Me: This is Merlin's POV of the last chapter. It's a little short, and I'm not sure if I did a good job on his and Arthur's reunion. Hopefully it's good….

Disclaimer: I own nothing— sold my soul to BBC's Merlin a while ago now.

~Pokemon67 is sorry if you spot any grammar mistakes. Here is a shovel to beat them with if they attack you, and a notebook to write them down so you can inform her of them. Thank you, stay safe!~

Merlin was tired.

The past few weeks of trying desperately to hold all of Camelot together had been stressful to say the least. His lot was nothing compared to Gwen's, however.

Gwen. Oh, dear Gwen. Merlin shook his head as he tried to forget her face as the hope faded from it when he told her the news.

Dead. Arthur is dead.

He failed. He had failed so bad.

Merlin pushed his regret and remorse aside— he could grieve later. Gwen needed his help right now and damnit, he was going to do his best. No, more than his best. His best got people killed.

Later. Later, he would grieve. Not now.

Merlin stared at the maps in front of him. There was so much chaos. Right now, Gwen was in her chamber's looking over casualties. Merlin was going over routes, trying to figure out the best one so they could send guards to escort the refugees in the city safely home.

Merlin sighed and rubbed his eyes. They had to send a guard with the people because of the threat of war with the other kingdoms.

'Arthur will return when Albion needs him most,' Killgarrah had said. Well, now would be really good, Arthur…

Merlin tried to refocus on his work, but kept getting distracted. It was all that chatter…

Merlin got up from his seat and was startled when he looked out the window to see a crowd of people gathering in the square. What on earth is going on?

Merlin ran through the castle, bumping into Gaius. ''Did you see…?'' Gaius began. Merlin nodded, cutting his mentor off. They continued on their way, eager to see what the commotion was about.

They got to the door and Merlin passed Gaius to get down the steps to where Gwen was. His rapid pace slowed as he tried to process what he was seeing.

Two people were in the center of the square; seemingly, they were the cause of the sudden gathering. One was a dirty man, with mud in his hair and on his face and clothes. A woman was a few feet behind him. She was filthy as well, her blue dress's hem caked with mud. The man had a placid expression on his face and was staring intently at Gwen.

Merlin's mind caught up with his eyes as he saw Gwen looked toward him. Her face was a mixture of emotions, and her face was asking the same question he was: Is this real?

Arthur. The man in the square was Arthur. But he couldn't be; Arthur was dead.

Gwen made forward to approach the man, but Leon caught her arm. ''My lady. you can't—''

''I have to.''

''No. Let me—''

''Let her go, Leon,'' Merlin broke in. He kept shifting his eyes back to Arthur. No, not Arthur. Arthur is dead…

''Merlin,'' Gwen's voice broke in. ''Is— I mean, is it a spell of some kind?''

Merlin glanced back once again. ''I defiantly sense magic at work,'' he replied. ''But nothing active. Almost like a— a residue of sorts.''

Gwen nodded. And then she proceeded down the steps.

Merlin watched from next to Leon as Gwen spoke with the man. He was so confused. And angry. Memories of Lancelot swarm in his head. How dare someone do this again…

But what if it's real?

Merlin bit his cheek and stood up straighter: he was not going to let his hopes get up. Arthur was dead. Dead. Oh, please don't be dead…

Merlin let his gaze wander from Gwen and the man to the flash of blue that was making it's way back into the crowd.

For a split second, Merlin caught the woman's eyes. And if his heart was already pounding from the idea of Arthur standing here, in the square, then his heart was near to bursting out of his chest as he recognized that fearful gaze that he caught.

Freya.

Freya and Arthur. Alive. Both of them. Here. In the square. It couldn't be. It was a trick.

''—With all my heart.''

Merlin let out a strangled gasp— both from the realization of Freya and of the words the man spoke. No one besides himself, Gwen, Mordred, and Arthur could have known those words. Those words that were a sacred promise between Gwen and Arthur. No one could have taught a puppet those words like Morgana had taught Lancelot. It had to be real.

Arthur was alive.

Freya was alive.

They were alive and here.

''Long live the king!'' Gwen shouted to the crowd.

The knights and then the crowd took up the chant, but Merlin could barely breath, let alone cheer along. Arthur and Freya. Alive. Safe. I didn't fail…

Gwen lead Arthur up into the castle among the cheering citizens. They paused as they reached Merlin. Arthur grinned. ''Hello, Merlin. Hope my things are in order?''

Merlin grabbed Arthur and hugged him. ''Prat.''

''Dollop head.''

''Idiot.''

''Sorry.''

Not your fault, Merlin wanted to reply, but the words got caught in his throat. Not your fault and it will never happen again.

They all entered the palace, but Merlin paused in the doorway. He couldn't see Freya, but with his powers so grown since that last time he saw her, he could sense her. She was here, in the city.

And he was going to find her.

With a grin on his face, Merlin practically skipped into the castle. He watched the backs of Arthur and Gwen, side by side, go up the hall. He's safe. He's safe. Merlin took his spot to Arthur's right, trailing along a few steps behind him. Where he belonged to advise and protect his king.

And damnit, he was not going to fail again this time.

Me: I hope you enjoyed. Please tell me what you think— I'm not happy with this chapter but I don't know what I could do to improve it so….

Happy Writing!