Three

Visitation day came around the third week that Merlin was in Camelot. It was weird for him. He was going to see people.. his family. He hadn't seen them in over a year, when he lost his rights to see anyone outside of the prison because of a stupid fight. Looking back on it, it really hadn't been worth it. The past is the past though, and there's no point in regretting.
He was led into the visitation area along with Gwaine. It was a large room, filled with ten or twelve tables. Not everyone had visitation on the same day; it went by cell block. They sat and waited for everyone to arrive. Rather, Gwaine sat and Merlin paced. The other inmates kept throwing him strange looks, but he didn't even notice them.
"Calm down Merlin, you look like you're going to be sick."
"Sorry." He sat heavily in the chair next to Gwaine's "I'm just nervous."
"Why? It's your family man! You've got nothing to worry about."
"I haven't seen my mother in over a year." Gwaine looked as if he were about to speak, but Merlin continued. "As for Freya, I'm just wondering if she's coming at all."
"Freya your sister?"
Merlin snorted.
"Freya is, or was, my girlfriend. We'd been together for 4 years. I'd bought the ring the week I got sent away. Now, I don't know."
For a minute, Gwaine was silent. No one ever came to visit him. His family were all in Camelot, and he saw them at every meal. "That's tough Merlin, but I'm sure -" he was cut off by Merlin bolting out of his chair and across the room.
From what Gwaine could see, she was small. She had long dark brown wavy hair, and chocolate brown eyes. She was pretty, and from the way Merlin was holding her, she was Freya. He couldn't help the grin that spread across his face as he saw Merlin - the Merlin who had terrified Valient and killed six people - stroke this girl's cheek and kiss her. He saw the tears streaming down her face as Merlin just held her, and saw her knuckles turning white as she refused to loosen her hold on him. He saw her murmur something into Merlin's ear, and he finally let go to give his mother a hug, and a kiss on the cheek. He led them both to a table and many tears were wiped away as they sat down: Freya beside Merlin, and his mother across from them.
"Who're they with Merlin?"
Gwaine turned to see that Arthur and Leon had arrived. They were in the same cell block, and therefore they had visitation today too.
"Mother and Sister?"
"Mother, yes. Sister, no. Please Arthur, does anyone hold their sister like that, or look at them with those eyes?" He gestured, pretending to be slightly disgusted, at how Merlin draped one arm over Freya's shoulders, and held her hand with the other. "That's Freya. That's his girlfriend, or fiancée. Depends on how you look at it. He was sent away the week he was going to propose."
"And you know all of this how?"
"He talks when he's nervous." Gwaine chuckled, "Poor bastard. He can face groups of angry criminals without batting an eye, but gets sweaty palms over seeing the two most important women in his life."
Arthur smiled. "Looks like he's not so tough after all."

***
"Merlin, I've missed you so much." Freya whispered "It's been so terrible without you. I'm so, so sorry -"
"Don't you dare. I did what I had to do, so did you. Freya look at me. If I had to do it again I would. I would do it a thousand times over. I love you so much, I would never let anything happen to you."
She looked at him for a second, her eyes searching his. "I love you too."
He kissed her softly. It was not demanding or forceful; it was gentle, and said more about how much he loved her than any words could. She broke away from him and rested her forehead on his.
"At least now I can see you."
He smiled the smile that took over his face. It squished his eyes, and showed his teeth, and it meant that he was truly happy. "Every month."
"And you're not in Cenred anymore. That place was terrible."
"This is true. The people here are much better too."
She looked at him curiously. "Now there's something I never thought I'd hear you say. My Merlin is getting along well with others? Never!"
He laughed slightly and looked around to see Gwaine still sitting, but this time with Arthur. Leon was a few tables away with both of his parents and three siblings. Freya followed his gaze, and waved shyly at the two. In return they got up and walked over to join them.
"Where's your mum gone to then Merlin?"
"She wanted to ask some questions, and they gave her some forms to fill out. I expect she'll be back soon."
"And I'm guessing this is Freya then?"
Merlin grinned. "Yeah. Freya, this is Gwaine and Arthur. Gwaine's my cellmate and Arthur's an ass, but we do alright.
"Watch your tongue boy, or I won't help you mop the mess hall tomorrow."
"Yes you will, otherwise you'll be going without my stories and you'll have to deal with Gwaine complaining."
"Well he wouldn't have such high expectations if you hadn't given him the idea in the first place."
"Yeah but what fun would that be?"
The banter had become normal. It was almost like a routine.
"He reminds me of Will." Freya said suddenly.
"I guess." Merlin's smile faltered and he dropped his eyes. Gwaine made a mental note to ask who Will was later.
"Merlin!" a woman called. Everyone turned to look as Merlin's mother waved him over to her. She was short with brown hair pulled up in a loose bun. She didn't look old, but her laughter lines were evident even from this far away. Arthur liked her right away.
"You two, behave yourselves." He gave a pointed look at the two men before standing up.
"Oh don't worry Merlin, I can handle myself."
"It's not you I'm worried about." The couple grinned at each other and he planted a kiss on her cheek before wandering over to his mother.
"You know, I've not seen him smile as much in the past three weeks combined as I have today."
"I know Gwaine." Freya grinned, testing the new name. "I couldn't ask for a better man."
"Well there's always me.." he trailed off grinning and she laughed. Her laugh was light and airy and it tinkled and made him smile even wider.
"Well I don't know Gwaine. You have about five minutes to beat out five years. That's a year a minute. Go."
"Pfft, never mind then. you two are far too in love for me to only have five minutes. He must be really fantastic to you."
"He is."there was a moment of silence where Freya found the table ridiculously fascinating before she continued. "He saved me."
"Pardon?" Arthur asked, confused.
"He saved me." She lifted her brown eyes to meet Arthur's blue. "Years ago. I was abused by my father. He beat me. Told me I was useless. Called my mother a whore, all the usual stuff. Merlin saved me. He brought me to live with him. He made me feel like a human again. Even more than that, he made me feel special." She smiled shyly at her words and Arthur and Gwaine sat flabbergasted. "Oh! Don't feel sorry for me! That wasn't my intention! It's just a part of my past, and it was worth it if it brought me to him. He's braver than people give him credit for. He got a lot of shit from my father.." she trailed off, lost in thought, and then seemed to remember where she was, "but I'll let him tell you that."
Merlin and his mother - Hunith - arrived soon after. They all talked for a while and Arthur decided that he definitely liked her. She had a good sense of humor and didn't seem ill at ease around them like some mothers did. She didn't treat them like criminals. Mind you, Arthur thought, she probably met some nasty characters at Cenred.The hour and a half was over much too quickly and at the end there were many more tears. Gwaine and Arthur chatted awkwardly to Hunith while Merlin kissed Freya goodbye for much too long, hugs were given to even the two that they had just met, and then they were gone. Merlin deflated slightly when the door shut, and Gwaine felt the need to remind him that he wasn't in Cenred anymore and that he would see them again in a month's time. Merlin grinned wider than should be humanly possible and turned to Gwaine.
"I know."

A/N: A lot of people seem to not like MerlinxFreya, but I ship it like a primary export so you're all just going to have to deal with it! Reviews make me write faster ;)