The Invisible Servant

Two years later

"So, Queen Guinevere," Merlin asked, walking over to his friend with a gentle smile. "How does it feel to be married to the King of Camelot?"

This evening was the conclusion of a whole week of celebration in honour of their wedding and her coronation. Gwen was currently dressed in the most amazing purple dress, and Merlin thought she looked absolutely stunning.

"It feels great to be married to Arthur," said said pointedly. "As for the rest ... well, I can't have him without all of that, I suppose."

"If I remember rightly, one of the first things you ever said to me in this hall was, 'who'd want to marry Arthur?'" he joked.

"Well yes, but he has changed quite a bit since then."

"I think we all have."

"Really?" she said, eyeing him up and down critically. "I think you're still wearing exactly the same clothes as you did then. Honestly, Merlin, couldn't you have least made an effort for my coronation?" She smiled at him to take the sting out of her words.

"What? I did make an effort. This is my very best shirt, I'll have you know." She laughed. "Anyway, I am happy for you, Gwen, really I am. It's so good to know that it all worked out for the best."

"Thank you." She reached up to plant a affectionate kiss on his cheek and he knew that he was blushing furiously at the gesture.

"However, if he ever does anything to hurt you, you just let me know and I'll ... I'll turn him into a toad for you."

"Thank you, Merlin, but I can assure you I have absolutely no complaints." She gave him a very wicked grin as she said it. "Anyway, a toad wouldn't be half as much fun to share a bed with." Merlin swallowed hard.

"Please, Gwen, it's weird enough thinking about you two ..." He shook his head. "No, I don't want to think about ... that at all."

"Arthur did say we needed to be quite open about our feelings in public," she continued.

"Not to me, Gwen ... it's not me you have to convince." She laughed again before moving away to talk to one of the guests.

Merlin made his way towards Arthur, noting that the King's eyes were constantly flicking over towards Gwen's position, even though he didn't believe he was even aware of it. He couldn't see how anyone would doubt the couple's attachment now.

"So, Merlin ..." Lord Aron suddenly moved in front of him. "I gather we have you to thank for our defeat of that sorcerer's army last week?"

"Ah, I played my part, as did every member of the Round Table," he replied carefully.

"Hmm. You see, I was just curious. Those of us who were around before the purge are quite aware that Gaius was a practising sorcerer and … well, I was under the impression that his useful knowledge came from the fact that he actually had magic, which was how he was able to recognise and defeat it."

"It's interesting you should say that," Merlin replied. "I often wondered why Uther was so keen to keep him on when he knew of his past. Why do you think that was?"

"Well, I believe the King … ah, Uther I mean, forced a promise from Gaius not to use magic."

"Which rather disproves your theory as, if defeating sorcerers requires spells, how is it that Camelot was able to defeat them for so many years without Gaius breaking his word? I'm sure Uther would have been quite aware if he did, wouldn't you?"

"Your point being?"

"By any means necessary. I think that was the policy Uther chose to adopt when it suited him but, there were times when his views on magic were a little … well obsessive, wouldn't you agree?"

Aron winced. "I suppose there does need to be someone around here with some decent amount of knowledge," he conceded, very reluctantly.

"And, I hear congratulations are in order, that your son recently earned his place as a knight?" Merlin continued in a lighter tone.

"Well yes, and it's an interesting idea of Arthur's, having different levels of soldiers and knights so that there is no restriction on the number that we can have to defend our borders."

"And that any enthusiastic candidate can start as a guard or foot soldier and work their way up the ranks to become a Knight of Camelot – a place earned through advance skill and loyalty?"

"Indeed," Aron said, still thoughtful. "I understand that Gaius will be officially retiring soon and that will open up a place on Arthur's Round Table ..?"

Merlin tried hard not to grin too obviously – quite aware of where this conversation was heading.

"That's right and, well it would be very remiss of him not to include a family member who is so obviously supportive of him." There was just a hint of a question in the sentence, despite it being delivered as a statement.

"Of course, of course. My whole family support King Arthur, no question about that."

"That is very good to know," Merlin replied, just as the man in question approached them.

"Ah, Merlin," Arthur said. "May I have a word? Lord Aron …?"

"Sire ..." The old man bowed deeply and moved away.

"Thought you might need rescuing," his friend said as they moved away.

"Well, the conversation went well enough, but it was good to have an excuse to end it, nonetheless."

"What did he want?" the young king asked.

"The usual. I think we're going to have to come clean about my magic sooner rather than later, Arthur, most of them are guessing now anyway."

"True. Do you really think allowing his son onto the Round Table will make a difference?"

"Actually, I think it's essential. I know Robert's views are similar to his father's in many ways but … you need that. You need to have a truly democratic Round Table, and you can't have that if you just invite your friends."

