Hello everyone. I know it has been over a year and a half since I last posted for this story. I do apologise as I actually thought I had already posted the final chapter and realised recently that I hadn't.

This is the final chapter and ended up being rather longer than I expected.

I hope you enjoy it. :)

Epilogue

The musketeers stepped through the light and found that the tunnel continued on and a wave of relief washed over them. For a moment the light flickered behind them before plunging them into semi-darkness. They were home, well back in their time, or at least they hoped they were.

The semi-darkness was due to Athos holding a lamp on their left. 'Was I the only one who thought to bring a lamp?' he asked with a smug tone in his voice.

'Think of everything you do,' Porthos huffed slightly at Athos' smug expression being illuminated by the lamp.

'Hopefully the stones I dropped are still here,' D'Artagnan said as he looked to the cave floor. 'Yes, I can see them!'

'Not the only one with brains Athos!' Aramis chimed merrily as D'Artagnan followed the stones by Athos' lamp light.

The cave seemed larger than before as they moved around in the darkness and with the sword boxes it was difficult to move, but it wasn't long before they found their way out of the cave. With the stream nearby it was clear to them that they were back in the same cave and hopefully correct time.

'Where are the horses?' D'Artagnan asked as he looked around as if the horses would suddenly appear.

'I would guess that somebody found them,' Athos said wryly.

'Just as well as they would have been left alone for a week,' Aramis said with concern.

'Yeah,' Porthos greed. 'There was a village nearby, I think. Maybe someone will know.'

'Well we need the horses to get back to Paris so yeah, let's go,' D'Artagnan said as he moved to walk off before realising he had no idea in which direction they should be going. 'Anybody know which direction we should go?'

'That way,' Aramis pointed in the opposite direction to which D'Artagnan was facing.

'Agreed,' Athos smirked.

'Not a clue,' Porthos added with a chuckle. 'So I'm goin' with them,' he jabbed his thumb in the direction Aramis had pointed.

It was difficult to find their way through the thick trees and they hoped that were indeed walking in a straight line and therefore one direction.

Suddenly, Aramis stopped causing the other three to stop. Instantly they understood why as they heard rustling in the trees and some not so kept down voices. Voices that they soon recognised.

'This forest is ridiculous!'

'Well, we need to check that cave again.'

'Gabriel! Vasselin!' Aramis emerged from the trees causing the men to momentarily reach for their weapons.

'What are you doin' here?' Porthos rumbled as he stood next to Aramis. Gabriel and Vasselin seemed momentarily dumbstruck.

'I would guess that they were looking us,' Athos gave another smug glance towards Porthos.

'You're alive!' Gabriel finally found his voice and charged at Porthos, who was nearest, to hug him. Vasselin was chuckling and shaking his head in disbelief as he approached Aramis for a hug. Hugs were given and received, somewhat reluctantly in Athos' case, as the musketeers finally realised that they were home.

Vasselin and Gabriel wanted to get out of the forest as quickly as possible and set quite a pace that they were practically jogging which also meant that talking was at a minimum.

Once they finally exited the forest D'Artagnan stopped Gabriel with a hand on the man's shoulder.

'What happened to our horses?' he asked worriedly.

'They're fine,' Vasselin answered. 'Local farmer found them and has looked after them.'

'We'll make sure to pay him well,' Athos said as he looked around. 'Where is the farm?'

Gabriel and Vasselin directed their fellow musketeers towards the farm and they instantly saw their horses in the field. D'Artagnan dashed over to the field and his horse saw him and trotted over seemingly happy to see his rider. The other horses noticed too and moved towards the fence where Athos, Porthos and Aramis were waiting. If the horses begrudged their riders for leaving them behind they didn't show it as they affectionately nuzzled up to the men.

Athos paid the farmer who asked only for the money that he had needed for the horses upkeep for the week but Aramis also paid the farmer's daughter some money as well meaning that the family got more coin for their efforts. All of the musketeers were relieved to see their saddlebags had remained untouched apart from the food, which they didn't begrudge the family so they said nothing.

The horses were guided towards the inn as darkness crept upon them and the musketeers happily ate a warm meal before retiring for the night. The boxes containing the broadswords were eyed curiously by Gabriel and Vasselin but neither said anything as the musketeers kept them close. The morning was going to be a challenge that was for sure.

Arthur, Merlin, Gwen and the knights sat around the fire next to the cave as the night drew in. They had watched as the musketeers had disappeared and the light in the tunnel had gone out. No-one had admitted it but they all felt a sense of loss. The loss of friends and in Lancelot's case a very good friend.

'Gonna miss them,' Gwaine finally spoke to break the silence.

