Epilogue

Merlin stood in the empty hall. Today was the day he should have been married. Now the white flowers were a reminder of what he had lost. They'd sent Ryll and Byron off to Avalon the day before. It had been the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. He'd felt as if his entire life had been torn apart in one moment. None of this was fair, and he didn't understand it. Magic was complex. Fates were messy. Destinies often ended in death. Ryll had said Albion would need their help in the future. Her sacrifice meant they would all come back again. Merlin wanted her back now though. He didn't know how to face the emptiness ahead of him.

Arthur had given him his space despite the revelation that his long time servant and friend had magic. Morgana hadn't seemed as surprised even when she'd asked him simply if he really was Emrys. When he'd replied yes, she'd simply nodded and walked away to mourn in her own way.

Aithusa had come roaring in after Ryll's death and had taken care of the rest of the enemy soldiers. Merlin had hoped she might be able to heal Ryll, but the dragon had simply bowed her head in mourning along with the rest of them.

His mother had stayed in Camelot and had promised to stay as long as Merlin needed her. Merlin hadn't really talked to anyone, but now as he stood he heard someone enter the hall behind him. He turned to find Morgana standing there. She was dressed in black as usual, but now it was in mourning for her friend.

"I know I'm the last person you probably want to see right now," she said, coming forward. "I just wanted you to know that if you need someone to talk to, I'm here. Arthur has forgiven me and said I'm allowed to stay in the castle. I don't know if I'll stay though. It doesn't really seem like home without her." When Merlin didn't speak, she continued on. "I know what you both did for me. Sarrum would have shot me if you hadn't spoke up, if Ryll hadn't… I wish I could have taken that arrow for her. I don't deserve this second chance. She deserves life. She's always been so willing to put herself in danger to protect those she cares about."

Merlin had blamed himself and maybe he still did, but he realized that what Morgana said was true. Ryll would always put her friends before her. "She was too good for this world," he said finally, his voice rough. "It didn't deserve her."

"Do you think what she said was true?" Morgana asked. "Will we really come back again in the future? Will Albion need our help again?"

"That's what she believed."

"I don't understand why she had to die for that."

"I don't either," Merlin said bitterly.

"I guess in the end it isn't about happy endings, isn't about who lives or dies. It's about taking what's been given to us and making the best of it. Ryll died so that we could live, so that Arthur could live. I'm going to do the best I can with that."

"I don't know how to live without her," Merlin confessed. "I don't think I can."

"It's not goodbye though," Morgana told him. "She'll be back and then you'll get your happy ending." She reached out and squeezed his hand before retreating from the room to leave Merlin in his thoughts.

"I'll never say goodbye," Merlin said fiercely. "I'll wait however long it takes. And then we will be together."

…

Ryll was back in the sunshine house again. She heard the laughter of children and saw them running for her arms. Merlin stood against the sun once more and this time she saw that he was dressed in a way she didn't recognize. Outside was a world she didn't know. But she would.

"Is this my future?" she asked, turning to her mother.

"Yes."

"Then we do have a life together." She watched as Merlin lifted one of the children into his arms, beaming.

"Just not the life you expected," her mother told her.

"Was it really necessary for me to leave this life?" Ryll asked.

"If you had stayed then Albion would have eventually crumbled and people like you and Morgana and Merlin would no longer have a place there. Now you can ensure it endures."

"When? When will this happen?"

"Not for many years to come, but it will seem fleeting to you."

"Not to Merlin though." She watched the smile on his face as the vision-her came forward to kiss him.

"He will wait a thousand lifetimes for you," her mother said, taking her hand. "You will be united again."

Ryll took one last look at her future before turning away and following her mother into the blue mists of Avalon.

The End

To be continued in The Second Coming of Camelot