A/N: Well, this is it. The last chapter! I'm not sure if this is the last story in this series, since I have an idea kicking around but for now, this is the end.

Thank you to HarunoKasumi (if you go back and read the part in italics, then that will tell you what she saw), Healed535 (as you wish!), Glacier22, MegamiTenshiHime, hieisdragoness18, and SnowyWolfGirl for your reviews. Thank you to everyone who favourited and reviewed over length of the story as well! You are all awesome!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

ONE MONTH LATER

Pacing the Council chambers, Arthur waited anxiously for Merlin to arrive. So much had happened since he'd woken up in his own bed after Mordred's failed plot to murder him; he'd discovered he was to be a father, something he was overjoyed to find out; and had claimed Bernicia as part of Camelot - Arthur had learned from his previous mistakes and demanded Odin give up his lands and titles in return for his life, it was the only way to be sure that the revenge obsessed king no longer had the power to invade Camelot. As for Alined, Arthur sent his men home in disgrace, after the foreign king signed a treaty that if he should ever commence or be complicit in hostile actions against Camelot, that all his titles and lands would revert to the Pendragons.

Camelot's lands had expanded massively and with such expansion came many issues but the king could almost see the dream of a united Kingdom becoming a reality. It was a powerful dream and one which he found himself desperately trying to make work - a united Albion would being peace and prosperity for everyone, not just Camelot. Caerleon had agreed to a stronger alliance, effectively agreeing to acknowledge Arthur as 'High King', a title not held by any monarch since his ancestor Brute and it was only the northern kingdoms and Essetir that refused to do so.

There had also been the sombre funerals of so many of Camelot's knights who had been murdered by Mordred and Odin's men, the queen's brother amongst them. Gwen had been devastated by Elyan's death and guilt ate at Arthur. Both directly and indirectly he was responsible for so much of his wife's pain - his family responsible for the death of both her father and her brother.

So it was not only abroad that Arthur had difficult situations to deal with, there were several at home. One of the biggest was his fool of a servant. The idiot's self-sacrifcing behaviour seemed to have absolutely no end. He also seemed to think that his king did not need to know what he had done, the lengths he had gone to save Camelot.

It had taken Gwaine, in a fit of drunken anger, to explain exactly how much Merlin had been willing to give up to protect him. When given the choice between Arthur and his own mother, he had chosen the king. Arthur sighed deeply to himself, scratching his beard thoughtfully, wincing as he caught the lacerations left by the Lurker. How he was supposed to replay such a debt he had no idea. But he had to try.

The door opened and Merlin walked in. "You sent for me, Sire."

"Yes, Merlin, I did," Arthur made his way over to where his servant was standing. "I know that before all this happened, you were disappointed that I'd decided not to legalise magic straight away."

"Arthur - "

"Let me finish," the king ordered, holding up a hand. "I know you were angry and I understand why. I promised you in Nemeth that things would be different, that laws could be changed and I know you felt I was turning my back on that. I promise you I wasn't but I realise now that to ask you for more, to ask you to wait for your freedom is too much. I am going to announce to the people that magic will no longer be punishable by death, unless it is used to hurt or to harm."

Merlin covered his mouth, tears gathering in his eyes and let out a relieved laugh which came out as more of a sob. "Thank you, Arthur," he said. "Thank you so much."

"You have nothing, nothing to thank me for, Merlin," Arthur stated firmly. "You have protected my kingdom, my family and me at the expense of your own and asked me for nothing in return. I owe you more than I can possibly ever repay. But I am going to try. I swear this to you."

"I've never wanted anything other than to be able live my life without fear. You owe me nothing."

"I owe you everything. Is there anything you want? Anything at all? I would understand it if you wanted to quit - you might be a clumsy oaf but there's no need for you to pretend you're nothing more than a servant anymore."

Merlin shook his head. "I told you I would be happy to serve you 'til the day I die. Nothing changes that," he grinned. "Anyway, I've invested a lot of time and effort into making you a half-decent king. I'm not about to let you go and ruin it!"

Arthur sighed, "I see you're determined to make this difficult," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I'm offering you a promotion, you idiot."

