I walked beside Arthur and Merlin, my heart breaking when I saw Mordred and Kara put into their separate cells and locked in.

Mordred turned slowly to look to Arthur.

"What are you going to do to me?"

"I wish I knew," Arthur responded simply and I looked to him in fear. He turned, then, and walked off. Merlin turned to do the same.

Why couldn't you just let things be? I heard Mordred project through his telepathy, and Merlin froze for a moment before continuing on.

"Ariella," I heard Arthur call sternly.

"May I have a word with them?" I asked, turning to see him at the bottom of the steps, and after some hesitation, he agreed.

"Meet me in my chambers when you are finished. I expect you to be no more than five minutes. There are words that must be exchanged." I nodded in agreement and he turned to make his way back up the stairs, Merlin following. But then he paused and looked to me. "Any attempt to free them, and you will be punished severely. This will be your only warning," he warned, and I nodded once more. I had not planned to break them out at all. They shut the door and a couple of guards made their way to guard the hallway.

I took a shaky breath before I turned to my friends, my eyes filled with tears.

"Why didn't you just come with us?" Kara demanded, and I walked toward the cells.

"I can't," I told them. "If I go anywhere..." I trailed off. I could not tell them of my parallel destiny. Something told me telling them - telling Kara, really - could very well bring the end of days. I walked up to their cells and looked between them. "My only hope is... Whatever Arthur wishes to speak with me about... I can only hope it is good."

"You truly believe it will be?" Kara asked, not seeming angry, but instead thoughtful and curious, and maybe even a little irritated.

"I have faith in my King." I answered with a tone of finality, nodding to the pair and turning to leave.

"Ariella," Mordred's voice called after me, his tone begging, and I could not ignore the way my chest broke while simultaneously filling up at the way he spoke my name. I slowly turned to look at him. He looked.... guilty. Filled with regret and anguish.

"Yes, Mordred?"

"I'm so sorry," he begged, tears falling as he gripped the bars to the cell. "I treated you like I couldn't care less to see you, but in reality... I felt guilty for missing you when you had arrived... All the chances I had to come across you, to greet you as I should have, and I wasn't there... I was... I am... ashamed."

"Mordred," I sighed, walking back to stand in front of him. "You were helping the woman you love." He opened his mouth to say something, looking confused and upset, but I just let myself continue. "I care for you more than you know, Mordred," I told him with a slightly breathless laugh. "Therefore, all I want in this world is your happiness. Don't bother yourself with me when you have someone more important to attend to." I finished softly, more tears pricking at my eyes, and I was much too afraid to look up and see his expression.

"Ariella, no, I-"

"You were where you were supposed to be," I denied, looking to Kara, who looked slightly confused. "I must go. I will see what I can say to Arthur if I am not in too much trouble."

"Ariella!" Mordred called when I turned and quickly made my way out.

"Remember what I said," I told them both as I ran up the stairs, praying Arthur was not too angry with me.

I was wrong.

"When did you speak to the Druid girl in her cell?"

I hesitated before answering.

"I saw her after the trial," I admitted to the King as he paced in front of me.

"You weren't permitted."

"I had to, sire," I begged for him to understand, and he stopped in front of me, turning to me, his expression softening slightly when he saw my puffy, red, raw eyes. "Both Kara and Mordred mean the world to me. Kara is young and impressionable, and therefore, I had hoped to talk sense into her."

"She is sentenced to death, there is not much that sense could do for her now." I felt stricken, as though he slapped me across the face, and I glanced to Gwen, who looked shocked that Arthur would say such a thing, then to Merlin who looked equally as shocked, before looking back to my feet.

"Perhaps," I agreed, my voice thick. "But perhaps it is because I do not wish to see my friends suffer. And I will do anything to make them suffer less, if I am capable."

There was a silence.

"You seem very hopeful regarding the acceptance of magic."

"I'm a Druid."

