Hello my lovelies. I would like to thank Adele Chase, Tony McNucklz, Gingeraffealene, emrysmorgan, gaylelbf, mersan123, OechsnerC, Guardian of the Inheritance and NCVII for the amazing reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.

So firstly I want to say I hope you are all well and staying safe in these troubled times. And I hope that this chapter gives you some release from the scariness of the world at present.

Secondly, this has kind of sunk up on me. I had anticipated writing an epilogue, but when I finished this chapter I realised that it completed the story perfectly. As such this is the last chapter. Therefore I want to take the time to thank you all for reading this. For joining me on this journey and for enjoying what I have written. This has been a difficult story to write, mainly because every chapter seemed to change from the one I had planned, meaning I had to repeatedly change where the story was going. But I have furtherly enjoyed writing and I hope you have enjoyed reading it.

Thank you once again for you continued support. And I hope you like the ending.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Morgause stood in the physicians chamber, looking round at the clutter that littered all the surfaces. She remembered well the last time she had stood there, facing Morgana as she told her Emrys was real. That he was fighting for their people and protecting their king. That was the time when it all changed in her eyes. Everything shifted then, to bring her to this moment now. She didn't know what the future held for her, but she did know that it was bright. A true golden age for her people and those who like her had been supressed to the point of vengeance. But no more. She would make sure no others tried to make war with Camelot and its king. Because she knew its secret now. She knew that Emrys protected it all, and none would ever defeat him.

She was pulled from her musings by the door behind her opening, to reveal Arthur, Merlin, Morgana and Gaius. It seemed it was time for her punishment to being then.

"My lord, sire, sister." She said with a smile on her face as she addressed each of those stood in front of her.

"Morgause." Morgana replied moving towards her and taking her still chained hands in hers. She still couldn't believe the solution Merlin had found to save not just her sister, but all those that came under both of their protection. Only he could ever have come up with this idea, it was… inspired.

"Right then, so how do we do this?" Arthur asked deciding to leave the sisters to greet each other as he turned to Merlin at his side.

"You don't do it. I do." Merlin responded dryly with a roll of his eyes. Arthur had nothing to do with the spell he was about to perform. In fact no one did but Merlin and Morgause, he just hoped it worked. He had a plan to make sure it would, but still, there was a chance…

"Then get on with it. I want her out of here before someone tries to kill her." Arthur replied with a superior look on his face. That just had Merlin smirking at him.

"Stop being a prat." He responded before moving away from Arthur and going to his room. There was one thing he needed before he could perform the spell. To bind Morgause's magic he needed a magical artefact to channel the spell. To make sure it maintained even when he was not at her side. He needed something powerful. Something that was more than the power of her magic. But it also needed to be something he was willing to let her take with her. Something that he knew she would keep close. There really had been only one object that he could use.

As such he crouched down under his bed and pulled out the cloth wrapped Cup of Life from where he had hidden it in the turmoil of them retaking Camelot. This was the object he would use. The power imbued in it by countless other high priestesses made it more powerful than any magic user in existence, himself included. This cup could and would hold the bond on Morgause's magic. And by using it, he was making sure it was returned to where it truly belonged. He was returning back to its home on the Isle of the Blessed. Yes this was the perfect magical object for this spell, he knew it deep inside himself that this was its true purpose. The true reason it had become such a powerful item.

As he stared at it he remembered what Iseldir had told him when they had taken it from the druids 'the future is in your hands, Emrys, and it is fast coming. Change is on the winds, you must let it happen'. How right he had been. Everything had changed now, and it was for the better. But he also knew that the change hadn't finished yet. What he was about to do, that was the great finale of destiny's performance. He knew that, could feel it in his bones. It settled inside him and he knew it was right.

Returning to the room he placed the cup down on the table, causing both Morgause and Morgana to turn to it. Though only one of them had widen eyes as she realised what he was going to do.

"You can't." Morgause hissed in a tone of voice that had the hairs on Arthur's neck raise.

"I can, and I am." Merlin responded with steel in his eyes as he stared at the high priestess in front of him. She would not stop him from doing this. They needed a magical artefact, and this, this was not just right, it was what he wanted.

