Hello people! This is the 'final' chapter but there is an epilogue too. If you don't want to read smut and fluff, just end your reading after this chapter haha

Thank you so much again to you who review! You keep me wanting to update.

Also, the user Les Kinagies is now translating this story into french which is amazing!

Chapter Eight

The sun was starting to set on the rim of the crater, calling for this all to come to a close, one way or another.

Arthur emerged from the water, spluttering but mostly unharmed. The water dripping off him ran with blood from a cut on his cheek. On the rocky shore, Gaius remained down, winded by the impact and feeling a telling pain radiating from his hip and leg. Fractured, most likely.

The knights who were farther away weren't affected by the full force and they remained standing. They had still felt it though, like a strong gust of wind that blew right through their souls.

"Arthur! Gaius! Are you all right?!" someone yelled.

Percival rushed forward, kneeling beside Gaius to check the man. He nodded to the other knights, who were already creeping closer to the waterline.

"I'm all right!" Arthur yelled to his men. "Merlin, why are you doing this?!" Arthur cried out, wishing more than ever before he could just wrap his arms around his friend and hold him tight. He wished his love was enough to stop all this madness.

"I did this for you!"

"I never asked you to!"

Merlin's magic sent ripples through the water as he stood, and his eyes glowed ember.

"Everything I've done, it's all been for you!"

"What about you, Merlin? Why couldn't you look after yourself this one time?"

Merlin looked at Arthur like the concept was foreign and completely ridiculous.

"I know you love me-"

"No!" Merlin burst out again, pushing the feelings creeping back into him out with sheer will of magic. Arthur fell back again, this time his head remaining above water. "What I felt is irrelevant! I've put Camelot in danger too many times because of feelings!" Merlin spat out.

Gaius propped himself up on a piece of driftwood, watching Merlin with intense scrutiny. He realised Merlin was affected by the reversal ritual. They hadn't completed it but the proof was in the water. Some of the spell had been bled from him already and he was already showing more emotion than he had for months. That could mean they could get through to him.

"Merlin, my son! What you felt for Arthur made you strong. Never think it didn't!"

Merlin turned to face Gaius, his face suddenly unguarded and surprised. Gaius had never called him son, though there was an unspoken truth that Gaius was like a father to him.

"Without you in my life, I would never have had a family again, Merlin. Think of all the good you did do when I was bound by logic and you acted from your heart," Gaius spoke fondly.

"You saved me, Merlin." Arthur stood up again shakily. He seemed to have caught on, joining Gaius in trying to get through to the part of Merlin that was freed from the spell. He subtly shook his head at his knights who were creeping ever closer to Merlin. Stand down.

"You saved my body a thousand times, yes, but you were the only one who knew to save my heart. I was lost before you found me, and I treated you terribly. I am truly sorry, my love. Please allow me to save you this one time in return."

Merlin remained unmoved by these words.

"I need you, Merlin. All of you."

Merlin was quiet and still, eyes fixed on Arthur.

"Whatever emotional needs you may have are no longer my concern," Merlin said quietly. With each passing second Arthur could see Merlin shutting off again, becoming more composed. "I will serve by your side until the end. I will keep Camelot and its King safe."

"Merlin… you choose this path and you'll be killing me," Arthur promised. He surprised himself with this, realising how true it really was as he said it.

Merlin's brow crinkled up, filled with uncertainty and concern.

"Letting my emotions return… that would save you?" He asked. He sounded sceptical but the part that ruled Merlin right now, the part consumed by duty towards Camelot and his King, was seriously considering the logic of Arthur's argument.

"It will save me. More than you know."

It was an eternity before Merlin came to his conclusion. Arthur felt he must dare not even breathe, so much was at stake in this moment.

"Okay."

Arthur felt relief wash over him, filling him like a tide pool.

Trembling, he asked, "Gaius? Can you-"

"I'll do it myself," Merlin told him, and it was just as well because Gaius could barely move in his condition.

Merlin lay down in the water. He began the chant. Watching from the shore, Gaius, who had not shed a tear in his pain, now felt them flow freely as he watched the cursed spell seep from Merlin's body into the ruby lake.