'I think we all will,' Arthur agreed.

'They were good men,' Elyan chimed.

'Incredible fighters,' added Percival.

'Very charming,' Gwen smiled as she looked at Arthur who smiled warmly back.

'True friends,' Merlin said with a glint in his eye. Friends that knew his secret and had kept it for him.

'To the Musketeers!' Leon raised his cup.

'To the Musketeers!' everyone else replied.

Dawn broke far too early for the musketeers but the trip back to Paris was better done sooner rather than later. They gathered their belongings and mounted their well-rested horses. If anything, the horses seemed more eager for a ride than usual. All of them carefully packed their precious gifts from Camelot while trying to avoid eye-contact with Gabriel and Vasselin who were obviously curious about the packages.

The ride back to Paris was a quiet affair as the adventure they had just been on couldn't be discussed with others present and the tension was starting rise as Paris drew closer. Gabriel had informed them that Tréville was worried and annoyed with them and they all knew how the Captain liked to shout!

As they made their way through the streets Gabriel and Vasselin increased their speed to separate themselves from the Inseparables.

'They don't want to be near us when the Captain sees us,' Aramis said under his breath.

'Do you think it will be that bad?' D'Artagnan asked looking worried.

'We've been missing for a week with no correspondence. He will be angry,' Athos stated.

'Livid,' Porthos muttered.

'Let's get our story straight and stick to it,' Athos turned to the other three hoping that they had some better ideas than his.

The trip back towards Camelot was slow going as the events of the previous week sank in. The loss of Lancelot again was bittersweet as they had seen their friend again only for him to disappear again. Arthur had noticed that Merlin was much quieter than usual and he supposed that was because Merlin and Lancelot had always been the closest. Even Gwaine was quieter than usual.

They came across a stream and Gwen mentioned that she would like to wash and they all decided refilling their water-skins was a good idea.

Gwen splashed some water in her face and felt the cool droplets refresh her skin.

'That's better,' she said quietly as Arthur did the same. 'I'm going to miss them.'

'Me too,' Arthur replied. 'It was just one week...but what a week!'

'You can say that again,' Gwaine appeared having heard their conversation.

'I wonder what their Captain Tréville will say?' Percival pondered.

'I think they said he 'likes to shout'!' Leon laughed.

'They've been missing for a week, assuming that time is the same for them,' Merlin grinned. 'That would not be good for them.'

'Hey look,' Gwen pointed into the stream.

'Is that?' Arthur asked confused.

'It's them!' Merlin exclaimed.

'Isn't this the stream we stopped at before? Leon asked.

'Yeah, maybe it is,' Merlin wondered whether the stream that had healed him was now showing them the musketeers in the future.

'Let's just keep watching,' Gwaine smirked.

The Musketeers saw the garrison approaching and their stomachs were now in knots. Tréville was likely to be unhappy but at least the garrison was rather empty so a massive scene in front of their musketeer brothers would mostly be avoided. They had tried to get their story straight but they all knew Tréville would see right through it.

They dismounted their horses as Jacques and one of the other stable boys collected their horses.

'Maybe he's not here,' Porthos whispered quietly.

'YOU FOUR. MY OFFICE. NOW!' Tréville roared from the balcony. It was so loud the horses in the stables whinnied their annoyance.

'As if we ever get that lucky,' Athos muttered.

'We're dead. Just dig our graves now cos we're dead,' Aramis whispered under his breath in a sing-song voice.

'It's really that bad,' D'Artagnan sounded really worried.

'Maybe not for you,' Aramis said earnestly.

'But we've annoyed 'im a lot over the years,' Porthos added.

'Well, let's not make it worse by keeping him waiting,' Athos murmured as he moved towards the stairs.

Aramis, Porthos and D'Artagnan duly followed and before entering the office Athos, Aramis and Porthos removed their hats. Captain Tréville was stood opposite his chair, leaning on the desk facing them as they entered. He did not look pleased.

The musketeers lined up facing Tréville. From left to right as Tréville looked at them: Athos was on the left, then Aramis, Porthos and finally D'Artagnan on the right. All four men were staring at the ground and fiddling with their hats, well D'Artagnan had found a thread on his doublet to fiddle with. Tréville waited to see if any of them would volunteer the information of their whereabouts but none of them said a thing.

Tréville finally spoke in a quiet voice but it wasn't soothing. 'So...where have you been?' he asked although to everyone present it wasn't a question, it was a command. 'Aramis, would you care to explain?' the tone was the same.

Aramis gulped slightly as he continued to stare at the floor. Jacques must have told the Captain that Aramis had originally left alone.

