26: Epilogue

Harry sat at the teachers table back in the Great Hall of what was once Camelot. He and the others had returned to the castle from the Isle of the Blessed shortly after the Triple Goddess had destroyed the Time Summoner with a mere pinch of her fingers.

Harry couldn't believe that not even an hour ago he'd stood beside some of the greatest legends of all time. Though the others in the Hall were currently busy celebrating with a monstrous feast, all Harry wanted to do was be alone with Ginny. He'd been through so much in the last forty eight hours that some alone time with the girl he loved sounded much more appealing than sitting in front of a mass of people who kept shooting him looks of gratitude and awe.

"Harry, are you alright?" Ginny asked just to his left.

Harry looked at her and smiled. "Fine; I'd just like a moment's peace, if you know what I mean."

Ginny nodded. "A lot has happened the last couple of days."

"Tell me about it," Ron muttered on Harry's right, joining the conversation unannounced. "I still can't believe that Archimedes and Hedwig are now humans guarding the Spirit Gate."

"I know," Hermione said, taking part too, "it's hard to take in."

"I miss them," Harry admitted. He wasn't just talking about the owls.

Hermione nodded, catching his unspoken meaning. "Me too… but I'm also happy for Merlin. He finally got to go home."

"Yeah, but isn't he immortal?" Ron voiced. "Wouldn't that mean he's wandering around somewhere today?"

"If that were true then why did he get thrust into the future from the past?" Harry asked. He'd honestly been wondering that himself for a very long time.

"Because it was necessary," said someone behind them.

All four of them jumped and Harry nearly cricked his neck in his haste to look behind his chair. Standing before them in tight dark jeans, black shoes, a white button up shirt, a red scarf, and a blue jacket was none other than -

"MERLIN!" they all chorused, leaping out of their seats.

The warlock laughed as they each embraced and patted him on the shoulders in greeting. The Hall had gone quiet, all giving their undivided attention to the scene taking place.

"How?" Harry wondered, unable to speak properly since his thoughts were too fast to be thoroughly processed.

Merlin grinned. He looked happier than they had ever seen him. "Well, judging by the look of the castle and the feast going on I'm guessing you just barely said goodbye to me on the Isle of the Blessed right after the battle?"

"That's right," Ron answered. "Why are you here though? Shouldn't you be in the past?"

Merlin shook his head. "I'm here through the old fashioned way."

"What do you mean?" asked Ginny.

Merlin grinned. "I naturally lived each day from the time we went back to the past up until now in the present. After returning home from this time, Arthur and I set to work establishing Albion; Morgana escaped before we could take care of her. The Second Battle of Camlann, which happened about twenty years after we returned home, is when she finally succeeded in her plan to kill Arthur."

"Oh, Merlin, I'm so sorry," Hermione sympathized.

Merlin's face pulled into a saddened frown. "That was a dark day. Morgana managed to trap me in a tree of all things. By the time I got out, Arthur was gone."

"So that's where the tale about you abandoning Arthur comes from," Harry muttered.

Merlin nodded, somewhat sad. "I really didn't though. I was there during the battle but I miscalculated with the spell Morgana used to imprison me. After I freed myself, I killed the witch, ending the war. But with Arthur dead, Albion soon fell apart. The kingdoms divided into separate kings and queens and eventually turned on themselves before being overrun by other armies from different lands. I tried to protect Camelot as best I could but even if I'm the greatest sorcerer to ever live I have my limits. I couldn't stop the army of Saxons from taking the kingdom.

"I'm just grateful that Guinevere wasn't alive when it happened. She'd died not even a year before then, the causes being natural even if she didn't live long. With none to succeed her, the various lords tried to hold the kingdom but it was all in vain. Camelot became lost and I left to wander as a vagabond, moving from place to place over the centuries. The last area I settled was a forest in Ireland where I was living as a hermit. Like any other day, I fell asleep only to wake up and find it had been centuries since I'd closed my eyes!"

"Wait, what are you saying?" Harry asked, confused.

Merlin chuckled to himself. "It's hard even for me to understand but apparently when my past self was thrust into the time of the Founders, I was living in a little shack in the middle of an Irish forest. While he walked the earth for centuries, confused and alone, I was asleep until about an hour ago."

"… when he – you – returned to the past," Hermione gasped, her eyes widening.

"Yup," Merlin nodded. "Imagine waking up only to find the century you were living in is now part of history! Although, I must admit I much prefer these modern clothes than the ones of the nine hundreds. In fact, I think I like them almost as much as the ones I wore back in Camelot's golden days." He paused, beaming at them. "I have to say, it's good to see you all. It's been many years since I last laid eyes on you."

Harry stared. "Your life's story has got to be the weirdest I have ever heard and I've heard a lot of absurd things in my time."

Merlin laughed joyfully. "It puzzles me sometimes but I now understand why my life played out the way it did. The centuries I was separated from Arthur allowed me to learn many things; the poor prat wouldn't have lasted a year as King of Albion if he hadn't had my guidance!"

"That's why all the suffering you went through 'would be for your good' as you once said?" asked Ron. "So you had centuries of wisdom to help Arthur rule Albion?"

Merlin nodded. "Exactly."

"So… now what?" Ginny asked, being the first to voice what the others were thinking.