"Yes, but is there anything in particular that you would like to tell me?"

I took a deep breath before looking up to him, my heart beginning to burn with fear and anticipation.

"As I said... I am a Druid," I repeated, looking to him meaningfully.

I could see him thinking, uncertain if he got my hint or not.

"Tomorrow morning, we will be bringing Kara before the council once more," Arthur admitted to me, and my eyes widened, hope filling me. "As you said, she deserves a chance to repent her sins."

I felt relief fill my entire being, and I collapsed to my knees, sobbing and thanking the King with everything I had, praying that Kara would understand what I said and agree to repent.

Arthur knelt down to me and took my hand, pulling me to stand up and I tried to mop myself up.

"Go and rest," he insisted. "You are a welcome part of the court, Ariel, we expect you to be there."

"Thank you," I repeated, and he nodded.

"You are not allowed back down to the cells tonight," he commanded, and I nodded.

"I understand."

"You will be escorted to your room by Percival and Gwaine."

"Of course."

"They will also be keeping watch outside your door."

"Do you trust me so little?" Arthur stayed silent, thinking. "Perhaps you should let them get their rest after such a long night last night and lock my door instead. I'm worried, they haven't been getting much rest. And would it not be smarter to get a couple of guards who aren't emotionally attached if you are to assign guards in the first place?"

"I will ask Gwaine to find two others to guard your room so they may rest."

"Thank you."

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Arthur called, and in came Gwaine and Percival.

"We're here, sire," Percival announced, glancing at me. "What is it you need?"

"I need you to escort Ariel to her room," Arthur commanded, and they nodded. "Once you get there, I would like you to latch her door from the outside. Percival, you will stay and make certain she does not exit her room, and Gwaine, you go fine Sirs William and Henry. Tell them to guard her tonight and escort her to the throne room first thing in the morning for the hearing with the Druid girl. Then the both of you must go get some rest."

They nodded in understanding, both of them murmuring 'sire' before I walked toward them, and they opened the door for me. I glanced back one last time.

"Thank you, Arthur," I murmured, and he nodded.

"Just... do me a favor and wear a dress tomorrow. The council will take you more seriously the more appropriately you dress," Arthur insisted, and I nodded after a moment, not wanting to agree but doing so all the same.

I sent Gwen a grateful nod as well, before we were off. Both men were awkwardly silent on either side of me as we walked, so I decided just to answer their unspoken question.

"I'm not going to try to get away, but Arthur is taking precaution."

"Are you alright?" Percival asked, and I sighed.

"I'm exhausted," I admitted. "Likely to just collapse onto my bed the moment I enter my room."

"You've had a long day," Gwaine agreed.

"As have you both."

"I have to wonder why we were suddenly given the night off. I heard through the grapevine that we were to guard you tonight."

"I may have spoken to the King," I offered with a small smile. "It is better, after all, to have someone guarding my door who has no emotional ties to me, right?" I opened my door and smiled lightly back at the two men who looked a mixture of amused and grateful. "Good night."

I closed my door before they responded, the smile immediately falling from my face as I undid my corset as best I could on my own, too dazed to get upset at the length of time it took to do it. I tossed off my clothes and collapsed onto the bed, same as the night before, crawling in and drifting to sleep, my body sore, my mind and heart numb...

I only hoped for better days as I slowly drifted to sleep.

~:~:~:~:~

It was silent as I got ready that morning, unable to eat, for my stomach was too much of a twist. Alyssa helped me with the corset to an off-white, lace dress. There were rose-colored ribbons that detailed the dress, the corset tied with the same colored ribbon. The dress had sleeves of lace, covering both my arms, and Alyssa insisted upon giving me some powder for my face before I was off.

I walked out of my room, looking straight ahead as I walked, hearing the knights scramble after me.

