A/N: Hi guys! I'm back from the dead! I'm going to explain a few things at the end of the chapter. This note is just to express and say to you a BIG THANK YOU. If after all this time you are here, even if it is just one person. I'm grateful. Each word of encouragement and review was not ignored.

This chapter is FILLED with news. In case you need some summary as where we are at you can read it at the end of my note ((*)). And this chapter it's LONG. Its like two chapters into one, trying to compensate for all the time I was gone. So I hope you don't feel overwhelmed with the amount of information. But let's say this is the climax and end of this arch before we start the final part on the story, and the epilogue.

I finally found myself again as a writer on this story.

Happy reading!

((*)) Just in case if you need some filling on this story, if you don't have any problems just follow to the start of the chapter:

Alright so going to great lengths remember that Arthur and Merlin are super close in this fic and they had gone a long journey to get there. They are basically brothers now. In the most recent and important events they had gone to Ealdor to try and solve the vase because Uther forgot his memories of Arthur months ago (Thanks to Agravaine, RIP). Arthur during this whole adventure also became the King of the Druids, and he already met at the druid camp a whole bunch of characters: Mordred, the other druids' kids, Mersan, and Arya—the high priestess. However, the vase couldn't be solved. (Arthur does not have the vase anymore, he returned the vase in exchange of help to fight Morgana.)

When back in Camelot they put the sword in the stone contest hoping that if they can't convince Uther to stop looking for a heir, they will make Uther believe Arthur is the heir. However, there is one small chance of still solving the enchantment: That is to destroy the witch that put it in the first place. So they leave, against the nobleman wishes and behind their backs to their last resort: Killing Morgana. Do remember that Elyan, along with another 3 knights were abducted months ago and killed. Only Elyan survived, he remembers where Morgana's hut was and took the entire team with him in an attempt to save Gwen. (Who was taken by Morgana from Camelot.)

They arrived. Morgana's is dead, they find the body but no battle ensues. They come back to Camelot wondering what had happened, just to find out a woman, the same woman Arthur had talked before leaving to kill Morgana, had taken the sword in the stone.

This part messes the whole plan of Arthur and Merlin. It's too late now. Uther believes she is the long lost daughter he had always wanted. (Poor bby Arthur).

Now they have just one night, before the sun rises again they had to determine what to do with this woman, who she is and what it meant that she was there now, what to do with Uther, and the nobleman who are losing faith in Arthur, while Camelot is starting to spread rumours about this woman, and about Arthur disappearing from the realm.

CHAPTER 50

The Heir of the Throne

Destiny is not a matter of chance, but a matter of choice.

It's not something given, it's something you need to achieve.

-Author Unkown.

"Please forgive me, milady, I don't even think I have even asked for your name properly, between all the commotion from before."

A moment of hesitance

"My name is Maryanne, my king."

"Maryanne, what a lovely name for a… well, a lovely lady," Uther said, almost awkwardly. Almost because Kings, of course, are never awkward.

"Thank you,"

And there was silence again.

There were only three people in the room, and yet Gaius felt like there wasn't enough place to breathe. He took a sip of wine. Gods knew he needed at least one sorb, at least to give himself time to think before he spoke.

The noises of scratching plates and sips of water and wine were the only sounds that could be heard in the room, except the occasional voice of Uther Pendragon, king of Camelot, and that of the auburn-haired, Maryanne. A girl, —well, woman, to be truly speaking— that had absolutely no relevance whatsoever in Gaius' life.

Until today, that is.

Until this very night when she showed up, flanked by Percival, to the very entrance of Camelot's palace. Demanding an explanation of what had just happened in the clear, and the meaning of all that happened after that.

Until today, when she showed up with sword in hand.

The sword that rightfully belonged to Arthur, the once and future king of this land, was now resting on the table beside her unmoving and, actually, quite harmless.

Gaius looked at the sword as if the sword itself was the one to blame for all this.

Every few seconds the girl would look at it too, intrigued, curious, the torches lighting up the room would make shadows and small glints on the sword that would catch her eye, and then she would look up to Gaius or Uther, clearly eager to ask something before hesitantly placing her eyes back on her food in silence. Gaius guesses she was rightfully waiting for an explanation of all this.

Explanation that,—and if Gaius had any saying in this—, would not alter the destiny of this land.

Gaius, one of the most respected citizens of the realm, the most knowledgeable eldest person in Camelot and most trustworthy physician of the kingdom was sitting on the left side of the king truly speechless, his food getting cold with every passing second, as he had yet to touch it. Uther, on the other hand, was sitting on his rightful place as ruler and was eating slowly, eyes more focused on the girl a few meters away than his ever-growing mess on the table. The girl… or woman, Gaius wasn't sure about her age just yet, this new human at the table; Maryanne, was visibly anxious about all this, gaze always looking back at her plate any time Gaius wanted to catch her attention, but still managing to keep calm under the circumstances, he will give her that.

After all, it was well known that having dinner with the king was always an event that could go both ways. Either terribly right or terribly wrong. Better to wait for the king to speak.

And so, they kept eating, in terse and fragile silence.

Gaius was quite frankly relieved that there was no one in the room but them, the fewer people here the better to see and control the outcome.

Gaius took another sip of wine and played with his soup, he was still recovering from the impact of the events prior to this unexpected dinner.

The second the girl had shown up at the entrance of Camelot Gaius had nearly had a heart attack, just the sight of her and the sword had been enough for him to almost fall to the floor. And when Merlin and Arthur walked inside along with the King himself a few minutes later, both his faces filled with confusion and fear, well, his heart entirely broke.

Gaius hates to admit this, he hates himself from even thinking it, but he is a man of reason, if nothing else, and he guesses he will never say it out loud, but he knew deep down from a long time go… that they had failed.

They had failed.

And that's the raw truth. Merlin, Arthur, Lancelot, Gwaine, and Gaius himself. All of them had failed. Even if the rest of the youngest men had not noticed yet, Gaius did, and sadly, he had prepared for this.

He was the most trustworthy advisor of Uther Pendragon for a reason, and that was because he knew him, he had known him for years, and he knew, even if Uther had forgotten it, that no one but Arthur needed to be next in line for the throne.

He doesn't know exactly how to explain it, but he knew the second Uther walked inside and saw this woman standing there, the sword in her hands…. just the look in his eyes… he knew, right then, that there would be great, great repercussions, and few things he could do or say now would be able to save whatever was left of this realm if Arthur, Merlin, and himself don't act quickly.

Things right now were dire, Arthur had no power whatsoever, because at the moment Uther had no heir on the throne, with Uther denying Arthur there were little paths Arthur could take. Now with Maryanne, the living personification of what Uther wanted just made this worse.

And let's not even talk about what the nobleman and the people in town were saying.

Killing Morgana to make Uther recover his memories was the last straw. The last plan.

And it backfired.

And Gaius had spent countless nights thinking…and planning.

Arthur and Merlin had not been the only ones moving the wires, and playing with destinies and making plans. He had just hoped he could spend this life without having to put them into action.

He gave a long sigh before taking a long sip of water. He looked at the girl, so naive, so… inattentive of what her presence now meant.

So far, there were three things he could do. One was easy, but would not solve the problem, one would gain him Merlin's distrust forever, and the other one… he doesn't know if Arthur would ever forgive him for it.

In all scenarios, Gaius would become a traitor in some way. He wondered if he could find the strength to do the right thing. But the first thing he must do was getting Uther alone. And that's why they were having supper in the royal chambers of the king.

You see, the second he had a moment to speak over the shock of the entirety of the room where the guards, some knights, Arthur and Merlin, along with Uther, and the nobleman had been all lingering around the newcomer of Maryanne, Gaius had moved into action.

Unlike Merlin, who had magic, or Arthur who had a sword and his body to fight with, Gaius had his brain, and he was very good at using it.

He instantly rejoiced over the news and quite easily convinced Uther to organize dinner, right away! It was late to a proper celebration, but giving there were a lot of things to discuss a nice dinner was nothing but perfect to try and explain this girl the motives of everything that had just happened in the Sword in the Stone test.

"Besides you look tired my dear!" Gaius had said guiding her towards the exit of the room. "We shall talk over dinner, If thats alright."

