NOTE:I fixed the problems that were addressed in chapter 24. Thank you for letting me know!

poohunne: I'm also not certain why you've crippled Excalibur. If it can kill the walking dead, why can't it cut through Morgana's protections? We know that Morgana is not as strong as Morgause had been, and Excalibur broke her enchantments.

REPLY: I'll be honest. I completely forgot about Arthur having Excalibur. I was so focused on the story and the new characters I was introducing that I forgot about the sword. Thank you for pointing it out to me and I'll come up with an excuse as to why it wasn't used this time around. I will try to involve it more in the sequel. Thank you!

Also, I just want to thank all of you for sticking with this story and loving it. I enjoyed writing it and sharing it with you and I hope you follow me into the sequel that I will be writing soon. Your kind words, help, and encouragement mean a lot!

- Yours, Monty

EPILOGUE -

"What are you doing?"

"Looking over these plans for the new building. I need to make sure that the builders get paid for their hard work and that they have lodging here while they are working."

"Have you slept at all?"

"I don't need to sleep. I've missed too much here. There's so much that I have to get together. Councel meetings and training and-"

"Arthur," Gwen's velvet voice pulled his eyes away from the scrolls before him. She gave him a faint smile, her hand coming to his face and brushing her thumb across his cheek. Closing his eyes, Arthur sighed heavily. She knew what was troubling him. What was keeping him awake at all hours or the night and why he busied himself. "Go see him." she said. "Perhaps something has changed."

Arthur looked up at her with a shake of his head. "I've spoken with Gaius. He hasn't woke up. He hasn't moved. Gaius isn't sure what's wrong."

"He did take quite a blow to the head." Gwen said grimly.

Arthur felt a bit of guilt at her words. When they had arrived back at Camelot a week ago and Merlin had been brought in, unconsious, Guenievere had wanted to know what had happened to him. Before they had even reached the Kingdom again, Arthur and Gwaine had made a pact not to tell a soul what they knew about Merlin until he was better, so, Arthur had lied to Gwen and told her that they had been attacked and Merlin had took a nasty blast to the head by Morgana, in the act of trying to save his life. Gwen had accepted that, knowing that Merlin would do anything for him. It still made Arthur feel horrible to lie to her. DIdn't she deserve to know what Merlin was? What he had done to save him? She did, but, that wasn't his secret to tell to her. He was waiting for Merlin to wake up and let her know everything.

"Go see him." Gwen leaned over, her lips pressing softly against her husband's temple. He could feel the tense seem to melt out of him just by the simple gesture and she felt her heartache for the stress and trouble that Arthur was going through. She knew how much Merlin meant to him. In many ways, Merlin had grown to be like a brother to Arthur. They surely bickered like they were! So, she knew that having Merlin's life hanging in the balance like it was was hard for him. Pulling back, Gwen smoothed out the back of his hair. "Tend to your work later. It will still be here when you get back."

Arthur scoffed lightly and nodded. "Don't I know it..." he muttered. He had piles of work to get done, but she had convinced him. He needed to go see Merlin, sit with him, it was the least he could do. Pushing away his chair, he got to his feet. "If anyone asks where I am-"

"I will tell them that you are currently unavailable." Gwen quickly said. "Now go." she pushed him lightly towards the door of their room and Arthur glanced back at her with a smile. "Don't come back until you've spent some proper time with him." Gwen called out to him.

"Yes, m'lady!" Arthur called back.

The walk to Gaius' chamber was slow, painful.

It would be just like every other visit to the castle physician's tower courters.

He would enter.

Gaius would look up from his chair by Merlin's bed.

A small shake from his head would be seen next.

Then Arthur's eyes would drift down to his friend and see him laying there, motionless, as if he weren't alive at all.

