A/N Extremely long time –no update. I know. I'm sorry. I think I just fell out of love with Merlin after the series finished. If anything this experience has taught me I am defiantly a reader and not a writer. Yet the idea of this being unfinished has been hanging over my head. I will endeavour to tie up the loose ends in this chapter. Thank you to everyone who is still reading this, and to those that consistently reviewed.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, or Arthur, or the BBC, or any chocolate (anymore).

Merlin sat at the table in Gaius' quarters, his head in his hands, looking utterly defeated. He had just returned from the funerals of both Olive and Eldridge. The events of the last few days still seemed un-comprehendible to him. Lord Ektor had escaped; much to the shame of Lord Garreth. In his own words Lord Garreth had announced that he could not believe that such a pathetic excuse of a Nobel could possess the riding skills of a deity.

The other great irony of the day- at least in Lord Garreth's opinion was the Lord Ektor had actually won the hunting competition- although probably not the one he would have liked to win. The honour of winning the competition was then passed onto the man who had previously ranked second. A young squire who exuded such joy at his success not even the hardest of hearts could have begrudged him.

Gwaine had arrived back at the castle determined to fulfil his final promise to Olive. The tragedies which had befallen his friends pushed to the back of his mind as he focused on his new mission in life. Arthur, forever grateful for the sacrifice Olive had made was equally determined to help Gwaine. The two of them and the rest of the Knights had scoured the dungeons looking for Olive's brother. They had rediscovered several cells which had been unused since the Great Purge, mountains of rats and even a couple of secret passage ways; but no-one could find Joseph. It was disturbingly telling to Merlin that the final arrow had gone missing at the same time. He suspected that Joseph had broken out of the cells, stolen the arrow from Gaius's chamber and disappeared out of Camelot.

Since the search for Joseph had fallen through Gwaine had once again allowed himself to feel the full force of the pain from the loss of his friends'. Merlin had no doubt that he would recover in time, but for now the wounds were still fresh.

Gaius entered the chamber and looked sympathetically at his young ward. Gaius had experienced much death and loss over the years and unfortunately it had never became easier. He sat down in front of his ward, and they both sat in companionable silence for a time.

'What is on your mind Merlin?'

'Everything that happened, all of the death, I still can't work out why.'

'There often isn't a reason behind death', Gaius commented philosophically, 'that is an unfortunate fact I have come to realise over the years.'

'No, not that.' Merlin replied while he shook his head. 'I still just can't work out why Eldridge died. My spell, my magic, killed him. It shouldn't have. The arrow was mean to return to Condry.'

'Merlin, ' Gaius started, 'Your magic didn't kill him.'

'I don't understand what you mean Gaius?'

'You know that to save a life you must take a life.'

'Yes,' Merlin answered trepidly, not entirely sure where the old physician was going.

'And was a life taken to save Eldridge?'

'No.' Merlin was still confused. 'I still don't understand what you are saying Gaius.'

Gaius sighed. 'Think of it this way instead Merlin, what were the words of the spell you used when the arrow was shot at Arthur?'

'I cast a spell to return it to where it had come from.'

'And was that spell specific to magic arrow, commanding them to return to the quiver from where they had been shot?'

'No'

'So several things in that grove then returned to their rightful place. The arrow returned to Eldridge, because he was the person who had originally found it, and Eldridge's life returned to the other side because it wasn't meant to be here. A life cannot be restored without a price Merlin. We didn't pay the price, so we didn't get to keep the life. Your magic didn't kill Eldridge, the boar did. What your magic did do was give him a little extra time to save the life of a King and reunite with an old friend. You gave him more time, to help do something great with his life Merlin, and that is true gift.'

'I just wish I had known Gaius. I wish I could have done something else,' lamented the warlock.

'Magic has its own way of making sure that the world remains in order. You could not have predicted that this would have occurred, any more than a man could predict when his own last breath will be. Don't be so hard on yourself Merlin.'

Merlin sighed and still looked aggrieved. He had played out what had happened in that grove over and over again in his head, wishing he could have done something different to save the innocent lives that were lost there.

'Go to bed my boy, things may look a little brighter in the morning,' Gaius said as stood up from the table. 'Just be grateful that Arthur is safe.'

Merlin stood and walked to the door of his room. He sincerely hoped that sleep would put some distance between his and the events which had happened. 'You're right Gaius', he commented before entering his room, 'Arthur is safe, and that is something to be grateful for because that means there is still the promise of a bright future for Camelot.'

THE END

A/N I hope that you all enjoyed this story and that you aren't too disappointed in the ending. It was my first multi-chapter fiction and now it's over!