Epilogue:

Merlin helped Mithian off of her horse as they decided to enjoy a nice picnic outside of the town. Gwaine had suggested they take some time off for themselves, and the knights all volunteered to look after their two children, Balinor and Elaine.

In the many years that have passed, Merlin and Arthur were able to begin the restoration movement to allow for the safe and free practices of magic. It hasn't been perfect as the decades of persecution of magical beings has made many people of every kingdom weary, but Merlin as Camelot's magical advisor and Arthur have advocated greatly for peace. The movement proves to be successful, but much work was still being done.

Gwaine had recently gotten married to his wife, Ava. A week or so before, he had found out that Ava was with child and wanted to babysit for Merlin and Mithian today as the couple had been exhausted after the birth of their youngest son, Balinor. He thought it would be good practice, so to speak, and it allowed for them to take a well deserved break.

Rodor has long since stepped down from the throne and passed it on to Elizabeth. She was even able to find love once more. The eldest daughter found comfort and solace from Sir James a few years after Brennis's failed invasion. They had yet to get married, but Elizabeth faired well as the sole ruler of Nemeth.

Hunith had moved to Camelot once Merlin and Mithian had gotten married, and found work as Gaius's partner physician. Being Camelot's magical advisor made Merlin quite busy helping Arthur negotiating with different magical groups such as the Catha and the Druids, and so his mother stepped in to help the old physician.

Arthur and Guinevere had three children of their own; Thomas, Ygraine, and Ethan. Ethan being the oldest, and next in line for the throne. He was very much like his father in skill and tact, but had inherited every bit of his mother when it came to his personality. He was shy and sweet, but never hesitant to shut down people who are being unfair and unkind. Like both of this parents, he was quick to stand up for the people he loves and cares about.

Thomas, named after Guinevere's father was their most recent child. Ygraine being the middle daughter, named after Arthur's mother. Thomas had just learned how to walk, and often clung to his mother. Ygraine is just a few years older, and very much daddy's little princess. Like Thomas sticks to his mom, Ygraine can't stand to be away from her dad.

"Are you sure it was a good idea to allow Gwaine to baby sit?" Mithian asked as she settled herself into the blanket Merlin set up for them.

"It's not just Gwaine whose helping," he told her. "Percival teamed up with him to take care of Elaine and Balinor. How much damage can they really do?"

"I understand Percival has children of his own, but not magical children," she claimed. "Gwaine has no experience what so ever, and I should say I fear for him more than our children."

Merlin laughed at that. Balinor always fussed when he was away from his mother who always offered a soothing voice to calm the child's nerves. This one time Mithian had let the baby down to attend to court matters, and the young lad had been magically throwing pillows and objects at the caretaker until she returned. He'd gotten too attached and was quite afraid of anyone except his family and relatives taking care of him.

"I'm sure Gwaine would be fine," Merlin shrugged. "Balinor's gotten more comfortable with his uncles and he loves Gwen."

"That's true," she agreed. "Elaine might prove to be a little troublesome."

Merlin scrunched his nose innocently. "What could Elaine possibly do?" Mithian rolled her eyes, amused but she smiled at that. Their daughter had Merlin wrapped around her little finger, and she knew her husband had such a soft spot for their girl. However, she was quite a mischievous little one, her magic clearly inherited from both her father and her namesake.

"I love you, and I love our daughter dearly," she started to say. "but she can be quite naughty. She turned Gwaine's head bald."

"That was an accident," he pointed out. "she said she didn't mean to. Besides she apologized to Uncle Gwaine and gave him his hair back."

"She's eight summers, Merlin," she laughed. "she's got some control of her magic. That time could have been an accident, but you do see she's been terrorizing the knights. Her and Ygraine."

The duo had been getting to quite a bit of trouble. They were practically sisters and often pranked them at the castle, but it was all fun and games. A lot of the times, Elaine hadn't meant to do what she had done as her magic wasn't quite under her control.