"Ariel?" I heard a familiar voice ask, and I looked over to see one of the knights taking his helmet off, revealing a head of dirty blonde hair and beautiful brown eyes. "You look... beautiful." I slowed my pace and stopped, turning to him, my brow furrowed.

"Thank you... But.... Do I know you, sir knight?"

"It's me... it's Sir William," he greeted, and I felt a flicker of recognition at the name. "I was with Gwaine when you arrived in Camelot."

"Oh!" I realized. "I did not recognize you."

"Well, I was wearing my helmet the first time we met."

"That you were," I agreed with a nod, turning to the other knight. "I apologize, in my haste, I did not introduce myself. My name is Ariel."

"No need to apologize, milady," he denied. "I'm Henry."

"Henry," I nodded in greeting. "Call me Ariel, please." I turned and continued walking at a brisk pace. "Thank you both, you must have had a long night."

"No need to thank us, Ariel," William said with a charming smile, both men keeping up with me. "We were just doing our jobs."

We chatted idly, and I tried to keep my wits about me as we entered, saying quick goodbyes to the knights before taking my place beside the thrones of the King and Queen. It wasn't a minute before Kara was brought before us, her wrists shackled.

"Every person present knows the crimes for which you are guilty..." Arthur began. "But I'm willing to offer you a chance." Kara looked up to him, and glanced at me quickly before looking back to the King once more. For a moment, I saw her recognizing that Arthur was going against the laws of Camelot for her. "I know that the Druids are a peaceful people. You are young... impressionable... an easy target for the likes of Morgana. If you repent your crimes, I will spare your life."

Kara looked down to the ground before he looked back up at me thoughtfully, and I hoped more than anything that she would do as Arthur asked and repent. I saw a flicker of a smile on her lips, and hope swelled in my chest as she turned back to Arthur.

"It is not a crime to fight for your freedom, sire," Kara began, and my heart dropped.

"Kara-" Arthur began to beg, looking defeated.

"To fight to be who you really are," Kara continued. "To be free to practice your beliefs without the fear of being killed for being who you are." I felt tears well up in my eyes, but that was when she got on her knees.

"However, a good friend of mine has reminded me what it truly means to fight against the darkness," she said, bowing her head low, and I felt a tear roll down my cheek. "I do not apologize for my beliefs, but I regret nothing more than I regret my decision to kill those men."

Arthur turned and glanced at me slowly, thoughtfully, before he turned back to Kara.

"I had forgotten why the Druids were a peaceful people. Because life is sacred and beautiful, and I had no right to harm anyone." She looked up to me. "I may not agree with what you do or how you view sorcery, I may not agree with your past, but I must prove to you that magic is not all evil so that the future may be different." I wiped a few more tears of pride away, trying to pull myself together. "So that our sons and daughters can live in peace with yours... Because we have hope yet."

Arthur stood slowly, thoughtfully.

"Ariel," he called, reaching his hand out for me to take, and slowly, I took it, letting him bring me more toward the center of the court, my heart racing in anticipation and confusion. "You are an old friend of Kara's."

"I am, sire," I agreed, looking to Kara, who was looking up at us in confusion.

"Tell me, Kara," Arthur said, and we looked to him. "Has Ariel always had such a way with words?"

I glanced between the two in confusion.

"She has always been a voice of wisdom, sire," she agreed. "One that I have always admired." I blushed terribly and looked to the ground as Arthur looked to me.

"I will allow you to speak to the court," he told me, and I looked up in confusion. "Kara will not go free. She will stay within Camelot to work as a servant, under your watchful eyes."

"Sire?" I asked, glancing at Kara who almost looked excited at the prospect of not having to constantly travel in fear.

"My decision is final. Leon, William," he called to the knights, who stepped forward. "Go get Mordred from his cell and bring him here immediately."

"Sire, what is going on?" I asked.

