Snapshots Going Home CH 11 FINAL CHAPTER

Arthur's eyes snapped open, sensing something had changed in the space around him. His eyes scanned the one side of the room, but found nothing. Rolling over, he let out a relieved laugh, all of his rage, fear, and doubt disappearing in the sight that greeted him. "You're back."

His husband was standing by the window, a steaming cup of tea in his hands, dressed in only his pants and boots. The early morning sunlight streamed around him as he turned to flash Arthur a brilliant smile as he nodded. "I'm back."

Arthur watched, smiling, as his lover moved with a grace that quiet confidence brought. No severe injuries then. His eyes swept the entire form, frowning a little when he saw the bruising around his lover's throat. Not completely unscathed, but alive, and generally well from the looks of it. "You're alright."

Merlin nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed beside his husband. "I am." He placed his tea on the nightstand then leaned over and grabbed Arthur's lips with his own, shivering when his lover didn't hesitate to respond, to match him.

"I've missed you," Arthur whispered, then pulled the younger man's teasing tongue into his own mouth, pulling back when he tasted honey, frowning. "Your throat?"

Merlin shrugged, repositioning himself so he could stretch out alongside his husband, putting his head on the broad chest. "Healing." He sighed happily when Arthur wrapped an arm around his waist, scooting over a little so Merlin wasn't balancing on the edge.

They lay in silence for a time, the King carding his fingers through his lover's raven locks while the fingers on his other traced the arm thrown across his abdomen. Arthur took comfort in just feeling his husband breathing against him. Days worrying that this would never happen again. That he'd made a mistake in letting the warlock go, waiting for the Bond to alert him that his reason to exist had ended. Sleepless nights as his mind conjured endless horrific scenarios. But Merlin was here, now. Safe, breathing, and warm next to him. Somehow, once again, the one left standing against the odds. As much as Arthur wanted to, he knew they couldn't stay in this little bubble forever. He had to know.

"Beonin?" he asked, swallowing.

"Dead."

"Love, I'm sorry, but Gwaine did the right thing-" Arthur started to explain, but stopped when Merlin shook his head.

"My dagger through his throat."

Arthur froze. Of all the ways he'd expected that to play out, Merlin actually being the one to kill the former knight had never occurred to him. A part of him had even been ready to hear Ian had finished it. But not Merlin. Not when his entire purpose had been to avoid that. Everything in him wanted to ask how, but the short, clipped answers and the raspy voice let him know just how sore his husband's throat was. Now was not the time for long discussions. His fingers returned to their previous activities.

So, he asked the only thing that really mattered. "Are you alright?"

Merlin nodded against him, still completely relaxed. "Gave him a chance."

"And that was enough for you?" Arthur dreaded the nightmares that would come from such a personal kill, but had to admit in his heart, he was relieved it was over. One less ghost of a past mistake to haunt them in the future. That was, after all, why he had sent Gwaine. He'd known why Merlin was going, the option the warlock would offer, or could accurately guess. Nothing of his predictions had warned him there was even a remote possibility his lover would be the one to make the kill. But, perhaps he shouldn't be surprised. He knew, of course, what the younger man was capable of, knew the lengths he would go to in order to protect those he loved, even if it destroyed him in the process.

Merlin sighed, moving so he could look at his husband, and Arthur was stunned by the conviction in those gold crowned azure eyes. "Arthur," he rasped. "He threatened you, threatened Gwaine and Ian. I offered what I could, more than once. He chose to give his life rather than live it. I wasn't going to let him kill me, never had any intention of risking us. But I gave him the choice. He chose death, even if he chose it by underestimating me. I'm sorry I left without telling you, I'm sorry I needed to make him that offer. But I won't feel guilty for his decision. At least in this, I gave him back what little honor I could. Thank you, for letting me go, for letting me do this on my terms."

Arthur reached for the tea on the stand, giving the cup to his grateful lover. His own throat had a lump in it, and there was something that had been bundled inside of him that finally relaxed. He took the cup back, felt his husband settle in once against him. Of all people, he knew life came down to a series of choices. To decide which ones a person could live with, and which ones they couldn't.

