Epilogue

Emrys Mansion December 2099

"More guests have arrived," Merlin told Freya, as he walked past her on the way to the front door.

She looked up at him, turning briefly away from Lancelot and his family. "Any idea who?"

"Archie and Jen, I think."

"And my cousins too?" Freya asked, excitedly.

"Yes." He laughed at her enthusiastic response. "You never used to be keen on them."

"I was a child then and didn't know any better. They are my relations so, of course I'm pleased they're here. I'll come out to say hello in a minute."

Merlin walked out of the front door to find a large car pulling up fully laden with five adults and one small child.

"I always forget how impressive this place is," Arthur said as strode over, hauling Merlin into a rough bear hug. "How are you, Martin?"

"Can't complain. You?"

"Feeling my age... Can't believe it'll be a new century tomorrow."

Merlin laughed. "Tell me about it... Hello, Jen."

"Martin, you look so young still," Gwen said as she reached him. "As does Morgan. I don't know what your secret is."

"The country air, as we told you before," Morgana replied striding out to greet the new arrivals. "You really should visit here more often. Stay here for an extended summer holiday, perhaps?"

"I'd get bored here. You know I would," Arthur retorted, signalling for his children and daughter-in-law to come over to be reintroduced.

"Marcie and her family couldn't make it today – she had a party of her own to host," Gwen explained, talking of their second child. "But she sends her love, of course."

"A shame," Morgana said. "But we'll meet up again soon, I'm sure."

"So, this is a school now?" Arthur said, looking up at the building. "It still looks in good shape, considering."

"Select students," Merlin replied with a smile. "More of an extended family really. They take good care of the place."

"Well, you certainly have the room," Gwen said. "And I think it's great what you're doing here."

Merlin felt a tug on his shirt and looked down to see a small child with a mop of dark hair and light coloured eyes looking up at him.

"Hello, who are you?" he asked.

"I'm Tammy."

"Our first grandchild," Gwen added proudly.

"It's nice to meet you, Tammy," Merlin said.

"I like this place," the little girl declared. "It's pretty."

"Thank you. How old are you, Tammy?"

"Five and a half. Can I go and see the hill?"

Arthur and Gwen looked around confused. "What hill?"

Merlin and Morgana exchanged a look.

"The one up there," she replied, pointing. "The fairies said I should visit them."

"The imagination of this one," Arthur said with a fond laugh. "Reminds me of you when you were little, Morgan."

"We do have some wonderful grounds," Morgana answered, crouching down so she was at the child's eye level. "Your cousin Freya would love to take you for a walk there if your parents allow it."

They turned to their daughter who was only now exiting the front door and Merlin say her eyes widen as she took note of the little girl.

"Fae!" The child called, running over to Freya with her hands held out.

"Hello Tammy," Freya replied calmly.

Gwen cast a confused look at Merlin, knowing the two had never met before and wondering at the familiarity.

"She's a little young yet," he replied to her silent question. "But perhaps, in time, your granddaughter could come to our school?"

Arthur gave him a very suspicious look. "Your school for the 'gifted'?"

"Yes."

"Gifted like you and Morgan?"

"And Freya. Yes."

"And this is one of those times when you suggest I don't ask any further questions, isn't it?"

"Dear brother, you are getting positively wise in your old age," Morgana said, looping her arm in his. "Come, I know it's a dry day, but we really should be getting inside. Peter is here and all of Landon's family too."

"Yes and I hear another car arriving," Merlin said then.

"Goodness," Gwen said. "It's going to be a very full house."

Party to See In the 22nd Century

"Another one of your Specials?" Merlin asked his daughter later that evening.

She smiled brightly. "And a family member too. I did wonder how long it would take for one of the old knights' families to start showing some ability."

"How are you going to deal with this over the years, Fae? The house and the hill are only so big."

"New Avalon is as big as it needs to be," she replied cryptically. "And they won't all stay here, as you know. The magic will soon seep out into the rest of the country and my own knights will help with the work and seek out others. I suspect that Tammy will be one of them."

"It's at times like this I'm glad I've passed the baton," Merlin said.

"Yes, I notice you're getting more relaxed about this mortality thing now."

He sighed. "It's taken some getting used to but, yes, I'm content enough now."

"In that case, why are you still talking to me? Time is precious and all that. Go and be with your knights."

He bowed deeply. "As my lady Fae commands."

~o~0~o~

So Merlin was able to live a normal life.

Well, as normal a life as one can have living with numerous sorcerers, in an ancient house, next to an invisible hill, populated by new-age fairies and sprites. Their time was over. Their circle was closing. Gaius had been the first to leave, at the age of ninety-five, on the same day – the exact moment – that Freya became the new Guardian of the Crystal Cave. For the first time in the history of Merlin's long, long cycle, every single member of the Round Table lived to at least ninety years old.

Mordred never had reappeared, which made perfect sense to Merlin in hindsight. The previous time around had seen Arthur's old advisory atone for his crime and ask Emrys' forgiveness for that and all of his soul's transgressions. Of course, at the time, Merlin had still been grieving and not fully able to appreciate the importance of such a gesture. His wife, now having fully gained all of Morgana's memories, loved to tease her husband about how he had never really changed in that regard. Still far too keen to react emotionally, take things personally and not see at the bigger picture.

Merlin had expected to live a bit longer than most, seeing just how much magic he had but, in the end, he realised It made perfect sense that he'd leave with Arthur – at exactly the same time as Arthur – because, honestly, he'd lived long enough without his soul-mate and it made no sense for the pair of them to be apart any longer.

So the nine of them joined Freya, and all the other souls who'd been roughly bound to that cruel circle of fate for so many centuries, and they were finally released to be reborn with no preordained destiny shaping their lives.

Would Merlin have any connection to his old friends when he was next reborn? Would he and Arthur meet again? Would he have magic and meet back up with his daughter at New Avalon?

These are all questions for another time. For another life. Because Merlin's story is over.

He is finally free.

The End

A/N: Thank you for your reviews, follows and likes on this. Of course although this is 'the end' of Merlin's circle, that does not necessarily mean the end of this Saga as there are plenty of reincarnations to revisit from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. Nothing specifically planned at this point in time, but I've a few rough ideas in my notes Doc. The advantage of having a non-linear story - there is no real end. :D

And, of course, I've opened up the way for an AU/Original to follow Freya's Circle, which really caught me by surprise. Whilst writing her story during these last couple of chapters a few ideas have already hopped into my head about what that might involve, but it'll will require some further thought before I can contemplate it.

Nothing else new on the cards for 'Merlin' at the moment but I do have some drabbles to add to my 'The Heart of Camelot' collection at some point as well as the start of a little Merlin/HP crossover. Will try to get those over here soon.

Jaq xxx