'Well...it's a rather strange story...' Aramis started as he tried a jovial voice. He glanced up at Tréville and instantly wished he hadn't. Tréville's eyes were focused on him alone and the glare told Aramis that he better have a good explanation. 'I...er...I think I may have been out in the sun for too long the day before. I think I may have got slight sunstroke and I had a very strange dream. I must have left without really thinking about it,' Aramis shrugged but it was clear what Tréville was thinking about the explanation.

'Sunstroke can cause the mind to have hallucinations,' Tréville mused. 'It can make men act out of character. So, you had no idea where you were going?'

'No,' Aramis relaxed slightly as it seemed that Tréville had bought the sunstroke explanation.

'Then why did the stable boy direct them,' he jabbed a thumb towards Porthos and D'Artagnan while nodding towards Athos, 'to the woods north of Paris?'

'I wasn't thinking clearly at the time and I must have had a thought where I was going but I didn't remember saying it,' Aramis replied hurriedly, indicating his nervousness. Tréville nodded and folded his arms.

'Any idea why you went to Satan's wood?'

'None,' Aramis replied and looked back down at the floor. Silence resounded around the office.

'Why didn't you three tell me he had gone missing and that you were going after him?' Tréville changed tack and looked between Athos, Porthos and D'Artagnan.

'We believed we would catch up with him and return him without problem. We didn't think we needed to worry you about a small incident,' Athos reeled off in a monotone voice.

'But it didn't work out how you'd thought?'

'Not exactly,' Porthos gave a small smile which was instantly wiped from his face but Tréville's glare.

'Sooo,' Tréville prodded.

'I took shelter in a cave and because I was not myself I hit me head and knocked myself out.' Aramis rattled off quickly.

'It took us ages to find him,' D'Artagnan finally found the courage to speak.

'Satan's wood is not easy to navigate,' Athos added.

'We found 'im but we didn't know how long he'd been knocked out,' Porthos continued. 'We thought it best to stay in the cave.'

'For a week?' Tréville asked clearly disbelieving.

'Head injuries...you know how they can be,' Porthos was now wishing he hadn't said anything.

'Indeed,' Tréville mused. 'So why didn't you just sling him on your horse and come home, like you have done so many times before?'

Silence. Athos opened his mouth to say something then decided against it.

'We thought it best to keep him still until we knew how bad it was,' D'Artagnan offered weakly.

'So you stayed in the cave?' Tréville paced threateningly in front of them as they nodded. 'The whole time?' Further nods. 'Then why did Joubert return telling me that your horses had been found by a farmer near a cave and when they searched the cave, I'm presuming it was the same one, that there was no trace of you?'

'We were deep in the cave,' Athos stated without emotion.

'So far in the cave that you hadn't noticed your horses being taken away?' Tréville raised his eyebrows knowing there was far more to this story. 'That you did not hear your comrades calls?'

Silence reverberated around the room as Tréville's annoyance was growing.

'DOES SOMEBODY WANT TO TELL ME WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED?' the Captain had finally lost his patience.

The looks exchanged between the men in front of him worried him. Usually, he could get the truth but there had been the odd occasions where they had never revealed the whole of the truth to him. He often suspected that they were protecting him from something. The expressions held by Athos, Porthos and Aramis told him that no matter what he did they would stick to their story, which was full of holes, but they would stick to it. They're loyalty was to each other.

D'Artagnan shifted notably. The young man having just become part of the Musketeers was not likely to want to lose his place so soon. The other three were old hands at getting into trouble and though D'Artagnan had had his share of trouble, he was not yet accustomed to the Captain's reactions.

Tréville wanted to see where the young man's loyalties lay.

'D'Artagnan, you are new here. That means I give you a bit a leeway. They have sealed their fates but you can escape it by telling me the truth,' Tréville used his calm and stern voice. The one he knew the other three hated more than anything else.

To D'Artagnan's credit he did not look to others for help or instruction. He stared his Captain in the eyes knowing the probable outcome would not be good.

'It is as they said Captain,' D'Artagnan said quietly but without hesitation.

Tréville turned his back on the four of them and he smirked slightly as he realised how integral D'Artagnan had become in the group in such a short space of time. They were keeping a secret that they didn't want him to know and for the moment, at least, he would not investigate further. Aramis was clearly the one in trouble and being protected but somehow Tréville knew the others weren't blameless either.

'Fine,' Tréville said as he rounded his table and sat down. The musketeers were silent and looking at him through half-open eyelids. 'You leave me no choice...I will inform the King-'

He was cut off as four left hands moved to their right shoulders and started to undo the pauldrons that they were so proud of. Tréville allowed them a moment before interrupting.

