AN: Hello, friends! I honestly have no idea if anyone still reads this or is waiting on an update. I always intended to finish Destinies, but Graduate school hit me like a bullet train, and for a time, this fell off my radar. If you followed my ANs, you'll know that I had a dream of becoming a professor. That dream has passed through my fingers. It's been a difficult, wonderful, painful, incredible 6 years of growth for me. I'm a different person with different dreams now. Perhaps that suits my characters whose lives were also turned upside down. Perhaps it's the change that needed to happen for me to write Arthur as he fights through his own paradigm shift. :)

I operate mostly on AO3 these days, and I may post this story on there with updates one day as I find time. Until then, I'd like to give myself closure on this tale which has lived in my mind. These characters have a place in my heart. To all the readers who fell off in the literal years long gap, I sincerely apologize. If you're still around- all my love to you, and I hope you will enjoy these final installments. There will be one or two more chapters to wrap up the story, then I will give my characters their conclusions and send them to live in the imaginary futures created by any readers who remain.

Yours most sincerely,

An author who has changed profoundly and hopes you will forgive her and enjoy her conclusion.

~Sandyy

"You don't ever rest, do you?" Arthur tucked his hands into his jacket pockets and kept his eyes fixed ahead. Dartmoor was not as calm as the last time he'd visited. There were more people outside now, more worried faces, and tension in the air.

"No time for it," Arthur answered as Iseldir fell in step with him. He turned, searching for the house number he'd been given.
"It's a ways further down. You shouldn't push yourself too much," the Druid warned gently. Arthur did slow his step, watching as a curtain dropped, the eyes peering from behind it vanishing from sight.

"Why are they staring?" he asked.

"You're here. You and Emrys. They've been waiting for you," Iseldir answered. Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"Emrys. You mean Merlin…?" he asked. The name Merlin said the Druids had given him. It kept coming up. "What does that name mean?"

"It is the name given to the greatest warlock ever to walk the earth."

"Sorry… Merlin?" Arthur stared at him. Iseldir laughed.
"You don't believe it?" How could he…? It was Merlin—who cracked stupid jokes, had that goofy smile and undyingly cheerful spirit. He wasn't some all powerful sorcerer… except… that Arthur could still see him in that hallway, singed from the grenade blast, eyes lit golden as he crouched over Arthur, a field of pure energy shimmering around them. Truth be told, he'd seen it before—those fleeting moments of clarity and strength that showed as much in Merlin's set jaw and sharp eyes as in his personality—loyal and steady.

"And me…?"

"You and Emrys cannot do what you were meant to do without one another." Iseldir nodded.

"And how do you know I'm…. Emrys' counterpart?" he challenged, stopping outside the house with the number he'd been given. Iseldir stopped a step behind him.

"You were born of magic, Pendragon," he said. Arthur's throat tightened.

"So it's true. My father used magic to help with my birth." His fingers curled into a fist inside his pocket. His instinct had been right. Iseldir nodded.

"He sought out Nimueh Hierea to help. She was a very powerful sorceress. The magic used to bring you into this world was unheard of." So that made him unique. It didn't make him some legendary figure.
"Then I was a mistake."

"You were not a mistake," Iseldir said firmly. "Nimueh used forces she did not fully understand. But you were very much wanted." He looked towards the porch, following Arthur's gaze. "Have you made peace with Emrys?"

"We were never fighting," Arthur said hollowly. Peace wasn't the issue. He'd been lied to.

"As you say," Iseldir turned to go. " I will come back in an hour. We should have news from the city centre soon." There had been no word of Gwen. It left a pit in Arthur's stomach to think of her, but some of the others were accounted for now-one just up the steps of the home in front of him.

"Planning to make a habit of this, Pendragon?" Brigid asked wryly as she let him inside.

"Hopefully not," he said. He owed her a lot by now. He couldn't have imagined the woman he met as a young teen on an illicit night-time mission to save Merlin would come back into his life years into college.

"Your friend is through here." She nodded to the first door in the hallway. "How is Merlin?" He pursed his lips. Merlin.

"He's… alright." The hesitation didn't seem to escape her. She fixed him with that sharp look he'd seen many times before. He shifted. "He's on his feet. I'm sure he'd be happy to tell you himself," he offered. She hummed a noncommittal response.

"Your friend may have a concussion. He'd best stay here if you're going in to the centre to be part of the negotiations."

