Oh man, it's the last chapter, and this has been by far the most wonderful fic to write ever simply because of the fantastic response! I swear, if every fic got this kind of lavish love, there would be no discontinued fics. At all. O_O

Anyway, for the last time ever -sniff- I will give barrels of lovely, lovely ale to my most wonderful reviewers who are so good to me it's like a dream! -sob- Love and thanks to DementedViper, Hogaboom, purplewindow, HopeCoppice, dimple-lala, star-fire-dreamer, prettylittlepickle and Naomi. I thank you from the bottom of my greasy black heart. -sniff-

DISCLAIMED

Gwen was alone for the time being – it being tradition that the bride should look upon her reflection in a looking glass or at least a pool of water, Ellen and Orlaith had gone to fetch one, leaving her on her own.

She twined her fingers in front of her nervously, wishing she could sit down. Ellen had forbidden it of course, in case it rumpled or creased the silk. She looked up as the door opened, expecting to see Orlaith and Ellen bringing a mirror.

Instead, she gasped as the one person she would never have expected to see back in Camelot, least of all to see her walked into the room, her smile radiant.

Gwen gasped. "Morgana!"

Her Lady's smile widened and she stepped forward to embrace her old maid, closing the door behind her with a wave of her hand. "Gwen. You look well."

"What are you doing here?" Gwen gaped, a happy smile lighting up her eyes.

"Seeing you of course, silly." Morgana smiled. "I wouldn't miss your wedding for the world."

Gwen smiled tearfully. "I'm so glad you came!" She cried. "You don't…mind, do you?" She added worriedly.

"Mind?" Morgana laughed and looked at her strangely. "Why would I mind?"

"Well," Gwen ducked her head. "You and Arthur were always meant to be King and Queen one day…"

"No." Morgana shook her head kindly. "Arthur will be King, true enough, but I will never be his Queen." Her eyes darkened. "I have far more important work to do." Her eyes lightened again as she gazed at Gwen. "Though I can spare an hour or two for this. You look beautiful, Guinevere."

Gwen blushed and ducked her head again. "It's nothing." She mumbled. "I mean…"

"Rubbish." Morgana laughed. "I've never seen such a beautiful bride." And indeed such a beautiful dress, she added mentally. The seamstress had truly outdone herself with the wedding garment.

The bodice was white with patterns of Celtic spirals and curves embroidered in delicate pale gold. The sleeves were of soft silk, joined at the shoulder with gold ribbon and falling in a cascade of white almost to the floor, leaving Gwen's arms from the elbows-down bare. The skirt shone like the moon, flaring out from her slim waist and the 'v' of the bodice and brushing the floor gently.

Someone had done something magnificent with Gwen's hair – instead of the tightly-twisted curls she usually wore pinned up out of her face, the dark brown locks had been teased into softness, half plaited and pinned in an elaborate style, the other half falling to her shoulders in soft curls.

"You really think so?" She asked shyly.

Morgana laughed and put a hand on her heart. "As the Gods are my witness," she grinned. "But," she added teasingly, "there's just one thing missing."

Gwen frowned slightly, keeping her smile. "What?"

"Headgear." Morgana narrowed her eyes thoughtfully at Gwen's hair. "You need a circlet."

"Morgana, there's no time." Gwen laughed.

"There's time enough for me." She whispered, bringing her hands together over Gwen's head. "Ałetђra moѓr atёer."

Gwen felt something settle in her hair and gasped, bringing her hands up to touch the cold silver that had appeared from nowhere. Morgana's eyes danced as she stepped back.

"There. That can be your wedding present." A/N - If you want to see the beautiful circlet I based this on, the link is at the bottom of the page.

"What is it made of?" Gwen breathed.

"Star rays and moonbeams." Morgana smiled, pleased with her handiwork. "Now I have to go – you might see me in the crowd if you look hard enough."

"Do you really think Arthur wants to go through with this?" Gwen asked her anxiously. "He shouldn't have to, really. I mean, I'm just a servant and he's a Prince, and –"

"Gwen!" Morgana laughed. "Relax. Of course he wants this. He loves you."

"How do you know?" Gwen asked, biting her lip.

"Because I can see into his heart." Morgana smiled smugly. "You keep that in mind. Now I've really got to go – good luck." She couldn't wipe the huge grin from her face as she closed the door behind him and sighed dreamily. "I love weddings!"

No sooner had she turned the corner did Ellen and Orlaith come around it, bearing a large mirror between them. Morgana quickly cloaked herself in the glamour of a noblewoman and passed them unnoticed. She wouldn't ruin Gwen's wedding by appearing as herself and having Uther set the guard on her.

Gwen looked up as the door opened and Orlaith dashed inside, stepping behind her and covering her eyes with her hands. "No peeking!" She grinned. "Just wait a moment."

