That night in bed, Arthur told Guinevere everything that had happened that afternoon. She had sat upright when he told her he found Merlin but sank back into the pillows with every following word.

"Arthur, you know I miss him as much as you do," she took a deep breath, chewing her bottom lip. "But are you sure it would be right to... to bring him back?"

"How can you say that?" Arthur pushed the covers off and swung out of bed, facing her. "He's our friend, Guinevere."

"As his friends, is it right to bring him home?" She looked down at the sheets now, her breath shaky. "Arthur, he killed a lot of people. And I know it wasn't his fault, and you know it wasn't his fault, but I know that it broke his heart. Would you bring him here and make him relive that?" Gwen tilted her head backwards, staring up at the canopy. "Can this even be his home anymore?"

"Camelot will always be Merlin's home," Arthur sagged against the bedpost, feeling drained. "He's in pain, Gwen. He's a... a shade. He's trapped, I could feel that. I can't explain how."

"Will bringing him here help him heal? Or will it help you?" She got out of bed, standing behind him and wrapping him in a hug. "I miss him too, Arthur. I just don't want him to hurt more than he already has."

"His place is here," Arthur murmured. "It'll work out. I can't leave him alone out there, Gwen."

The next day Arthur returned to the clearing, this time with Gwen and Hunith in tow. Leon and Percival insisted on escorting the small party and when they arrived they were greeted with the rather unfortunate visage of Emrys and Aithusa sharing a cow, undoubtedly stolen from a nearby village.

"Great," Arthur said flatly, while Hunith fell pale.

Emrys's head snapped up, a bloody hunk of meat still dangling from his jaws as he affected what Arthur assumed was an approximation of a smile. Aithusa left her meal entirely, standing and cocking her head as she approached the party. Arthur realized she was focused on Guinevere and his hand tightened around his sword, but the queen waved him off. She was staring up at the dragon, looking bewildered.

"What is it?" Arthur whispered as Guinevere's eyes filled with tears.

"I think... I can hear her, a little. It's faint, and I can't understand all of the words, but she's talking to me." She smiled and reached out to the dragon, who blinked in agreement.

"How can that be?" Sir Leon asked, dismounting and approaching Aithusa warily.

"Well, Arthur could understand Merlin, right? And Morgana could understand Aithusa. And after... after the Dark Tower, I think Morgana was a part of me. Merlin and Arthur saved me but maybe... Maybe a piece of her is still with me."

Yes, the dragon said.

Arthur passed a hand over his face, sighing wearily. He preferred not to imagine a bit of his dearly departed sister inside of his wife. "Can you ask her why she brought us here?"

Emrys, Aithusa seemed to whisper. Help.

"She wants us to help Merlin," Gwen said. "But we don't know how."

Arthur. Love.

"I don't understand."

Reminder.

"How?"

Show him. Call him.

Arthur sat in front of the black dragon. Both stared at the other, gold eyes meeting blue. The king looked searching; the dragon, confused.

"Guinevere, I don't understand. What am I supposed to do? I've tried talking to him."

"Patience, Arthur. Aithusa said to call him. Show him he's loved, by us and by Camelot and by you especially."

"Can't I just tell him that?" Arthur sighed, burying his face in his hands. "It's not him, Gwen."

"Just try," she murmured, sitting down next to him and rubbing his shoulders. "For Merlin."

It was getting dark and Percival sparked a fire, wrapping his cape around Hunith's shoulders. Arthur could feel them watching, waiting- but he didn't know what to do, and he groaned in frustration. The dragon dropped its head onto its paws, making a slight huffing noise. Aithusa seemed to chide him and he closed his eyes.

Merlin, it's me. I'm here.

The dragon's tail inched one way, then the other.

Merlin.

He sensed something stirring in his mind and tensed under Guinevere's hands.

Please come back. You said you would be happy to serve me till the day you died, and you're not dead yet, Merlin. I'm here. I need you.

The dragon's scales seemed to ripple like they were caught in a breeze.

Your mother is here. Your friends, too. They love you.

Emrys' eyes shot open and they were blue, not gold, and wide with shock.

I love you.

At that moment there was a blast of light, illuminating shimmering, dissolving slate scales and tendrils of gold. It was strangely silent, and contained in the space that Emrys had previously inhabited; no leaves rustled, and Percival's fire didn't even spark. As quickly as it had started it was over.

Merlin was laying face down on the forest floor.

It didn't look like he was breathing.