A/N: Last chapter, everyone. Thanks so much for reading this story. It's the first multi-chapter I've written for Merlin and I hope you enjoyed it. If you'd like to read more Merlin-related stuff I've written (or just more of my stuff in general), I have a dreamwidth set up ("juxtapose"). Thanks again!

"Arthur?"

Merlin sniffed, smudging some tears out of his eyes with the realization that Arthur was in fact, breathing. He seemed to merely be asleep.

With all his might, Merlin heaved the upper half of Arthur's slumbering frame under his arms and brought the man to his bed, laying him down and tucking him under the covers.

It was over.

Arthur would wake up, confused, and Merlin would have to conveniently dive into an explanation as to how the Prince had hit his royal head and suffered memory loss for a while. Or maybe he'd just been unconscious for a few days. Merlin wasn't sure which lie to tell yet.

He was too busy focusing on the tingling sensation of Arthur's lips on his that still lingered despite the kiss having long come and gone.

Merlin sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. The past few days had brought with them a plethora of emotions that Merlin wasn't sure he could shake now that things would return to normal.

What he'd never owned up to until recent days was the fact that he'd been in love with Arthur for a very long time. He'd just never understood it until now. It had been this new version of the Prince, this strange new man that had helped Merlin to realize the person Arthur really could become in time. With Merlin's help.

That didn't mean, though, that Merlin wouldn't miss the way Arthur had looked at Merlin with such trust and understanding and, well, need. And it didn't mean Merlin could keep himself from looking at Arthur in that way, only to be hurt when he received nothing in return.

"Mmph," said Arthur suddenly.

Merlin looked up, brushing away the remainder of the salty streaks on his face. "Arthur?"

The Prince sat up quickly, immediately lifting a hand to his forehead. "Ugh, ow."

"Are you all right?" Merlin asked hurriedly, peering over Arthur.

"Yes, yes. I'm fine. Stop fretting over me. What's the matter? You've got that look again: Frightened, pale, scrawny rabbit." His eyes danced teasingly.

Oh, yes. Arthur was back. Merlin smiled through the new tears forming at the edges of his eyes. "Well, at least I don't look like a drenched . . . mouse."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Really, Merlin? I should think you could come up with something better than that to spew from those lips of yours. Considering they were kissing me not too long ago-with a fair amount of skill, might I add." Arthur swung his legs over the side of the bed while Merlin gaped at him stupidly. "Where did you learn how to dothat, anyway?"

Merlin answered his question with another: "You . . . you remember?"

"Yes, Merlin." And suddenly Arthur's eyes were soft, like they'd been only a few minutes ago. "I remember everything."

Any of Merlin's next inquiries were cut off with a kiss from one Prince Arthur Pendragon.

"I don't understand," Merlin said to the Dragon the following evening, "You said Arthur wouldn't remember any of it."

"If you recall," the Dragon retorted, "I also said your strength and his willpower could change everything. Your combined will to keep those memories was enough to be reflected, if you will, in the spell itself."

"What?" Merlin muttered incredulously, "But how . . . "

The Dragon tilted his head, peering down at Merlin with an aged, experienced look. "You of all people should know, Merlin, that magic is not all about spells and enchantments." He paused to let Merlin ponder this for a moment before finishing, "Arthur was able to retain the memories he'd gained, along with the restoration of the old ones."

Merlin paused, switching the torch he held from one hand to the other. "You say Arthur was able to retain the memories," he said slowly. "Like . . . like Arthur himself had never really gone."

"That is correct," the Dragon nodded. "In a sense. The Sunscin creatures never had the opportunity to take Arthur's soul. Only bits and pieces of what he and others considered him to be. Only what he saw when he looked in the mirror. The very essence of the young Pendragon never for a second belonged to the creatures."

"Do you mean . . . that was Arthur all along?"

"It was him from the very beginning, Merlin. A part of you always knew that, even if he did not."

Prince Arthur Pendragon confidently strolled into his chambers to find Merlin picking up some remaining shattered silver pieces from the previous night's events. He'd just had dinner with Uther and Morgana; the former was certainly quite pleased that his son was back to being his "old self" again (chucked up to one of Gaius' 'miracle remedies'.)

But that was just it. Arthur had previously assumed that regaining his former memories would mean leaving an entirely different person behind, replaced with the original. But that hadn't been the case. In fact, when Arthur awoke that previous evening, he hadn't felt the slightest bit different. Old memories had fused with new, and Arthur understood the ideas and opinions he'd formed in the last few days were valid because they were his opinions. And it was then he made the realization (confirmed later by Merlin) that he'd never become a different person at all. He'd never lost the essence of himself.

He strode up behind Merlin, wrapping his arms around the smaller man's waist from behind. "Hello."

Merlin chuckled a bit, leaning back into his embrace. "We probably shouldn't do this . . . "

"I know." He looked out beyond the curtains onto the kingdom before him. "Things aren't going to be easy. But I learned quite a bit. Losing myself and having to find . . . well, me again. The rest of me. There were only bits and pieces, but with those bits and pieces, with all my prejudices and the strictness, one-sidedness of my upbringing cast away . . . I learned a great deal of what it will entail to rule this kingdom with honor and justice."

Merlin squirmed around in Arthur's arms to face him, smiling broadly. "You're going to be the a great king."

"Mmhm. I know."

Merlin whacked his arm. "Prat."

"Idiot. I know," Arthur finished, "Because you're here. I won't be able to do this alone."

Merlin nodded, lacing his fingers with Arthur's. "And you won't have to."

And so they stood together, hearts and hands entwined, heading toward the future of a united Albion.