A/N: Sorry for my absence! I should be getting through the next few chapters more quickly but I'm not going to make any promises because we all know how that works out!

More reunions this chapter and then we begin to delve into our four year time gap shenanigans! But that explanation is still gonna take a few chapters I think ;P

Anyways, enjoy this one! And thank you for all the wonderful reviews, I'm sorry I never get around to thanking you all individually (you deserve it, I just slack). Until next time!

*Flies away on dragon*

It was a long time before anyone dared break away from each other. The inner knights kindly pushed onlookers away as the royal family continued their tearful reunion. Delwyn sat on the steps leading up to the castle with an easy smile on her face as she simply observed the happy scene for all it was worth. The loud chatter and bustle of the city's people could still be heard from the courtyard and the strong aromas from the shops and market stalls wafted up from the streets. The warmth of the sun made it that much more perfect. It was so perfect, and good, that that moment in time seemed frozen and tucked away suddenly for a rainy in the future when it might be needed. What seemed like forever passed by when Gwaine finally moved to crouch beside them, kneeling on the cool cobblestone. He placed a steady hand on Arthur's shoulder while Amr, who had always taking a liking to him and was getting restless in the group hug, got to him and began climbing to his shoulders.

"I believe someone else is in need of a good hug from our Merlin, sire." Gwaine said all the while helping Amr sit properly so the boy wasn't pulling his hair.

Merlin, whose face was still hidden in Gwen's neck, began to shift. The queen, however, didn't relinquish her hold on him nor Gwydre who still sat in her lap. Arthur nodded in agreement to Gwaine and began to rise, helping his wife and best friend to their feet as well. Even as they started their trek up toward the castle, however, Gwen held Gwydre and kept an arm wrapped around Merlin so he remained tucked at her side.

Gwaine who was now walking beside Arthur with Amr on his shoulders leaned towards the king and grinned. "She's not letting go of them anytime soon, is she?"

"I wouldn't count on it, friend," Arthur smiled back.

"So much for taking Merlin to the tavern to celebrate."

"We can go to the tavern together, Uncle Gwaine," Amr said from above, trying to make the man happy again. Gwaine, who was only feigning being put out, choked on a laugh and accepted the well-deserved punch in the arm from Arthur. Things were getting back to normal already.

[^_^]BREAK[^_^]

Delwyn joined Merlin, Gwen, and Gwydre as they headed for Hunith's chambers. She wasn't sure if she wanted to partake in this particular reunion but she still didn't know anyone that well and felt safest around Merlin. Gwen seemed kind too, and if Delwyn were being honest, she also wanted to keep an eye on Gwydre. She had been doing it for so long now it just seemed natural. Percival and Leon had been very nice as well, and while riding back Leon had tried making conversation with her a few times. She was awkward in the best situations though, so she was certain she didn't make a bright first impression. Gwaine was the most open and easiest to talk to but she'd hardly gotten a chance to actually get to know the man. They had all left a while ago with Arthur prepare a place for them eat a late lunch and discuss… things. Things like where she and Merlin had been the past four years. Which was not something she was looking forward to and neither was Merlin. She was particularly afraid though that once they learned that she wasn't just some stranger who had helped Merlin but originally aided in his and Gwydre's abduction they'd cast her out.

Merlin suddenly turned to her and held out his hand. Gwen, who still had hold of his other arm, looked at her with nothing but kindness. It was as if they knew what she had been thinking. Which for the warlock wouldn't have been that strange, but she hadn't thought Guinevere possessed magic. The queen chuckled then.

So she does know what I'm thinking…?

"I'm just really good at reading people," Gwen said with a wink.

"No, you've really just been the psychic one all this time, not me. Don't listen to her, Delwyn," Merlin insisted.

There's something about what he's just said that makes the queen's smile grow. Gwydre giggled too at all the happiness and Delwyn is taking Merlin's hand after that. Gwen was quickly dragging them forward again though, and into a room at the end of the corridor. It was nothing like the rooms within Cenewig's castle. It was clean and bright, all the furniture new and of the best quality. Almost every surface had a vase full of different flowers and a bookshelf in the corner was filled to the brim with more literature than Delwyn had ever seen. Sitting in a chair by a large window overlooking the city, sat a frail looking woman with a colorful quilt thrown over her legs. Her long brown hair was let down, shaping her thin face that resembled so much of Merlin if only one was looking for it.

"Mother…?" Merlin breathed out the word with so much emotion he already had to blink to fight away tears.

Hunith visibly flinched and when she turned to face the four people whom had entered her chambers her eyes were wide and lips trembling.

"You're not real." She said, barely above a whisper. Merlin stepped forward with his hands raised, a gentle smile on his face, and his magic reaching out to her.

"It's me. I'm here," he said.

"You're not real." Hunith repeated with a shake of her head, her hair falling in front of her eyes.

"It's really him, Hunith. Gwydre and Merlin have come home to us," Gwen spoke up from behind the warlock. "Merlin is here and he is as real as I am."

Tears sprung forth from the older woman's eyes and she shakily stood from the chair. Hunith's gaze flickered between all occupants in the room, focusing on Gwydre a moment longer, before finally settling on Merlin. She smiled.

"Mother?"

Not a moment later she was in Merlin's arms. Sobbing and gasping out his name and clinging to him for all it was worth. He held her up and buried his nose in her hair. Things weren't perfectly fixed but with this act it was clear both mother and son could begin healing.

"I never gave up hope," she grabbed fistfuls of the cloak he still had not shed. "I never gave up hope," she repeated. "But you were gone for so long, I could only fear the worst… And Gaius… Oh Gaius!" Hunith choked on more sobs.

