Hi all, I have no claim to Merlin but I really loved the characters so this is sort of a mini-episode by episode style continuation of their story. (Major spoils for season five if you didn't already notice!) Oh, and I did invent a couple new characters since there were so few left to work with...*sobs* The new additions are purely from my imagination. Also, I will include a little synopsis at the top of each chapter to let you know what it's about. Like I said, episode style. Anyway, enjoy!

•••

Merlin feels he has no place in Camelot without Arthur, but when a sorceress turns a public ceremony into an opportunity for revenge, will Merlin return to rescue his friends?

•••

Guinevere was dreaming again. They were back in Camlann, camped in the gorge.

"Merlin," Arthur mumbled vaguely in his sleep. She stirred and sighed. Poor Arthur. If only Merlin had come with them. Then the two wouldn't have had a row and Arthur wouldn't be waking her up with his gibberish about his servant and Morgana's armies...

Arthur bolted upright, suddenly looking terrified. Gwen was still half-asleep, but as Arthur sprang out of bed, she snapped to full alert as well.

"Arthur! Arthur!"

He grabbed his jacket and boots and frantically stumbled outside to find Sir Leon. Gwen quickly dressed as well, feeling her heart racing as if the battle had already started. Arthur came back in the tent several minutes later to finish dressing, and Gwen's pulse sped up even more. Everything was so final. They were trapped against the cliffs after all. If they failed it would mean total slaughter. Because there was no way they would ever surrender to Morgana. Not after all she'd done to them.

"Try to stay with Gaius," Arthur finally spoke. "We will need bandages, water-"

"Yes, there will be casualties, I understand," Gwen said, her tone a bit sharper than she'd meant for it to be. She turned around to face him, pulling her curly hair out of her face as she spoke. "Just...try not to be one of them."

Arthur didn't say anything as he walked forward and hugged her. She tried not to read too much into his silence. It was just another fight for the King of Camelot. He'd been in hundreds of battles.

"I love you," she whispered.

He tipped his head down and kissed her. "And I you, Guinevere."

Gwen gave him a small smile, relishing the way he spoke her name, as if it was the most precious, sacred word in their language.

Arthur sheathed his sword and smiled at her before heading outside. The tent flap fell behind him, cutting off Gwen's view as he walked toward where the knights had gathered.

And then there was the battle. The entire memory seemed faster, from the moment she last saw Arthur, until the moment she was forced to return to Camelot without him. She heard the sobs of people dying in the fight; of wounded knights, slowly suffering. She heard her own sobs, back in her empty bedroom after the horrible news had arrived. Merlin and Arthur had failed. They were dead. Gone...No more...

"My Lady? My Lady!"

Queen Guinevere woke with a start, realizing, somewhat self-consciously, that her pillow was wet. She'd been crying again. Ughh...

"My Lady, please. You were dreaming. You're all right, now." Aleesia looked on the verge of tears as well. She was crouched beside Gwen, gently squeezing her mistress's hand. "You're all right."

"Yes, ah, thank you." Gwen sat up straight and rubbed at her eyes. "Every year...that same dream..."

"'Tis only been five years, your Highness. T'will be better next time. Not that there is any shame in crying." Aleesia added as she stood and fluffed Gwen's pillows. "I would certainly cry if I were you. Well, look at me! I was crying just a moment ago and I wasn't even dreaming!"

Gwen managed a smile. Her maidservant was too sweet to actually exist. After the whole incident with Sefa, she hadn't wanted a maid. Which had worked out fine, until Gwen's duties doubled after Arthur's death. Having a couple extra hands at all times made a world of difference. And so, Guinevere herself had scoured the castle for a loyal servant- and found a friend.

"Do you have a preference on which gown you'd like?" Aleesia walked over to the wardrobe. "You have a council meeting this afternoon and then the remembrance ceremony tonight."