Then as the girl stood perplexed at the entrance Gaius went for Uther who was looking at Maryanne as if she was a unicorn that he could sell for seven kingdoms in return.

'Remember the motive of all this test, my king,' Motives that had yet to be discussed, he reminded him softly and for Uther's ears only, 'Let's take things slow and be courteous, my king. It's only wise.'

'Of course,' The king had said. And after that Uther didn't need to be told twice, he instantly made the announcement for everyone to meet at the fanciest, longest table he had to offer in the castle, speaking with great joy about how great it would be for everyone to join and celebrate such a glorious day, or so he had said. He instantly commanded a few guards and maidens to arrange everything, meanwhile, he had walked the girl out the room, escorting her to the dinner table himself.

Gaius followed, not before giving one serious glance at Merlin, and Gaius knew Merlin had understood what he meant with that one look, despite his shock.

And so, Gaius quickly closed the doors behind him with almost reverence. The chaos inside the room died as the wooden doors closed.

They didn't open again.

He turned on his feet and quietly walked behind the King and the newcomer. Gaius would take care of this situation, while he hoped his two boys could cope with everything that stayed behind.

"It's a shame, honestly, that nobody else could attend dinner," Uther said perplexed, bringing Gaius to the present, "everybody seemed so—well…" Uther moved his fork in an attempt to remember the correct word.

"In shock, my king?" Gaius offered. He tried his best to leave his worries behind and concentrate.

"Well… yes, of course, but what I mean is—"

"Curious," Maryanne said from the other side, biting the warm bread on her hands softly, elegantly even. Uther nodded, allowing her to speak, "They were curious… about me."

"Exactly," Uther said with a firm nod, a bit of anger showing on his face, even after all these years, Uther never took declined invitations lightly, after all, who says no to a king? "Exactly, so I wonder why they are not here if most noblemen were downstairs less than an hour ago."

Uther even moved to raise from his chair. Gaius quickly pushed him lightly on the shoulder to keep him steady.

"I believe that would be my fault, my king," Gaius said quickly, cautiously removing his hand and putting it back on the table. At his words, Uther raised his brows, torn between anger but also, interest.

"And why, may I ask, Gaius, you took such an important decision without consulting me, your king, first? Knowing how important this meeting is?"

Gaius knew he had to choose his words carefully or Uther would have his head.

"I think, my king," Gaius said in a low voice, so Maryanne, busy on her dinner, wouldn't hear from afar, even though she was half-heartedly paying attention. "That this dinner requires privacy and the utmost secrecy. I'm just as glad as you are for this…event, per se, but there are many, many people in the courtroom that are not trustworthy of this information just yet. We still need to… well, know Maryanne, make her feel welcome, imagine how she would be surrounded by people she doesn't know? By people she doesn't trust? She doesn't even know us, my king."

As Gaius spoke Uther began to softly understand the words and, as usual, he was manipulative as it best, so by the end, he acknowledged that Gaius was right.

Gaius looked at Maryanne then and gave her a smile that she returned, before asking if she could have some wine, at this Uther himself stood up and walked along the long table, ready to fit over twenty people, and replenished her glass before returning to his seat.

"So, with all due respect, I saw more amicable and fitting to have some private dinner instead, so we could all meet… well—her, sir."

"I supposed you are right," Uther uttered under his breath and Gaius took a deep breath. It was going to be a long, long dinner. And even longer night, if the things he had planned went ahead.

The girl was eating slowly, eating like someone who was very deeply enjoying the meal but at the same time trying not to show it. Maybe pride? Or maybe she was scared, comprehensible, after all the chaos that had happened just a few moments ago in the main room when Arthur and Merlin arrived it. She had just been pushed one place to another and then forced to sit and have dinner with the king.

"It's the food, alright, Maryanne?"

The girl raised her head and nodded once. "Delicious, you have great cooks in this castle."

"The best from the best, I can assure you," Uther said and finally had a topic to hold on to. "Is this the first time you visit the castle? I have never seen you before."

"Neither have I," Gaius said, perplexed at this fact, he had hoped Uther or some other would recognize her, "And I know half the town."

"Oh, that's because… well," She says putting her for down, a sad smile on her face as she explained, "I'm very sick it's nothing curable or life threating, it's just my body is always fighting me for energy, I rarely go out or I get sick. My sister does though, and so does my mother."

"Oh really, what are their names?"

"Lucila McGregor is my mother, my father I never knew him, so we go with the McGregor name." She said after a moment of hesitance, "My sister's name is Breda but she moved out of Camelot years ago. She was red-haired."

"Oh, Lucila, yes, and I do remember Breda, such a nice girl, how is she? She came to see me before she went away, she wanted some medicine for her and her baby for the long journey," Gaius said, relieved to find common ground here, but Maryanne limited herself to a half-smile.

"She's doing perfectly fine, thank you, and my mother is… well, getting old. But we are alright," The woman resumed eating, eyes focused on her meal, Uther tried to speak again but failed, however, every time he did Gaius shot him a glare.

"What is it, Gaius?" Uther said as he kept looking at Maryanne with a half-daze stare, you could see he was incredibly happy, he even looked as if a few years had lifted from his shoulders. And from the point of Uther, this was a miracle, he thought he had found a daughter. The lost heir of the throne. In his mind, Uther was ecstatic to have found someone who deserved to be the heir of the kingdom.

Gaius took a deep breath again before speaking.

"My lord, before giving… any news," He said, conveying his meaning trough little words. "Just look at the girl, she looks tired and confused. Don't you think she will be better off resting first? Tell her family she is here? Wait for tomorrow, once we discuss this better?"

Uther seemed to be put down by these words, he stared at the girl more intently and the girl held his gaze patiently. As if waiting for a verdict. Uther looked at the bags under her eyes, and her pale skin and conceded.

"You are right, you are right, we can talk tomorrow."

And Gaius, of course, was right. An heir or not, which she was not, she looked tired beyond her years. She was tall, but not as tall as Arthur, perhaps a little bit taller than Gwen, but her elegance stood in second place when you looked at her pale skin, she was truly sick. Gaius wondered if somehow he could help her, but for now, he was certain of two things: the quicker this dinner ended the best for everyone involved.

"Can I ask a question?" Maryann said as she finished her dinner and silently placed her napkin on the table. "I have heard rumors for over three days over the sword in the stone, can I ask what this means?"

And with this, she meant the sword, she pointed at it.

"Why did you decide to try it out?" Uther said fascinated, evading her question for the time being. "I heard that only men were trying, not that I care if you are a man or a woman."

Maryann shot him a weird glance but nodded. "I only tried because I thought, well— I thought that I could somehow do it. That I deserved it, the chance to try. I never thought it would move to be honest. I'm still surprised."

"So are we, milady," Gaius said in a pessimist's voice that he tried to keep at bay.

"Well, the explanation will take us a few hours, at least, however, right now is well past curfew. You must be exhausted, but I understand you must also have lost of questions, I assume."

Maryanne nodded as a hand went to hover the sword, fascinated by it.

"Is… is the sword mine?"

"I don't think—"

"Of course it is, Maryanne," Uther interrupted Gaius with a glare "You took it out, and as the legend says is yours to keep, I'll make a sleeve worthy of such a sword first thing tomorrow, so you can carry it with you, after all, a queen should always be prepared to fight too. Igraine always said that—"

"A Queen?" Maryanne, retorted, in shock.

"Oh, just a figure of speech, since you are a lady who should know how to protect yourself, isn't it? Now!" Gaius said standing up, hands on the table to avoid more conversation, "I'm afraid I must retire, tomorrow I have a long list of things I must foresee, as you do too, my king."

"Yes, yes, I'm aware Gaius, no need to remind me. I just wanted to enjoy myself this evening, is that a crime?"

"Of course not, but don't forget that before any announcement there are people you need to talk to, and prepare the speech for tomorrow, everyone will be… restless to know about this. The woman who pulled the sword out of the stone." Gaius said, as he looked at Maryann who was still sitting, like waiting still for some news.

"And prepare for that speech I shall do," Uther said as he rose from his seat, he doubted at seeing Maryanne still sitting but he realized that he would have a long, long time, to know this girl better in the future, "Right now let's not be rude and allow Maryanne to rest, and to go home, your mother must be worried. You are more than welcome to stay, in case the walk to your home is long. I will gladly send my best knights to escort you."

