Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Me: *grinning like a fool* Hello my wonderful readers! I know I haven't been on the site for quite a while but I recently graduated valedictorian of my class and all other sorts of goodies! X3

*fake tears while pumping a fist in the air* All those late nights were worth it!

Anyway! Onto business! *clears throat*

*Sits upon throne* Now since the season finale is almost upon us… *mutters* And I swear to all the Gods of television that this time, I WILL restrain myself from watching the first part… I've decided to try out my guess or I guess hope for the episode.

This is the unedited chapter, once my royal Beta finishes with it I will replace it with the newer version. I just want to post this before the episode airs!

And now, onto the story! Enjoy!

The sky outside was dull and grey almost as if it was mirroring the mood of the inhabitants inside the small house. The villagers outside were somber and meek at the presence of the rogue knights and their throne-less king. The group of warriors had arrived in the dead of night, wounded and tired they carried their king into a familiar hut guided by a familiar man with raven black hair and pale blue eyes.

Merlin sighed in defeat as he remembered that night. Agravaine was able to fool Arthur into believing his innocence while they made their way to The Castle of the Old Kings. It was almost nostalgic how once again, their group of warriors got together in the very same place they did almost two years ago by the same enemy but Merlin had to shake the wave of familiarity of The Round Table and the castle as he continued to protect those precious to him from the traitor.

But try as he did, Agravaine eventually revealed himself as the rat that he was as he led Morgana's men directly to them. Merlin would never forget the look on Arthur's face when once again, he found himself being betrayed by another loved one. As they began to fight the soldiers, Merlin knew that they had to escape, so he told the others to follow him into the forest. Once they had covered considerable ground and managed to lose them, Merlin suggested going to Ealdor to rest and regroup which the others soon agreed; however, his worry increased when Arthur was so closed off from the world around him that he never uttered a word. Along the way, they managed to stumble upon many sentries and mercenaries but the knights where able to fend them off. Eventually, Guinevere managed to find them and she, of course follow them, hoping to be of help.

Once they arrived in Ealdor, Merlin quickly guided them towards his old home and promptly knocked the door. When Hunith opened it, her eyes widened considerably at the sight before her but a look from her son told her that it was not the time to ask questions so she quickly let them inside. Gaius quickly explained the situations as the knights went outside to scout the area and make sure they weren't followed. While the others ate a late dinner, Merlin quietly shuffled away from them and walked into his old room, plate of porridge in hand. But as he tried to coax his king into eating, the blonde simply ignored him and kept staring out of the window into the full moon. Sighing wearily, Merlin simply pulled the blanket over his friends' shoulders and sat on the floor, not whiling to let the blond face this alone.

He had been like that for a week now; Merlin, Hunith and Gaius helped move him around the house, try to coax him to eat, but Arthur still refused to eat or move on his own. To Merlin, it was as if he was standing in front of the broken Uther that Arthur stood by day and night, talking to him, whiling to coax him back to the living. And just as Arthur had faith his father would return to him, Merlin would do the same.

Today, Merlin was helping Arthur move from his room out into the living space as he placed him on a chair near the window overlooking the village. As the young king sat on the chair, Merlin let Gaius step forward to check over the blonde, hoping to see some kind of change but once again disappointed at seeing none. Once Merlin took over again, he, with great care, took the blanket and placed it over his kings' shoulders, fussing with it trying to smooth all the invisible wrinkles that he knew would bother him. A brave smile tried to force itself upon his face to give his king some form of normality but all to soon it was gone seeing the lack of fire in his master's eyes.

Hunith, Gaius and Gwen saw their interaction, their hearts breaking at the sight of the two men before them. Day after day, they saw how Merlin never left the king's side; he never pushed, he never raised his voice, he never wavered in his loyalty. But the peace and silence of the house was shattered when the knights came in shouting. Tension has been high between them as time passed by. They wanted to do something but with no plan, they began to fight amongst each other. Gwaine was arguing that they should sneak back into Camelot and kill the traitor queen and her pet Agravaine but Leon kept stopping him, knowing that they wouldn't stand a chance to even get close to them to do so. Elyan sided with Gwaine while Percival agreed with Leon, trying to stop his friends from doing something foolish.