"No, you may choose. But then I'll dress myself this morning." Gwen climbed out of bed and glanced at her puffy-eyed reflection in the mirror above the wash table. "You can go tell Sir Leon that I'd like to double the patrols around the city courtyard tonight. We can't have any more mad sorcerers claiming Arthur's death was just. It really throws off the honorary remembrance bit." Gwen attempted to keep her voice light, even as she cringed at the memory of the woman appearing from out of nowhere, screaming threats against Gwen and her knights. When Leon and Percival had tried to quell the outburst, she had vanished into thin air and not been heard from since.

Gwen wanted to stay positive, to assume the sorceress was not indeed plotting against them. Sorcery had been made legal in Camelot- she had no intentions of being Uther after all. Especially with thoughts of Merlin's magic always surfacing. However, every now and then, they still got a few corrupt magicians, and without Merlin, there was little they could do in the fight against them. Gaius had used magic once, when the need had been desperate, but he was getting old and using his magic seemed to drain his energy more than ever. Gwen didn't feel comfortable asking him to use it often.

"You want me to give the message to Sir Leon?" Aleesia groaned for dramatic effect as she picked up Gwen's brush and moved to comb out the queen's knotted hair. "He's always training at this time! 'Tis embarrassing to have to interrupt their sessions. And if I don't interrupt them, then it looks as if I'm spying on him, which is even worse!"

Gwen smiled and Aleesia, watching her queen closely, also smiled before quickly adopting an expression of mock suffering- for the sake of cheering up her Majesty.

"I think you shall survive." Gwen glanced at their reflections in the mirror: her own curly dark locks contrasted with her servant's straight-as-a-board chestnut hair. Aleesia was tall, slender, and rather plain in appearance, though she did have brilliant green eyes that almost made Gwen jealous. Her own eyes were brown. Normal brown. But she supposed that was a step up from a black eye. Gwen smiled at her own thoughts. People always said she was strong; a brave spirit. What they didn't know was that she actually coped by amusing herself through unspoken lame jokes.

"There, my lady." Aleesia grinned again as she noticed Gwen's smile. "You're going to make it through today just fine. I'll see to it personally." The younger lady patted Gwen's hand reassuringly, then ducked out of the room, off to the training grounds.

Gwen walked to the window as the door creaked shut. Five years ago today, they had defeated Morgana's armies. Five years since Gwen had both gained and lost everything.

"I miss you, Arthur," she told the window.

As usual, it didn't respond.

•••

Hunith stood in her garden, staring down the road in disbelief. She was imagining things again. Dreaming. Seeing specters. Because surely that man coming up the path, surely it couldn't be...

"Merlin?" Her voice croaked as the figure pushed aside the garden gate and continued to walk toward her, almost unsteady on his feet, like he truly was a ghost. A ghost who was desperately nervous about something. "My son?"

"Mother!" The figure who resembled Merlin broke into a run and closed the remaining space between them. Before Hunith had time to process what was actually happening, he swept her into a tight hug.

He didn't feel like a ghost. He was solid flesh and bone. Which left her with only one explanation: he was Merlin.

Tears streamed down Hunith's face, but she was too happy to even give thought to her grimy appearance. She had to be dreaming still. Her son had been pronounced dead five years ago.

"Merlin," she whispered his name several times as she hugged him tighter, with each second further reassuring herself he was real; alive. It was a miracle! A scene from her wildest hopes!

"How?! You're... You're here?! Oh, Merlin, my boy!" Hunith gasped between sobs until finally Merlin, the specter who couldn't feasibly be Merlin and yet was standing before her very eyes, slowly guided her into the house.

He made her take a seat at the table. Merlin pulled out the rickety wooden chair across from her and sat down, taking one of her hands in his. Hunith continued to cry as she watched him. He looked so much older... For the first time ever, Merlin wasn't clean-shaven. His hair was in need of a trim and his chin was covered in scruff. And his eyes. They seemed more sorrowful. Tired. His smile was also missing. That made the largest difference. And it made Hunith's heart ache.

"My son...five years?!" She took a deep breath and swallowed heavily, attempting to corral her tears. "You're truly alive? How? Why are you just now letting me know? I thought..."

