A/N: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know this is a long time coming... but between uni, and work, and my own messed-up head, and getting WAY too caught in other fanfictions that I probably shouldn't have started writing until I finished or at least nearly finished this one, I just didn't have the time! I just hope you don't hate me too much, and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Ten: What the Future Holds

Merlin was still lying awake late that night in his bedroll on the floor. He wasn't even bothering to try and sleep; he knew he wouldn't be able to. Instead he was staring at the ceiling, his many thoughts racing around his head.

"Merlin?" said a groggy voice. "What're you doing awake?"

"Arthur, go back to sleep," said Merlin. "I'm fine. Just thinking."

"Thinking about what?" Arthur asked, raising himself up on his elbow so he could look at Merlin.

"Everything," Merlin admitted. "Everything that's happened in the last few days. Everything that's going to happen. The fact that for once, I don'tknow what's going to happen. Ever since I came to Camelot and I first heard of the prophecy, I've felt like my entire future has been planned out for me. Now I've saved you, Morgana is dead, and you're bringing magic back to the kingdom, and I don't know what to do."

"I do," said Arthur. "You stay in Camelot, and help me rule. I'm going to need help repealing the laws, and reaching out to the magical community. I highly doubt they're going to trust me, but maybe they'll trust Emrys."

"The ones who know of the future you will bring us will trust you, Arthur," Merlin assured him. "Not all will have heard that part of the prophecy, but the druid leaders will have. They will listen to you, Arthur. I'm sure of it."

"Even though I, and my father before me, killed many of their- your- kind?" said Arthur.

"Even then. The druids are a peaceful people, and they wouldn't want to fight you. All they've ever wanted is to live freely, without fear of being killed for who they are. They hate fighting, and they hate wars, and they hate killing."

"Is that why they never sided with Morgana?" Arthur asked.

"There is that," said Merlin. "That, and they knew she was against me."

"Are you really that important to them?"

Merlin hesitated. "I don't want to be," he said finally. "It's a terrible burden, being the one that has all this power and this responsibility to protect you and to bring magic back to the kingdom. It's incredibly lonely, too."

Arthur didn't reply to that. He knew how Merlin felt, though; being the king could be very lonely sometimes as well. Plus he had the enormous responsibility to protect and serve the people of Camelot, no matter what the cost. Maybe that was why he saw such a kindred spirit in Merlin: because out of everyone he knew, Merlin knew most what it was like to be him.

"Try and get some sleep, Merlin," said Arthur. "We're going to need to explain to your mother tomorrow everything that's going on. Tell her everything you're willing to tell her about Camlann, and about what's going to happen in the kingdom very soon. I can't have you falling asleep in the middle of that."

"Yes, sire," said Merlin, and Arthur could almost feel the smirk that crossed his manservant's face. "Goodnight."

Arthur couldn't help but smile. "Goodnight, Merlin," he said. "Sleep well."

And they both did.

Hunith was awake before both Merlin and Arthur the next morning. The king awoke on the floor of her home to find her already cooking breakfast. Hunith smiled when she saw he was awake.

"Good morning, sire," she said, inclining her head.

"Good morning," Hunith, said Arthur, slowly getting to his feet. "You didn't have to do that, you know."

"I know," said Hunith. "But I want to. It's not often Merlin comes home. I want to look after him while I can. Not that that's your fault," she added quickly. "I know you'd let him come home if you could, and he asked."

"I'm sure he would come visit you more often if he didn't have this insane idea that I'm going to die if he ever leaves my side," said Arthur. "Although that nearly happened, so he does have a point… he should be able to see you more often, now. After we've got some other stuff out of the way, anyway. The threat that Morgana posed to the kingdom is finally over."

"I'm glad," said Hunith. "Not just for Camelot. I would worry every day for Merlin. I knew the risks he took, the danger he willingly put himself in, and I would always fear that I would get the news no parent should get. I was always afraid that someone would come and tell me that Merlin had died."

"I can't say I understand how you feel," said Arthur. "Obviously I don't know what it's like to be a parent afraid their child will never come home, and my mother died giving birth to me so I never knew what it would be like for her to miss me, but I too worry that one day Merlin will try to do too much for me and lose his life in the process. Just don't tell him I said that. He'd never let me hear the end of it."