"but the cost-" Morgause replied horror entering her eyes as she thought of what he would be giving up by using the cup to bind her to him. She couldn't let him do it. It was too great, too much of a risk to the future she now believed in completely.

"Is one I am willing to pay." Merlin interrupted. He didn't want to discuss this, and he really didn't want to explain. Of course it seemed Arthur did not get that memo.

"Wait, cost? You said this wasn't going to hurt you." Arthur cried in indignation. He had only agreed to this as it wouldn't hurt Merlin. To find out now that he had lied, it hurt more than Arthur had ever thought it would. He would not let Merlin do this if it would hurt him. He would kill the sorceress himself before he let that happen, screw the consequences.

"And it won't." Merlin responded calmly smiling reassuringly at Arthur as he did so. This would cause him no pain. The cost after all was one he was more than willing to pay.

"Then what cost is she talking about?" Arthur asked with a frown at the serene look on his friends face. He knew Merlin would not look like that if this was going to cause him pain, but if there was a cost, he firstly wanted to know what it was, and secondly wanted to know how he could be the one to pay it. Merlin had given up enough for Camelot as it was, it was time for them to repay the debt they owed this man. The debt he owed his friend.

"Do you know what Emrys means?" Merlin asked in what seemed to Arthur to be a non-secular fashion.

"No? What does that matter?" Arthur replied frowning even more at how it seemed Merlin was trying to change the subject. He didn't like it and he was about to tell Merlin to get back to explaining this 'cost' when the younger man turned to the older one who was with them.

"Gaius?" Merlin asked with a raise of his eyebrow which to Arthur was scarily similar to the older man's signature look.

"In the druidic tongue Emrys means immortal." Gaius responded without hesitation. He could see where this was going. Could see what the 'cost' would be to Merlin. He understood why his boy was so willing to pay it. He was old, his friends were mostly dead and gone, and he would not choose to keep on living past all those he cared for died. So yes, he could understand why Merlin was willing to give up that destiny. It had always seemed more of a curse to him.

"Wait, you're immortal?" Arthur asked his eyes widening at the idea that his friend couldn't be killed. I mean… well what did that mean? Arthur could not get his head around the idea, could not even try and understand the concept, though knowing that it explained why Merlin was so willing to rush into battle untrained and without armour.

"Yes and no. Currently I will live a very long time. Centuries long." Merlin responded. He wasn't truly immortal. He could still die just like any man. But currently, well he just wouldn't die of old age. He would live forever with the power he would have access to over the years. But he wasn't sure how to explain that to Arthur, or well, anyone really.

"Okay." Arthur replied his tone of voice clearly saying it was anything but. Clearly saying he had no idea what Merlin was talking about, but that he was hoping that by humouring him he would explain more.

"If I do this I will be giving up that life span to the cup, using the magic that would provide that to bind Morgause to me." Merlin explained, in what he thought was a clear way, but obviously he was wrong. Or at least that was the impression he got from Arthurs next words.

"In English, Merlin." Arthur growled. Did Merlin mean that he would die when he bound Morgause's magic? Because if so, that was not happening.

"Once I have bound Morgause's magic my lifespan will be the same as yours and everyone else's." Merlin responded as simply as he could. Okay so maybe it wasn't that simple, there was a lot more to it. But that was the basic bare bones of the situation. And it was the only important thing in Merlin's mind.

"But what about the prophecy?" Morgana asked joining the conversation for the first time, a frown on her face. For all she could understand Merlin not wanting to live on once they were all dead. It was something she would never wish upon her worst enemy, which had once been Merlin. But that was beside the point. She had read about the prophecy, read the book Geoffrey had given her. She needed to know how Merlin dying would affect the future.

"What?" Arthur asked her confusion once more in his voice. He thought the prophecy was about uniting the lands of Albion and allowing magic back into Camelot. How would Merlin having a normal life span affect that?

"The prophecy that you will rise again. The once and future king." Morgana explained with a roll of her eyes. Of course Arthur didn't know it all. No doubt he hadn't really cared about the bits that affected time in the future. He had never been one for forward planning after all.

