Epilogue

Life in Camelot had continued in the intervening months. Work had commenced on Summer Hall and Merlin had stayed in touch with the team of builders, whose job it was to restore it to its former glory. By now he had spoken to Gilli who had agreed to teach in the new School for Magic, which was now rapidly being planned. They had already received plenty of requests for help from people all over Camelot.

As Merlin suspected, there were plenty of people whose mistrust of magic remained. This in turn had, led to people being forced into the outer fringes of their communities. The mark of dark magic had left an impression on isolated villages, away from the safety of Camelot. It didn't truly surprise Merlin, as he knew from his own experiences in Ealdor how fear could spread if unchallenged.

These people tended to be more set in their ways and less inclined to copy what was happening elsewhere. He had already made a plan to visit some remote villages when the spring came, to try and set up groups who could give assistance where needed. If that meant him meeting with Elders to encourage some support, he was more than willing to undertake it. But deep down he knew, some people would continue to oppose any change in their communities involving magic. In that case if all else failed, they would have to try other ideas. Merlin was loathed to force magic on people, for fear it made the situation worse. He knew though there would be many problems for them to overcome.

In Camelot itself excitement was building for any day now Guinevere was due to give birth to the new heir. After the endless days of worries and loss of hope, these were much happier times. Merlin was truly happy for his two friends, as having an heir would undoubtedly lead to more security for Arthur as a King. There was also the added buzz it gave everyone in the Kingdom. Right now, Camelot was living for a constructive and exciting future and Merlin was determined to make the most of it like everyone else.

By now his days had a set routine about them, which helped him through his enormous responsibilities. He would start the day working with Lancelot, who would report any problems which may have happened overnight. It was a situation both of them enjoyed. Lancelot had always been supportive of Merlin's magic; the Knight also had a thirst for learning more about magic and any problems which could come from it. Merlin felt happy that his friend had one ear actively listening out for any impending problems. That meant he could concentrate on the more practical day to day challenges.

He also spoke daily with Alice and Gaius, often with Lord Blake dropping by. There would then be a weekly meeting with Lord Oakes also attending. Then they would go through any pressing problems which had occurred. By now Merlin felt completely confident with the people surrounding him. Alice represented the Druids when they were not there, but they would usually attend once a month. The rest of the time messages would be sent on to them. The daily meetings would last a few hours, leaving the rest of the time for Merlin to meet with Arthur, Guinevere and the Knights. Merlin would always let Arthur know what they'd talked about in the meeting, and whether they needed any extra backing or power.

For the most part Merlin had found taking each challenge on its own merits was the best way to go up about it. It had mostly worked and so far there was more to be pleased about, then worried. At times it could feel as if progress was very slow, but he understood in the early days it was bound to be that way. Once they won the support of more people he knew that would give them some forward momentum. Then things would move more quickly.

When he wasn't working with the group and had some time on his hands, he would often spend it in his apartment, looking over all the magic books he had assembled. Mervyn had given him one which had belonged to his father Iseldir. Merlin was amazed by how many different types of magic actually existed in the world. Whenever he could read he did, his thirst for further knowledge was insatiable.

Whenever he could find a spare hour he would talk things over with Alice and Gaius, finding out what they knew. He would sometimes go for dinner, by the time they had finished talking, it was usually the early hours of the morning. Gilli would often be with them unless he was meeting his girl in the lower town. Merlin enjoyed Gilli's company as he thought there was a lot more to him, than was first apparent. There was no doubt his father's death had overshadowed his young life; Merlin understood only too well how hard that was to overcome. But he sensed since Gilli had worked at the School in Nemeth, it had opened up a completely different way of life for the young man. Merlin felt confident the new project would be a blessing for him.

The other subject that occupied his mind was Aithusa. The Druids were still keeping a close eye on her and she appeared quite happy for now. He continued to read the Grimoire given to him by his mother. In it he had read much about different types of ancient magic that could be picked up in different areas. This information intrigued him and suddenly he wondered if he looking for the answer in the wrong place. Maybe it was a special location he was searching for rather than a particular kind of spell. It could be part of the solution was already out there, either way he knew he had to do more research. It made him more determined to find it.

It was mid-day and Arthur was studying a report that Leon had brought him. There was nothing too sinister on it, King Martin's manoeuvres of a few months ago, seemed to be over now. Arthur knew at some time in the future they needed to look more forcefully into the situation. There were still rumours that the Druids there were feeling nervous of the young King's attentions, but nothing so far had happened. As Arthur read half way down the page, he found his mind wandering off the task, as it often did these days.

For a man who liked to be disciplined in what he had to do, it was starting to become a really annoying occurrence. He seemed to be plagued by awkward feelings, which would catch him unaware. At first, he had laughed it off when other people began to notice. But as they started to become more frequent he began to wonder. To begin with, he'd been at a loss at what it was, which was troubling him

When Guinevere had first told him she was pregnant, he had been deliriously happy. It wasn't just about the joy of becoming a father, but to him it almost felt like a lucky sign for the way the Kingdom was heading. A new beginning, with an heir to the throne on the way, it almost felt as if the Gods themselves had sent a glorious message. But as time went on a feeling of intense brooding had begun to occur. When it began to seriously interrupt his day-to-day duties, he decided to seek some guidance.

