Disclaimer: I do not own 'Merlin'. I only own OC characters!

Rating: T for language & fight scenes.

A/N- Please note - You will still be able to follow this story without knowing the TV episodes.

Thank you so much everyone for your reviews, follows and favourites! Wow, lots of reviews for this chapter, thank you all! Thank you; bilboswaggins2, MerlinMorgana1579, Fanficqueen306,Rosetallulah, camelotinthetardis, Micky-Moo, saya659,MoonShadow396, Rox Malone, Melody Jane, RosiePosie15,Death flower 9625, maisyformerlin, Sam, Avalongirl55, WitchOfThePast, heroherondaletotheresuce and Guests for your reviews! I really appreciate them and love to read them! Thank you also to all of those who have added this story to their alerts or added it as a favourite!

I hope you enjoy this chapter :)

Thank you MerlinMorgana1579for your thoughts on this chapter! :)

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Chapter 25: The Clearing

Merlin whistled to himself as he walked back to his mother's house. Seeing it in the near distance, he hastened his pace.

"Mother!" Merlin pushed open the wooden door and took a step inside, his eyes taking a moment to adjust to the dim light.

"Mother, are you here? Aria?" Merlin quickly looked around the room and hastened towards his old bedroom.

"Here, Merlin!" His mother's voice rang out.

"There you are." Merlin smiled at his mother, who was stood holding a small length of parchment. He looked at it quizzically, recognising the elegant slope of the letters.

Despite knowing it was Aria's writing, he still asked, "What's that?"

His mother looked up solemnly, "It's from Aria. She said she had an urgent call from Camelot and had to return. She thanks me for my hospitality and kindness."

Merlin took one large stride and took the letter from his mother, "What?"

He scanned the letter and saw that one or two words had been smudged as if she had been crying and had tried to wipe it off the parchment.

"I'm worried, what if something has happened?"

"I will find her." Turning around and bolting from the house, Merlin ran towards the stables and noticed their horses were still tied up.

She didn't take her horse?

Starting to panic, Merlin wildly looked around and saw Gurl, a local at Ealdor sat nearby smoking a pipe.

"Gurl, have you seen the young lady I introduced you to earlier?"

"Oh, afternoon, fine day." Gurl nodded.

"Yes, yes – have you seen Aria?"

"Oh, that lovely looking lady from earlier?" Gurl took a big mouthful of smoke and blew it out slowly from his nostrils.

"Yes." Merlin tried to stop himself stamping his foot impatiently.

"Oh, aye."

Merlin held out his hands in exasperation, "Where did she go?"

"Oh, over there somewhere." Gurl pointed vaguely in the direction of the forest.

Merlin ran his hand through his hair and groaned, "Are you sure Gurl? When was this?"

I can't believe I'm resorted to speaking to an idiot. He's more of a clotpole than Arthur.

"Oh, aye."

"And when was this?" Merlin ground out again.

"Oh, not that long ago." Gurl smiled a toothless smile and took another drag on his pipe. Merlin was about to leave when he spoke again, "Oh, she looked mighty upset mind."

Merlin paused, "Upset?"

"Oh, aye."

Merlin thanked Gurl and ran in the direction of the forest.

Where could she be? Why was she upset? Wait… I'm an idiot! Her necklace!

Merlin stopped and focused.

Please, show me where Aria is.

Instantly he saw Aria flash in his mind. She was sat on a tree stump in the forest and was crying desperately. Merlin felt his heart clench and anger surged through him.

Whoever has hurt her…

It was then that he recognised the clearing as the last place he wanted to show Aria. It was the clearing he and Will went to when he was practising his magic. Without further thought, Merlin ran as fast as he could.

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"I'm such a fool. Well done Aria, you've done it again." She wiped the tears from her face angrily.

After writing a goodbye letter to Hunith she had run as fast as she could towards Camelot. It wasn't until she had run for about fifteen minutes that she realised she had left her horse. The forest her and Merlin had skimmed around when they had arrived, also appeared a lot denser now she was on her own.

I'm lost, aren't I? I mean, I was never good at geography at school but this is ridiculous.

Sighing she stood up from the tree stump she was sat on, "Well, no point moping about being lost. At least you don't have a twisted ankle this time."

