PART 12

The white marble slab read:

ARTHUR PENDRAGON, KING OF CAMELOT

He stood before the tomb of his friend and King. He hadn't been here since he laid Arthur to rest. The Knights were off trying to keep Albion together but Merlin knew it was a lost cause.

His mission this day was to lay the Queen and infant Prince to rest. He had brought them to this place with magic, as he had Arthur. The location of their graves must remain secret for the spell to work.

Merlin raised his hands and the top of the tomb rose and moved off and softly came to rest on the ground next to the tomb. He stepped up and looked at the man in full armor with the Pendragon crest emblazoned on his tunic.

"I'm sorry, Arthur. I couldn't keep her safe." Merlin whispered.

Merlin looked to the stretcher. Gwen dressed in her signature lavender silk with all the trappings of a queen. In the queens arms, the little prince was wrapped in red silk.

He raised his hands again and she lifted off the stretcher and came to rest at Arthur's side. The three of them were together in death if not in life.

After making sure all was just right, he lifted the slab off the ground and guided it to rest on top of the tomb. There was one last thing to do. He magically inscribed the top of the tomb with the names of the new occupants.

GUINEVERE PENDRAGON, QUEEN OF CAMELOT
GWYDRE PENDRAGON, PRINCE OF CAMELOT

Merlin sighed. He bowed in respect one last time and disappeared in thin air.
O~X~O~X~O~X~

"Merlin, take me to my grave." Arthur said one night at a late dinner.

Merlin looked at Arthur with a look of surprise. "What do you mean take you to your grave?" He never asked that before.

"I want to see where I'm buried." Arthur looked at him.

"Arthur, you have been buried many times." Merlin looked confused. Please don't let him ask for the tomb.

"No, Merlin, I want to see where I was buried as King." Arthur insisted. What's the big deal?

Gwen looked at the two of them from across the dinner table and frowned. "Arthur, you are buried in Glastonbury. I have no idea where I am. I should be the one asking where I was buried." Gwen looked back at her plate.

"You are buried with Arthur, but not in Glastonbury." Merlin said. I guess I should but …

"Then who is buried in Glastonbury?" Gwen asked. "The legends say that Arthur was buried at the Tor of Glastonbury."

"I don't care what the legends say. That's not where I put you. You're together in a secret place." He glanced at Gwen. "The bodies in the grave at Glastonbury are Lancelot and the Lady Elena. He also died at the Battle of Camlann and the Lady died of the fever soon after. I set it up as a decoy for grave robbers."

"You didn't see to my burial?" Arthur looked at Gwen suspiciously.

"I was too distraught to even get out of bed those first few days. I told Merlin to take care of it. Merlin, you said we are together." She looked at him questioningly. Please let him be with us.

"Yes," Merlin said. He knew what she was asking. He gave her a nod to confirm her unspoken question.

Gwen stood and started to clear the table. She looked at Merlin and he could see the pain in her eyes. I need to go before I cry.

"So are you going to take us?" Arthur asked. Well are you?

"The only way to get there is magic and I'm a little rusty at my teleporting spells. Not as much need for them as there used to be. Let me brush up and I'll let you know when we can go." Merlin picked up his plate and went into the kitchen where Gwen was loading the dishwasher. I was hoping to avoid this but he won't let it be.

Gwen looked to make sure Arthur was still in the other room. "Merlin, you put the Prince with us?" She asked quietly.

Merlin looked back to Arthur and answered her quietly. "I put him in your arms."

"Is that why he came back as well? Because he was resting with us?" She asked.

"He was in your womb the night I said the spell that's why he was reborn. I just thought that he should rest with you, that's all." Merlin explained. Where else would I put the child?

Arthur brought in the last of the dishes. "Why do you two have your heads together?" They are whispering again about something.

"It's nothing." Merlin started to scrape the plates and rinse them as Gwen started to make tea.

"Merlin, I think I should tell him," Gwen said. I can't hold it in any more.

"Tell me what?" Arthur frowned. Oh now I get to know.

"We are not alone. There is someone buried with us." Gwen started.

Arthur looked at Merlin and Merlin shook his head. "It's not me."

"Then who is it?" Arthur demanded.

"Our son, the Prince, is buried with us." Gwen started to cry.

The bowl that Arthur had been holding crashed to the floor into a thousand pieces. It took a moment before he could speak. "We had a son. What was his name? What did he look like? How old was he when he died?" Why didn't they say anything?

"His name was Gwydre." Merlin said. "He looked exactly like he does now."

"Arthur, he died at birth and I died right after giving birth to him."

"Oh my god." Arthur sat on a chair at the kitchen table. He rested his head in his hands. "Why didn't you tell me?" He looked up at Gwen. "So that's why you wanted the c-section." She was so insistent. She literally commanded them.

"I … I'm sorry." Gwen started to sob. She ran out of the kitchen and towards their son's room.

Arthur stood and followed her.

Merlin watched as they left. He was glad Vivvie was already asleep. She didn't need to hear these things. He sighed and finished clearing up the dishes then got the broom and dustpan out and cleared up the floor. He went upstairs to check Vivvie and then he went to his room.
~X~

"Oh god!" Arthur said as the place he appeared in was spinning around him. I'm gonna throw up.

Gwen wasn't looking too well either. I think I'm gonna throw up.

Merlin scowled. I warned them.

Merlin looked over at the tomb, undisturbed through time. He walked over and ran his hand over the inscription.

Arthur took a deep breath and let his head clear. He looked at the marble tomb. It was plain with no ornamentation. He was grateful for that. He looked over at Gwen who looked pale and smiled weakly. Merlin must still be rusty.

Gwen was the first to walk to the tomb. She stood on the side opposite Merlin looking at the names inscribed on the top of the tomb. She touched Gwydre's name. "My sweet."

Merlin looked at her. She had a tear in her eye. I can feel her pain.

Arthur came up behind her and laid his hand next to hers. He leaned his head down to rest on her shoulder. My son is in there.

This was too much for Merlin to bear. "We should go." Merlin said softly. "I don't know what the air is like in here."

Gwen kissed her fingertips and placed the kiss on Gwydre's name. "Goodbye, my sweet. I'm ready, Merlin."

Arthur nodded silently. He was too upset to even speak.

Merlin motioned them to step back where they had been. He took their hands and said the spell. They all disappeared into thin air.