I know I can say a thousand apologies and it won't be enough. Life has somewhat gotten in the way of my writing and this chapter should not have taken as long as it did. So, I'm sorry that this update has taken sooooooooo long.

Those of you who continue to follow this story I hope this chapter is good enough and that you can forgive me for making you wait.

This will be the penultimate chapter of this crossover story.

Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter Twenty-Four – Decisions

Aramis watched as the phoenix flew away, lost in his own thoughts and feelings. He was brought out of his thoughts by Porthos' voice.

'Athos!' the big musketeer's exasperation was clear. 'You've lost a lot of blood so stay still!'

'The wound's gone,' came Athos' stubborn reply. Aramis turned around to see Athos doing his best to stand on his own while an exasperated D'Artagnan and Porthos were ready to catch him when he fell. Clearly suffering from dizziness Athos stumbled but was caught by both his brothers before he could hit the ground.

'Will you listen?!' Porthos was getting annoyed but Aramis couldn't help but smirk slightly. None of them were very good at being injured and they all made promises they would never keep about being better patients, before forgetting the promise when the time came.

'Athos,' Aramis called as his brothers looked to him. 'Stop being so stubborn and listen for once.' Athos sent back a glare that would make most men cower but Aramis had been on the receiving end enough times that he just laughed. That annoyed Athos even more before the man finally gave in as exhaustion overcame him. Porthos sent a smirk Aramis' way as between them Porthos and D'Artagnan guided, well half-carried, Athos towards the main door to the castle.

Percival was also trying to stand up but unlike Athos, Percival was bigger and more muscular making it harder to carry him. Leon and Gwaine were taking most of Percival's weight while Arthur and Merlin held the doors open. Elyan had disappeared and Aramis thought he had most likely gone to help Gaius with his supplies while Merlin stayed at Arthur's side.

Aramis looked up into the dark sky. Some small fires were still burning lightly but the Camelot guards would deal with them easily. When he closed his eyes it was as though he could feel the emotion the phoenix had left behind. The joy at being free from Trickler's grip, free to roam the skies.

Aramis sighed as he realised that he was anything but free. Soon, he and his musketeer brothers would have to return to their time and he would once again have to watch the woman he loved from afar, and now with the added complication of his child that she carried.

He turned back to the castle and walked inside. His feet led him to Athos' door where he could hear Athos protesting that he was fine and Gaius telling him that he had lost a lot of blood.

'I'm fine! There is no wound anymore!' Athos protested.

'There may be no wound but you still lost am lot of blood!' Gaius' tone suggested that he was rapidly losing patience with the musketeer.

'Do as Gaius says Athos,' Aramis said as he entered. Athos sent a glare Aramis' way but didn't say anything.

'Is he normally this bad?' Gaius asked with mirth in his eyes.

'Worse,' Aramis grinned. 'How's Percival?'

'I'm going to see him now,' Gaius said as he packed his things. 'Make him stay put,' he pointed at Athos as he spoke to Aramis.

'Don't worry, we will,' Porthos said from the chair while D'Artagnan smirked with a tired look in his eyes.

'We will need to leave tomorrow,' Athos huffed. 'We've been gone too long.'

'Athos, you are in no fit state,' Aramis pointed out. 'Another days rest would be better.'

'I agree,' Arthur's voice travelled through the open door before the man himself entered the room. 'Stay and recover, then we will travel back to the valley together.'

'How's Percival?' Aramis asked knowing that Arthur had likely come from the knight's chambers.

'As stubborn as him apparently,' Arthur replied with a smirk which he directed at Athos. Athos' glare back made Arthur laugh. 'We all need some rest,' Arthur said as he nodded and departed.

'We'll take it in turns,' D'Artagnan said with a yawn.

'You, bed,' Porthos said sternly as he saw D'Artagnan's yawn. 'I'll take first watch.'

'Don't need you to watch me,' Athos said sleepily making the others smile.

'Wake me up in couple of hours,' Aramis said quietly to Porthos before moving a tired D'Artagnan out of the room.

