Arthur stood silently as he watched the ceremony take place. Numerous people were gathered around him, from old friends to loyal magicians. There had been a debate over how they would take care of it. The warlocks had wanted to ceremoniously honor him in the way of the old religion. His friends from Camelot thought otherwise, Arthur most determined of all. He wanted the proper send off.

Arthur did his best not to let the sight of Merlin lying in the boat pick at the tears that had started to swell up. He waded through the water lightly letting the water come up just below his hips, his cape floating behind him. Everyone was on the shore, silently watching, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Not only was it his fault Merlin had given his life, it was his fault that the entre situation had showed up in the first place.

He should never have started it all.

Arthur shut his eyes tightly, reaching down to brush away some of Merlin's hair, exposing just a little more of his pale face. "Goodbye Merlin." choked, "I'm sorry I wasn't a better prince.. a better friend.."

He ran a shaky hand down his face, trying to force the tears to stay in his eyes, "I'm so sorry..."

There were voices echoing behind him as he pushed the boat out, staying in his wade is he watched it drift away. Pelgur chanted softly from the bank's edge as the sticks within the boat slowly caught fire. It was time. They had tried countless different things to bring him back, but there wasn't anything that could undo what Merlin had sacrificed. It was a tragedy that couldn't be mended. The crowd that stood on the shore behind Arthur was made up of all people, those of the old religion lifting their heads to sing a depressing song while others bowed their heads respectively.

He didn't turn to look at them, only watched as the boat's flame grew rough and furious, burning gracefully over Merlin.

He was gone.

Arthur was probably one of the last ones to stay there, just watching the boat burn. He took deep, reassuring breaths as he finally turned to leave, trudging through the waters broken-heatedly, waiting on every step. It was still settling in his heart that Merlin was gone. He just couldn't bring himself to believe it. Everything they had been through... The grass and dirty water clung to his feet and the bottom of his cloak as he stepped onto the bank, greeted by a few of his men, along with a couple stray magicians to offer their condolences. He'd expected as much. However, Arthur hadn't been expecting to see a woman, late thirties, in servant's dress, walking up to him, two children at her ankles. He bowed politely before addressing him, "Sire..."

"Please, do not bow to me here."

She nodded, lifting her head, "I just wanted to offer comfort."

"Did you know Merlin?" he questioned, a distressed look on his face.

There had been a lot of people there that he'd never met. So many people Merlin knew that he had hardly even known existed. The woman smiled sadly at him, "No, but I met him during the re-claiming of Camelot. He made sure we were looked over, unharmed. He was very kind... even though I may have been more forth coming then I would have liked." she sighed.

The little boy at her side looked between them confused, "Mummy? I thought we were coming to see the nice man?"

Arthur's heart stopped for a fraction of a moment, his eyes darting to the woman, waiting for a reply. She rubbed circles over the boy's back, "We did."

"But.. where is he?"

Arthur lifted his eyes to the tops of the trees, what he always did when he didn't want tot cry. He let out a deep breath, "He's gone."

It was the girl to speak this time, "Gone?"

Arthur turned his gaze to her, stooping down onto a knee so he could become relatively eye-leveled, "He won't be back for a long time I'm afraid."

"Did you miss him?" the boy asked.

Arthur nodded, "I suppose I did..."

The mother clenched down on her son's shoulder, quietly scolding him, "I'm sorry sire, they didn't mean-"

"He'll be back though right!?" the girl interrupted, springing forward to grab onto his arm, "You're sad!"

Arthur noticed how bad of a job he'd done at keeping the stupid tears in his eyes, a prince shouldn't cry. Not in front of children all the more.. He thought about what the girl said, staying silent as he stood, turning his body back to face the lake. He smiled, "Yes. I believe he'll be back. He always comes back."

The girl took his hand, the brother coming up to his other side to grab onto the other, "Mummy says that there is magic now. People with powers!" the boy informed him, excited to say so.

Arthur grinned as he took away his hand, moving it to the boy's head, ruffling his hair, "Yes. Magic in Camelot."

The mother moved forward to collect her children, ushering them away as Arthur stood silently staring at the lake. Peace in Camelot. A new world-without Merlin. He did believe that Merlin would come back. He just had to be patient, wait for him. He would come back to the lake everyday until it happened. He'd wait.

But he'd only have to for a little while longer.