Arthur finishes carving one word on a rock. That one word is Merlin. Arthur sets the rock down on the bank of the Lake of Avalon. Arthur had decided to put together a funeral as best as he could, with help from Gwen and Morgana, of course. They made the funeral announced, but Arthur didn't expect there to be many people attending, and he was right. The only people that showed up were Gwen, Morgana, Gaius, Percival, Leon, Elyan, Gwaine, and Lancelot. Arthur did send a letter to Merlin's mother explaining what happened, but I guess she either hasn't gotten it yet or she was too upset to come to the funeral.
Now that the rock was in place, Arthur stepped back and admired the beauty of the scene before him. The mountains rising towards the sky, the lake pulsing with an ancient magic, and the blue sky that seems brighter there than everywhere else. Arthur saw the power that this place held. It was so peaceful and tranquil, it would be a crime to do anything to defile it. Arthur decided that now was the best time for him to say something.
Arthur cleared his throat, "The first time Merlin and I met, I threw him in the stocks. The second time we met, he called me a prat and we fought with maces and brooms. That time I didn't throw him in the stocks. The third time we met was at a feast, and he saved my life. My father thought that Merlin deserved a reward, so he made Merlin my manservant."
Gwen, Morgana, Gaius, and Sir Leon all smiled because they were there when all of these things happened, or heard about them. Percival, Lancelot, Gwaine, and Elyan, however, seem confused. Arthur understood why. It's not normal for two people to try to hurt each other and then become friends and completely forget about the bad beginning.
Arthur smiled and continued his speech, "Over the past three years, our friendship grew, despite all the times we yelled at each other. What I'm trying to say is, Merlin was the bravest person I knew. I just didn't realize this until Merlin…"
Arthur sniffled and rubbed his eyes before continuing, "Merlin died a hero, he died doing what he did best. Protecting his friend. I know that if he had gone with any of us, he would have done for you what he has done for me. Merlin deserves more than some rock in the middle of a lake. He deserves to still be alive, he deserves more than what we can give him."
Arthur walks to join his friends and Gaius speaks, "Before Merlin and I spoke a single word to each other, Merlin saved my life. Of course, I was only going to let that one act of magic pass for saving my life, but as time went on I saw that Merlin only used his magic to save his friends, people he hated, and all of Camelot. Naturally, I decided to keep his magic a secret all together for he has not only become my friend, he was the son I never had. He saved my life on several occasions, most likely he saved it more times than anyone realizes. All I have to say about Merlin is that there was never anyone more capable of having such power."
Gaius talked smoother and had more collected thoughts than Arthur. Gaius followed Arthur's lead and joined the group of mourners. The person to take Gaius' place as speaker is Morgana. Morgana wipes her tear stained face and starts, "I first saw Merlin out the window in my chambers, father was executing someone when he arrived. A sorcerer. I saw Merlin's face, he was scared, terrified. I thought it was because he had never seen an execution before, but now I know why. Ealdor was not as angry as father when it came to magic. He was never hunted down, he never had to lie as much as he did, and he never almost got caught by a man bent on executing his kind."
Morgana takes a deep breath, it was clear she was trying her best not to cry. She wanted to stay strong for everyone, but they all knew that she would eventually lose the fight against her emotions. Morgana continues, "I've always had a reason to thank Merlin, but I never did. He helped get the druid boy away from father, he taught me how to control my magic, and most of all he never told my secret to my father. At any time he could have had m killed, he could've taken things from me to earn his silence, but he never did. That is something that I could never repay him for, not even if he was still alive. I am forever in his debt."
Arthur and the rest of his friends look confused at what Morgan said. She has magic? Arthur has never heard anything from Merlin, he never would have guessed it. Morgana sniffles again and walks to take Gwen's place as she goes to speak. Gwen starts, "Merlin was the one of the closest friends I have ever had. From the day we met, there was never a day where he was never concerned about me. He tried to take my place in an execution when he healed my father of his sickness."
Tears start to spill from Gwen's eyes and Arthur wants to do nothing more than hug her and tell her everything will be alright. Morgana must have thought the same thing as the two of them go back into the group and Lancelot steps up to start talking about his experience with Merlin. Arthur knew that Lancelot was close friends with Merlin and that he would undoubtedly have shocking news that not even Arthur knew about Merlin.
Lancelot takes a deep breath and sighs, "The first time I met Merlin, he was being attacked by that Griffin. I saved him, at the time I thought that he was nothing more than a common man doing some kind of work. I had no idea how wrong I was. The Griffin was not killed by me, well not alone, Merlin used a spell that made my spear glow and with that I was able to kill the Griffin. It was Merlin that saved me, the knights that were wounded and Camelot. With Merlin saving my life, I thought that I was no longer in his debt, still having no idea how wrong I was. From then on it was almost as if Merlin and I were taking turns saving each other's lives. Merlin won, I saved his life last, but he won when he saved Arthur's life with the price of his own. I might be the noblest of the knights of Camelot, but Merlin is the noblest man I have ever met. Merlin might not have been a knight, but he was Camelot's guardian."
Lancelot walks back to his friends and stands next to the other knights, and Gwaine steps forward to start talking. Gwaine clears his throat, "I met Merlin, and to a lesser extent Arthur, during a tavern fight. The odds were 1 to 3 against them, and I liked those odds so I joined them. At first, I was just helping out some blokes because they were fighting to help out the woman in charge of the tavern. We joined Arthur on his quest into the Perilous Lands, well we followed him, and I felt something like what I feel now. Merlin triggered some kind of trap and was cut off from Arthur and me, we weren't sure if he was alright or if something had happened. Compared to this pain, I would relive that memory over and over just to have Merlin alive again. He was a true friend, he didn't care about titles, only about the personality of the people he was with. For that, I am glad to have known Merlin."
Gwaine walks back into the group and Percival takes his place. Percival says, "You all know, I met Merlin the same time I met most of you. I didn't know him for long, but I knew him long enough to know what kind of person he was. He was kind, he was generous, and he was loyal. I never thought a man could exist with these traits outside of a story, but Merlin did. Merlin's story will be remembered. That's all I have to say."
Elyan took his place as Percival stood next to Lancelot and Leon again. Elyan begins, "Merlin was a man that I knew I could trust from the moment I first saw him. I could tell that he genuinely cared for everyone that he was with, he accepted me as a friend when he first met me. What I can never repay Merlin for is helping my sister when our father was cured, he tried to give his life in the place of my sister's, when he also saved my father's life. Merlin was the most selfless, loyal, and noble person I have ever met. I only wish he were alive so I can thank him."
Elyan joined the group, hugging Gwen before he stood next to his fellow knights. Lastly was Leon, "I thought Merlin was mad the first time I met him. I have never witnessed a commoner insult a prince in front of everyone before, but Merlin did. I later realized that it was bravery, not insanity that made Merlin say what he did. As I got to know Merlin, I saw that Prince Arthur and he were becoming friends and that Merlin would give his life for Arthur. I just hoped that Merlin never would, but we can't always have what we want. I always believed that Merlin would do great things, and he did, just not all that he could have done. I used to wonder what his face would look like when Arthur became king, but I'll never see now. But what I do know is that Merlin would be proud of Arthur."
"Most definitely." Gaius said to Leon as he walked away from the lake.
The nine traveled back to Camelot, their hearts heavy with the words that were said and the secrets that were revealed. Arthur couldn't help but think back to what Sir Leon said about Merlin being proud when he became king. Arthur knew that Leon was right, all his friends were right. Merlin was loyal, kind, helpful, and noble. Arthur only wished he saw his friend's traits through different circumstances.