"I did die." Merlin's voice was hoarse and he didn't look at her as he spoke. "Just not in the way people usually assume."

He didn't say anything for a long moment, but instead traced the grooves on the table with a finger. Hunith waited. If it was really Merlin, he would speak when he was ready.

"I couldn't return to Camelot, mother," he finally glanced up at her and Hunith did see a ghost. He'd been hollowed out. "I still can't."

"Well you could have told me," she said. "You forgot your worth, my love. You are missed. So dearly. And not just by me."

"Gaius." Merlin stood up from the table, his voice cracking entirely.

"And not just Gaius." Hunith had visited the city a few times in the past years. Though her intent had been only to check in on the physician, Queen Guinevere had insisted she stay in the castle for however long she wished. Merlin had obviously meant a great deal to everyone.

"No one will blame you if you return," she glanced at her son, who was pacing. "You've come this far. You might as well go into the city."

Merlin's brow creased, slightly pained. "I plan to. At least under the cover of nightfall. Just to see them."

Hunith didn't comment on how creepy that sounded. She realized she was still missing the most important details. "Merlin," she waited until he turned in her direction. "Merlin, where have you been?! Why did you let me think my only son was dead!"

"Mother..." He looked like a caged creature, trapped between its desires and the bars that caused it harm. "I didn't mean for you to be left assuming I was gone...Not for so long. But I couldn't go back. Anywhere near Camelot. Which includes here." Merlin's breath was choppy, as if it was suddenly hard to breathe. "I love you, Mother. I've simply been far away. In the lands beyond our territories. A farmer in one village. A physician in another. A stable hand in yet another." Merlin's breathing seemed to calm back down as he explained a few of the odd jobs he did for a living in various places. "It was hard work. Constant. But that was what I wanted."

Hunith was not surprised. When Balinor had first left, so many years ago, she had reorganized everything in her possession. The more work she had, the better. The less time to think. Her son had been broken. She was still obviously upset he hadn't told her, but she understood why he had distanced himself. Why he had worked amongst strangers rather than friends- people who might act like they understood.

"But why return now?" She asked, after another pensive moment.

Merlin ran a hand over his little beard. "The ceremony tonight. 'Tis been five years. Camelot has had relative peace so I assume the lives of my friends are going well. I simply had to see. To reassure myself. And they'll all be together, in one place. And they won't be able to see me." Merlin gave Hunith was she supposed was his current attempt at a smile. "It will be a perfect night for spying. And I couldn't come to Camelot without first visiting you."

"Good," Hunith shook her head, realizing her hands were trembling with emotion. "'Tis about time."

"I planned to spend the day with you and ride into Camelot this evening. On my way back out of the city I will stop in again. Maybe stay longer?" He sounded so unsure. Hunith felt her tears returning.

"Oh Merlin, my boy." She stood from the table and held the young man tightly. "You will always- always -be welcome here."

They stood in kitchen, arms around one another, for several long moments. Then they sat down to breakfast, Hunith looking forward to talking with her beloved son for hours.

When one came back from the dead, after five years, there was a lot to catch up on...

•••

"Come on! Finish up already, Perci! 'Tis been ten minutes!" Lady Mary was calling out to her knight as if it were a jousting tournament. Aleesia wasn't surprised. Lady Mary had never been known for her quiet demeanor.

"Good morning, my lady." Aleesia dipped her head in curtsey as she moved to stand beside Sir Percival's small, but fierce fiancée.

"Men," Mary said by way of greeting. "Ten minutes ago, Leon and Perci decided to demonstrate some sort of fighting technique to the younger knights. Ten minutes ago! One can only watch them hit each other so many times before it gets old." Lady Mary shook her head, black waves framing her face. Aleesia had heard it said her mother had been from Castilla, in the Iberian peninsula. But wherever her origins, it was clear Lady Mary was a beauty beyond many.

"Don't worry, Mary." Sir Percival gasped out between swings. Apparently he had been close enough to hear his lady's rant. "I'll finish this."

