A/N: Thanks for all the amazing reviews, guys! I'm super glad you're still enjoying this. I'm hoping that once summer break is here (my last 2 finals are on Wednesday!), I'll be able to update this in bigger chunks and more often. It's just REALLY difficult trying to keep up with the three-parters AND school at the same time. Anyway, I'm rambling, and it's not even gotten to the chapter yet, LOL. Enjoy – and please REVIEW!

Reflections

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Eye of the Phoenix Part 8

Well, there's not too much left of this episode at all, so this is probably going to be a short chapter. In all honesty, as much as I adored this episode (despite the whole Merlin not telling Gwaine thing I griped about last chapter), I'm seriously ready to move on to the next one (which will hopefully only have three to five parts, just saying).

So, anyway, when we left off, Fishie just kicked the bucket. D'aw, and Merlin looks so shocked and serious. Not to say that I wouldn't look that way either if I were in his position. He's just found the oldest guy known to man (except maybe Nicholas Flamel, but then again, Fishie was pretty durn old (and cursed) so who knows, really?), been told (for like the zillionth time, although I'm sure it just adds even MORE pressure onto his already burdened-down shoulders) that his destiny is to save Albion in her time of need by essentially continuing to save Arthur's ungrateful backside and risking his life daily for a kingdom that would see him dead in a heartbeat, given magic bottled-water of doom, and then asked to help the Fisher King finally move on. THEN he watched said old guy disappear into a gust of wind. He's seen a lot of stuffin the past few minutes.

Meanwhile, Arthur and Gwaine got to play more Indiana Jones. Yeah. We see who gets to have all the fun here. (Just kidding, if it was between getting told that the fate of the world rested on my shoulders and sticking my hand into a hole full of bugs, you'd better believe I'd take the pressure of the world because I sure as heck am NOT going to touch a bug. For heaven's sake, I just about fell down the stairs a few minutes ago trying to get away from a mosquito that got into the house!

Anyway, I'm digressing. I know, right. Surprise, surprise. Whoopdie-freaking-do, am I right?

Apparently Arthur's bug-hole idea worked, but only partially, since the door didn't open all the way – it rose just enough for him and Gwaine to roll through. Upon seeing Merlin, both Arthur and Gwaine look relieved, which does make me happy since it shows that they (well, we already know that Gwaine considers Merlin a friend) really care about his wellbeing. Of course, Arthur cares about Merlin, but rarely does he show it.

As it is, his response to seeing Merlin alive and well on the other side of the door is fairly enthusiastic. He says, "Merlin!" and gives a little laugh and then pats Merlin on the back. Gwaine, on the other hand, pulls Merlin into a totally manly guy hug.

I love Gwaine.

Arthur sees the trident and says, "Ha! Look what I found!"

Can I say it? Please? Pretty pretty please?

Okay, here goes: Arthur, you're an idiot.

First of all, Merlin was technically the one who found it since he was in here first. Secondly (although you have no way of knowing this so I guess I can't begrudge you this), the trident isn't even the real prize. The water is. And Merlin's going to use it to save the day because Fishie told him so. So there.

Merlin and Gwaine kind of exchange another exasperated glance and follow Arthur out of the castle, letting him think that he's all that and a bag of chips for "finding" the treasure. Hm. Maybe they'll stop for lunch at a place that sells giant food on the way back so Arthur can check out his newest piece of cutlery. "…I'd like the seventy pound steak, please…"

Arthur, Gwaine, and Merlin ride off and then they get to the border of Camelot, which is apparently smack dab in the middle of a field of wheat. How on earth Gwaine knows the exact borderline between Camelot and wherever they were before is beyond me, but then again, he is Gwaine and Gwaine is awesome and can do anything (even invent underwater jet packs and breathe on the moon), so I'm not surprised.

Gwaine lets Arthur know that by Uther's decree, he can go no farther. And guess what? Arthur actually APOLOGIZES. Whoa.

Now if he'd just get around to doing that to Merlin after being such a jerk to him this whole episode…

Merlin says that maybe someday Gwaine can return and Gwaine's response is, "Yeah, when Camelot gets itself a half-decent king!" to which Arthur tells him to watch it because Uther's still his father (oh, that's good to know, Arthur; it would have been weird if you had gone on a quest and suddenly Darth Vader was your father instead), and Merlin tries and FAILS epically to smother his amusement.

