He was there when Gwen came in and sent her servants away.

He was there and hesitated.

"Gwen…"

He stepped out of the shadows when the Queen of Camelot turned hearing very familiar voice calling her.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything."

Gwen stared him like she was seeing a ghost. Eventually she just nodded.

"I know. I'm sorry too. But you were there when…" Gwen's voice broke a bit.

"Yes."

"He was with his best friend. He loved you so much. He meant so much to you."

"He's my life." Merlin admitted and suddenly Gwen looked crushed and there were tears in her eyes. "Oh Merlin…"

Merlin shook his head. "It's fine. He'll come back when the Albion needs him again. And I wait him to be with him again."

Gwen looked away. "Being his shadow."

"Being his friend."

"His advisor. His servant. His protector. Why you never told anything?"

"I… I don't know. Maybe if I had told he would be alive."

"And maybe you would be dead instead." Now Gwen turned to see him fully. "No. Maybe this was right thing." She steeled herself. "And… she?"

"She's dead."

Merlin's eyes turned cold, he regret nothing.

"Good."

Then Gwen just sprinted over the room to Merlin's arms.

"I'm afraid, Arthur's legacy…" She sobbed and Merlin hold her.

"You'll be fine. You are strong. Stronger than any of us."

"I'm so alone. I missed you. And I miss Arthur so much." Gwen cried now openly. Merlin just hold her. He opened his mind, pushing bit the waves of magic around them, to see. And what he saw made him smile.

"You'll be happy Gwen. You found love again, not same kind what you have felt toward Arthur, but maybe even something better."

"How can anything be better than what I had?" Gwen whispered, her crying stopping bit by bit.

"You see Gwen, one day, you see." He kissed her forehead. "I must go. I have to see Gaius. It was good to see you. Good to see that you are alive and well."

"You too." Gwen sighed and smiled her brave smile. Merlin squashed her hands before he let go and turned away.

"Merlin."

"Yes?" Merlin turned to see her. Gwen hesitated.

"Can I… Arthur, can I see him again, someday. When this all is over. Can I be there when his time come again?"

How desperate she sounded. Merlin smiled.

"You'll be there. We are all there."

And again he turned to leave, but just that he was about to open the door and say his goodbyes, Gwen spoke again.

"Merlin?"

This time he didn't turned. He knew what she was asking.

"You are going away. You leave us."

Don't ask me to stay, his mind screamed, because he knew that if Gwen would ask, he would stay, and it wasn't his path to take.

"I can't stay. My place isn't here anymore. Arthur's time is gone. You are here now and this is your fight now."

"Will you come if…"

"I'm around. When you truly need me, I'm here again. Until that day, My Queen."

"Goodbye Merlin, my friend." Gwen whispered when the door closed.