Ellen huffed as she laid the looking glass against the wall and stood back, smiling and nodding to Orlaith, who whipped her hands away.

Gwen opened here eyes and gasped. Surely that woman in the glass couldn't be her? Gwen was a small servant girl with hands callused from hard work and hair pinned up out of her face. Gwen bathed once a week in water from the pump in the lower town and wore dresses made more out of repairing stitches than original material.

The woman staring back at her from the mirror with wide eyes looked like a Princess. She was clothed in a dress of purest white, a circlet of star rays and moonbeams twined in her soft brown hair, a moonstone drooping to the centre of her forehead. She looked like a fairy queen.

Ellen sniffed and wiped away a tear. "Your father would be so proud, Gwennie," she whispered, her voice rough with tears. "I know I am. Never seen a lady so beautiful in all my life, and that's saying something."

Orlaith simply burst into tears and buried her face in a handkerchief.

Gwen just nodded dazedly, half in a trance. Suddenly horns blared from the other side of the door and Ellen bustled forward. "Come on, Gwennie. That's your cue." She kissed the girl on the cheek and ushered her forward.

xXx

Arthur was looking very handsome in red and black, his crown nestling in his golden hair. It was clear he was uncomfortable – he preferred leather breeches and cotton shirts to silk and useless embroidery. Merlin grinned when he saw him, earning himself a scowl.

"Where have you been?"

Merlin shrugged. "Busy."

Arthur breathed dangerously and raised a finger to scold his servant when the horns in the hall trumpeted loudly. Merlin grinned – saved by the horn! – and gave Arthur a small push in the right direction. "On you go, my Lord."

Arthur swallowed and stepped out through the doorway, transforming at some point in between into the Crown Prince, groom-to-be of Guinevere of Camelot.

Merlin took the moment of solitude to do a quick happy dance, then slipped out after his master and merging into the crowd to watch.

Harps and violins played a soft, gentle melody as the bride and groom stepped into view. Merlin felt his heart melt into a puddle of goo as Guinevere stepped forward and every lady in the room gasped. A more beautiful bride had never taken the steps towards her groom.

Only Uther managed to look angry as the two approached each other and him, standing in the middle. It seemed an age before the couple finally met, and Merlin heard quite a few ladies sigh as Arthur took both Guinevere's hands in his own and smiled.

Uther managed (just) not to growl and held his hand over theirs, palm facing the crowd. "As King of Camelot, Lord of these lands and of all the loyal subjects here today, I gather you witnesses here at this place, at this time, to unite forever these two, Prince Arthur, and Guinevere of Camelot, in matrimony."

Merlin felt something tingle on the edges of his senses and turned his head with a frown, searching for the source. As his eyes scanned the room, he caught sight of a glimmer of magic. His jaw dropped as he saw Morgana, covered in a veil of magic to hide her true face, wipe away a tear and smile at the stage with every other lady of the court.

Merlin frowned anxiously, then shook his head, turning his attention back to the ceremony. Morgana didn't look like she was out to destroy Gwen and Arthur's happiness – rather, just to attend the wedding of a dear friend.

Uther continued. "Do you, Arthur Pendragon, take this woman to be your wife on this day to cherish, hold and love forever until you both lie in the earth's embrace?"

Arthur swallowed. He had never felt so nervous in his entire life. Gwen squeezed his hands and he smiled at her. "I do."

Uther's eyes darkened and he glared down at Gwen. "Do you, Guinevere of Camelot, take this man on this day to cherish, hold and love forever until you both lie in the earth's embrace?"

Gwen took a deep breath and gazed into Arthur's eyes. They were soft and reassuring. With a smile she whispered, "I do."

Uther closed his eyes briefly to stop himself from going berserk. "Who blesses the husband?" He felt a brief flash of hope – the blessings of bride and groom could not be given by the family or any who had helped directly in the preparations. Usually they were given by friends, but who would be so foolish –

"I do." Merlin stepped forward and grinned. "I'll bless Arthur – I mean, the husband."

Uther hissed through his teeth as Merlin stepped up on the stage to stand behind Arthur, a grin on his face. "Who blesses the wife?" He ground out.

There was a tension-filled silence, and Arthur gripped Gwen's hands tight. Then, "I do."

Heads turned to see Morgana shed her glamour and step forward proudly. "I bless the wife." Uther's face reddened with fury as his former ward stepped gracefully onto the stage.

"You dare?"

"Would you break the truce of matrimony?" Morgana smirked. "I bless the bride. Do go on, my Lord." Her voice was the very embodiment of insolence.

Uther seethed, but continued. "Very well. I conclude this ceremony in the name of God. May He join you both together through summer and winter, youth and age, and may your love be eternal." He lowered his hand and stepped back to growl, "You may now kiss your bride."