"This is no longer about Kara, Ariel," Arthur told me, placing his hand on my shoulder. He lowered his voice. "This meeting will be about two things: Mordred's punishment, and magic." My heart beat loud and hard in my chest as I looked upon him. "I wish for you to speak on the behalf of Mordred as well as sorcery. I wish to hear your views, the views of the Druids, the views of Kara and Mordred as well. It is time this war against sorcery is sorted and understood."

"You wish to... change the laws of Camelot?" my heart was ready to burst in anticipation of what he would say, and he looked thoughtful.

"I wish for myself and the court to understand magic better."

For a moment, I was in such shock, that all I could do was stand there, staring at Arthur stupidly. Until Mordred was brought in, also shackled.

"Can you please take their shackles off?" I begged Arthur, and after a moment, he nodded to the knights. I helped Kara up and Mordred looked terrified, uncertain of what was going on. Hell, I wasn't even certain of what was going on.

"Mordred," Arthur greeted. "I am certain you are wondering what is going on." Mordred glanced around before he nodded in agreement. "Kara has repented her sins. Her penalty, now, is to remain in Camelot as a servant under Ariel." Mordred looked both relieved and excited as he looked to me with a grin. "Now we are to talk not only of your punishment," Mordred's face fell slightly and he looked to Arthur. "But also argue the issue of sorcery within Camelot." Mordred looked back to me, looking as shocked as I had been.

"Sire?" Mordred asked, looking back to him again.

"What do you think, Ariel?" Arthur asked, and I looked to him. "What should Mordred's punishment be?" I stayed silent, too shocked to speak for a moment. "Ariel, as a trusted member of the court, I am asking you to present to the court your opinions. You seem to speak words of wisdom, and I wish to hear them."

I took a deep breath, "I hardly believe myself to be wise, sire, there are too many things I know nothing of, I still make a great many mistakes-"

"And that is why I trust you, Ariel," he said, placing a hand on my shoulder, looking at me meaningfully. "You have proven many times that your words create peace. Though you do not believe yourself to be wise, you have proven yourself to be wiser than you know."

"Sire-"

"The most recent examples lead us here today." He turned to the court, then. "People of the court, I urge you to listen to my beloved guest and honorary member of the court." He began pacing around, and I kept my eyes trained on him in terror. I could not speak to all of these people. "For she has proven time and time again that she is to be trusted to create harmony. Last night, she managed to speak with young Kara and give her hope for a better future for those with magic. And in turn, she convinced me to give the girl a chance to prove herself and to listen to the argument regarding sorcery."

"Without her, I fear Kara would hold hate for Camelot within her heart, and I would have killed yet another person who could, with a few simple words of reason, be swayed and convinced to attempt to create peace and harmony for all within our lands once again. That is why we are here today."

"Arthur, I can't speak in front of all of these people," I murmured hastily to him when he came back to me.

"Then I shall ask you the same questions I asked you last night, and I ask that you reply in the same words you did then." I was uncertain and afraid, but he gave me a strong look. "I have faith in you, Ariel," he said, and I finally nodded.

"You told me last night that Kara was not the one at fault here," Arthur began, his voice louder so it could carry around the room. "Explain to me why, in the same words, please."

"Your father... outlawed magic, disregarding the beliefs of others within his Kingdom. There were... innocent people, people who had only ever used their abilities for good, whose villages, homes, and communities were raided, their families and friends killed... Without legitimate reason."

I heard someone step forward to speak, and I turned to see William.

"The reason was sorcery. It is a power that is too dangerous to allow into the hands of the people."

"Power is inevitable," I pointed out, shaking my head. "There have been many great Kings who had used their position to bully and hate and conquer and kill as they wished. But there are also those who have love and kindness and humility - who unite their lands and many others... Are you saying that the Kings of men should be stripped of their titles because the power they wield is too great a risk?"

"Sorcery is a choice," Another voice began, and I turned to see another council member, a younger one, step forward. "Being born into nobility is not."