"Yes, I see."

"Which means, of course, that you think I'm correct?" he asked with a large grin.

Arthur glared at him. "You're enjoying this role of advisor far too much in my opinion." Merlin laughed, but it quickly turned into a strange grunt and Arthur looked at him concerned. "What is it?"

"We've got company," he said, having felt the obvious sensation of magic passing through his gatehouse shield.

"How many?"

"Not easy to tell. Just one sorcerer I think …" He suddenly groaned. "It's Morgana."

"How can you tell?"

Merlin gave the king a look which was half sarcastic, half embarrassed. "Let's just say she has a peculiarly unique effect on my shield," he said hurriedly. Arthur raised his eyebrows and Merlin swallowed hard. "Look, I think it's time I 'made myself scarce', don't you agree?"

"Yes and, Merlin, if it's a matter of Camelot's safety …?"

"I understand." He moved back into the shadows and quickly cast his invisibility spell. Almost as soon as that was completed, the large doors of the Great Hall flew open and Morgana swept in with four of her Blood Guard soldiers in attendance.

~o~0~o~

"So, tell me, dear brother," she purred. "Perhaps you could answer a question that has been confusing me for the last couple of years?"

"I'm not sure you're in a position to ask anything, Morgana," Arthur replied. He had drawn his sword, as had most of the knights in the room.

"Is that what you think?" She flicked a hand and, with that single gesture, all of the armed knights were thrown backwards onto the floor. "So, I ask again. How is it that Camelot is now protected by magical defences?" She smirked as she heard gasps from all around her. "That's very interesting, Arthur. They don't know?"

"I was getting fed up with you and various other sorcerers walking in here un-announced," he replied calmly. "So, I had my advisors look into it. Apparently it didn't work, you are here, after all."

"We just walked through the main door and knocked a couple of guards out, all the other entrances are barred.

"Well yes, this is a castle – we are supposed to be impenetrable."

"There is no such thing, as I've just proved."

"Perhaps."

Morgana's eyes flicked around the room and a frown suddenly formed on her face.

"Where is he?"

"Who?"

"That meddling servant of yours."

"My servant? He's just over there – his name's George." The boy looked terrified, ducked his head and quickly took a step backwards.

"Not him … Merlin." Arthur thought he'd mastered the art of saying that name with condescension, but Morgana definitely had him beaten.

"Oh, I think he's around somewhere … you know what he's like? So unreliable he's practically invisible."

Morgana's eyes continued to search the room, her expression apparently showing her to be nervous. One of her henchmen moved forwards to whisper something urgently at her and she nodded firmly.

"I did not come here to socialise, Arthur, I came here to take back what is rightfully mine and get revenge on Uther's family." She turned towards Guinevere. "Hello, Gwen, are you well?"

His wife held her head up high, not showing any fear on her beautiful face and Arthur's heart swelled with pride at the sight. "Morgana," the queen replied calmly.

Suddenly, the witch held one hand up towards Arthur, the other to Guinevere, and cast a spell, the strange words flowing of her tongue like honey and her green eyes glowing golden. A white flame appeared briefly on each palm before being thrown towards her targets. Arthur flinched and was suddenly half blinded by a bright glow. Once he realised that he was still in one piece, he looked back up to see a faint hint of a golden dome surrounding Morgana, and his half-sister was shaking her head as if she'd been struck a blow. Arthur grinned as he recognised one of Merlin's magical shields.

"Well, that was impressive," he said sarcastically. "What was it supposed to do?"

"There is another magician here," she shouted looking around wildly. "A powerful one, where?"

"I can't see anyone." He knew he had failed in hiding his smile, and cursed his own joke when he became aware of a shimmer of gold just a little to his left. Merlin had also been amused by his comment. Morgana's eyes also flicked towards it and frowned suspiciously.

"What would Daddy think if he knew you had a sorcerer on your side?" she teased, although Arthur could hear that her comment had lost some of it's usual bite.

"Camelot has always had a sorcerer on it's side," he countered.

"Gaius?" she scoffed. "There is no way that he is powerful enough to cast something like this."

"Try telling Morgause that."

She screamed at the unpleasant reminder and aimed both hands in his direction. The flash was so bright that everyone in the hall ducked and, when it had faded, Morgana was on the floor. Arthur noticed that Lord Aron had been slowly moving towards his position.

"And if she's right, Aron?" Arthur asked quietly, whilst muttering broke out around the hall. "If I did have a sorcerer here casting defensive spells?"

"I think we both know that you do. I think perhaps I was just speaking to him a little while ago?" Arthur looked closely at the old man and saw no antagonism in his look.

"Do I have your support?"

