Well here we are. This is the final chapter. Thank you so much for the reviews/follows/favourites especially 1983Sarah for commenting on most if not all chapters. I wouldn't have had such confidence to post the rest of this without all you readers/reviewers.

Gwaine stepped forward, the valiant knight. He made his way slowly to the pile of straw, sticks and hay that was collected in the centre of the courtyard, it seemed so small compared to the vast open space of the castle. Many of Camelot's most important people were stood, silently praying and saying their own goodbyes. Gwaine allowed the burning torch to catch the wood, it lit, and slowly made it's way up the plinth. He could hear crying behind him, and wondered whether they were crying for the loss or the shock of the last week's events. No-one had yet come to terms with what had happened. It was Merlin, this whole time, Emrys was Merlin.

'You look like you haven't slept in days sire.' Elyan's voice seemed faded in Arthur's dreamlike state. It had become a daily thing for him to drift off whilst stood up; he would just stare off into a distant world and zone out, before being snapped back into reality once again. Elyan's voice was a blessing from the screams he was hearing in his mind.

'Oh, sorry Elyan. Yeah, it's been a little rough. Even Gwen isn't sleeping much, and for once that isn't my doing.'

'Woah. Oh lord Arthur, I did not need that image. She's my sister.' He screwed his face up but couldn't help laugh a little. There wasn't much laughter in Camelot recently and any chance they got, the knights would use it to lighten the mood.

'I just...I keep hearing him screaming. It won't go away. And everytime I think of it, I see it was by my hands. And I hear him crying, and I see his eyes...' He was stopped by Elyan's hand on his shoulder, a comforting look in his eyes, and a small smile on his lips.

'Never knew he meant that much to you sire.'

'Neither did I. To think that before this all happened I was going to banish him. And now...'

He didn't know what else to do, so he raised his sword, stood in a commanding stance and made his way to Gwaine's side. 'We are here today to remember all those lost in the fight against Morgana, the brave souls who fought for Camelot's safety and those families who became victims of her sought after revenge. We shall never forget what took place, and all of you stood before me now shall be remembered for your braveness, loyalty and commitment to Camelot. I thank you. We also stand here today to thank Merlin. He was known to be there for his friends whenever they needed him, a caring person who would put his life before your own. He was my manservant but above all... my friend.'

Cheering commenced, the knights, Gwen and Gauis stood around the fire burning bright in the dull afternoon light. Heads bowed in silent prayers, hands held, smiles being exchanged, signs of comfort and thankfulness.

Arthur closed his eyes and lifted his head: Oh Merlin.

XXX

'Clotpole!'

'Dollophead!'

'Prat!'

'Sorcerer!' Oops. This one elicited a response of his friend looking sheepishly down at the freshly cleaned floor, a large swallow and a twitch of the eye. 'There's no need to respond like that. Anyway, I said I didn't need you back for another week and yet I find my bed made, my floors cleaned and...oh, fresh clothes in the wardrobe.'

A laugh. 'Well...Gwen had a word with me, asking who the best servants were. I asked her why and she said that this place was beginning to smell and look like the stables. Especially due to the fact you are taking your anger out on the training grounds and then not bothering to bath before going to bed. So, I told her I would get it fixed before the day was out and she had no need to hold her breath all night anymore; I was worried she'd die from climbing into that pit one more night.'

'So, naturally, you thought that the only decent person was...YOU!' A smile spread across his friends face, a smile he had not seen for weeks. The response shocked both of them as he lunged forward and swept him into a bone-crushing hug. 'It it so good to see you back Merlin.'