"Magic is either a part of you, or it is not," I denied. "Some are born with gifts they can not control." There was another small silence. "One may be born into nobility, but true nobility is a choice you make. With great power, comes great responsibility."

"Then why have we only ever seen evil from sorcery?" William argued, and I turned back to him. "Why do we not hear of the great deeds a sorcerer has committed?"

"Because if they were to commit such an act, they would still be hanged. They would be killed for using their gifts, regardless of intent, regardless of the outcome. I know of people who have been persecuted for saving dying children... And some who are born with pure hearts have their hatred and anger implanted in them from what they learn... Just like the both of you." I looked between them, and they looked confused.

"Let me ask the elders in the court. The elders who have spent their lives serving the King of Camelot." I looked around at the attentive crowd. "What say you to sorcery? I know, before I was born, before our King was born, magic was admired and respected. It was not uncommon for your neighbor to be a sorcerer. Many were physicians or healers. Performers. Storytellers... What say you to magic?"

For a moment, none spoke.

"You may speak freely," Arthur insisted. "I welcome your council, as I always have, and I will respect your words. Whatever you may say will not be held against you." I was well aware of Mordred's eyes staying glued to me, but as Gaius stepped forward, my eyes snapped to him.

"Many know I used to used to be a part of the Old Religion," Gaius began, his hands clasped in front of him. "Many of my friends were sorcerers. Many of their children were, as well. It is true that there are some who are born with such power ingrained in them, though few in number they may be. It is also true that most choose the path. But in order to succeed, magic must also choose you. Ariel is correct. Magic is either a part of you, or it is not."

Everyone was silent as we listened to Gaius' every word.

"I have seen great evil come from magic. More often in these past thirty years than I have ever seen before. Magic used to be a normality, and those who practiced it would, more often than not, use it for good. For... healing and happiness."

"So your view is that sorcery should be welcome back into Camelot?" Arthur asked, and Gaius nodded.

"It is, sire."

Arthur looked thoughtful once again as another man stepped forward to speak.

"I had a cousin, once," he began sadly. "He was like a brother to me after his parents died. He was small, and he loved more than anything to help things grow. He was always so curious about nature... He used magic to help the crops grow strong and healthy, and he was happy... And so was I. But... he had to hide his gifts once the King outlawed magic, and he was never happy again... Until the very day the soldiers came and took him away..." The man choked, and he was quiet for a time before finishing, and my heart was saddened. I made my way over to him as he continued. "Denying that part of him was like cutting off his legs. He felt useless, and we were frightened... And I watched as he was hanged." I placed my hand on his shoulder in comfort.

"I can never express how sorry I am," I murmured, and he nodded, placing his hand over mine.

"I only hope that you can stop anyone else from having to face this injustice, milady," he told me, and I blushed.

"Just call me Ariel, please," I asked. "I am but a guest."

"You are but nothing," the man denied quietly. "Your heart is one of gold. You underestimate your worth." My cheeks burned and I felt guilt hit me. I was hiding who I truly was from all of these people. I shook the thought off.

"Thank you sir, but I fear you overestimate me," I whispered back before addressing the people once more. "Please," I called. "Any elders who are against magic, I urge you to step forward and speak. I wish to hear both sides of the argument." No one moved an inch for a time.

Then, one stepped forward.

"I am afraid that I, like many who surround me, who grew up with stories told in the lakes, with healers who could help the weary and the sick... with family members who used their magic to bring a smile to your face... I only hold hope in my heart that magic will be welcomed back with open arms."

I felt pride swell in my chest.

"Any of the elders who are against the notion of magic returning, I urge you to step forward. You need not speak if you do not wish to, but I wish to at least see the numbers." None stepped forward.

"Then how do you explain the hatred they have shown us? This girl killed our men."

I turned back to William slowly to see him visibly upset by this.

"Ariel," Arthur called, and I looked back to him once again. "I invite you to ask that question once more. In the same words you used last night." I swallowed thickly before I turned to face him fully and spoke slowly and clearly, thinking hard about the words I had chosen.

