Imagine that Arthur didn’t die and Merlin revealed he had magic but it wasn’t connected to Emrys at all. Now that you’ve done that think about this.
Arthur decided to hold a ball/dance/feast or something in honour of making magic legal again. He invites all of the sorcerers that he knows which includes Emrys and Dolma, and Merlin being the idiot he is doesn’t think to tell Arthur that those are his alter egos. So the entire night Merlin is running back and forth between being himself, the royal warlock, who is expected to be with the king of course, Emrys, a weird old man, and Dolma, an awkward but confident sorceress.
I love this idea. I might try to write something with it, but if anyone else wants to please do i will love you forever
Plot twist: Arthur is completely aware that Emrys and the Dolma are Merlin’s alter egos and deadass invited them for the lolz just to see how Merlin would react. He didn’t quite see this coming but DAMN is he enjoying every second.