As the hug went on for far too long, Arthur couldn't help but think back to 3 weeks ago. How he and his friends had watched Merlin battle Morgana one final time, how they had both fallen into a pile, how Merlin had held Morgana until her final breath, a tear falling down his cheek for the lost cause. He remembered the way Merlin had turned to them, given them one final look, as if to say goodbye, and collapsed, his face going whiter than the snow in winter, his lips bluer than the sky in summer and how his blood ran in streams down his face, the same crimson as the leaves in autumn. They had raced to his side, picked up and held his prone form, no breath, no heartbeat, no life left in the shell they had once called friend. Arthur didn't speak a word as he lifted Merlin in his arms, walked out of the cell and into the courtyards of Camelot. Something, though he didn't know what, was telling him to go there, to wait. The site he saw frightened him more than any creature he'd ever met, for standing, like a giant before him, was the Great Dragon. His green and golden scales shimmering in the moonlight, with black eyes burning holes in the young king, and his wings spread out, making him even more threatening. The dragon had reared it's head back, readying itself to engulf them with flames. Why had he come here? Did he want to burn along with Merlin? That must have been it. But he sensed everyone else behind him, no, he didn't want them to succumb to the same fate. Before he had the chance to tell them to run, the dragon let out the breath. Arthur closed his eyes, readying himself for the pain, but it didn't come, in fact, he felt colder than he had before, his body was tingling and he shivered. Opening his eyes, he saw a thin, sparkling veil of silver blanketing the body of his friend. Slowly, as if time had stopped, he felt the body shivering in his arms, and the topaz blue eyes opening. He dropped to his knees, fresh tears flowing onto the veil- god, the amount of tears he'd shed these last few days- 'Merlin.'

'Prat! You're crushing me. Still quite tender you know.' He was brought back to the present by Merlin struggling in his arms.

'Sorry... Are you eating? You feel like a skeleton.' The week following the death of Morgana left Merlin in a deep sleep, his pale form laid under heavy blankets was yet another image no-one would forget quickly. And since he'd woken up, he had stayed in his room, reading and hardly eating the food Gauis left; he hadn't even been strong enough to attend the memorial service for the fallen.

'I'm eating more than I was, but it still gives me a bad stomach. Nearly half of what I eat comes back up again. I'm trying Arthur I really am.' He looked into Arthur's eyes, oh no, not the puppy dog eyes, he thought.

He rolled his eyes. 'Come on, let's get you some food, I've got a trick my father taught me about keeping food down. I'll show you. Can't have a bony dead looking servant cleaning my floors, people will start to talk.' Throwing an arm over Merlin's shoulder, he began to walk him to the table still adorned with food from the morning, but Merlin stopped abruptly.

'I'm having nightmares. Everytime I close my eyes I see it all, the pain, the...you...burning me.'

Arthur sucked in a breath through his teeth. 'Did not need to be reminded of that Merlin!'

'No. Not with the dagger and swords. I mean...at the stake. Burning me as a warlock. As a monster.'

The door opened and Gwen walked in, followed by Gauis and his closest knights, all with a panicked look on their faces.

'Oh Merlin! There you are! We were looking everywhere for you.' Gwen placed her hand over her chest, relief spreading across her face.

'I'm glad you are all here.' Arthur looked to each of them in turn before turning to Merlin. He placed his hands on his friends shoulders, and looked him square in the eyes. 'I will be honest Merlin, when this all started I told Gwen I was unsure of what to do with you. I hate myself to say this but I planned on banishing you, I could not bring myself to kill you but I also couldn't allow you to stay here.' He brought his hand up to Merlin's cheek to force him to look at him. 'Now! I know what it's like to lose you, more than once, and I WILL NOT, let it happen again. Merlin, you are the most powerful warlock I have ever seen, and a brave, strong, courageous man. I have never seen magic without an evil side but I know, with you, I have nothing to fear. And I want you to feel the same way towards me. Do not fear me. You are not a monster, you don't have to live in fear and one day, you will go down in history. You will grow, become more powerful. And don't think you aren't important because you are! You matter to everyone in this room. You are free, there will be no burning, no hanging, and no chopping- except on my food, which you will continue to bring me.'

'You mean I'm still your servant?' He was joking, but didn't let Arthur see this.

It worked, Arthur began to stumble over his words. 'Oh...well...I...erm...'

'I'm joking. I couldn't think of anything better than being your servant. Just...maybe...erm, less stable duty. I have to put up with your stink, the stink of cook, and I think if I carry on with the stables, I'll lose my sense of smell. Then again, that could be useful having to clean up after you!'

Everyone was laughing now, that amazing, cheesy smile spread once more over Merlin's face, from ear to ear, and caused his eyes to scrunch up. Everything was going to be ok. He was safe, he was with friends, his mother had been informed of his recovery and however much he was still hurting, he knew that things would get better. The nightmares would calm down, and the memories would be replaced with new greater ones.

Yeah, looking around at his friends, with the knowledge that his mother would soon be here too, he knew everything would be just fine!

Destiny fulfilled.

Fin.

Thank you so much. :)