Arthur stopped as he got to the bottom of the tower steps, placing his hand on the cold stone for support as he stood there and stared up into the winding staircase. His heart thumped painfully against his chest. He didn't want to go up there. He didn't want to have to face the disappointment of seeing his friend laying there like that. But what kind of friend would he be to stay away? To hide away from his friend's pain like a coward? Merlin had done a great many things for him, he needed to do this. Setting his jaw, hands clenching and unclenching at his sides, he made up his mind to just go ahead and make his way up.

He took the steps mindfully.

What could he do different for this visit?

He could sit and talk with him about the jobs he had to get done, though that would only bore Merlin into a deeper sleep. He might be able tell him about the Druids again, though, it seemed like that was all he ever talked about to Merlin. When they reached Camelot and after he got Merlin settled into Gaius' chambers, he had to get busy helping the Druids make Camelot their new home. He helped them put up their tents and had some of his most trusted in the market at Camelot meet with Elaine and Galahad about trades. Unfortunately, he couldn't let people know that they were Druids. Right now, he wasn't sure wha to do about telling his people that he was breaking the laws his father had set for the lands. It was something he was wanting to discuss with Merlin.

The two of them had so much to talk about.

Like the things he had seen.

The memories he had gotten from Merlin burdened him greatly.

After getting back to Camelot and getting everything together and settled, he had finally sat down and thought back on everything he had saw. Everything he had felt. Merlin's life was incredible as well as horrifying and there were some other things hidden within Merlin's life that he needed answers for, directly from Merlin himself. He didn't want the memories or the feelings. He wanted Merlin to tell him everything that had happened. After they have their talk, Arthur figured that it was only then that he would finally decide on what to do with the Druids and the laws of Camelot.

But he had to wait for Merlin to wake up.

For his idiot of a manservant to get better - if he ever would.

Reaching the chamber door, Arthur gave a small knock before he opened it and poked his head inside. His eyes went directly to where Gaius usually sat and he saw him there again, hovering over Merlin, looking over him, trying to figure out how to wake him. Arthur's brow creased and he felt the want to turn and leave, but, instead, he stepped inside and shut the door, making his way over to where the older man and Merlin were at.

"Any change?" Arthur asked. It was the same question he asked every time he visited.

Gaius looked up at him. "He woke up in the middle of the night."

Arthur's heart fell as he looked away with a heavy sigh. He knew it. It was the same old results, the same old - then he stopped his train of thoughts and snapped his head back to Gaius, staring at him. "He woke up?" He asked, eyes widening, not sure he had heard correctly.

Gaius nodded. "Yes, he woke up, but not for very long."

"What did he say? How was he?" Arthur asked, excitment coursing through him.

"He said nothing, sire." Gaius replied, frowning deeply. "His eyes glowed from his magic once or twice, then his eyes closed again. I'm not quite sure what to make of it."

"He said nothing then?" Arthur's excitment started to fade.

"He's breathing normally again." Gaius said. "He's warmed up some. I believe that whatever happened last night might have been his magic's way of helping him heal. Merlin is a very special young man. His magic would not fail him. He believe it's just a matter of time before he wakes completely."

Arthur couldn't stop a smile from spreading out on his face. "That's great!"

"If you don't mind sitting with him, I unfortunately have to go and tend to a woman in the lower town." Gaius sighed heavily. "I wouldn't leave him normally, but, I believe he's going to pull through - and I do believe he's in good hands." standing, Gaius gave Arthur a pat on the arm before hobbling off to his satchle of medicine. "If anything changes, let me know."

Arthur gave a nod of his head. "I will."

Gaius gave him a smile of thanks, then made his way out of the chambers, leaving Arthur and Merlin alone. Once the door closed, Arthur looked back down at Merlin and sat down where Gaius had been just moments before.

"Merlin." he said, testing to see what would happen.

Nothing.

Merlin didn't so much as move.

"...Merlin." he said again, his voice firmer. "Wake up."

Still, nothing.

