Merlin stood from where he knelt. No longer could he see his friend floating away. He would never see him again.

Merlin was no stranger to pain, but this was different. This was a tearing at his heart. A shattering of his soul.

He had to return. He had to tell the others. They deserved to know.

He turned from the water's edge and began to walk away. He stopped and turned around. On impulse he said and incantation that not even he himself understood. He paused and spoke again. This time in the common tongue.

"I'll come back. I cant just leave you forever. When you come back I'll be here. Waiting for you. Because your all I will have left." He turned and walked away.

Nearly four days later he arrived at the castle gates. They didn't even think twice about letting a mere servant, expeciouly one everyone knew so well to be harmless.

He knocked on Gwen's door and heard a quiet 'Come in' and entered.

When she saw that it was him she jumped to her feet and threw her arms around him. He hugged her tight.

"Im so sorry. Im so sorry. I couldn't save him. I failed. Im all my fault im sorry." He cried into her shoulder even as she creid iinto his.

When Sir Leon came invto give the queen thestatus of the search party which had found nothing he found them both crting.

Later, in the throne room Merlin stood in the corner of the room as it was declared that Arthur was dead. He could see the pain and disbelief in all their eyes as they heard the fatal news.

Sir Leon called out 'Long Live The Queen' and everyone fallowed his lead.

Sir Percivsl was so lost in his silent grief he could barely speak and hardly moved his mouth a lone tear streaked down his cheek.

Merlin didn't even try to hide his pain. Gwen asked him if he was leaving for a new destiny. He smiled a smile that would never reach his eyes.

"I cannot. I'm going to stay right here. My friends are here. My destiny is here. I'm waiting for my king."

He bided his time in Camelot. Queen Gwen – as he would forever think of her- took away the ban on magic.

He served as the sorcerer and adviser and close friend throughout the years. When Gaius died Merlin took him to the isle of the blessed for what would be his last visit.

Years later when Gwen died Merlin relieved himself of his duties as advisor. He traveled and aged, yet had the ability to appear as he had been when he had last seen Arthur. He bided his time waiting for the king.

Centuries passed. Merlin never saw his friends again. He took care of the many things that legends had forgotten along with ordinary everyday things from then. After all Arthur never did like his things to get dusty.

He was by the lake throwing stones when he heard a voice.

"Excuses me, but – Do I know you? Have we met before?"

Merlin stopped and turned. Standing before him with the same infuriating familiar confused face – was Arthur.

"Arthur."

"Yes how'd you know?Have I met you before?"

Merlin smiled sadly, "Yes. But it was a long. Long. Time ago."

He stopped for a moment then spoke again, "My name is Merlin."

Arthur stared at him for a moment and grinned. Then, "Merlin? Like in all the legends?"

Merlin grinned, "Actually its exactly like in the legends."

They walked off down the path, talking. Merlin had a lot to catch him up on.