It had been five years since Merlin first arrived in Camelot. And in five years a lot can change.
In the court sorcerers' chambers, Merlin was curled up on the floor, Freya, having turned back into a human, finally fitting in his arms. "Merlin," Freya began softly, "I think we need to get up."
Unfortunately, one thing that hadn't changed, is thar Freya was still cursed. They were still searching, but after they married, they had replicated the methods her roommate's method of keeping the Basset contained. Three years of marriage and so far, no fatalities.
"Alright," Merlin agreed reluctantly, going for the keys.
In the castle proper, Arthur was on his knees, when his morning prayers were interrupted by the pitter patter of little feet.
"Uncle Arthur, Uncle Arthur!" A brown-haired little boy of about three years of age ran into the room.
Arthur stood up, the boy jumping into his arms. "What is it Cody?"
"Mommy's being mean!" Cody accused.
"Is she now?" Arthur replied, feigning shock.
Just then Daisy, with a very clear baby bump, waddled into the room. "You always take his side."
"Come on, Cody, give your Mum a break." Arthur told the little boy, "She can't be being that mean. And baby brother's being really tough on her."
"Okay." Cody agreed reluctantly, as Arthur sat him down.
"Thanks, Art." Daisy replied, "Oh, by the way, you might want to check on your wife. I thought I heard her heading towards the washroom."
Guinevere Pendragon was currently vomiting clear liquid into a wash basin when her husband found her. Walking over to her, Arthur took her hair and pinned it back for her, rubbing circles on her back. "Thank you." Gwen got out.
Arthur and Gwen married a year after Uther passed on. Up until they had meeting in secret, love letters, everything done very carefully. Now, Gwen and Daisy were pregnant at the same. Their first, Daisy and Gwaine's second.
"How's the little one today?" Arthur asked, putting a hand on Gwen's slightly swollen stomach.
"He's not doing anything right now, but I felt some faint stirrings earlier." Gwen told him.
"He?" Arthur repeated.
"Or she." Gwen responded, "I'm just not calling our baby an it."
"I can get on board with that." Arthur responded, kissing her cheek, before looking down at the stomach, "Hey there little him or her. You be nice to your Mom today, alright? Keep the dancing to the minim in there."
Meanwhile, the court sorceress had stepped outside to her balcony, and took a deep breath of morning air. It was beautiful. The city beneath her was bustling. Maybe it wasn't perfect, but for the moment everything seemed right.
Meanwhile, Sir Leon, Sir Lancelot, Sir Percival, Sir Gwaine, Sir Bors the younger ,and Sir Elyan—Gwen's brother, who Arthur met just before the wedding and who earned his knighthood by defeating the saboteurs Merlin had alerted them to with fire poker, were watching the new recruits train. However, Gwaine was more than little distracted.
"Gweine, if you want to check on her, go check on her." Elyan told him finally.
"Thought at this point, I think you might be getting on her last nerve." Lancelot commented.
"Oh, I'm sorry, is your wife pregnant and traveling?" Gwaine shot back.
"You do realize she's had baby before, right?" Leon spoke up.
"Consider it was my baby and I was there, yes." Gwaine responded.
On the fields, two young recruits, Galahad , yes that Galahad, who was now a teenager, and Mordred yes, that Mordred, also now in his teen years, were sparing. It looked as if Mordred was about to get the upper hand, when Galahad came out victorious.
In the meeting hall Arthur was signing off on a search warrant for the house of suspected thief. "Make sure they get this quickly." He told the guard before he went off just and Merlin and Merlin showed up, both giving him a little bow.
"Do we have to do that when it's just us?" Arthur asked, then before they could answer, changed the subject, "So, anything I need to know?"
"If there is, it somehow got past is.." Merlin answered, "No magical threats detected."
Arthur let out a sigh of relief. Even with Camelot and magic users at peace since Arthur lifted the band on magic—thought it was still considered a deadly weapon and if someone committed a crime with it, they would be charged with such—any day without a known threat from magic was a good day. "What about the dragon?"