"Well the prophecy only says that Emrys will assist the future king. And as Arthur has now given Merlin the title of lord Emrys, that title will travel down through his descendants. Meaning that if he uses the cup to bind Morgause's magic, it will be one of them that will help Arthur when he returns in the time of Camelot's greatest need." Gaius replied before anyone else could. It made so much sense to him now. The idea of Merlin living until Arthur returned had always seemed a punishment to him. But now he could see a different way. And as they all knew destiny was never straight forwards. The idea that it would be one of Merlin's descendants, that it would be his family name of Emrys that would help Arthur, yes that was much better in Gaius' mind.

Arthur wasn't sure what to say about that. And he really didn't like the idea of him 'rising', whatever that meant. As such he decided to go for the things that did make sense. Therefore with a smirk on his lips he turned to Merlin. "You know to get descendants you need to marry and have children, right?"

"I am aware." Merlin replied, though as he did so his eyes involuntarily turned towards Morgana, a soft smile on his lips at the idea of marriage and children, with her. The look on his face caused Morgana to blush in a way she had never blushed in her life. She felt as if she was once more a young girl in the first flush of adulthood being looked at by a handsome knight. But even as she felt that, even as she blushed, she couldn't help but wish for what Merlin was implying. Couldn't help but wish to be his wife, to be the mother of his children. To love him for the rest of their days together. And then it hit her. If it was Merlin's descendants that would help Arthur in the future, it would be hers as well. And that felt right, in a way she knew came from the triple goddess herself. Yes it would be their family who would help Arthur. Their families would be bound together for all eternity.

"Right okay then." Arthur said into the suddenly heavy silence. Though there was a smirk on his lips and a twinkle in his eyes as he started planning at the not so subtle looks that clearly said that Morgana and Merlin wold be married as soon as possible. Oh he was looking forward to that. In fact it was just what Camelot needed, a good wedding to celebrate after all the pain and destruction it had been through. Hmm, he wondered how soon it would be acceptable to announce their betrothal and the wedding. He would have to ask Gwen to help him plan it of course. Oh yes, that would be a great reason for them to spend more time together, and for him to advance his own courtship of the newly titled lady.

"Are you sure, lord Emrys? Are you sure you want to give up your destiny?" Morgause asked once more entering into the conversation. She had only the vaguest ideas of the prophecy, though it seemed Morgana knew more. She would have to talk to her sister about that later. But for now, she would accept what Merlin decided. Accept what Emrys chose, because as she knew, while destiny may lay your path, which you walk is your decision.

"I'm not giving it up. I'm making sure it happens." Merlin responded simply. He was doing this to make sure Albion rose, to make sure that the golden age of Camelot could begin. Everything else was in the future, and right then it really wasn't that important to him. He wanted to make sure his friends and those that he loved were safe and at his side. To do that he needed to do this, so yes, to him it really was a very simple decision to make.

"Very well." Morgause replied with a bow of her head. If this was his chosen path, she would not be the one to stand in his way.

With those words spoken Merlin moved to remove the cuffs and chains from Morgause's wrists. Once she was free he took her hand in a courtly gesture as if he was taking her to dance. But instead he walked her towards the lit fire and helping her kneel in front of it. Once she was settled he returned to the table to collect the cup before returning to join her. He knelt opposite and facing her, the cup held out shoulder high in his hands. Once it was there Morgause did not hesitate to place her hands upon it, her fingers overlapping Merlin's as she did so.

Their eyes meet at that. Met at the hum they could both feel under their fingers from the cup in their hands the magic the other held. They knelt there, staring deep into each other's eyes as Merlin open his mouth and started to speak in the old regions language.

"I invoke the triple goddess to place her judgement upon us. I invoke the white goddess to judge our sincerity and purpose. I invoke the gods of old and new to look upon the choices we have made and grant us the power to bind our magic. To bind the dark and only let the light shine through. I invoke the higher powers to provide us the strength to create the bond, to maintain the bond, to share the bond. I invoke those who watch over the worlds to allow for the magic of the light to win, and save the souls of those who worship at your feet."

Nonebut Morgause understood what he was saying. But that didn't matter, because she was the only one who needed to know. The only one it mattered to. As such she spoke her response in the same tongue.

