Author's note - part I
This epilogue leaves a lot of questions unanswered, but that's because, in the end, I didn't really want to answer those questions. This story was always first and foremost about Arthur and Merlin's friendship, and it seems to me that the story of magic's return is for someone else to tell. So if that's a little disappointing, forgive me!

Epilogue
The Queen of Camelot was a woman of the people. In fact, Gwen had made it quite clear to her then husband-to-be that if she was to marry him, she would not leave her roots behind. He had not complained. At the time, of course, he had not considered that this might mean wanting to walk through the market unaccompanied by guardsmen.

'But what if someone kidnaps you?'

'Don't be silly, Arthur. Who would kidnap me?'

'You were kidnapped even before you became queen. Now that you are queen, it's even more likely.'

'Arthur, I know you want to protect me, but I'm not going to take soldiers with me just to go to the market. Kidnapping isn't exactly common, and if it does happen then you can come and rescue me. It wouldn't be the first time.'

The king hadn't looked at all happy, but at that moment his manservant had bustled into the room to collect his laundry, and he had had a brilliant idea.

'Then at least take Merlin.'

'Take me where?'

'Your queen wishes to go to market.'

Gwen had readily agreed. Merlin was her friend and she was quite content to spend time in his company. True, he was a greater threat to any would-be kidnapper than any army, but neither of them would see it like that, and so, that afternoon, Gwen and Merlin had headed to the lower town where they now stood before a stall.

'You know what this reminds me of?' she asked Merlin as she ran her hands over a deep red, velvety material. It was wonderfully soft to the touch.

'What, then?'

'The jacket we gave you for our wedding. What happened to that, anyway? You never wear it.'

Merlin looked slightly guilty, but she didn't notice, her eyes still on the cloth.

'It's, uh, in my wardrobe.'

'What good is it there?'

'Gwen, I can't just wear it every day. It's- well, it's beautiful. I really like it. I'd rather wear it to special occasions.'

'But you never wear it,' objected Gwen, turning to face him. 'I haven't seen you wear it once since our wedding.'

'I have worn it!' he protested.

'When?'

'Well, there was… ah, there was…'

'See? You've never worn it. Don't be ridiculous, Merlin. Clothes are meant to be worn. You should wear it if you like it.'

'But it's special.'

'And so are you.'

'Um- and- well- I mean-'

'Go on.'

His face reddened.

'Well, I'd feel a bit- out of place, wearing it. It's a bit- well, above my station.'

'Oh, Merlin. It's not above your station. You look lovely in it. And anyway, Arthur's tried to promote you countless times and you never accept. You just say, "No, thank you, I'm happy as I am," and don't let him.'

'I am happy as I am!'

'I know you are, but you should allow us to be happy, too, by doing good to you. But you have to accept it.'

'You're already good to me. I couldn't ask for more than I have.'

Gwen looked at Merlin for a moment.

'You really mean that, don't you?' she said more gently. 'You wouldn't ask for more.'

'No, I wouldn't. I'm happy doing what I do. I'm happy to- to be there.'

'By Arthur's side.'

'Yes,' he said quietly.

'That's what you worry about, isn't it? That promotion would take you away from him.'

Merlin looked at the ground.

'Alright,' said Gwen after a pause. 'I promise that we won't try to do anything that would move you away from his side, and you promise to wear your jacket more often.'

'I think I can do that,' smiled Merlin.

'Starting at court tomorrow,' said Gwen in a tone which made it clear that this was not a suggestion. He muttered something unintelligible which she took as the affirmative.

'I told you that calling a feast for the first day of Lord Hector's arrival was premature,' said Merlin as he served Arthur his breakfast the following morning. 'You know how long it takes to get here from his estates. The chances of him getting here on time were always-'

'Thank you, Merlin,' said Arthur. 'I am the king. I'm not sure why I still have to remind you of that. I'm the one with the pointy crown who decides what happens and when.'

'My point precisely,' continued Merlin, unfazed. 'I said we should hold the feast a few days after his expected arrival in case things didn't work out as planned, but someone decided that the first day would be a good idea.'

