A:N: This is the last chapter. I hope the ending doesn't disappoint. (Ditto for the whole series, although I have no control over that!)
Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed, alerted and enjoyed. As any of he authors reading this will know, it is so satisfying and justifying to get praise and feedback on something you have written. YOU ARE ALL WONDERFUL!
In this chapter Arthur will be told all (almost all) that Gaius and Merlin know about the erky Agravaine's dodgy behaviour. I can't believe Arthur would have just left well enough alone - he woud need to know the details of his Uncle's betrayal I think.

Later that morning, Arthur stood on the balcony overlooking the courtyard ready to make an official proclamation. Merlin made it back in time from Lancelot's send off to take up his customary position a few steps behind his King. The knights, Lords and Ladies of the Court and other members of the nobility stood below, with the rest of Camelot's citizenry behind them.

"I wish to make it abundantly clear to the Council, my esteemed guests and the people of Camelot that Sir Lancelot and Lady Guinevere are in no way to be held accountable for the events that occurred here two nights ago. There is irrefutable proof that they were both under the influence of sorcery; mere puppets in an ill fated attempt to usurp my throne. I will not have my future wife's virtue or the memory of one of my bravest, most noble knights sullied in any way. If anyone is to be blamed, it is the Lady Morgana and the late Lord Agravaine." A murmur spread throughout the Lords of the High Council at the mention of their former comrade. "My closest advisers have supplied evidence that Agravaine had not been acting in Camelot's best interests for some months. His attempt on Gaius' life was both an admission of guilt and proof that he aligned himself with Camelot's greatest enemy. As much as it pained me to do so, I myself carried out sentence upon the traitor."

Arthur quieted for a moment as a quiet swell of conversation began throughout the gathering.

"Now, people of Camelot, it is time to bury these unpleasant events and to look forward to happier times. The planned nuptials for myself and the Lady Guinevere will go ahead at dusk and our union will serve as a beacon of light for the future of this grand kingdom."

A few cheers started up from an area near the back of the crowd.

"In honour of my future Queen I declare the rest of today and tomorrow to be festival days!" Arthur finished his speech jubilantly, a great contrast to the sombre and mellow tone he began it with.

More and more cheers and shouts erupted as he gave a slight bow towards where Guinevere stood upon the stairs below and as Arthur made a move back into the castle, a spontaneous chorus of 'Long Live the King' was taken up. The volume grew as more and more joined in, the rumbling echoing and reverberating all around the courtyard. The very stones of Camelot themselves seemed to vibrate with energy as the peoples' voice took on a life all its own. From where he stood, Merlin could see Knights, nobles, merchants, peasants and even the poorest child joining in the chant. The light in the people's eyes conveyed both their love for and their trust in Arthur. Merlin felt pride swell in his chest and when Arthur turned his way to summon him back tom his chambers it was all Merlin could do to stop himself from crying with happiness. This is what he was fighting for. This was why he sacrificed so much. For Arthur. The Once and Future King!

Some ten days had gone by since the wedding before Arthur got the chance to sit down with Gaius and Merlin to discuss Lord Agravaine's treasonous actions. They were gathered in the Physician's Chambers after another long day of training, council meetings and other tiring activities. The sun had set many hours hence and heavy rain was falling down outside which did nothing to help lighten the intense atmosphere inside.

"Even from the beginning, he was deceiving me wasn't he?" Arthur asked rhetorically, thinking back to Agravaine's cruel taunts during their duel in The Valley of the Fallen Kings. "He told me as such when we fought."

The King could not bring himself to look at either Merlin or Gaius as he spoke, instead staring into the contents of the mug held tightly in his hands.

"I fear you are correct Sire," Gaius nodded.

Arthur made no mention of the reason his Uncle gave him regarding his need for vengeance; that would come later. For now, finding out all Merlin and Gaius knew about Agravaine's deviousness would be enough.

"Perhaps it is best to leave the past alone Sire," Gaius suggested sagely. "It will only cause you more pain to hear of all your Uncle's deceptions and there is nothing that can be done to undo what has already happened."

Arthur stood abruptly from the rude wooden bench he was seated upon and took a few paces away from where Gaius sat with his ward. Turning back toward them he fixed both men in turn with an impassioned gaze.

"I need to know Gaius." Arthur implored eyes wide with need. "I understand your misgivings but I am so tired of all the lies. Please, both of you, tell me what you know."

Merlin and Gaius looked at each other and Arthur could see them coming to a silent agreement.

"We'll tell you all we know." Merlin sighed in resignation. "But Gaius' is right. You can't change anything now."

"Thank you," Arthur flopped back down onto his seat in relief.