Arthur's heart was beating so loudly he was certain everyone in the hall could hear it. Gwen's hands were trembling in his own as he swallowed and bent down as she stretched up. Their lips met gently, hesitantly, hardly daring to believe they had any right at all. Gwen had never believed that the sharp-tongued Prince could have such soft lips, and both pairs of eyes closed tentatively.

Merlin and Morgana's gazes met over the heads of their friends, and each mage nodded to the other seriously. Then smiles broke over both their faces, and they began to clap. The court joined in, most of the women giving in to their tears and sobbing hysterically. Morgana was sure she saw a few of the men dab surreptitiously at their eyes as well, and she laughed brightly.

The newly wed couple drew back, their cheeks flushed, and smiled shyly at each other. Uther growled through the cheer. "I now declare the celebrations to begin." He snapped, and his cloak swirled as he swept from the stage.

The band started a slow dance tune, and Arthur slipped into his role as Prince with relief, bowing to his new wife, amusement twinkling in his eyes. "Guinevere."

Gwen smiled back with delight and curtseyed. "Arthur."

He kissed her hand and rose, a charming smile on the lips she had just kissed. "Dance with me?"

"I don't know how." She realized suddenly.

"I'll show you." He smiled. "It's not that hard to pick up."

"If you say so." She laughed nervously.

"I do." He smirked and his hand tightened around hers, leading her from the stage to the dance floor. "It's easy." He whispered in her ear. "Just move in a triangle, and when people join in you can copy them."

"Okay." Gwen whispered back. Her father had waltzed with her as a child in play, and her feet remembered the steps easily.

Merlin grinned from the sidelines and then sidled across the back of the floor to Morgana's side. "Dangerous of you to come." He remarked, his eyes on the newlyweds.

"Yes." She agreed. "I'll be going in just a minute – before Uther sends his knights after me." She laughed patronisingly and Merlin turned to stare at her.

"You've changed a lot. You couldn't do a glamour or anything like that before."

"No." Morgana kept her eyes on the floor. "I've learned a lot. You haven't changed a bit." She added thoughtfully. "Or learned much."

"Oh I don't know." Merlin shrugged as though they were talking about the weather. "I could probably banish you from the court."

"Perhaps." Morgana allowed. "But you could do far more than that, Merlin, and you know it." She turned to him at last, her glass-clear eyes cunning and full of new wisdom. "Come with me, Merlin. There is so much you could learn. So much you could do. The people of Camelot, of Albion and the lands beyond our borders suffer terribly." Her voice rang with passion, and she fought to keep her voice down as other couples began to join those on the dance floor.

"The spreading of Christianity means that the people are turning on each other." Morgana went on in hushed tones. "Anyone with a grudge can point the finger and cry 'magic', and before you know it there's a lynching. Merlin," she whispered earnestly. "You could help me stop this."

Merlin shook his head slowly and stepped back from her. "I'm sorry, Morgana. My place is here, at Arthur's side."

Morgana sighed with narrowed eyes and turned her gaze to said Prince, smiling and laughing with his wife on the dance floor. "Of course." She said bitterly. "At Arthur's side."

"When he is King, things will be different." Merlin smiled hopefully at her. "I know it."

"Arthur is Christian." Morgana said in a hard voice. "Nothing will change for my people. It never does." Her words were sad and cold, and as Merlin stepped forward, she stepped back, literally melting into the crowd. Into air.

Arthur and Gwen saw nothing of Morgana's departure. They were wrapped in their own world. Arthur was teaching Gwen the steps of a dance she had always longed to try, but had never been able to. She was a quick learner, and was soon laughing with exhilaration as she spun and clapped with the other nobles of the court.

The floor split as the men went to one side, the women another. Gwen felt a moment of fear as she was separated from Arthur, but she soon picked up the rhythm of the dance again, and laughed as she minced with the other ladies to the men. Her hand was taken by another noble, a dark-haired young man with kind eyes.

He bowed and she curtseyed, and they danced. A spin, and she was with another man, auburn-haired this time, wearing all red. Another spin and she was finally with Arthur, who smiled and bent his head to whisper, "Do you want to leap out a window yet?"

She laughed. "You were right!" She cried back. "It is easy!"

He laughed back and they danced merrily till Gwen thought her feet would drop off. She caught Merlin's eye from the sidelines – he winked cheekily and grinned wide. "Where's Morgana?" She mouthed as she was gripped around the waist by Arthur and lifted into the air.

As she landed with a delighted squeak, Merlin shrugged and waved a hand – gone, obviously. Gwen pulled a rueful face: she had wanted to speak to her again. Arthur smiled at her and her heart skipped a beat. "Tired?"

"Yes." She sighed with a smile. "I've never danced so much in my life."

"Come on," he whispered into her ear, taking her hand and leading her gently from the dance floor. "Let me show you something."

Gwen looked around curiously as Arthur led her down a low-ceilinged corridor lined with tapestries. "Where are we going?"