Arthur could see the strain Merlin was under performing the spell, while also feeling the effects of it and he felt useless. He couldn't touch the man nor give him any words of encouragement for fear of breaking his concentration. When the last of the spell dispersed into the dark water the rubies below the lake began to glow red as though taking back what Merlin had returned to them. And then it was over.

They were left in near darkness. Arthur helped Merlin to the shore.

"Gaius will you be able to ride?" Arthur asked and the old man shook his head.

"My leg is broken, and my hip. You'll have to leave me behind."

Arthur balked at the suggestion. "That won't be happening."

Merlin was barely conscious but he heard them talking. He used the last of his strength to call once more for Kilgharrah. The party watched, awe-struck, as the great old dragon arrived, landing haphazardly on the hillside. He didn't bother to make any remark on how - yet again - he had been awoken from his (what was supposed to be a long-ass) sleep. Without a word he followed the Dragonlord's command, taking Gaius gently in his claw and flying off.

"He's taking him to Camelot," Merlin rasped out before fatigue overcame him and he fell slack in Arthur's arms.

Arthur rode back to Camelot the same way he had come here, with Merlin unconscious in front of him on his horse. Only this time, he was riding back with the real Merlin, the full Merlin, the man he loved. Merlin came around a few times during the journey, drinking a few sips of water before falling back out of consciousness. Each time he would smile at Arthur and thank him with the most heart-breaking sincerity.

It was beyond a relief when they all arrived back in Camelot. Nodding in thanks to his Knights, Arthur got Merlin down from his horse and carried him straight up the steps to the castle. He stopped for no one as he made his way through the corridors and staircases, and finally he lay the sleeping Merlin down softly on his plush bed, kissing his forehead.

"You're home now," Arthur whispered with a smile, sitting at Merlin's side. Yes, Merlin was home, but so was Arthur now that he was with him again. He sat watching the steady rise and fall of Merlin's chest, thinking that he'd never seen such a comforting sight in his life.

A serving girl, Arthur recalled her name to be Nala, entered his room, checking on the newly returned King. Arthur sent her off with a myriad of tasks; hot water, towels, food and fresh clothes for Merlin, and to check on Gaius's whereabouts and condition. When she brought the hot water, Arthur asked her for more things and the poor girl began to regret coming to check on him at all. But then on her next trip up with food and clothes, she saw Arthur tenderly wiping Merlin's face with the wet cloth. The King himself was filthy, with a red cut across his cheek and rips in his clothing. To see him care for someone before himself in this way was something she had not seen in all her years of serving royalty.

Arthur then turned to the serving girl and thanked her warmly and she found she didn't mind so much.

Merlin woke to the warmth of a washcloth moving across his chest. It felt lovely. He opened his eyes, meeting the focused face of Arthur, who had not yet realised he had awoken. Merlin frowned at the man, bringing a tentative hand to the King's cheek. He barely touched it, just brought his thumb to a part of Arthur's cheek that was not cut.

"I'm sorry," he said, referring not only to the cut on Arthur's face but to the entire ordeal he had put him through.

Arthur turned his face into Merlin's hand and kissed it. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

Merlin's face softened for a moment before the frown returned and he suddenly tried to sit up.

"Is Gaius okay?" he fretted.

"Hey, hey, it's alright," Arthur assured him, easing Merlin back down onto the pillows. "You just rest."

"But Gaius? I… h-hurt him," Merlin sounded pained, barely getting the words out.

"You sent him back with The Great Dragon, do you remember. I've sent Nala to check on him."

Merlin visibly relaxed. "Kilgharrah would have healed him."

When Nala returned, Arthur still sat at Merlin's side and she confirmed that Gaius was okay. He had been returned by Kilgharrah and was now being checked by another physician.

"He sends his love."

Merlin smiled and thanked her. She left and Merlin said something Arthur couldn't hear.

"What was that, love?"

Merlin gestured weakly for him to come closer. Arthur leaned in, waiting to hear Merlin's words.

"Closer, closer," the sorcerer repeated, a cheeky smile barely contained.

As soon as Arthur was close enough he found a hand snaking its way behind his neck and pulling him down. Merlin pressed his lips to Arthur's, pushing his fingers into the hair at the nape of Arthur's neck. Arthur returned his touch in kind, believing for the first time that a kiss could save any soul in the universe, solve any problem, right any wrong.