As they kept arguing, Merlin began to fuss once again with the blanket, trying not to listen to them fighting but instead began to get lost in his thoughts.

He hated this. Hated how they were fighting against each other. They had all become such a close group after the coup almost two years ago. Born from the adversity and grief of betrayal came a bond of unshakable strength, a bond that was born of destiny and as such would forever remain together. But Morgana kept poisoning it, unraveling the careful tread of friendship and kinship their group had created.

First his closest companion and protector, Lancelot sacrificed himself in order to allow him the chance to keep protecting their prince. Then Morgana interfered with him healing Uther, sealing Arthur's heart forever from magic. She and Agravaine almost drove Camelot to war and almost got him to kill his king! Gaius had to suffer through torture to protect his secret and then the Lamia drove more barriers in everyone, making him push his friends further away. The resurrection of Lancelot and the supposed betrayal of the future queen sunk the blonde king further down into despair. Elyan's possession and him finding the engagement ring he gave to Gwen in the forest was almost enough, but now that Morgana's back on the throne and Arthur knows of his uncle's betrayal, it was no wonder that his friend fell into himself to shield his heart.

Merlin could see as the argument began to escalate, Arthur's frame began to tense up and shiver in brief bursts, almost as if the loud noise was tearing the thin walls of his psyche apart. It broke the warlock's heart to see his king this way, a mere shadow of the powerful monarch that had become their leader. The way their friends were now fighting one another as enemies instead of remembering they were brothers. How his uncle and mother where victims of the prejudice of war and revenge. How his queen has lost the trust of her king because of the jealousy of the witch. His head hung low as his arms fell to his side.

"Enough..." Gaius, Hunith, Gwen and perhaps Arthur where the only ones who heard his cold and soft whisper, but when the others didn't seemed to hear or pick up on the change of mood in the air, Merlin merely turned around and faced them.

"I said ENOUGH!" Merlin's voice rang clear and true, just as if he were facing a sorcerer or speaking to a druid elder his voice was permiated with power that compeled all to listen. The result was instantaneous, whether it be from the fact that none of them had ever heard Merlin raise his voice against anyone or because of the power he extruded, each knight now faced him with a look of stunned surprised and perhaps relief?

"What is wrong with all of you?" They heard Merlin ask, not raising his voice to the point where he knew would hurt his king but he knew would be considered as shouting. "This is not the time for mindless squabbles! You are Knights of the Round Table! Selected by our king to be the best of the best..."

"So act like it!" Seeing the steely gaze on the usually perpetually cheerful eyes, all of them stood there stunned as Merlin closed his eyes and clenched his arms to rein his magic back in. Silence only reigned for a few seconds before a stoic faced Leon stepped forwards.

"What would you have us do huh?" He demanded. "The kingdom is overrun by Morgana's army. And army, might I add, that possesses powerful magic!" Not wanting to be left out of the conversation and now facing reality, Gwaine began to speak.

"That traitor Agravaine ran us out of the castle of the old kings. We have no fortress, no plan, and no leader!" Merlin's eyes snapped opened at his last remark. He saw as Elyan and Percival's faces dropped down in defeat, mirroring Gwaine's.

"It's time we face it, we lost." His words held an air of finality that drove Gwen and even Leon's faces down. He couldn't believe it, they were actually giving up? After all they've been through? Had Morgana struck so deep into their group that their will was all but gone?

Gaius and Hunith, knowing very well that they still had a chance, could see very well how their words had affected the young warlock. Merlin's world is and always has been destined for the service of one man. Merlin had found his reason for existing, for having such powerful magic within his body and that reason was seating only steps away from him. They've seen how he had remained by the king's side, never wavering in his duty almost as if protecting Arthur of any unforeseen dangers. They knew that Merlin would never allow Camelot to fall, and they knew how far he would go to assure his king's victory.

