magical?" She offered.

"I didn't want to use that word but I suppose it will be. If anything I cannot wait to practice more openly."

"You should watch out. I think your father is a bit of a ladies man."

Merlin looked up to see Morgana holding onto his father's arm as they walked down the hall, chatting as they were.

"I wouldn't be worried. I know he only has eyes for one woman and I hope she has eyes for only one man."

Balinor smiled when he saw them. "Let's get this over and done with. Then we can celebrate."

He let Hunith step out onto the balcony first before following her. Merlin held his arm out to gesture to Morgana to go. She kissed his on the cheek before walking out and he followed her.

The courtyard was packed, chatting as they waited for their king to emerge. They all started to quieten down when they noticed that they were out there.

"Head up." Arthur whispered behind him.

Merlin rolled his shoulders back slightly and brought his head up higher.

"Better."

"Alright prat. Just because you know what to do."

"Well I had been in training for the role all my life."

"No hard feelings cousin."

"None". Arthur dropped back slightly as Balinor started to speak.

"A year ago, I took back the throne that was taken from my father and today will mark another occasion. There are some laws that have been put in place that are out of date. Many of these will be changed over the coming years. But there is one big one that needs to change now. I couldn't change it straight away and yet it was one that needed to be changed.

"Magic will run through the streets of Camelot once more. There is no need for the ban to be put into place when there is magic on the throne. Only a mad man will keep that law in place and I am no mad man. So from this day forth, the law on magic is …"

Merlin didn't see it but he heard his father gurgle as the blood filled his throat. He turned to see that an arrow had made its home in his throat. Arthur pulled him down but Merlin pulled him off and moved over to him.

"Find who shot that arrow!" Arthur shouted over the screams from the spectators.

"It's okay. We can do something. We can …" Merlin tried to speak but his words were lost to him.

Balinor brought his hand up and managed to stroke his cheek before giving a last breath. Merlin rested his head against his still chest and wept.