He looked at Arthur meaningfully. Arthur glared back.

'It's only morning,' he said. 'Lord Hector may still arrive today.'

'He won't,' Merlin retorted. 'We'd have had a message by now if he was going to.'

'Well, we can have the feast anyway,' said Gwen, emerging from behind the dressing screen and sitting down at the table. 'There's no point in letting all that food go to waste. Thank you, Merlin,' she said, smiling at him as he set a plate before her. 'You look lovely in that jacket.'

Merlin coughed and blushed, hastily changing the subject.

'Have you ever thought about giving the servants a feast?'

'The servants?' said Arthur incredulously. 'Merlin, have you lost your mind?'

'As a little token of your appreciation of all their hard work, you know.'

'They already get quite handsome tokens of my appreciation in the form of their pay,' Arthur snapped. 'And if this is you complaining once again that you aren't paid enough, allow me to remind you that you keep rejecting my offers of promotion.'

'Who said anything about me?' said Merlin innocently. 'I just thought-'

'Yes, well, perhaps you should leave the thinking to me. We know what happens otherwise.'

Merlin rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to respond.

'Much as I like to watch the two of you bicker, do you think you could run a message to Gaius that I'll see him this afternoon, Merlin?' interjected Gwen before he could get any further.

'Of course, my lady,' said Merlin with a wink and, giving Arthur a lazy wave, disappeared through the door.

'Don't be late for this morning's court!' Arthur yelled after him just as the door slammed shut.

'Really, Arthur,' said Gwen, 'you're awful. Poor Merlin.'

'What? It's not my fault. He really does reject every promotion I offer him.'

'You know perfectly well that that wasn't what I was talking about.'

Arthur grinned.

'What else was I meant to say to him? I could hardly tell him the truth. And you're just as bad. I know why you got him to wear that jacket.'

Gwen shook her head, but she smiled.

When their new young king had adopted the practice of hearing the petitions of nobility and peasantry alike in open session every third day of the month, he had immediately risen even higher in the estimation and affections of the common people of Camelot.

'A fair king,' they had said.

'Hears everyone, not like some.'

'He actually cares, see.'

The nobles, predictably, had not been happy. Decorum permitted them to speak first, but not to leave until the last petitioner, however low their status, had been heard.

'Your father would never have-'

'Quite unheard of-'

'Thoroughly inappropriate-'

'I think it's an excellent idea,' Gwen had told him firmly. 'It means that the nobles will have to decide whether it's really worth their time to come to you or whether they can do something themselves, and those who do come will have to hear what it's like not to be one of them. It'll do them no harm at all.'

He now sat on the throne, staring idly at the dust dancing in the shafts of brilliant sunlight that poured in through the windows and lit up the great hall. The throne room was unusually full - Gwen's doing, he suspected - and the lords and ladies had turned out in all their finery.

On another day, the splendour of their clothes, of the oak panelling and carved stone, the coloured glass and the gold would have been striking, but today everything looked distinctly shabby in the sun's radiance, as if to remind them all that true glory lay elsewhere.

His glance strayed slowly over the assembled people and finally landed on Merlin, who was standing next to Gaius and staring at the ceiling in unconcealed boredom. He smiled slightly to himself. Merlin really did look good in that jacket - not that he would ever tell him that. And if he remembered the agenda aright, his friend was about to have the shock of his life.

The king had to pull himself together to stop himself from grinning outright at that last thought and he forced his attention back to what was going on before him. The last of the petitioners was still speaking - an unusually bold peasant from the lower town who had dragged another before the king over some dispute involving a bale of hay and a runaway wagon.

'…and so I came to ask of you, my lord King…'

He sighed. It was a simple case, really. Neither the man nor his neighbour was actually guilty of any wrongdoing beyond wasting his time, but both were incapable of seeing that.

'Enough,' he said, mind made up. 'The damage will be made good by the royal treasury. The only blame that attaches to either of you is that each refused to see that the other needed his help. In future, you will treat each other as good neighbours should and you will not drag each other before the court. Dismissed.'

