A/N: I want to thank DarkAngel2112 one last time. And also Whirlwind421 for being reviewer 100!

Chapter Twenty

Arthur loved Camelot. Merlin knew he cared for his people and kingdom more than he cared for himself, that he felt responsibility for Camelot and was at home there more than anywhere else.

Despite the unhappy greeting Camelot had given Merlin, he was beginning to understand the way Arthur felt. There was something comforting about seeing those gray, solemn towers rising up in the horizon after a quest, knowing that even though it looked calm, it was really as peaceful as a storm. Camelot felt like home—a dangerous home that could turn on him at any moment, sure, but he'd gotten used to that. Merlin was usually glad when he saw it there, reaching for the sky, where it had always been and ready for his return.

This time, though, the sight of it made a hard ball of sorrow form in his stomach.

That's where Xyla would leave them. He might never see her again. The thought made him feel lonely… and worried. Who knew what kind of trouble she'd get into if she was all alone?

"There it is," said Xyla as she looked up. She was seated behind Merlin on his horse, trying her best not to lean on him because she had a feeling it was making him uncomfortable when she did. Her back was beginning to ache from leaning back.

Arthur smiled, for he too saw Camelot beginning to take up the whole sky.

"I seem to remember leaving Gwaine in charge," he said almost to himself. "Let's make sure he hasn't completely destroyed the city."

"Gwaine?" asked Xyla. "That name sounds familiar."

"Sir Gwaine," said Merlin. "He mentioned having met you once. Something about a tavern?" His look was pointed.

There was a pause. Xyla's cheeks were a bit red, but then she raised her chin and flashed her teeth, saying, "How silly… Do I look like the kind of girl that frequents places like that?" There was a beat. "And on second thought, the name Gwaine doesn'tring a bell."

Merlin chuckled, the fist clutching his stomach loosening its grip.

Arthur glanced back at them and caught himself thinking about smiling, too. He banished the thought. Grabbing his reins, he said, "Well? Let's go."

He had his horse trot forward, and Merlin started to follow, but Xyla gestured for him to stop.

He looked back.

"Merlin," she said, "I think it's time for me to get down."

The fist squeezed. "Where will you go?" he asked her.

"Heal some people. Save some money. Find a town; get a place… frequent some taverns." She patted Merlin on the back. "I'll be fine."

She started to get down, but before she could, Merlin took her arm and stopped her by giving her a short kiss. (Arthur looked back towards Camelot with an inward sigh.) When he let her go, she fell off the horse.

"Are you alright?" he asked in alarm, starting to scramble down.

"Fine," she said, standing and brushing herself off. "No, don't bother. I'm fine. Was just off balance."

Arthur swallowed another smile. He figured he was glad to see her go… After all, he was terribly annoyed by her and her magic ways. But still, it was a bit sad to see that sorry look on Merlin's face. You like those who like who you like. She'd said something along those lines. He saw what she meant.

Xyla smiled up at the man up on the horse. "I'm going to miss you. Again."

"Me too. Stay out of trouble," he said thickly. He wouldn't let himself tear up. Arthur would mock him forever.

Xyla felt tears in her eyes, couldn't fight them back, and so instead wiped them away roughly. "I guess I'll see you again. Sometime. You know, next time you're not in some place where people want to kill me, let me know."

"Of course."

Xyla looked at Arthur. "Thanks for coming along," she told him. "And anything else I should thank you for." She glanced at Merlin and brushed her hair back. It was falling down. "Goodbye?"

He nodded at her civilly (civil was notthe same as friendly). "Goodbye."

He looked back at Merlin, who was looking at Xyla.

And Arthur gave his horse a little kick. It started forward, and Merlin followed, his head hung a bit low. They didn't say a word as they went across the field, leaving Xyla to go her own way with her neckerchief. Arthur was thinking partly of going home – home to Gwen and his father – and partly of how Xyla had been quiet the past day. She hadn't argued with Arthur. She'd barely talked to him at all. He remembered how Merlin had pressed a few coins in her hand, saying they were to replace her supplies. After all, it was because of Morgana – who was Merlin and Arthur's enemy – that she lost them.

Merlin was going to miss her, Arthur figured. He hoped that it wouldn't make him depressed, because Arthur couldn't stand a melancholy Merlin.