Taking a shuddering breath, the tears still threatening to fall, she walked around the clearing she was in. The grass was green and full of daisies and buttercups. The sun glinted off their petals, causing while and yellow light to reflect around the clearing. There were many other flowers twisting and twirling amongst the grass, their petals open in full bloom. Smiling, Aria bent down and sat amongst them and looked up at the clear blue sky. She saw a few clouds slowly drifting across her vision and closed her eyes, content. After a moment of the forest sounds filling her ears and the sun beating down upon her skin, Aria opened her eyes. She noticed the surrounding trees were luscious and smelt beautifully of pine, their scent swirling around her. A lone tear escaped again as she thought of Merlin.

This is a really beautiful place.

"Aria!"

Aria froze at Merlin's voice, sudden happiness spreading through her chest.

He found me! Wait… won't she be with him too? I don't want to see her, I don't want to see either of them right now.

Aria sat up and suddenly Merlin was bent down in front of her, worry plastered across his face. His hands reached up and gently caressed her cheek. He glanced at her muddy dress and frowned.

"Aria." He took a deep breath, "What happened? Who did this to you?"

Aria would have laughed had she not been so upset, "Where's Fran?"

Merlin looked thrown for a moment, "Fran?" He looked down, a strange expression passing over his face that caused Aria's chest to constrict in sadness, "I don't know."

Not expecting his answer, Aria looked surprised, "Well, maybe you should go and find her. In fact, maybe it's best you stay in Ealdor for good. I'm going back to Camelot."

Aria went to stand up, but Merlin stopped her by gently placing a hand on her arm, "I don't understand. What do you mean?"

Glaring at him, she replied, "I heard you, Merlin. I saw you."

"I- I don't understand."

Aria studied his features and could tell he really didn't understand what she was talking about. But despite this, she couldn't help but feel anger and sadness and knew she was directing it at him.

"Don't act like you don't know! I saw you with Fran. You even had the audacity to kiss her in front of me and just laugh it off like it was nothing."

"What? No, I didn-"

Aria cut him off, all of her emotions pouring as words out of her mouth, "No, Merlin. Let me finish. I had been glared at all day by her, even though I've done nothing except love you with all my heart. Every time you looked away she gave me a look of pure hatred. And then, even after you not realising this – which, may I add, your own mother noticed and she was only with us ten minutes this morning – you leave me alone with her!

"I didn't know-"

Aria cut him off again, "So of course this is her perfect opportunity to tell me that I need to leave you alone. That I must leave you because you're hers. Because of course after your colourful history with her, how could I possibly be with a man who clearly loves another? Taking everything from her and then leaving her, and how you kissed and made love to her – she made it very convincing. She even told me about your birthmark, not that I'd bloody know if you had one there or not. And you're a fantastic kisser, did you know that? I can't believe you've not really kissed before, you stirred emotions in me that I didn't even know existed. You know, I didn't believe a word of it and told her she was practically delusional, but then she runs at you and kisses you. So I thought, right okay, I'll go and lie down for a bit, I'm being stupid. I know you love me and we've been together for a year, and although we haven't done anything but kiss and I'm beginning to wonder whether we are actually going anywhere, I love you too. So, I go to your mother's house and lie down. I then realise, yes, I am actually being a bloody fool and I should grow up."

Pausing mid rant, Aria took a deep breath to steady her nerves, ""So I go back to where you were and what do I find? Fran admitting to you that she loves you, and you – YOU - gently stroke her cheek and tell her you love her as well! The adoration in your eyes was so great that I felt my heart break into a million pieces. And when I thought it couldn't get any worse, you tell her that you think she is beautiful and should not think anything different! And you wonder why I'm trying to go back to Camelot? Really Merlin, can you be that stupid?"

Tears were pouring out of her eyes at this point and her heart was constricting with the pain and sadness she was feeling. Merlin looked stricken besides her and so she decided to take this opportunity to pull her arm away from him.

Her absence besides him awoke Merlin from his stupor, "Aria, wait, you've completely misunderstood."

Aria turned around and glared at him, "The eye sees what the eye sees."

Merlin shook his head, confused by what she was saying, "No, Aria please, let me explain." He saw her about to object, so he took two strides to reach her and laid his hands on her arms, "Please."

Should I believe him? He said he loves me but then I saw… Think, Aria. Is there any harm to hearing him out? Well he could lie to me and tell me that he loves me when he doesn't. This is Merlin, he wouldn't lie to me. But he clearly has… but maybe it's not as it seems.