"You have my allegiance, Sire. I am more than aware that the number of magical attacks has greatly decreased these last few years and, well, the boy has proved his loyalty to you and Camelot numerous times."

Arthur's eyes flicked to the golden shimmer than briefly appeared close to Aron's left shoulder and knew that Merlin had also heard the conversation. That would make things very much easier. Morgana had eventually pulled herself up into a sitting position, although she still looked rather shaken.

"My father had been personally hurt by sorcerers and by magic," Arthur announced to the Hall. "Such was his hatred that he decided that every magician, every piece of magic was evil – just because one or two people had caused him harm. Equally, Morgana here has always assumed that, everyone who was loyal to Uther agreed totally with his view point. She assumed that if I loved my father and if the knights and servants stayed loyal to their King, it automatically meant that we shared his total hatred of all things magical.

"I loved my father and I still miss him but … he was wrong. It is not magic that is evil, it is the person who chooses to use it for evil deeds." He turned his gaze from his audience to Morgana who had now pulled herself to her feet.

"So why do you keep your sorcerer hidden, Arthur? Is he ashamed of serving a Pendragon? Is he embarrassed to have turned against his kin?"

Merlin suddenly appeared, standing in-between her and Arthur, causing the whole hall to gasp in surprise.

"Arthur and Guinevere are my kin, Morgana, and I will serve them and Camelot to my dying day."

"You? Impossible?"

"Oh, I don't think you're really surprised, Morgana, not when you think about all the times I foiled your plans."

"You betrayed me, tried to kill me, lied to me … pretended to be my friend." Her voice contained a strange mixture of anger, hurt and confusion.

"And you did every one of those things to me too. I think that makes us even?" She ran towards him with a snarl and almost bounced off his shield, while he just stood there calmly with a small smile on his face. She glared at him and cast a spell to undo his but, although a faint golden shimmer appeared briefly around her, the shield did not fall. Merlin sighed and turned to Arthur.

"Sire? What is your judgement on this woman?" The longest, most agonising silence that Camelot had ever witnessed fell on the Hall as everyone held their breath.

~o~0~o~

"Leave this place, Morgana. Do not attempt to enter Camelot again, for you will not succeed," the king said eventually.

"You cannot be that powerful," she said to Merlin – apparently ignoring Arthur. The warlock sighed and with a lazy wave of his arm and a tongue twister of a spell, his eyes glowed, the soldiers' shield flicked and all four men disappeared. Fear appeared in Morgana's eyes as they flicked rapidly between Merlin and Arthur.

"Do you accept my judgement?" Arthur demanded.

"I do," she replied eventually, although her eyes were flashing with anger.

"Then leave," said Merlin, coming closer to the shield. "Go on your way and inform every sorcerer that you encounter that Camelot is protected."

"By you?" there was still a little doubt in her voice.

"By Emrys."

Fear appeared in her eyes and her shield flickered once before disappearing. Then, with another spell and a flash of golden eyes, Merlin sent Morgana to the same place as her guards. He shook his head, annoyed to find himself fighting back tears.

A hush had fallen over the hall. All the courtiers and servants were staring at Merlin and, as he walked back towards Arthur, he noticed a few take an instinctive step away from him.

"I think perhaps I should check that worked, Sire?" he said to Arthur. "Check that they've really gone and there are no other surprises waiting for us?"

"Good idea." The sorcerer bowed and started to walk out the door. "Oh, and Merlin …?" He turned back around abruptly. "The celebrations finish tonight, and there is an awful lot of work you have neglected over the last couple of days. "

"Well yes, you did say it was a holiday."

"I can't imagine why you thought that included you?" Some seemed confused by the banter, but it was the pair's usual way of getting their relationship back on track after a dramatic event and Arthur hoped it would also relax any that were still feeling nervous about the latest revelations.

"So much for that promotion and all of … this. I'm still just your general dogsbody, aren't I?" said Merlin with a pout.

"Got it in one. So … what are you waiting for … go, shoo ..." Arthur gave Merlin a small smile, his lips twisting slightly. "Disappear."

Merlin laughed loudly and chanted several words as his bright blue eyes flashed gold.

Then he turned invisible.

The End

A/N. So, I'm about to click that little circle that says 'complete' and I can almost here the cries of "NO!" from you guys already. Sorry, but do bear in mind that this fic is TEN chapters longer than originally planned and is starting to overlap with King Arthur's Ward's time line which has been getting very confusing for me. I'm now going to simply focus on that single story and then see what other ideas might occur to me. If there's any element of this fic you particularly enjoyed and would like me to explore further, please let me know.

Thank you again for all your alerts and reviews. You have given me so much confidence about my writing and, despite my complaints about this improvisation, I think it has taught me some valuable lessons which will help me with my future work.

Edited 30/12/14