A/N: A wild Elfpen appears! I haven't written for Merlin in... oh, ages. But I've been feeling really super nostalgic for Merlin for a few weeks now, and somehow in my wave of Merlin fan-ness, the first thing to resurface is my OC...?!

I don't know if anyone around here is actually fond of the Merlin/Ilenna(my OC) ship that started wholly by accident, but I got this weird bug of inspiration for them months ago when I was daydreaming up Ilenna's character arc/personality/etc.

I actually wasn't going to post this, but Feste the Fool read it over for me and told me she didn't think it was too bad to publish. Soooo... yeah. Enjoy? I guess? I'm sorry for the lapse in Mary-Sue authordom. I want to return to the Merlin fandom when I can, especially with Concurrency and Here at the End.

*runs and hides because I can't write romance*

She'd been gone for over a year, away in the north, aiding the druids of her homeland in their struggle for freedom. He hadn't supported her. He'd told her not to go, that they needed to handle the problem together, but slowly. Diplomatically. She'd tried to persuade him, to instill in him a sense of urgency. He tried to persuade her, to calm her, to slow the process. She grew angry and restless. She threatened to leave on her own. He tried to order her to stay; she reminded him that she was no longer his pupil to order.

And that was the crux of it, really. He wasn't the teacher any more. They were equal. But they didn't know how to be equal. So he yelled at her in a mock-parental tone, scrabbling for an authority he no longer held. She tipped her chin and returned insult for insult. Their friendship shattered in those last few weeks. When she left, she did so without saying goodbye. The bitterness remained in both of their hearts for a long time.

But a year is a longer time. Soon, bitterness washed away in the mundane routines of life, of the harsh transitions of revolution, in the changing of the seasons. They both had time to think about each other, about themselves. They had time to worry, and definitely time to miss each other – whether they would admit it or not. They had time to realize what had begun to happen between them.

When she came back to Camelot, victorious with her head held high, holding every right to say 'I told you so', she turned suddenly meek when he appeared. He looked sad, but hopeful, too. There was a small crowd gathered around to greet her, but now they all turned and backed off slightly, waiting to see how this tense reunion would go.

"Merlin," Ilenna greeted, tipping her head only slightly, "It is good to see you," she said it and meant it, her tone whispering an apology that'd been long in the coming. He nodded when he heard it, and swallowed.

"Ilenna," He said, having to clear his throat. "It is good to see you, too." He smiled at her, somewhat forced, and stepped forward to take her hand. "Welcome home," he said, and she smiled. "Welcome home, and…" he looked up, and his eyes caught on her face. She met the gaze and for a moment, both froze. Merlin was suddenly very aware of the crowd around them, but at the same time, he felt as if they were in a world apart.

"Yes?" Ilenna prompted, because he hadn't finished speaking.

"And..." he started, and realized he didn't have anything else to say. Because his mouth wasn't doing the job, his hand rose of its own volition to her face, to cup the side of her face, whipped dry by the northern winds and dirtied from the road. He leaned forward. At the last minute, she understood, and turned her head just slightly up so her mouth lined up with his when he bent to kiss her.

It was the sweetest, most bizarre apology he'd ever given, but she accepted it readily, perhaps if only for the new discovery he'd brought with it. His hands wrapped around the back of her neck, fingers in the feathery hair at the base of her skull. She'd only just remembered that she had hands of her own. She tried to bring them up to his face, but in the confused newness of the kiss, she bumped against his arms, and eventually sufficed for wrapping her arms around his waist, pulling him closer. She felt his smile and he pulled away. Then, she was smothered against his shoulder, his brow bent over her shoulder and into the crook of her neck. Dully, she realized the crowd was cheering, and someone who sounded like Gwaine was catcalling them.

"I'm sorry," She heard Merlin say into her hair, "I love you."

In the storybooks, that always made the princess' heart leap. She felt nothing of the sort, but she did smile. "Are you apologizing for it?"

"I'm apologizing for being an ass and not showing it."

"Apology accepted," She said, and hugged him closer, enjoying the smell of his clothes and his hair that she hadn't realized she'd missed. She wanted to never leave. "And Merlin?" He hummed in reply. She turned her face and said into his ear, "I love you, too."

He smiled much like she had, but then he drew back so he could find her face and kiss her again.