It filled his heart to know Merlin had only needed to give the former knight the choice, that he'd never had any intention of making himself an easy target. A part of him had gone knowing with clarity he'd have to be prepared to do whatever it took. And he'd returned, calm and confident in having done his best. He'd once told Merlin that someday the boy would realize all he was to Arthur, would understand one heart did not beat without the other. For the first time, Arthur felt with certainty in every fiber of his being, even without being wrapped in the Bond, that Merlin knew, wholly and fully, all they were together. Tears of joy sprang to his eyes, and for the first time in years, Arthur felt like he could breathe easily again. Merlin knew, at long last.

"Thank you for knowing I needed you to come back," Arthur whispered, tightening his hold.

"Always," Merlin murmured, already half asleep.

MERLIN1010101010101MERLIN

"Durstan is a lucky, lucky man," Merlin breathed, blaming the slight crack in his voice on his healing throat. It had gotten better over the journey back to Dumnonia, and then the three days since then. At least enough that now it was far more likely the crack was caused by the heavy emotion swelling his heart. "Gwen, there are no words for how beautiful you are."

Gwen's gown was made of beautiful off-ivory silks. Her shoulders were bared, and the silk around the bust was form fitting, then draped and flowed freely from below the bust in layers. Gold thread embroidered vines crept up from the hem to mid leg, disappearing flawlessly into the silk.

She blushed at him. "Thank you, Merlin. I still can't believe Arthur sent to Camelot for the crown, and risked transporting it here. A circlet would have done."

Merlin shook his head. "As you know from sitting through our ridiculously drawn out wedding, the marriage rank is very important here. Arthur would not have you seen as less than you are. Durstan is marrying a Queen. It's important that everyone sees it."

Gwen shook her head. "He didn't wear his."

"Because his armor was his show of rank, not the crown, as you were so quick to remind me when I griped. In our marriage, I outrank him. In yours, you outrank Durstan, who will wear only his talisman of Trade. Arthur tried very hard with the Queen to allow the Prince to show off his onyx stones, if only for the added prestige to you in the eyes of Camelot. He was quite upset when she refused."

Gwen sighed, shaking her head. "The Queen doesn't like him very much, I'm afraid. She still watches him every day, looking for Uther."

Merlin shrugged. "She respects him as a King, and understands that the responsibilities, the choices he has to make, sometimes make him a hard man. She's had to make many the same herself, and can understand him on a level even I can't. Affection may come later, or it may not."

Gwen giggled. "I think the fact that Durstan adores him makes her nervous."

Merlin laughed, nodding. There was definitely a bad case of hero worship to the Prince. Emrys he treated reverently, and with genuine fondness of a brother. But Arthur- the Prince was nearly as besotted with him as he was with Gwen. It made Arthur a little uncomfortable at times, but there was a genuine friendship between the two.

"Màthair has lost two Princes now, to Arthur," he laughed. "She is a shrewd enough trader to know she has to even the scales somehow."

Gwen smiled at him. "You say that so easily these days. Durstan grows happier by the day whenever you use it so naturally. There's a difference in the way you move, too. A grace that comes not just from your power or weapons, but... well, like Arthur, and Durstan's and Elloise. A confidence in knowing your place in the world. It's good to see. I know how hard it is, for those of us raised from less."

Merlin shrugged, then grinned. "Even my skull can only be so thick, Gwen. Eventually everything everyone has been trying to tell me had to hammer in. My mother once told me before we left Ealdor after I died- the first time- that I shouldn't hang on so tightly to what once was that I miss what could come. It took a long time, but I understand it now. I accept it. Considering that I've actually died twice now, it's not so impossible to believe that each time I returned as more than I was."

Gwen nodded. "We've come a long way, since the beginning, the three of us."

"We have."

He leaned back into the longseat, his legs put up, and relaxed, watching Gwen's maids finish attaching ropes of green emeralds in her hair, weaving them through the heavy crown. He almost felt a little guilty. He knew himself how long the ceremony was, and that crown was uncomfortable at best. Still. Arthur had been insistent. And he knew her maids had a beautiful circlet waiting for her to change into for the celebrations. She'd be able to enjoy that part of the evening, anyway. Judging from the smile she couldn't seem to lose, she was barely noticing its weight anyway.