"He's-" Arthur stopped himself abruptly. Who was he if not a friend. Leon had long since stopped being his bodyguard. He'd stood by Arthur through hellfire. He nodded. "Of course… Thank you. I appreciate your looking after him. If there's anything I can do when all this is over, I won't forget it." She raised an eyebrow.

"We'll see," she said mildly as she reached for the door. He wasn't fully trusted, then… First Merlin, then the rest of the Druids. What had he really expected?

He stepped into the first bedroom, knocking gently at the door frame.

"Hey." Leon stirred. His head was wrapped up, including one eye covered with gauze. The other eye squinted as Leon turned his head to spot him and a smile tugged at his lips. "Don't get up." He extended a hand. Leon shifted himself halfway to sitting anyway.

"Been flat on my back for the better part of two days," Leon said, grimacing. Arthur sank into the chair next to the bed with a grunt. His ribs were still killing him, but he'd wanted to see for himself.

"How're you feeling?" Arthur took a seat by the bed, letting his body relax cautiously. He wasn't sure who had it worse between the two of them. Leon smiled at him and tapped the side of his head.

"Been better," he said. "And yourself?"

"Rough couple of months," Arthur said with a shrug.

"You can say that again." Leon tipped his head back and closed his eyes for a moment. "It's good to see you, Arthur." He smiled and put a hand on Leon's arm, squeezing gently.

"Likewise. I take it you've heard?"

"The negotiations?" Leon smiled. "Should've known Percival would get out of that scrape if any of us did. You're going, aren't you?"

"If I can get the all-clear. Yeah. We've been able to make contact with Mithian. They've established a secure location. Iseldir will bring me there."

"And Merlin," Leon tacked the statement on as if it were obvious. Arthur went quiet. His fingers fidgeted with the fabric of his borrowed sweatpants.

"I don't know about that."

"Don't you?" Leon turned his head.

"You didn't hear that part… did you?" Arthur reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose. A pause followed. Leon was watching him curiously. "Merlin's a sorcerer," he said. His chest ached, and not because of the injuries, but… he hadn't really realized how heavy that revelation felt until he spoke it aloud to another person. Merlin. His childhood friend, his closest confidante. He'd wanted so badly to tell Gwen, to talk to Gwaine or Lance or any of his other friends- but the thought ground to a sharp halt. Leon was laughing. His eyes shifted to his former bodyguard's face, and he opened his mouth, his brows knitting in a frown. "Sorry, is that funny?"

"No… Arthur." Leon's hand turned over and gripped his wrist gently. "It's not funny. It's obvious," he said finally. Arthur blinked at him.

"You knew?" He would've gotten up if his ribs weren't throbbing. He set his jaw and took a slow, thin breath. "Does everyone know? Am I the last to find out?" Leon shook his head fractionally.

"I didn't know. I guessed. That's not the point… Arthur…" He squeezed Arthur's wrist. "Think about it. Merlin's always been different."

"I know… the Collins incident. I remember." The day years ago when Merlin had first saved his life-somehow known just the right moment to tackle Arthur to the ground in public to avoid a shooter. As if he could forget.

"No." Leon gave him a lingering look. "I don't mean that." Arthur blew out a soft breath. "So you know he has magic now. What does that change?" Leon pressed him.

"Everything," Arthur said through his teeth. "How can it not?"

"I don't think it does." Leon relaxed his grip and patted Arthur's hand. "Arthur… I worked in Uther's personal security detail for some time before he assigned me as your bodyguard. I've known you since you were thirteen years old. People didn't close to you-whether you didn't let them, or they didn't dare be too near Uther's son… you were a lonely kid. Until Merlin."

"We weren't exactly… friends at first," Arthur pointed out dryly. Leon chuckled.

"Not in name, but he challenged you in ways I don't think you realized you needed. Before Merlin, you and Morgana were at each other's throats. You never spoke to Gwen. You didn't really have a friend group. You had followers. Merlin gave as good as he got when you two fought." Arthur turned his eyes towards the window, quiet. He and Merlin had gotten off to a rocky start, but if he was honest, he'd always respected the sharp-tongued bright-eyed boy who crashed into his life.

"He was a pain in the ass," he protested lightly.

"So were you."

"Hey!" he turned back to Leon who was smiling slightly.

