Yes, this is really the last chapter of this version now. I can't believe I missed a chapter out. Anyway enjoy - again, and hopefully I will be uploading the alternate ending soon! Yes I like depressing stories, yes I like killing and maiming characters, yes I'm sadistic but what can I say, I love it. I do not own Merlin yadda yadda yadda blah blah blah.

The four figures stood silently in the glade, their heads bowed as rain pattered down around them, crying for them, mourning their loss. A flat stone jutted out from the ground in front of them, marking the place where their friend's body had be lain to rest. On the stone were engraved small letters, not so small that they were not visible, but small enough that they would not be seen from the corner of your eye. Gaius stepped forward slowly, bowing his head and, the rain masking his tears, placed a small handful of flowers in front of the stone, murmuring a quiet 'thank you' and 'farewell'. Morgana was the next to step forwards, her black-brown hair hung limply as she too bowed her head and laid a small flower before the stone,

"Farewell Merlin." she said softly, as though he were just leaving for a journey, and God knew she wanted that to be true. The ward turned and joined the old physician in standing a good distance from Merlin's resting place and waiting for the others to say their good byes. Gwen followed shortly after Morgana, reluctant to accept that her friend had gone, she bowed her head, placing another flower in front of the stone,

"I'll miss you Merlin." she murmured as she felt fresh tears trickle down her face. The maidservant ran, rather than walked, from the stone and threw herself into Gaius's open arms as she bit her lip to stop herself sobbing uncontrollably,

"Go on ahead." Arthur's empty voice carried across the clearing, "I'll catch up to you." The three figures left the Prince reluctantly, their leaving seemed to make the rain fall harder. Arthur took the neckerchief from his pocket and placed it on the stone as he knelt down in front of it,

"I'm sorry Merlin. I only wish I could have helped you…" he said softly, his voice catching as he felt the first hint of tears pricking at his eyes, "Thank you, for everything." The Prince stroked the front of the stone absently, his fingers feeling the contours and indentations, "Good bye Merlin." Arthur left the glade slowly, glancing back at the stone as he reached the very edge. For a split second he thought he saw Merlin standing there, the manservant's mouth shaping the words 'you're welcome'. The Prince shook his head and left, his imagination was already playing tricks. When Arthur had left the clearing remained silent except for the quite breeze which whistled through it, catching on the material of the neckerchief so that it rippled in the wind. The headstone stood solidly in the centre of the glade, a small ray of light caught the engraved letters:

'MERLIN.' it read 'LOYAL TO THE END. REST IN PEACE.'

I hope The Darkness Inside was to your liking, if you didn't like this ending there's still the other non-character death one to go. You'll have to be patient though, I have exams soon.