"If you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners corrupted from infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded but that you first make thieves and then punish them?"

There was silence, and I was aware of the many eyes that looked at me.

"So I will ask again: what shall Mordred's punishment be?"

"He learned from you, sire, how to break someone out of the cells when they believe, in their heart, that it is the right thing to do," I told him, trying not to smile, and he couldn't stop the amused look that crossed his face. "It was, after all, what you did for him when you were still a Prince. The King had captured and killed his father, and you wanted nothing more than to save an innocent boy from the same fate."

The look on Arthur's face was still amused, and he hesitated before he spoke.

"I suppose his punishment should be a little more lax," he agreed. "One week of intense training." I winced. That meant training from dusk till dawn, and the sorest body you have ever had.

"But back on the topic of sorcery," he turned and walked back to his throne, sitting and looking at the three of us. I walked to stand beside them. "You three are Druids, yes?" We all agreed, and my heart was going crazy in my chest. "I think you know what I'm going to ask."

I felt Mordred take ahold of my hand, and I suppressed a shiver, my heart fluttering and my body filling with warmth, calming me despite what was going on. I squeezed his hand.

"Do any of you have magic?" Mordred squeezed my hand. "If you do, you can step forward, I won't penalize you."

And that was when me and Mordred stepped forward.

There was a long silence, and though you could see it wasn't unexpected, he was frightened. And, for a moment, stunned.

"Is this what you wished to speak to us about?" Gwen asked me. "The thing that stopped you from answering our request to become our ward?"

I nodded.

"I could not accept your offer with a clear conscious knowing I wasn't telling you something like this... However, I will understand completely if you no longer wish for me to become your ward."

"Were you born with it or did you choose it?"

"Milady..." I began. "I was born with magic... Just as I was born by magic. In a way that was much different from Arthur, though his father asked the Old Religion to impregnate his wife, I was-"

"So it wasn't an apparition, then," Arthur murmured, and I looked up at him, confused.

"Sire?"

Arthur turned to Merlin, who looked a whole mixture of things.

"That time when Morgause summoned my mother. That wasn't an apparition? How do I know that this isn't all a trick?" Merlin looked uncertain of what to say.

"Perhaps... we could summon her with that horn you used to reach your father," Merlin offered. "You can ask her yourself."

"That is dangerous, Merlin," Gaius spoke up.

"Gaius, you knew my father. Tell me... do you know how I was born?" Gaius hesitated before speaking. "Please, Gaius. Anything you know... I need to know the truth."

"Your father banned magic because of his own mistake, sire," Gaius admitted, and Arthur looked heartbroken and stricken. "He asked the Old Religion to provide them with a son, and he knew the price to create a new life was to sacrifice another..."

"So my father made all of these people suffer from his own wrongdoing? And then he denied it, willingly and knowingly, to my face in order to save his own skin."

"He didn't know whose life he was sacrificing, sire."

"Did he ask?" Gaius stayed silent, and I could tell all of this was weighing heavily on Arthur. He nodded and turned back to me. "How was your birth different from mine, Ariella?" I myself took a moment before answering, thankful for Mordred's squeeze of reassurance.

"I have no human parents."

Everything in the room stilled.

"How is that possible?" Gwen asked.

"At the beginning of time, I was born by the spirits of the Moon, the Sun, and the Earth and encased in ice within a kingdom of merpeople, residing with their previous Kings and Queens, only to be released when the time was right. I was stuck at five years of age with the knowledge of... many things. Including my own destiny."

"And what is your destiny?" Arthur asked.

"There are two others who play important roles in your life, sire. Roles so very important, but you do not even realize..."

"Who?"

"The first is a man who is to help you unite the lands and become the great King you are destined to become. The other is a man whose destiny my mere existence changed."

"What was his destiny?"

"To kill you."