"No, I don't believe so." Sir Leon dodged his friend's sword and attempted a jab of his own- which was sequentially blocked. Both men looked very much out of breath, but the other knights were still cheering them on and making bets. Aleesia figured it was a true competition by now.

"We were going to have breakfast," Lady Mary glanced up at the serving girl and shook her head. "Now though, I'm thinking it shall be lunch by the time they quit."

"Quite possibly." Aleesia bit her lip nervously. She knew the men were only practicing, but it still looked like they were trying to kill each other. Another reason she hated bringing messages to the training grounds.

"You have word from Queen Guinevere, don't you?" Lady Mary asked, surveying her companion. "Unless of course, you simply came to spy on Sir Leon again."

"Shhh!" Aleesia hissed in panic. "He's going to think you're being serious! And no, I did not come to spy on him- 'tis hardly my fault the queen has so many meetings with him! I have a message. 'Tis the only reason I'm here." She smoothed her dress, as if by doing so, she made her point final.

Lady Mary smirked and shook her head. "Well in that case, we better not make the queen wait." She grabbed a sword off the weapons rack and tossed her shawl in Aleesia's direction. "Ladies don't start fights, my dear. But we can finish them." She wore a cocky grin and she walked into the middle of the fight, where Sir Percival was almost managing to pin Sir Leon to the ground. Almost, but not quite. The latter was holding out surprisingly well given Percival's obvious strength.

"All right, time is up." Mary swung her sword toward her fiancé and he easily blocked it, looking more surprised than anything else. In his distraction, Sir Leon scrambled to his feet and hopped to the side, catching his breath.

"I almost had him, Mary!" Percival was complaining, but his wide smile made it clear it was all in jest. "I told you I was going to finish the fight."

"Aye, but it would have ended poorly for you. All Sir Leon would have had to do was block your last swing, step to your left- so as to be in your blind stop- and then use your force against you in a disarming motion. I was saving you from embarrassment."

"Yes, because that was obviously my next move," Leon panted, grinning at his fellow knight.

Percival wrinkled his nose and Mary added, "I am also quite hungry, so unless you've decided you would rather take Sir Leon to breakfast..."

"Nope. I've have my fill of Leon for the day."

"Trust me, my lady," the older knight agreed. "He's all yours."

Lady Mary smiled and took Percival's arm, winking at Aleesia as the duo headed toward the castle. Aleesia sighed and informed Leon about Guinevere's patrol suggestion as quickly as possible. She certainly didn't need more rumors about spying on people. Why, that was positively sneaky! And while she could see Lady Mary resorting to such tactics... Aleesia preferred to think she, herself, had higher standards.

"An extra precaution." Sir Leon was nodding to himself as he sheathed his sword. "The queen has to know I won't argue with that. Thank you, Aleesia."

"Aye, my lord." She curtseyed and scurried back toward the shelter of the castle before he had time to say anything else. She had to keep herself above suspicion. Since after all, surely he'd heard that every rumor had a grain of truth in it.

•••

It was evening and Gaius thought the city looked exceptionally nice. The citadel's walls had lantern lights strung along the edges and Camelot flags seemed to glow in the light of the full moon. Also, he was standing on the balcony overlooking the courtyard where the crowd had gathered below. It was really the prime spot to observe the candle lighting ceremony, done in honor of all those who had been slain in order to protect Camelot over the years.

The queen was waiting at the doorway, preparing to walk out to the front of the balcony and deliver a moving speech to the people gathered below. Aleesia stood by Gaius. Lady Mary and Sir Percival stood on the opposite side of the balcony. Sir Leon waited inside, behind Gwen.

Gaius peered over the railing, down at the crowd, and then nodded once in the queen's direction. She gave him a slow nod in response, then drifted forward, as if she was floating along not of her own will, but of something else's.

"You'll do fantastic, my lady!" Aleesia was quick to whisper.

"Indeed," Gaius added. Gwen had done fine every other time. There was no reason for him to doubt she would lose her poise in the next half hour.