Merlin could do nothing but nod and hope his presence now was enough. He understood everything his mother was trying to convey but could not yet come to terms with it all. The pain he must have caused, the pain he himself had suffered. Four years – he was surprised his mother was not more broken – it was such a long time passed. Merlin held onto Hunith with more strength, less afraid to break her small form and more fearful she would disappear if he were to relinquish his hold. Weren't that why Gwen had yet to let go of Gwydre or turn her eyes away from him? The queen and warlock – perhaps just expressing their fear more clearly than the others – wanted to make certain this was not just a cruel and realistic dream.

"Gaius believed in you until the end," Hunith whispered into Merlin's shoulder. She had said something more, something else to solidify the statement that Gaius was Merlin's ever faithful friend and mentor, but it was lost in her sobs and the fabric of the warlock's shirt.

Merlin nodded again, more tears coming to his eyes. He was home now, but he had missed seeing Gaius again, and for that he would be forever regretful. Merlin was certain his surrogate father would understand why though. He thought of Gwydre then suddenly, and Delwyn as well.

Pulling away from his mother as her cries subsided, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and faced the other occupants of the room. She wiped her eyes and smiled shakily at them before noticing Gwydre again.

"That's… Is that…?"

Gwen stepped forward with a soft grin and the happy crinkles around her eyes she always got when there was good news to be shared. Gwydre immediately reached towards Hunith once she was close enough, his magic recognizing her instantly. Hunith in turn laughed and more tears sprang forth as she reached the remaining distance and scooped him from his mother's arms in order to give him a hug and look him over. Her unfinished question was answered.

"And this is Delwyn," Merlin introduced cautiously, hoping not to overwhelm his mother. "She helped us."

Delwyn, who had not expected an introduction and was simply happy to watch the scene, stood mute for a moment in shock before stepping closer and smiled in a way she hoped she seemed friendly and not shy.

Hunith's sole focus was still on Gwydre but she glanced up at Delwyn for a moment and nothing about the way of her expressions said she distrusted the new person. Then after a while of all standing in a compatible silence Hunith fully looked up at the younger girl and held out the arm that wasn't holding youngest prince.

"Thank you," was all she said, but her grip was tight and reassuring as she held Delwyn's hand, and it was enough.

[^_^]BREAK[^_^]

They had long since gathered in the dining hall to eat lunch and discuss the past four years. They sat at a round table strictly because of the feeling of togetherness it provided, and perhaps a bit of the memories it gave as well. At the table, Arthur and Gwen sat with Gwydre between them, Amr on Guinevere's left and Merlin on Arthur's right. Gwaine sat beside Amr per the child's adamant request – the eight year old had took a rather keen interest in clinging onto the knight whenever possible as of late – and Gwaine saw no reason to refuse. Leon was then to his left making steady conversation with Percival and Delwyn who completed the circle. Hunith, even after being reunited with Merlin, had still said she did not feel well enough to join them all. No one argued and were simply hopeful that now that the prince and the warlock had returned home she would begin to improve.

Arthur was watching as everyone began to finish off their meals when he decided to ask the looming question.

"Merlin," he hesitated a moment longer, afraid almost to ruin the happy atmosphere. "You said earlier, that you'd explain once we were all together," Arthur gestured vaguely around the table. "We're all here."

"Arthur, what are you talking about?" Gwen inquired, her smile still not slipping from her face. The smiles of everyone else had easily dissipated though and Arthur realized he had had a right to be afraid. The change of mood was drastic and everyone could feel it.

Merlin took a large sip of his wine before responding, and he only responded to Gwen. "Arthur wishes to know why it took us four years to come home.

At that, Guinevere's smile dropped too.

"Amr, sweetheart, how about you play with your brother under the table," Gwen suggested.

"Yes, yes! I have my horses too! I always go under the table at feasts, Gwydre. Now that you're here, you can join me!" Amr said happily as he crawled out of his seat and underneath the table. Gwen helped Gwydre join him before looking up at her husband. She began to twirl a strand of her hair, which was a nervous habit that only those closest to her knew she had never stopped.

"They're home. Is that not all that matters?"

Arthur sighed and then nodded. As much as he wanted to know everything, the fact Gwydre and Merlin were finally back with them was truly all he cared about in the end. He didn't need to know anything else.

"Doesn't stop the curiosity though, mate, if I'm being honest."

Gwen reached over and smacked Gwaine on the arm at the same time Leon hit the back of his head.

He hissed in pain. "What?! We were all thinking the same thing!"

Merlin chuckled but his smile was a bit forced and they could all tell even from a mile away. Beside him, Delwyn had gone silent, and her eyes had fallen to where her hands rested on her lap.

"It's a long story…" Merlin said despite the sudden tightness in his voice.

"Merlin, you really don't have to if you –"

Merlin interrupted Arthur before he could continue. "No, you all deserve to know," Delwyn grabbed his hand suddenly and he realized how bad they were both shaking. "It has been four years of you thinking the worst," and perhaps he had to interrupt Arthur so suddenly because otherwise he wouldn't have been able to do this at all. "Four years of Gwydre's life that you missed and only we can tell you about."

His last statement was all it took for Gwen to agree that she might want to actually hear what they had to say. The others were already listening with full attention, all the while Amr and Gwydre were keeping each other entertained at the queen's feet.

"Shall we start at the beginning?" Delwyn whispered. "They should know first and foremost what part I had to play."

Merlin nodded. She gripped his right hand tighter where it now sat clasped between both of hers on her lap.

"I suppose I should begin four years, six months, and ten days ago… This is precisely eight days before Gwydre was born," with one final breath she looked up at the king, the queen, and the knights. "This was also the day that I convinced Cenewig to come to Camelot and cast a spell on Merlin to make him sick."