A/N: Hi everyone! I want to apologize for my extreme lateness with the posting of the FINAL chapter of this story. I had finals and my dance recital, and stuff. I'm lucky i had time for writing. But yes here it is then end to our story. I want to thank all of you for being with this story through thick and thin. This is my first story so to get so much support has been a blessing. But I have two special people to thank. First to Merlyn Pyndragon who told me to go for it when I asked if I should write this. You have been an amazing reviewer and friend. Thanks for helping start the spark that lit my writing candle. Finally thanks to Romy, my best friend who always told me what she thought and constantly stole my notebook to see how I was doing. I love you both very much and this chapter is dedicated to you both. So for the last time I saw please read, review, and enjoy!

Dawn came much too early for the group. Arthur woke to Lancelot shaking his shoulder. Bleary eyes opened not remembering how he got here. The last thing he remembered was staying with Merlin after his nightmare. He slowly lifted himself into a sitting position, curious eyes searching the camp. Everyone except Percival and Merlin were awake. Arthur walked over and knelt next to his wife and friend.

"Morning." Guinevere said.

"How long was I sleeping?" he asked.

"Leon was able to get you to lay down about two hours ago. I know you wanted to stay with him but you needed rest too."

"Well thank you, and how are you fairing?" he asked.

"I've been better but at least it's all over." she said trying to brush off the subject.

"Are you sure?" he asked concerned.

"Yes I'm fine. Percival is worse than he let on, Gwaine's not fairing any better, and Merlin well nothing has changed."

"What's wrong with Percival?" Arthur asked.

He looked over at the giant of a knight. Percival was shivering under his cloak and his skin had significantly paled.

"He's lost a considerable amount of blood and the wound is deep. Gaius will have his hands full once we get back."

"Do you want anything to eat?" Arthur asked.

"No I already ate something but you should eat and then we can go." Gwen said, a gleam of hope in her eyes.

"Yes, then we will go." he replied.

So Arthur sat with Leon, Elyan, and Lancelot. Gwaine's nausea kept him from eating so he just sat there his face turning green as he watched the rest eat. Once they had finished they decided to work out a plan for the journey home.

"Merlin and Gwaine are in no shape to ride." Leon said.

"We can use the cart to transport them." Lancelot said.

"I'll stay with them in the cart, someone needs to watch them." Gwen chimed in.

"That's a good plan. Leon and Lancelot ready the horses, Elyan help Gwaine into the cart, and Guinevere ready Merlin for the journey however you can." Arthur ordered.

Everyone was off busying themselves with their orders. Arthur had decided to wake up Percival so that he could eat something. He knelt down beside the shivering knight and gently shook his uninjured shoulder. At first Percival was unresponsive but after a minute he began to wake. Slowly his eyelids opened revealing glassy brown eyes.

"Sire?" Percival asked, looking confused.

"Why didn't you tell us the extent of your injuries?"

"Merlin was more important and I wanted to help." the knight replied.

"I can understand but next time let us know so we can help. Now, how are you feeling?"

"Very tired, cold, and dizzy but I can pull through." Percival replied wearily.

"Eat something and then we'll be on our way." Arthur told him.

"What can I do before we leave?" he asked.

"Just eat; you'll need the strength to ride."

"Yes Sire."

Percival had eaten and was getting onto his horse. Leon and Lancelot laid Merlin in the cart; Gwen laid a cloak over him, hoping that it will calm his shivering. Gwaine was extremely agitated due to his injury and his lack of sleep, he stayed quiet but everyone was objected to annoyed glares.

Arthur and the others situated them on their saddles and began their ride to Camelot. The ride was mostly silent except for the sound of hooves and Merlin's occasional moan of pain. At about midday they had stopped for a short rest. Merlin's fever had risen to an inhuman level. They reached a clearing and decided to settle there. They replenished on water which was a great relief to both Merlin and Percival. Once they had rested the voyage back home continued. Just as the sun began to set the group had made their way into the gates of Camelot. Guards and stable hands had appeared quickly doing what they were ordered.

"Warn Gaius about his ward's injuries. You get the stretcher and three other guards to help." Arthur ordered.

Everyone had dismounted their horses, Percival was helped by Elyan. Guinevere would not leave Merlin and Gwaine until someone could fetch them and bring them to Gaius. Merlin had begun mumbling in a feverish sleep while a semiconscious Gwaine was struggling to keep his eyes open. In a few minutes the group was on their way to the physician's chambers.

"Gaius." Arthur said quickly.

