A/N - so this is pretty much where I was going to end it, but wasn't sure if anyone wanted more. I do have an idea to continue with this grouping set in about 10 years time and a one shot to explain something that happened during this story, which I will put up here soon'ish. Have family visiting so could be a little while. So let me know what you think and what else you want to know.

Disclaimer in Chapter 1

Thanks for the reviews and the support with this story.

Chapter 22 Up to something.

Later that day, Tayla's parents were leaving, even though they had only just arrived.

"Good bye Tayla," said King Henry. "I am sorry, my dear." Henry felt it best if they left. Tayla needed time to process and given her current feelings for her mother, he didn't want to cause her any more grief.

"I know. Good bye Father," Tayla said, giving him a warm hug.

"Tayla," said her mother, "you should be coming home with us. This is not right." Tayla stepped back away from her mother, not wanting to hug her like she had her father.

"Home? With you? Not yet Mother." The wounds were too fresh, if she went home now, she would most likely do something everyone would regret. Like tell her brothers.

There was no more to be said and the King and Queen of Dover left, and as Tayla was waving good bye, Arthur and Merlin joined her, one on either side.

"So you are staying then, my Lady?" said Merlin hopefully.

"Yes Merlin, for a bit longer at least." Tayla replied, as she watched the carriage turn out of sight.

"Well, not that my opinion means anything, but I hope it is a lot longer. Arthur is so much easier to work for when you are around." Merlin replied cheekily, thankful he was out of Arthur's reach.

Tayla laughed. "I am glad I can be useful. Thank you Merlin."

"That's not what I ..." protested Merlin, blushing.

"I know Merlin. Perhaps in time, you will get used to my teasing. Arthur almost has," Tayla said as she turned to go inside.

"Where do you think you are going?"Arthur asked with a gentle hand on her arm.

"Inside?" Tayla replied, Arthur just shook his head.

"I've promised Merlin a tour of the castle based on some stories from our childhood," Arthur said

"Why?" Tayla asked, a curious look on her face. This was so unlike Arthur.

"Because I was in a good mood, now, lets go. You wouldn't want to deprive Merlin of some entertainment would you? There are plenty of other things he could be doing." Tayla laughed at the look of pleading on Merlin's face.

"Of course I would not wish to deprive Merlin, especially if you promised him," Tayla replied.

Arthur took one arm, Merlin the other and led her away from the entrance to the castle. Tayla was quite amused by their tactics. She didn't know what they were up to, but they were wonderful company so she let it go and followed obligingly.

Having stopped at three different places, with three different stories, none overly embarrassing, Tayla stopped as they arrived at an open area of grass.

"Arthur Pendragon, what are you up to?" Tayla demanded, looking at Arthur.

"Like I said, giving Merlin a tour,"Arthur replied, somewhat defensively, Tayla thought.

"You are up to something. I know it." Arthur opened his mouth to protest but Tayla silenced him with a look, which Merlin took note to ask her about later, and hoped he would be able to learn.

"There is no way you would willing want Merlin hearing our embarrassing childhood stories, especially the one from here. You know that he doesn't forget and will use them against you at some point. So I ask again Arthur, what are you up to?"

"Nothing, and what story is so embarrassing..." Arthur stated to say.

"The puppy and the lake." she stated simply, cutting him off.

Merlin saw Arthur freeze.

"What puppy? asked Merlin eagerly.

"Arthur? Your choice, tell me what you are up to or..." she tilted her head in the direction of Merlin.

"Tayla, you wouldn't," Arthur said shocked.

"Well Merlin, you see there was this puppy..." Tayla started, pausing to look at Arthur.

"Alright, we " Arthur emphasized we to include Merlin, "are up to something. Just go with it please," Arthur begged.

Tayla looked at him wondering what this was about and wondering what it had to do with Merlin.

"The puppy story, please" said Merlin begged, receiving a glare from Arthur.

"Tayla you promised," Arthur said, one last effort to stop the humiliation, one that was even worse than him being beaten by Tayla and Morgana. Tayla sighed.

"Yes Arthur I did. Alright. I am sorry Merlin, but Arthur is right. I did promise him," Tayla replied.

Merlin's face dropped.

"Let's go then, no more stories, no more side trips just straight to the point." Arthur said.

"What exactly is the point?" asked Tayla as they started walking again, Arthur setting a quicker pace than before.