Dawn broke but very few bodies had been drawn out of their beds. The attack of the night before had drained the castle of energy and the usually busy halls were eerily quiet. Both Athos and Percival slumbered on after their injuries but both were breathing strongly and Gaius advised against waking them for a few more hours at least.

Slowly the castle came to life as servants rushed to tend to chores that should have been completed hours ago. No-one seemed to care though, most were mainly joyful that they were alive to see another day.

Aramis found himself wandering the grounds when he found Gwaine and Elyan lying on the grass, staring up into the sky. Aramis lay down next to them and watched the fluffy white clouds pass by, giving no indication of the terror of the night before. A peaceful silence washed over them as the three of them lay in a comfortable silence. None of them noticed the person watching them from a distance.

D'Artagnan watched as Aramis lay down next to the knights. Porthos was watching Athos although they agreed that he was really fine except for a more snappish temper than usual. D'Artagnan's thoughts that had been plaguing him ever since they had arrived in Camelot had resurfaced now that the battle was over. Aramis looked so happy amongst the knights and D'Artagnan couldn't help but fear the worst. He was being selfish and he knew it, but the pain was real.

Gabriel, Vasselin and Joubert headed back out to the farm where the musketeer horses had been found the previous day. The young woman's father, Jacques, was present to their relief. He was a dark haired man of medium build and looked wary of his visitors.

'Found the horses tied up next to the cave in the wood,' Jacques said looking thoughtful. 'Called out seeing if someone was there but there was no-one.'

'Did you go into the cave?' Gabriel asked.

'Course not,' Jacques said looking shocked at their suggestion.

'Why?' Vasselin asked curiously. There was obviously something that spooked Jacques about the cave.

'Spirits!' Jacques was wide-eyed now. 'Evil spirits come from those caves and take people. Never see 'em again. Probably what happened to your friends if they went in there. Horrible screams heard in the wood. Don't go in the woods unless I have to but there are good medicinal herbs for the livestock so I brave it. Never stay long though.'

'Could you show us where the cave is, please?' Joubert asked gently.

'You don't want to go there!' Jacques stated forcefully.

'We're just looking for our friends,' Gabriel replied. 'We won't stay long. If you could just point us in the right direction that would be very helpful.'

'Alright,' Jacques agreed. 'I'll show you the cave but I won't stay! An' you don't want to go searching otherwise you'll disappear too!'

After much assurance that they wouldn't enter the cave, Jacques led the musketeers to the cave in the woods. Jacques indicated where he had found the horses and disappeared quickly after his job was done.

'I hope we can find our way back,' Vasselin muttered as they approached the cave. Gabriel lit a lamp and the three of them stepped inside.

The day passed and everyone was well enough to eat the small feast the kitchens had somehow managed to prepare in the wake of the attack. Gwen had informed them that some of the people who had sustained minor injuries were recovering well and that she had spent the best part of the day treating them.

Percival and Athos were cheerful again, well as cheerful as Athos could get, and both seemed to show no side effects to their injuries from the night before.

'We'll ride out for the Valley of the Fallen Kings in the morning,' Arthur declared as all around the table nodded.

'I'm afraid I'm getting too old for such a ride but I will make sure to see you off,' Gaius added with a smile.

'Thank you Gaius,' Aramis smiled. Aramis looked across at D'Artagnan and saw that the young man was not cheerful like everyone else. He wondered what was bothering the young Gascon but then ended up in a conversation with Gwaine about the knight's ability to woo women.

Aramis wasn't the only one to notice D'Artagnan's mood as Athos and Porthos shared worried glances across the table.

After much searching, Gabriel, Vasselin and Joubert exited the cave. They had found footprints and stones in the cave, suggesting that their comrades had indeed been in the cave at some point. They left everything where it was but were disturbed that the stones halted at a certain point in the middle of a tunnel. They had called out to their comrades but there had been no answer.

They wearily trudged back to their horses before returning to the inn. They had not found the Inseparables.

'Now what?' Vasselin asked as he chugged his ale.

'We continue searching,' he indicated himself and Vasselin, 'Joubert, you will return to the Captain and tell him that we will return in couple of days if we don't find them.'

'Captain's worried so maybe we should all stay,' Joubert shrugged. He didn't really want to tell Tréville that the Inseparables were missing.

