Morgana was furious. Of course. First of all: her most loyal dog had just been fired as the royal advisor. Which left her without an influence in Camelot.
Then, as she had found out through a few semi reliable sources, Agravaine had used rumors to unite the kingdom in favor of Emrys.
With that and the lift of the ban of magic in reach, people would now turn even more to Arthur. Which left her deprived of the only allies she had: magical creatures and sorcerers. It made her look like the villain (which she was, she was just too blind to see it).
And to top it all of, everyone now knew that Emrys was destined to be her doom.

However, there was one good thing that had come from all this.
She now knew who Emrys was. And she already had a plan to take him out for good.
After all, who would support a sorcerer without magic?

------------------------------------

"Merlin, I know this may be sudden and quite confusing to you, but -", Arthur took a deep breath, not even looking at his manservant.
Well you see – if you had hidden – like – if you ever had the slightest talent for magic – if you somehow were a sorcerer all along – we'd be in a lot less trouble.
Because I am in need of a court sorcerer right now. And it turns out – well -
The people will not accept anyone but you – as -
So I'm asking you – would you like to be -"

"You want me to be your WHAT now?", Merlin stared at Arthur – eyes wide.
No no no no no. This cannot be happening. Not NOW! Of all times, you moron of a royal prat!

I assume you can all guess what had happened the day before. But just to be clear:
Let's rewind.

As said before, the days had been stressful lately. Especially for the servants. More specifically, it's been hell for Merlin.
And there he had already counted himself lucky for the weird lack of assassins lately.
Usually he took out at least two per week. The past month, he had exactly one case of assassin to take care of.
And that was this morning. The assassin had been a young sorceress. Which was what made it a bit complicated. Apparently she was a friend of Mordred's. One who refused to believe that Arthur was a good man at heart.

Which is why Merlin had all hands full to convince Mordred that they had to get her out of Camelot. Or else she might be burned at the pyre.
Or hanged. Or worse. Apparently she had killed a few guards when she had infiltrated the castle.

Because of that, Merlin had knocked her out and hidden her in the stables. Only then he had send another servant to go fetch Mordred.
Mordred was a mix of emotions. Happy to see his love, frightened for her safety and conflicted because of her actions.
So he agreed to help Merlin get her to a near druid camp somewhere in the woods.

When she awoke, Mordred promised her not to leave her alone. Practically ordering Merlin to go back to Camelot. They would only ever return when Arthur had changed his mind about magic.
Mordred would make sure she would not try to harm the king again.
Merlin, conflicted if he could let him go, made Mordred swear an unbreakable swear that he would not try in any way to kill Arthur. It was a pinky promise.
But Mordred was convinced he would die, would he ever try to break it.
Merlin knew of the prophecy. He was definitely not going to take chances.

Barely anyone noticed that he had returned. Well that's a lie.
Gwaine and Lancelot immediately noticed him and invited him to a night at the tavern.
Ok, maybe Merlin should have declined, since there were a few chores he had yet to take care of, but he decided after what happened with Mordred, he deserved a little breather.

For once in his life, Merlin was ACTUALLY at the tavern. With the knights, minus Arthur and a very – very drunk Gwaine.
Who was apparently making up some sort of story that people were utterly fascinated by.

"He's doing that all the time now. The town never gets enough from it.", Lancelot had explained to Merlin, as he bought him his first drink.
(They had only been here for like, five minutes, but Gwaine was completely wasted already.)

"What does he talk about?", Merlin asked, feeling Lancelot's grip on his shoulder tighten.
"Maybe you should listen to him yourself.", he sighed, clearly nervous.

Merlin raised an eyebrow at him, before he made his way over the dance floor to sit next to Gwaine.
...

"And then- ", Gwaine moved his hands in a mysterious, yet graceful way as he looked between them.
"it came out the cupboard. In seconds it changed it's entire appearance and became what Neville feared the most!
It looked just like Severus Snape!"

The people around him started chuckling.

"And remember, Professor Lupin had just whispered to him how to make fun of it. So when Neville said, Ridiculous, Snape now wore a red dress and an eagle on his head. It was the fashion style of Neville's grandmother!"
Gwaine grinned, as the people around him started roaring with laughter.
Maybe the entire thing was just funnier when you were drunk and up to enjoy yourself, but Gwaine's fans seemed to love it.
They ate up his words like they were starving of boredom.

"Seriously, Gwaine?", Leon – who was sitting on the other side, also next to Gwaine shook his head. But he was grinning as well.

"Trust me Gwaine, one of these days my stories will all become famous!", Gwaine grinned and Leon sighed a deep chuckled sigh.
"Yeah right. Not this time you don't."

---------------

It was somewhere in December 1997, when Leon's phone rang.
"LEON!", he heard Merlin scream at him so loudly, he had to hold his phone a few inches away from his ear.
"Merlin? Is that you?! You're alive?
But how?
Are you too - what?"
Leon had not seen Merlin since the day Arthur died. But that was hundreds of years ago..."

"Yes, yes. I know. Emrys means immortal, remember?
That's not why I'm calling. I think I've found Gwaine!"

Leon sat up from the couch in his small apartment now. "What are you talking about? Gwaine has been dead for how long now? We were at his funeral, remember? I've never seen so many sad women before..."

"No, not HIM him. HER him. Er. How do I explain this. I think she's his reincarnation..."

"Holy – where are you. I'm coming over."

