They watched him dissolve, as it were-and slowly disappear. Merlin's eyes overflowed. Freya's did as well; and they watched Kilgarrah die, though obviously it brought him no pain. Just when there was only the faintest outline of Kilgarrah in the air, they heard him speak one last time.

"Farewell, Dragonlord."

And at that moment there was a gasp between Merlin and Freya. They looked down to see Ania trying to sit up.

Freya bust into tears. She pulled Ania up and strained her to her breast.

"Oh, my Ania," she sobbed, "I thought I'd lost you."

Merlin gathered them both into his arms and let their tears of joy mingle with their tears of sorrow.

At the palace a week later, all was as it should be.

Gaius, albeit slightly weak, was pottering about as usual; Freya was busy with her remedies. The children were busy playing tricks on the servants and leaving mice in Morgana's room, as always.

"I don't understand how you don't shriek at the sight of them," shuddered Gwen.

"Oh, I'm used to mice," said Morgana with a grin. "I've had to be since Ania learned to walk."

Arthur ordered the knights about every day, suffered their complaints, and laughed with Morgana, Lancelot, Gwen, Merlin, and Freya over the supper table every night. Merlin was occupied with the small and large spells needed for the defense and well-being of Camelot and also taught Ania a few spells every day. Gwen looked after the welfare of the villagers as she had always done. Lancelot quickly rose to the position of the head knight of the army. Morgana busied herself with sewing.

And all was peaceful...until a summer's morning in June on which Arthur, Merlin, and Lancelot sat in the throne room with gritted teeth.

"Will it never end?" groaned Merlin.

"I don't see how you could stand the waiting," said Lancelot. "I mean, you've waited like this thrice before, Merlin. How did you stay sane?"

"He didn't," said Arthur with a grin. "I had to knock him out every single time. He drove me insane until I did."

"He did," said Merlin ruefully. "I remember that by the time it was all over I was always lying in this room with an egg-sized lump on my head."

"She'll be fine; you know Morgana," said Arthur consolingly. "And with how long it's been already it should be finished within the hour."

"You never know," said Lancelot gloomily.

"Arthur was always a picture of calm," commented Merlin with a wicked glint in his eyes. "On the day Ygraine was born he put the knights through such brutal training that by the time the sun set every single one of them was planning to leave Camelot at sunup."

"And when Balinor was born?"

"Oh, he was an angel," went on Merlin. "Well, that was probably because he was unconscious."

"Did you knock him out?" asked Lancelot warily, wondering if he too was going to end up with a bashed head that day. Then he thought of what Morgana would have to say to Merlin and Arthur if they did knock him out.

"No, he knocked himself out," said Merlin, grinning at the flushing Arthur. "His balcony was right on top of the Queen's chamber and he was hanging over the rail trying to see what was going on because Gwen had given her maids strict instructions not to let him in. Well, he fell over and landed in a rosebush."

Merlin was interrupted by a high, piercing cry of agony. Lancelot stuffed his fists in his mouth-for, like Gwen, Morgana had given her maids instructions to let no man near her until all was done.

The door was flung open; all three men started up, looking at the maid who had just burst into the hall as one might look at an angel from heaven who brought either wonderful news or terrible news.

"How is she? How did you come here so fast? Is it over?" he said.

"Oh, I started from the Lady Morgana's room five minutes ago." said the maid airily.

"Then who screamed, if it wasn't Morgana?" asked Merlin in confusion.

"Oh, it was me," said the maid. "I fell down the stairs."