For the past couple of weeks Merlin has been getting more and more excited. He has gone from ignorance, to denial, to disbelief, to hope, to happiness, to plain old giddiness. But despite all that, Arthur, for the first time, is being quite secretive about his plan to bring back magic. He knows that Agravaine isn't the biggest fan of his idea which makes Merlin happy because that man has been getting on his nerves for months now. The only thing Merlin has heard from Arthur, only in side conversation, was that he would ask Emrys to reveal himself and he would thank him and appoint him Court Sorcerer, after which he would bring back magic. Arthur says he has the papers ready and everything.

The news travels fast through the castle and he has heard more from gossip than from Arthur himself who has been avoiding everyone except his uncle. Merlin and Arthur haven't been on the best of terms ever since Agravaine came. Merlin doesn't want to reveal himself as Emrys, he wants to tell Arthur he has magic. But if revealing Emrys meant bringing about magic then he would do that. He presumes that the king would announce that he wants Emrys to come to the throne room at some point alone. He knows Arthur wouldn't want a spectacle, which was something he is happy about.

Merlin is preparing Arthur for the announcement in the throne room. His king is silent and almost seems nervous. It's probably because he knows that people might not accept magic. Merlin would usually babble a lot in these moments but he himself is nervous since within the next few days he would have to go to Arthur and tell him he is Emrys.

Merlin stands behind Arthur's throne and waits for him to begin. The room isn't as filled as he had expected. It only contains his knights, except for Lancelot and Gwaine, who were out in some villages. The room also has the Queen (Gwen), Gaius, Geoffrey, and Agravaine.

Arthur begins his speech.

Finally Arthur says, "Wherever I have went and whenever Camelot has been in danger, Emrys was there to protect. Now I ask that Emrys stops hiding in the shadows and shows himself so that he may be thanked, and so that with his help magic may be brought back to the kingdom."

Merlin stops breathing. He didn't think Arthur would ask Emrys to reveal himself so publicly.

Can he do this?

Would it be selfish of him not to, if this is the way to bring back magic?

He can see some sort of desperation in Arthur's face when nothing happens.

"Camelot will grant you safety in your revelation." Arthur adds. Merlin can see Arthur hadn't planned on saying that presuming that Emrys would reveal himself already.

Merlin looks at Gaius. Gaius' face is almost unreadable but Merlin is pretty sure he is internally screaming for Merlin not to do it.

Merlin finally takes a deep breath and starts walking forward.

"Where are you going Merlin?!" Arthur hisses.

Merlin doesn't answer and instead stands a few steps in front of the throne.

"Merlin. This isn't time for your nonsense." Arhur says in annoyance.

"You asked for Emrys, well here he is." Merlin says quietly, trying to keep his voice from shaking but doesn't seem to be having much luck.

Arthur frowns.

"Where is he?" Arthur asks.

"I am Emrys, sire." Merlin says.

"What do you mean you are Emrys?"

Merlin resists the urge to roll his eyes or say something stupid like "you are a bit slow aren't you".

"By that I mean exactly what it says. The druids call me Emrys."

Then suddenly all the knights in the room surround him with their swords pointing towards him. Merlin frowns and waits for Arthur to stop them but it doesn't happen. Merlin looks from the knights back to Arthur. He can't read Arthur's face.

Merlin closes his eyes when he realizes what is happening.

"Ah. Right. Of course. How stupid of me. I've seen you do this on so many others before, trick them into it. I never thought I would fall into such a trap myself but maybe I had too much faith." Merlin says with a sad smile putting as much sting into his words.

Merlin wonders if this is how Arthur felt when others in his life betrayed him.