Epilogue

As the party rode their horses through the forest the mood between them was light. Gwaine, Leon, Tristan and Percival were bantering between themselves, each trying to take credit for the successful mission. Every now and then Arthur would turn around and smile at his wife, recognising the familiar look of relief on her face that he knew was also on his own. He also kept an eye on Merlin who still looked jaded. He was holding on to Freya who was steering the horse carefully as if afraid of disturbing the warlock.

"Are you still with us Merlin?" Arthur asked, trying to appear normal but realizing there was a bit of tension in his tone.

"I am fine thanks, just taking it easy." Merlin assured him, making an effort to look Arthur's way.

Their eyes met for a second and Arthur would have given anything to know what was going through his friend's mind. To Arthur he seemed quite withdrawn, almost absent from the party. Arthur couldn't think what was bothering him, considering he and Freya had just ended Demonia's life. The King suspected Merlin was doing his usual thing of hiding himself from everyone. He tried to understand why his friend continued to do it, but at times it almost hurt him to think that he still did.

He really wanted to think that Merlin would share his fears with Arthur now his secret was out in the open. But in truth he knew it would take longer for that to happen. He just hoped that having Freya by his side would encourage him to open up more often. Arthur smiled at her, she had really proved herself on this trip, and he was proud of them both. He learnt over his horse and squeezed his wife's hand, how he had missed her in the days of being imprisoned. They had been married three years now, and every day to him felt as good as the first.

He knew he had made the right choice in choosing her to be his wife and Queen. He knew should anything happen to him that Camelot would be in good hands. He was hopeful that there would soon be an heir, which would further cement Camelot's bright future. He was determined that any child of his would grow up in a secure and safe Kingdom, where everyone was treated the same whatever their position.

Before long they had reached the outskirts of Linden and already they noticed there were many people lining the way waving at them. The Knights were enjoying their moments of glory as they waved back, Gwaine noticing a beautiful young blonde woman and stopped as she gave him a flower. He gave her a peck on the cheek as the others cheered.

"Gwaine you will never change!" Arthur sighed.

"Certainly not I am having way too much fun." Gwaine winked, back.

As they came closer to the village the crowds were getting bigger and more people jostled to have a look at the Knights of Camelot. As Arthur strained his head he could see a table with a few people sitting around it.

"Oh that is the town elder Peter." Gwen said, pointing him out.

"Right, looks like they want to make this an official visit this time." Arthur smiled.

"Yes well last time you didn't make it of course, as you managed to get yourselves locked up!" Isolde pointed out.

"Yes thanks Isolde for that reminder. We shan't mention that here." Arthur smiled. He turned his horse towards the official party a smile on his face.

"Your highness it is a pleasure to meet you." Peter beamed. "We would like to thank all of you for returning our village back to normal, and killing Demonia. I would like to give this as a momento of your successful mission."

Arthur climbed from his horse and shook Peter's hand receiving the statue of a unicorns head. He studied it. It was an impressive piece and reminded him of the one he and Merlin had met all those years ago. He fingered it feeling the workmanship that had gone into it and smiled warmly at Peter.

"I would like to say a few words. First of all I would like to thank you for all your help you have given us recently. My wife has filled me in with the details of how impressive your warriors were. Without them our rescue party would have found it a lot more difficult.

In the years since I have become King, it is sometimes easy to get too involved with the bigger issues. What this quest has reminded me about is, it is not just uniting the Five Kingdoms that is important, but also the villages like this one. I have had a conversation with my wife this morning, and we both feel we would like to hear regularly from this village. We plan to start a council that will deal with any day to day problems that villages like this encounter.

So if you would like to think about it, we would like to invite you to participate in a monthly meeting, where any problems can be assessed. It is no good uniting the Kingdom as a whole if individual villages go to waste in the mean time. This is for the future though, and once again thank you for the help and fortitude you have shown over the past few days."

There was enthusiastic applause from the assembled villagers, and Arthur noted the speech had appeared to have gone down well with Peter and his companions. The party were led over to a hut which had a lovely smell coming from it, which reminded everyone just how hungry they all were. Before long they were all sitting down and eating.

Merlin and Freya sat away from the rest of the party, both of them making the most of being left alone. Freya watched him carefully feeling he was a little too quiet for her liking. She stroked his hair staring at him with interest.

"Are you okay you look far away." Freya remarked, attentively.