Arthur huffed and leaned back in his chair in frustration. "Honestly, I don't know why I bother. It's not like you listen to anything I say anyway. I tell you to run, you don't run. I tell you not to follow me, you follow me. Why I would think that you'd listen to me now is beyond me." he was tired, it could be heard in his voice. He hadn't slept well since coming back to Camelot. All he thought about was Merlin and how he had saved his life. He had been seconds from knocking on death's door and then Merlin did what he could only call a miracle. His friend was in this state because of him. Because he had to be a man and stand before Morgana and gloat about winning.

If he hadn't have done that, then Merlin wouldn't be like this.

At least that's what he thought.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Arthur found that his thoughts were making their way to his lips and before he could stop them, he was talking again. "I don't know why you've done all that you have. I don't understand why you would stick around all of this time after everything that has happened to you...most of all I don't understand why you would want to save my life. Yes, I know," he sighed heavily and looked back at Merlin. "I'm the 'Once and Future King'. I'm your destiny. I'm the future of Albion...but I'm seriously not worth any of this Merlin. I'm not. The way I've treated you in the past and even in the present - after all that you've done - I don't deserve you here and it just baffles me that you would stay and risk ending up like, well...this!"

He had to stop himself.

He was rambling again.

That was never a good thing.

He forced himself to change the subject. "Gwaine is mad at you, I hope you know that. He's made at me as well. He feels like we should have told him what was going on, what you were. That was your decision and I stood by it, but, he hasn't been himself. He's worried about you, as well as mad, I guess that's why he hasn't been himself. He doesn't know what to do. It would just be a lot easier on him if you would wake up."

He watched Merlin.

The younger man didn't move.

He didn't speak.

Arthur peered at him some. "Wake up." He said, giving the bed a slight nudge with his foot.

Merlin didn't so much as bat an eyelash.

Arthur's brow creased deeply and he got up, placing his hands on his waist. He was tired of this waiting. Gaius said he had woke up the other night, he said he was better than he had been in a while, so, he had to be on the verge of waking up. There had to be something - ANYTHING - that would get Merlin to open his eyes. Arthur turned around, searching, then finally his eyes landed on something and he smiled to himself. Thanks to being around Gaius and Merlin sometimes when they had to tend to the sick or wounded, Arthur knew his way around most medicines. The one he just grabbed off of Gaius' shelf was either a medicine that would cause Merlin to black out even more - or it would wake him up.

Hopefully it was the latter.

He felt pretty sure it was.

Like...a hundred percent sure...or ninty...a close eighty-two percent sure.

Opening the cap to the vial, Arthur stood there, trying to think if this was the best thing to do. Then he asked himself, 'What would Merlin do?'. It was that thought that had him make the final move. Bringing the vial to Merlin's nose, he waited, then-

"Arthur!"

Arthur nearly jumped out of his skin as he twisted around to see Gaius standing there, giving him a scowl, looking like a father who had just walked in on his son doing something he wasn't suppose to. Arthur quickly hid the vial behind his back, giving the older man a innocent look. "Yes? I thought you were suppose to be gone..."

"I forgot something! What on Earth are you doing?" Gaius snapped, marching over to him. "I leave for five minutes and then come back to find you hovering over Merlin with one of my vials. Where is it? Give it to me. What are you doing with it?"

Arthur knew he was caught.

There was no point in denying things.

"I'm sorry Gaius, I was just trying to help things along-"

"Help things along?!" Gaius shot him a look that would have put all of Uther's fatherly glares to shame. "Merlin used up a lot of his energy to save you! The last thing we need is to rush him along! He needs his rest, he needs his peace!"

"I know, I'm sorry, I just-"

"Don't give me any excuses! I want you to go! Go! Don't come back in here until you've gotten some sense into you-"

A gasp filled the chamber.

Both men stopped what they were doing.

Arthur almost didn't want to believe it. He thought perhaps he was hearing things and that if he looked in Merlin's direction he would see that there had been no change. But then more breathing followed. Heavy, labored, breathing and a mutter that sounded awefully like 'What happened?'.

Turning back around, Arthur's heart slammed against his chest at the sight.

Merlin laid there, his eyes blinking open, his hand brought up to his head.