She kindly accepted but she hesitated.

"What is it, child?" Gaius said, ready to have this dinner over with and this woman away.

"It's just… I'm not feeling very well; I do want to go with my mother but I spent a long time waiting for my turn at the sword…"

Her hands at this point were almost shaking. Tomorrow Gaius would give her something for her nerves, a long with a long conversation.

"Of course, I'll ask Freya to show you to a guest room right away, and I'll send my guards to tell your mother of your whereabouts," Uther nodded, content with this turn of events, and quickly sent a guard and a knight to Maryanne's house. Then he ordered two guards and the maiden Freya to accompany his honorary guest to her chambers.

"She can stay in the west wing, on the room on the left side of the stairs."

The Maiden looked stricken by this. "But…"

"No buts, please Freya, just do as I say," Uther said, standing tall. "It's been a long day, for everyone."

The guards exchanged a glance but said nothing. Maryanne bowed to Uther to dismiss herself.

"Good night, my king."

"Same to you, Maryanne."

"I—thank you, but, I'm sorry but I'm still confused and I feel the need to know, this sword, when will I—"

"Everything has a time, my dear, rest well, we will talk tomorrow," Uther said in his most paternal voice, and with that Maryanne, incredibly troubled by this, left with her escort. Sword hanging on her right hand, glinting in the soft light of the torches and the light of the moon outside.

Soon she disappeared from sight, only Gaius and Uther were standing left alone in the hallway. On the quiet corridors at night

"Alright, Gaius, what is it? I can see it all over your face, what is bothering you? Beyond the fact that you must be in such as stunned as I am, who thought this sword in the stone would work, indeed? And furthermore a daughter. I always thought if I was ever going to raise an heir would be a man, but, certainly, I will not complain. After all, we finally have a future heir to the throne, isn't' that marvelous?"

"My king…" Gaius said after several moments and turned to stare at the face of Uther, he looked so happy, he looked…he looked as… as a father, a look that had vanished from his features lately, for months actually, flourished in his face again, "Is there anything you wouldn't do for your Kingdom?"

"There is nothing I wouldn't do to keep this kingdom safe, Gaius. Whatever it takes. Sometimes is a hard burden to carry such worries, but it's the job a king nonetheless. That's the reason I looked for an heir, I must train someone worth carrying that title, and she turned out to be a good place to start. This will be a challenge, but maybe I was wrong all along. Maybe I didn't need a man to take the throne, but a woman to leave the throne to. It's weird, but not entirely unheard of. After all, what choice is there."

What choice is there…

"Very well, let go and rest, my king and…" Gaius doubted for a second before he took a vial from his robes and gave it to the king, "Drink this before going to sleep, it's for your recent headache and back pains. Just a few drops should be enough."

"Thank you, my friend," Uther said, "And thank you for your presence here tonight, and your advice is always welcome. Now, let us rest before we keep planning. I'll see you tomorrow." And with another grateful nod, he departed.

Gaius stared at his back, still looking impressive and tall from afar, happy in a way he had not been after he lost the memories of Arthur. Gaius watched him until he doubled the corner.

"Long live the king," He said in a murmur to the empty walls. The old physician allowed a tear to fall before he hastily got rid of it. He gave himself a second to collect himself. After a deep breath, he began walking along the hall, and downstairs to the meeting room he was sure Merlin and Arthur were still battling the nobleman.

Gaius had made his choice, the same way Arthur and Merlin had made their choices.

Gaius, too, will see for this kingdom. He had protected this kingdom even before Merlin came to his life that day in his working chambers, and he will continue to do so.

And he will live with the consequences for the rest of his life. Because there was no way this girl, whoever she was, became the sole heir of a kingdom that did not belong to her, just because Morgana, even in death, could still somehow haunt them from the grave.

Camelot had one heir, and that heir was Arthur Pendragon. And, to be quite honest, he was sure, just as he was sure the night was dark, that Uther, had he retained the memories of his son, would have done the same to protect him. He loved Arthur with all his heart. He had loved him for years, way more time than this irremediable enchantment that had fallen over him months ago.

And as Uther had said, whatever it takes.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Arya was trying to sleep in her tent, the druid camp quiet for once, but she was unable to do anything but stare at the drapes hanging from the top of her tent. Her magic was still trying to appease her, to calm her.

After all, great news had arrived that day.

Morgana was dead, and as unsettling as it was, it was not information to take lightly. Morgana, who had cursed Uther Pendragon, had forgotten his son. And the enchantment did not break even with her death.

The enchantment was designed to function despite the energy of the sorcerer. That's why it was so dangerous. The vase will carry the curse until the person died. Or until the vase was destroyed. Destroying the vase wasn't an option. The repercussions were unimaginable. Unless Arya revealed Arthur the way to solve it, Uther will always be cursed.

On the other side of the room was said golden vase, shining slightly even in the darkness. It stood as a promise between Arthur and Arya. A promise that he had kept. The vase in exchange for help in the form of a small druid army, ready to fight and kill Morgana.

Arya turned her back towards the vase, lost in her world. She will never help Uther Pendragon. Arthur Pendragon had 7 different ways to reach the throne, she had seen them all. But now with Morgana's death, she wondered if the destiny of Arthur had changed.

What does this death mean to the future of Albion?

She closed her eyes but saw nothing. She had lost her powers? That was impossible, and yet, that's how she felt. Blind. Her magic was still feeling erratic under her skin. Unable to keep still any longer she stood from her bead and magically started to prepare herself some tea to help her sleep.

In the forest, Aithussa gave a loud roar.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Merlin has been the witness of numerous chaotic scenes in his short life. To be honest, he has even been the protagonist of several chaotic endeavors, even if some people in Camelot are blind to it. If Arthur could hear his thoughts, he would say, very loudly, that Merlin is, in fact, the clumsy perpetrator of most of the worsts of his days.

However, Merlin swears that this moment, right now, has to be one of the most horrific ones yet. It was even worse than that time he freed Kilgharrah from the dungeons years ago and he burned half the town.

This was way, way worse than a dragon killing roaming Camelot for days. No. He was watching right before his eyes as a kingdom was faced to either lose his prince or his king, in just one moment. One thing Camelot had never faced before

Arthur had told him once that a kingdom without a ruler is the worst curse that could fall over the land. And right now he saw eyes that had always trusted Arthur losing all faith in him. With no doubts whatsoever.

All at once, Merlin feared the outcome of this meeting.

"For all the gods on the seven kingdoms, Arthur, what is the meaning of this?"

"It's dark magic, I'm telling ya'a all!"

"Treason! That's what it is!"

"Oh, shut up, Sir Gregor, this isn't treason, but we do need some explanation, Sir Arthur."

"Is anyone else going to address the issue of the girl? I have never heard of a woman being queen!"

"May I remind you this was a plan? She is not the queen of anything!"

"Well, tell Camelot that," Said an infuriated Sir Gregor. "Half the town thinks she will be Arthur's lost sister now. Weren't you supposed to bring answers with you, Sir Arthur?"

"You told us that pulling the sword would wake up your father from the spell of Morgana!" Lady Lorene said louder than the rest, it was clear that manners were lost, after all, what was happening was unprecedented, "What are we supposed to do now? Why hasn't he woken up?"

Merlin was standing next to Arthur's chair. Arthur, Gwaine, Lancelot, and a bunch of noblemen were in a heated discussion about the recent events that happened just an hour ago. None knew what to say, they had just come from a fight, for god's sake, they had not stopped for weeks on end. They had barely slept.

Gwaine was being very loud about this, but nobody listened to him much when there was an issue with Uther still lost memory.

Everyone was yelling on top of another looking at Arthur for hopeful answers, slamming their hand at the tables when they wanted more attention than the others. Outrageous. They said with their loud voices. Indignant, claimed others with their twisted faces. Terrifying, yelled their eyes.

And by all means, this was terrifying.

In all his elaborated plans, in all his years of failing at structured plans and recovering at the last moment. Usually, the only person that knew he had failed was, well, himself. Now, looking slightly down at the tense shoulders of his friend he wondered how many times he had failed and had faced the nobleman here. As a prince, he was obliged to stand in front of these people and deal… well, with whatever he had to face that day.