"Have you ever been up the towers, Guinevere?" He asked in reply, smiling.

Gwen pursed her lips. "No, I can't say I have."

"Excellent." Arthur grinned at her. "Then this will be a more…novel experience for you."

"Novel?" Gwen laughed as Arthur spun her inside a stairwell and began to climb. "Goodness," she gasped after a moment. "How many stairs are there?"

"Lots." Arthur replied wryly. "But it's well worth it – trust me."

"I do trust you." She murmured softly.

Arthur felt his heart leap into his throat and tightened his grip around her hand slightly. He never wanted to let her go, he realised. They soon came to the top of the staircase and Arthur spun in place, blocking the doorway with a mischievous smile. "You can't see yet. Come here." He pulled her gently to his side and stepped behind her, simultaneously covering her eyes with his hands. "Alright – step up here. Very good. Just trust me."

"I do." She whispered, stretching her hands out blindly.

Arthur smiled and put his mouth next to her ear. "Now turn here." He removed his hands and Gwen rolled her eyes as she faced yet more stairs. "Don't worry." He laughed. "Not many more."

"Good," she breathed. "Because I'm running out of breath."

"It'll be worth it." Arthur promised. "Keep going."

"To the top of the world." Gwen murmured.

"So it would seem." Arthur grinned, slipping his hands over her eyes again as they reached the top. "Don't worry – just step upwards, and again, last time. There. Now…move forwards…"

Gwen obeyed blindly, hot excitement curling in her stomach as she felt cool wind on her face and bare arms. "Where are we?"

"At the top of the world." Arthur breathed into her ear before taking his hands away and resting them on her shoulders.

Gwen gasped, falling back into Arthur's body. She was glad he had his hands on her shoulders, or she might have floated away.

Arthur really had taken her to the top of the world, she thought giddily. They were at the top of the tallest of Camelot's towers, and she could see the world spread before her like a map. It was breathtaking. Words could not come close to describing it, she decided, even if she was a poet gifted with words from God Himself.

Camelot lay below her like a child's toy, the lights of the town winking like fireflies, its inhabitants smaller than ants. The sound of music and laughing and merriment floated up to them on the wind, borne from the great hall and town square alike. Everyone was celebrating the wedding, it seemed.

Beyond Camelot's walls the road wound like a river, the real river a ribbon of shimmering midnight-blue, reflecting the stars and the full moon in its enchanted waters. The forest hemmed the road in from all directions with its wilderness, untamable and magnificent. Beyond the forest lay mountains tipped with snow that shone in the moonlight.

"It's the most…beautiful thing I've ever seen." She gasped breathlessly, her hands flying up to grip Arthur's on her shoulders. "I never knew the world was so big."

"It is big." Arthur's breath was warm on her neck, and Gwen sighed dreamily. "But it is worth fighting for. Which bit do you like best?" He added with a smile.

Gwen shook her head slowly. "It's all so lovely…I couldn't choose if I had a lifetime to view it."

"But you do have a lifetime." Arthur chuckled. "You can come up here whenever you wish to admire this view and choose slowly which bit you like best."

"I think that…whenever I view it by night…" Gwen mused thoughtfully. "I will love most…the moon and the stars."

"They shine for you." Arthur whispered huskily, and Gwen shivered. "Are you cold?"

"Not with you here." She sighed, leaning back into him, forgetting to stammer and backtrack. "You're the most amazing person I've ever known, Arthur. You saved my life." She smiled slightly. "You're my hero."

"And you are my heroine." Arthur smiled in return, spinning Gwen slowly in the circle of his arms until she was facing him. Somehow his other hand had managed to slip to her waist and hers was brushing his chest lightly, making his heart beat like a bird's wings.

"Arthur…" Gwen's eyes reflected the moon, Arthur noticed dimly.

"Guinevere." He murmured.

Their lips met with all the gentleness of the first time, though the hesitance was less. They fit together perfectly, effortlessly, and both their minds went blank as they closed their eyes and drew each other closer in the moonlight, hidden at the top of the world in a universe all of their own.

The stars blazed brighter than fire and the world spun as Gwen's mind formed a dizzy thought in the midst of her bliss – this is how all endings should be. Happy.

Link for circlet - http : // www . medievalbridalfashions . com / catalog / index . php ? main_page = product_info & cPath = 1&products_id = 32 without spaces.

I am almost crying, it is so sad that this is over. I love every single one of you who read this, even the lurkers who don't review. ^^ Long live the King and Queen of Camelot! And Merlin! And more ale!

Footnote - I am going on holiday for a week from tomorrow. A holiday for which I have to get up sinfully early (honestly, 4:30 AM is just not right), and for the duration of which I will probably be deprived from any form of computer, internet connection or not. So I will reply to lovely reviews on the Sunday I get back. Happy New Year! ^^