This is my first published fic - yay!
It's written, as the title suggests, for the one-year-anniversary of the end of Merlin. Just a little idea that made me smile :)
*Disclaimer*
Unfortunately, I don't own Merlin or any of the characters in it. Oh how I wish I did...
Gwen gazed out of the open window, taking in the view of Camelot, sprawled out before her eyes. It was bustling – alive – unlike her quiet chamber.
The weather had turned over the last few weeks, and the chimneys of all the ramshackle buildings in the lower town were puffing out smoke, as if attempting to clear the frost from their surrounding roofs. Despite the chill, many people were still venturing outside, to the markets and the taverns – to meet friends and face the cold with joy and companionship.
She remembered what it was like down there – at the heart of it all – at this time of year. Her father used to invite people into the warmth of his workshop, where they'd talk for hours about anything and everything. (Though, if any of her fellow maids came to talk, the subject would always somehow shift to the then-Prince Arthur – and what heroic (or, in Gwen's opinion, arrogant) act he'd most recently performed.)
Arthur. It had been a year since she'd lost him. A year to the day, in fact – they were celebrating the anniversary of her coronation tomorrow. In the rest of the castle, in the great hall and the kitchens and the courtyard, people were preparing. But all Gwen wanted to do was sit quietly, on her own, and remember. She wanted to recall the years of peace and love that had come before that final war and that final fatal battle.
She walked away from the window to her bed. As she sat there, lost in the past, the door opened. A tall, thin figure stood in the doorway, but the queen didn't notice him. She remained perched on the edge of the richly embroidered fabric, with glazed eyes and a contented expression on her face. The man at the door saw this and turned to walk away, but not before the slightest of smiles graced his lips.
He had left her alone with her thoughts, but in her mind she had company. The subject of her memories sat across the room from her, looking at her longingly. He looked no different from the last time she'd seen him, except for the moisture that shimmered in his eyes.
"Oh, I've missed you," she whispered, tears filling her eyes as well, though the smile remained.
"I'm here," he replied, "and I always will be. I know I can't truly come back to you – I wish I could – but I'll never leave your side. You might not be able to see me, but I'll be there." With that, he gave her a sad smile and stood up.
A small sound, a whimper, alerted her to the wriggling weight in her arms. Her son had awakened. She rocked him gently and smiled down at him. His wide eyes gazed back up at her, focusing on her familiar face, and he grinned – a wide, toothless grin – and gurgled. She giggled and turned to Arthur. His face was filled with joy and she gazed once more at the beautiful features she missed so much.
There was a knock at the door, breaking the spell, and she tore her eyes away from her lost husband. She heard her maid call out that they were ready for her in the Great Hall. When she looked away from the door, Arthur had disappeared. Gwen sighed with disappointment, but his words gave her comfort, as did the small being nestled in her arms.
Thanks for reading - I hope you enjoyed it :)