A/N: So this is the last chapter of this part of the series! Are you sad? I'm not, because I'm already planning the next season! The next story will be called 'A woman's love'.

Please check out my one shot 'A woman's wiles'! it's random, and only loosely based on this, but still!

dedication: To grapejuice101, because you've reviewed 10 times (that I've counted), and you're a wonderful reader. Thank you so much for all the encouragement and kind words, you're the best!

Epilogue

So that's how my first year in Camelot came to an end. All in all it was a very eventful time, and I wouldn't have changed it for the world. Except maybe fewer brushes with death?

My mother recovered speedily, and stayed with us for another three days. I introduced her to Ellie, and the two immediately took a liking to each other. Mother seemed to think it was the closest to a grandchild she'd even get. I rolled my eyes at her good-naturedly.

Of course, this brought up another subject that was still a little sore for me. I was in love with the Crown Prince of Camelot, a man whose father wouldn't hesitate to have me killed if he found out what I could do, what I was. Arthur also seemed uncomfortably close to remembering what I'd said when he was asleep, and add to that the fact that he mostly remembered the Sophia mess (though he still thought it was a dream), and it was a recipe for disaster. Arthur was my best friend, and I would never do anything to endanger that, it meant too much to me.

Even if he did feel the same, we could never be together. It was bad enough I was a servant, but a sorceress too? And a powerful at that.

About that; I could now mirror Life and Death, but I wasn't so sure it was a good thing. Power corrupts, they say, and, in a fit of rage, I'd killed a person. Granted, she wasn't a very decent person, but she was a human being… she was my kin.

I was grateful for my mother's presence, as she reassured me when I cried. I had killed another sorceress, and I'd never be innocent again. Circe tried to help as much as she could, and the dog's presence was definitely a welcome one, but my mind remained in turmoil.

Arthur, thankfully, had given me most of the next few days off, only requiring me to bring him his meals. I did this with as little eye contact as possible. He noticed, of course, but didn't actually say anything until the day after my mother left.

I walked in without knocking, as usual, and placed his tray on the table. Arthur sat in his chair in front of the fire, massaging his shoulder. I had planned to just slip out of the room without him noticing me, but as soon as I took a step towards the door, his voice stopped me.

"Merlynn."

I turned around slowly. He was leaning around the back of his chair, frowning at me. "Yes, sire?" I said, hoping he didn't hear the squeak in my voice.

"Come here," he said, indicating a smaller chair in front of his. I sat down gingerly. "Spill," he ordered.

"E- excuse me?" I squeaked again.

Arthur sighed in exasperation. "You've been avoiding me ever since we talked."

"No I haven't."

I was met with a flat stare. "You know you're a horrible liar, Merlynn, why even try?"

I shrugged uncomfortably. "Look, Arthur, if all you're going to do is insult my lying capabilities…" I trailed off.

"I know you were in here the other day, and I know you talked to me," he said, holding up a hand to forestall my argument. "Don't even bother, I checked with the castle guards, they saw you come in. I know you talked to me, but I only remember snatches. You refuse to tell me what you said, and then you act like you're saying goodbye. Then I hear you took one of my horses and galloped out of Camelot at break-neck speed, only to return late that night with an exhausted Gaius. Pair that with some of the dreams I've been having, and I know you're hiding something."

I bit my lip. Telling Arthur would serve no purpose, except to satisfy the prince's curiosity. Plus, it might get me sent to the stocks… again.

"What did you say to me that night that you could only say while I was asleep?" he asked.

I shifted uncomfortably. "Just the usual stuff, you know, you'll make a great king, you can't die, you're a prat…" I replied, hoping to sound casual.

"I remember that, but you said something after that, what was it?" he demanded, a little forcefully.

Against my will, my eyes started prickling. This was a no-win situation: if I didn't tell him, he wouldn't trust me, and if I did, our friendship might be over. "Arthur…" I started, but didn't know what to say. A tear spilled, unbidden, over my cheek, and I wiped it away impatiently.

In an instant, Arthur was right in front of me, his free arm around my shoulder. "Merlynn…" He sounded so uncomfortable.

I took a deep breath and got myself back under control. Pushing him back gently, I looked him in the eye. "I'm just not ready to tell you."

There was a light in his eye that told me he suspected. Luckily, Arthur wasn't completely dense, so he backed off.

The prince nodded, almost to himself. "When can you get back to work?" He knew that I'd be back tomorrow, he was only asking to change the topic.

"Tomorrow, sire," I replied, looking down.

"All right…" He shifted uncomfortably, trying to massage his injured arm again. I had become a sort of nervous habit.

I rolled my eyes, and led him back to his chair and pushed him down. He frowned at me, but didn't complain. We really had come a long way in a year.

Standing behind him, I rubbed his shoulders, feeling the tension in them. "Aw, you miss me, don't you?" I teased.

But Arthur had his eyes half-closed, and wasn't paying very much attention to what he said. "Yes, I miss you." Or, at least, I thought he wasn't.

I quickly released his shoulders and went to the door. "If your shoulder is bothering you so much, maybe you should see Gaius again," I suggested, hoping I could get out of there soon, before I did something stupid like confess to what I'd said.

"Yes… yes, maybe I'll do that," he replied awkwardly.

I slipped out the door, satisfied that the status quo had been restored… somewhat at least.

'Well, I survived one year… I guess another few can't be too hard, can it?' I thought to myself.

THE END (for now)

A/N: Tell me what you think, and all your idea for the future, I'd love to hear it! Also, tell me what you think about the story in general, I appreciate constructive criticism. Some people have told me they don't think Arthur would ever hit a woman (see Valiant), and I agree that I have made some mistakes.

I will be replacing all the earlier chapters with some improvements (like Terri/Circe's name) etc. feel free to ignore it ^^

But really, check out the sequel to this!

Thank you all so much, you make my like all that much brighter
Sincerely,
Anne