"They're all just silly pranks," Merlin said. "reminds me of us when we were kids. Sometimes her magic gets out of control, but her hearts always in the right place."

"I know it is," she agreed softly. "yeah, I guess you're right," she caved. "Gwaine'll be alright. They are mainly harmless pranks."

"They are," he scooted closer to his wife, wrapping an arm around her and giving her a sweet kiss. "harmless."

"Elaine's got you wrapped around her little finger," she said as he pulled away from the kiss.

"I can't help it," he pouted. "it's her eyes. Her cute little brown eyes. Just like her mums." Their daughter was, after all, the spitting image of her mother.

"How has her magic lessons been going?" Mithian chuckled. Elaine's magic was quite powerful and so she had been learning early on how to control it as whenever she thinks anything, it happens to come to life. Whenever she was upset, happy, or excited, it came out. If she was about to cry, it could rain or if she was happy flowers would bloom.

"It's going well, but whenever she gets frustrated, she breaks a vase or sets fire to something," he filled her in. Mithian looked a little horrified, but Merlin assured her they would always turn out alright. "but she's doing rather well. It's all safe and sound."

"Have you any luck with the negotiations with Sarrum of Amata?" Mithian changed the subject, knowing how stressed her husband had been with the peace negotiations.

Merlin shook his head. "No, and I don't believe we're getting anywhere with him," he answered honestly. "he absolutely abhors magic, and he doesn't seem to even want peace. I had better luck with King Lot of Essetir, and he hates Camelot."

"Don't lose hope," she comforted. "all yours and Arthur's work will achieve much success in the future whether Sarrum is apart of Albion or not."

Merlin took a deep breath, relaxing the tension he felt in his body. "I'm sorry that I'm always away," he began. "I wish I could spend more time with you and the kids."

"I understand you're busy," she said comfortingly. "you're job requires a lot from you, but that doesn't mean you've neglected us. You still give Elaine her magic lessons, read to Balinor practically every night, and we're together now. Are we not?"

"You're right," he agreed. "I guess I just feel like I've spent much time fulfilling my duties to Camelot, and less time with my family."

"You're a great father, Merlin," Mithian reassured. "you haven't missed any milestones, and you spend many hours with them even if you are exhausted from work. Our children love you just as much as you love them," she soothed. "Your wife also loves you."

"My wife?" Merlin feigned curiousness. "Does she really? Love me?"

Mithian nodded. "Absolutely," she responded. "but I think I can think of a few things you could do to make her love you a little more."

"What kinds of things," he raised his eyebrow.

"Well, for one, you could kiss her," she puckered her lips expectantly and he happily obliged.

What started out as an innocent kiss soon turned heated rather quickly as it has been a few weeks since they had last spent much alone time together. Balinor was almost four summers and he often got nightmares so he would beg to sleep in their bed still. This past week, Merlin had been away at Amata for negotiations so it'd been a while since they've had much intimacy.

Merlin's hand slowly slide down Mithian's side before it rested on her hip, his thumbs rubbing small circles where it was positioned. Mithian gripped Merlin's rather loose shirt at the front, fingering the laces to loosen the laces that held the front together.

His lips moved from hers and traced her cheek, trailing down to her neck. He left light kisses as he gently pushed her down on to the heap of pillows, his lips finding hers again. Mithian couldn't help but make soft moans at the warmth her husband provided. Her hands slid up from his back to the back of his head, her fingers threading into his hair.

"Wait, wait," she gasped for breath. "we're in the middle of a forest."

Merlin took a few deep breaths, then his eyes flashed gold. "Don't worry, no one can see us now," he assured. "I've cloaked us."

Mithian nodded, pulling his head down to reattach their lips once more. She tugged at his shirt with a moan as his lips went back down to her neck. "Two kids isn't enough anyway," she murmured. "what's one more?"