He sighed happily. Gwen was getting married today, and she glowed with happiness. There were no assassinations to be on the look out for- the bounty had been cancelled. The guild master had made a point of presenting himself to Prince Durstan and explaining that he'd known when Merlin returned that the originator was dead and therefore unlikely to get a pay out. He hadn't been overly disappointed, and Merlin had felt a small thrill of accomplishment when the guild master was seen stopping by several court members' chambers to collect on wagers owed, as well as the barracks to deposit winnings. He'd been deeply touched when the Knight's of Camelot- who had wagered large amounts on his success- had donated their profits to the family of the sorcerer he'd killed. He'd blushed to his hairline when Leon had shrugged it off, saying it wouldn't be right to keep the money when they'd known in advance it was a sure win.

Arthur had been on edge for the first day of his return, as though waiting for Merlin to fall apart in guilt at what he'd done. Especially after Ian and Gwaine had reported the full details. The King had forced Artemis to look him over after finding out he'd been given a potion that had veiled his magic, pestering the druid enough that as a demonstration of its temporary effects, he'd had Merlin give the King a few magical lashes to his bottom. Arthur had returned, after that, to worrying about Merlin's mental state, worrying about the former knight's use of the word whore, and pet. Apparently, Merlin's own assertion that he felt nothing for the entire matter hadn't been enough.

He smiled as he remembered making love roughly to his husband that night, not only restraining him, but also gagging him. He had stopped midway, forced Arthur to wrap them both in the Bond, and taken the time necessary to make his King understand that he'd accomplished what he'd needed to do. By riding out to confront him, the mad man held no power over him. Beonin had made his own choice, and in single combat, Merlin chose to believe the former knight had taken back any honor that he had been deprived of. He would not diminish that honor by feeling guilty for a challenge won through superior skill. He'd refused to continue until he was able to feel, through the Bond, that Arthur believed him.

Then he'd driven his lover to new heights that had sent guards running to their chambers, stopped at the door by a grinning Leon and Percival. He didn't know what it was, but there had been something that relaxed in the Bond that night. A tension his lover had been carrying for years had eased as the warlock convinced him he would never lightly chance either of their lives- not only because of the Link, but he wouldn't willingly throw away all they had together, either.

As if summoned by his thoughts, a knock at the door came then, and Arthur swept through. Merlin grinned as he saw the box in his hands, breathing a slight sigh of relief. They hadn't been sure it would be finished on time.

Arthur stopped as he entered and Gwen turned to look at him. He stared. "By all the gods, Gwen, you are beautiful!" he breathed in shock. It wasn't just the dress. She was genuinely happy. He hadn't seen her like this since her wedding to Lancelot, and it swelled his heart. He offered a silent prayer to his fallen brother, and hoped the man could see the most brilliant of smiles on his wife's face.

"Thank you, Arthur," Gwen replied, blushing as he stared, wide eyed and open mouthed, at her.

Arthur shook himself, then glanced over to see his lover stretched out and relaxed on the longseat at the foot of her bed. Not for the first time, it struck him how much like a cat his husband resembled the few times he was truly and utterly relaxed. He'd seen it more frequently in post bliss languor, always delighting in the way his lover stretched against him afterwards. The pose now made a part of him twitch even as his clothes brushed the marks Merlin had made the other night in convincing the King he wasn't fragile, that he'd mastered the ghosts. He shivered, regretting they had other duties to attend to.

He caught the spark of relief those gold crowned eyes as Merlin took in the box in his hand, and he nodded.

"Of course, you're missing something."

Gwen frowned, looking down at herself, then turning to look in the mirror. "What could I possibly- oh, Arthur!" she breathed. He had taken advantage of her turning around and come up behind her, placing a necklace around her throat. On a delicate gold chain hung a jeweled rose, framed in gold, the petals made of rubies, the stem gold with leaves of emerald, with a topaz crown bunching the center of the rose together.

"Hmmm, truly now, Camelot's Rose," Merlin hummed in appreciation. "Perfect."

Gwen fingered the necklace. "It's beautiful, thank you!"

Arthur grinned. "You're marrying Dumnonia, Gwen, and your job is that of Queen. Merlin and I felt that you should have something that reminds you- Queen or Lady or Servant- Gwen, that you are, and always will be, a jewel of Camelot."

"Turn it around," Merlin instructed quietly, nervous of this part. "He's always going to be close to your heart, Gwen. No man can replace what he meant to you."

Frowning, she did so, and her breath caught. The stem that was sharp at the end and getting rounder toward the base of the flower was, in fact, a Knight's Lance, the base carved and hidden behind the petals and worked in gold. Gwen turned around, tears in her eyes, still touching the pendant.

