A/N Here it is, the last chapter of Harmony. It's been quite a ride!

Thanks to my beta LyricalSinger for sticking with me on this, and also to my daughter for her help and enthusiasm for the story. Thanks also to my friends on Heart of Camelot for their encouragement and congrats on their own accomplishments for the Chronicles challenge on that site.

HARMONY 14. Departure

The morning after the Gala marked the last day of Master Randall's visit. He was busy seeing to the arrangements for his new apprentices, and would be leaving shortly after the midday meal.

Merlin did not need to attend the Master that morning, since the packing up of the Small Hall had been taken care of the previous day. Arthur had given him the morning off, partly as a reward for his servant's unexpected performance the evening earlier, and partly so the boy would be available in case Master Randall did need him for something after all.

Merlin was up early anyway and feeling a bit melancholy as he sat eating his breakfast with Gaius. Though the young servant was looking forward to going back to resuming his duties with Arthur, he was going to miss the duties he'd had with Master Randall and, most especially, with being immersed in music all day, every day.

He enjoyed the camaraderie that he had with the Prince, and he was sure that the feeling was mutual, even though Arthur was probably not quite ready to admit it. Yet, Merlin's destiny was a heavy one, and it saddened him to realize that a potential happy life as a Court Musician had been denied him in place of this continuing life of secrecy, danger and under-appreciation that he had long since accepted would be his burden. Still, he acknowledged, the end result would be worth it when it finally came about.

Gaius seemed to know what he was thinking, for he put a warm hand on his ward's shoulder and gave it a sympathetic squeeze as he handed the young warlock another cup of tea.

Merlin smiled up at his mentor in thanks just as a loud knocking sounded at the door.

"Gaius, Merlin!" boomed Master Randall's voice as he entered the room, having first placed a large padded bag outside of the chambers, just to the side of the doorway where it was hidden from the sight of the room's occupants.

The physician and his ward both rose at the Master's greeting and headed over toward the door to greet him.

"I thought you would be packing up your things," said Merlin with a slight frown. "Did you need me this morning? I'll come right away if you do!"

"No, no, my boy," he answered. "I'm all packed up and have just come to say my goodbyes to you both in person, since I don't know how much chance I'll get for it later."

Just as Merlin and Gaius neared him, the Master backed up a step in order to pick up the hidden pack. Handing it to his former servant he said, "and I wanted to give you this, Merlin."

Merlin took the bundle from him, eyes widening as he took the object, realizing what it was before he even opened it.

"Master, Randall!" he exclaimed, beginning to unwrap the viol and confirming his suspicions. "But… why?" Then he stopped speaking as he exposed more of the instrument, and suddenly his mouth gaped and his eyes widened even more. Looking up in awe he said, "But… but this is your viol! Why would you give it to me?"

The Master sat down with a smile of amusement as he and Gaius watched Merlin gaze in rapture at the beautiful instrument, running his finger reverently over the finely polished wood of the scroll and then down the neck, and finally plucking softly on the six open strings just for the joy of hearing them ring out.

"That's why, my boy. That's exactly why!" the Master musician answered softly to himself.

Merlin tore his gaze away from the viol and looked back at Master Randall with an embarrassed smile, obviously thinking he'd been rude in ignoring his guest.

The Master smiled back thinking only about how young the boy still was, and knowing he'd been right to give Merlin this gift. He hoped it would bring the young warlock much pleasure and help to ease some of the load he would surely have to bear alone if he was indeed the prophesied Emrys.

When Merlin still seemed uncertain about accepting such a fine instrument, Master Randall insisted, "Merlin, you deserve this. If I'd had my way, you would have been among the group heading out with me, off to a life where instruments like this would have been part of your everyday tools. But I understand why it cannot be that way. You've got much more important things to do here."

Merlin looked down rather sadly at this, and the Master wondered if the boy was unhappy about his destiny.

"You will honour me and Mathilda by taking this," he said gently, "She practically ran to get it herself when I asked her for permission to gift it to you." Chuckling, he added, "And if I'm not mistaken, King Uther will also be pleased."

Merlin looked up in surprise at this, but Master Randall nodded and continued, "You did not see him watching you as you played last night. You know how he loves his music, and I think he was glad when he found that I was going to leave you here. Do not be surprised if our King wishes to show off his servant-musician, and you'll need that to keep in practice," Master Randall continued.

The Master was glad to see Merlin brighten at the idea that he'd have an excuse to keep studying his music.

With Merlin still marveling at his viol, Gaius invited Master Randall over to the table where they had been eating breakfast before he had arrived. Once the musician was seated with a cup of tea, Gaius asked, "So Randall, were you pleased with the apprentices you were able take on here?"

Merlin paused in the adoration of his viol to come and sit at the table with them, and looked up to hear the answer.

"That's good Gaius," the Master said appreciatively, after taking a sip of tea. Setting the cup aside for a moment he continued, "Yes, all in all I am very satisfied. All are outstanding musicians and can no doubt pursue Masteries in that calling wherever they eventually end up." The Master looked over at Merlin for a moment, and added gently, "I only regret that the young man who would have been best suited to become my personal apprentice had other obligations, so I am leaving that spot open for the time being." Merlin lowered his eyes self-consciously, and Master Randall decided to change the subject slightly by turning back to his old friend and saying, "Gaius, in the end I was able to offer positions in my household to seven of our people."

Merlin and Gaius both smiled at the news that so many young sorcerers would be able to leave Camelot safely.