"Arthur," Gwaine barged into his chambers. "we have a problem."

Arthur, with wide eyes, immediately got up from his desk and grabbed his sword but Gwaine shook his head.

"Not that kind of problem," Gwaine corrected. "I may have done something wrong."

The King dropped his sword and put a hand to his hips, annoyed. "What'd you do Gwaine?"

"So I was watching the kids, and well," he paused awkwardly. "I, uh, I lost them," he mumbled at the end.

"You what?" Arthur asked, not hearing the last part.

"Ilostthem," he let out in one breath.

"Huh?"

"I lost the children!" Gwaine shouted eventually, blowing air out of his mouth.

"What do you mean you lost them!" Arthur snapped. "How do you lose two children!"

"Well, three."

Arthur took a indignant step, which made the knight shrink a bit. "What do you mean by three?" Surely he didn't mean one of his own.

"Ygraine was with them," he answered shyly, hands behind his back.

Before Arthur could scold the knight for his irresponsibility, the two grown men heard light giggles coming from behind them. Arthur turned around, and Gwaine stepped around him to look out the window.

Right outside the window was Ygraine, Elaine, Balinor, and Aithusa. The three children were conveniently riding on the white dragon's back, and the two men widened their eyes.

"Actually, I think I found them," Gwaine told him. Arthur didn't have the time to yell at him as they both made a run for the door to get the kids who were riding the dragon in the middle of the courtyard.

Aithusa had been training with Kilgharrah in the past few years, finding a home near the vicinity of Camelot. She had been a great ally to them, despite Arthur's initial protests and apprehension of a dragon. Merlin had been able convince him otherwise, proving his responsibility as a dragonlord. Elaine had even grown quite fond of the dragon.

Like Arthur and Gwaine had been dashing towards the courtyard, Percival also had been searching the castle for the kids until he saw them outside on the great beast. The three had intersected at the doors that led to the courtyard. When they walked outside, they were greeted by Gwen who was holding the girls hands, Balinor holding Ava's, Gwaine's wife's, hand.

Guinevere raised an eyebrow at the three men who stood in shock at the sight. "Thank you, Aithusa," she curtsied to the dragon before she could take flight.

"Don't look at me," Arthur raised his hands at Gwen's amused face. "I wasn't in charge of babysitting today."

"Ah Ava, Gwen," Gwaine greeted them. "I was just about to come pick up the children from their dragon ride."

"Oh, is that so?" Ava asked.

"Yes," he nodded, but cowered at the two women's displeased expressions. "no," he gave in. "I didn't mean to lose them. We were playing a game one second and the next it was as if they disappeared. I swear I didn't mean to."

"Where's Tom and Ethan?" Arthur asked curiously.

"They're playing swords with Elyan on the training grounds," Gwen informed him. "that's when I saw Balinor, Elaine, and Ygraine fly by on Aithusa."

"It's alright though, right," Gwaine asked tentatively. "no one's hurt."

"Balinor almost fell off Aithusa's back," she crossed her arms and they face palmed. Merlin and Mithian weren't even gone a few hours. "Gwaine, you were supposed to be watching them."

"Sorry, mum, but don't get mad at Uncle Gwaine," Ygraine looked up to her mother with shy eyes. She looked very much like her mother, soft brown eyes and curly hair. "I just wanted to go on a dragon ride. Wasn't Uncle Gwaine's fault, promise."

"No, I'm sorry Aunt Gwen and Uncle Gwaine," Elaine let go of Gwen's hand and looked to the adults that stood around her, tying her hands around her back shyly. "we just wanted to have some fun. I froze Uncle Gwaine and Uncle Percy so we could get away. Didn't mean to get anyone in trouble."

"Yeah!" Balinor agreed excitedly. "I'm okay, see! I didn't get hurt!" He toddled over to his uncle and gave him a hug. Gwaine smiled, picking the little boy up for a hug.

