Merlin FanFic

Being Honoured

Merlin entered the room, desperate to see his children. He hadn't seen them properly for weeks. He had missed them dearly and wished things had ended differently, as he knew it would be hard on the children. He watched for a moment, watching his innocent children playing alongside Uther. Tristan then looked up, and his face lit up like the northern lights. He rushed forward, attacking Merlin with a hug. Merlin just laughed, wrapped his arms around his child, and bent down so he was at eye level with Tristan. Isolde then bombarded him, and he sighed. Merlin then let go of his children, and they stepped back, looking at him intently.
"Where is Mama?" Tristan asked, and Merlin sighed, knowing that this was going to be a difficult conversation.
"Your mama has gone away." Tristan looked confused.
"Where?" Isolde asked. Merlin just fidgeted.
"Somewhere far away." He could see the look of hurt spread across his children's faces and watched their heartbreak, and he wished that he could stop their hurting. Isolde began to cry, and Merlin held his arms open, and she sobbed into his shirt.
"So she is never coming back?" Tristan asked. When Merlin looked at him, he could see that his son was shutting down his emotions, and he didn't like it. He knew that shutting down his emotions would hurt him more in the long run, and he didn't want that to happen to his son.
"I don't know, son; I hope she does." Isolde cried, and Merlin watched Tristan stand there, knowing he would need comfort. Merlin held his other arm open, and he was glad when his son came to him and settled on his other knee.
"Everything is going to be okay. You will see." Merlin tried to soothe his children the best he could, and he was glad when they fell asleep on his lap, exhausted from the crying. Merlin sat there and watched them sleep for a while before putting them to bed and kissing their foreheads. He then swore to himself that he would do everything that he could for his children and protect them the best that he could.

Arthur sat on his throne, looking across the empty room, and sighed. He knew he would have to make a choice, but he couldn't be more undecided. He knew that allowing magic would go against all that his father worked for and could allow evil magic to try and take over. However, by accepting magic back into the kingdom, he knew that he would be able to use it to his advantage, and there would be some harmony in the kingdom, as well as Merlin being able to walk freely. The great king tilted his head back and closed his eyes, taking a long, deep breath, and hoped that he would be able to make the right decision for his kingdom and his family. Arthur's eyes snapped open when he heard someone enter the room. He was about to snap but saw it was Merlin. He was shocked at Merlin's face; he looked as if he had aged ten years and was sorrowful. Arthur rose from his throne and walked over to Merlin, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"What is it?" He asked gently, and Merlin sighed.
"I had to tell my children their mother might not return." Arthur looked away, knowing that must have been hard. He couldn't imagine telling his own children that Gwen wasn't coming back, and he felt a pain in his heart. He then looked back at Merlin and knew that he had to make a choice.
"I need to decide what to do about magic, " he said quietly, and he saw Merlin look at him.
"You are going to bring magic back, aren't you?" Arthur shifted, feeling uneasy. He didn't think magic was all good, and he was worried about the bad.
"You don't want to bring it back." Merlin accused, and Arthur's eyes snapped up to look at him. He saw that Merlin had taken a step back and looked hurt.
"After everything I did to protect you, Arthur, after what I risked my life for." Merlin whispered.
"It's not like that, Merlin." Arthur defended.
"Then what is it like?" He snapped, starting to get angry.
"There is still lots of bad magic." Merlin shook his head.
"What about all the good Arthur? What about me? Do I not count towards the good magic, or am I evil to you?" Arthur was shocked that he would say such a thing.
"You know I don't believe that."
"Don't I?" Merlin shot back and turned away from the king. Arthur felt as if he had been slapped in the face.
"Merlin." He almost growled, and he started to get angry. He didn't like Merlin thinking less of him. Merlin spun round to face him.
"What, Arthur? I would have thought that you would have accepted magic by now. It has saved your life on many occasions and has helped and guided you. You are willing to turn it away just like your father did, denying the good uses that it can do and the lives that it can save. Maybe what they say in town is true, like father like son." Merlin then strode out of the room, slamming the doors behind him, and Arthur stood there in shock. He couldn't believe Merlin had the guts to talk to him like that and hated the thought of being like his father. Arthur wandered the room, lost in thought, knowing he had two choices and lifestyles. He knew that he had finally made up his choice.

"Merlin! You must come and see this." Merlin was sat in Gaius' chambers with his children, enjoying a quiet breakfast, and Gaius was on errands. Merlin looked up at Gaius, confused.
"What is it, Gaius?" He asked. The old man just shook his head.
"Come and see." Gaius was rushing Merlin and was desperate for him to see, but Merlin couldn't understand what was so important that he needed to see. Merlin got up from his seat and headed out after Gaius, followed by his children, and hurried after Gaius. Gaius led them out into the courtyard, where a large crowd gathered, and they were all looking up to the royal balcony. Merlin walked out so he could see up to the balcony and discovered that Arthur was standing there looking as important as ever, and he was ready to give an announcement. He could see that Arthur looked tired and must have been up for most of the night. He silenced the people by holding up his hands.

"I, King Arthur, have given much thought about magic and whether it should return within this kingdom." Arthur felt nervous but determined. He could hear the whispering break out among the people, and he sent a silent prayer that he was doing the right thing. He held his hands up again and let the silence fall over his people.
"I have decided that magic will return to Camelot!" Arthur could feel his voice travel over the people of Camelot and just hoped he was making the right choice. He watched as the people turned to each other and started talking and shouting, and the noise rose to him. Merlin was watching from among the people, smiling as if he knew Arthur was making the right choice. He knew that Camelot still had a long way to go before it became Albion but Merlin was sure it would get there.
"Silence!" Merlin looked up to see that Arthur wanted silence from the crowd, and he knew there would be a catch. He just hoped it would allow people to be themselves without paying a price.
"There will be new laws that are going to happen. I do not want the use of black magic to return, as you all will agree. I will ban the use of black magic, which will be punishable by prison or even death. If you practice magic, you must tell the kingdom that you practice so we can keep an eye on your practice and ensure you practise magic for good. I am determined not to make the same mistake as my father, so I hope you will embrace my new laws and help keep Camelot thriving alongside magic in harmony." Merlin then watched as Arthur closed his speech and returned to the castle. He just smiled. He was pleased that Arthur had listened to him and decided to head back into the castle to talk to Arthur. Merlin entered the room and Arthur looked up form his pacing, he felt nervous to what Merlin thought and what he had to say. He felt relieved when he saw that Merlin was smiling at him.
"I think that you have made the right choice, Arthur." He sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and looked out the window.
"I hope you are right, Merlin." He heard him chuckle and turned to see what he found funny.
"What are you laughing at?" He demanded. He watched Merlin smile at him.
"I never thought saving your life with magic would lead to this. I knew my destiny was to bring magic back and create Albion, but I never thought I would have become friends with you." Arthur smiled, and he knew Merlin was right. He remembers the first time Merlin saved his life when his father made him his manservant. He was so furious at his father as he didn't like Merlin, but he was now glad that his father had made him his manservant. He looked at Merlin and smiled.
"You are right, Merlin; I never thought I would class an idiot like you as a friend." Merlin just rolled his eyes and thought that Arthur was typical.
"Merlin. I want you to sit on my council and help me manage the magic side of the kingdom." Merlin looked at him like he had grown three heads.
"Really?" Arthur just rolled his eyes and threw a light punch towards Merlin.
"I asked you, didn't I? Someone I can trust should take control of it, and you're the only one I can trust with magic. You have a good judgement with magic so I will trust you." Merlin nodded once and bowed.
"Then I would be honoured, your majesty."