"Are you going to try and deny it?" he asked. Arthur pulled a face and looked down at his knees. "God knows you could be a chore, but Merlin drew a better side out of you. You started standing up to Uther. You had your own ideas about your future. You grew more independent, kinder, more thoughtful. With Merlin around, you tackled ideas and studies you brushed aside before." Arthur's lips drew in a thin line. He looked back up at Leon.

"He was lying to me the whole time," he pointed out stiffly.

"Was he?" Leon asked.

"How was he not?" Arthur demanded.

"Did you ever ask him?" Leon responded. Arthur opened his mouth, but no answer was on the tip of his tongue. Had he? He'd never come out and asked Merlin if he had magic. Why would he? "Arthur… your safety has been the greater part of my life's work, and it hasn't been an easy job. But at nearly every turn, Merlin has been a step ahead of me. He saved your life when you two were teenagers. He was there when you got in a scrap at that bar. He was the first one there when you came down with meningitis. He had your back when everything fell apart this last month."

"I know that-"

"And the dragon." Arthur stopped when Leon added those words. The dragon. "Which of us was left conscious when that dragon attacked? How did Merlin get us out of that situation, Arthur?" he asked. He closed his mouth and shook his head slightly. He knew how they'd gotten out of that situation, but as Leon said it, the pieces fell into place with an ease that shocked him. The way Iseldir reacted to Merlin-it had been as if he was meeting a revered figure, not another university student. Balinor, Merlin's father, the dragon lord... The way Merlin alternated between jumpy anxiety and that incredible strength and calm he radiated as they walked through hell together. And a memory that Arthur had never been able to reconcile came to the forefront of his mind- the dragon's looming figure in Arthur's swimming vision, and Merlin, standing in front of him with a hand extended, fearless.

"He stopped the dragon," he said slowly. Merlin Emrys, the most powerful warlock ever to walk the earth-of course the dragon stopped in the face of that.

"Arthur, he's on your side. So he didn't tell you. He didn't owe you that truth. No one owes you every small truth about their life. You have to earn that. And as unfair as it is, you were at a disadvantage, given your family." He looked down, shoulders hunched up towards his ears.

"I thought after all this time, he'd know I wasn't like my father," he said, his voice still terse.

"I doubt he would be as loyal a friend to you if he didn't know that," Leon said. "But he's spent a lifetime keeping that part of himself hidden. That's not an easy habit to break, Arthur. In his experience, he was protecting himself and everyone he loved by keeping it quiet." Arthur traced along the threads of the sheet under his hands in silence for a moment.

"Do you think I didn't deserve trust from him?" he asked.

"I didn't say that." Leon shifted, and his fingers tapped against the back of Arthur's hand. "Arthur." He looked up. "I'm proud to have worked with you. I've been incredibly proud to see the man you grew to be. I had the pleasure of seeing Gwen and Merlin grow up alongside you as your closest friends. Believe me when I tell you, Merlin has nothing but your best interests at heart. Sorcerer or not, that hasn't changed. The fact that he didn't tell you… I don't think it has anything to do with you."

"I can't look at him the same way again," Arthur said bluntly.

"So don't. He's complicated. But he's still your friend." Leon looked steadily back at his stubborn frown. "Some things about you really haven't changed, have they?" he said with a slight smile. "Arthur, for what it's worth to you, I'd give you one piece of advice on this matter. Swallow your pride. Take Merlin with you. I'd trust him with my life any day. I've trusted him with yours for a long time."

Hunith's advice was grounded as ever. If Arthur couldn't move past this, she said, then he'd shown his true colors. Merlin would know who he was. In principle, he understood. He agreed. And he couldn't accept it. But for now, there was nothing to do but wait. Wait for Gaius to return, wait to hear from the city centre-for news about Mithian and her negotiations on behalf of the New Liberals with the military and the Druids. Wait for Cenred, Morgause, and Alvarr to make a move… Wait for any news of Gwen… Wait.

"You weren't hurt at all?" Merlin reached up to touch Freya's hand. She stopped in the grass beside him as Aithusa soared down to land a few feet away.

"No. We were in and out very quickly. Iseldir took your friends. Aithusa and I brought you and Arthur here. You'd taken care of a lot of them on your own," she said, touching his shoulder as she sat down.

"I think…" He took a breath. "I think I may have killed some of them." She slipped her hand into his and squeezed.

