Epilogue
-Harry
I had been two days since the world had almost exploded – or something to that effect – and life, you could say, was good. The world was calm. It felt different too; fresh and new like a baby taking its first few breaths of air. New year, new decade, new start… hopefully. Harry couldn't say his faith in humanity was completely reinstated, but this was a start.
They were going to see George today. Harry gripped Ginny's hand and she offered him a grateful smile; James, Lily and Albus trailing behind them quietly.
When they entered the hospital room George was sitting up, a wide smile on his face. Mr and Mrs Weasley – now senior of the name to Ron and Hermione, where sat in two chairs at his bedside, Hermione was perched on the end of the bed and Ron knelt on the floor next to her, Hugo and Rose sanding slightly to the left of them. Percy was settled next to his mother importantly and the eldest of the brothers – Charlie – and his wife Fleur Delacour – the French tri-wizard champion of Beauxbatons Harry had met in his 4th year were sat opposite them. The whole family was there.
Upon seeing the Harry and Ginny, Mrs Weasley rose from her chair, a little more slowly and painfully than she had ten years ago and embraced her only daughter. She then turned to Harry smiling kindly. "It's lovely to see you dear!" She cooed.
And Harry returned the greeting, before insisting on helping her back to her seat.
Ginny ran over and flung herself into her brother's arms. George groaned and emitted a noise somewhere between a laugh and a wheeze. "Not so hard Ginny, god, it's like you want me to cough my lungs out!"
Ginny withdrew a little awkwardly "Sorry, I was just so glad to see you!"
George's smile widened "I'm glad to see you too little sister" He said, clasping her hands in his lovingly.
"How are you?" Harry inquired, as he found a spot on the floor next to Ron and sat on it.
"I'm a bit wobbly but I'll be fine, whatever Morgana did; it worked"
"It's a shame about her really," Hermione shrugged "In those last few days she seemed so kind, she really was a nice person, she died for us, and yet it's possible that she'll still be remembered by history as the villain."
"Yeah…" Ron grunted "I've been wondering actually; what exactly did Merlin do to change her?"
"He just seemed grab her arm and whisper some spell… and then they both went all unresponsive… and then all of a sudden he woke and so did she, just… as a different person." Hermione sighed "It was weird, I've never heard of anything like it before"
"Well he is the greatest sorcery in the history of time, you can barely expect to understand everything Hermione" George rolled his eyes. Everyone laughed at that, even Hermione; who may have been the butt of the joke, but didn't have the pride to prevent her from not finding it funny.
As the day went on, more people joined them in whishing George good health: Luna, Neville, some of their old school friends from Hogwarts - Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas. Even Merlin came, though only for a short time.
His appearance had come as a surprise to Harry since he and George had only met briefly. Arthur and Mordred were with him and they wished George a fast recovery and shook Harry's hand.
There was something final about the meeting and Harry got the feeling that he wouldn't see the group again, at least not in a long time.
Merlin had walked half way to the exit before he stopped as if remembering something and turned back to them.
"Thank you" He smiled "Thank you all for everything you've done I am truly grateful."
Harry nodded "Thank you too, you saved us Merlin, without you none of us would be here"
Merlin looked surprised, as if such appreciation was new to him but he smiled and turned, disappearing out of the door and leaving the family, finally, to peace.
-Merlin
"I think I'll miss them" He sighed, "No matter how long you live, leaving someone behind never gets any easier."
The three walked in silence for a little while, before Arthur cleared his throat. "Well… what do we do now?"
"I don't know, I never really thought about afterwards… maybe I'll move to America and become one of those rock and roll god on earth types"
There was a moment of forced quiet before Arthur snorted. "Never do you fail to surprise me Merlin." He chuckled slapping his friend on the back. Merlin grinned back at him and they continued forward like that for a bit until Merlin was struck by a sense of pointlessness.
Up until this moment he had had a purpose: find Arthur, save the world and that had been it – his reason for living. Now what could he do? Drift with no purpose until he died? If he could die that was. He stopped walking and turned to his companions "We don't belong here do we?"
Mordred lowered his gaze and Arthur folded his arms "Whatever happened to looking on the Brightside?" he said, sarcasm in his tone, but Merlin got the idea that his heart wasn't really in the words.
"There is still hope." A voice made them turn and upon seeing whom it belonged to, Merlin gasped.
Freya stood, somewhat awkwardly in the shadows; she looked at Merlin, her eyes solemn.
"This is a trick! You're tricking me again, it's not you!" Merlin whispered, his jaw set, he would not fall for it, not again.
"Merlin I'm sorry, it wasn't me on New Year's Eve; that was the Old Religion, I'm its speaker. I did help you though, all I ever wanted to do was help you and I still do." A tear ran down her cheek.
Merlin didn't reply, only stared, in silence, at a bit of ivy growing on the wall just past her shoulder.
Freya chocked but continued: "You've been given a gift by the Old Religion for your services. If it is your wish, you can return to Camelot, a year after the battle in Camlann… It is the thing you desire most is it not?"
Merlin couldn't look at her "How do I know that this isn't a trick?"