For them to say that there was no chance of that happening, whether they knew it or not, was the last straw.

"How dare you... HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT?" Merlin was furious, how dare they utter such a thing! They were still alive, there was still hope! He would not allow Arthur to fail in his destiny. He would not allow that witch to remain in the throne! The knights and Gwen's head snapped upward at this, for they no longer saw the happy and clumsy servant but the wise and almost powerful man that hid beneath. Arthur had once told them of the few instances where Merlin had shown this side to him in times of great need, how he had taken strength from his words and followed his counsel. Only they knew that Arthur considered Merlin his royal advisor and right hand man. A man he trusted to take over for him if he were gone.

"Merlin please calm down..." Gaius tried to appease his ward but immediately back away a few steps when Merlin turned to face him.

"No! I've had it! I can't stay hidden any longer!" Realizing who he had shouted at, Merlin's face immediately soften and grasped one of Gaius's shoulders.

"I've learned so much from you. You have protected and cared for me ever since that first day and for that you will always have my thanks..." They've spent so many years together, protecting Camelot from the shadows that they could communicate fully by just looking at each other's eyes. Here, Gaius saw all that Merlin meant to say, all he wanted to say and he understood.

"But can't you feel it? Destiny is telling us, its screaming at us… that it's time to show them what I'm truly capable off..." Of course he could feel it, even with magic as weak as his he could feel the strands of magic guiding and arranging every piece together. After a moment, Gaius simply gave him a brief nod in reply.

It was time.

Seeing he understood, Merlin felt himself lighter having his approval and thus he turned around to face the others with a smile. But it was no regular smile as they have seen on him so many times. This one was filed with such sorrow and pain that it took their breath away.

"You must think of my rambles as those of a foolish farm boy. One that knows not when to quit..." He lowered his head as he raised his hand slightly, opening it and closing it one after the other. "But what I've realized from the very first day I set foot in Camelot is that you were blind... Still are blind...All of you..." At this, he raised his head and they all gasped slightly at the look in his eyes.

It was one that spoke of wisdom and experience.

Strength and power.

Sorrow and grief.

No emotion of which a servant should be able to express.

"None of you have any idea how much I've gone through to protect you all..." Hearing this, they were stunned to see that they could honestly believe him.

"I've fought in secrecy for what seems a lifetime... I've faced demons and horrors gladly, knowing that all of you would be safe because of it." His eyes fell to his outstretched hand as they steeled in memory of what had happened.

"But I've let my heart foolishly guide my actions for too long. I've granted that witch too many chances to change... And because of that clemency, I've let her gain the upper hand..." Once again, there where gasps all over the hut, not believing what they were hearing. Could it be true? Has the man in front of them who they thought of as a young and naïve man really had fought against their greatest enemy from the shadows and time after time returned unharmed?

"Well I say no more…" The finality of his statement made their spine shiver from the sheer sense of power. The way he said it, they would be surprised if whatever Merlin was planning didn't turned the tide to their favor. Merlin then, turned towards their king and kneeled before him, appearing like a true knight about to be sent off to a quest. He gently placed his hands on Arthur's shoulders and waited patiently until his face met his. A few seconds passed before the deadened eyes of the monarch was able to meet his own.

"Arthur, I know you can hear me. You are provably confused at all the nonsense I just told..." At this, Merlin laughed slightly at his weak attempt at humor but immediately somber as he continued.

"Just know that all hope is not lost. You will get back your kingdom once again, my friend... This, I promise you…" He could've sworn he saw a brief flicker beneath the veil that covered Arthur's heart but it was gone before he could confirm it. "I just hope you can forgive me for what your about to discover about me." Closing his eyes to gather his thoughts together, the others merely waited for him to continue, none daring to interrupt. All of them could feel that this was a moment that would be the beginning of something greater than they've ever seen.