Merlin grimly wondered how can someone solve a broken kingdom. Because terror was underlying every word being said: we are losing our king. They had been losing it for weeks, enough that there were rumors all around Camelot now.

Camelot was losing its crown and Merlin didn't know how to help, what to say.

He just placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder, he wanted to tell Arthur some words of support but it was lost on the chaos of the room. Merlin himself felt heavy with the revelation that their plan had horribly backfired at them. Still confused as it how was that even possible.

Arthur sat taller under his touch, as if he had been lost in his thoughts and Merlin's had brought him back. Merlin wondered what Arthur was thinking. Merlin felt Arthur breath deeply and slowly, before he opened his mouth to speak, once again, and explain once again, what had happened.

"Believe me, I'm in shock just as everybody else is about the situation, but—"

"What about your father now?! Did he forget who you are, forever now?"

"I don't—" Arthur couldn't even finish speaking when he was interrupted again.

"And didn't you tell us, didn't you give us your word that you could cure your father?"

"I did. And I—"

"So what about that so-called cure you went to look for? The kind of magic that Morgana placed your father upon is worse than we all thought?" Said Lady Catherine, the last noblewoman on his side, terrified. "Will he start to go mental? Senile?"

And chaos started all over again.

That's when Gwaine finally lost it, standing up and slamming his hands on the mahogany table. There was no time for pleasantries and manners that was for sure.

"My dear lords and ladies, can you all please kindly shut your mouths so we can receive an actual response for all your questions?" Gwaine asked exasperated. This left the room quite perplexed, never had a knight dared to talk to them like this. "You are acting like a bunch of my pupils back in the ranks! Please, behave as the noblemen you all are, for the love of the seven gods! May I remind you that Arthur is your future King and you shall all pay the same deference? Or are we losing focus and respect just because our King, Uther, is severely ill?!"

"How dare—"

"No, Sir Devor, I'm afraid Sir Gwaine here is making a very valid point," Leon spoke, it was the only knight the noblemen considered as wise and with sufficient command on the whole knight guard. "Let our prince Arthur speak. We are all agitated with the news—terrified even, but if we lose our minds we won't be able to solve this problem. Camelot needs us. That's why we are here. And we shall better start doing our part; listening." Leon spoke, his voice way softer and more authoritative leaving the room quiet along with him. He assessed everyone, making sure no more revolting will occur and then he nodded, slowly sitting on his chair.

He had learned a thing or two by being so many years around Uther in courtrooms at least.

"Thank you, Sir Leon," Arthur nodded before placing his hands softly in the table in front of him, looking for words he didn't have, looking for some kind of advice to this horrible moment that he has been postponing for months. Without Gaius there, the only other paternal figure beside his father, he felt lost.

For starters, he couldn't explain the whole story, not really without revealing Merlin's magic. And Camelot wasn't ready for that kind of revelation, not right now. So as far as the sword in the stone goes, how to explain to all of them that the rock in the sword was a trick of his and Merlin's, that would be accepting that they had lied to them before. The sword was supposed to help him. Revealing that the sword was just a mere trick would be accepting a lot of things that he was just not ready to cope with right now.

He couldn't tell them about the lie of the sword. He couldn't tell them it wasn't true in some way. Also; how to tell them he had escaped in the middle of the night to hunt Morgana? He had left without authorization and behind their backs. The nobleman would have never allowed him to leave Camelot to kill Morgana, not if it means he could die.

Furthermore, how was he supposed to accept that Morgana was dead? He never thought they would come to this, but, accepting that Morgana was dead was accepting that his father would never recover his memory, that he will be cursed forever, and this news was so shocking to admit even to himself.

Either way, he wanted to assess this situation he was at a loss. For the first time in ages, he didn't have a plan. And that was the bottom line: he didn't know what to do anymore.

The vase didn't work. The druids didn't help. Aithussa was born and left with them, which, too, was something to foresee in the future. Kilgharrah had said he refused to give them a hand to save Uther. Not that he knew anyway. Not that he cared. Gaius had read every book in the castle, Merlin had practiced all kind of spells, enchantments, readings, and potions with the vase.

Nothing had given anything away.

Not even Morgana's death, the last straw.

And now even the plan of the sword to make Uther believe that Arthur was his son had failed. Now a woman was occupying his place. A woman who had taken his sword. His rightful place.

They had failed.

He had failed.

Miserably.

For a moment there he thought he was going to start choking, tearing apart from the inside, his whole world had crumbled, but he managed to stay still on the outside, he took a deep breath, but he failed to utter a single word after that. On the outside, the prince of Camelot looked concrete, royal, sitting upright, just tense and quiet, meditating, but inside? He felt like all those years ago when he had found out Edmund was dead and no one had been there as a witness. A pain he had endured alone.

Now, his father was dying, so to speak. Morgana was dead. Arthur was as good as dead without his father. What was he supposed to do now? Pretend and lie? Say the truth and hope for the worse?

He couldn't do this. He needed his father. He didn't know which path to take. How much to reveal. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to speak. Either way, this meeting will be the end of the beginning of a new kingdom.

"Morgana is dead."

His eyes snapped open and he quickly lost all train of thought. Merlin had taken a seat next to him, something that has never been seen before, only the King, or princes seat at the end of the table, on the honorary place. Everybody else in matters of importance takes seats on the sides; closer to him his advisors, further to him, his guests, and usually on the other end the person he wanted to impress the most. Or some other royal.

Not even a queen seats on the table beside him on a reunion, for god's sake.

But here was Merlin taking a seat right next to him because Merlin does not care about etiquette at the moment.

At least nobody seemed to care much about this when he announced such news.

"Morgana is dead," Merlin repeated, softly, gaze steady as he looked at the rest of the table. Choosing his words. Everyone stopped to listen. Stunned. Morgana was dead?

"Arthur, along with a few of the bravest knights in Camelot, and I went to find her. Against your wishes, we all know, we are sorry, but it was the only way we could stop what was happening to Uther and-"

"Uther? Pay some respect, He is your King and—"

"For once, Sir Gregor," Sir Peter said tiredly and exasperated. "Let's us forget democracy and just hear what they bring with them. Camelot may depend on the things we choose this night. And I pray we choose compassion and honesty, and the welfare of our people, over injudicious etiquette."

Sir Gregor didn't look so happy about it but nodded in agreement.

"Please proceed." Sir Peter nodded to the once and future king and the greatest sorcerer to ever live, "What did you encounter?"

"Nothing," Arthur said, slowly recovering his bearings, he was good at relating stories and details of a quest. He was good at relaying information and form a plan as he spoke, so slowly but painfully hid all his pain, his fears, and everything that was insistently trying to make him collapse and he put it in a cage, doubled locked and decided to care for all these emotions later, "We found nothing, there wasn't a fight, there were no enemies. No magic around us. Just… her body." He said with finality.

"You mean… you mean you found her dead?" Sir Peter said perplexed, eyes wide open. "How?"

Arthur and Merlin exchanged a glance before they addressed the room.

"We don't know," Arthur said finally. "We are… well, we were looking into this, this just happened a few hours ago, everything has happened quicker than I have had time to ponder about," He confessed, "We arrived at the city with this news just to find out that our plan with the sword in the stone failed. And now we are here, between the shock of seeing Morgana dead and then another woman taking my sword I honestly am just as baffled as you are."

"You were supposed to take that sword out." Catherine cut him, outraged, and the tense but rather calm air in the room began to evaporate, and a raging, chaotic atmosphere began to increase in the room, "And with that make your father, who is under the effect of the darkest side of magic, remember you! Why didn't you do it before going to seek her? Why wait until someone else could take it?!"

"And by a woman no less!" Said a nobleman outraged. "Didn't you say only you could pull it out, Arthur? Didn't you say only a pendragon could do it? This legend… we trusted you with it."

"I—yes. Only I can pull it out—"

"Apparently, that's not no longer true."

