Epilogue Part Two: Today and Tomorrow

Days before winter gave way to spring, the last snowfall blanketed Camelot as the sun slowly rose through the gray clouds.

Arthur stood by the north-facing window, his eyes sweeping over the awakening forests that glistened with frost. The first touches of warmth were appearing as green slowly emerged from the white snow.

Anticipation creeped into his veins, making him smile, as he thought of what this day would bring. When he turned away from the window, his eyes softened at the sight of his wife still sleeping soundly.

It was still jarring to wake up next to her sometimes, after so many years of hiding away from the truth. It was nothing short of a miracle to see the love in her eyes when she opened them first thing, a sight he would never tire of.

Just like now, her eyes slowly opened and her lips curved when she saw him gazing down at her. "It's rude to stare," she told him, like she did most mornings.

Arthur smiled, sitting on the edge of the bed, leaning down to kiss her gently.

Gwen sat up, studying his expression. Her head tilted to the side and her eyes narrowed. "What's going on?"

Arthur nearly grimaced. She was always able to read his expressions like a book. Sometimes he suspected she could read his thoughts, she knew him so well.

"Nothing," he said as smoothly as he could. Part of him cringed at lying to her, but he was sworn to secrecy.

Gwen merely stared at him, before shaking her head. She rose to begin the day, and Arthur nearly sighed out loud in relief.

Ooo0ooO

Lancelot and Gwaine stood side by side outside the castle walls, the latter struggling to stifle a yawn. They were on early patrol and the brisk morning air made Gwaine long for a warm bed. Well, one bed in particular…

The other knights passed by with shadows under their eyes, having taken the night shift in order to allow Gwaine to be present for what was to come later.

Gwaine smirked at that.

"Should I be concerned about that look on your face?" Lancelot asked, eyeing his fellow knight warily.

"No," Gwaine said easily. "All will be made clear soon."

"Because of Merlin's plans?"

Gwaine shot Lancelot a look. "How did you know?"

Lancelot rolled his eyes, sighing deeply. "Because you and him and Arthur are not as subtle as you think. And if I know, she'll definitely know," he said pointedly, tapping a finger against his temple.

Although Lancelot did not know the details of their magic, he understood that Iris and Merlin shared a sort of connection with their minds. Gwaine, realizing that as well, winced.

"Don't worry," Lancelot continued. "I don't need magic to know what her answer will be."

Ooo0ooO

Morgana watched the king, the knight, and the sorcerer make their way around the castle in what one could assume was in a stealthy manner, and sighed in defeat.

She knew thanks to Gwaine, who was a poor secret keeper, and for that reason had purposefully been avoiding his sister for days now.

So when Iris walked by, Morgana snagged her hand and pulled her into her chambers. Iris protested, saying she needed to tend to Gwen.

"I'm sure Merlin has it taken care of," Morgana said, waving her hand. "Let me brush your hair, it looks like tangled yarn."

Iris huffed as the other sorceress sat her down in front of the vanity. "I do not see why this is necessary, yarn or not," she said, trying not to pout as she ran a hand over her hair protectively.

Morgana merely ignored her, grabbing a brush before getting to work. Despite the length, the curls were as unruly as ever, coiling and tangling in every direction.

Iris narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. "I know this isn't about my hair," she sniffed.

Morgana gave her a baleful look, even though the corner of her mouth twitched. "Just behave," she ordered. "Let them pretend it's all a secret."

"As if I haven't known for months," Iris sighed, looking patiently tolerant, even as her heart kicked against her ribs.

"It's still exciting, isn't it?" Morgana asked, parting Iris's curls so she could braid a portion away from her face. "Despite the-," she waved her hand again, "visions."

"Yes," Iris said softly. "Yes, it is."

Morgana smiled, leaning down to press her cheek against Iris's. "I am happy for you."

"I'll be sure to return the favor when it's your turn," Iris threatened, arching a brow.

Refusing to admit her hands trembled at the thought, Morgana stepped back. "There. You're ready."

Dual braid pulled the curls away from her face, before intertwining together at the base of her neck, allowing the length of her hair to fall down her back.

Iris smoothed a hand over her dress, the blue one Gwen had given her long ago. She met her friend's gaze in the mirror. "Thank you."

"I think it's finally time, don't you?"

Ooo0ooO

Merlin waited anxiously. Despite all the planning and the assistance from Arthur and Gwaine, despite the visions that the crystal held and the ones that followed him into his dreams, a part of him doubted.

It had been too cold to make the trek to the meadow, which was covered in ankle-deep snow and ice, so the great hall was next in the plan, where fires already roared in the hearths and flowers and ferns decorated every inch of available space.

Gwaine had left to fetch his sister, under the guise of Arthur commanding that they all meet in the hall due to a matter of urgency.

Under the nerves, a quiet part of his mind acknowledged that the plan was not flawless. It was impossible to conceal his thoughts from her, magic or not.

So when she strolled in arm-in-arm with Gwaine, beaming brightly, some of those nerves dissolved. After all, the visions had been of her wearing the ring.

Arthur strode over to her, kissing her cheek and murmuring in her ear, before he and Gwaine made themselves scarce.

"Hello, Emrys," Iris said, walking over to him, eyes sparkling.

Merlin extended his hand, pulling her close as they stood in front of the fireplace. Her hair shone as brightly as the flames, and her jewel-bright eyes held his.

"Iris," he began, tracing a hand over her cheek. "All the magic in the world could not have prepared me when I met you. I thought that I would be alone in this world, shackled with this destiny that I alone was to carry out.

"Then you came, riding into Camelot, and everything changed. You changed me, for the better. There is nothing else I could ever want but you. I love you, and I will love you today and tomorrow and for all the years to come."

Merlin pulled out the ring, settling on a knee before her. To his surprise, she kneeled with him, her gaze never leaving his.

"I will love you for eternity, until my magic has returned to the earth and we are born again, and I will love you in that life as I have in this one and all the others," he told her. "Will you marry me, be my wife, be mine ever and always?"

"I will, if you will also be mine, ever and always," Iris said, holding his hands in hers, her magic seeping into his.

Merlin grinned. "I will."

Her answering smile was brighter than any sun, and when he pushed the ring onto her finger, a bright white light encompassed them both, a familiar magic like the one they felt after the first time in the meadow.

Iris gazed down at the crystal ring, her lips curving. When she looked at him again, she leaned forward to kiss him. "My destiny is yours, Emrys. I love you."

And there, on the stone-cold floor of the castle in Camelot, Merlin did not need a ring or a crystal to see what the future held for him. He was looking at it, and it was beautiful.

Outside the castle walls, a springtime wind gusted over the land, chasing away the cold as the sun burned away the remaining clouds to shine brightly in the sky.

Far away, a dragon settled deeper into his cave, his golden eyes illuminating in the darkness. He felt the change in the air, and for a moment, he allowed himself to muse over the images of a sorcerer and a sorceress that he could see clearly in his mind as if he was there beside them.

And it would be known until the end of time that to love a sorcerer was a destiny much greater than any other. It would be a love that would protect the unions of kingdoms, and the bloodline of once and future kings and queens. The magic here would weave itself into the fabric of fate, to be felt until there was nothing left but dust and ruin….

Ooo0ooO

Author's Note: Thank you again to all of those who stuck with this story for the past seven years! I hope to see you all again in To Love a Sorceress.