"Oh, my dear boy!" Gaius said as he hurried to Merlin's side. He started checking him over, checking his pulse and prying open his eyes a little to see his pupils. Merlin fussed, trying to swat him away, but found he was terribly weak and couldn't really do much to make the elderly man leave him alone. "How do you feel?" Gaius asked.

Merlin groaned. "Like I was hit in the head with a stone wall." He muttered.

"I'll get you something for that." Gaius said, then quickly went to find something to ease his headache.

Arthur, on the other hand, stayed where he was.

He stared down at Merlin, unable to really believe that his friend was awake finally. A week had gone by and there he was, laying there, awake and talking! 'Say something to him...' Arthur fussed at himself. 'You just poured your heart out to him a minute ago when he was asleep. Talk to him now while he's awake!'

Shifting where he stood, Arthur finally found his voice. "Merlin..."

At first he recieved no reply.

Merlin dropped his hand from his head and stared up at the ceiling for a moment or two before he finally managed to look at him. When he did, Arthur noted how his eyes shook. Taking his seat next to him again, Arthur gave him a faint smile.

"Good to see you awake." Arthur tried to make things as easy on him as possible. What did he remember? Did he remember the battle or the fact that Morgana had almost been successful in taking out Camelot's King? Did he remember anything else after that?

What Merlin said next, confirmed that he did.

"You're alive." Merlin breathed out with a shaky voice.

Arthur nodded, his lips pulling into a tight line. "Yes, all thanks to you."

"I thought you would be dead when I woke up." Merlin said, ignoring the credit that he was getting from Arthur. All of the years he had spent with him, saving his life, all he had wanted was a little credit but in this moment it didn't even matter to him. "I was lost, in darkness...and I thought I had failed..."

'My dear friend, you could never fail me or Camelot.' Arthur thought as he gave him an encouraging smile. "I'm alive, Merlin. We're back in Camelot and everything is fine." He had seen this man harness powerful magic. He had seen him face down death. Seen him command with authority.

But just at the mere thought of his King dying, Merlin was showing his weakness.

He might be powerful, but he was human.

"Elaine and her people?"

"Safe and settled into their new homes for now - I plan on building onto Camelot to give them proper places to live in. Homes. Something more permenant."

"What about Gwaine?" Merlin asked then.

Arthur should have known he would ask about him. "He...is confused and...hurt by you not telling him. But he and I haven't told a soul what we know, other than Gaius."

Merlin let out a sigh and closed his eyes.

"Don't go back to sleep." Arthur said, giving him a bit of a shake.

"I'm not." Merlin replied, looking back at him. "I feel horrible. I should have told him and let him know what was going on before we did anything."

"It wasn't like we had the time, Merlin." Arthur reminded him. "You did what you had to do and it was the right thing. I'm sure Gwaine will get over it with time." He knew he would. Gwaine was a good man and Merlin was one of his best friends. There was no way Gwaine was going to stray from Merlin's side for long. He would come around.

"What about you?" Merlin asked, drawing Arthur back into the conversation.

Arthur knew what the question was about.

His magic.

"These types of conversations are better had when you're better rested." Arthur replied, getting to his feet. Merlin looked like he was about to argue, but Arthur continued, not letting him get a word in. "Let Gaius tend to you, rest up for a few days, then we'll talk. Alright?" he had wanted to talk with Merlin so badly lately, but, seeing him in his current condition, he felt like he could wait a bit longer. What was three days compared to a week? Merlin could still move around the castle and he could still come and see him, but, he felt like the serious conversations needed to wait for now.

About that time, Gaius came back over to them with the medicine for Merlin.

"Make sure he gets plenty of rest, Gaius." Arthur instructed.

Gaius gave a nod. "I will, sire."

"And make sure he doesn't do magic for a few days as well." Merlin opened his mouth but Arthur held up a hand. "The last thing we need is you tiring yourself out again and having yourself another beauty sleep. No magic. Not for three days. Understand?" He looked back at Gaius. "See to it that he listens."