The two men stood stunned, mouths agape. Whatever they had expected, this was not it. First one then the other swallowed, saying, 'Thank you, Your Majesty,' as the steward led them firmly away and a quiet murmur made its way around the hall before it fell silent again.

Arthur glanced back at Merlin, who was now studying the pattern of the stones on the floor. The edges of his mouth twitched.

'My lords and ladies, and people of Camelot here gathered,' he began, 'there remains one last matter to be addressed.'

At that, Merlin blinked and frowned. The manservant had read the list of petitioners out to Arthur earlier in the day, and there had most definitely not been one last matter to be addressed.

'My father made it a practice of this court to recognize, from time to time, those who served him well,' Arthur continued, 'by rewarding them as that service warranted: with rank, with land, with gold, with court favours.'

Merlin relaxed. He had forgotten that Arthur occasionally did this.

'I have continued that practice because I would not rule as a tyrant, but as one who is grateful to those who enable my rule and who work to the wellbeing of all.'

He paused as a memory struck him, and he said, almost absently, 'I was once told that there are many in this kingdom who believe in the world I am trying to create.'

His gaze fell upon Gaius, who smiled to himself.

'I have seen the truth of that for myself, and if I have a regret, it is this: not that many serve generously, but that I cannot reward all of them as they deserve. But today, I will at least reward a man of great loyalty and great heart, known to all of you as such but never formally recognized before this court.'

The king nodded to the steward, who called out, 'Merlin of Ealdor!'

Merlin's head snapped up and he stared at Arthur in blank incomprehension and terror. Arthur looked back, his face expressionless.

There was a soft nudge at Merlin's elbow, but he couldn't move. His eyes remained fixed on Arthur. He was dimly aware of Gaius saying something. Then the steward was at his side, gently taking hold of his arm and manoeuvring him to the steps before the throne before whispering, 'Kneel.' Somehow, his body obeyed and he found himself on his knees before his king, wide-eyed and struggling to breathe properly as blue met blue.

'Merlin of Ealdor,' said the king, 'you have served me faithfully for more years than I care to remember. It is no secret that your faithfulness, your belief and loyalty, and indeed your friendship, are dear to me, and as the years have passed, your wisdom has grown and taken on importance in the decisions that shape this kingdom. Yet you have refused every new office offered to you. Many within this court have complained to me that it is inappropriate that you remain my manservant - that your role, deeds and commitment should be recognized. I agree with them.'

Merlin's face fell as he realized what Arthur was saying, and tears welled up in his eyes as he mouthed, 'No,' and shook his head ever so slightly.

Arthur looked at him with compassion in his eyes.

'Since you refuse both office and rank, I will bestow upon you all that is left to me to give you, and which you will not refuse: as of this day, Merlin, you shall be a member of the House of Pendragon. I can think of no greater honour that I could bestow upon you, nor is there one I would rather give. I give you this not merely because you have earnt reward, but because of the love in which you hold us and in which we hold you.

'Arise, Merlin of Ealdor, of the House of Pendragon.'

And now the tears flowed freely down Merlin's cheeks as he rose, his face white as a sheet. He barely heard the shouts and the applause. He stood alone before his king, his body shaking as the crowd receded into the background.

'I- I don't want-' he began to whisper, but Arthur, reading his lips, was already moving forward and suddenly Merlin was caught in his arms and unable to speak.

'Public hugging is okay when it's family,' he heard Arthur mutter and he choked on something between a sob and a laugh despite himself.

Then, disentangling himself and gently moving Merlin to stand by his side, the warlock looking hard at the floor, the king cried, 'There is to be a feast tonight in celebration of this adoption, and all are to come!' Cheers and yells met the announcement.

Arthur led Merlin out of the hall.

Not long afterwards, Merlin sat in a chair at the table in Arthur's chambers, still visibly upset and uncertain. Arthur watched him.

'Why,' Merlin said finally, 'have you done this?'

'Do you remember a conversation we had in the caves at Meredor many years ago?'

Merlin nodded.

