So here's the ridiculously short epilogue. It's mainly so short because I love the last line and wanted to end on that, but it keeps it opens for if I ever decide to write a sequel. But please tell me what you think. I'd like to know how my first foray into Merlin fanfiction is received, cause I've got like three other Merlin fanfics started on my computer (Merlin fanfiction will be my undoing, I swear to god). Anyways, thanks for reading! :) x

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, you guys.

By The Lakeside

Epilogue

The first thing Merlin thought of when he woke up was he wanted to go back to sleep. He was tired, so tired. He barely felt like he could lift his arms, but the warlock managed to struggle into a sitting position.

Only to find himself in the most lavish bed he had ever slept in. Where was he? He wasn't at the Lake of Avalon, he wasn't in his bedroom, and he knew it was Camelot's castle by the architecture, but whose chambers was he in? How did he get there?

"Ah, the infamous warlock finally awakes!" Said an instantly recognisable, teasing voice.

Merlin looked to see Arthur walking through the door, a wide grin on his face. "Good to see you back in the land of the living, you clotpole."

Merlin was on the verge of instantly replying, "That's my word," when he finally realised how exactly Arthur had greeted him.

Infamous warlock.

He stared at the king in shock, fear coursing through him. Arthur knows! Oh God, Arthur knows!

Arthur sat in a chair by the bed, a smile on his face. But seeing the look of sheer panic on his friend's face made the grin disappear. "Merlin," the king said seriously, "It's alright. I know about your magic. I know that you're Emrys, and it's alright. I'm not going to harm you. No one in Camelot is going to harm you or anyone with magic ever again."

Merlin could only open and close his mouth in shock, unable to form words. "Y-Y-You know," he managed to choke out, "How do you know?"

The smile returned to the king's face. "Well, Freya had told me some confusing things when she healed you, and I had a lot of questions after you sobbed your little heart out at the Lake of Avalon. So I talked to Gaius about this Emrys person Freya had mentioned."

Merlin just sat in silence, still too shocked to speak. Arthur knew of his magic, and he seemed okay with it. He just claimed no one with magic was ever going to be harm again. Merlin felt so overwhelmed, he felt like crying. But what Arthur had mentioned jolted Merlin's memory.

"Freya!" He blurted, interrupting the king and rushing to get out of bed, "I need to find her! I need to see if it worked!"

"Merlin!" Arthur said, pushing him back into bed, "Gaius says you're strictly to rest."

"But-"

"-No buts!"

"I need to find her!"

"Merlin, lie down!"

"No, Arthur, I need to-"

"-Lie down you idiot before I make you."

"Let me go! You're such a prat! We should call you Arthur Pratdragon."

The king ignored him and pushed Merlin back into the bed, pulling up the covers. He then turned to the door and called out, "Guinevere! Can you please come in here?"

A few seconds passed and chamber door opened. The queen of Camelot entered, looking relieved to see Merlin awake, and trailing behind her, dressed in servants garb, was –

"Freya!" Merlin exclaimed, tears leaking out of his eyes as he stared at his lost love. She was beaming at him, her eyes pooling with tears as well. She was alive. She was no longer tied to the Lake of Avalon. He'd done it!

She rushed to his side and Arthur and Gwen stepped back to give them some space. Merlin wordlessly reached out to cup Freya's face. Her skin was warm to the touch. This was real, she was real.

"I did it," he whispered.

"You did it, Merlin," she whispered back.

Unable to control himself, Merlin leant forward to catch her lips with his own. Instantly, her arms wrapped around him and she buried her hands in his hair. Merlin's arms slid around her waist, pulling her closer to him. She was alive. She was in his arms, returning his embrace. Merlin pulled out of the kiss and laughed, unable to keep his ecstatic emotions on the inside. Freya joined in, the both of them wearing identical beaming smiles.

Merlin tore his eyes away from her beautiful face to look at the king and queen. Arthur and Gwen both wore blushes after watching the passionate display between he and Freya, and Merlin was sure Arthur was about to tease him for it. But to his surprise the king said nothing and merely smiled.

"We will leave you two alone," Gwen said.

"Yes," Arthur agreed, "Though you and I will talk later, Merlin, when you're well rested. But I'm happy for you, my friend. And you don't have to worry about finding Freya work or a place to stay, as Guinevere has taken her on as her maidservant."

Merlin looked from the king and queen, to the woman in his arms, and back. "Thank you," he said gratefully.

"You have no need to thank us, Merlin," Gwen said. "It is us that need to thank you."

She and Arthur turned to walk out the door, but they stopped at the sound of Merlin's voice.

"Wait!" He said, and they turned back to face him. "These chambers," Merlin said, gesturing to the extravagant room he found himself in, "whose are they?"

Gwen and Arthur exchanged a look before turning back to Merlin. They both wore wide smiles.

"These?" Arthur said, beaming at his best friend, "They belong to Lord Merlin Emrys, First Advisor to the King and Court Warlock of Camelot."

THE END