"So, where would you like us to start Sire?" asked Gaius.

Arthur waved a hand in the air. "At the beginning. When was the first time you suspected him of not being sincere?"

Merlin shifted uncomfortably, dreading what his friend would have to hear next.

"I am sorry to tell you this Sire but we believe that Agravaine was involved in your father's demise." Gaius paused momentarily to let the news sink in. "The Sorcerer who tried to heal Uther was not successful because a charm had been placed around your father's neck prior to his efforts. Only somebody with knowledge of the Old Religion could have forged such a charm Sire and I think we would be safe in the assumption that it was the Lady Morgana."

"And what was the nature of my Uncle's involvement?" (1)

"Somebody had to have placed that charm on your father and there were only a handful of people who had access to do so." Merlin leant forward as he spoke. "It obviously wasn't Gwen, Gaius, myself or Sir Leon...so it had to have been Agravaine." The fact that Merlin had seen the Lord sneak out of the castle in the dark hours of night on more than one occasion only added to their suspicions. However he dared not tell Arthur this: it would only bring up questions he could not answer.

"Why the hell didn't you say something earlier?" Arthur shouted. "Didn't it occur to you that I deserved to know the truth about my father's death?!" Fortunately both Merlin and Gaius had known Arthur long enough to understand the anger he manifested was probably just a shield for the shock, pain and helplessness he was feeling.

"I'm sorry Arthur." Merlin beseeched. "You were suffering enough already. We were only trying to save you more pain."

Arthur looked ready to burst with frustration. He squeezed at the bridge of his nose and breathed deeply in a deliberate effort to suppress his rage.

"It was my decision to keep these things from you Sire; don't blame Merlin." Gaius glanced at Merlin as he spoke, hoping his ward would comply with his story. Merlin raised his eyebrows at the lie; in truth they had both agreed to stay silent as they were not sure how Arthur would react to their accusations against the relation he had put all his trust and confidence in.

"What else did he do then?" Arthur asked tone still snappy with anger. What else had they been keeping from him?

"During that whole business with Carleon," Merlin began explaining. "I think you've already realised for yourself how his 'advice' almost started a war. Well we believe was deliberately manipulating you in the hopes of bringing about unrest. A full scale war would have played directly into his and Morgana's hands even more so." (2)

Arthur switched his gaze from his friends onto the floor as he replayed the events in his head.

He had fully believed that Agravaine was helping him to find his way and that his guidance was given with love and good intentions. What was wrong with him that he couldn't see through the facade? It had been the same when Morgana had been scheming with Morgause. Was it his judgement that was completely lacking or was he just a gullible fool?

"I can see that now but ... at the time." The King's voice was weak and haunted.

"Arthur!" Merlin knew how much pain Arthur must be in if he was sounding so defeated and he was determined to get him out of it. "You may have acted unwisely in forcing the King of Carleon's hand but you rectified the situation as best you could; war was avoided and nobody was injured. It was your independent decisions and actions that saved things Arthur."

"Camelot and Queen Annis have a better relationship now than they've had in years." Gaius added. It was not easy for him to see the brave young man he'd known since birth brought so low either.

Arthur raised his eyebrows while considering their words but still refused to look up from where he studied the floor.

"He was the one who leaked the details of our secret path through The Valley of the Fallen Kings wasn't he?" (3) Arthur turned toward Gaius as another piece of the puzzle fell into place, rising to his feet in agitation. "He was the one who acted with Morgana to arrange your kidnapping!" He cried in disgust. "And then placed all the evidence so it would look as though you had run away!"

Gaius nodded sagely. "I could not tell you at that stage Arthur. There were just too many complications. Until we had irrefutable proof, we dare not."

Arthur paced across the room to where a cooking pot hung over the fire and stared into the flames contemplatively. After several moments he finally spoke again.

"I have been deluding myself as to how in touch I am with everything that is taking place around me. I cannot judge the reasons why you decided to keep that fact from me Gaius but I sincerely wish I had been told the truth from the outset."

"You would not have believed it Arthur! I tried to tell you Gaius was innocent after your Uncle slandered him but you wouldn't listen then. Do you really think you would have listened if we had told you Agravaine was a traitor?" Merlin tried to keep the anger out of his voice but it wasn't easy.

Arthur examined Merlin's face as he spoke, his expression becoming pinched as he carefully considered what his friend said.

"No, you're right. I would not have listened." He admitted somewhat grudgingly at last. Arthur turned away again but not before Merlin and Gaius had seen the self blame written all over his features. His posture was stiff with tension and he had his arms crossed in front of his chest defensively.