"I know what you're offering me," Merlin replied, a smile tugging at his lips, "but I don't want it. I'm just a servant and, most of the time, I like my job. Anyway, what other job do I qualify for? Court Sorcerer? I don't think people are ready for that."

"You've never been 'just a servant'," Arthur stated, "but you're right, the people are not ready for that." He walked over to the table and picked up something up, gripping it tightly in his hand.

Merlin waited to see what Arthur was doing, his mind reeling. Suddenly, in midst of his grief ad sorrow at the loss of his mother and Elyan, Arthur had given him everything he had ever wanted. Magic was to be free and he could stop pretending to be the fool. So many emotions were bubbling within him, he almost felt like his chest was being crushed. He'd clung firmly to the belief that Arthur was a great king, that he would eventually free magic and end the long war that had been raging for almost thirty years. When he'd lived in the forest, banished from Camelot, he'd hoped for this and prayed for Arthur to forgive him, even though at the time he believed it to be impossible that the king ever would. Still, it seemed that his faith had finally been rewarded. He only wished his mother had lived to see him help bring such peace to Albion.

Arthur nodded firmly to himself and came back over to Merlin, holding out his hand, palm up. In the middle of his palm was a silver signet ring. "Here," he said.

Frowning, Merlin peered at the ring but made no move to take it. "What's that?"

"It's the royal seal, what does it look like?" Arthur said, exasperated.

"Obviously," Merlin replied, rolling his eyes. "I meant, why are you giving it to me?"

The king looked away for a second and Merlin swore he seemed almost embarrassed. "It occurred to me that you...you lost the last of your family protecting mine and, well, you're like my annoying younger brother anyway, so I thought...there have been instances where a royal family have adopted the only son of another family. Usually it's someone from a noble family but...anyway. Yes," Arthur rambled through his explanation, ashamed at how bumbling he sounded. He hated dealing with emotional issues. Really, really hated it. However, he knew he needed to do something more than just thank Merlin for everything he'd done and this had seemed like the right thing to do.

Merlin stared at the king incredulously, waiting for the punchline. "You're serious," he said when one was not forthcoming. "You want to adopt me into your family? I'm a commoner."

Shrugging, Arthur gestured dismissively. "It's not traditional I admit, but then, neither was marrying Guinevere."

"I know but...I'm your servant, I have magic," Merlin frowned, unable to quite get his head around what Arthur was saying to him.

"Strangely I hadn't forgotten that," Arthur replied sarcastically, dropping back into comfortable habits. He held out the signet ring again. "You know, most people would be falling over themselves to have this."

Hesitantly, Merlin reached out but did not take the ring, staring at it like it would bite. "Are you sure about this, Sire?"

Arthur sighed in frustration, "For God's sake, Merlin, of course I'm sure! Now will you just take the thing?" Finally, Merlin took the ring, his eyes suspiciously bright as he did. Clearing his throat, the terrible nervous feeling he always got when there were too many emotions going on building in his chest, Arthur held out his hand for Merlin to shake. "I formally welcome you as a brother and as a Pendragon." Merlin shook his hand enthusiastically, grinning as he did. Arthur pulled him in for a quick hug, giving him a pat of the back, careful to avoid the still raw wounds left by the Lurker. "Don't make me regret this, Merlin," Arthur warned jokingly.

"Me?" Merlin said in mock indignation, pulling back.

"You," Arthur responded. "I'm not entirely sure that it's appropriate for me to be employing a member of the Royal Family as my servant, but since you want to keep your job, then we'll just see how it goes."

Merlin nodded, turning serious suddenly. "Arthur, I...this is more than I could ever have asked for. Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me."

"I told you have nothing to thank me for, old friend," Arthur said sincerely. He paused and raised his eyebrows, "You could stop yelling 'Rise and shine' when you wake me up in the mornings, though."

Merlin looked over at him like he'd gone crazy. "Why would I do that?"

The sound of Arthur slapping his servant upside the head echoed down the corridor, followed by a yelp. Outside the guards looked over at each other and shook there heads. It was probably best not to ask.

END

A/N: There you have it. Hope you enjoyed it! Please review!