"You three shouldn't have done that, your Uncle Gwaine must have been worried sick about you," Gwen informed them. "I believe he deserves an apology."

The two girls ran over to the long haired knight and gave him a big hug around his legs. "We're sorry, Uncle Gwaine!" They all shouted in unison.

"What about Uncle Percy?" Percival asked, feigning a pout.

"We're sorry, Uncle Percy!" They then went over to the taller knight, and he picked the girls up which caused them to giggle as he spun around with them both in his arms.

Gwen walked up the steps and gave Arthur a peck on the lips, exhausted after chasing around the kids. "Hey, the kids did turn out alright," Arthur soothed. "sorry I wasn't much help. I was drafting a-"

"It's alright, Arthur," she silenced him with another kiss. "I know the talks with Amata haven't been going well."

Arthur has been just as stressed out as Merlin has been, but he still made sure to allot time to his three children. He'd always make sure to tuck them all into bed whenever he could, and read stories to them with his wife whenever they couldn't fall asleep. However, the past few weeks have been quite busy with his trip to Amata and he felt as though he was slacking a bit.

"Today turned out well," Arthur concluded. "Merlin and Mithian won't even know what happened. Safe and sound."

They were all about to turn and head back inside as the sunset was readily approaching, but heard loud steps running towards them. The footsteps came to a halt quickly as they saw Balinor and Elaine safely holding hands with the Queen of Camelot.

Merlin and Mithian tried to calm down their breaths as they had rushed back to the palace in a hurry. The five adults on the steps observed their disheveled appearance, but the warlock had put a hand on his hips.

Balinor and Elaine shouted in glee and excitedly ran towards their parents. Balinor was easily picked up by Mithian and he wrapped his arms around her neck happily. "Mama!"

Merlin picked up Elaine with ease as she raced towards him. The two of them hugging their kids tightly. Despite it being one day, they missed them dearly, and they were seriously worried for their safety.

"You asked if you could watch the kids for a day. One day. We were on our way back home when we saw our children riding on Aithusa's back," Merlin said, looking at the five adults indignantly. "Does anyone want to explain why that is?"

"It's not their fault, Papa!" Elaine explained before anyone else got a chance. "I used magic on Uncle Gwaine and Uncle Percy. I'm sorry, Papa, I didn't mean to," she snuggled her small face into her dad's, her soft brown eyes looking up to him cutely. Her lips sticking out in a pout.

"It's alright, Laine," Merlin mumbled. He looked to his wife who only rolled her eyes at how easily he gave into their daughter.

"Elaine," Mithian called out gently. "have you apologized to your uncles?"

The small brunette nodded. "Yes, I promise I won't do it again," she swore and her parents smiled at her.

"Well," Gwaine spoke up. "it looks like your children weren't the only ones who had fun today."

"Yeah, what on earth happened to the two of you?" Arthur teased in reference to their appearance. "Did you two get attacked by bandits or something? What happened to your clothes?"

Merlin and Mithian couldn't say anything else as their faces both blushed a bright red. Percival and Gwaine snickered, trying to hold in their laughs as well as Gwen and Ava.

"I think we should get the kids all cleaned up," Merlin changed the subject which only caused them all to laugh a little more, much to the kids confusion. Arthur's two sons were already heading back towards to the castle with their Uncle Elyan as the sun was on its way down. They ran to greet their parents with a hug.

"What so funny?" Balinor asked his parents as they all walked back inside.

"Your uncles are just very silly," Mithian answered, kissing the top of her son's head. She put him down after as Merlin did with Elaine.

"Race you," Merlin ruffled the hair on his son's head a little, causing the four year old to giggle. The two kids then chased after their dad as they ran back to their chambers for supper. Mithian picked up her dress and raced after them, not even bothering to contain her laughs.

After bidding each of their kids a good night, Merlin and Mithian headed back to their chambers to retire for the night. She laughed a little as her husband trudged behind as he said an extra good night to his daughter.