"Good people of Camelot," started Gwen, after she reached the front of the balcony and the crowd instantly quieted. "Tonight we come together, as one kingdom -one family- who owes much to the lives of our fallen comrades. Our loved ones. Let us not forget their sacrifice, their courage, their determination. As we stand here now..." Gwen continued speaking, but Gaius stopped paying attention. There was a strange feeling in the air. A presence perhaps. It was clearly magic. Strong magic. Like he hadn't felt in years...

Gaius craned his neck surreptitiously, attempting to scan the faces of all the civilians standing in the dark with their unlit candles. Maybe once they got to the lighting part of the ceremony he would be able to see better.

"Camelot would not be the place it is today without the love of the ones who have gone before us," Gwen's voice was strong and confident. She was no doubt the best queen the five kingdoms had ever seen. "This love compelled our family and friends to lay down their own lives to protect us, so that we may be free. Let us now demonstrate our love for them."

She reached for a candle stationed on the balcony and in the presence of all Camelot, started the flame.

The seconds that followed were always ethereal: as every citizen in the courtyard below copied Gwen's example, filling the area with enough light it seemed it was still early evening.

Gaius stared closely at the people in the crowd. He still felt like he was being watched. Surely something was about to happen. Maybe he should warn the others...

Too late. All the beautiful candle flames flickered out in a single instant. The air was entirely still. Gaius heard the metallic scraping of the knights' swords as they drew them from their belts.

"What's happening?" Gwen asked no one in particular. Gaius opened his mouth to attempt a guess, but a booming voice from the center of the courtyard distracted them all.

"People died defending Camelot, but half the time they were defending the city against the wrong people! Do you know how many times my people died! Ahhhhh!" The woman in the courtyard screeched, entirely crazed. Gaius recognized her as the sorceress who had appeared at the previous year's ceremony.

"They were murdered! Murdered! Innocents! Gone forever!" Before anyone could respond to her, the woman lifted her hands and Gaius felt oddly dizzy. Beside him, Aleesia collapsed alongside the queen. He heard a clattering of metal and realized Leon and Percival had collapsed as well. Everyone on the balcony was incapacitated. Sorcery... It's always sorcery, Gaius thought as his eyes slid closed.

•••

Merlin was in a state of panic. It had been a hard enough day, reconciling with his mother. It had been good he supposed, but it had also hurt. He hadn't cried so much in over a year. Which was why he definitely wanted to keep a low profile in Camelot. If anyone recognized him, he would start bawling even harder, and frankly, Merlin wasn't a fan of the red eyes, runny nose look. But as he watched his friends slump over, unmoving...Something inside Merlin snapped back to the past, back to when he had defended Arthur on a day-to-day basis. He would save them. He had to.

"Stop! Whatever it is you're doing!" Merlin pushed through the crowd, shouting at the sorceress. Once within visibility range, she waved a hand at him, almost lazily. Merlin blocked her spell without so much as a word and continued marching toward her.

"Stay away," she warned, tossing another enchantment his direction. He dodged that one even more effortlessly. Seriously... She was a novice compared to Morgana; compared to him.

"Listen. You don't want to mess with me." Merlin said. He was semi aware of the crowd watching the scene around them, but he decided he'd deal with that when it came. "I know you want revenge, but hurting the queen won't help. There are good people on every side of a war. Camelot is better now than ever before. Don't ruin it."

"Stay away!" She called again and verbally began shouting spells at Merlin. He once more blocked them easily, which was obviously beginning to unnerve the enchantress.

"Who are-?"

"I am Emrys! You may have heard of me." Merlin couldn't help a tiny smile, mildly proud of his own fame. "I lost everything fighting for Camelot. And yes, I am one of your kind. Don't do this."

"Emrys?" All the willpower seemed to drain from the woman. "But you? How? Emrys?" She sank to the ground as Merlin finally stood in front of her. "I...I serve you, my lord."

Now that was a new one. Merlin shook his head and helped the lady to her feet. "Undo the enchantment on my friends and never harm any of them again." Merlin frowned slightly, not used to having such influence. "Leave, for your own safety. Work hard. Put the past behind you. Revenge...revenge is futile. Along with regret." He was half-speaking to himself and he knew it, but it didn't matter. He would analyze his own mind later. Now he had to focus on making sure the sorceress would never pose a threat again.

