A/n. Well here's the final chapter! Hope you enjoy :)
He carried the king's body across the field towards the edge of the forest where the army's horses were tethered, mercenaries and sorcerers alike tried to attack the king and his friend. None of them succeed, before they had even got with in six feet they were blasted off their feet, dead. Tying Arthur to his mare's saddle, Merlin hoisted himself up and spurred the horse in the direction of the Lake of Avalon, it was his only hope.
The journey was long and Merlin feared Arthur would die before he reached the lake, but as the mare reached the peak of the cliff Merlin found himself looking down on to the Lake of Avalon. Spurring the horse on he made his way down from the cliff, towards the shore of the lake where he dismounted and tethered the horse to a tree. Untying Arthur Merlin carried him to the waters edge, he shook Arthur slightly and he stirred slowly opening his blue eyes to look up at Merlin.
"Merlin, where are we? The battle-" Arthur tried to sit up but Merlin pushed him back down.
"Save your energy, the battle has been won, Morgana is dead." Merlin said firmly.
Arthur looked at the man he'd known for nearly seven years, a man who was in his late twenties but looking in his eyes you could see the story of a man who lived a life of horrors. Merlin didn't look 26 instead he looked older, like he was in his forties, and Arthur hated it, Morgana had put him through this and so had his own ignorance. "I'm sorry," Arthur said suddenly.
"What on earth for?" Merlin asked surprised.
"All my life, I have been expected to do great things. Merlin, you have helped me through a lot of my problems, giving me wise advice for a servant, but I never knew just how much you had actually done for me. You are the most powerful warlock ever to be born and I always turned my back, completely oblivious, while you battle the world. I thank you so much for just being there, I would never be alive today if it wasn't for you. I'm going to miss you Merlin." He said with a small smile, as tears slowly made their way down both men faces.
"Arthur-" but Arthur silenced him before he could say anything.
"Tell Guinevere that-that I love her," Arthur choked, thinking of his love, wishing he could be with and wishing he didn't have to die. "Make sure she knows that she must rule the kingdom fairly and allow…allow magic to roam freely. And tell my knights that they must protect her at all costs, and for the love of god Merlin, don't do anything stupid!" By now Arthur's breathing was becoming strained, Merlin knew he didn't have long.
"I will," Merlin promised Arthur, failing to mention he was going to do something extremely stupid. "Goodbye, my friend." He said with a small smile as Arthur Pendragon closed his eyes for the last time and slipped from this world in to the next.
Rising to his feet Merlin dried his eyes with the sleeves of his jacket, and then walked over to a dying tree and uttered a spell, effectively felling the tree which promptly fell to the ground. With some more uttered spells, the tree seemed to rip itself apart as Merlin created planks, which he then fashioned into a boat. Another spell was cast over the boat, ensuring that no natural damage would ever befall it.
Walking around the edge of the lakeMerlin collected reeds, which, at his touch, dried out; he then placed them neatly over the bottom of the boat. It was then that Merlin returned to the dead body of his king, picking him up, Merlin carried Arthur over to the boat, where he crossed Arthur's arms over Excalibur, which was lying in his chest. So with a final blessing Merlin pushed the boat out on to the water, letting the tears begin to fall again. I have a few last jobs to do first he tried to tell him self, as he turned around and mounted to horse that was once Arthur's.
The journey back to the battle field took longer than it had coming from it but when Merlin finally did get there he found the surviving enemy tied up. The dead had been burned and the wounded tended to, and the knights were preparing to leave. When they spotted Merlin though Leon, Percival, Gwaine, Lancelot and Elyan ran to him all talking at once.
"Merlin,"
"What happened?"
"Where have you been?"
"Where's Arthur?"
"Are you alright?"
Merlin held up a hand to silence them, wishing he didn't have to be the one who told them but then remembered he was the only one who knew everything about what happened. "The King is dead," he started gravely, "He was stabbed by Mordred and I took him to the Lake of Avalon and gave him a boat burial, it is over, the king is gone." The last bit was mainly for him self, Lancelot was the first to speak.
"What are you going to do now?" He asked.
"I can no longer stay in a world where my destiny is no more…" He trailed off, trying to keep his eyes dry. "I have got some last goodbye's to say, but I was wondering if you would accompany me?"