"You'll see," said Merlin rather cheerfully. Tayla glanced at him, wondering if there was any chance he would give anything away if she asked him directly.

They rounded a corner in the garden and Tayla stopped. They were near the apple tree, and Tristan was standing next to it, looking at her. She looked at Arthur. He smiled.

"What..." Arthur silenced her with a finger on her lips.

"Your father released him of his oath this morning. He will officially be a knight of Camelot tomorrow," Arthur said gently to her. Tayla's eyes went wide, she hadn't expected this to happen so soon. She didn't know what to say. She looked at Merlin, who smiled very cheerfully and raised his eyebrows quickly at her. She looked at Arthur, who was still ssmiling gently at her. "Go, this is your chance. Your future in your hands. He's waiting," Arthur finished with a quick look over to Tristan and back.

Tayla looked at Tristan, who smiled at her again, a smile filled with emotion that he would usually hide, and her heart leapt. She looked back to Arthur and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you," she whispered before walking over to Tristan.

Arthur and Merlin watched as she walked away. They were far enough away that they weren't intruding but could still hear. That was necessary to the plan.

When Tayla reached Tristan, he reached out with one hand and stroked her face gently. She closed her eyes at his touch. His other hand came up between them, closed. When he opened it, she took in a shocked breath and looked up into his eyes.

"This was my mother's. I love you Tayla." She glanced back at the ring, realising the significance. It matched the necklace he had given her for her birthday last year, though he hadn't admitted it had been his mother's then. She looked back up at his face and, as she did, flower petals of many different colours started floating down around them from out of the apple tree. Tayla looked up into the tree and smiled. Merlin, she thought. When she looked into Tristan's eyes, he continued. "Will you do me the honour of being my wife? Will you marry me?"

"Yes," she whispered as soon as he had finished. This time there was no doubt. No need for time to think it over. That one word was all that needed to be said, it was all she could say, because as soon as she had, Tristan kissed her and everything else, and everyone disappeared. She was consumed with the emotions she felt, to his touch and his taste. She felt her heart sing, this kiss wasn't filled with the sadness their first one had been, but with a lightness, a happiness, knowing this wasn't the last, that it was just the beginning.

"See Arthur, if you'd had my help you would have had a better chance of her saying yes," Merlin said sounding rather pleased with himself and his little petal trick.

"Merlin, I think it had more to do with the man asking the question than the falling petals," Arthur said, though realised that part of what Merlin said was true. It wasn't like his proposal had been very romantic at all. Technically he hadn't even asked her, it had been more of a statement and, honestly, a rather desperate one.

"You never know. So when am I going to get to help you propose to Gwen?" asked Merlin.

"Who said you were helping?" Arthur asked back, though he knew that he would ask Merlin for help, he just didn't want Merlin's head to get any bigger.

"Come on Arthur, what do you know about proposing?" Merlin asked, his mind going through lots of different ways.

"Merlin, leave it for now. This is their time," Arthur said, indicating Tayla and Tristan. "They have waited so long for this."

"But you and Gwen have waited for ages," Merlin said.

"They have been waiting three years Merlin, " Arthur replied.

"Oh, well, that is a bit longer," Merlin said, looking back to the couple. He hadn't known that.

Tayla and Tristan looked back to them. Tayla resting head on Tristan's chest. She looked at Arthur and Merlin and smiled. Three men, who cared the most about her. Making this moment perfect. The apple tree, where so many moments with Arthur, her brother, had happened. A place that was private and perfect, especially for Merlin to add the flowers and Tristan.

"Thank you, for the flowers Merlin," she said, mind to mind.

"You are most welcome, my Lady," Merlin replied the same.

She looked at Arthur,

"Thank you for my heart, Arthur" she said loud enough for him to hear. He nodded and smiled back to her. She looked back at Tristan, and again, she got lost in his eyes, forgetting about their audience. Arthur shook his head.

"Alright Merlin, our work here is done. Let's leave the lovebirds alone," Arthur said with a smile. He could only hope Guinevere would look that happy when their turn came.

Merlin stopped the rain of petals, and turned away walking next to Arthur.

"So Arthur, what are we going to do with you and Gwen? Gwen really likes..."

"Merlin," Arthur said with a warning tone.

"Fine, then tell me about the puppy."

"Merlin!"

"Shutting up my Lord."