"I am fine." Merlin smiled. "I am just tired, I want a bath my bed back in Camelot. You, me and my comfortable bed. What could be a better way to spend an evening?"

Freya laughed. "Yes I agree we will do that the moment we arrive back in Camelot."

"I am very proud of you. You have really reminded me about what a fortunate man I am. As for your magical skills my admiration has improved radically." Merlin said, bowing to her.

"Merlin." Freya laughed. "You sound so formal. Having said that there is something I must do before we go, someone I have to see. I think you should as well. Come on"

"Where are we going?" Merlin asked, as he followed Freya to a row of huts.

"You will see." Freya said, walking on. Coming to the hut she knocked on the door and opened it. Once again Gaius's room came into her head as she pictured even more potions and herbs strewn around the place.

"You came back."

The voice came from behind them and they turned around to see the woman a potion in her hand regarding them.

"I have something to return to you." Freya smiled, reaching into her pocket.

"I see you used it." The woman replied looking at the stone and, returning the smile. "You and Emrys."

Merlin and Freya looked at her in surprise.

"How did you know?" Merlin asked.

"That you were Emrys? I may not have your power great one, but I know a legend when I see one." She replied elusively. "It is an honour to meet you this time."

"The honour is mine. May I ask you about the stone? It has remarkable power, where does it come from and how did you come to own such a thing?" Merlin asked, his curiosity taking over.

"It belonged to my Grandfather many years ago. He was a sorcerer like yourself and he belonged to a very holy sect. Only the best Sorcerers of their time belonged to this group. It was the job of this sect to protect the most sacred items of the old religion. The Stone of Amrad is just that, a sacred relic. It's power is eternal and should only be used in moments of real need. It comes from the cave in the wood I was telling your companion about."

"The enchanted wood?" Freya asked.

"Yes the enchanted wood. Deep in the forest there is a cave that is as sacred as the Crystal Cave that you know about. Back in my Grandfather's day the wood was full of magical creatures, such as unicorns. But over the years the place was neglected until it got to such a bad state that Demonia was able to take it over, with an old ancient spell. I knew that only this stone would be able to turn the wood back to its normal state. I walked through there this morning, it is a very different place now." She smiled. "Thank you for all that you did."

"Thank you for being so honest." Merlin said.

"Here take the stone, it belongs to your family." Freya said.

"I would like you both to keep it. It needs to stay with people who respect the old ways, such as you do. I am sure there is a place in Camelot it can safely be kept under your care?" she said.

"Only if you are sure." Merlin said, "I will keep it in my personal chambers I swear no one will get hold of this."

"Then that is decided, thank you it has been a privilege to meet both of you."

"You too." Merlin said, shaking her hand.

They made for the door, but before she left Freya turned around.

"I never knew your name?" she said, feeling bad she hadn't asked before.

"Frida, my name is Frida. If ever you are near here again be sure to drop in." She smiled.

"I will believe me. Take care Frida and thank you for your help we wouldn't have done this without you."

"God go with you."

Freya smiled and with one last look around the hut followed Merlin outside. The pair of them walked back in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Much had changed on this quest, and much had stayed the same, but Freya suddenly felt a much more rounded person then before. As she put her arm around Merlin and dreamed about arriving back in Camelot she had a feeling that she would look back on this adventure, and know that she had truly become her own person.

Now she was ready to face whatever life threw at them, with Merlin by her side and her friends surrounding them, she knew she had at last found a true home for herself. Her former sadder years had at last been pushed to the back of her mind and she could truly plan for the future. Suddenly she couldn't wait to get back to Camelot and to begin her life properly with Merlin. She just hoped that for a while at least her man would manage to avoid being captured, or otherwise she would just have to insist he gave up his day job. She giggled to herself at the thought.

"What are you laughing about?" Merlin asked her, amused at the noise.

"Oh I was just thinking about all the changes that I would like to make, once we get home." Freya mused, noticing the sudden tenseness in Merlin's features.

"Changes?" Merlin asked, "I don't like the sound of that."

"You had better make sure you don't get caught again then!" Freya said grinning, skipping ahead and knowing she had left Merlin in a proper quandary. She thought about teasing him a bit more but realized it was maybe best not to push any further. She reckoned he had enough surprises for one trip.

As she joined the others she couldn't wait to get back to the routine of helping Gaius and continuing her life in Camelot. Her life it seemed had now come full circle and she was determined to make the most of it from now on.

The End.

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