"—or someone with pendragon blood," Arthur said ignoring the comment. Now that the news of Morgana where on the table he better keep the sword in the stone trick a secret. "The sword only works when someone worthy of being a king, or someone with royal blood—a Pendragon in this case—can take it. And the reason, Lady Catharine, that I didn't do this before, was because going and try and break the source of the enchantment was far more important than giving my father the impression of a fake son. Taking the sword out of the rock would just be a lie. My father wouldn't truly remember me, he would think, that I was just a lost heir and—"

Merlin placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder to appease him, the prince hadn't noticed he was going short of breath, and that his eyes itched with the need to cry.

"Arthur wanted his father back, more than anything, just as you want your king back," He said in the silence that invaded the room for a moment after Arthur's outburst, "I think it was wise to use even the last resource to make this right for our king, our king deserved no less, just as Camelot doesn't deserve a fake heir."

"We did everything in our hands to ensure this," Lancelot said wisely. "It was our duty as knights and habitants of this city to fight for that last ray of hope, as small as that ray might be."

"While that might be true… it only leaves us in the same spot that we were before you left," Sir Peter said gravely, "It leaves our kingdom without a prince, it leaves our rightful prince, Arthur, defenseless, and it leaves us, the people…"

In chaos. Merlin thought.

In deep, horrible, immeasurable; chaos.

He had failed everyone here and they didn't even know it. He had failed to figure out the base, maybe Arthur was right and the vase wasn't supposed to be solved. Merlin had the urge to stand up and yell at them, to tell them everything they had gone through, to make them see how much they had tried. How much they had sacrificed to bring Uther back, he wanted to tell them that it had been impossible, that even in death Morgana had won.

He wanted to tell them none of them had helped, in the least. He wanted to use his magic and create the little lights that Arthur loves so much to appease his troubled heart.

But if Arthur was able to stay there, composed, while all was breaking, So could he.

Arthur opened his mouth to give a final answer when the doors of the room opened almost imminently.

Merlin to this day doesn't know if it was faith. Or destiny, or their doom.

But when the doors opened, Uther's faith had been decided. Even if Merlin didn't know it then.

When the doors opened everyone quickly turned to the sight of a man slowly but powerfully entering. Some even raised to his feet in quiet panic, but it was not Uther but Gaius entering the chambers.

"Gaius!"

"Thanks to the lords you are here!" Agatha said retaking her seat. As if at the sight of Gaius verything would be magically solved.

The look on Gaius' face didn't relax Merlin in the slightest though, even as he sat on the right side of Arthur and the doors closed behind him again. Only when they were closed Gaius spoke.

"I bring news, my prince. Great news." He said looking at Arthur, a small smile on his face, "Your father, he recovered!"

"What?!"

The look on Arthur's face was something Gaius would never forgive himself for.

"Morgana's death worked! It wasn't instantly, but just a few moments ago he was tired, the effects of a spell vanishing, he is in his room now resting, however demanding to see his son."

There were screams of happiness all around the room, chairs being pulled back as people raised and hugged each other. Sir Peter even clapped Gregory's back. Merlin's smile was nothing compared to Arthur's. They looked at each other. Did it work? Morgana's death worked?

Had the spell broken later then? How stupid of them to think it would be instantly too.

"I'll go see him right away," Arthur who rose from his seat in a second.

"Wait, wait, there is more you need to hear, all of you," He said addressing the room. "Please, please do take a seat, my boy."

"Oh Gaius, you bring great news to us," Lady Catherine said, not a tear in her eyes so she couldn't be that relieved, but relieved she was. "Our king is back?"

"He is sick and tired still, but his memory is fully restored," Gaius said placidly, "We must be away from him for a while, dark magic takes a lot from a person physically, but we will have him around us in no time."

"This is such great news," Sir Peter said, a smile Merlin had never quite seen before was adorning his face now, "You surely came at the right time, Gaius. I'm very, very happy to hear this from you."

"We all are, we have been missing King Uther greatly, our prince here could say so too," Leon said kindly as Arthur tried but failed to hide a happy tear, however, there was something on Gaius demeanor that wasn't exactly fooling Merlin. He knew that man better than he knew himself sometimes, and Gaius wasn't acting like someone happy to see his king was safe and sound.

There was something else. Merlin took Arthur's shoulder with great force and forced him to lock gazes. He couldn't say what, but something was not right.

"Merlin?" Arthur asked low, preoccupied, understanding Merlin at once, and in a second, he recovered his composure.

"Then what happens with the girl?" Someone asked after the merry laughs, shouts filled with joy, and prayers had died down to allow people to talk once again, at this everyone turned towards Gaius.

"Will the sword in the stone test will be dismissed, surely," Merlin said, but when Gaius looked at him before addressing the rest of the room he knew, right then, that something awful was about to happen.

"I have been doing my fair share of reading and studying this contest, along with its legend for days on end," Gaius started, calm as he talked, and his calm voice filled the room with a sensation of order. Merlin looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. Usually, Gaius wasn't so fast to think on his feet, so he wondered what the man would say, "I have been researching and reading, as you know I'm the owner and rightful caretaker of antique books with all the legends of this land. Those books were the ones were Arthur found the very legend of this rock."

"Only a true son of a Pendragon can lift the sword. We know. But we just found out a woman, younger than my wife, lifting it!" Sir Gregor said, "With Uther and Arthur back in their rightful places what's there not to dismiss. The sword is no longer important. This only proves that magic and fairy-tales are useless and very questionable, in my opinion."

"Just another way that magic has deceived us, I believe?" Lady Agatha said, clearly more relaxed and open for discussion. "In any case, there was no way this woman was ever going to take the throne."

"So the test in the stone is no key to anything, then," Sir Peter said patiently.

"In fact, it might be the key to everything we know." Gaius said quietly and Merlin could feel how Arthur stopped breathing beside him, "The rumors have invaded Camelot by now, they all know she must be important, they all know tomorrow Uther will give an announcement about her, the reason she was able to pull the sword out when nobody seemed able to. It was, of course, never to prove Arthur's blood. He is a pendragon and the future king of Camelot."

Merlin understood at once. Oh no. Nonononono. No. No.

Gaius couldn't—

"Gaius—" Merlin tried, but it was too late.

"The story speaks about this rock and the sword as a test to preserve the future of Camelot, whenever there will be doubt about the heir, the sword will come out, claiming the rightful heir to the throne."

"So, this girl… is, Uther has a daughter?" Lady Catherine said concerned.

"That's impossible," Sir Davos said, completely stunned. "Magical rock or not, Uther never had another son, we all saw how much Igraine suffered to have Arthur, how much they both wanted him, loved him— are you implying—"

"My father would never be unfaithful to his wife." Arthur defended his father, and where exactly was Gaius going on with this? "He loved her,"

"He was alone for many years after your birth." Sir Peter guessed. "Perhaps that could be the reason?"

Slowly, like water rising in the sea, everybody started to talk and the small peace that Gaius had gained minutes ago began to evaporate once again.

"I never said, please, do listen to me. I never said Uther was in fault." Gaius said taking control over the room once more.

"Besides, with all due respect." Sir Davos said, scratching his neck. "Our King confessed himself he was… unable to provide life in a child, per se. I'm not saying our King was unfaithful even in death… but I'm saying that…"

"That he wasn't able to have another child. But me." Arthur finished the sentence with finality. His words resounded around the room like another curse like a doomed future, and Merlin had every desire to wake up from this feverish dream. "Gaius it's not implying this woman is a Pendragon because of my father."

Merlin blinked at Arthur confused… had he missed something?

"Then if it's not a sister, how is she supposed…. To be…oh my god." Merlin whispered under his breath as his eyes grew big. Arthur just nodded to the rest of the room, not being able to look at Merlin directly.

Merlin turned his eyes towards Gaius. His magic going erratic inside him.

No.

"She becomes a Pendragon because Arthur will unless he decides against, marry her," Gaius said calmly. Calmy as he was stating the symptoms of a patient and not this breaking news.

In complete silence he took the book in front of him and opened in a page he had marked. And there, written in ancient ink, he read:

"The curse of a father shall befall their children forevermore,

The mistakes once made, the child must pay.

Its course can only break with the spiral of destiny itself.

Royal and rightfully they shall become who they need to be;

To be the rulers, the companion, or their savior of the royal blood for years to come."

Gaius read slowly, pausing at all the right times so everyone understood. Then he read the last part.