'He needs to know that we might need a search party,' Gabriel replied and Vasselin nodded. 'In the morning Vasselin and I will go and ask the farmer if there are any other places near the cave where the Inseparables might have gone.'

The three men drank their ales in silence before retiring early. This was going to be harder than they had originally thought.

After their feast most of the knights and the musketeers sought their beds due to their early ride in the morning. Aramis was talking with Merlin as his fellow musketeers returned to their room.

D'Artagnan sat on his bed and ran his fingers through his hair. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he hadn't realised that Athos and Porthos had entered the room.

'What's wrong?' Athos' question startled D'Artagnan making Porthos laugh as he sat in the chair beside the bed.

'Nothing,' D'Artagnan mumbled.

'Thank heavens for that,' Porthos chuckled. 'You'd look eighty years old if there was a problem.' Porthos eyed D'Artagnan letting the young man know that he wasn't shifting until he got an explanation. D'Artagnan glanced at Athos received the same expression.

'What if...what if...you see how Aramis fits in here, right?' Athos and Porthos nodded. 'What if he want to stay?' There, D'Artagnan had said it. Aramis belonged in Camelot and perhaps he wanted to stay.

'D'Artagnan,' Athos sat on the bed next to his brother. 'Aramis has to make the choice himself. He has lived before and this was once his home. He feels a connection here that we never could. All we can do is support him in his choice. We cannot dictate what he wants.'

'So you will just let him go!' D'Artagnan's voice cracked slightly at the thought of losing Aramis. 'It's not like we will be able to visit him! He'll be gone, forever.'

'I don't want him to go,' Porthos said earnestly. 'But if he chooses to stay here, then we have to let him go. We have to support whatever decision he makes. That's what we do. I hope he comes back with us, I really do.'

'But we can't force him to,' Athos said despondently as he drew D'Artagnan into a hug. Porthos moved from the chair and joined the hug.

'If it's this difficult for us, how hard do you think this is for him?' Porthos said quietly as the three of them sat in silence.

After his discussion with Merlin about what they would need on their journey, including food and clothes, Aramis decided to go up to the battlements for some fresh air. He had always enjoyed the view from the top of the castle as it showed Camelot in its glory, especially at night when torches were lit and the streets were quiet.

He leant on the wall and watched for a time lost in the sights before him and his own thoughts. He smiled when he heard footsteps approach. He knew who it was and why he had come.

'Quite the sight, isn't it?' Arthur commented.

'Indeed,' Aramis replied without looking at the King.

'I would ask you to stay, but I know you won't,' Arthur turned to Aramis while still leaning on the wall as Aramis turned and did the same.

'I don't belong here anymore Arthur,' Aramis answered with a smile.

'You can still handle yourself with a sword you know,' Arthur looked back over Camelot.

'I'm a better shot,' Aramis said with a sigh. 'It's not been easy being back here.'

'No, I can't imagine it was,' Arthur replied sombrely. 'You don't look at her in the same way.' Aramis instantly knew that he was talking about Gwen. 'You'll go back for your friends but they aren't the only reason.'

'No, they're not,' Aramis wasn't sure he wanted to tell Arthur but he needed to tell someone.

'Who is she?' Arthur prodded lightly.

'I think my life, in some ways, has repeated itself without me realising,' Aramis gave a humourless laugh. 'She's someone I cannot have.' Arthur watched as Aramis wrestled with his emotions.

'You love her,' Arthur stated. It was a statement rather than a question.

'Yes,' Aramis whispered as if he daren't admit it any louder in case someone should hear.

'Who is she?' Arthur asked again as he closed the distance between them.

'Her name is Anne...she's the Queen,' Aramis finally admitted.

'You rather have a taste for them,' Arthur commented with a small smirk.

'Actually, Gwen was still the blacksmith's daughter when Lancelot fell for her,' Aramis added with his own smirk which made Arthur laugh. Arthur was sure that Lancelot was no longer a threat when it came to Gwen.

'There's something else,' Arthur probed as he watched Aramis carefully.