He had already found Alice to be a big support for his wife, but Alice also went out of her way to assist Arthur too. He wondered at first, it was a touch of guilt on her part over the incident with his father. He had already assured her, he held no hard feelings. Once that had been said, a new open and honest relationship had begun to develop.

In the end he had confided to her the strange feelings and brooding he was going through. The explanation Alice came up with him had stunned him to begin with. She had suggested that he was inwardly thinking about his own birth, which in turn was making him fear rather than look forward to the event. The fact that magic was coming back into the Kingdom, at the same time his child was being born, was making his mind connect with his own past and tragic start in life.

At first, Arthur had been ready to reject the suggestion, but the more he thought about it, the more he realised there was a touch of truth there. He knew feelings deep down in a person's mind, can mess with reality and turn something positive into a negative situation. Alice urged him not to worry, to understand that they were learning things all the time. She assured him Guinevere would be in safe hands, he should try and enjoy the experience.

Arthur had done his best to follow Alice's advice and for a brief time he coped better with his feelings. But as the days before the birth approached, the feelings of anxiety had returned to him. He was once more being disturbed at night, forgetting to do things and had a general feeling of despair surrounding his mood. He hated himself when he was out of control and would sometimes snap at people as a result, then he'd feel really bad about it. He sensed too, that Guinevere was worried which made him even madder with himself.

He had tried to talk it out with Merlin, but his friend could only say so much as he'd never been through the experience. What he did say made perfect sense, such as trusting in Alice but still his over-active mind would not settle. In the end he had a heart to heart with Guinevere, by the end of the conversation they had managed to settle his nerves down to a more manageable level. He realised as well, she had feelings of tension with it being her first birth. But together and with everyone who surrounded them, they both knew they would deal with whatever occurred.

Once that was out of the way, Arthur resumed to his normal duties. Progress was being made in many different areas. It felt like it was all coming together at last, the royal birth would be the event that joined it all together. He felt the day of his and Merlin's destiny was becoming ever closer.

Alice was by now spending more time with Guinevere as she approached the day. Alice had made a calculation that the birth could take place any time over the next few days. She had already made sure the supplies they needed were already in. Everything was being meticulously planned, nothing left to chance. She had helped many a person before, in much less good situations than what Guinevere was facing. She would often tell her when they were together about her experiences, as she went from village to village, after escaping Camelot.

In her time especially in the poorer areas, she'd had to deliver babies in the sparsest of conditions. Some had somehow survived, while others had sadly not. One of her tasks given by Merlin was to see what villages outside Camelot needed and whether healing could be better administered in such places. It was something she had always wanted to undertake, it seemed really appropriate that in this new age of hope and freedom, nothing was off the agenda. She felt proud to be part of the new emerging Kingdom but knew the birth of a royal heir would be the lynch pin and give a sense of security, that was badly needed, for them to push on.

She and Gaius were continuing to discover new things about one another which surprised both of them. They had always made a good team before the Purge had separated them. Yet as a new opportunity had thrown them back together, it enabled each of them to learn something different of the other. They enjoyed pooling their knowledge gained over the missing years, which enabled them to pass it on the younger generation beside them.

Gilli was an attentive student always open to learning something new. Sometimes he would show them something different too, any new idea was immediately swooped on by the others and that enabled the learning to continue uninterrupted. Merlin had already described Gaius's chambers as the "Learning Circle," a name which duly spread through the rest of Camelot. Already people would speak in hushed whispers about how new discoveries were being learnt about healing, science and magic. A sense of almost reverence presided over the knowledgeable group. Gaius and Alice would laugh about it when they were together, still rather unbelieving of how everything had turned around for them and also magic too.

Elsewhere the Knights of Camelot had remained busy throughout the months approaching winter. Leon was organising regular trips around all the borders, keeping an eye of things. Percival, Gwaine and Elyan would often accompany him. By now they had taken in some new Knights, among them a quiet serious-minded young man called Galahad. The regular Knights had already discovered his quiet and polite nature, but there was no denying either his courage or his fighting skills.

He had already saved Gwaine's life when they had been caught up in an ambush, on the way back to Camelot. The act had made Gwaine feel it was his duty to lighten up the new Knight's demeanour. But he had made little progress, much to the other Knight's amusement. Galahad seemed oblivious to the wonders of the Tavern and Gwaine's other "occupations." But if there was one quality Gwaine had it was patience, he vowed to one and all that he would break the young man's will eventually.

Lancelot remained working with Merlin. He would sometimes ride out with the other Knights to outer regions, if any rumour circulated regarding magical problems, he would be the one who investigated it. He would then report back to Merlin who would decide what could be done. The plan had already had encouraging results. By being active they had managed to find small problems and solve them, before they became much bigger ones. Lancelot had been surprised by how many different kinds of problems there were in magic. He felt as if he was beginning to learn about a new civilisation. Merlin as ever proved open and honest and they would often chat about his own problems, earlier on in his life.