"You don't know that. And they would've killed you both." He nodded mutely. Freya understood. He knew she did. He hadn't fully understood her perhaps… as much as he'd thought he did. He closed his eyes and tipped his head against her shoulder. "Nothing's happening today," she reminded him quietly. They all needed a break.

"Nothing bad," he corrected. Her arm wrapped around him and held him steady. The soft sound of Aithusa rustling the grass nearby, a little wind tugging at the hair on his forehead, Freya's warmth against him made him feel he could breathe again. A gentle mental nudge from Aithusa preceded Freya's words.

"We've got company." He opened his eyes wearily. He tried not to groan when he spotted a familiar figure approaching from the house to their left. "Maybe it's a good thing." Freya's hand touched his. He shook his head.

"He says I lied to him." Arthur had listened to him yesterday. He'd listened as Merlin explained his childhood in Armagh, how he'd been sent to Gaius to learn to control his magic… the dragon, his choice to use his magic to protect Arthur. It had hardly been the whole story, but he'd tried… Arthur had then gotten up and quietly left the room. "I don't think we're… good," he said. Freya brushed his hair back, but she was already moving to get up.

"He's going to come around," she promised him firmly. She pressed a kiss to his cheek and got up. He wanted to ask her to stay, but the porch was just a few meters away, and Aithusa was approaching, watching the newcomer curiously. At least he wouldn't be entirely alone.

"Freya…" He sighed as she smiled and headed for the porch. He turned his hand over again and reached it out to Aithusa who came closer, her tail swishing low in the grass.

Arthur sank into the grass beside him with a grunt. He didn't turn his head. There was a long, pregnant pause between them. Merlin held very still, watching the light reflect in a myriad of colors off Aithusa's translucent scales.

"Is this another friend of yours?" Arthur asked finally. Aithusa had made her decision. Merlin felt a jolt of anxiety, but the dragon walked right over to Arthur and stretched out her nose to sniff at his hand, much like a curious cat. To Merlin's surprise, Arthur extended the hand. There had been no barb to his question. He took a breath.

"Yeah. Her name's Aithusa," he said.

"Aithusa. Hello there." Arthur turned his hand palm-up, and the dragon butted her head against it, encouraging him. His fingers stroked down over her neck and back. "She's beautiful," he said. Merlin blinked. That she was. He didn't really know what to say. This had never been in his realm of possibilities. He'd wanted so badly to believe, but he'd never dared to let himself imagine a moment like this would be… okay. Aithusa stepped into his lap, and Merlin turned his head to watch as she brushed her nose against Arthur's ribs. For a split second he looked startled, sucked in a sharp breath, and Merlin felt the anxiety clench in his chest and gut again. Then recognition crossed Arthur's face, and he seemed to relax. He hesitated.

"Healing magic," he explained. He remembered how she'd offered some healing magic to his injured leg. It eased the pain and knitted the body together a little faster, gentler. Arthur was looking down at her as she leaned lightly against him. The silence fell between them again.

"I owe you an apology." Arthur might as well have sucker punched him in the gut. Merlin blinked at him.

"I-I'm sorry…?" he stammered.

"I didn't say you owed an apology, you idiot," Arthur huffed. The familiar insult made some of the tension and confusion fade from his expression.

"No. I know. But did you really…? Could you repeat-"

"Don't make me say it again." Arthur rolled his eyes, and despite himself, a small but hopeful smile tugged at Merlin's lips.

"No—I wouldn't dream of it. You hadn't really started." Arthur gave him a flat look as the dragon climbed halfway into his lap to settle down against him. There was another lingering pause.

"They want me at the negotiations," he said. Merlin pursed his lips and reached out to touch Aithusa's tail as it brushed his knee.

"That's good," he said. So Arthur was changing the subject. He sort of expected that.

"I want you to come too," Arthur said. Oh.
"You don't have to say that."

"I do," Arthur said. Merlin looked up again slowly. Arthur's expression was tight. He took a cautious breath, and Aithusa lifted her head to peer up at him as well. "Merlin, what happened when I got sick?" he asked. Merlin felt his stomach drop. He reached up for the scarf that was no longer there around his neck and his fingers settled restlessly over his knees.