"He's—still not talking to us." Merlin told him.
"Hasn't in two years, actually." Morgana added.
"Really?" Arthur responded, "It's been that long?"
The dragon hadn't been really on speaking terms with them since the sit-in incident. Unless it was to insist that he was right, Morgana was going to turn on them, Mordred was going to kill Arthur, and they would rue the day the day they didn't listen to him.
So far none of that had happened. Well, maybe on thing the dragon had predicted had come true.
Arthur's coronation as King had slowly, but surely herald a golden age, for not only magic, but the Colony. Trade between them and Camelot flowed freely as it did with the other four of the five Kingdoms, and the Druids. They even had an official Alliance with Essiter.
Speaking of Essiter, Cenred had used Arthur's idea, and now every outline village and most other villages in his kingdom had militia that could defend their towns in case of trouble until his forces could get there. Arthur had done the same with the outline villages in his realm, and both were beloved for it
"But I will need you at the summit today. "Arthur told them, "Both of you. At the very least extra, security."
It then they noticed someone behind him, exchanging looks.
"What?" Arthur responded before being rushed around, being hugged about the waist. He turned around to see a twenty-year-old young woman with wavy dark hair.
"Hey, your majesty." Arrietty grinned at him.
"That's big bro to you." Arthur responded, giving her a hug, "When did you get in?"
"A couple hours ago." Arrietty answered, pulling back, "Got everything set up so I had some time to kill."
"Nice to see where I stand." Arthur snarked.
"Come on, don't be like that, I'm a working woman now." Arrietty reminded him, holding up the perlodid camera, "See? I got equipment and everything."
The Colony had sent up a newspaper, and Arrietty's drawing skills had landed her a spot in the pictures department. Her familial ties, while sometimes a conflict, did also give her some knowledge of the aera and customs, so she was sent on assignment a lot.
Meanwhile as the visiting dignitaries and rulers poured in, at the head of the pack was Cenerd and his Queen Morguse. That's right, Morguse let Cenred make an honest woman out of her. And he still lived to please her.
By then, Arthur was standing outside, his Queen and scorocers by his sign, also flanks by his best knights.
"Arthur Pendragon-Finch." Cenred greeted him.
"Cenred." Arthur greeted him, "It's good to see you again, my Lord."
"And you as well." Cenred responded, "When was the last time?"
"Believe it or not, I think it was the last tri-annual summit." Arthur responded, "You remember, my Queen, Guinevere."
"Yes." Cenred confirmed looking over to Gwen.
"Congratulations." Mourguse spoke up, before eying her cusion, "Morgana."
"Morguse." Morgana replied.
The royal couple were followed behind them by King Bayard of Mercia, along with Duke Geoffrey and his little nephew.
Hello. The little boy sighed to Morgana.
Hello, Angelus. Morgana signed back, "Greetings Sire, Duke."
When the Morguse and Morgana got inside and away from the crowd, they gave each other a warmer welcome, hugging each other. "Oh, we haven't been face to face since the wedding, have we?" Morguse spectacled.
"Yes, how are you?" Morgana responded.
"I've been doing well." Morguse said, "Running a kingdom isn't easy, but we make it work. How's Gwen?"
"Morning sickness getting to her, I'm afraid." Morgana admitted, "Gaius' been trying different tinctures, but nothing really works."
"Maybe I can help," Morguse offered, "Provided she doesn't give it away."
"You will never let me live that down will you." Morgana responded, "She still wears it, you know, every day."
Arrietty, still wearing the bracelet, was sitting with the rest of the press, drawing the scene as everyone sat down at the tables. Once everyone was seated, Arthur got to speak, "Welcome everyone…."
AN: This is it guys. This is the end. I want to thank the Almighty for giving me the idea and helping me get this out every week. Praise be. I also want to thank everyone who actually gave this crazy thing the time of day. I hope you enjoyed it all the way through and I apologize for my shoddy editing.