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Before the Dawn

Chapter 17: Epilogue

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

“You can’t be serious.”

 

Arthur’s grin was a mile wide. He was entirely too pleased with himself. “Oh, I am.”

 

“Arthur, I look ridiculous!”

 

“Geoffrey checked the archives. This is the formal attire that was worn by Court Sorcerers of Camelot. It’s tradition!”

 

Merlin turned pleading eyes to his Queen. “Gwen, tell him I look ridiculous.”

 

“I think you look dashing. Very handsome.” She batted her eyelashes at him.

 

“Oi, none of that!” Arthur squawked, spinning her away.

 

Gwen giggled and kissed her husband’s cheek. “Do you want him to wear it or not?”

 

“I am not going out in public like this,” Merlin protested. “I look like a total dollop-head, and that title is reserved solely for Arthur.”

 

Arthur smirked. “But it suits you so well.  Just like those robes.”

 

“Blue and gold?” Merlin asked.

 

“To match your eyes.”

 

“With a red cape?”

 

“A declaration of your allegiance.”

 

“And a pointy purple hat?”

 

“How else will people know that you’re a wizard?”

 

“Warlock.”

 

“Exactly. We don’t want there to be any confusion. Besides, the outfit wouldn’t be complete without it.”

 

“This is not an outfit, it’s an eyesore. I’m going to be the laughing stock of the entire city.”

 

“Well, that’s an improvement on being in the stocks, wouldn’t you say?” Gwen’s lips twitched with amusement at the reminder of the first time they’d met.

 

“Hardly,” Merlin grumbled.

 

There was a knock on the door.

 

“Enter,” Arthur said, and a head had popped around the doorway before Merlin had the chance to whip the stupid hat off his head.

 

“Wow,” Mordred said, clearly trying to hold back a laugh. “Emrys, you look very…”

 

“The word you’re looking for is regal,” Gwen advised.

 

“Regal,” Mordred echoed, lips twitching.

 

“Watch it, Mordred. I took your magic – you’re welcome for saving your life, by the way – and I can give it back to you. I’ll resign, and Arthur will have to make you Court Sorcerer instead.”

 

“No, no, I’m quite happy just being a Knight of Camelot, thanks all the same. Besides, I could never pull off that hat the way you do.”

 

Merlin growled and tossed the purple monstrosity onto the floor, stamping on it decisively.

 

Mordred did laugh, then.

 

“Was there something you needed, Sir Mordred?” Gwen asked.

 

Mordred recovered his decorum. “Yes, my lady. I was sent to remind you all that the ceremony is due to begin shortly.”

 

Merlin tried to slip back towards the privacy screen. “We’ll be right there. I’m just going to change back into my old clothes-”

 

Arthur caught him by the scruff of the neck. “Oh no, you don’t. You’re not a servant anymore, Merlin, I won’t have you dressing as one.”

 

“You might be comfortable strutting around like a stuffed peacock, but I’m not. These robes are ancient, they smell funny, and they make me look like I’m eighty years old!”

 

“Would these do instead?” Gwen asked, holding out a box.

 

Suspicious, Merlin opened the lid.

 

Inside, he found sleek black trousers and polished leather boots. Instead of robes, there was a midnight blue tunic with a subtle silver trim and an embroidered dragon crest on the shoulder. The ensemble was accompanied by a shimmering grey scarf made from the softest, most refined material Merlin had ever touched.

 

“Better?”

 

“Arthur…” Merlin didn’t know what to say. He had never owned such finery. The fabric alone probably cost more than a year’s wages.

 

“Stop dawdling, Merlin, we haven’t got all day.” Arthur shoved him behind the screen.

 

“He could have been ready earlier if you hadn’t insisted on pranking him first,” Gwen pointed out.

 

“But then we would have missed that priceless expression on his face.”

 

“You’re a prat,” Merlin called, flinging the offending robes in the direction of Arthur’s voice.

 

“A royal one,” Arthur agreed.

 

The clothes were a perfect fit.

 

Merlin stepped out, feeling an odd sense of confidence in place of the awkward discomfort he usually felt.

 

Arthur, Gwen and Mordred all stared at him.

 

“What?”

 

“You look…” Arthur began, but his words trailed off.

 

Gwen smiled and stepped closer to smooth his hair down. “The ladies of the court are going to swoon when they see you.”

 

“My lord Emrys,” Mordred said with a bow.

 

Arthur gestured to the door. “Come on, Merlin. Your people await.”

 

ooOOoo

 

Merlin’s formal appointment to the court was accompanied by almost as much pomp and circumstance as Arthur’s coronation.

 

The Hall of Ceremonies was filled with people dressed in their most formal attire, and each one of them inclined their heads respectfully as Merlin passed. Gwaine, of course, gave him a cheeky wink afterwards, and Percival grinned broadly at him. Leon was more reserved, but he radiated pride.

 

Red banners, emblazoned with the golden Pendragon crest, formed a striking backdrop to the royal thrones. As Merlin approached, Arthur and Gwen stood to greet him.

 

“Welcome Merlin, son of Balinor. The Last Dragonlord, Lord Emrys to the Druid people, trusted Counsellor to the King, and Protector of Camelot.”

 

Merlin knelt on the steps. “Hail, King Arthur.”

 

“Today, we recognise your great deeds, beginning with the first time you saved my life.”

 

Arthur had insisted on writing the speech himself, and he had interrogated Merlin for hours so he could recite a comprehensive list of every action he had taken in defence of Camelot over the past decade.

 

Merlin expected the crowd to grow bored and restless, but they listened with rapt attention. The gasped at the retelling of his confrontation with Nimueh, laughed at the reminder of the troll, and cheered when Arthur dramatized the moment he had destroyed the cursed immortal army.

 

By the time Arthur described his death and resurrection on the battlefield at Camlann, half of the assembled crowd was in tears.

 

“Merlin,” Arthur said, his own eyes shining with emotion. “You have always been so much more than you appeared. For too long, you have been forced to live in the shadows, unrecognised and underappreciated. That changes today.

 

“With the gods and good people of Camelot as my witnesses, I thank you for your service. And I declare that, from this day forth, you shall be known as Merlin Ambrosius, Court Sorcerer of Camelot.”

 

The crowd cheered.

 

Arthur beckoned for him to rise, and turned him gently to face the people. Arthur stepped forward, with Gwen on his left and Merlin on his right.

 

The cheers increased in volume until the very stones seemed to reverberate with their collective joy.

 

“You are finally where you belong,” Arthur murmured.

 

Merlin’s heart was warm and full. This was what it felt like to be freed from fear, to be known, to be valued. To stand beside his friend, and to serve his King with pride. “There is no place I would rather be.”

 

ooOOoo

 

The End

Notes:

Hi guys! I'm so sorry I've fallen behind with replying to comments, my trip has been a whirlwind so far! But I wanna say a huge thank you to all my readers for sticking with this story, and especially to everyone who has commented along the way - I'm so glad to know the Merlin fandom is still going strong, and I've loved hearing your reactions throughout. Let me know what you think of the finale!

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