Hunith could help but laugh. "I won't, sire, I promise," she said, before her expression became serious. "Are you really going to repeal the magic laws?"

Arthur nodded. "I am," he answered. "Obviously I'm not going to legalise dark magic, or magic used for evil purposes. But now that I've seen what Merlin can do, and what he uses his powers for… I know now that not all magic is evil, and neither are those who use it. It's a gift and a weapon, the same as my fighting ability and my sword. How could I ban that? And besides, something tells me that this is the only reward Merlin will ever accept."

"He's never sought any recognition," Hunith agreed. "That's not why he's done any of this. He does this for you, and to bring about the future that will be created by the two of you."

"It won't be easy. This future of peace, and prosperity, and magic," Arthur admitted. "Merlin's going to be working very, very hard. I know next to nothing about magic, so I'm going to need his help in creating and enforcing these laws, and reaching out to magic users."

"So he's going to be revealed as a sorcerer, then?" Hunith said.

Arthur nodded. "He's the sorcerer who saved us all," said Arthur. "People are going to want to know who he is. And if he's going to be my adviser on all things magic and my emissary between the court and the magic community… it's not going to be possible to keep secret. That's partly why we came here, but I think that should wait until Merlin wakes up."

Hunith set the bowl of food in front of Arthur then. "I know it's not what you're used to," she said apologetically. "But it's the best I could do."

"No, this is good," Arthur assured her, before digging into the food. She was right in that it wasn't what he was used to, but it was still quite good, and better than the last time she had cooked for him. Probably better than anything Merlin could cook, anyway, Arthur thought to himself.

"Can I smell breakfast?" said a groggy voice, and Arthur turned around to realised that Merlin had woken up. His hair was sticking up everywhere, and Arthur had to stifle a grin.

"Yes, you can, Merlin," said Hunith with a warm smile. "Here you go." She gave Merlin a bowl of food, which he dug into ravenously.

Arthur waited until Merlin had finished eating before speaking. "Hunith," he said. "As we've told you, I am going to repeal the magic ban. Once Merlin and I return to Camelot, I'm going to start drafting the laws. Of course, they're going to take a lot of work to ensure they're fair, and that the people accept them. As part of this, I'm going to have to reveal Merlin's powers. The people aren't going to believe that I'm truly serious about repealing the magic ban unless I reveal to them that my best fr- that my servant is the sorcerer who killed Morgana, and that he's not going to get killed for using magic, or banished from Camelot, or be punished in any way. If anything I want to reward him, but I know Merlin wouldn't accept that."

"I never did this for any reward, Arthur," Merlin interjected automatically.

"Yes, yes, Merlin, I know that," said Arthur dismissively. "You have said that repeatedly. That's not the point, though. By extension, I cannot reveal Merlin's powers under the current laws and not punish him, because then I'd be breaking my own laws. And because I'm definitely not going to kill him, this is the obvious option and the one I'm taking."

"Why are you telling me all this?" Hunith asked. "I mean, not that I'm not thankful that you are, my lord, I'm just… surprised."

"Mother, when my powers are revealed, if and when people find out who you are to me…" Merlin began, but then he trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.

"If people find out that you're Merlin's mother, they may kidnap you or hurt you to get to him," Arthur finished instead. "I don't think anyone would be able to get to him otherwise."

"We want to be able to protect you," said Merlin, reaching out and taking Hunith's hand. "And we also want you to… not be paranoid or scared, but to be aware. To be prepared, just in case."

"I see," said Hunith, and both men could hear the slight tone of fear in her voice that she was trying to hide. "What do you suggest?"

"I can place wards on you," Merlin suggested. Turning to a very confused-looking Arthur, he added, "They're like magical shields or warnings, I guess you would say. Even I can't cast one that will protect mother from attacks that will work when we're all the way back in Camelot, but I can cast one that will alert her of nearby danger, and will alert me so wherever I am, I can either send help or go help her myself."

Arthur just looked even more surprised. "I… that's actually a really good idea," he said.

