Disclaimer: I own nothing.

This takes place after series five, so if you haven't finished the series, this will have some serious spoilers.

The Queen was in her room, preparing to hold court. She had gotten into the habit of doing it monthly. She would open the doors of the castle so the people could openly come forward and discuss problems in the city. She was glad she had started the tradition, just about four years back, but it was always an exhausting day, and often a sad one too, for she could not solve the problems of all of her subjects.

There was a knock on the door. "Come in," Guinevere called.

Sir Leon walked in. "Your Majesty, it is time," he said.

"Now, Leon. How many times have I told you?"

"Right, sorry Your Ma—" he began, but at her pursed lips, he corrected, "I mean Gwen." He was quiet for a moment. "It just feels disrespectful," he added.

"Yes, I thought so too, back when I was a servant, but now I understand why Ar—" She paused, biting her lip. Even after seven years, sometimes he was hard to talk about. "Why Arthur didn't like me to call him 'sire'," she said.

Leon nodded sympathetically and she hated it. Because Leon didn't really understand. Losing Arthur had been horrible enough. The news had shattered her heart, broken her soul. But what was worse was realising that she was not the one most hurt by the loss. It was Merlin who felt Arthur's absence more than anyone, more than even she did. The fact that he was hurting so much, she didn't like that… but the selfishness in her also was upset because she always knew something was there between them, but she never admitted it to herself before. And she was afraid—no, she was positive—that Arthur's marriage to her was his second choice. He was even happy with her, probably… but Merlin was always there. In the beginning, she was a bit bitter about it, but she had time since then, many years, to think about it. And now she understood. She could never love Arthur the way Merlin did.

And the funny thing about that was that Merlin had no idea he loved Arthur. And Arthur surely had no idea that he loved Merlin, in life. But it was true on both sides and she had much time to come to terms with that.

Plus, she couldn't stay upset with Merlin over it, not with how he was nowadays. She couldn't bring herself to be mad at him for even a second anymore, not with the state he was perpetually in.

"Your M—Gwen?" Leon prompted. "Are you ready?"

She shook her head, leaving her thoughts. "Yes, I'm ready." He led her through the castle to the throne room.

"There's already a few people outside the castle doors," Leon told her.

She nodded. "I figured as much."

"And one of them is Radamon."

She looked over to him in surprise. "Radamon never comes to court."

"I know. Something must be very wrong."

"Bring him in first."

He nodded and walked away. Radamon was the leader of the Druids since the last one died. Guinevere had been able to legalise magic within two years of her reign. It had been messy at first, but things had gotten simpler in the last three years. It had not only become accepted, but had become rather integrated into Camelot's society.

The Druids, even though they were now welcome in Camelot, usually kept to themselves, so she was surprised to hear that they wanted something of her. She was both curious and worried about what Radamon might have to say.

She walked into the room and was only half surprised that Merlin was not present. As part of her court, he was supposed to be there, but he often spent a long time away from the castle. He'd been gone for almost a month now. She knew she needn't worry about him—even so many years later, it was hard to believe that he was never as helpless as he seemed—so she tried not to dwell on it.

Then Radamon came into the hall.

"Welcome, Radamon," Gwen said.

"It is good to see you, My Queen," Radamon said with a bow. He was followed by a younger man carrying a basket of fruit—a gift for her table. Most people brought them, even though she said there was no need.

"What brings you to see me?" she asked. "Is there trouble?"

"I do not know, Your Majesty."

Her eyebrows pulled together. "What do you mean?"

"I have come here in warning," he told her. "My people, we sense… something is coming."

"Something bad?" Gwen asked.

"Something powerful. Something that will shake the foundations of the society you have been building."

Gwen was confused. "Should I be preparing for battle?"

"I am sorry to be so vague, Your Majesty, but I can't tell you exactly what is to come. Your Court Sorcerer, however, probably could."

Gwen repressed a sigh. "He isn't in the castle right now."

"I know," Radamon replied. "I saw him just three days ago."

Gwen stood without meaning to. "Did you speak to him?"

"Briefly."

"What is he doing?"

He was quiet.

"Tell me, Radamon."

He sighed. "He was in a tavern, milady. Drinking."

It was better than she figured. He did things like this often now.

"I would tell you that you should speak to Kilgharrah about this issue instead, except—"

"Except that my Court Sorcerer is also the last Dragon Lord?" Gwen interrupted. "I know."

"Have you considered another sorcerer?" Radamon asked softly.

"Of course," she said. "But he's the best out there, and he comes when he is needed. He always knows. In fact, he'll probably be here within the day now that we're talking about him," she added with a fond smile.

"If you say so, milady," Radamon said. "That was all I had to say. I thought you should be prepared."

She nodded. "Thank you, Radamon. I will keep your words in mind. Is there anything else I could do for you?"

"Nothing, Your Majesty."

And Radamon left the room.

"Well that was ominous," Leon said.

Gwen gave a nervous little laugh. "Indeed."

"It makes me wonder what is coming."

Gwen nodded. "I fear anything we imagine it might be won't be as drastic as it will truly be." Though she had a nagging suspicion, deep in the back of her mind. She silenced it, because there was no way that what was coming could be that. No way at all.

Leon nodded. "So do I."

It was nearing the end of a very long day for Gwen. The last of the subjects that wanted an audience were filing out.

That was when a good dozen knights burst into the room, all huffing and having wide eyes. In front of them all was Percival.

Gwen stood abruptly at the looks on their faces. "What's happened?"

"It's… It's…" one of the knights was saying. "They're…" He seemed to be in shock.

Percival took another step forward. "Do you remember the prophecy, milady?"

She closed her eyes, exhaling. There was that sneaking suspicion in the back of her mind as to what Radamon meant. She had known deep down that this was what he meant, but she didn't want to believe it.

Kilgharrah told Merlin, back seven years ago, that The Once and Future King would return when Albion's need was dire. That was the only prophecy Percival could have meant.

"Yes, I remember," she choked out.

And then Percival smiled. "He is here. They all are."

"They?" Gwen asked, coming forward.

Then Percival and the other knights moved aside, showing who had walked in. Gwen's heart was racing in her chest. Because there he was.

But he was not alone. Following behind him were Gwaine, Elyan, and Lancelot.

"Arthur," she breathed.