The room was prepared, Gaius looking ready for just about anything. As soon as his eyes had lay upon his ward the look of a fiercely determined father and physician took hold but his eyes showed all the pain in the world. The guards quickly laid Merlin down on the patient bed. Everyone stepped out of his way as he worked on Merlin. As he cleaned Merlin's wound no one could forget the screams of agony he let out. Guinevere stayed at Merlin's side tending to his fever and helping Gaius. Two hours later Merlin's entire torso was covered in bandages. His fever had begun to descend slightly which was a good start.

"He is very lucky. I was able to clean out the rest of the infection but we must watch in case it returns. The fever will take time but it will break. May I ask who worked on him before me?" Gaius said.

"Percival did everything." Arthur said turning to the knight who had lost consciousness.

"Excuse me Sire but I must tend to my other patients."

Gaius first checked Gwaine to make sure there was no internal bleeding. Satisfied he cleaned out the wound and stitched up his gash. Leon helped Gwaine to the patient bed, Gaius gave him a pain reliever and finally gave the order that he could sleep. Gwaine quickly downed the potion and fell asleep instantly. The physician made his way to Percival and roused him from unconsciousness with a smoking herb. He efficiently cleaned and stitched the wound.

"Thank you for helping to save my boy." Gaius told him.

"I would do anything for him for all of them. They became family; they filled the gap I lost when Cenred killed it." Percival confessed.

Gaius smiled at him sympathetically. He was ordered to stay in Merlin's room overnight. Percival had no argument and quickly settled into Merlin's room and went to sleep. Gaius had checked all the others in the room and sent them off with orders of rest. All had left but one.

"I'm not leaving him, I've wronged him and this is the least I can do." Arthur said with authority.

"Arthur you did nothing of the sort. Merlin would not want you to feel guilty for Morgana's wrong doing." Gaius replied. "Let me make you some tea."

Gaius received a muffled reply as Arthur was too engrossed with Merlin, telling him they were home and that all would be alright. Gaius slipped a sleeping draught in Arthur's tea; the dark circles under Arthur's eyes were quite prominent. Arthur had accepted the tea gratefully and sat by Merlin's side holding his hand so he wouldn't be alone, and hope that it would somehow ease his guilt. He drank the tea, telling Merlin of Gwaine's crankiness. He slowly began to feel more and more tired as the night continued. Seeing that Merlin was okay for now Arthur leaned back in his chair and let himself drift off as a warm feeling spread through his body.

0o 1 week later o0

It had been a week, a bloody week since they had returned home. Everyone seemed to have healed and Merlin was on the mend. He had slept for about 3 days, when he woke he was in immense pain and completely unaware of anything. He was awake long enough for Gaius to give him something for the pain before he fell back to sleep. It continued like this but Merlin was soon able to stay up for longer periods of time. At first it worried Arthur, not knowing much about medicine, that he was sleeping so much. Gaius had assured that it was normal for Merlin's body to crave sleep more than anything. Arthur knew it was coming but now he had to face it. He had to talk to Merlin about his magic. Before he could even realize it he was at Gaius' chambers knocking on the door.

"Come in." he heard Gaius say.

Arthur walked in to find Merlin propped up on some pillows simply watching Gaius work. His head turned toward the door and a smile graced his face when he saw Arthur. It quickly disappeared when he saw the seriousness portrayed on Arthur's face.

"Gaius could I please speak to Merlin in private?" he asked.

"Of course Sire. I will be outside if you need anything."

Arthur waited for the door to close, trying not to look at Merlin's fearful gaze. He looked so frightened, his eyes watering with unshed tears.

"I'm not going to hurt you Merlin." Arthur promised.

"I'm sorry Arthur, I'm so sorry. I was going to tell you but I didn't think you were ready. Then all of this happened and she told you."

"Merlin look at me." Arthur said forcefully.

Merlin did as his master and friend asked.

"Yes I'm angry, yes I feel betrayed but I know you had a good reason for what you did but you need to tell me something."

"What do you want to know?"

"When did you start learning magic?" he asked.

"I never learned it, I was born with it. I had no say in the matter."

"But why come to Camelot, the land where magic is forbidden. Surely you can't be that thick?" Arthur said.

Merlin smiled at his comment but continued."Well I needed to learn how to control my magic and Gaius was the only person my mother trusted. So I came to Camelot and then I learned of our destiny, the Once and Future King and the mighty Emrys bringing magic back and uniting Albion."

Arthur could see that Merlin was fighting off sleep as he continued on about their great destiny.

"Well Merlin we will get to that but I promise no harm will come to you."

"Thank you." Merlin finally said. His heavy lids fell and his breathing evened out. Arthur just smiled at him with a brotherly love. They would get to this destiny business but first they needed to heal.

All seemed well in the land of myth and the time of magic.