Everything grew all the more tense.

"And how do you change that?"

So I told him exactly what I had told Kara, leaving the identities of the two men out of everything, explaining the original destinies of two men and how I had been created to counteract the darkness, to help the two men (and the King) become everything they should be. I, however, left out the part regarding the amount of power I wielded, as well at the powers of the other two. It was a long, tiring, stressful discussion, and I could see the stress it placed on the King.

"So why were you born with magic? What makes your existence to vital?"

"Without me here, you would be killed before you could complete your destiny... I was born with magic so I could serve you and help fight against Morgana's darkness."

"And who are these two men you speak of? Do they have magic as well?" Mordred squeezed my hand again.

"They are both powerful sorcerers," I admitted. "But I am afraid I am in no position to reveal their identities... However, both are loyal to you... And they would lay down their own lives if it meant they could protect you... They have both served you loyally and will continue to do so until the day they die."

"I need to know their names."

"I can not say."

"Then perhaps you can tell me if they are here or not."

"I can not."

"I thought you were loyal to me."

"I am, sire," I agreed. "Which is why I can not say. You must learn when they feel the time is correct."

"Perhaps if I give them the choice to come forth?"

"Perhaps. But do not expect it."

"Then I invite them to come forth whenever they wish."

"I am the one who was once destined to kill you, sire," Mordred announced, his voice choked, and I looked at him with eyes wide. He let go of my hand and walked forward, kneeling onto the ground, looking like talking was the last thing he wanted to be doing right then. "But I swear to you, I will do anything in my power to protect and serve you."

"You're a sorcerer as well?"

"Yes, sire."

"And you were destined to kill me?" Mordred hesitated before answering, shame tainting his words.

"Yes, sire."

There was another long silence. That was when Merlin walked to kneel beside Mordred.

"I am the other she speaks of," he said. "I am the warlock who was destined to help you become the Once and Future King. I am Ariel's other half."

Arthur was visibly shaken, and I made my way between the two kneeling men, kneeling myself, my gown pooling around me, creating a pattern across the floor.

"We are all here to serve you, sire," I told him, bowing my head. "We are loyal to you, and we will do anything in our power to ensure your safety."

There was another silence.

"Why have none of you ever told me?"

"We wanted to," Merlin assured quietly. "But..." I shared a glance with him.

"What is it?"

"You'd have chopped our heads off."

"I don't know what I would have done," Arthur admitted.

"And we never wanted to put you in that position. We never wanted to force you to make that kind of decision before you were ready to do so."

"That's what worried you?"

I shared another look with Merlin and Mordred.

"Some men are born to plow fields, some live to be great physicians, others... to be great Kings," Merlin began. "Us? We were born to serve you, Arthur. And we're proud of that. We would never change a thing."

"We care a great deal for you, Arthur," Mordred spoke, and I looked up to the King. "All of us. We never want to see you hurt or trapped. We want to protect you."

There was yet another tense silence.

"You will understand if I ask for some time alone to take all of this in?" he asked, and I shared another look with the men on either side of me before we stood.

"Take all the time you must, sire," I agreed.

"Thank you."

"No, Arthur," Merlin denied, his tone sad. "Thank you."

Arthur nodded. And a moment later, he stood.

"Magic is no longer restricted in Camelot. From now henceforth, sorcery is not only permitted, but it is welcome," he announced, and we three bowed to him.

Tears made their way down my face before we stood and Arthur nodded to us. We turned, leaving the throne room.

I felt so many emotions as once, I wasn't sure what to make of them.

I looked up to Merlin and Mordred, who both looked not only shocked, but excited. They turned to each other, grins growing on on their faces before they turned to me, tears gathering in their eyes.

"I believe I'm going to head back to my room to rest for a time," I said quietly. "I need a few moments."

Before they even responded, I was off, light on my feet and quick as a nymph.

Not a single one of us noticed as Kara slipped away.