"I know you're still here with us. I know how hard it must've been for you... Being betrayed by those who you trusted implicitly... But you still have us. You still have me." They saw how Merlin got closer to Arthur as he connected their foreheads together; his eyes were closed while Arthur's remained open.

"You were my annoying prat prince first... My greatest friend second..." At this, they saw him open his eyes and gaze upon those of their king with a look of complete loyalty that all of them felt humbled by it. "And you will forever be my king and my brother until my body cease to draw breath." They remained like that for a minute, neither one exchanging words knowing they weren't need it. Once he separated from the king, Merlin locked eyes with him again and gave him a gentle smile.

"So you just rest now, yeah? I'll take care of everything..." At this, Merlin gave him a small pat on his shoulder but never raising, waiting for something. "I'm not completely useless you know?" At this, he kept grinning at his king, praying for some sort of sign that he is willing to trust him, even if it was for one final time. A few seconds passed and the knights where about to break the silence when suddenly, Arthur's head gave Merlin a brief nod. Merlin felt his eyes close as he let the acceptance and trust of his king cover him completly and let it give him the strength needed for what he was about to do. Nodding one last time, Merlin rose from his place and walked towards Gaius and his mother, the two were already standing. Merlin then turned to his uncle.

"I will leave Aithusa with you for protection. When the time comes, she'll lead you where you'll need to go." At this, Gaius nodded in response.

"Of course." Seeing that would be the end of his orders, Hunith stepped forward and gather her son into her arms. As they embraced, she held back the tears, confident that her boy would return to her she let go of him and squeezed his hands one last time.

"You take care now alright?" Hearing this, Merlin merely smiled and nodded in reply before turning around and walking out of the hut, the others simply stared stunned at what had happened before they followed him outside, Hunith and Gaius following close behind. The knights saw Merlin heading towards the horses the villagers managed to get for them which held their packs just in case they needed to leave in a hurry.

"Wait a second Merlin! Where the hell do you think you're going?" Leon exclaimed as the slender man took out a blue cloak from his pack, already putting it on.

"Merlin, there are legions of soldiers all over the forest. There is no way you can escape them." Percival tried to reason with the younger man, trying to protect him as much as his late friend had but the warlock simply pushed pass them. Gwaine stepped in front of him, taking hold of his hands to force him to stop. Merlin was his first friend and his best; he would not let him go to his death. But before anyone could step in and help him confine their young friend, the raven haired man simply threw his head back and let out something akin to an animalistic roar. The strength of it was such that it pushed the knights away from him in stunned silence.

Merlin hung his head low as his secret was out. He knew what must be going through their heads right now, another traitor in their mist, but he just hoped they could forgive him eventually. The villagers were running back into their houses hearing the clear display of magic. The knights training eventually kicked in and they drew their swords in defense, but for once they didn't know what to do. They knew Merlin would never betray them, what he displayed inside the hut proved them that, but he was still a magic user, an enemy. Hunith and Gaius both had looks of grief at the sight of the knights preparing to attack Merlin and when Gwen saw this, something inside of her finally seemed to fall into place. The final piece that they were missing from their friend was this.

Magic.

It made sense too. Gwen could remember all the times he and Arthur would go out on a dangerous quest to slay a beast that would be impossible without magic and come back unscathed. Countless occasions where luck was on their side, it was Merlin all along…

"I am tired..." They heard Merlin utter with a solemn voice and they stiffened in response, not really knowing what was about to happen. "Tired of hiding. Tired of secrets. So very tired of this little game of hers." With this, Merlin began to walk forward, much to the confusion and alert of the knights. With each step, they felt a gust of wing get stronger and stronger.

"I am done pitying her"

"I am done granting her clemency."

To the utter horror of Leon and Gwen and fright from the others, they saw the golden hues of the scales belonging to the great dragon that attacked Camelot all those years ago. But Arthur said he had slayed the beast, how could it still live? To their surprise, another blur, white and silver flew right beside the great dragon, spiraling around it almost as in play. How could another dragon exist? They had destroyed the last egg had they not? There they realized that Merlin was the one to emerge from the tower before it collapsed. Merlin must've done something to protect the two dragons, to protect and hide the majestic creatures that commanded such power. Only a few seconds passed before the two beasts landed in the clearing that Merlin was approaching.