"You...you wish for me to leave? Emrys?" She sunk back to the ground, kneeling at his feet. Quite honestly, it was starting to creep Merlin out. How royalty put up with it was confounding.

"I want you to promise to stop trying to get revenge. Queen Guinevere and all her company are doing good for this land. I defend them. Trust me when I say you do not want to mess with me."

"Yes, yes. Anything you say."

"Then take the spell off them and go." Merlin added a bit more kindly, "I wish you well."

The lady got to her feet, wiping her nose. "Thank you Emrys. I...I will obey." She raised a hand and Merlin glanced up at the balcony to see Gwen, Gaius, Leon, Percival, and a couple others rising to their feet once more. He turned back to the enchantress, but she had disappeared. Vanished, just as he'd asked.

The candle lights flickered back on and Merlin suddenly realized his dilemma. He was now the center of attention in the courtyard. And his friends were awake...

Cautiously, Merlin lifted his eyes to the balcony, wondering if he'd been spotted yet, or if he still had time to make his escape. Of course, the rumors about Emrys would probably spread regardless, but there would be no evidence if he wasn't actually seen by someone who knew him...

"Merlin!" Gwen was staring right at him. Along with everyone else.

He sighed and stayed where he was. It looked like there would be more crying before the day was out.

•••

Within minutes, Merlin was being hugged repeatedly by Gwen and Gaius and even Leon and Percival. Gwen was sobbing, Gaius was on the verge of tears and so incidentally, Merlin was struggling to keep from breaking down as well.

"Oh Merlin! You're really here! You're alive!" Gwen was nearly hysterical. "Why didn't you come home?!"

Home... Merlin shook his head slightly and his voice wavered as he spoke. "Camelot wasn't home without Arthur. And I failed him."

"No...no you didn't." Gwen pulled away from Merlin long enough to look him in the eyes. "You stayed with him. Never abandoned him. And if you- the greatest sorcerer in the world- couldn't save Arthur, no one could. I did not blame you then, and I do not blame you now, Merlin. You're our friend." Her voice went up an octave and Merlin sniffed loudly, too overcome to immediately respond. But then something seemed to process in his brain and he was distracted from his woes.

"You...you know about my magic?" Merlin blinked at Gwen somewhat nervously and then turned toward Gaius. "Did you tell her?"

"I figured it out," the queen said as Merlin's guardian shrugged, not appearing sorry in the slightest. "You were the old sorcerer on the cliffs during the battle at Camlann."

"All right, why are we just now hearing this?" Percival was frowning in confusion. "You're saying Merlin's a sorcerer?"

"I was born with it," Merlin said softly- the same line he'd said so many times- his way of justifying his abilities.

"So you've been using magic? The entire time we've known you?" Leon seemed just as blown away. "And you were the old man? The one that killed Uther?"

"That's not true. It was Morgana who killed Uther. I was trying to heal him, but she'd already put a curse on him. Truly." Merlin nodded solemnly to the two knights. "I used my magic to protect Camelot. I always have."

"Except for the time when you used us as footstools," Percival muttered.

Merlin cracked a grin while Gaius and Gwen frowned in unison.

"And no, don't ask, because we're not repeating that story," said Leon, mostly for the sake of the two who hadn't been a part of the event.

"But Merlin, honestly," resumed Gwen after a silent moment of dredging up old-man-Merlin memories, "we want Camelot to be your home again. We didn't just lose Arthur. We lost you too, and that hurt."

"I...I..." Merlin thought about his years as a wanderer. He had never had to get close to anyone. He wasn't constantly swamped by the little reminders of what felt like his past life. It had been bearable. If he stayed in Camelot, he would have to walk down the same hallways, every day. The same kitchens, where he had prepared his master's food; the same training grounds, where Arthur used to beat him up; the same throne room where Merlin's friend had ruled. It sounded like a lot of pain.