"Please," Freya had tears fully rolling down her cheeks now "Believe me" She sobbed "I am so sorry for what I did, if I could have stopped it I would have, but I couldn't. I have got this for you now and it's the best I can do to make up for what I did. I want you to take it… please"
Merlin looked at her straight in the eye and saw no trace of the Old Religion's hold. He gave in. "Can Arthur and Mordred come too?"
"If that is their wish"
"Fine" Merlin's heart thumped in his chest. Could this really be true? Could he really return to the people he had missed for so long? He smiled "Thank you" He said to her and she smiled with such relief Merlin's pride and stubbornness dissolved in an instant.
"Um…" Mordred coughed "Is it okay that I stay here?"
Arthur raised his eyebrow "Why?"
"I have nothing to go back to, no friends, no family, nothing. People see me as a traitor… I never really had a home anyway, at least here I could make a new start… there are people that will help me."
"You're sure?" Merlin asked.
Mordred gulped and nodded "Yes."
"Then this is goodbye," Arthur sighed.
"It is" Mordred answered, not meeting the king's eyes.
Arthur surveyed him for a moment then embraced him "Good luck!" He smiled.
"Thank you sire"
Merlin offered his hand to the young man and he took it "Above everything, Mordred" Merlin said "Remember who you are, and that is kind and brave and good… be your own person, don't let people control you"
Mordred nodded and they let go. Merlin took one last look at the boy who had for so long controlled his future and then left him in the past, turning to Freya. "How do we do this?" He asked.
"Take my hand" She said, holding one out to Merlin and one to Arthur. Merlin nodded to his friend and with a deep breath they both gripped her hand, disappearing into the softly fading light.
- Merlin
Merlin turned, Freya had disappeared but in her place was a bustling market, filled with vibrant colours and lots of people. He searched for Arthur and found him standing a few paces away a look of awe on his face.
The castle rose up above them, magnificent and whole, flags flying from the turrets and guards standing tall at the entrance.
People had already begun to stare, their modern clothes looking odd compared to the cloth and silk dresses and shirts of Medieval Camelot.
"Merlin?" someone shouted from in the crowd "Merlin?" Merlin looked and a large man with big arms and a knight's uniform pushed through the crowd towards the centre.
"Percival!" Merlin shouted, grinning and waving a hand in greeting.
"Is that really you? Where have you been? I haven't seen you since Arthur died…" He paused, looking him up and down "What the hell are you wearing?"
Merlin opened his mouth to answer, but instead Arthur cleared his throat, emerging from behind him. "Nice to see you too Percival" he laughed.
Percival went pale "Arthur? But you're dead."
Arthur laughed again "Apparently not!"
"But how is that possible?"
Arthur moved towards his friend "You could say I was lost… but Merlin found me and here I am."
Percival continued to look stunned for a moment, and then he seemed to decide something, his face breaking into a wide smile. He embraced Arthur, tears of joy running down his cheeks "This is the greatest news I have heard in a lifetime! Come we must let the queen know!" He said, leading the pair up, through the crowds and into the castle courtyard and beyond.
They stood in the grand hall, and waited for the council to assemble.
"You really should tell me what's going on Percival; I am the queen I do have a kingdom to look after, after all!" A voice travelled through the hallway and into the hall which they were standing in. Glancing sideways, Merlin saw Arthur's expression go hazy, like he was in some sort of dream.
Gwen entered, wearing a beautiful gown of purple and her gaze swept the room before it landed on Arthur.
"No it can't be… I must be going insane."
"It's me Guinevere!" Arthur smiled, moving towards her.
"How can it be? How can it be?" Gwen murmured, nearly in tears, but Arthur embraced her and she disappeared into his arms.
"But I thought you were dead." Gwen sobbed.
"It's a very long story Arthur said, resting his head on Gwen's and closing his eyes."
Merlin looked towards Percival, "Do you know where Gias would be?"
"He's…" Percival paused looking down the hallway.
"Where is he?" Merlin asked again, wondering why the knight wasn't answering, please no, please god no, after all this time, after all he'd been through; he couldn't be…
"Gaius is…" Percival trailed off again.
"Here!" A frustrated voice answered from behind the door, "though exactly what you want me to be here for I don't know I was just concocting a very challenging healing potion."
With a rush of relief, Merlin sprinted toward his old friend and flung his arms around him. Gaius was startled, staggering backwards "who is that?"
"Gaius it's me – Merlin."
"Merlin?" he looked up at Merlin's face and his eyes crinkled into an overwhelmed smile "it's you!" He embraced him again, but after a moment Merlin felt his grip slacken and his friend pull away; his face angry. "Don't you ever do that again, do you hear me?" He scolded "Not a word for a whole year! You could have died for all I knew; in fact I thought you had."
"I am so sorry Gaius" Merlin said, and the other man's gaze softened.
"Well you're safe and that's all that matters… Welcome home Merlin"
Home Merlin thought, after over a thousand years her was finally here; home.
Author's Note:
Woah... so it's over... geeze that took a while!
If you read this right to the end... you are amazing! Thank you! You're so encouraging!
I love making up stories, even if I don't like writing them as much, but you guys gave me a reason to actually start and finish one, so thank you!
I read all of your comments and am so grateful for what you said, though I don't think this ^ is really worth all of the praise!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
...Okay... well... I guess I'm just going to have to accept that Merlin and HP are over now... *Sniff*
... Bye! :D