Xyla brushed aside the tears and turned her back on Merlin and Arthur, missing at once the sight of Merlin and his ears (because they never quite lost their charm for her). But she had to toughen up and keep walking. She couldn't go to Camelot with them, and Merlin didn't want to come with her. He wanted to protect that prince.

Hard to be competing with his best friend for the attention of a powerful warlock.

Well, why did she have to? Why couldn't she just let him give his attention as he saw fit and be happy with that?

Because she couldn't go to Camelot.

Why?

Of course she knew why. She didn't want to get executed. She didn't want to live under Uther, who killed her family, or under his son.

She pulled on her neckerchief. It was still tied to her magic right now. She'd fix that when she got a chance. She tried to think about that, but she found herself dwelling instead on the retreating Merlin and why she couldn't stay.

Maybe those were good reasons. But as she trekked back into some trees, sighing and facing the possibility of never seeing Merlin again… They actually seemed like rather weak reasons.

And she smiled suddenly.

"Merlin!"

Arthur and Merlin pulled up short, turning around. Xyla was running towards them, her hand up in the air, waving. Her brown hair spilled behind her and her scarf, comically similar to Merlin's, was pressed up against her neck from her speed.

She stopped beside Merlin, puffing, her face shining. "I want to come," she said.

"What?" Merlin and Arthur didn't know which of them said that.

"I want to go to Camelot!" she said. "Why not?"

Merlin stared at her in shock, repressing the bubble of hope in his chest. "But it'll be hard to find a job there…" he started. "And what if you got caught using magic?"

"I'll be careful," she promised. "And sure I can find a job. It's just starting off. I can do anything… save money or something, I don't care. It's not permanent. I just want to try it."

She paused to let that sink in. Arthur felt dizzy. A smile was beginning to grow on Merlin's face.

Xyla reiterated, "I want to go to Camelot too."

The smile dropped. "But Arthur…" Merlin looked at his master.

Xyla looked at him too. "Maybe Arthur will agree not to arrest me if I don't do anything vaguely evil?" she said (and in her head it suddenly occurred to her that maybe she shouldn't have told Arthur she was coming—but oh, well, she'd better make the best of it).

Arthur looked like he wanted to choke. "I…"

"Will you agree, Prince Arthur?" she asked with that teasing smile. She looked at Merlin pointedly, and Arthur knew she was thinking of how hurt and angry Merlin would be if he didn't agree.

Arthur was all set to say no, of course not, she couldn't come. He wasn't in the least persuaded or shaken by her brown eyes. No, in the end it was looking at Merlin that was Arthur's undoing. He just looked so hopeful… and… Oh, hellfire, that smile should be illegal!

But he couldn't really agree either.

So at last he did the only thing he could do. He shrugged, turned, and made his horse keep moving.

Xyla took that as a yes.

Gwen was gladder than she could say to see Arthur and Merlin. (She also noticed a woman behind Merlin, who turned her face away at the dark woman's approach, but Gwen paid little attention to it—she had more on her mind.)

"Oh, Arthur!" she sighed in relief. "There you are!"

"What's wrong, Guinevere?" he asked, coming down off the horse immediately, his face showing his concern.

(Ah, thought Xyla privately. So there's still something there. How adorable!)

"The knights," Gwen told him.

"What about them?"

Merlin suddenly remembered, and he smiled. Was this going where he thought it was?

"You remember how Lancelot was injured?" Gwen said. "Well, Gaius wouldn't let him out of bed, but he tried to escape, and the others tried to help him… And now Lancelot's tied to the bed with his finger broken, Gwaine's in the dungeons and he's still drunk, and Elyan's hiding from Gaius in my house and he still won't come out! And Gaius…" she trailed off and shuddered as though in terror.

Arthur groaned. "How… You know, I don't want to know. Just…" He shook his head and rubbed his nose. When Merlin laughed, he shot him a glare. "Let's fix it."

He got down off the horse, and behind him Merlin did the same. He turned to help Xyla down.

"We leave for less than a week…" Arthur mumbled. "I have to watch them every second, don't I?"

Xyla tried to stifle a giggle in Merlin's shoulder.

Arthur glared at her too, trying to show his extreme displeasure at everyone else's amusement, but the effect was rather ruined by the slight smile that was sort-of-almost-just-maybe pulling at his lips.

End.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Consider leaving one last review? I hope you like it. I'm not really planning a sequel, and I don't think so, but we'll see. But I do hope to write an oneshot of the time where Gwaine met Xyla. Kitty O, over and out!