Gwaine = Pure Amazingness

Just saying.

So everyone splits up after saying their goodbyes, and I miss Gwaine already! Gwaine, Gwaine, you can come hang out with me while you're waiting for Uther to die! We'll make s'mores in the microwave (cuz I'm not allowed to play with matches), and have a Wii tournament (but I get the pink dragon this time because pink's one of my favorite colors), and prank call Morgana. It'll be a blast!

So I'm going to just give you straight up the pure awesomeness of the conversation Merlin and Arthur have on the way back to Camelot. For some reason, it makes me think of Shrek and Donkey, with Merlin being Donkey. Maybe it's because of his enthusiasm, or the fact that he talked so fast I had to get my roommate to translate (she's great at understanding fast talking accented English!), or because he says, "I have to say, that was a good quest." That just SOUNDS like something Donkey would say. I dunno. Maybe I'm reading into this too much, but I've ALWAYS thought that, from the first time I watched the episode.

MERLIN: I've got to say, that was a good quest. (That it was, my friend, that it was. I liked the part where Gwaine and Arthur pieced together that YOU were Magic… oh wait…) Did you meet that man on the bridge? (Flitwick, Merlin, his name is Professor Flitwick and he teaches Charms 101 at Hogwarts.) Oh, and the Wyverns, they were really scary! (Why, oh why, Vern?) Oh, and then the door to the throne room – that was so close!
ARTHUR: You do talk some nonsense sometimes Merlin. What would you even know about it, it's not like you were there. (Arthur's apparently got VERY selective memory. Or he's been Obliviated. Or he just thinks he's clever.)
MERLIN: Of course I was.
ARTHUR: You were not there, you haven't seen me for days. You've been on a little trip to… pick herbs… or whatever it is you do in your spare time. (Yep, he thinks he's clever. Ha. That amuses me.)
MERLIN: Ah, of course. If your father was to find out you weren't alone… (UTHER: Arthur, HOW DARE YOU HAVE SOMEONE WITH YOU? The task was to be completed ALONE. If you couldn't do it alone, you're obviously not worthy to be the prince or my son, so you should have just stayed and died. Honestly… he saved your life… ALONE! Ha! … I mean… really, Uther? Really?)
ARTHUR: Yes, Merlin. So… just keep your mouth shut.
MERLIN: Absolutely, sire. I'd do anything you say… for a price. (HA! Point. Merlin.)
ARTHUR: What kind of price? (Merlin, ask for a "get out of jail free' pass. You'll be needing it eventually, I'm sure, since it seems to be criteria for a main character to be thrown into jail every other episode… but no wishing for more wishes, okay? That's against the rules… Oh wait, that's genies, not princes… oh well, same concept, I'm sure.)
MERLIN: *thinks it over, really hopefully* A… day off? (Aw, Arthur, can't you see that you're just working the poor boy to death? Honestly… give him a day off.)
ARTHUR: Hm…I think you've had too many of those herbs you've been picking. (Arthur – Merlin saved your life (again). The least you can do is give him ONE day off. Jerk. Ah wall, point Arthur.)

The rest of the episode goes by quickly. Morgana is seriously ticked when Arthur shows back up in Camelot alive, Uther declares Arthur worthy to be the prince (maybe HE'S who Arthur gets his occasional jerkish tendencies from), and Gaius and Merlin decide that it would be a good idea to hold onto the water from the Lake of Avalon. Smart move… because I have a feeling it's going to REEEALLY come in handy…

Stats:

Burn Meter 5000:
Part 8: Arthur 1, Merlin 1
This Episode so Far: Arthur 6, Merlin 5
Total: Arthur 42, Merlin 43

Shirtless Arthur Scenes:
Part 8: 0
This Episode so Far: 1
Total: 5

Smirk-O-Meter
Part 8: 1
This Episode so far: 7
Total: 60

A/N: Well, there you go – the final part to this episode. I know the end was a bit rushed, but honestly, I am ready for Love in the Time of Dragons… and do NOT take that the way it sounds… hee hee… Also, the remainder of the episode is pretty dull in comparison to the Indiana Jones remake of the earlier part.

Please review and I'll have the next episode out as soon as possible!

~Emachinescat ^..^