"I invoke the triple goddess as high priestess. I offer myself up as your supplicant. I offer myself for your redemption and judgement. I invoke those who guide us to guide my path true. I place myself and my magic in the hands of Emrys."

At the end of her words Merlin took up the spell once more to speak the final words that were required. "I invoke the powers to bind your magic, giving freely that which is needed of me."

Suddenly Merlin and Morgause were surrounded by a cloud of light. It was as if they glowed from within. Then from a useable source a shaft of the brightest of lights beamed down between them, hitting the cup in their hands and turning it instantly from silver metal to shining gold. The beam them seemed to become even more concentrated if that was possible, narrowing in so that it was directed into the cup itself, filling it with the light it shone. The light seemed to become liquid as it did so, shining down so that it filled the cup to the brim with its liquid essence.

When the cup was filled the beam seemed to reduce in its intensity, seemed to dissipate into the glow that surrounded the two magic users. It then and only then that they moved. Morgause bent her head slightly towards the cup though never breaking eye contact with Merlin as she did so. Together they raised the cup to her lips, and together they held it there so she could drink the liquid light it contained.

When she had consumed half the cup both her and Merlin lowered it from her lips and she spoke once more.

"I accept the binding and will honour its power for as long as I live."

With her words Merlin lowered his head and together they brought the cup up to his lips so he could drink what remained of the liquid light it contained. Their eyes were still locked as they did so. When the cup was empty they both lowered it and Merlin repeated the words Morgause had spoken.

"I accept the binding and will honour its power for as long as live."

At that vow the light cloud that had surrounded them burst open, seemingly being fed from both of them. It caused them to finally break eye contact and throw their heads back, though whether it was from pain or pleasure those watching could not tell. It seemed to be a bit of both. But what those watchers did know was what they saw. And that was the light going from a cloud to becoming tendrils, which seemed to weave around and into the pair. Binding them together in an intricate pattern that no one had a chance of following, nor understanding. Weaving between them both and binding them together in a way that none would ever be able to break.

When the final connection was made the light went out returning the room to its previous normal light levels, though all those watching felt that it was suddenly very dim. Everything was back to the way it had been before suddenly expect for one thing, the cup that was once silver, was now coated in solid gold.

"It's done." Merlin said into the quiet of the room, and while he spoke in his normal voice it was as if it boomed through all there, causing a shiver run through them at his words. It was as if by speaking them he was talking of more than just binding Morgause magic. It was as if he was talking about something else. Talking about a path that had been changed beyond anyone's power to change it back. And at those words they all saw something. Saw a glimpse of that change that they had effected together.

Morgana saw herself standing at a window her belly round with child as she watched a pair of boys play in the courtyard. One was a perfect combination of Arthur and Gwen, the other with raven dark hair and bright green eyes. She watched as the raven hair child raised his hand and magic flowed effortlessly from it, stopping a cart that was about to overturn. And she watched as the carter thanked the boy, and his friend smiled at him in a way that was more brotherly than anything.

Arthur saw himself smiling down at a young man whose darker skin tone stood out from those around him, as did his curly hair. But the blue eyes that looked up at him where the spitting image of his own. He watched as he crowned the young man as his successor, crowning his son as the future king of Camelot. Watched as he turned to the well-dressed dark-haired man at his side who looked at him with a look so very reminiscent of the ones Merlin had given him on such occasions.

Gaius saw himself teaching Morgana the art of healing, both magical and none, taking joy in teaching someone who was so keen to learn his trade. And in seeing that he knew that even when he would be gone the people of Camelot would be in the best of hands.

Morgause saw herself standing with a group of girls in the Isle of the Blessed as she had only ever imaged it would be, guiding them in the triple goddess's ways. She watched as one raised her hand to ask a question and looking at her she saw that she could be none other than her niece. For she had her mother's eyes, and yet her father's open smile and air of bright peaceful power.

And Merlin, Merlin saw himself old and dying, a smile on his lips as he took his last breath surrounded by those he loved in the heart of Camelot.

THE END

So that's it, the end. Again thank you for reading and reviewing. Good luck with your future and stay safe.