Arthur sat with tears flowing freely. He felt so very lost. Merlin was wrong in his eyes; it was Merlin who had been the better half of him. He stayed there for a bit before going to find the others. His sister and brother in law stayed with him until a week after the funeral. Leon sorted out all the legal work and Morgana helped Arthur arrange the funeral.

Arthur asked for the same song to be played as they had had at their party all those years before. The Wonder of You, it had always been their song. Arthur stood up to give the eulogy but the tears were already threatening.

"Thank you all for coming here today to pay your respects to a wonderful man. I first met Merlin when he was just over twenty years old but it took me several years to talk him into going out with me. I however knew immediately he was the one for me. We had a fantastic time planning our future together but as most of you know our plans were changed forever when Merlin was kidnapped for two years, as retribution against me. They were the worse two years of my life." Arthur looked around the room.

"I won't go into all the details accept to say we will never know all the humiliation and torture he had to endure. For that I will never forgive those who ….took him. All though the years he slowly told me some of it, but I know there was more. But he was an incredibly strong man. Those who didn't know him before that time only saw him with physical and mental problems, you must believe me he was far more than that. He was the better half of me, the most caring, thoughtful and funny husband, son and friend to all who knew him I have ever met or will ever meet. I loved Merlin and cannot bear the thought of life without him…..I don't want to live without him"

Even with all his barristers training Arthur just couldn't cope and broke down. Gwaine took the piece of paper from Arthur and finished on his behalf:

"Despite all he had to endure he was always willing to help others where he could and did much to build the Counties Archive of Memories. He loved all the children who came into our lives and would listen patiently to their problems. As you all know he also loved his dogs who meant so much to him. But most of all he was everything to me and my heart and soul has been torn out by his death. He left me a letter telling me to do all the things he had stopped me from doing, due to his condition. But there is nothing to do; I have never wanted anything but to be with him. All our plans had been for us not me. Please remember him as I will, not as a man in a wheelchair but as a unique and loving man who deserved so much more than he received."

As Gwaine helped Arthur back to his seat there wasn't a dry eye in the church.

Merlin was buried in the plot next to his parents, in a double plot so Arthur could join him when the time came. After everyone had moved away Arthur stood by the graveside and sobbed. All he wanted to do was jump in with his beloved. After giving him some time Morgana and Leon moved forward and led him away.

After the funeral Miranda and her family moved into the bungalow permanently, to keep an eye on Arthur. He had got rid of the protection officers and was going to live there alone until they moved in. They insisted he keep the master bedroom. He wasn't able to get over Merlin's death but having the children about helped. They loved Princess and were always going on walks with her and Arthur.

Arthur never recovered from Merlin's death; he remained a broken man, all the purpose in his life had gone. Each and every day, regardless of the weather, Arthur would go to the churchyard and visit Merlin's grave and stand there and tell his lover all that was happening and to ask permission to join him. He felt he had no purpose in life anymore. So no one was surprised when four years after Merlin's death Miranda found her uncle dead in bed one morning. He hadn't got up for breakfast, so she went to look for him. He always got up early and saw her off to work once the nanny arrived. She found him lying clutching a glass pendant that was hung on a chain round his neck. In it was a lock of black hair and an inscription which read: 'All I have of my beloved Merlin, except for memories.' On the chain was also Merlin's wedding ring. No one had ever seen the pendant before.

After Arthur's death Miranda found Arthurs diaries, he had kept them all his life the last entry was the night he died it read: 'I can go on no longer, my life is worthless and empty without you, I'm coming to you tonight my love'

The cause of his death was put down as Sudden Adult Death, his family believed he died of a broken heart. Arthur was buried with his husband as was his wish. He was seventy seven years old. When he was buried he had with him the locket, both their wedding rings and the letter Merlin had written which Arthur had carried all the time.

His funeral was attended by all of his family and friends, along with most of the village. The same song was played in memory of them for the last time. Morgana spoke her brother eulogy and there wasn't a dry eye in the church. She spoke of her brother, his courage and love, and all he did for those her loved. They all knew he was now where he wanted to be. With his Merlin.

The grave stone was marked simply with:

Merlin Emrys Pendragon MBE

Arthur Pendragon

"Together forever you're mine"

Epilogue

Their legacy was many and varied.

Arthur left money to the Canal Barge charity for the wheelchair user and they bought two barges one named Merlin the other Arthur Pendragon. That most people thought they had been named after the Arthurian legend didn't matter.

In the county archives there was a Merlin Emrys Pendragon wing that held the collective memories of the county, the records having been started by Merlin.

After she had read them Miranda had Arthur diaries published as an extraordinary love story for two men. The dairies were given to the archive.

Miranda never changed her name as Uther had requested. But she did leave the law firm that Arthur started, and she and Mordred were now owners, as Pendragons in Arthur's honour. After reading the dairies and talking to her parents she felt that her Grandfather had not been someone she wanted to remember. She had some vague memories of him but had lots of happy memories of her uncle's.

Arthur left the bungalow to Miranda. She continued to live there, selling Uther's house to be converted into flats. She said she wanted her children brought up in a place of love and happy memories.

In Arthurs life time the bungalow had always been referred to as the Pendragons by the locals and now had a name plaque saying 'PENDRAGONS'

The bungalow and cottages continued to be lived in by the original families for many, many years and they remained friends and had lots of parties in the grounds. Gwaine lived the longest and died aged one hundred and two but never forgot his best friend Merlin.

Both Valliant and Cenred outlived their victims but weren't released until they were in their early eighties.

Morgause died a year after her release on medical grounds.

Edwin was knocked over by a car five years after his release so never enjoyed a long life.

None of them ever showed remorse for their actions.

Agravaine went back to Australia after his release on animal cruelty changes and died during a drug cartel war.

THE END

-THANK YOU ALL FOR STAYING WITH ME ON THIS JOURNEY, AND FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS AND ENCOURAGEMENT. It has inspired me to continue writing. I have thought of writing a prequel, with the story of how they met and fell in love. Please let me know if you want me to.