Chapter 16 [Epilogue]

"Actually," Gaius said, stepping back from Merlin, who was sitting on the examining table and looking quite bored and put out, "I believe you're healthier now than you'd been when you left."

Arthur scoffed incredulously, arms folded across his chest. "You can't be serious."

Gaius smirked wryly and began to put away his medical things. Merlin was slipping a shirt he'd somehow roped Arthur into fetching for him over his head. He'd already changed out of his ruined trousers upon their arrival.

"Well," Arthur said primly, "then I suppose Merlin will have no trouble going back to his chores, will he?" He cast a sidelong look to gauge the manservant's reaction, but he was surprised to see that Merlin was staring intently out of the physician chamber's window. "Merlin?"

"Where is he going?" Merlin asked, concern evident in his voice.

"Who?" Gaius asked idly, gazing out in the direction his ward was looking. "Ah, Gwaine. A patrol, perhaps?"

"I didn't send Gwaine on a patrol," Arthur frowned.

Merlin stood and moved closer to the window, eyes never straying from Gwaine's figure. Suddenly he spun on his heel and sprinted out of the room wordlessly.

"Merlin!" Arthur and Gaius called after him in surprise. They received no reply.

Feet pounding hard against the marble floor, Merlin ran as fast as he could, which was very, when he put his mind to it. He burst out of the door, the sun nearly blinding him from where it was setting behind the west wall. His blue eyes landed on Gwaine's receding figure, pack slung over his shoulder.

"Gwaine!"

The knight paused, turning to look over his head. He turned fully when he realized that Merlin was running toward him, and showed no intention of slowing down. Gwaine hardly had the time to raise his arms to catch Merlin as he flung himself at him.

"Don't leave!" Merlin uttered as he released the man, looking stricken. "Why are you leaving? Where are you going?"

Gwaine wore a pained expression. "I'm sorry, my frien...Merlin. I've come to the conclusion that I'm no good to anyone here. So I shall leave."

"Is this about what happened?" Merlin whispered huskily around the lump in his throat. "Because it's really not your fault. I don't blame you or the others for any of it."

Gwaine smiled sadly. "Thank you, Merlin. But I still must leave."

"No!" Merlin said heatedly. "I won't let you."

The knight blinked at him in surprise. Merlin seemed furious, and his eyes showed the beginnings of tears welling up. "Merlin," he started.

"Mate," Merlin interrupted. Gwaine blinked at him in confusion, and Merlin took a deep breath. "You nearly never refer to me by my name. You call me mate, or my friend."

Gwaine sighed. "You're really making this quite difficult."

"What's so difficult about staying here?" Merlin demanded, throwing a hand up into the air. "Camelot is your home now, isn't it? All your friends are here!"

"You are my best friend," Gwaine said calmly. "Most loyal, trusting, kind, caring...I've never met anyone quite like you. I've always wanted to protect you." He chuckled at Merlin's grimace. Before he could deny his need of it, Gwaine continued, "And that is why I must leave. I have hurt you, more than once, it seems. Even if I had no control over it, it just goes to show that I am not strong enough. You deserve better than that."

Merlin scowled. "If you leave, I'll hate you," he said. Then, after a deflating moment, he said, "No, no I won't hate you. But I'd be lonely. I'd miss you...I'd miss you like I miss Lancelot." A tear slipped down the manservant's cheek.

Gwaine's chest constricted painfully. He couldn't think of a single thing to say in return. Merlin just couldn't understand! He exhaled heavily through his nose, trying to come up with his argument.

"I forgive you," Merlin beat him to the punch. "There's nothing to forgive, absolutely nothing at all, but I forgive you, Gwaine. I forgive you, I do. So don't leave."

The knight visibly deflated. His pack fell from his shoulder to the cobblestones with a light thump, forgotten. The heels of his hands came up to press into his closed eyes - a feeble attempt to stay his tears. "I don't want to hurt you again."

Merlin pulled Gwaine's hands down gently, holding them in his own shyly. "I don't care if you do," he whispered. "Gwaine...I lo-"

"That is," cut in an indignant voice, "absolutely not how it happened, Sir Gwaine!"

Gwaine looked across the fire at Merlin, who was scowling in a good-natured way. "Yeah?" he repeated. "You sure about that, mate? It sounded like a confession to me."

Gaius, Gwen, Arthur, and the other three knights chuckled when Merlin turned scarlet. Elyan cast a look over his shoulder at the entrance of the small cave they had found shelter in. "Doesn't look like the rain is stopping anytime soon."

"That's all right," Merlin said, breaking the staring contest he'd gotten into with Gwaine. "We've still got the picnic."

"It'd have been better out in the warm sun," Arthur grumbled irritably.