"I am done with everything..." With this, Merlin's hand shot to his right as a staff shot forward from behind a house. Once Merlin managed to catch it they noticed that it wasn't an ordinary staff, but one of magical properties as the gem and runes clearly showed. The staff pulsed with power at being in touch with its master once again and was eager to do his bidding.

"She wants to defeat Emrys? Then I say let her try..." With this statement, Merlin continued forward as the white and silver dragon approached its Dragon Lord. Merlin couldn't help but notice how big she had gotten. Aithusa was now a few feet bigger that a horse and his heart filled with pride at how majestic she had been flying right alongside Kilgharra. He slowly met her as she lowered her head towards him and he was more than happy to scratch her scales. His eyes turned nostalgic as he remembered that night when he called for her. She was so small back then.

"My... How you've grown little hatchling..." He gave her a smile before speaking to her the commands to remain with the others and protect them at all costs. Seeing her nod in reply, he watched with melancholy as his hatchling walked towards Gaius and his mother sensing the connection from them and the hostility and confusion from the others. Knowing his precious people where going to be safe in his absence, Merlin turned around and began to walk towards Kilgahrra. Gwaine seemed to sense Merlin move and ran forward.

"Wait!" At this, the others turned around and saw what was happening they could only watch as Gwaine ran forward thinking of stopping him or maybe even join him, but with one look he knew that Merlin had to do this alone. "What are you going to do?" When he asked in such a defeated tone, Merlin had to turn around and face them one last time. None of the knights were surprised to find the warlock smiling at them but when the smile fell, they once again saw the man of wisdom and experience. And right there then finally saw how that could be possible.

He had said he was protecting them from the shadows, that he had fought against Morgana time after time and still came out alive. It was because of his magic that that was possible. It was because of his magic that Camelot was still standing after all this time. And it was because of his magic, that they knew Camelot would once again belong to their true king. Merlin simply stared at their faces while he let his eyes glow as he sent some of his magic to his staff. Seemingly able to sense what he wanted, Kilgahrra lowered his head as Merlin shot upwards into the air and landed on his shoulder blades. He heard the others gasp at the site of his eyes and his display of magic but he also could feel no further malice from them. He lowered his head and he let his hood cover his face while he positioned himself for flight. He knew that to get Arthur back to them, he needed to snap him out of his haze coma. They didn't have a year to wait for him as he did his father. And the only way he thought of was to show him all that he was. He would gather those druids faithful to him and Albion and he would take Arthur to claim his sword. He would help his king gain back his kingdom and he would deal with Morgana once and for all. With this thoughts, Merlin glance at his comrades for a few precious moments before glancing at the window where a pair of familiar blue eyes and blonde hair where staring right at him. Bowing slightly at the figure of his stoic king, he then announced his answer to them all.

"If my king requires an army..." They heard him shout as the great dragon began to take flight. "Then that's exactly what I shall find..."

Me: *mutters* Ok so I know the show wouldn't do something as grand or extreme as this for the reveal but come ON! Who wouldn't like this to happen huh?

Now I might turn this into a multi-chapter eventually but for now it's a one shot. Now keep a look out for the edited version as well as a new chapter of 'A Warlock's Heart'… That cheeky monkey took a long time to write!

Oh! And just a short bout of announcements, I shall be missing from early January through mid February for an eye surgery. Hopefully all goes well and I come back to the states without glasses and the headaches that comes with it from working in front of a monitor for more than 9 hours straight.

I will also be in the artist alley at CloverCon in NJ Around June. I hope to get my first issue of my manga story published by then so those who go might get to have a first edition of it! xD I still hope to see some of my knights there! Flick my ear! Put a bucket over my head! Give me a noogie for all the time I've been absent! I know I deserve it…