"It's my fault," he blurted out. "It's all my fault-what happened. The fires that started everything, the dragon…"

"What…?" Arthur stared at him. "Back up. What's your fault…? What does that have to do with-"

"The dragon." Merlin felt Aithusa leaning against him and reached down to stroke her back. "His name is Kilgarrah. He's fully grown... He gave me the answer to your illness." He closed his eyes and took a breath. Aithusa's presence was a little calming. He would've had to tell Arthur sooner or later. They were already on off terms. What difference would this make? Arthur had been bound to hate him. He swallowed. "You'd been cursed. There was nothing Gaius could've done. I went… I went to speak to the dragon."

"Kilgarrah," Arthur repeated. "And you knew where to find this dragon." Merlin's fingers tugged at the cuff of his pant leg restlessly.

"Your father kept him bound in enchanted chains under the city. I'd known where he was for some time." His shoulders were hunched. He took a slow breath through his nose. "He gave me the spell to cure you… in exchange for his freedom." He looked up. His throat was tight. He blinked a couple times, though it didn't really help. "I didn't know, Arthur… I swear, I didn't know what he would do. You were dying, and I was afraid that… I… I wasn't thinking clearly. I did what I thought was right-"

"Merlin." Arthur cut him short. He closed his mouth and looked up. "You didn't know," he said. The words seemed to be stuck in his throat all of a sudden. He nodded jerkily. Arthur seemed to have him pinned in place, watching with a silent, scrutinizing gaze. "This… all this. It's a lot for me," he said finally. I know… I know, I'm sorry. He'd never meant for it to come out this way, but if he was honest, he'd never really planned a way for it to come out. "But," Arthur started again. "I now know that a lot of what's happened in the last few years… from Camelot when we were younger to the last two months… you've been working in the background. You've protected me. You even protected my father, and god knows he didn't deserve that of you."

"Arthur-"

"Don't." Arthur held up a hand and he closed his mouth again. His heart was hammering in his chest. He felt like he might be sick.

"I doubt that I know even half of what you've done for me."

"It's not like that-"

"Merlin, will you just let me finish." Arthur shifted. The dragon had laid her head on Merlin's knee. He put a hand on her side as Arthur resumed. "I can't pretend that this… it's not going to change things. The last two months have been… they've been a lot for me. But I realize now that you've been going through a lot that I hardly even paid attention to. You've been here, looking out for me, and I've been too wrapped up in myself. I've been a miserable friend. I'm sorry."

Merlin was quiet, watching Aithusa slowly get up and stretch herself lazily. "And…" Merlin looked back at him, raising his eyebrows. "And thank you," Arthur added. "For saving my life." Merlin blinked at him.

"An apology and a thank you?" A slow smile crept across his face. The knot of tension in his stomach was uncoiling. He felt like he could breathe again, even as Arthur's eyes narrowed at him. "You sure you're okay?" he asked. Arthur shoved his shoulder with a little eye roll.

"Don't expect another one," he huffed. Merlin pulled up a piece of grass to twirl between his fingers.

"Oh, I'll treasure that one," he said, his smile fading slightly. Things were still going to change, but… "I'm sorry," he added. "I never wanted to lie to you."

"Don't be." Arthur shifted, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked a little restless. "It's.. I need some time to adjust. It's alright."

"It's not." He shook his head slightly. "I wanted to tell you. The right moment never presented itself." He started to roll the blade of grass between his fingers idly.

"D'you think you ever would have?" Arthur asked. He considered as he let it uncurl again, rumpled.

"I think… I was getting there." Just past his knees, Aithusa spread her wings and launched herself into the air, leaving the two of them alone in the grass beside the Druid village. Arthur looked back at him.

"So you'll come?"

"What?" Merlin frowned.

"The negotiations." Merlin drew his knees up and wrapped his arms around them.

"I… don't know how I could help," he said.

"Yes you do." He put a hand on Merlin's shoulder as he climbed slowly to his feet. "You're Merlin Emrys," he offered the hand up to Merlin who took it slowly.

"I don't know if I believe in that prophecy," he admitted.

"You don't have to. The Druids believe in you. And if you're willing to work with the son of Uther Pendragon, perhaps there's hope for the rest of them to build trust."

"Always." Merlin looked up as Aithusa swooped low over their heads and gripped Arthur's hand back. For the first time since Morgause's spell chilled him, he felt a sense of calm and warmth settle over him. "Let's finish this together."