AN: Thank you for the congrats and well wishes! It's so good to see my faithful fans are still reading! Hope you guys like this chapter!

Merlin rowed the boat across the lake and Lenaya sat across from him. She watched him closely, occasionally he would look up at her and smile, but he seemed more distant than he had been the past few days. Not the same cold distance as before, but more of a deep and brooding silence.

It didn't take them long to reach the small island, and Merlin took her hand in his as he led her up the hill to the tall tower in the middle. It was beautiful and old, and the architecture was amazing. Lenaya couldn't help but gasp as they entered the structure.

Merlin smiled at her as she walked around, bringing her hand up to touch the cold walls while Merlin leaned near the entrance and watched.

"This is where he was buried?" she asked.

Merlin hesitated. "Not exactly," he admitted. "But this is where I always imagined him to be."

Lenaya closed her eyes, the wind brushed lightly at her hair, caressing her cheek.

"I never knew my father," she told him though she knew he already knew this. "But I still have a sense of him…" she started, "almost as though he's… part of me." She glanced up at Merlin who was staring at her openly. "I'd do anything for the vaguest memory of him," she admitted, her eyes watering at the loss of a father she never had.*

Merlin stared at her in wonder, and she turned back to looking at the stone.

"You're so much like him…" he whispered.

Frowning she spun back around to stare at him. "What did you say?" she asked.

Merlin hesitated, his own eyes becoming watery before he sniffed and pushed off the wall. He stood right in front of her, taking her hands in his and sighing sadly.

"What's wrong?" she asked placing a gentle hand against his scruffy cheek.

He smiled, staring at her other hand trapped in his as tears slipped over her fingers and into his beard.

"How old do you think I am, Lenaya?" Merlin asked looking at her with sad eyes.

It was a strange and random question, and it took her a moment to find the words to respond.

"I suppose, thirty summers maybe?" she asked.

Merlin dropped his gaze once again, "I am more than that…" he stated. "Much more." He looked up at her again. "In truth, I am old enough to be your father."

Lenaya dropped her hand and stepped back from him in surprise.

She swallowed. "You are looking very good for your age," she commented, and Merlin smiled but did not laugh. He took a step closer to her, and she forced herself not to move away.

"When I lived in Camelot as a young man I was not just a serving boy," Merlin continued, stopping in front of her and looking into her eyes. "I was the serving boy to the crown prince, and eventually to the king."

A million emotions flashed across Lenaya's face, confusion, surprise, anger, and then a heart breaking bewilderment that tore at Merlin's heart.

"You served my father?" she asked, a tear dripping down her cheek.

"And I was more than just his manservant," Merlin continued, and Lenaya held her breath waiting for this new revelation, not sure if she could take anymore.

"I was his protector," Merlin stated.

Lenaya stared at him with wide tear filled eyes. "Emrys…" she whispered the name of the sorcerer that had failed in saving her father's life.

Merlin gave a small smile. "I see that Gwen never mentioned me," he said sadly.

Lenaya was still too shocked to respond. She turned away from him bringing her hands up to her head and running her fingers through her hair.

"You're Emrys!" she stated loudly spinning back around. "You're the sorcerer who…" her voice trailed. "Who…"

"Who failed your father," Merlin stated regretfully. "I.." Merlin murmured. "I failed your father, and Gwaine, and Aithusa…"

"What…" Lenaya began, her breath coming in short puffs. "I don't understand."

"It doesn't matter," Merlin stated abruptly.

"What does that mean?" she asked.

"I should have told you the truth from the beginning but I didn't know who you were and then… I didn't want you to leave." He stated, begging her to understand his reasoning.

Lenaya shivered at the breeze on her skin, which had felt calming when she first walked up the hill but now tore the warmth and comfort from her body. Her mind was racing so fast she could barely think with all the information Merlin had dumped on her. She didn't know what to think or how to feel.

"I…" she started, "I think we should go back."

She brushed past him and towards the boat, leaving Merlin standing there by himself before he turned and followed her. The boat ride back was silent as Merlin rowed and Lenaya stared at the tower. The silence continued as they walked back to the cottage.

When they entered, Merlin shed his cloak as Lenaya moved towards the fire. He stood hesitantly behind her.

"I just…" she started and then spun to look at him. "I need some time to think."

Merlin nodded. "I'll saddle up Destin," he stated sadly, turning towards the door.

Lenaya blinked and stepped forward grabbing his arm.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

He looked at her in confusion.

"You're leaving," he stated. It almost sounded like a question.

"No… that's…" she hesitated and took a breath. "I don't want to leave. I've still had a wonderful time… here… with you," she smiled with the corner of her mouth. "I just need time to process this."

Merlin brought his hand up to rest over hers on his arm.

"I wanted… I wanted to keep you for myself," he said. "I wanted to keep a part of him for myself…" Lenaya watched him, a slight frown on her face. He looked into her eyes with such sadness that it nearly caused her to cry right there. "But I can't," his voice cracked as he spoke.

Lenaya dropped her hand from his arm like he was on fire. "What are you saying?" she asked angrily. "You said I could stay as long as I wanted."

"You can't…" Merlin stated. "You don't belong here. You belong in Camelot. You belong to Camelot, just like he did."

He turned away as tears streamed down Lenaya's face. "No…" she started and she marched up to him, grabbing his arm and spinning him around.

"No you're just running away again!" she accused. "You're just afraid," she almost begged him for this to be the truth.

Merlin shook his head. "This time I'm not," he stated, lifting a hand to caress her cheek. "I thought I deserved you," he stated. "That maybe, after all I had given that I earned you, but I was wrong. You still belong to the kingdom." He dropped his hand and stepped back from her. "You will be a great ruler, like your father and mother before you."

"Merlin…" she stepped towards him, but he kept his distance. "Please… don't make me go."

Merlin couldn't look her in the eyes, instead glancing towards the window. "It will be dusk soon. In the morning I will take you to the edge of the forest, and from there you can return home."

"Come with me," Lenaya urged.

Merlin shook his head, "I cannot leave your father," he said sadly. "I promised I would protect him or die at his side, and I will stay by his side until that day."

Lenaya's chin trembled but she knew she had lost. She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded her head firmly.

"Very well," she murmured and turned to the back room. Closing the door gently behind her, she placed her back against it and slid down until she was sitting on the floor and sobbed.

AN: Poor Merlin… very emotional chapter though as I read through it again it seemed pretty short and I apologize for that. I tried to go back and make it longer but there is only so much I can do without messing with the emotions. Hope you enjoyed it.

*Quote from Sins of the Father in Series 2. Seemed appropriate for this story.

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God bless!