Mordred walked up to Excalibur and placed her hands against the pommel. Slowly she lowered her hands down the grip until she could place both hands on it. Tightly grasping it she pulled and it slowly slid from the stone floor. Merlin was still in shock as he watched it be pulled while Arthur was holding back tears and covered his mouth to hide his quivering lips.

“You really are my child…” Arthur said before falling to his knees in a bow like stance.

“I am, father.” Mordred replied.

“I’m so sorry…” Arthur whimpered out.

“Why?” she asked as she got down on her own knees so she could look him in the eyes.

“I forced your mother away, I didn’t even know you existed, and you probably can’t even accept me as your father.” Arthur said.

“I just wanted to meet you and to talk to you like we were a family. Both mother and I have nothing against you. You were doing what you had to do for the kingdom and although it was hard, we understand.” Mordred said as she held Excalibur out to him.

“Even so, I must make it up to you and Morgana.” Arthur said as he stood up and hugged Mordred.

“How exactly would you like to do that? You can’t exactly tell the kingdom that you have an illegitimate child.” Merlin asked.

“Have Morgana return to live in the castle as she had before. When she arrives we shall have a feast for her return. I shall also grant Sir Mordred the title of Lord along with all of its perks and keep her as a knight of the Round Table.” Arthur said.

“Shouldn’t we give her the title of Lady?” Merlin asked.

“No, I think we should keep that a secret for now. Please make the preparations.” Arthur said.

Merlin walked over and gave both of them a hug like a grandfather would do before walking off to make the preparations. Leaving Arthur and Mordred alone in the meeting room to speak. As Merlin walked he saw Elijah walking towards him. Rather than the usual hello Merlin grabbed him and threw him against the wall of a side corridore.

“What the hell?” Elijah asked with a grunt.

“You knew, didn't you?” Merlin asked.

“Know what?” Elijah asked confused.

“Mordred’s secret?”

“That she’s a woman? Yes. is she in trouble for it?” Elijah said.

“No. However, there is more to it than that.” Merlin said.

“Like what?”

“You’re always with her so either you like her or you are protective of her. Is that true?”

“You and I both know that she doesn’t need protecting. However, I do want to help her anyway I can for some reason.” Elijah said truthfully.

“Well then, you will never speak a word of how she’s a woman to anyone. If you do, I will skin you alive and drown you in a mix of salt and citrus.” Merlin threatened.

“Of course, though why are you suddenly so protective of her?” Elijah asked.

“The King requested it.” Merlin stated.

“That’s odd. What else is there?”

“If you want to know more than you should ask her yourself. It’s not my place to say.” Merlin said before he let Elijah go and quickly walked off. Elijah rubbed his head in confusion before going to try and find Mordred. He wasn’t exactly sure what was going on but he wanted to find out.

Just as Merlin was going to request a message to be sent to Morgana the warning bell rang. A courier had just brought news of an attack from the west. It wasn’t Saxon’s but rather a large group of neighbors that had attacked a village for food. Mordred, Arthur, and several other knights of the Round Table were running to the stables to get going.

“Where is it? How many are there? What are they?” Arthur asked as he mounted his horse.

“Due west, Sir. a small village on the road to Erid. There were about fifty hellhounds and Fey attacking at once.” the courier replied.

“Thank you.” he said before galloping off with the knights steadily behind him.