Suddenly Merlin's smile faded and he turned to the Master Musician. "Master Randall, you must think I am so ungrateful! I almost forgot to thank you for the viol," he said urgently. "I'm really sorry I didn't say so before, but I was just so … surprised! So … Thank you!"

The Master chuckled, "That's fine, my boy," he said, "Your thanks were certainly implied by how you handled that instrument after you took it from me. I understand perfectly so don't worry about it."

Merlin sighed with relief, while the Master became serious once more. He glanced over at Merlin a couple of times and looked like he might say something, but instead he took a sip of his tea and then put the cup back down fiddling with the handle.

Merlin looked up at him questioningly, and finally the man said softly, kindly, "Merlin… I want to know …. If I had offered you an apprenticeship….. would you have accepted it?"

The young warlock thought about it for a long moment before saying hesitantly, "I… don't know Master Randall. I think… probably not, but that may have raised its own suspicions."

The Master and Gaius both nodded their agreement and Merlin explained, "My destiny seems to have this way of forcing me back to it any time I try to break away. I've learned that it is usually not very pleasant for anyone when that happens."

Gaius put his arm on Merlin's shoulder for a moment and gave his young ward a sympathetic smile.

Merlin returned the gesture with a brief, grim smile of his own before turning back to the musician and saying, "So I guess I am happy…. No, actually I am certain of it..., that you did not make me the offer. That way we never needed to find out what the consequences would have been."

Master Randall gave a slow exhalation before saying, "I'm … glad then. Not making you an offer you so truly deserved, in the name of some destiny you may not have had any desire for, and without even asking you first, has been sitting very ill with me. I ask your forgiveness. If I had it to do over again I think I would have at least first talked to you about your wishes."

"No, don't worry Master Randall," answered the young warlock sincerely. "You know, I half think that your decision not to talk to me may also have been the work of that same destiny. We may never know for sure, but in the end I am certain that this is how things must be."

Merlin looked on the floor beside him, to where he had carefully placed his new viol. "I certainly don't regret a single moment of my studies with you, and what I have learned cannot be taken away. That pleasure is more than I ever hoped for," he said.

Master Randall stood and gave Merlin's shoulder a warm squeeze. "For that I am truly glad boy. I don't regret a single moment either, and your success will pave the way for other commoners, even though you may not be among them. Yet." As Merlin and Gaius walked with him to the door, the musician said, "And once your destiny is achieved there may yet be a place for you among my Masters!"

Merlin smiled at the thought of a future where he would be free as both a sorcerer and a musician. The efforts of bringing about that time were usually so all-consuming that he rarely had a chance to think about what he may do for himself once it was accomplished.

"And in the meantime, you do know that you do not need to be an official apprentice of mine to make or study music I hope," Master Randall said, as he got ready to leave the room.

Merlin looked up sharply, he did know it, but had not really stopped to even consider that possibility.

The Master grinned and said, "I have dropped a hint into the King's ear that it would be worth his while to allow you to have a lesson or two should any of my Masters stop through on a visit. And once I've spread word about you, you can be sure that they will come rather often if I make my guess.

The bright and hopeful smile on Merlin's face was enough to have Master Randall humming as he closed the door behind him and headed back to finish the preparations for his departure.

By mid-afternoon, everyone and everything was packed and ready to depart. The new apprentices had bid farewell to their families, Uther had bid farewell to his Master Musician and his wife and promises were given by the musicians that they would return to Camelot in the near future.

Merlin waited with the other servants on the far side of the steps from where Arthur stood with his father. He gazed out into the courtyard, not able to take his eyes off the wagon that held Master Randall as it finally began to pull away from the central square. In spite of the wonderful gifts and promises of the morning, the young servant could not help feeling a sense of loss and sadness.

Arthur came to join him once the King had gone back into the castle and the travelling party reached the edge of the courtyard. Merlin realized that the Prince must have been watching him; not only that but somehow the Prince had managed to pick up on his melancholy.

But rather than any of his usual joking responses to any hints of emotion from his manservant, Arthur looked at him seriously and said, "I'm sorry Merlin. I know you would have liked an opportunity to study as a musician and I don't think it's fair that it's been denied to you just because you are a commoner."

When Merlin looked at the Prince in surprise at the admission, Arthur put his hand on the warlock's shoulder and said, "But you should be very proud that your talent has started to put a change in motion. I don't know how long it will take, but I promise you that when I am King, I will ensure that ALL of my people can pursue their dreams and use their talents. Who knows, maybe one of your own sons or daughters will one day be the Court Musician of Camelot."

It took Merlin a few moments to rein in his feelings before he choked out, "Thank you, Sire. I believe you."

By then Arthur had had enough of the charged emotions, so grabbing Merlin around his shoulders and drawing him towards the castle he said, "And of course since you can't leave with them, it means that unfortunately I am now stuck back with you, and you certainly don't have much talent for this job, so you'd better get practicing. I think you can start by cleaning my room, then you can do my laundry, and …yes the horses haven't been mucked out for a few days… and…."

As he allowed himself to be led away to the droning of the Prince's familiar orders, the last of Merlin's sadness was chased away. He knew he was exactly where he needed to be.

A/N That's it. The end!

I hope you enjoyed my singing/viol-playing young warlock. I love him to bits, and I think Master Randall has gone home and raved about our boy, so we can be sure that Merlin had many Master musicians seek him out to hear him play and teach him. So don't feel bad that he did not get to go back to the musician's keep as an apprentice.