"Let me think about it."

Gwen just nodded and hugged Merlin again, still sniffling. "I'm so happy you're here," she finally said, before leaving Gaius' work space, where the five of them had gathered.

"As am I." Leon clapped Merlin on the back, then pulled him in for a hug. Percival did the same.

"Though still, Merlin. You were a rude old man."

"Bah, Percival." Merlin responded in his Dragoon voice, smiling at the knights' looks of shock. "What other fun is there for an old man?" He cackled and Gaius just shook his head. Leon and Percival left a moment later, seeming a little alarmed. Merlin could only smile. He had been expecting to bawl all evening, but he was actually having more fun than he'd had for years.

Though there was now just Gaius to talk with. Maybe Merlin had thought too soon.

Gaius didn't immediately say anything. He simply set about the room, gathering pots and dishes and various herbs. Finally Merlin couldn't take the silence.

"I owe you an apology, Gaius. I..." Merlin cleared his throat. "I should have came back sooner- or at least sent word for your sake. You and my mother both. I...I was selfish. Only thinking of my own pain."

"Yes, Merlin. I don't deny that." Gaius pulled out a knife from a drawer and began chopping herbs.

Merlin rubbed the scruff on his chin and bit his lip. Was Gaius really mad at him? Or was he just too emotional to look at Merlin?

"So," Merlin attempted to change the subject. "What are you working on?"

"I'm keeping my promise," Gaius responded. "When you left five years ago, I told you I'd have your favorite soup ready when you came back. Hopefully you still like it." He dumped a handful of vegetables into a kettle and tears filled Merlin's eyes.

"Gaius..."

"I think I always knew you were still alive," said Merlin's mentor- his friend and father-figure. "I knew you needed your own time to process your destiny without Arthur. I knew you would come back. I just hoped I would live long enough to see that day." Gaius set the soup pot over the fire and then walked closer to Merlin. "I am happy my hopes were fulfilled."

"Gaius..." Merlin's chin quivered and he settled for embracing the old man rather than trying to give a speech.

"Welcome back, my boy." Gaius patted Merlin's back while the latter blinked rapidly. Merlin had missed his mother; he had missed Gwen and the knights, but he had longed for Gaius' company more than anyone's.

"Thank you," Merlin croaked out after a long moment. "I hope you haven't completely turned my room into a storage closet?"

"Nope." Gaius gestured to the bedroom door. "I could never bring myself to move anything around. It's been waiting for you."

Merlin nodded and hugged Gaius again, wondering how he could have stayed away from Camelot for so long. Of course, it had never been out of his mind during his travels. He had trained his ears to listen for Camelot gossip, and on occasion, he had even casually asked about the kingdom's latest news. How Queen Guinevere seemed to be coping. Which of Arthur's knights were still alive. Whether or not anyone knew the court physician. But now Merlin was back. And yes, it stung, but at the same time he didn't think he could bear to sleep in another bed in a strange boardinghouse in a far off city. He didn't want to leave Gaius again. He wanted to stay, and amuse himself by frightening the knights with his magic. He wanted to see Gwen rule, to join in on the council meetings just as he had always longed to do as a servant. Surely he could bear the sorrowful memories. For they were also joyous memories. The best times of his life.

"Soup's on." Gaius placed two bowls on their little wooden table- the same table Merlin had sat at to pour over spell books and solve Camelot's biggest challenges.

"I...I'll be there in a moment actually." Merlin swallowed hard, determined not to change his mind. "I need to write a letter to my mother."

"Whatever for?" Gaius sat down, slightly puzzled.

Merlin gave the older man a small smile. "I need to warn her not to expect me back in Ealdor for a while."

"Oh?" Gaius' voice was light and unassuming, but Merlin could tell he was pleased.

"Yes, um, I don't want her to worry again when I don't stop by. I...I'm thinking Camelot might still...have use of me." Merlin let out a shaky breath and then smiled more confidently than he had in years. Five years to be exact. "Do you think Gwen would object to a court sorcerer?"