After a moment of internally battling with herself, she quickly nodded.

Merlin took a deep breath, "Aria, I love you with all of my heart. I left you with Fran because I needed to go alone somewhere for a bit – there is a reason for this, but I can't tell you now. I also thought it would be nice for you to talk together. I'm sorry I didn't realise she was doing that to you. I can't believe she treated you like that. W-wait, I-I do believe you! I just mean it is unbelievable." He scratched the back of his head nervously, "But maybe not so unbelievable now that I know her feelings. Aria, she didn't kiss me. If you're talking about when I came back and she gave me a hug - she got very close but I picked her up and pushed her away. She didn't kiss me. I even asked her about it later and she explained that she just mistook her step and got too close. Now I know this is unlikely and was probably purposeful."

Aria nodded, her breathing erratic.

"I let you go back to my mother's alone because I felt bad for Fran. I haven't mentioned her to you at all and I barely think about Ealdor and my mother and the residents here. I grew up with them but I barely give them time. I was going to come and see you after meeting with Fran, to make sure you were okay. But when I got there, I found your note and came to find you. I'm guessing what you heard was my discussion with Fran."

Merlin paused again, judging Aria's reaction so far. When she didn't respond he continued, "I told her I loved her, but only as a sister. Will was deeply in love with Fran and they were together for some time."

Aria gasped and Merlin nodded slowly, "I know they were… close. Will and Fran were in love and were to be married. But then Will died and I wasn't here for Fran, and that's why I feel bad about leaving her here. I should have been here for her, but I wasn't. That's why I was so surprised by her telling me she loved me and that it was always me. It couldn't have been. I saw her with Will, she was happy. I know Will was the happiest he had ever been as well. Fran was the only woman he had lain with and he wanted to be with her forever. I don't understand why Fran said she loved me, when we've only treated one another as siblings. I felt bad and that's why I was trying to comfort her. I didn't have love in my eyes for the reason you think Aria, I had love in my eyes because I was thinking about her and Will. I have never lain with a woman and neither have I been intimate with anyone but you. I told Fran I couldn't love her in that way and my heart was for one person only – you."

I believe him. He's telling the truth.

Tears were pouring down Aria's cheeks again and she could see the honesty in his eyes, "Merlin… Sometimes women do strange things. Fran might have been with Will to make you jealous. Or maybe she loved Will, but when he passed away, she transferred her feelings onto you." Aria wiped her tears and took a step back, "Either way, I'm such a fool. I-I can be so hot-headed sometimes, it's ridiculous. I'm so stupid." She let out a sob and turned away from him.

Merlin grabbed her arm before she could turn and run away, "Don't run." He pulled her to him and held her tightly against her chest. Aria gripped onto his shirt tightly and tried her hardest to hold in her sobs. He gently stroked her back, causing her to relax. After a while the tears stopped flowing and she took a deep breath and looked into his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

He shook his head, "I understand, don't be sorry." He reached up and caressed her cheek, "I'm sorry I hurt you. I can assure you it was most definitely not my intention." After a while he continued, "And no, I don't have a birthmark."

Aria chuckled, "Really?"

Merlin ginned, "I have perfectly unblemished skin."

Aria smacked his arm, "Don't be-big headed."

"It's true!"

Aria sighed and pulled away, walking over to the tree stump she was sat on before.

He was telling the truth. I can tell he is being honest. I'm such an idiot, I may have ruined everything. But I wasn't being completely crazy, anyone could have reacted the same as me, right? What if he leaves me now?

Fighting back another sob, Aria turned away.

Have I ruined my chance at happiness?

Walking over to her, Merlin knelt down in front of her and took her hands in his, "Don't cry my love. I love you and I always will. Even if we were separated by the largest ocean or the greatest chasm, I would find my way to you."

Aria couldn't help the blush the crept onto her cheeks.

He's so romantic. He's perfect.

"I just feel so stupid. I completely overreacted, and your mother, she must think I'm foolish and no good for you now."

"She was just worried about you." Merlin smiled, "She loves you as I knew she would."

"Even now?"

"Even more so now."

Aria sniffed, "Why are you not angry with me for misunderstanding?"