"A companion worthy of breaking this chain.

Her destiny is carved in stone, and with hair on fire, like the stars in the sky

She will prevail."

Gaius' words seemed to resonate all around him, like an echo, while Merlin couldn't hear further than his blood and magic pumping in his veins.

That prophecy was not part of what Arthur and Merlin had invented for the test— not that he could say that out loud but,—he certainly had never heard of this before! It was outrageous. And one thing to think about. If Uther had children because of magic… had he sentenced Arthur to the same fate? He looked towards Arthur, trying to compose his face, at least to gave Arthur some sense of relief, however, his prat friend was intently looking at the carved design on the table, like his life depended on it.

Arthur knew about this.

Oh, Merlin wanted to kill him.

"The prophecy is real." Merlin almost lost his breath.

"That prophecy was written the day I was born," Arthur announced to everyone on the table, raising his head and ignoring Merlin. "My father hid this prophecy and gave it to Gaius years ago, so he could analyze and see if it would be useful in the future. It… appears that I'am too, for some reason, unable to have children, unless this prophecy is completed. Or so he believed."

And for the first time in ages, Merlin didn't know if he preferred the chaos over this silence.

No one spoke for minutes.

Outside the window the moon was up and high in the sky, barely illuminating the city underneath. Merlin wondered when was the last time night had brought happy news. And he wondered if Morgana, deep down in her grave is happy to see them failing, once again. To a damned prophecy.

"Holy fucking hell," Gwaine said, breaking the silence in the room.

And again conversation started, this time calmer, this time with a new prospect, a new fear… if Arthur couldn't have children. What was the point then, isn't it? There would be a war for the throne when he died. Arthur's gaze was lost in the book Gaius was holding.

Merlin was short of breath. He thinks now he knows why Arthur always talked about fighting destinies and choosing. He didn't believe this prophecy was true. He truly believed that.

But Merlin knew better than to discard prophecies just because.

He could almost picture her, the evil witch in that room, in a corner with crossed arms and green icy eyes, smiling evilly at him. Had she known this secret? Probably. Had she wanted to pressure Gaius and Arthur to admit this.

Certainly.

Now there was doubt over Arthur's head too.

"Oh, poor Emrys, you failed your kingdom once again! The most powerful sorcerer to ever walk this earth?" She would say, her voice dripping with venom, "Lies."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Gaius, Arthur, Gwaine, Lancelot, and Merlin were quietly sitting close on the large table.

Arthur had called for a rest after hearing the shocking news that Gaius had brought. They would all meet tomorrow to discuss what should be done.

"Let us not worry about children and hierarchy before time," Arthur had said firmly but tiredly, "Prophecies and magic fail more often than not. As right now, our priority is the presence of this woman. We will discuss it furthermore tomorrow."

After all, choosing a Queen out of nowhere… it was unheard of. It almost seemed unreal.

"I agree we can address the Pendragon Bloodline further in the future," Said Lady Catherine before leaving, she folded her hands in front of her. "Uther has remembered you, which is the only important thing right now."

"It truly is a miracle from the heavens," Arthur conceded relieved.

"Let us rejoice in his recovery before we dwell into another battle," Sir Davos said, incredibly tired too. "It's been a long night, I'm telling ya'."

"You are all dismissed, my friends," Arthur said rasing for his seat, the feeling of doom but a light ray of hope shining through all the darkness.

The last person to leave the room was Sir Peter who seemed to doubt underneath the frames of the wooden doors, finally, he seemed to think better of it and turned slightly to face them.

"I understand the difficulty of what we are facing, Arthur," He said calmly, staring directly at Arthur, "But prophecies are not ones to take lightly, my king, this land has suffered a lot from ignoring them. Read that prophecy carefully before deciding what to do with it. If I may give a word of advice."

"Thank you, sir Peter, it will not go unnoticed," Arthur said but his statement sounded more like a question, confusion clear in his face before Sir Peter looked at Merlin significantly, and then he left, closing the doors behind him, a small smile on his face.

Arthur waited for his loud steps to lose themselves in the distance. The moment he was out of reach, Merlin quickly placed his hands in the air and moved them in a circle, eyes shining gold.

"Muffliato."

"Is the room secure?" Arthur asked at once.

"Yes," Merlin assured lowering his hands. "We can't be eavesdropped."

And that's when the real Arthur, behind all his façade, seemed to come alive.

"Arthur—" Gwaine started but he was interrupted when Arthur finally raised from his chair, hands on the table. Arthur's eyes were shining with anger, with…. something as close as betrayal, for a moment Gwaine thought he was looking at him, and then his stare landed on Gaius.

Arthur's voice was barely controlled as he spoke, arms trembling.

"Gaius. What did you do?"

Gaius was very concrete when he answered, hands clasped over the table, eyes fixed and begging for Arthur to understand.

"The prophecy talks about a woman, her faith in stone, the only woman who can birth your children. Arthur. She is that woman. I'm sure of that. She will be a Pendragon."

"Gaius, what on THE SEVEN KINGDOMS WERE YOU THINKING?" Arthur finally lost it, his voice growing in volume as he spoke, eyes demanding an explanation in his rage, "THE SWORD IN THE STONE IS A FAKE, WE INVENTED IT. IT'S A TRICK! THERE ARE NO MORE PENDRAGONS. SHE IS NOT MY SISTER, SHE DOESNT EVEN NEEDS TO BE MY WIFE. THE FACT THAT YOU USED THE PROPECHY WHEN I WAS BORN WAS…. WAS—SHE IS… SHE IS—"

"Arthur, please!" Lancelot tried."Take a seat and breathe, listen to—"

"NO!" Arthur said with finality, slamming a hand over the table, "I'm tired of listening! I'm tired of listening to all of you. I did everything! I sacrificed everything I had. For my kingdom, and for Albion! Why?! Why did you do this to me right now? How do you even know she is the woman? Uh?! Why do this right now when my father just recovered his health?!"

"Because, even if the Sword in the Stone is fake, Arthur, this prophecy is not!" Gaius said, enraged too. "I kept this a secret in favor of you and your father, but it's the only way Albion can start!"

"Albion?" Gwaine said incredibly confused, "What does Albion have to do with this woman and the sword?"

"Everything!" Arthur said finally lowering his voice for a moment talking a second to think,"Everything, the damned prophecy…. Gaius didn't read it whole! Albion has always been a known name to me. I just didn't know what it meant. At the time I meant it was just a name for a child. Now am I supposed to have a child in the name of a kingdom? That's insane!"

"If you don't have a child, sooner or later, your bloodline will end," Gaius said as if he had thought for years about this. "I didn't want to believe it. But the closer we are for you to take the throne more signals and prophecies are becoming real. It's only normal. You are accomplishing your destiny!"

"I gave everything, Gaius," Arthur said, almost out of breath, "Everything. For Albion. Do not take from me the chance to find someone I love."

"I can't- I don't understand. Why would Arthur…" Merlin said taking his head into his hands, he felt like a headache was coming. "What does Arthur having a child or not with this woman will be the start of Albion? I have read every prophecy about Albion and this never showed up."

Arthur took Gaius's book from his hands and opened it in the right spot, almost ripping the page apart in the process. He placed the book near the center so everyone could read it.

'The curse of a father shall befall their children forevermore,

The mistakes once made, the child must pay.

Its course can only break with the spiral of destiny itself.

Placing the sinner over the throne.

Royal and rightfully they shall become who they need to be;

To be the rulers, the companion, or their savior of the royal blood for years to come.

A companion worthy of breaking this chain.

Her destiny is carved in stone, and with hair on fire, like the stars in the sky

She will prevail, and with her, a future she will bring to Albion once again.'

Merlin felt shocked over this prophecy. He had thought there were no more secrets to unveil. And it turns out that every day he found something new in their path.

"I only read it once when I was a child and then my father took it away, I never saw the prophecy again and quickly forgot about it. Didn't understand it until today, it grew more important these past few months, that's for sure. After all, who follows prophecies to the last letter right?" Arthur was being sarcastic. "Then I find out there are several prophecies about me and Merlin. And about Albion. And it turns out Albion was not the name of a child. Is the name of my kingdom, and this woman is supposed to make this happen."