'I called you "brother". Now the world will call you my brother.'

'But,' he began slowly, 'what about- Gwen promised- she said! She said I could stay by your side!'

'And you will,' said Arthur calmly.

'But if I'm,' he swallowed and stumbled over the next word, 'royal, I have to- to go and look after- after estates and lands and people and-'

'Merlin, there's only one person you have to obey, now. Not that you ever obey anyone anyway. The only person who can tell you that you must hold estates is me - and I am not telling you that. I am telling you to stay here.'

'I don't want to be a lord!'

'I know you don't. I haven't done this because you wanted to be a lord. I've done it because I want you to have the honour you should have, and I want you to have the power that you should have in order to play the central role in Camelot's life that you already play. And I've done it because I want you to know what you are to me.'

'I- I already know that.'

'And now everyone else does, too.'

'But- what if people plan intrigues or something to put me on the throne instead of you? I don't want power!'

'I know that, too, and that's why you'll find a roll of parchment on my desk, drawn up by Geoffrey, in which you renounce all claim to the throne. It awaits only your signature - if that's what you want.'

Merlin was up in a flash and running to Arthur's desk. Before the startled king could say another word, he'd dipped the feather in the ink and scrawled his name across the bottom of the parchment.

Arthur burst out laughing and even Merlin couldn't help but smile.

'Merlin,' said Arthur as he stood up and walked over, 'I know this frightens you - but think of it like this: you're part of my family now. You need never leave, and you will be freer to do everything you were already doing. You'll still accompany me wherever I go, and you'll continue to advise me. But now you'll sit at my right hand instead of standing behind me.' He paused. 'And you don't need to do my socks any more,' he added. 'Which can't be that bad a thing.'

'It isn't,' said Merlin with feeling.

The two men stood in a slightly awkward silence before Merlin spoke again.

'I'm sorry, Arthur. I didn't mean to be ungrateful. I was just-'

'Frightened, I know. It's alright. It's partly because you worry about these things that I'm glad to have made you even more part of us. Of me.'

They looked at each other.

'How about a-' Merlin began.

'No.'

'But you said yourself-'

'I have no idea what you're talking about. Now shut up and come along. There's a feast to prepare for and your mother is waiting for you.'

'My mother?!'

'Did I not say?' grinned Arthur, holding the door open.

Author's note - part II
Thank you to all of you reviewed and those of you who, simply through following, let me know that you were interested in the story; it's very encouraging since I can only write and hope that it 'works' for others. To discover that it does is an enormous reward. I found recently - somewhat to my surprise - that I started work on this in late April 2015 (with long breaks, admittedly!), and I'm glad that something which others feel is worth reading emerged over the subsequent year.

Thank you again to wryter501 (whose story-telling I warmly recommend) for all the input and just the general willingness to 'talk "Merlin"' that helped me write this piece; it would at the very least have had far more plot holes without your help, but I think the character development would have been weaker, too.

A word on the title, since the story does not explain it and it would be quite wrong to claim the credit for the key elements of the plot: the idea for this story came from Genesis' song 'Home by the Sea' (the best version I'm aware of is a live performance on YouTube; search for 'home by the sea 1992'). In it, the story is told of a thief who breaks into a house by the sea. He realizes that 'something doesn't feel quite right' and then he suddenly hears, coming out of the dark, the words 'Welcome to the Home by the Sea.' 'Shadows without substance in the shape of men' appear from all around him, and force him to sit down and listen as they relive their lives in what they tell him. They, it seems, are as much prisoners as he is, dreaming of the time they were free. He remains their captive for the rest of his life - and, I think, beyond. The story told in the song has always spoken to me, and that finally found an outlet in the form of this story, even if it was, in the end, just a vehicle for allowing Arthur and Merlin's friendship to grow. There are also countless other influences, of course, some of them stronger, some of them weaker, on the plot, on the ideas about friendship, on the view of the universe, on this epilogue, and so on, as I suppose there must be in every story and every life.

Arthur and Merlin will return, in more senses than one, in 'Cold Genius' - but not for a while.