"I have my moments," said Merlin with a grin. Arthur couldn't help but smile back. Hunith just looked between the two men, pleased. She had seen, the first time she met Arthur, how the then-prince had treated Merlin. He wasn't just his servant; he was his friend. He really, truly, cared about Merlin, and Merlin cared about him. This left Hunith with a warm and happy heart. Her son had found his place in the world, and found somewhere he could truly be happy. He belonged, and that was all Hunith had ever wanted. "If you think that this is necessary, and it's not going to negatively affect you, than do it," she finally said. "Especially since I know you will worry about me constantly if you don't."

"You're my mother," said Merlin. "I wouldn't feel right if I wasn't trying to keep you safe. I'm doing this."

"Are you sure you're recovered enough to do this now, Merlin?" Arthur asked. "You passed out after we returned to Camelot from the lake because of the amount of magic you used."

"You passed out?" Hunith gasped, looking from Merlin to Arthur and back again.

"You weren't supposed to tell my mother that!" Merlin hissed.

"Sorry," Arthur muttered.

"And for the record, I'm fine," Merlin added. "I used magic that day I sincerely hope I will never have to use again, magic that takes far more energy than anything I have ever done. Magic that takes far more energy than this. I'm fine, Arthur."

"If you insist, Merlin," said Arthur, throwing up his hands in exasperation. "I don't know why I put up with you sometimes…"

"What are you going to do, fire me?" said Merlin, raising an eyebrow. "You'd get bored if I wasn't around. You'd also be dead."

Arthur just stared at Merlin, his eyes wide. Hunith didn't know whether to hit her son or to laugh. "Are you going to do this, or not?" Arthur finally said.

"Please don't rush me, my lord," said Merlin. "Unless you want me to accidentally kill someone."

"Merlin!" Hunith cried, aghast.

Merlin laughed. "I'm kidding, mother! Riling him up is kind of fun."

"But he's the king!"

"Mother, it's okay! I do this all the time," Merlin assured her. "Normally Arthur retaliates, but I don't think he wants to insult me in front of you. And besides, if he was going to punish me for this, he would've done it years ago!"

Hunith looked to Arthur, who shrugged his shoulders. "I've learnt to live with it," he said.

"Good, now that we've got that cleared up…" Merlin reached out and took his mother's hand. "This may feel… weird, mother, when I cast the spell, but it's not going to hurt you."

"Have you ever tried this spell before?" Hunith asked.

"Well, no…" Merlin admitted, and Arthur sighed. "But I'd never tried the spell I used at Camlann to destroy Morgana's army, and look where that got us? I can do this, trust me."

"I always trust you, Merlin," said Hunith with a smile. "You are my son, after all."

Merlin smiled back at his mother, before taking a deep breath. He was silent for several long moments, perhaps trying to come up with the exact wording for the spell, before starting to say something in that same strange language Arthur had heard him use before. When Merlin finished speaking his eyes glowed gold, and Hunith shuddered as if something had run over her. Merlin's eyes faded back to blue and he looked at his mother, concerned.

"Mother? Are you okay?" he asked hurriedly.

"I'm fine," Hunith assured him. "It just felt… weird, that's all. But I'm fine, Merlin, I promise."

"Did it work?" Arthur asked.

"I think so," said Merlin. "That would explain why mother felt something. I'm pretty sure it worked. The only way we'll find out is if someone attacks her after we've gone."

"I'm sure it will be fine," said Hunith. "I have full confidence in you, Merlin." She turned to look at Arthur again. "How long are you boys going to stay?" she asked. "You are welcome to stay as long as you would like, but I know you have a kingdom to run. And I'm sure your queen is missing you, sire."

Arthur smiled. "That she will be," he agreed. "Guinevere spent agonising hours thinking that I was going to die. The look on her face when she saw me back at Camelot was like nothing I've ever seen."

"We still have to work on driving the remnants of Morgana's army out of Camelot," Merlin pointed out. "Leon would've done a lot in our absence, but still…"

"You're right," said Arthur. "We'll stay one more night, if you don't mind, Hunith. But then we really must return to Camelot. We have a lot of work to do."

"As you wish, sire," said Hunith. "My home is open to you as long as you wish to stay."