"Sire," Gaius appealed gently. "You cannot hold yourself responsible. Agravaine saw a young man who was vulnerable after the breakdown of his father; a young man who had been thrown into a position of incredible responsibility and power. He exploited the situation using all the guile and duplicity he was capable of."

"Not to mention the assistance he had from Morgana." Merlin added.

"All the same, I've been a fool and it almost cost me everything I hold dear." Arthur reflected. He had been so close to believing Guinevere guilty of unfaithfulness and Gaius had almost died an innocent at the hands of his kidnappers after he had dismissed the old man as a traitor. What's more, the kingdom had been on the brink of war because of his misplaced reliance on his Uncle.

"In the future I want you to inform me if anything like this happens again. I promise I want punish you for your honesty."

"Yeah, you say that now. But once a prat, always a prat." Merlin smirked, doing his utmost to get things back to normal. To his great relief, Arthur took his lead.

"Merlin, if you've got time to sit around here insulting your King I'm sure I can find some armour for you to clean or some boots to polish!" He shouted, cuffing his friend over the head as he stalked past him toward the door.

"Ow!" Merlin whined. "Cabbagehead." He added under his breath as he got up to follow Arthur back to his chambers.

"What was that Merlin?" Gaius admonished, as pleased to see a return to the casual interactions as the other two.

King and servant both left the room, leaving Gaius shaking his head fondly before Arthur suddenly appeared in the door frame again.

"Thank you Gaius. Your loyalty and honesty is beyond measure." He bowed his head to the physician hoping his actions would relay his intentions more thoroughly than his words.

As he trotted up the stairs to his and Guinevere's chambers, Merlin a step behind, Arthur found himself thinking of matters he had not brought up. The things Agravaine had told him about his birth and the nature of Ygraine's death were exactly the same as what he had been told so many years ago when Morgause had conjured his mother as reward for a deed done. It seemed highly unlikely that he would be told the same intricate lie twice, which meant only one thing; that it was true and his whole existence was based upon lies.

"Merlin, I want you to promise me there will be no more lies. I want to know the truth, about everything, even if it does hurt." When Merlin failed to reply, he continued speaking. "I fear much of my life revolves around things I do not understand or things that have been kept from me."

Merlin's stomach clenched at Arthur's words, the irony sitting painfully and heavily upon him.

"I consider you to be one of my most trustworthy fr... ah, subjects Merlin and I hope, as such, you will never again lie to me." Arthur turned around as he finished speaking, pinning Merlin with his determined gaze. The pair had stopped walking and it was obvious to both that Arthur knew something that Merlin thought he'd kept concealed.

Merlin nodded dumbly, wracking his brain for something that may have given him away. Had somebody else apart from Gwaine and Percival witnessed his magic? Had he left his magic books lying around in Gaius' chambers again?

"Well Merlin. Have you anything you need to confess?" Arthur continued to glare.

"Ahhhh, well. You promise you won't get angry or banish me or anything?" Merlin stuttered nervously.

Arthur blanched slightly as he absorbed the fact that there really was something Merlin was keeping from him.

"I think we better find a place where we won't be disturbed Sire, if you really wish for me to tell you all the secrets I hold."

"Lucky Guinevere is away for the evening then isn't it?"

As the night proceeded, Merlin did indeed find the bravery to bare his soul and Arthur found the strength to hear him out. And as the sun rose over the horizon at dawn, both men's lives had been changed forever; no longer did Merlin feel crushed by the weight of his secret burden and no longer was Arthur's existence shrouded in lies and deceit. The night had not passed without arguments, blame and threats but as a cockerel began to crow off in the lower town, the two men stood side by side, gazing out the window as Camelot's citizens started the day's activities. Both were ready for the new day and all that lay ahead of them. Together they would face whatever challenges came their way and using means both magical and non magical they would forge a united, peaceful Albion and see Arthur to his rightful place as the Once and Future King. Not to mention Merlin's rightful place beside him as Albion's greatest and most powerful sorcerer.

A\N:

1. From the episode "The Wicked Day" 04 03
2. From the episode "His Father's son". 04 05
3. From the episodes "A Servant of two Master's" and "The Secret Sharer". 04 07 and 04 08.
Some of this chapter was inspired by the talk Gaius and Arthur had at the end of "The Secret Sharer". (There is not enough interaction between these two on the show.
I know things seem to wrap up kind of quickly there, but I had an overwhelming need for Merlin to reveal his magic to Arthur. I hate how he is manipulated so much and it's getting worse as time goes by. Plus, i think the longer it takes for Merlin to tell Arthur what the hell has ben going on, the harder it will be for him to accept it. Not to mention I am beginning to wonder if we will get to this point at all on the show.