'D'Artagnan and Porthos don't know. Only Athos does,' Aramis blurted out. Was he really going to tell Arthur the truth? Maybe that was what he needed. To share the secret that would forever burden him. Aramis turned away and looked back over Camelot as he made his decision. Arthur waited patiently for Aramis to speak.

'She's with child,' Aramis finally admitted.

'Your child?' Arthur asked but he already knew the answer. Aramis nodded his confirmation. 'Well...' Arthur wasn't sure what to make of the revelation.

'I committed treason Arthur,' Aramis continued with a sigh. 'I've put my brothers in so much danger as well as the Queen and now the child. If it is ever found out, that may be the end for all of us.'

'But you love her,' Arthur stated looking towards his friend and noticing the pain in Aramis' eyes.

'I do,' Aramis admitted. 'I will watch over her and the child but maintaining my distance is going to be hard. I know that.'

A contemplative silence washed over them. Respect for each other was ingrained in the silence. Arthur had thought that the man he once called Lancelot would go down in his estimation with the confession and yet if anything he saw Lancelot again shining through. The man that would do what was right and protecting those he loved was the right thing to do.

Aramis had thought he would receive a lecture about how stupid he had been, he had already had one from Athos. He was surprised at Arthur's reaction but it seemed that the King had understood and that was all Aramis could ask for.

Footsteps alerted them that were no longer alone and D'Artagnan led Athos and Porthos up to the battlements. Aramis had noticed D'Artagnan's demeanour earlier and wondered if he was about to find out what had been troubling the Gascon.

Arthur seemed to notice the change in the atmosphere as well.

'Well, I'll make sure Merlin moves his backside and gets everything ready for tomorrow,' Arthur said with a nod to Aramis and disappeared leaving the musketeers alone.

'Am I about to find out what has been nagging you all day?' Aramis asked with a smile in the hope that it was nothing serious.

'I just want to say, that I will support whatever decision you make,' D'Artagnan said in a small voice.

'What?' Aramis asked looking confused.

'I've seen how much you have enjoyed being here. You fit in here and if you-' D'Artagnan stopped as Aramis raised his hand.

'D'Artagnan, I have no intention of staying here,' Aramis replied with a creased brow. D'Artagnan felt his heart lighten and Athos and Porthos exchanged pleased glances.

Aramis approached D'Artagnan and placed his hands on D'Artagnan's upper arms. 'Lancelot belonged here and he will always be a part of me now. It seems he always was. Aramis belongs in Paris, a thousand years from now.'

'But you looked happy with the knights,' D'Artagnan dropped his head bashfully as he spoke.

'They are my friends, Lancelot's friends. You, Athos and Porthos, for all the trouble I cause you and the trouble you cause me, are my friends too. Aramis' friends and I am more Aramis than Lancelot.' D'Artagnan couldn't help himself as he flung his arms around Aramis and drew him into a strong hug. Athos and Porthos joined them and for a few moments the musketeers held each other tightly.

The four-way hug was broken with all four men smiling, even Athos.

'Besides, I love guns and there is no gunpowder here,' Aramis quipped with a shrug. Porthos' booming laughter echoed around them.

Morning dawned and there was a flurry of activity around the castle. Merlin had made sure that the musketeers' uniforms had been cleaned so that the men would look their best. The musketeers felt much more at home in their leathers.

'Are they ready?' Arthur whispered to Merlin who nodded with a smile. Aramis knew Arthur and Merlin well enough to know that they were plotting something but he didn't know what.

They quickly saddled the horses which made the musketeers worry about their own horses who had been left behind. Surely someone had found them.

Lady Elaine appeared and seemed to spend a little too long saying goodbye to Athos which made everyone else laugh.

Gaius had also come to say goodbye and rather sternly told Athos not to push himself too far.

'It was good to see you again,' Gaius said as he embraced Aramis warmly.

'And you Gaius,' Aramis answered.

'You still look like Lancelot,' Gaius said as he broke the embrace. 'But you are your own man now. Not to mention noisier.'

Aramis chuckled at Gaius' jibe but he could see the warmth in the old man's eyes and smile.

Gwen mounted her horse as she had decided she was coming along as well. Aramis knew that Arthur would have tried to persuade her otherwise but Gwen could be rather stubborn.

