Epilogue

*****One month later.*****

"This is crazy."

"Will you stop fidgeting?"

"It doesn't fit."

"It would if you allowed me to work properly."

"It's too tight."

"Don't be such a pratt."

"Why are you calling me a pratt?"

"Because you just will not shut up!"

"Well… I prattle when I'm nervous."

"As if I didn't know that."

Snap.

There was a moment of silence during which Arthur and Merlin both stared in the mirror.

A piece of the full chest plate was hanging loosely on Merlin's shoulders. What Arthur was holding in his hand was the leather belt that was supposed to hold it together. The belt had snapped after being twisted and pulled for half-an-hour.

"It doesn't look like me," Merlin said while staring in the mirror. "It's like something you would wear."

Arthur sighed resolutely, and then he began to take the chest plate off his friend.

On this special day, Merlin was wearing a tunic of dark blue velvet and silver thread, the kind of clothing that he was not accustomed to wear, especially in Camelot. Arthur had offered to help him get ready, which had resulted in what Merlin viewed as a disaster.

"I suppose it looks better without the armour on top," said Arthur who was staring as well.

"I told you so."

The young king was perfectly dressed of course, in white and gold. The queen would be wearing the exact same colors.

"There isn't much we can do about your hair," said Arthur, half-smiling.

"I'm not wearing a hat," Merlin replied right away.

Arthur clasped him forcefully on the back. "Have it your way. Sword?"

"Why on earth would I wear a sword?" Merlin cried out.

"It's a ceremonial ornament," replied Arthur, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "There's nothing wrong with ceremonial."

"It's not a war council. It's a wedding. Oh, I feel faint again…"

Arthur caught Merlin's arm and watched the color drain from his friend's face for the third time since the morning.

"Honestly, Merlin, you have to pull yourself together."

Merlin had reached for a seat and he was now resting his head against the cold wall.

"You're not the one marrying Morgana."

"Thank you for that," said Arthur. "I still can't believe that you're marrying my half-sister. And that if you two have children, they will be in line for the throne. And that we are actually going to brothers-in-law. And that people will address you as 'Lord Merlin' in Camelot. And that King Lot would become our friend and ally. I could never have seen any of that coming."

Merlin's face grew paler, if possible. "Please stop talking," he said faintly. "I just need a moment…"

But his sentence was cut off by the sounds of ringing bells.

"Time to get you to your wedding," said Arthur, pulling him up by the arm. "Only one thing is missing." Arthur stepped towards the closet, reaching out a piece of dark blue cloth. "Scarf or not scarf?"

Without warning, a flash of white flew past his hand and snatched the blue fabric.

"Aithusa! No!" said Arthur and Merlin at once.

It was too late. The small white dragon was happily bouncing on the king's bed, thrashing the scarf happily with its teeth.

"Here goes another perfectly good scarf," said Merlin.

"It's 'no scarf', then," concluded Arthur. "Let's go now, Lord Merlin."

"Go to Kilgharrah, Aithusa," Merlin commanded. The small dragon wailed pleadingly. "Go. I mean it," said Merlin

Another flash of white and the dragon left through the opened window.

Arthur sighed. "That dragon prefers you to its own kind."

"Must be my charming personality," Merlin said with a smile.

Then the king and the wizard left the chamber side by side.

The walk towards towards the King's Hall happened in a blur for the young wizard. When they reached the hall, it was filled with all the people he knew and loved. All the Knights were attending. His mother and Gaius were in the front row. Arthur and Gwen had seats in front of the crowd, to his right side. The hall had been decorated with white flowers and green leaves. When Morgana came in, all dressed in silver and white, Merlin saw her as though she was shrouded in light. She kept her eyes on him until they were standing in front of each other. It was only then that Merlin noticed the small tears in the corner of her eyes.

"What's wrong?" he whispered before anyone else spoke a word. "Is everything all right?"

Her smile was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

"Yes, everything is perfect," she murmured.

"This is what you want, right?"

"Of course," she said, smiling again.

"Was it like this in your vision?" Merlin asked.

"I didn't see a wedding. I just saw…"

She paused. In a few minutes, she would be his wife. They had no secret for each other.

"You can tell me. You saw us together. What else did you see?"

She took both his hands and held them firmly, her eyes locked into his.

"Our children."