I decided to do any actual epilogue for this - I think it's my first one xx This is the end of this story - I promise (I think) x Please read and review

*Epilogue*

Arthur went and had that drink. And then several others. And then maybe one more The next day, even before he'd sobered up, Merlin had stalked in giving Arthur (in his hung-over state) a further headache and widely opened the curtains, shouting ridiculous things and bringing him breakfast. Like normal.

Arthur had calmly asked him what the hell he'd thought he was doing. After all, firstly, Merlin was magic (sorcerer, warlock, either of the above) and that meant he was supposed to be arrested and executed, not serving the Prince breakfast. Secondly, after everything that Merlin had done for them, Arthur didn't think he could stand the sight of Merlin scrubbing his floor.

Of course, he wasn't King yet, but he would be, and when he was the laws would change.

Merlin would never have to hide again.

But until then, he had to pretend to be nothing more than an ignorant servant, an idea which grated on Arthur's nerves and he wasn't even the one doing the acting. At least now Merlin would be able to do some of his chores with magic - not that Arthur would let the lazy idiot get away with it.

But they were equals now, on equal footing, and Arthur wished there was some way he could show it. Merlin didn't deserve the treatment he got for being a servant, never mind the hatred towards sorcerers.

He couldn't do anything big - that would attract attention and a Prince doing things for a servant would be very bad attention. But he wanted, needed, to do something.

Wait a minute.

He knew what he could do.

It was so simple, so effortless, so unnoticeable, and yet, at the same time, summed up their friendship. He could buy Merlin a new neckerchief.

There. That was a good idea.

He briefly considered double checking with Guinevere, but ultimately decided against it. This was his idea. He was really rather proud of it.

He finished off getting dressed, an oblivious Merlin jabbering in his ear like normal, this time with the occasional flash of gold from his eyes, and started down to the lower town the buy the neckerchief. It didn't seem right to get a runner to do it.

On the way down he caught Percival and realised he hadn't asked how Percival had known about Emrys (Merlin). He decided to ask there, and with his answer realised that he didn't know much about the lives of his common-born Knights. He knew about he nobles - like Leon. He had ben brought up with them, seen them at Court, their fathers vying for the King's attention. But of his commoner Knights he knew next to nothing.

Gwaine was actually not common-born at all. Percival had been brought up next to a Druid camp. Was Lancelot secretly half fairy?

He really needed to investigate those sorts of things - it could be quite embarrassing for him at a later date.

But not now. Later, he'd interrogate all of his knights and chart their entire lives for the records. He would know all their secrets, know them as well as he knew himself. But not right now. Right now he had a neckerchief to buy.

The vendor looked only slightly confused as to why the Crown Prince and, effectively (with the state Uther was presently in) King, was wandering in the Lower Town looking for clothing items, rather than having them custom made, but handed over the required article anyway. It was expensive, but good quality and hard wearing - which it would need to be if Merlin wore this half even half as much as his current one. Arthur didn't really mind spending the money, not even on his servant - not after everything Merlin had done for both Arthur and Camelot.

And when, later that day, Arthur presented an unsuspecting Merlin with the new neckerchief he'd never seen Merlin smile so widely, and he knew that as soon as he was King he would change the laws and everything would be alright. At last.

Merlin would be free and never have to look over his shoulder to see who was watching him ever again.

(Not that he did. This entire revelation had only come about because he didn't.)

*The End*