Chapter Thirty-seven

Arthur walked into the physician chambers, looking about. Merlin was doing some cleaning for Gaius, but otherwise there was no one else there.

"Where's Gwen?" asked Arthur.

Merlin, who hadn't noticed him coming in, gave a jump and dropped a bowl. Automatically using magic he stopped it an inch from hitting the floor and then looking sheepishly over at Arthur, he grabbed it and placed it on the table.

"I think she went back to your…er…her…the house?" he finished lamely. "She said she didn't know what she should do."

Arthur wanted to go find her immediately, but something about Merlin's expression told him he should clear things up with him first.

Coming over to the table he took he seat on a bench.

Merlin shifted uncomfortable. He coughed, tapped his foot and then said,

"So…Prince Arthur?"

"Yes."

"Sire?"

"Uh-huh"

"My lord?"

Arthur shrugged.

"Could have told me," added Merlin.

"I did," Arthur pointed out.

"Sure, one time. Whilst acting like a complete nutter while you were trying to convince us…"

"Besides it's not like you have been entirely opened and honest the entire time I've known you," said Arthur dryly.

Merlin looked guilty away.

"You don't have to worry you know," Arthur added.

"What?"

"About my father. Gaius told me you think it's your job to protect me."

"Well it sort of is. Big Dragon told me. Very trust worthy fellow."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. Clearly he and Merlin would have to have some discussions in the next few days. But now wasn't the time for that.

"Alright, well then maybe it is. I've certainly seen enough of your power to feel safer at the idea. So you can protect me from everything else. But it's my job to protect you from Uther. And I swear to you Merlin, I will."

Merlin nodded. Then he grinned. "I'm still going to find the image of you trying to blacksmith, funny for a very very long time."

Arthur rolled his eyes.

"I am sorry Arthur," said Merlin, more seriously. "I should have realized something was wrong. I should have believed you."

"Merlin," said Arthur, "I can't begin to imagine what it's like to have a completely new set of memoires in your head that you have no reason to disbelieve, other than that a complete stranger shows up and claims to be royalty. Of course you didn't believe me."

"But I should have known somehow. And Morgause…I should never have trusted her."

"Merlin, it wouldn't have stopped her. She made that clear when she took you prisoner."

"Still…I could have stopped her sooner. Gotten you remembered sooner…"

Arthur sighed and shook his head. "I wouldn't have wanted it sooner…I didn't really want it at all to tell you the truth. Now that's it's happened…it's going to take some getting used to again…but I think it will be alright in the end."

"What broke the spell?" asked Merlin, as Arthur got to his feet. "All of sudden…I just remembered you…"

"According to the druids, the spell would only be broken by Morgause's and my blood mixing, followed by her death," Arthur shrugged. "Our blood must have mixed when I was standing over her body and Leon stabbed me."

"You talked to the druids?" asked Merlin, surprised.

"Well yes. I knew I needed magical advice, and I didn't know I had powerful sorcerer making my bed every day," Arthur ginned at him. "I need to go find Gwen…but first…I want you to thank you. You were my friend when I wasn't a prince, when I had nothing to offer and nowhere to turn. That friendship has meant more to me than any other I have ever had."

With that, Arthur left.

Sometime later, after Gaius had returned and the two were starting to get lunch ready, they heard Uther's voice outside the door, ordering the two knights that had been standing guard there to go away and then the king entered. He looked tired and worn but determined.

He came into the room and walked towards Merlin. He opened his mouth and then glanced over at Gaius.

"I would like to speak to Merlin alone," he said.

Gaius glanced between the two of them and then shook his head. "No."

Uther blinked.

Gaius came over and stood beside Merlin. "Merlin has done nothing since coming here but save Camelot and protect Arthur, not to mention yourself on more than a few occasions despite the fact that if you ever found out you would have him executed for it. I don't know where this Kingdom would be if it were not for him."

Uther sighed deeply. "I am beginning to realize that. I already know I owe him for the fact I have my son again…he fought Morgause in the throne room…knowing what it would mean…" He rubbed a tired hand over his eyes and then he held it out to Merlin.

Tentatively, glancing over at an equally surprised Gaius, Merlin took it.

"I will try," promised Uther.

Arthur hurried down the streets. More people than his immediate friends and family were confused by the returning memories of the king's son. He saw many groups of people crowded together, talking animatedly to one another. Whenever someone noticed him, the talking heated up with excitement.

A few people seemed on the verge of approaching him, but he was moving fast. His body had a dull ache and he felt dead tired, but he was also determined on finding Gwen before he rested.

He came to their house and hurried in. She was sitting at the table, looking, unseeingly, into the empty fireplace. She was preoccupied and didn't hear him come in until he spoke her name.

She jumped to her feet and turned to look at him.

"Arthur! I mean…Sire I-"

"No." said Arthur firmly, "There's going to be no 'sires', 'my lords' or 'your highness'. You're my wife Gwen and you've been calling me Arthur for the past eight months…."

"But you really are the Prince!"

"I did give you fair warning of that," he pointed out.

"Well yes, but I thought you were just crazy and delusional."

"And isn't it better now that you know I'm not?" he took a step towards her but she backed away, shaking her head.

"I loved you…Arthur."

"I love you."

"Before…when you stayed here during the tournament…you're leaving was hard. It was hard to watch you go, knowing how I felt about you, knowing the world of possibilities that might never be opened to us but that I knew, in my heart, would have been wonderful. And knowing that I might never have a chance to tell you how important you were to me. But now that I've had you…losing you will be that much harder."

"You're not going to lose me." Arthur came up to her and took hold of her. "I told you that when I asked you to marry me. That I would never let you be taken from me."

"But Uther-"

"You're either my princess, or I'm your blacksmith. I won't accept anything else."

"Arthur…"

"If you don't want to be Princess of Camelot we can go away Gwen. We can live in a village. We never have to come back here."

"You would do that?"

"Any life with you is the happiest life I can imagine."

"Arthur." She kissed him. "I feel the same about life with you. Any life."

They kissed again, and this time to not pull away from several minutes.

"Your father is going to be so furious," she laughed shortly later, after they have separated.

"Well I think I've given him some other things to be furious at me about," shrugged Arthur. "And he did technically give me permission to marry you."

"I still can't believe I married a prince," she shook her head.

Arthur smiled. "It was the best thing that ever could have happened to Camelot."

"Arthur…" she said slowly, "There's something…I should tell you."

"What?"

"It's…well are you sure?" She looked up at him. "You married me when…you were a blacksmith. You're a prince now. I would understand…and wouldn't hold you to something you did when you believed you would never have you real life back-"

"Gwen," Arthur cut in. "My life with you is my real life. No matter if it's led in a blacksmith workshop or in a castle."

She nodded. "Then I want to tell you. I'm having a baby Arthur."

His jaw dropped opened.

"I tried to tell you earlier," she hurried on. "But Merlin interrupted us and I-"

He kissed her.

Sometime later, as they were sitting side by side in front of the fireplace, Arthur's arm around her, she smiled up at him and whispered into his ear,

"I love you Arthur Pendragon."

The End

AN: I cannot not thank everyone nearly enough for all the kind reviews you gave this story and how incredibly positive they all were. So many of you reviewed every chapter or said such amazingly encouraging things! I wanted to thank you all by name but there were just so many of you! Thank you again, very very much.

I hope the ending satisfied.