Merlin and Arthur both reached for her at the same time, the three of them standing in a hug, tears in their eyes as they took a moment to remember their lost friend.

"He's here, Gwen," Merlin murmured, and a part of him knew that as absolute truth. "He's smiling. This is what he wanted for you."

MERLIN10101010101010MERLIN

"How a man of your small size can take in that much alcohol, Merlin, I'll never know," Arthur teased, practically carrying his very drunk warlock into their chambers. He held in his laughter. He'd never seen Merlin drunk before. The warlock normally kept himself under tight control. "Of all the nights to give Ian off!" he lightly complained, not really meaning it. He sincerely doubted he'd ever get the chance to see his husband like this again, and was enjoying the sloppy expressions on his face, the relaxed feel of his muscles.

"Sh's h'p'y."

"She is, Love," Arthur replied gently.

"S'w L'n'c'lot," Merlin murmured, making the King freeze. "H's h'p'y. T'ch'd h'r ch'e'k."

Arthur swallowed, then continued stripping his lover now that he had him on the bed. "I never doubted Lancelot would always look out for her."

"He pa't'd y'u on the sh'o'l'd'r too. He t'ld me he m'ss'd us. H'p'y f'r us, too. H'p'y y'u g't ov'r y'r's'l'f," Merlin giggled.

"A wonderful gift, Merlin, to see the fallen again," Arthur murmured, wishing with all his heart he could have seen his friend again, too. "And that sounds like something he'd say. For what it's worth, I'm happy I got over myself too."

"W'n't t'go h'm'e, Ar't'ur."

Arthur's features softened with the sighed confession. "We'll start preparations tomorrow, Love. I swear. We'll be home in a week. That'll give you a few days to spend with Gwen, since she's required to stay here for a month to complete her introduction to the people."

"Hmmm… L'st thr'ee, all h'p'y Ar't'ur."

Arthur chuckled, his heart swelling. "Yes, Love, we're all happy."

MERLIN10101011010100MERLIN

Arthur felt it the moment they passed over Camelot borders, and he wasn't the only one. Several of the Knights and soldiers whooped, taking off toward the City at a high speed on their horses. Servants gleefully cheered. Within moments, there was a very distinct air of celebration around the large group, despite being still some days from the city itself.

Merlin shot him a grin, shivering with the sudden energy that came from the group behind them. "At last!"

Arthur nodded. Weeks later, great battles fought, two weddings, assassination attempts, friendships lost and gained, alliances built, and it all felt like years had passed since they'd left their beloved city in a hurry, answering a desperate call for help. Lives lost, and a victory won. Many who had started out with them were not in this group. Were buried instead on a battlefield in another Kingdom. And there would be grief to come. None who had left that day had returned as the same they had been, the changes in some more obvious than others. But they had returned. For now, those that remained had felt the soothing balm that was the knowledge of soon being reunited with loved ones, of celebrating those lives that did make it back. He let it wash over him, cleansing him.

"We're home."

MERLIN101011010MERLIN

AN: END STORY "GOING HOME"- A reminder that the next chapters uploaded will be a different story, and may not necessarily connect to this one. Snapshots is a place to gather additional stories in this verse. It should also be noted that while the main Categories for this will be the usual H/C and Angst… I do have some fluff pieces in mind. Same with the rating. I will keep it T in the main area, but will always, always warn in the first AN what the category is, and what the rating is. Each story can be read separately, so never feel you'll miss something if you decide to skip a story because it's not your thing, lol.

Going Home was never intended to be so long, lol. As I said, I was re-reading and looking to tie up some loose ends from the original series. I hope this covered just about everything. I know there's a couple I missed, but they were done deliberately, as they are big enough to make stories of on their own. Please feel free to point out anything that hasn't been tied up to your satisfaction :)

Ah, and for those wondering about The Ritual. Okay. So, here's the deal. The vision I have in my head of the whole thing is incredibly dark- possibly psychotically so. And I mean darker than anything I've ever written before, in any fandom. I've tried hinting at enough to leave it up to the reader's imagination, but… if anyone is actually interested in reading- reminder, beyond dark, triggering potential, and every other warning I can think of (not quite non or dub con because, well, they all 3 agreed to it- but it will still feel like a non con) adding- please mention in reviews and I will see if there's enough to post it. If it's not mentioned, I will assume readers are content to leave it to their imaginations.