Me: Shorter than the other chapters, but I wanted Freya's and Merlin's reunion to be separate. Don't worry, one more chapter after this. Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the tears I shed while watching the show, Merlin.

~Pokemon67 is bad at hunting down those pesky grammar mistakes. But rest assured, when she posts this, afterwards she will see 10 things that she should've changed~

Freya couldn't stop her heart from pounding.

While the sensation of being not dead was amazing, the feeling that her heart wanted out of her chest was not amazing. It was quite the opposite, in fact.

She didn't know what to do. During Arthur's reunion, she had met Merlin's eyes, and his gasp was directed at her, not Arthur. Or maybe it was directed at both of them. Or maybe it wasn't a gasp of shock at all and simply a gasp of breath from running all the way through the castle to see the commotion. Either way, she had chickened out and ran.

She found herself in the only other place she knew in Camelot— the caverns Merlin had hidden her in.

Freya carefully lit an old torch on the wall. Since coming back, and realizing her curse was gone, she was determined to build up her confidence in her magic again. She had all but stopped using it completely when she realized her curse, doing her best to draw as little attention to herself upon leaving the Druids. But now— with nothing to worry about— she could practice it without fear.

Well, except the residing fear she placed on herself. But she'd find a way to deal with that, one way or another.

She crouched in a corner, staring at the shadows and trying to think of a plan. Clearly she was to much of a coward to face Merlin. For goodness sake, how could she just walk back into his life? She wasn't a poor, hunted, pathetic girl anymore (well, by her current state of dirtiness, and the fact that she had no home or plan, Freya supposed pathetic and poor could still be used to describe her, but her point still stood).

Merlin had a life. Her life was not in danger anymore. She had nothing to offer. She would take more than she would give. He had no reason to want her, to desire to be with her. It was selfish of her to even consider going to him, especially in light of she nearly left Arthur to die in that lake. Even if she went to say thanks, it would be wrong. Freya knew Merlin: he'd want to help her, feel obligated to help her and she couldn't do that to him. She had another chance at life and she couldn't start it off by ruining yet another person's life.

Freya sighed. So, it was decided: I'll leave without saying anything. That's best for both of us.

Excuse me, don't I get a say?

Freya jumped at the voice. Merlin?

Yeah, I've learned a few tricks! Freya could feel the sensation of his laugh in her mind. It had been so long since someone had communicated in the mind way, even prior to her death. She hadn't considered Merlin might check— she had forgotten to shield her thoughts. She'd have to remember how to do that.

I can give you a refresher, if you like.

Stop that! Freya replied.

Why? It's making you smile. It was true, Freya was smiling. Merlin was talking to her. Merlin, who tried everything to save her when no one else had. Merlin, whose smile had had her entranced the moment she first saw it.

Is it really that nice? Arthur always said it's a bit goofy.

Freya laughed, tears rising in her eyes.

Why are you crying?

Because you're an idiot.

That's funny, Arthur used to say that, too. I think he cried about it once or twice as well.

I have nothing to offer you, Merlin. I would be a burden and a hindrance.

Never.

Merlin—

Listen, Freya. I love you. Even now, after all this time, I love you. I want to be with you. Those days, sitting by the lake, I heard you. As for being a burden and a hinderance, you could help us fix Camelot. Gwen made me Court Magician— totally made up the job on the spot, but still— because she knows nothing about magic. No one does. The only things I know is what I've read in that one book Gaius gave me, and what he and Kilgarrah have told me. I know so little about the Druids, and the different kinds of magic they practice. You could help us with that.

Freya didn't know how to respond. She was absolutely floored. She could belong. Here, in Camelot, with Merlin. You love me?

''Yes,'' Merlin's voice came from in front of her, not in her mind. Freya looked at him as he entered the cavern, a small flame in his hand. ''I love you.''

Freya stood up. ''I- I don't think I'd be very good at it.''

Merlin extinguished the flame. He walked closer. He looked different: older and tired. There was a weight in his eyes that hadn't been there before. ''You'd learn,'' he whispered. ''Being in the court: It's not as hard as nobles make it out to be—''

''I mean, at loving,'' Freya said. ''Though the court thing is another good point.'' Merlin smirked. Oh, that was unfair. How did one say no to that face? ''I don't know how to care for people, Merlin. My own family I couldn't save. How-''

Merlin gently took her face in his hands and leaned his forehead against her's. ''Yes, you do,'' he whispered. ''Caring for people is what you did when you didn't wait for me to come back. Caring for people is what you did when you gave me Excalibur to give to Arthur, so he could fight. Caring for people is what you did when you pulled Arthur out of that lake. Caring for people is what you are doing right now, by making excuses for why you can't stay— because you think you'll be doing more harm than good. But you won't, Freya. You won't. I promise.''

Freya closed her eyes, letting a tear run down her cheek. She didn't believe that those things she did were caring. Letting Merlin go was mostly so that his death wouldn't rest on her soul. Retrieving Excalibur was to repay Merlin. She nearly hadn't pulled Arthur out, and her excuses were because she was scared. She wasn't good at caring. But she wanted to try. Oh, she so wanted to. ''Promise?''

''On a couple cows, fields, and a lake.''

Freya laughed and gave in to the urge to kiss him.

They stood there in the shadows, the light flicking over them. The sensation of feeling another human being in your arms, safe and happy, was better than anything else Freya had experienced, in this life or the past. To know that one was wanted was absolutely amazing.

Me: I hope this was okay! I'll post the last chapter soon. If you can, please review and tell me what you like/hate about this story- I love feedback!

Happy Writing!