Merlin grinned cheekily at him. "It's the thought that counts, Sire." And Merlin meant it. He'd been surprised when he'd woken late and found that Arthur and the knights had saddled their own horses, and one for him as well. Gaius had insisted that Merlin break fast with him, so he ate quickly and hurried out. The king had only regarded him coolly for a moment, and asked whether Gaius was on his way as well. This confused the poor manservant, but nonetheless he had been sent back to fetch the old man when he was ready. By the time Gaius had finished eating (so slowly) and cleared up, Gwen had joined the party as well. Merlin had stopped on the bottom step and refused to go farther until the strange behavior was explained. It was only by Gwaine's, Gwen's, and Gaius' combined coaxing that he grudgingly got onto his horse and followed them wherever they planned on going. He never did receive an explanation, but he soon forgot about it when he was caught up in all the fun.

The group joked and told stories as they rode through the trees. Even Arthur was laughing and grinning like a fool. The king had been happy when Gaius informed him that Merlin was quite well, and had no nightmares or hallucinations since their return. So Arthur had held a secret meeting of the round table when Gaius sent Merlin on an herb hunt, and it was decided that they would go ahead with their special plan for Merlin.

It had been months in the making, and every detail had been carefully constructed. Once they received a confirmation from their final participant, the date and time was set, and Merlin was still kept in the dark. What was a surprise, after all, if the recipient knew about it?

Everything had been going well. It was going just as it was supposed to, perhaps even better. Merlin was smiling more than he'd been in a very long time. It was refreshing to see, and the smiles were contagious all around.

And then the rain had come.

What started as a light drizzle quickly escalated into a downpour, and the party had to take shelter in a nearby cave. Luckily, it was just large enough for them, and there was dried wood already inside, as though someone some time ago had come into the same situation. They gladly used it to light a fire and warm up, waiting for the rain to cease so that they could continue. Merlin didn't seem to mind it at all, and he whispered the latest gossip into Gwen's ear. Ever since she had become queen, no one seemed to want to tell her anything. They giggled occasionally, and Arthur rolled his eyes fondly.

Soon enough, stories started to be told around the fire. Of course, when it was Gwaine's turn he told the story of why he had remained in Camelot. There was that ring of truth that was always in his tales, but as per usual he'd over exaggerated all the details.

Arthur regarded Merlin for a long moment. He'd gone back to talking animatedly about something, keeping Percival and Gwen enraptured. Not that the king was listening, he was too preoccupied. He caught Leon's eye, and the knight nodded back in understanding. He silently stood and crept back out into the rain.

Gaius and Elyan saw him go, but said nothing, casting a sidelong look at Merlin to make sure he hadn't seen. He hadn't.

Whenever Merlin's conversation began to lull, another one would strike him, effectively keeping the manservant from noticing Leon's absence. The rain poured down, down, down, endlessly. But no one seemed to mind anymore. Merlin was happy.

It was an hour before Leon returned, soaking wet. Merlin looked up as he entered, and confusion and concern crossed his features. But Gwen and Elyan were already prepared, offering up their cloaks so that he could dry off and warm up.

"Found her," Leon said mysteriously.

Before Merlin could get any more confused, a familiar figure followed Leon into the cave. She wrung out her long curls before accepted Percival's cloak, giving him a smile of thanks. She hardly managed to wrap it around her thin frame before Merlin was on her, hugging her fiercely.

"Merlin," Hunith said warmly, patting his back.

"Mother," he laughed. "What are you doing here?"

"I was invited," she replied, smiling. Then she pulled away and cupped Merlin's face in her hand. "It's so good to see you, my boy."

Merlin beamed at her. Then he turned and gave his friends and mentor an exasperated look. "You could have told me."

His only response was laughter.

Merlin scowled good-naturedly and led his mother closer to the fire. Now he understood why everyone insisted that they wait to eat a while despite their being hungry. They wanted Hunith to join in on the meal. The warlock was so grateful.

The conversation around suddenly ceased, and an atmosphere of alarm overtook the group.

"What's wrong, my love?" Hunith asked in a hushed voice.

Merlin pressed a hand over his mouth to stifle a sob, sniffing. Tears were running from his eyes. He shook his head, realizing that everyone was looking at him warily, all concerned. He laughed tremulously.

"It's nothing," he uttered at last, wiping his wet cheeks with the back of his hand. "It's just...thank you. Thank all of you."

At last they realized that Merlin was crying in happiness, and they relaxed.

It was Arthur who spoke, smirking: "What are friends for?"

A/N: Finally finished!

Thanks so much for reading all the way to the end. I hope it wasn't disappointing.

You guys are amazing. ^-^b