Merlin chuckled, "How could I be angry with you? I love you and I can see how much you love me. There may be times like this again in the future, but if we love and trust one another, we will always pull through."

Aria nodded and Merlin reached up and laid a soft kiss on her lips.

He took a deep breath, "Aria, I left you alone earlier for a reason."

His hands were clasped together tightly and she noticed he was fiddling with the end of his shirt sleeve. His breathing was slow like he was trying to keep it under control, and he was gently biting the corner of his lip, something he did when he was nervous. He pulled his hands away and took hers. They felt warm and he was shaking slightly.

Is he alright? Is he unwell?

"I know we have been apart a lot recently. I am going to speak to Arthur when we return and ask that I can stay in Camelot more, with you."

"But Arthur sends you out because he trusts you, he won't just let you stop!" Aria held his hand more tightly.

"I think he will." Merlin smiled, "I don't want to be apart from you Aria. I want to be with you forever and show you how much I love you."

Merlin pulled his right hand away and started fumbling around in his trouser pocket. Aria watched curiously, wondering what he was doing. When he pulled out a small object that glinted in the sunlight, Aria gasped.

"Aria, will you become my wife?"

Aria stared completely dumbstruck at the ring Merlin was holding. It was truly beautiful. The platinum band held a beautiful diamond and two sapphires shaped like teardrops on either side. The band wasn't plain, it curled up to form vines and leaves, to hold the jewels in place. Aria realised that it perfectly complimented her necklace and bracelet, as if it had been made for her.

"Aria?" Merlin sat their nervously, biting his lip harder as he waited for her reply.

"Oh, Merlin, yes! Yes, I will marry you!" She flung her arms around his neck and felt him laughing beneath her.

She pulled back and Merlin gingerly took her left hand and slipped the band onto her ring finger. It fit perfectly.

"This was my mother's, and her mother's before that."

"It's beautiful. It looks like it was made to fit me perfectly. Is it magic?"

Merlin chuckled, "Not my magic at least. But it has always fit perfectly on the woman who should wear it."

"I am to be your wife." Aria blushed, "I never even had a boyfriend before I came to Camelot. I wish my family and friends could see this."

Merlin smiled at her, "I wish they could too." He leant forward and kissed her, "Maybe one day they will."

Aria beamed at him, grabbed his shirt and pulled him in for another kiss. Merlin's hands wound around her waist and he smiled into the kiss.

"I can't wait for you to be my wife."

Aria lifted her lips from his by a fraction, her forehead resting against his, "Where are we to be married?"

"I was hoping Camelot." He said grinning at her.

Aria laughed, "Yes, but where."

"The main chamber room, if you would like to."

"What?!" Aria exclaimed, pulling back to look at him more clearly, "But that's where Arthur and Gwen got married, we can't get married there too! They are the King and Queen, and we are… well we aren't royalty!"

Chuckling, Merlin replied, "Yes we can, I've already checked with Arthur."

"Really?"

I'm going to be married in the same place as King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. Oh my God.

"Yep." Merlin grinned, "I also asked him not to tell anyone, just in case you said no."

"I wouldn't say no, silly!"

"Well, you might have an hour ago." Merlin joked.

Aria hit him lightly on the arm, "Don't remind me."

"Arthur has said we could marry there, in fact he was the one who suggested it. I was surprised myself as you know how he is. But, he said he wanted us to be married where he and Gwen were, so that we may also have happiness forever."

"That's so sweet of him. He cares for you Merlin, even if he says he doesn't. And I would love to get married there, the room is beautiful."

"I know. He's stubborn and he was raised to be a King, so he can't help being a clotpole sometimes."

Aria laughed, "Is that why you know you won't be sent away very much from now on?"

"Yep."

Clasping her hands together in glee, Aria exclaimed, "I can't wait! I want to go back and speak to Gwen right away!"

Merlin laughed, "I want that as well. But first, I was hoping we could go and see my mother."

Raising her hand to her lips in surprise, Aria gasped, "Oh no, does she hate me?"

"I told you that she loves you and even more so now. She gave me this ring to give to you, before I even had a chance to ask."

"I'm glad." Aria smiled, warmth spreading through her chest.

Merlin stood up and held his hand out to pull Aria up.

"Let's go back to Ealdor, together."

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter :) Writing the proposal was incredibly hard, so let me know what you think! Please review :)