On his travels Lancelot would have regular meetings with the Druids and would sometimes stay overnight at a camp in the forest. By now he was getting to know them as a people and was already beginning to admire some of their beliefs and appreciate a different kind of life. In the old days he knew them just as the Druids, but now he had a sense of how distinctive they were as a people. The Druids were now more open as well, it was less necessary for them to hideaway for their own safety.

Lancelot would often escort them into Camelot where they would open stalls and channels of communication between them and the ordinary people of Camelot. It made the Knight busy and sometimes the days disappeared in a flash, but Lancelot seldom complained enjoying the change of pace and life around him.

So the days continued as the winter began to spread its white coat along the roads and villages surrounding Camelot. The first storms were beginning to be forecasted bringing blizzards in their wake, giving everywhere a crystalized and a wild magical look. A sense of community would come out as people worked together to keep their world functioning. The roads would be cleared so carts, carriages and people could continue to bring their goods into the Kingdom.

So it was on the 4th of December that Prince Lachlan was born, on a wild and windy night. The largest snowfalls had fallen just before the birth. By now Camelot was encased in deep snow, everyday a fight to keep the Kingdom moving. But when the announcement was made Camelot celebrated, the curse had been broken. An heir had been born and the Kingdom had moved full circle. Magic had been reintroduced and Camelot came together. Amid the celebrations which took hold, questions remained, but for now they were put to one side.

It was in the evening when Merlin came to do a blessing on the young Prince. Everyone was in Arthur and Guinevere's chambers. The King and Queen, the Knights, Gaius, Alice, Gilli, Hunith. All sat around as Merlin prepared the sacred prayer that would protect the newly born. A feeling of hope and happiness dominated the room. Merlin was dressed in a newly designed robe of blue, with big buttons and he had with him one of his staffs, which he blessed. He then approached the babe in the cot carefully. For a brief second Lachlan opened his eyes and they met Merlin's, blue on blue. Merlin waited until he had settled again, then closed his eyes and recited the ancient prayer. With one movement of the staff he moved it over the cot, as his words came to an end. A brief flurry of light descended over the sleeping baby. Eventually he turned around and smiled at the group of people who were so dear to him.

"It is done," he told, Arthur and Guinevere

"Thank you, Merlin," Guinevere smiled, going over to Lachlan and checking on her son.

As people began to talk amongst themselves, Arthur beckoned Merlin over to him. They went out on the balcony. The dark had already descended, a sky of bright stars shone above them, with a full moon glinting on top of a faraway hill in the distance.

"I'm grateful to you Merlin, I wanted to ask the history of that prayer," Arthur murmured looking ahead, as his Kingdom became bathed in darkness.

"It is an old ancient prayer that magical families always recite to their children. That is not to say every magical child gets a blessing, depends on their circumstances. As we've found recently there are many who are not in the best situations," Merlin replied, watching the moon.

"That will change you have my word on that," Arthur said, looking at Merlin.

"You have already changed a lot for them Arthur. We must continue to take the people with us on this adventure. Only then will the Kingdom become one," Merlin pointed out,

"Indeed, there are many challenges that lie ahead. We will face those together. Tomorrow the hard work will truly begin,"

"We will," Merlin agreed.

Someone called Arthur's name and the King excused himself and disappeared back into his chambers.

A new flurry of snow fell out of the sky. To Merlin it was almost like a message, he allowed himself a contented smile. He thought of the journey that both of them had been on. At times it had been extremely painful but as he thought of where they were now, he regretted nothing. He knew some dark times could still lie ahead, but nothing would stop Arthur and him from reaching their destiny now….

The End.

Notes

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has stayed with this story to its conclusion. At times it has been a challenging work to finish. I am extremely grateful for those who offered their comments and support.

When I first started writing this, I thought it would be just a one off. But the more I thought about it as it developed, the more I wondered about what came next. What was the point in writing a story where everything that you longed for has now been reached, only to pull the plug on it? It didn't make any sense to me, slowly but surely another idea has been planted.

I intend to write another story following on from this one. It will not be a continuous story, but a collection of stories based on what happens next to Arthur and Merlin. It will involve many other characters as well. I will look back at the purge years especially with Alice now back with Gaius. I also have a plan to introduce other leaders from Kingdoms that Arthur and Merlin have to deal with.

Naturally Arthur and Merlin will have a big part of it, but I really want to explore the whole idea of them taking Camelot down, this particular road. How it affects the people there, how Albion becomes united, how it affects and changes Merlin, Arthur, Gwen and everyone else. It will probably not be a weekly posted story. I don't intend any of the stories to be over long, but just have a continuous theme running through it.

I hope this encourages people to stay curious as I think there is a lot of scope to further develop this. It goes without saying I cannot wait to get started and the new collection will be called, The Albion Years. Thank you.