It was Percival who spoke, much to everyone's surprise, "Of course we will Merlin," The other knight nodded in agreement, so Leon walked back to the rest of the gathered knights and told them to ride back to Camelot and they would hopefully meet them there. Coming back to the small group they all mounted their horses and galloped through the trees, Merlin in the lead.
On the way back to Camelot they happened across a group of bandits, but before the knights could get their swords out of their scabbard's, Merlin had flicked his wrist and the bandits and been flown backwards through the trees.
"Merlin," Gwaine drooled "You could have left some for us!" He said trying to lighten the mood, nobody laughed.
Instead Merlin dug his heals into the mare's sides and continued through the trees, still heading in the direction of Camelot.
Gwen had been thinking of Arthur and the battle when she saw the horses appear in the courtyard, from her window, and it was no surprise when minutes later Merlin throws open the door looking dishevelled and tired. She ran to him and through her arms around his neck, "Merlin, are you alright, where is Arthur?" Her mind was filled with worry now, she knew she should have gone with the army, but Arthur had insisted she stay behind in Camelot.
"Gwen I am sorry-" he was broken off by her heart-wrenching scream as Gwen fell to the floor crying and sobbing. Bending down Merlin tried to comfort her, "Gwen Arthur told me to tell you that he loved-will always love you and that you must continue ruling the kingdom fairly. He said you must continue to let magic roam freely…"
Gwen looked up into Merlin's eyes and saw the sadness and heartache from seeing his best friend from dying, "Merlin, what are you going to do now, you could stay on and be my advisor?" She asked.
Merlin shook his head "I have to go, and I won't be coming back" he said sadly.
"Goodbye" Was all Gwen could manage as Merlin stood up and walked out of the door. Out side the knights were waiting for him, and the silently followed him to Gaius' chambers, where they would wait for him to say goodbye to the old man.
Inside Gaius was bent over an herb book and was creating some sort of herbal remedy, when the door opened Gaius looked up. Upon seeing Merlin alive and all but well, he ran, well quick walked, over to the young man and embraced him tightly. "Merlin, you're alive!" He exclaimed happily.
"I am but-" Merlin started.
"What Merlin, what happened?"
"Destiny," Was all Merlin said.
"Oh Merlin," Gaius pulled him into another hug, "Goodbye my boy."
"How did you-" Merlin asked confused, pulling out of the hug.
"You weren't the only one talking to the Great Dragon," Gaius answered with a smile.
The journey to Ealdor was longer than Merlin expected it to be, they rode through the night not stopping to make camp. When they arrived in the village late the next morning they were met by a frantic Hunith, who, when she saw Merlin, cried out with joy. Running over Hunith nearly knocked Merlin over as she flung her arms around his neck.
"What are you doing here; I had heard you had gone to war. Where is Arthur?" she said almost as an after thought. Seeing her son's sad expression she tried to comfort him, "Oh Merlin, I'm so sorry." Now in the company of his mother Merlin let the tears fall again, knowing he would never see her again.
"I can no longer stay in this world," He said suddenly.
Hunith looked at her son sadly, "I know." Then Hunith hugged her son one last time before he mounted Arthur's horse for the last time. Turning to the knights Merlin surveyed them with tired eyes.
"You can not accompany me any further," He started.
"We know Merlin," Interrupted Lancelot.
"Just promise me you will look after everybody, and make sure Gwen rules well, I know she will but… Leon, Percival, Elyan, Lancelot and Gwaine, the finest knights in the five kingdoms, my friends I bid you farewell." And as an after thought Merlin turned to Gwaine, "Oh, and Gwaine, try to stay out of the taverns!" A small smile found it self on Gwaine's face as Merlin rode off in the direction of Avalon.
Merlin found the lake just as he'd left it, smooth, calm and foreboding. He didn't bother to tie up the horse because he wanted it to find its way back to Camelot as it was trained to do. After staring out over the water for a moment Merlin began to wade in to it until he was waist deep. Merlin then took a deep breath, and whispered his final spell as he slipped into the water, not even leaving a ripple.
A/n. Well that was hard to write. Anyway, if anyone wants an epilogue please review and I will write it, because I do, surprisingly, have one planned! :)