"Oh, didn't I tell you?" Merlin's grin, if possible, grew even wider on his face. "The second I woke, the Old Religion whispered a message."

"And what would that be?" Harry wondered.

Tears started to form in the warlock's eyes. "Arthur, the Once and Future King, has returned!"

Yup, that's right everyone! The sequel is a return fic! Here's the summary:

The poets speak of the return of the Once and Future King in Albion's greatest need. With the Death Eaters still roaming after their Dark Lord's defeat, it will take the combined forces of an ancient king and the magical world to stop them. But can they truly succeed when the greatest warlock to ever live is captured by the foes they face?

Find out in Quest for Albion! Coming soon!

Here's a teaser of the first chapter to get you excited (I hope).

Arthur shoved his hands deeper into his thick jacket and huddled into his scarf, wandering down the street towards one of his favorite cafes, Fernandez & Wells. The small shop was appealing and he loved the food even though it was different from the posh establishments the rest in his class sought out. Entering the café, he wandered up to the counter and ordered an Espresso and a slice of lemon tea cake. After getting his order, he sat down in the nearest available corner of the café and pulled out his phone. Sure enough, he had two text messages and a voicemail from his father all demanding that he call home as soon as he was able. Arthur rolled his eyes, pocketed his phone, and turned back to his coffee.

He was just finishing up the remains of his cake when someone sat down two chairs away from him; someone who caused the very breath in his lungs to still and his heart to race. Her mocha colored skin was mostly hidden beneath a red pea coat, a gold paisley-patterned scarf barely visible under mounds of short ebony curls. Her square shaped face was beautiful, her cheekbones rosy, her brown eyes round like a doe, and her full lips currently pulled in a contented smile as she sipped from a mug.

And then she turned her gaze on him and Arthur didn't know what to do with himself. Floundering, he jumped under the scrutiny. The fork in his hand slipped through his fingers and tumbled to the floor while he, like the idiot he was, fumbled to catch it. There was a quiet giggle and Arthur's face felt like it was on fire. Trying to maintain his dignity, he cleared his throat, picked up the blasted utensil, and set it down on the table. He unconsciously swallowed, his brain unable to properly think of anything to do or say even though the girl was no longer staring at him –her eyes had gone to a book she'd just pulled out of her bag.

Unable to look away, Arthur watched her every move while trying to come up with a way to talk to her. But his tongue felt like it had swollen in his mouth and his brain, usually filled with intelligence, was now full of cobwebs. That is, until someone else sat down next to her and she leaned over, happily kissing him on the cheek in greeting. Arthur's heart felt like it had been stabbed as he watched and eavesdropped on their conversation.

"Lancelot, what are you doing here?" the young woman asked, her eyes bright at the sight of the dark-skinned, brown-eyed man possessing a five o'clock shadow over his strong jaw line.

"I was in the neighborhood when I saw you in the window," Lancelot answered. "I thought I'd stop in to see what you were up to. How are you Gwen?"

Gwen… was that short for something else? Gwenneth? Guinevere? For some reason the latter seemed to resonate with him. Guinevere…

"I'm fairing pretty well, all things considered," Gwen answered. "I only have one final left to take and then I'll be free to celebrate the holiday."

"Are you doing anything special for Christmas?"

"Not really. I'm spending it here."

"Alone?" Lancelot prompted.

Arthur started and before he knew what he was doing, he interrupted. "She was actually going to spend it with me."

Both Gwen and Lancelot turned to look at him. Arthur tried to keep his chin raised and his expression friendly. Lancelot appraised him up and down, noting without difficulty his designer clothes and well kept appearance – a stark different to what he was wearing: second hand jeans and a thick jacket from a thrift store. Arthur raised his brow a little as he noticed Lancelot put a protective hand on Gwen's shoulder.

"I have a hard time believing that," he said, his tone hard. "Who are you?"

"I'm Arthur." He held out his hand. "Arthur James." He'd gotten into the habit of introducing himself with his first and middle name only; he didn't want to be defined as the spoiled rich son of a major oil company.

Surprisingly, Lancelot shook his hand. "Lancelot," he introduced. "This is Guinevere but everyone calls her Gwen."

"Nice to meet you," Arthur smiled. "I'm sorry for earlier; I couldn't help overhearing. It just so happens I'm also unable to spend the holiday with relatives so I figured two lonely souls could spend it together."

Before either of them could say anything more, Arthur whipped out a card with his name and phone number on it, handing it to Guinevere who deftly accepted while keeping her eyes trained on his face.

"You can call and text anytime," Arthur smiled at her. "Let me know if you want to spend the holiday together."

And then to everyone's shock -including his own- he took her hand and kissed it. His heart leapt from the contact and to his pleasure, Guinevere didn't pull away in disgust. Actually, she looked rather flattered, her cheeks darkening even further than they had before. Feeling Lancelot's narrowed eyes, Arthur let go and straightened while clearing his throat.

"Well, I'd best be off. It was nice to meet you, Lancelot, Guinevere." His smile grew wider when he looked on the latter. "I'll be hoping for that phone call."

And before he could lose his nerve, he left the café, his heart pounding against his ribcage.

Quest for Albion will be up soon! Please review! :D