Watching the shadows tilting slowly across the room was, Arthur thought to himself, one of the most peaceful things currently he had in his life. If he told anyone about it then he knew he would be looked at strangely. Except by Merlin, who knew what Arthur did at this time of day and stayed away, and kept others away. As far as the rest of the population of the castle were aware Arthur spent this time working on the paperwork that was left for him. Only Merlin knew that Arthur just sat back, his head against the back of the chair and his eyes half open as the shadows drifted across the room.

It had been something he had often done while they had been away, watching the sun set, and Arthur had closed his eyes, trying to imagine the sight of Camelot on the horizon. He had missed his home dreadfully in those long-seeming months they had been away. Yet he knew he couldn't have done anything else. He had been right to protect Merlin, even if it had put his kingdom in perilous danger.

He knew he couldn't sit there for long. Arthur knew he had things to do, but just as the sun dipped, casting those shadows across the room, that was Arthur's time. So he wasn't happy when a rogue shadow crept into view.

"Merlin!"

"Sorry!" Merlin said shuffling out of the way so he didn't disturb Arthur, at least not physically. "I just came to see if you were all right, or if you needed anything."

"I'm fine Merlin, what do you know about his whole Once and Future King thing?"

"Just that you are the Once and Future King, destined to unite all of Albion and bring back the balance of magic to the land, with the guidance of someone called Emrys."

Arthur's eyes opened a little wider, rolling to look in Merlin's direction.

"Which is you?"

"So it would appear. You know this. I told you."

"My father wants to know, after he heard what you said today."

Merlin frowned. "Do you think he might know something already?"

"Perhaps. He really wants to know why you've not said it until now."

"I have, just not to him."

Arthur tilted his head to look at Merlin, still refusing to open his eyes fully, so he looked half asleep as he stared at Merlin. Merlin wasn't fooled for a moment.

"No, you probably wouldn't have."

"I'm not exactly his favourite person am I?"

Arthur gave a light huff of laughter and turned his head back to look at the encroaching shadows.

"Still, everything seems to be working out," Merlin added brightly. Arthur didn't move, apart from his eyebrows raising a fraction.

"Really," he drawled.

"Well, yes, your father knows about you and Gwen and seems quite happy about it, and you're running the kingdom, so that almost counts as you being king. Not that I wish your father dead."

"You must be the only sorcerer that doesn't."

"I'm a warlock, not a sorcerer. Anyway, there are others who think the same as I do. There are the Druids, for instance. They know things are about to change, for the better."

"I suppose."

"And now you've changed the law people will feel safer."

"Most of the people have seen the effects of magic, none of them good."

"Some of them good," Merlin argued. "Healing spells and things. People do use them, very carefully. I can see your father's point of view I suppose, enough sorcerers have tried to kill me as well as you."

"I noticed that sorcerers attempting to kill me seemed to become rather more common when you appeared," Arthur drawled.

"So, maybe they are just trying to mess up my destiny, and it had nothing to do with you whatsoever."

Arthur opened his eyes a little further, staring up at Merlin's grinning face.

"If you say so, but you've been saying for months that, apparently, I am your destiny. Do you think Morgana believed you?"

"I don't know. Gwen said she's been very quiet ever since."

"You certainly gave her something to think about," Arthur mused. "Will she ever forgive us?"

"I tried to kill her. I don't think she'll let that go easily," Merlin said. "But she can't accuse you of being blinded by hatred towards magic. No one can do that."

"I have a court sorcerer, so I suppose not."

"A what?" Merlin said.

"I guess that's what you are, of a fashion," Arthur said, looking at Merlin carefully. "Something akin to a jester… perhaps."

"Do you want your donkey ears back?" Merlin asked.

"Do you want to spend your spare time in the stocks?"

They both looked at each other for a moment, letting the threats hang, both knowing they were fairly empty.

"Don't forget you're having dinner with your father, and Gwen."

"So this is it then?" Arthur said, going back to contemplating the shadows. "This is meant to be our destiny. What was it the dragon said about us?"

"That we're two sides of the same coin."

Arthur's eyebrows rose again and one eye opened, glancing at Merlin balefully. Merlin shrugged, and looked out at the burning sunset.

"No, I don't believe that either."