'Stop,' the Captain said and the movement ceased instantly. 'I will inform the King that I have chosen the four of you to escort the Cardinal to Marseille next week. The King is insistent that the Cardinal be accompanied by the best soldiers France has to offer. It is a long journey.' Relief flooded D'Artagnan's features while Aramis and Porthos just managed to stop their smiles. Athos raised an eyebrow slightly but otherwise remained emotionless. 'Now get out before I change my mind,' Tréville hissed and dismissed them with a flourish of his hand.

The four musketeers promptly turned and exited the room while Tréville shook his head in dismay and started on the paperwork.

The musketeers made their way down the stairs and towards the stables.

'Well that could have gone worse,' Aramis smiled cheekily as he artistically flipped his hat onto his head.

Porthos chuckled in agreement and Athos gave a wry smile.

'Are you all mad?' D'Artagnan asked looking shocked at their reactions.

'Aww, he needs a hug,' Porthos said teasingly and embraced D'Artagnan before the younger man could get away.

'Hey, Porthos. Get off!' D'Artagnan struggled but Porthos' grip was too strong. Aramis laughed loudly at D'Artagnan's predicament while Athos watched with slight upturn of his lips. 'Hey, come on!' D'Artagnan's protesting finally bore fruit as Porthos released him.

'I thought you liked my hugs,' Porthos did his best to look hurt as D'Artagnan straightened his doublet. D'Artagnan pouted at seeing Aramis' laugh which became louder at the younger man's expression.

'My room,' was all Athos said as he started to unsaddle his horse and Aramis followed suit.

The stream returned to its normal flow as Arthur, Gwen and the Knights of Camelot smiled broadly at what they had just witnessed. It seemed that the Musketeers had gotten away with their adventure with a relatively small punishment.

'They got away with it!' Gwaine laughed.

'Well, not completely. We don't know how far it is they are going with the Cardinal they hate,' Leon pointed out.

'Wasn't he the guy that tried to kill them?' Elyan asked.

'Think so,' Percival replied.

'One thing I will say, Gwen smiled, 'it really looks as though three of them, we all know who, have been in a lot of trouble before.' Laughter rang around the area as they all contemplated how true her statement was.

'Well, we know what they say. All for one...' Arthur started.

'And one for all,' they all said together.

Aramis moved to Athos' room next door with a chair and a cup in each hand. Athos was already drinking when Aramis entered and promptly filled Aramis' cup as the marksman sat down. Moments later they were joined by Porthos and D'Artagnan.

'I can't believe you lot,' D'Artagnan finally broke the silence.

'What?' Porthos asked looking confused.

'We nearly got thrown out of the Musketeers and could have been arrested for desertion!' D'Artagnan looked expectantly between his three friends but all of them stared back with blank expressions. 'Seriously!'

Aramis cracked first as he smiled into his cup of wine. He was followed by Porthos who chuckled under his breath. Athos looked relatively the same.

'What!?' D'Artagnan looked completely confused.

Athos took pity on the younger man and started to explain. 'The Captain likes to shout but we didn't expect him to do anything rash.'

'He knows we lied to him,' Aramis continued.

'But he also knows that sometimes we lie for his good as well,' Porthos concluded.

D'Artagnan still looked dumbfounded.

'If he was going to have us arrested as deserters we would have been arrested the moment we rode into the garrison,' Athos explained. 'Which reminds me, I need to find out our alibi...when he's in a better mood.'

'He knew we were lying, as he found all the holes in our story, but he chose to just shout,' Aramis added.

'But...he let us think...by removing our pauldrons-' D'Artagnan stammered.

'Ah,' Porthos clapped D'Artagnan on the shoulder. 'He wasn't going to throw us out. We just wanted him to understand that we knew we'd caused a lot trouble.'

D'Artagnan practically collapsed at Porthos' words, which made the other laugh.

'D'Artagnan,' Athos called making the younger man look up, 'You're still a musketeer.' Athos, Porthos and Aramis raised their cups and D'Artagnan joined them.

Captain Tréville was sitting in his office and stared, once again, at the note he had received three days earlier.

Do not worry about Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan. They will return, but they can never tell you the truth. The truth is a burden they must bear and best a burden shared between them.

A friend of the Musketeers.

Tréville had no idea who had sent the message, only that it had been on his desk with no address and labelled 'Captain Tréville'. He did know that he had felt instantly better when he had received it. As if there was magic in the words.

A/N: So that's it. I hoped you enjoyed the foray into a Merlin/Musketeers crossover. All comments welcome, even if it is just to say you liked it. :) Thanks to everyone who has stuck with this and major apologies about the very late update. xx