"How can we be sure she is the one that you have to marry?" Lancelot said trying to make some sense. "The test was a trick. It could be talking metaphorically. Maybe she will help you with Albion, not that you will have to have a child."

"Can we stop talking about this woman as if Arthur is going to marry her tomorrow and have a child by sunset? Jesus," Gwaine said, almost slapping his friends "Stop with the horrible thoughts mate, this woman can't, or most probably, won't be anything special

"She took the sword out," Merlin stated quietly. Not understanding then, but understanding now. He felt like throwing up.

"So what? It's fake, we can dismiss the whole test, just give her a title and some lands and that's about it," Gwaine said.

"Thank you, my thoughts exactly," Arthur said motioning to Gwaine, "This is nonsense, besides, I doubt my dad will ever allow this—"

"Only someone with magic can take it," Merlin said to the room, waiting for them to understand. It wasn't her, exactly. It was them who had changed their destinies. "You and I placed it there, out of thousands of people she took it, I think she might be even unaware she is magical, but she did. And she is here for a reason."

"Merlin, do not—"

"You can't have children." Gaius stated, "I'm positive if Merlin or Arya were to examine you magically they will find this to be true. If you let be magically examinated that is. And I'm sure of what the results will say. There's not one prophecy of you with children, did you ever wondered why? Not one. That has never happened before. Even your father had a prophecy of you coming into this world and—"

"It's only tales! It's stupid to believe every word we read in ancients books. We make our choices! Magic is not always real!"

"It's as real as Merlin is here!" Gaius said enraged, silencing the room for a moment, "You still think some magical things can go with your rules and whatever doesn't fit, you can dismiss. This, right here—" And Gaius placed a hand over the book. "This is real. It doesn't matter who you are, Arthur, magic is another rule in this land, just like gravity is. You can't escape it. Just as Merlin can make fire out of nothing. And just as one day you will take the throne. This prophecy is real. What should I know, you say? The high-priestess woman before Arya, a druid woman named Sora, gave it to me. She died to give me this prophecy. Your father was well aware of the prophecies and what magic entailed, he played with magic to have—"

"Gaius!" Merlin interrupted, scandalized. Arthur must never know he was a child born out of magic. Never. And that his mother died because of it. He would never understand it. "Can we continue another day with this conversation? We just arrived and the whole of Camelot is falling apart! I think we can talk about Arthur having little prats later! We can examine Arthur later if you must have an answer."

"I'll talk with Arya, maybe she along with her druids can give me further advice, I think everything right now is just out of place,"

"I think it might be falling into the right place, for once," Gaius said quietly.

Gwaine and Lancelot exchanged a glance, they were out of their league here. It just hurts to see everything that they had fought for was dissapearing in just one night. Like if going to fight Morgana and the whole stress of finding her dead hadn't been enough for a day.

"You can choose, of course," Gaius said more quietly to Arthur, who had now moved to the window and looked one second away to just throw himself out of it. Gaius was sure he had saved the magical word today, furthermore, he had done what Uther would've wanted. To give his child the chance to have a child without using dark magic. He wanted Arthur to have a whole family. That's why, even though Uther hated magic, he had kept safe this book with Gaius, so when the time came, Arthur could make a decision. "There is always choosing, you can believe she is not the woman. You can marry Gwen. You are a human with free will. You will be the future king of this land and you will able to choose, but whatever happens afterward will be your responsibility. Just… take it into consideration. That's what your father would've wanted."

"Speaking of, I'm going to see him right now so we can stop already with the pretence and let my father speak for himself, now that he recovered it will be easier to take decisions in the future. Albion is not a kingdom that will rise today." Arthur declared

"It began rising when you were born and—"

"Stop it," Arthur said quietly but it seemed almost like an enchantment, Gaius quietly closed his mouth.

Merlin felt overprotective of Gaius. He loved him as a father, but right now he couldn't believe such important news had never been delivered to him before. Merlin didn't even know how to react. After a few tense moments, Gaius stood up from his chair and only left a vial on the table.

He seemed to collect himself for the inevitable.

"Uther did not regain his memory," Gaius announced, and at this Arthur turned so abruptly he startled Gwaine, eyes looking stricken by this news.

"But—" Arthur couldn't find the words, "What?"

"Gaius you said—" Merlin said standing from the table. Incredibly hurt. "You said—"

"I lied," Gaius said quietly, a few tears escaping his eyes, Gwaine cursed under his breath. "Nothing changed. Your father still doesn't remember you. I did what I had to do to save Albion, Camelot, and your father."

Arthur was speechless,

"Gaius… what did you do?" Gwaine asked terrified. He knew in the games of thrones, lies and deceptions were at the order of the day, but this was way too much.

"What we talked about days ago." Gaius said with heaviness.

Lancelot seemed the be one who put the pieces together. "We can't have a mad king… we won't kill Uther that's for sure… so you… you…"

There was a general gasp and a shout of anger.

"You poisoned him!" Arthur was aghast at the news, "You made him sick! You—you traitor!" Arthur meant to walk towards Gaius but Merlin stopped him.

"I only saved the Pendragon's throne," Gaius said, his voice shaken, trying to make Arthur see some sense in what he did. "Whatever it takes. If we lost the nobleman, we lose Camelot, and you would have to take the throne by force, we can't have a mad king, Camelot would fall! And taking the throne by force is the last thing we want to do. It won't make a ruler. If you take it by force, people will rise against you. You need to do what is wise, Arthur!"

"So you poisoned him, that's the right and wise path?!" Arthur demanded.

"We can't afford Uther making statements tomorrow," Gaius said with finality. "Allowing him to walk around the castle, claiming to the nobleman he doesn't have an heir is as good as allow him to bury his own grave. I gave him a vial, he will take two droplets every day, he is not sick, not really, but he will feel sick enough to not get up from the bed. And he will continue to take these droplets until Merlin can still try and find a cure. He won't die."

Nobody said it, but they all knew by now that there was no cure. Merlin looked towards the floor, hands shaking. Was this happening?

"So starting tomorrow, we won't have a king." Lancelot sighed as Gwaine looked baffled at Gaius.

"The man is not always right but make him sick Gaius?!"

"It was either that or announce the seven kingdoms that Uther does not remember his son, that a woman, out of nowhere, will become the sole Queen of Camelot. That Arthur has been erased from his memory. Do you know what happens to mad kings? They get killed." Gaius said gravely. "You don't know what happens on other kingdoms but I do. Uther going sick is the noblest way he can live now. He might be feeling unwell for a few months, but he will not die, Arthur. I did the right thing. Now Arthur, without all the laws of the crown in his favor, and with the nobleman on his side, he will be able to take the crown. This was meant to happen long ago, we had just been postponing it."

No one dared to speak. Everyone was terrified of what they were hearing. Of the truth behind the words.

Gaius looked at the vial once again before speaking directly to Merlin, "This vial has inside a very powerful potion, it takes a month to make. And is made with very special ingredients. If you put inside hair from any person you will become that person for less than fifteen minutes. But for the next few weeks that will be enough time for us."

"Enough time for what?" Merlin said perplexed. "What does—"

"You will make Uther abdicate," Gwaine said almost in a whisper like it was forbidden. Terrified of the power of magic for once. "And you will make Merlin do it, you… you said that was the last resort. You said making Uther ill was the last plan."

"I think this is our last resort." And it was surprisingly Lancelot who spoke, he passed his hands over his face several times, he was tired to his bones, but despite what had just unraveled, he could see sense is Gaius words. Arthur was shocked because they were talking about his father, but he could see the reason behinds Gaius's actions. That didn't mean he liked it. "We failed didn't we? That's what happened… we failed. And this is the plan… in case that happened."

"Did we though? Did we fail?" By the window stood a man who used to be a prince but now was a vague memory of it. Arthur seemed tormented, betrayed, and lied to. In less than two hours he had lost and gained everything, and then lost it all over again in a cruel way. He had given everything in the name of magic and Albion.

What for he wondered.

"Get out of my sight," Arthur ordered, his voice filled with anger. "Get out, Gaius."

