Fira stood next to Merlin and Elyan near the door to the Physician chambers. She hadn't left the safety of those walls in many days and felt terrified at the prospect of walking out. But the time had come for her to do so.

She straightened up. “Where are we going?”

“Training field. Arthur is holding a special practice with the Round Table,” Elyan told her with a smile. “Tristan and Bedivere too.”

Merlin flashed her a smile. “Ready?”

Fira took a deep breath. She used her hand to straighten her deep purple dress before nodding. Merlin opened the door dramatically and Elyan walked out first. Fira took a step out to door. She tried to hide her right arm from  passersby, scared of what they would think of her.

The three companions made their way through hallways and corridors to the training fields. The majority of the field stood empty. Here and there an occasional knight practiced against a dummy, but by and large, the only group of knights consisted of the Round Table.

Gwaine and Tristan battled one another, deeply concentrating on survival. Arthur had paired off with Leon. The others traded pairings until all began practicing once more.

Elyan bid Merlin and Fira goodbye as he jogged into the armory to find his chainmail and armor. The two warlocks watched in silence. Fira continually fidgeted with her arm, unsure of how to hold it.

“Your missing hand is nothing to worry about,” Merlin assured her quietly. “Really.”

“Easy to say when you've got two hands,” she bit back quickly. She immediately regretted her remark as Merlin fell silent. She sighed. “Sorry. I didn't mean to snap.”

Merlin smiled at her. “No need to apologize. I'm sure it'll take getting used to.”

“I can barely care for myself now,” she murmured.

“Guess it's time you became a Lady of the court and got a maidservant,” Merlin teased her quietly.

She let out a light laugh and shook her head. With her remaining hand she swatted Merlin’s arm. As a smile rested on her face, she rolled her eyes. “Merlin if I ever have a maidservant, pinch me.”

“I'll remember that,” he assured her.

The knights had noticed the warlocks, alerted to their presence by Fira’s laugh. Arthur called them over when he broke his practice with Leon. They quickly walked towards the king, though Fira averted her eyes and hid her arm.

“Ah, Fira, good to see you about,” Arthur nodded. He smirked. “I suppose this means my manservant can return to his full duties?”

“Why? Hard to get dressed on your own, sire?” Merlin said back quickly.

Gwaine, standing nearby and conversing with Tristan, let out a laugh at Merlin’s comment. Arthur looked livid.

“I could have you thrown in the stocks, Merlin,” he reminded the servant.

Merlin smiled. “Ah, but then who would do your laundry, write your speeches, and make sure you get to council meetings on time?”

Arthur was about to speak when Fira interrupted. She cleared her throat and looked him straight in the eyes.

“My lord, I request a formal audience with you.” She looked at him firmly, not wavering.

He and the knights seemed confused. “What for?”

“Considering I could be executed for that, I'd rather not say,” she muttered, glancing at the ground in anger.

Arthur took a deep breath and looked around. Finally he nodded. “Very well. After training, we shall go to the Round Table. Who shall be present?”

“Merlin, Gaius, Queen Guinevere,” she glanced at the others and nodded to them. “And the Knights of Round Table.”

The rest of the training went by quietly. Fira had left soon after making her request and Merlin had gone with her. The knights wondered what she needed to discuss, but they knew it probably wasn't pleasant. Elyan seemed the most troubled but refused to divulge anything he might've known.

Fira went straight for the meeting room. She walked through the corridors quickly, conscious of the strange glances she received from servants she passed. The end of her arm still stayed bandaged to keep it safe, but her missing hand certainly became a point of conversation for others.

As she opened the door to the Round Table, she slipped inside silently. The three large windows in the circular room illuminated the table and cast strange shadows. Fira walked around the table, resting her left hand on the wood affectionately. She traced each ancient word.

Strength, Purity, Patience, Loyalty, Honesty, Bravery, Valor, Intrepid, Courtesy, Faith, Courage, Magic, Hope.

