AN: I'm super excited to see your guys reactions to this chapter but I'm really sad because the story is almost over :( Not to fear though I have another one equally as good (or better) which I am planning to finish writing and post by next month. More details will be given on that at the end of the next chapter, I know probably no one is reading this anyway because they're too eager to see Gwaine's reaction so without further ado . . .on with the fic!
When they reached the tavern they weren't surprised to see Gwaine downing the last of a tankard of ale, his back to the door. Percival sat in front of him though he didn't seem to be drinking as much but instead was just waiting for Gwaine to finish so he could drag him back to the castle.
When he looked up and saw Arthur he stood up quickly. Gwaine tossed a look over his shoulder and glanced disdainfully at Arthur but made no move to get up.
"Well your royal highness?" He said sarcastically. "What brings you to my dark and lovely hole?"
Arthur didn't respond as Merlin moved up behind Gwaine. He placed his hand on Gwaine's shoulder. Gwaine didn't look up until he heard that voice. "Hello, Gwaine."
Gwaine's head shot up so quickly and his eyes widened and then the noble and honorable Sir Gwaine promptly fell out of his chair. It would be funny later, they would all laugh and joke about the look in Gwaine's eyes as he fell off his chair. It would be a tale to tell the generations to come, right now though no one laughed at all, there wasn't even a smirk on a face in the room. Even those who didn't really know what was going on were quiet.
Gwaine stared at Merlin from his spot on the floor and then shook his head and looked at his knees. "I must be drunker than I thought." he mumbled. "Though why I put a beard on Merlin's face I have no idea." He said looking up at Merlin with curiosity in his eyes.
"I'm not a hallucination, Gwaine." Merlin said.
Gwaine chortled. "That's what you always say, my friend."
Arthur frowned as he listened wondering about the mental stability of his knight.
"I see him too Gwaine." Percival spoke up, he sounded like he might think Merlin was a ghost.
Gwaine did a double take and stood up slowly. He stared at Merlin who stared back and then slowly reached a hand out poking him in the shoulder. All the air left him in a rush, like had just been thrown from a horse and the air had been forced out of his lungs. He grabbed onto Merlin for support now knowing that he could.
"I'm dreaming then." He stated not completely letting himself believe.
Merlin shook his head. "I'm not a dream either."
Gwaine didn't look convinced. "All dreams say that."
Oh for the love of… Arthur strode over and smacked Gwaine across the face. Gwaine tottered for a second his eyes glancing over towards Arthur for only a moment before his face broke into a huge teary grin.
"Merlin!" He shouted and now Merlin was smiling too. "It is you!"
He pulled his friend into a hug, the first and only friend he really had for a long time, the man who had convinced him to become a knight, who gave him this whole life. He laughed then, and he didn't stop.
Finally he pulled Merlin down into the seat beside him. "A tankard of ale for my friend who has come back from the dead!" He shouted a cheer rose up from the crowd though most of the men still looked too drunk to really tell what was going on. Percival still looked wary but finally relaxed and sat down next to them. Arthur took the fourth seat.
Merlin was the one who looked confused now. "Don't you want to know how? Why?" He asked.
Gwaine shook his head. "Not right now, right now I just want to enjoy the fact that my friend, who I thought was dead, is alive and well."
Merlin hesitated a moment longer until four tankards were placed in front of the men, even Percival didn't seem to mind having questions put off till later. Merlin broke out into a smile and they all clanked their cups together, ale spilling out over their hands and wrists.
It didn't take long before Merlin was singing, Percival was arm wrestling, Gwaine was cheering them both on and Arthur just sat back and watched with a huge smile on his face. Tomorrow he would have a feast for their closest friends to welcome Merlin back, but tonight things felt normal and Arthur was okay with that.
AN: So I'm sorry, I know it was short, as I was rereading it I was trying to find ways to make it longer but I just really liked it the way it was so I decided to leave it alone. Now there's just the epilogue left and I can't tell you how sad I am to say goodbye to this story even though I really wrote it over a month and a half ago, but I'll say my goodbyes in the next chapter.
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God bless!