It didn't take them long to reach their own room as it was in the same hall. "Wrapped around your finger," she teased as he closed the door behind them.

"Don't pretend you don't have a soft spot for Balinor," he defended with a smile.

"Can't help it," she pouted. "he has your blue eyes and soft smile and-" she stopped upon seeing her husband's amused expression. "I guess we both have weak points for our babies."

"Do you have an idea what could have possessed them to want to ride on Aithusa?"

Mithian shrugged. "Probably because they seen their dad do it once, and, well," she brushed through her hair as they both got ready for bed. "I mean, it seems rather fun."

"I can't believe Aithusa allowed it," he blinked. He walked over to help his wife unlace her dress and put on her nightgown.

"Aithusa isn't that much older than Elaine," she pointed out. "she's barely a fledgling, and she's most definitely not Kilgharrah."

"I guess you're right," he agreed, wrapping his arms around his wife from behind. He leaned down to give her a small kiss on her shoulder, then another on her neck. "the kids are all asleep," he mumbled.

Mithian closed her eyes with a smile at the loving embrace. "Are you not tired from the woods?"

"Mm, not really," he mumbled as she turned around slowly in his arms. "Are you?"

"Not at all," she whispered as they moved back towards the bed, giggling to themselves.

"I love you," he murmured between kisses.

"And I you."

Modern Day:

Merlin Ambrosius ran around the park near campus as he usually did every morning before his classes started at university. The fall semester had just begun, and he was starting his third year at Albion University in Wales. He was a third year biology student, with hopes to enroll in medical school to become a doctor. Much like his mother.

He took deep breaths, checking his watch for the time as he ran his second mile. Before he even realized it, he accidentally bumped into a young woman and knocked down all of her books.

"I am so sorry!" Merlin rambled. "I wasn't watching where I was going and I-"

"It's alright," she chuckled as he helped her pick the books up. "I wasn't looking either. It's probably my fault anyway."

"I guess we both have had our minds in the clouds," he joked, not realizing he was smiling at the girl as he truly got a good look at her. He couldn't help but think about how beautiful she was, and he had this strange feeling bubble in him as they looked into each other's eyes. "so it's not your fault."

"Maybe not entirely," she agreed, enchanted by his strikingly blue eyes. "but I do believe it is my karma for skipping my classes today."

Merlin laughed at that, knowing everyone needed a break sometimes from school. "You go to Albion U?"

Mithian nodded. "Just transferred last week," she confirmed. "I'm Mithian, by the way. Mithian Montgomery."

"I'm Merlin," he offered his hand which she gladly accepted. He looked down to her knee in concern. "oh, you're bleeding."

Mithian looked down to her leg where jeans had ripped slightly. "It's not a big deal," she shrugged. "just a knee scrape."

"Still," he said. "we should get you a bandage. Come on, there's a drug store not too far from here. I owe it to you anyway."

"Alright," she agreed, finding the boy rather cute. There was just something about him that seemed oddly familiar.

"I do have class right after this," Merlin informed. "but perhaps I could take you out to dinner tonight?"

Mithian pretended to think about it for a moment. "Well," she began and he held his breath. "I guess you do owe me a dinner for scraping my knee."

Merlin smiled, letting out the breath he didn't realize he was holding. "This is going to sound strange, but have we met before?"

She shook her head, no. "You feel that too?" She asked. "I swear I was just wondering that same thing."

He nodded. "I can't help, but feel like I know you from somewhere," he told her honestly.

"Believe me, I feel the same," Mithian returned. "but I can guarantee you this meeting was rather," she pondered for a second.

"Unexpected?"

AN: The Enddd! Ahh this was so much fun to write! Thank you to everyone who's read it from beginning to end! I hope you liked this ending :) Thank you all again so much for the reads, follows, favorites, and reviews this was really fun! Hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it! :)