She paused at Gareth’s and Gaheris’ spots and put her finger in the carvings. Her heart went out to Gwaine and his deceased brothers. She hoped they were somewhere pleasant now, after death. Tears rose to her eyes and she sniffled but managed to hold them back. She stood there, staring down at the words “Intrepid” and “Courtesy,” for such a long time that she didn't hear Arthur, Merlin, and Gwaine enter the room.

“The others will be here shortly,” Arthur said as he went to take his seat.

Fira glanced up from her ruminations and straightened herself. With a simple nod, she took her seat. Faith. She found it ironic that Destiny had named her such. Yet here she was, losing faith in Arthur, in herself, in her quest to protect Camelot.

Gwaine and Merlin both sat and soon the rest of the Round Table arrived. Guinevere took the seat beside Arthur which Mordred had often used. Hope. Gaius sat in Gareth’s old seat. Once all had gathered, Arthur spoke up.

“You requested an audience.” He nodded to her, gesturing for her to begin. “You may proceed.”

Fira took a deep breath. “First, I wish to apologize. I have harmed Camelot more than anyone has in this war.” When a few went to protest she held up her hand. “Don't.”

The room quieted down, with only a few grumbles originating from Gwaine’s edge of the table.

She continued, staring straight at Arthur. “Second, I wish to formally request that magic be made legal in Camelot.”

The room fell eerily silent. Arthur looked at her carefully. She watched as his expression became guarded, a million thoughts running through him. Fira only averted her gaze to glance at Merlin who sat beside the King. He seemed pensive.

Finally Arthur sighed. “Fira, what you ask is not possible right now.”

“Make it possible,” she quipped. “You're the king.”

Arthur straightened up and shook his head. “I will not legalize magic while Morgana still lives. That is asking for trouble.”

“What is asking for trouble is employing two sorcerers to fight for you without safety for them and illegally.” She glared at the table before raising her eyes again, trying to calm herself down. “If someone finds out I or Merlin have magic, we’re dead. No harm comes to you. Just to us.”

Merlin sighed. “Fira, it's a risk we take.”

“It's a risk you take maybe. But getting left behind for Morgana to torture and use as her own because no one could know I had magic...” She clenched her fists in fury. “That changed my perspective on things ever so slightly.”

Arthur had no response. How could he respond to that? She wasn't wrong.

“There are innocent people out there. Men, women, children who are raped and murdered because they use magic.” Fira slammed her hand on the table, causing everyone to jump. “They are persecuted because this kingdom holds to unjust laws.”

“This kingdom isn't ready for that kind of change.” Arthur shook his head.

Fira frowned. “I ask you one more time, as a friend and loyal subject.” She paused for emphasis before speaking softly, desperately. “Please, Arthur. Change the laws on magic.”

He frowned as well. “No.”

Fira closed her eyes but nodded. Tears sprung up unbidden and she opened them. She stood from the table and bowed.

“As you wish.” She made eye contact with him again. “I will serve you, for you are my king, until Morgana is dead. After that I will not stay. I will not support a kingdom where people are abused for using a gift.” With that she bowed, and left the room quickly, fearing the tears in her eyes would soon fall.

As the door shut behind her, the room remained silent. Each member of the Round Table had wrapped themselves up in their own thoughts. Merlin, torn between his love of magic and his love of Camelot and Arthur, felt ripped apart. He knew exactly where Fira was coming from. He had wrestled with these doubts himself, for years.

Finally Gwaine spoke up, his voice but a grumble. “Why won't you legalize it? You're only alive because of magic.”

Leon shook his head. “He’s right. Mass confusion would ensue. We can't risk that during war.”

“And yet, do you deny a portion of your subjects are being horribly mistreated because of this law,” Tor pointed out. “Somerset had its issues, but this was never one of them.”

With a shake of his head, Arthur continued. “I do not deny it.”

“Then you must legalize it,” Morholt responded, his voice barely above a whisper. “What other choice is there?”

“Maybe once Morgana is dead,” Arthur assured him. “Perhaps.”