----------------------

A.N.:// dafuq did this come from.... ? XD

-------------------------

Anyway, the night continued like this. Eventually they all got drunk. Especially Merlin. He barely remembered being dragged home into Gaius chambers by Lancelot.
He didn't remember falling asleep.
However, he did remember being slapped awake. By something very – slimy.

With a scream and struggle, he sat up as he realized this wasn't someone slapping him. It was something attacking him.
Gaius must have heard somehow, as he ran into Merlin's chambers, armored with a frying pan.
Hitting onto the monstrous snail and hitting it onto the next wall.
(He also accidentally hit Merlin a couple of times, but Merlin was too delirious to notice).

"Thank's Gaius.", Merlin heaved out his thanks, as he finally managed to relax.

"Looks like Morgana has somehow figured out who you are.", Gaius concluded, while the giant thing fell into itself, seemingly dying.

Merlin groaned, leaning back in his bed, as he felt himself grow even more tired.

"Lucky she failed. Or else Camelot would now be defenseless.", Gaius sighed a sigh of relief, as Merlin closed his eyes. Stretching out his hand to let the glass of water on his night stand come to him. His throat felt dry like sand paper.

Nothing happened.

Merlin looked up, glancing between the glass and his great uncle.
"I don't think she failed.", he whispered, before he registered what he said. And broke out in a slight panic. "My magic – it's gone."

---------------------------

"Actually, Arthur. I do have magic. But Morgana send a giant snail to take it from me. So now, conveniently when you ask me to become your court sorcerer, I can't prove it to you. You just need to believe me I am the strongest and most powerful warlock and dragon lord who has ever walked the earth."

Yeah no. Merlin couldn't possibly say that.

So he did, what had always done. He kept quiet, hoping that Morgana wouldn't have the chance to attack anytime soon. Merlin closed his eyes, as Arthur tried to explain to him how to behave when he would be promoted from his position as manservant to court sorcerer.
And didn't even wait to complain that he would now have to resolve to George as his manservant.

"Honestly, I'd rather dress myself than listen to his horrible jokes.", Arthur murmured, as a serving girl and seamstress walked around his best friend, measuring his size.

"I fear the day that you dress yourself will be the day Gwaine turns out to be a half god."

They were in Arthur's chambers now and Merlin really, really wanted to scream. He felt so helpless, so weak and useless. How was he supposed to protect Arthur without magic?
How could he become court sorcerer without it?
How did Arthur not care about any of this? He chuckled! Even though Merlin's humor felt so dry.

Since when was the ban on magic lifted anyway? Half a day ago, there were two men accused of sorcery. Sure Arthur sentenced them to a year in the dungeons, instead of killing them at the pyre.
But just then, magic was still outlawed!
When had any of this changed? In the past couple of hours no less.

And since when was the prophecy (Arthur had just spend the last two hours to gave him the basics of Gwaine's little legend) common knowledge in the kingdom? And why was Arthur so stubbornly sure that none of it was true?

Merlin could cry as he failed to connect the dots.

"So, all court sorcerer had a robe. But that's just were the traditions began. You have a lot to learn, Merlin. You sure you can keep up with all this?"

"What do you mean that's were the traditions began? What traditions? Magic was outlawed! I never heard of a court sorcerer before!"

"Yes, I know, Merlin. I mean, before my father became king. My grandfather did have a court sorcerer. Her name was Nimueh. She betrayed my father. And killed my mother.
However, I do know the traditions that need to be uphold when a court sorcerer is established.
And – we will somehow have to fake that you can do magic."

Arthur sighed as he finished explaining.

,I wouldn't need to fake it, if Morgana wasn't such a selfish bitch.', Merlin thought to himself.

"I was told that the court sorcerer had to go and find a cave in the valley of kings. Somehow they would be shown their purpose there. It's said that magic was born there. But so far, none of my ancestors wrote were to find it. If we did, of course you can just go in there and then come out after some time. I'm sure many of the sorcerers back then had done that. To sound more mystical."

Merlin paled, then a smiled formed on his lips, as he realized what Arthur was just proposing. To go to the birthplace of magic? Maybe that would bring his magic back?

"What are you grinning at? I just told you we have no idea where it is.", Arthur squished his eyebrows, as he tried to read Merlin's mood.

"Something's different about you....", Arthur stepped forward to inspect his face a bit more closely.
"It's something in your eyes – has – changed.", he muttered, just when Merlin released a breath and Arthur flinched backwards.
"God, have you been at the tavern again?! You stink. I really need to talk to Gaius about this, holy -"

Merlin shrugged, irritated at the question. Grinning a crooked smile.

"I can't work with you like this. Go, go. Your robe will be done by tomorrow. And I promise it's going to be a loong day. I've asked Lancelot to help you prepare your sorcery performance.
And Gwaine has promised me that he will show you the annual chicken dance."

"The what now?", Merlin looked at his king – stunned.

Arthur sighed. "I know. I thought he made it up too, but Gaius looked it up. Apparently you will have to wear this -", Arthur threw over a green dress. One that Morgana would have worn in old times.
"And dance the annual chicken dance." Arthur grinned. He was obviously amused by those old traditions. Rather than annoyed.

"Why?", Merlin hissed, feeling both demotivated and embarrassed.
"I don't know. But Leon insisted on it. He's weirdly obsessed to see you in a dress.", Arthur blinked a few times as he realized just what he had said.

"That's not what I mean. Why is it green? Why is it not black or something?"

"To represent your mood?"

"Do we have one darker than black?"

"Very funny, Merlin.", Arthur said with a stern expression as he left the room. But Merlin could hear him laughing outside anyway.