"Yes, sire." Gaius replied, giving a bow of his head.

"Even when I'm near death's door, you somehow manage to be a prat." Merlin muttered, not liking his orders at all. He was starting to feel fine! He didn't need to rest for three days, he needed updates on everything that had happened, he needed to have his talk with Arthur, there was just so much that he needed to see to!

"You'll live." Arthur said with a smirk.

"I'm fine. I don't need to be treated like I'm fragil." Merlin fussed.

"Merlin, you're going to do as I say. If not, I'll lock you up in the stocks." Arthur put that out there to see if Merlin would continue to argue.

Which he did. "Oh, what a great King you are, locking sick people up in stocks."

"Merlin..."

"Arthur..."

"You're to do as I say. It's final." He hated to do it, but, he used his 'King' voice on him and Merlin shut his mouth. The gloominess that had been hanging over Arthur all week had finally passed. Merlin was awake (though still annoying) and now things could finally get back to normal around the castle - well, almost normal. There were going to be changes. Big changes. Handing Gaius back the vial he had taken from his shelf to wake Merlin with, Arthur made his way to the door. He had to let Gwen know that Merlin was awake and then he needed to let the knights know. Leon, Elyan, and Percival and all been asking about him and wanting to see him. Then there was Galahad and Elaine, they wanted to be notified when Merlin woke as well. He needed to get on that.

The door closed behind him and he took the stairs two by two.

When he reached the main corridor, he rushed to his and Gwen's room.

No doubt he would find her there still.

He couldn't wait to tell her, to see her face brighten up at the news. Then together they would go tell the others and send a Knight out to alert the Druids. Perhaps even tonight they would have a feast. Of course, it wouldn't be in the great hall where most feasts were held. It would be in Gaius' chamber and only Merlin's close friends would attend. It would be good for him. Besides, Merlin hadn't eaten in a week, he was sure his manservant was starving.

"Arthur!"

Arthur stopped in mid-step, hearing a scream.

"ARTHUR!"

Gwen.

Arthur took off as fast as his legs would allow him.

He turned the corner of the corridor and raced to where he could hear the screaming.

He just made it around the corner that led to his and Gwen's chambers when he saw her rushing from their room, slamming the door behind her, hand on her chest, eyes wide as she looked at the door of their room. He rushed to her side and grabbed hold of her, worried.

"What is it? What's wrong?" he asked.

"It's...I...there's so many...they startled me was all." Gwen breathed out, now starting to chuckle as she thought about it. "I was just sitting there and then...I don't know...perhaps they got in through the window."

Arthur kinked a brow. "What are you talking about?"

Gwen chuckled. "Open the door and see."

Intrigued by something that could frighten Gwen, then make her laugh at herself two seconds later, Arthur stepped up to their bedroom door and grasped the handle. Looking back at Gwen, his wife gave him a nod, encouraging him to go on. Finally, with his twist of his wrist, he heard the door click open and he pushed it forward.

All the way in Gaius' chamber, Merlin could hear Arthur shout his name.

A sly smile lifted onto the sides of his lips.

"What on Earth was that about?" Gaius said, confused.

"Mmm, I have no idea." Merlin said, closing his eyes to rest some more. "Why don't you look out the window and see."

"Out the window?"

"Mhm."

Gaius gave Merlin a questioning look, but, it was wasted on him since he wasn't looking. Giving a huff, Gaius got up from his chair and made his way over to the window of their chambers. At first he saw nothing, just people outside going about their daily business, then, he saw it. His eyes widened as the sight of hundreds of butterflies filtering out of the window of Arthur and Gwen's room was seen. There were so many. All different shapes and sizes. Gaius turned from the window and looked back at his ward. "What is that all about?"

Merlin said nothing though.

He just laid there, smiling to himself.

Arthur might have gotten the last word in their arguement, but that didn't mean he was going to listen to him.

Anyway, when had he ever listened to him?

THE END.

~Sequel Coming Soon~