The ride to the Valley was a dull affair apart from Gwaine having to ride away from Percival after teasing the big man too much.

The musketeers became fidgety and nervous as they approached the Valley and the cave that would hopefully send them back to their own time.

As they approached the cave a sudden, shining light emitted from the mouth telling them that the portal was now open and France would be on the other side.

For Athos, Porthos and D'Artagnan a wave of relief washed over them. This had been an amazing adventure but they all would be happy to see it end.

Aramis felt a sense of confusion wash over him. He was relieved to go back home but he also knew what that meant and his troubles there. Leaving his previous life behind made him feel a sadness in his heart. He was leaving his friends to go home with his other friends. He felt his emotions pulling him in two directions but ultimately he knew what he had to do.

The musketeers dismounted as did Arthur, Gwen and the knights. The farewell stifled all those present as they hugged the men who had become friends through very strange circumstances.

'I was good to see you again, Gwen,' Aramis said as Gwen embraced him and kissed his cheek.

'And you,' she replied with her eyes shining with sincerity.

'I'll never forget you,' Arthur said as he embraced Aramis. 'Sir Lancelot,' he added.

'I still believe you will build the world that you want,' Aramis replied, echoing Lancelot's thoughts. Merlin approached his friend with a smile.

'Look after him,' Aramis muttered to Merlin in their embrace. 'Look after them all.'

'I will,' Merlin answered with a squeeze. 'I always do.'

The musketeers were about to turn towards the cave when Arthur called them back.

'Before you go, we have something for each of you,' Arthur said with a knowing smile to Merlin, Gwen and the knights.

'I knew you were plotting something,' Aramis responded with a playful glare.

Gwaine, Elyan, Leon and Percival had moved over to their horses and retrieved similar shaped boxes. Percival handed his to Arthur.

'To remember us by,' was all Arthur said as he placed the large box in Aramis' hands. Arthur quickly distributed the other boxes to the other musketeers with a smile.

Aramis opened the box cautiously and inside found a freshly forged broadsword laid on a red knight's cloak bearing the Camelot crest. He looked across and saw that the others had done the same.

'That's why you were asking me how to spell name!' D'Artagnan exclaimed to the knights. On one side of the centre division of the broadsword 'D'Artagnan' was gleaming back at him in gold lettering.

Athos gave a rare and genuine smile as he saw 'Athos' written on his sword. Porthos laughed heartily as 'Porthos' was also written in gold. 'Never had my name written in gold before!' he quipped.

All eyes turned to Aramis who looked down at his own sword. His was slightly different. On one side of the centre division it said 'Aramis' and on the other it said 'Sir Lancelot'. Aramis felt his eyes tear slightly at the gesture.

'You will always be our Sir Lancelot,' Gwen said with a large smile.

'He's crying!' Gwaine roared with delight. 'You lot are paying up when we get back!'

'Shut up Gwaine!' Aramis glared back but there was little heat in it. 'There's something in my eye.' The knights laughed loudly as did the musketeers.

In the distance, Kara watched the ensemble of knights and strangely dressed men. Her eyes were drawn to the man they were making fun of. He was wearing a long brown leather coat and his handsome face made her heart flutter and miss a beat. She wondered who he was. She had heard the name Lancelot but it meant nothing to her. The cave they were standing in front of was known to be a gateway to different worlds and she suspected that he was not of this world and therefore could never be hers. She would watch until they disappeared to confirm her suspicions.

'Thank you for everything Merlin, Arthur, all of you,' Aramis said earnestly with his fellow musketeers nodding in agreement. 'I'll miss you but I don't belong here. Look after each other.'

'Same goes to you,' Merlin said. 'Stay out of trouble,' he flicked a grin towards his friend.

'We'll do our best,' Aramis answered.

The musketeers turned towards the cave and approached the light. They sent one last glance each towards the friends they would never see again and stepped through the portal.

A/N: For those of you who don't know, Kara was Mordred's lover in Season 5 of Merlin. She was played by Alexandra Dowling who also played Queen Anne in the Musketeers. :)

The final update should not take anywhere near as long as this one. Please let me know what you think. :)

Once again, thank you for your patience.