"Arthur, I hope one day—"

"I would never forgive you for this," Arthur said to the crystal and the dark mountains in the dark outside the window, unable to look at Gaius. "Everyone, leave. We will talk later. I want to be left alone. There's no much point in standing here, isn't it? My father is now not only memoryless but ill, thanks to Gaius, now he will be unable to rule due to sickness." He scoffed. "What a coward way to solve this, honestly. We have truly fallen. We didn't fail before, you know when we did? We did right now. When we choose to take a throne that is not mine yet to take."

"Arthur, we—" Lancelot started but Arthur just kept talking.

"We did fail the second he started believing we need to follow all these dumb prophecies like if there is no way around them."

"Arthur we tried everything—" Merlin said, knowing the only one to blame was himself, "Maybe I—"

"Didn't you all hear? Leave!" Arthur said, "Leave all of you! Now!"

Quietly everyone raised from their seats and exited the room, all but Merlin, who stubbornly sat on the chair. The door closed and both of them shared their sorrow in silence. Arthur didn't have the force to tell Merlin to leave. An hour passed and Arthur didn't move from the window, and Merlin didn't move from the chair.

Merlin was quietly playing making small lights dance around the room, lost in his thoughts. Eyes gold as he took all the information in. A lot to think about. He still couldn't process that Gaius had thought all fo this behind their backs.

Arthur was following the movements of the lights from the window, it was always a beautiful sight, Arthur thought, seeing those lights dance around even in the darkest of the nights. It always brought some sense of peace when he needed it.

"Did you know about this?" Arthur finally asked.

Merlin could hear in his voice that he had been silently crying. "No. I wouldn't have allowed it. Gaius, well, he worked on his own. I see where is he going with this but that doesn't make it right."

"But we failed isn't it?" Arthur finally said it. "We couldn't defeat Morgana, even after her death. She wanted the Pendragon family to die, not only me."

"She can't win. She is dead now. And your father is alive, isn't it?"

"And still she won!" Out of nowhere, and in pure raw rage Arthur threw a goblet all the way across the room. Merlin flinched, losing his concentration and the lights died, the room once filled with warmth grew cold.

"Sometimes, sometimes I hate magic, Merlin. Gaius is right I only want magic when it's something I can get benefits from." Arthur said quietly, voice breaking, staring at the broken pieces of glass across the floor. "Sometimes I wish I could erase it. Sometimes I see the evil that my father sees in it."

Merlin's heart felt like breaking, a few tears escaped him. Magic has truly made Arthur's life miserable at times, as weird as it is that he was born out of it.

"I guess I'm paying for all the sins my father committed against magic. I think that prophecy is right about that. Children must pay for their father's sin and all that," Arthur defeatedly and with slow paces walked and sat next to Merlin. Hair all disheveled, eyes red, lines on his face from the tears, voice wobbly. Shoulders hunched.

Merlin had never seen him so broken. To think he had just buried his sister a few hours ago seemed like ages ago.

"But as long as you exist Merlin. I can't truly believe magic is evil." He finally confessed, breaking into half a sob. "I can't. We will do as Gaius says. It bought us more time to solve the enchantment in the very least."

"Arthur—"

"We don't have a King. We haven't had a king for months. We are just pretending he is. A King that can not longer remember his son is not to be trusted," Arthur said, his voice filled with such sadness Merlin's own eyes watered at the sight of his friend like this. Arthur was utterly and beyond broken. Even unrecognizable, "I don't have a choice. I never did."

"I—"

"This vial," Arthur said taking the vial from the table and staring at it. "Tomorrow you will drink this. And you will turn into Uther Pendragon, is that right? Gaius thought about this long, didn't he? I wanted to punch him Merlin. I almost did. But… he's is right."

"Arthur, we don't—"

"No, Merlin, we do," Arthur said, voice quiet, firm enough to convey the importance. "We do, because a kingdom without a king, even for a day, turns into chaos you had never known before. You are not thinking about the people outside and beyond this room." He said, as if reciting something, he looked towards the doors of the room. "They need a leader. And they need to see him walking around, alive, and well protecting them. Do you think my people are happy with everything that is happening? I disappeared from the ranks, from the meetings, there are rumors all over the city and in the kingdoms beyond that my father has lost all faith in me." Merlin was silent during all this, Arthur placed the vial on the table with finality. "There are rumors that I'm dead."

"But you are not," Merlin said resolutely. "And that's what I'm here for."

Arthur gave the first true smile of the day. It was barely there but Merlin returned it.

"Two sides of the same coin, right?" Arthur said drily and Merlin couldn't hide a small smile, Arthur gave Merlin the vial, and Merlin took it with decision, "Tomorrow, Uther Pendragon will announce that test is the start of a new era to Camelot. He will announce that a prophecy of good magic has fallen the kingdom. Rejoice. This woman, Maryanne, was sent to protect the royal family. It's a sign from the gods. She has been blessed as a protector of the realm. I will not take her as my wife, I'm not ready for that just yet. But the prophecy says a savior will come."

"So we are choosing which parts we want of the prophecy?"

"For now," Arthur said quietly, tiredly. "One prophecy at a time, Merlin."

"I'm not complaining. I don't see you as a father just yet, poor children,"

"I'll take her inside the castle, we need to learn about her," Arthur ignored Merlin's for once, "And Uther will say this is a good act of the Gods, that I was cursed and she was here to protect the Pendragons bloodline. Rejoice, because the virtuous and humble reign of the Pendragons will prevail. Rejoice because the kingdom is ready for a new king. He will announce the beginning of my preparation as King. The test signifies I'm ready to take the throne, nothing more. It was the end of several tests that I endured the past months. That's how we will cover his dementia, and it will explain my absence. I was being tested. But now I passed. I guess."

"So you will come king?" Merlin tried to hide the tears, but nodded, saving the vial into his robes. "Is this what your final word?"

"I'm taking the throne, and with time, we both will start rising Albion. Maybe my father was never supposed to recover from his sins." Arthur said after a moment of thinking, and with that, he sealed his destiny, resolute as he looked towards Merlin. He looked defeated, and for a moment Merlin thought that Arthur looked more like a common man than a prince for once, maybe that's the way you know a king is being born. "I don't know if Albion was supposed to start this way, Merlin," Arthur confessed.

"But it will," Merlin said quietly. "It's your destiny. Sooner or later, one way or another. We will make it right."

Arthur nodded, taking a long breath finally giving up, a few tears escaping him. Will he ever be a man of free will? Or was it all orchestrated for him. It looks as if every time he chooses something; a prophecy, magician, or a vase would set him right.

"Fighting against your destiny is so tiring, you know?"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Arya woke up in the middle of the night, her breaths were coming unevenly. Her magic going erratic around her, making the lights on her tent die with the blast of air that har resulted.

She just had a dream.

A vision.

The man born to be king shall take the throne in three moon circles from now.

His coronation a new era.

The Mad King will perish at sunset on the last rays of the sun.

Deceived by the one he loved the most.

The circle closes.

The dark days of the mad king are long gone.

By dawn, crowned with magic.

Albion will rise.

Arya's heart was beating loudly in the middle of the dark night.

She could see again.

-o-o-o-o-

AUTHOR NOTE/

Hello everyone! Long time no see! I hope everyone is staying safe and at home with all this madness that has befallen our world right now. Wish we had magic like Merlin to do something about it, uh?

Anyways, I want to thank you for waiting for me. We don't have a long way to go but I promise that little thing in me that had died is coming alive in the middle of all this quarantine. I had to re-read the whole story again. Remember the characters. It was a whole new journey to come and re-take this story.

I hope you liked Maryanne. I know there will be LOST of questions about her, trust me, next chapter will be all about her, but I already pushed the limits and the boundaries of giving information. But It was all necessary so we could move forward and to a maximum of 8 more chapters instead of 30.

In a sense, the fact that Arthur and Merlin invented this challenge of the stone, was at the same time definitive in their paths in the future. Nothing is a coincidence when it comes to these two.

Also, Gaius. What do you think of him? And his decision. In a way I support him. I wrote the whole adventure of Arthur and Merlin and the vase so they would fail at it. Uther, at least to this moment, will not recover his memories (will he ever, tho? Idk).

As always tell me what you think! Or what do you think will happen. I hope I can still surprise a few with the end.

-Juliet'lovestory!-