I am so, so sorry for my long hiatus – my excuse is this: C.O.L.L.E.G.E. It's crazy, but wonderful…But crazy. This chapter is much longer than usual, so I hope that makes up for the wait a bit :)

Anyways, that you SO much for all the amazing support and I hope you all enjoy this final chapter! It's been lovely to have all of you amazing people here to help support me and this story! I love you all!

Merlin

We ride together into the Camelot fortress, passing through the familiar streets of small homes, shops, and carts. Arthur very obviously led us along a different path of travel so as to avoid getting too close to Florin, and for that I'm grateful. I don't think I could have handled seeing the wreckage of the small village.

I can feel many eyes on me, making me extremely uncomfortable. No doubt rumors must have started about me over the course of the past week. I'm so worn out and exhausted it feels like everything happened a month ago. Some of the eyes are kind, some angry, but mostly what I see is fear. My stomach drops and my chest tightens, my whole body tensing. It must have been noticeable, for Gaius pulls his horse forward so it is trotting next to mine.

"It's going to be alright, Merlin," He says in a soft, comforting voice, placing a wrinkled hand on my arm.

I shake my head, forcing my gaze away from a mother pulling her little girl behind her, both of their eyes wide with fear. "No, it's not." I whisper.

Something hard hits my shoulder, and I realize as it falls that it is a potato. Rubbing the newly forming bruise, I dart my eyes up to see who it was. It is then that the man starts shouting, others joining in. "Sorcerer! Traitor! Enemy of the kingdom!"

I open my mouth in protest, but the crowd has grown too loud to talk over. Arthur pulls back on the reins of his horse, stopping it and the whole entourage. I keep looking at all the angry, fearful faces of the people of Camelot. My heart thuds faster, and I kick my horse into a gallop, passing Arthur and rushing to the castle gates.

"Merlin!" I hear Arthur yell, voice nearly drowned out by the crowd. I don't stop until I've reached the courtyard. I see guards holding crossbows, and with the angry shouts ringing in my mind I suddenly panic, pulling my horse to a sudden stop before scurrying off of it and into the castle. I hear Arthur calling my name again, and realize he must have chased after me.

I don't know where I'm trying to go, and I know Arthur or someone else will find me eventually, but I feel sick and my breath is shallow. I hurriedly turn a corner, and collide with someone running just as fast in the opposite direction.

We both fall to the stony floor, and I force myself to look up at them even though I just want to disappear.

"Merlin," Gwen whispers, eyes wide. She blinks, trying to mask her surprise and sudden fear, but it's too late. Even my friends will never be able to look at me the same way ever again. I know Gwen can never forgive me, not after I threatened her life as well as her husband's.

I scramble to my feet, backing away before running the way I came. All I can think of is the image of all of those angry, scared faces. I've done too much, hurt and killed too many, to ever be forgiven.

"Merlin!" Gwen's voice calls from behind me. I don't stop, but it isn't my choice anyway, because suddenly Arthur is in front of me and gripping my arms firmly, trying to still me.

"Merlin, stop running!" He shouts, but I feel as though I'm going to hyperventilate. I just shake my head, trying to push him away. "Stop fighting!" He orders.

I didn't mean for it to happen, but my magic lashes out and suddenly I'm free and Arthur is on the floor, having been shoved away by an invisible force. Gwen screams, and my eyes widen, looking between the two as Gwen rushes to Arthur's side.

Two sets of strong hands tug my arms behind me, but I've lost all the fight I once had. I just sag in their grip, breaths uneven, heart thundering in my chest. "I'm sorry," I finally choke out. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…"

"Arthur, Arthur," Gwen keeps whispering, wrapping her arms around him tightly as tears stream down her face. He returns the embrace, pushing himself up into a sitting position. He buries his face in her hair and gently rocks her back and forth, rubbing her back comfortingly. "You came back," Gwen chokes, pulling away and taking Arthur's face in her hands. "Thank god you came back."

"How could I stay away when there was such a beautiful woman waiting for me at home?" He chuckles without real humor, tucking a wild strand of hair behind Gwen's ear.

"I tried to have faith," she whispers brokenly, tears renewing their speed. "But I couldn't help thinking that I would never see you again."

I feel as though my heart is breaking, and I realize silent tears are rolling down my face, as well. I did all of this. It was a mistake for me to come back here. I'm just a threat to everyone…I thought I could contain it but I'm too unstable. I can't let anyone else get hurt because of me.

"Shh…" Arthur replies softly, brushing the tears from the Queen's cheeks. "It's okay. I'm here now."

"Sire," a low voice tentatively pipes up from behind me, grip tightening on my upper arm.

Arthur gets to his feet, helping Gwen up, as well. He nods to the men behind me, who I have not bothered to identify. "You can release him, Thomas, Percival,"

I recognize Percival's large, strong hands then, and they are the first to obey to command, only staying to help me become steady on my feet once more. Thomas, however, does not let go.

"Sire, are you sure that is a wise decision –"

"I said release him," Arthur says, authority clear in his tone. Thomas lets me go, but as I turn to look at him, I see mistrust evident in his gaze.

"I'm not safe, Arthur," I say numbly, turning my tear streaked face back to that of the King. "I told you…I can't stay here. I thought…hoped that I could start over but this proves that there's no going back."

"So what, Merlin," Arthur shakes his head, coming to stand before me. "I'm just supposed to kill you?"

Gwen gasps from behind her husband, hands flying to her mouth in shock. I just nod, looking sadly into Arthur's eyes. "It's the only way we can know that I won't hurt anyone again."

"The answer is still no, Merlin," Arthur says resolutely. "I won't do that."

"Everyone is afraid of me!" I shout suddenly. "The people in the town, the guards, the knights, Gwen! And I know you are, too, Arthur, so don't even try to deny it! I've lied and kept secrets my whole life; I know whether or not someone is telling me the truth."

"Merlin –" Arthur begins, brow furrowing.

"- I can't blame any of you. I would be scared of me, too. If someone had killed and destroyed so much and threatened those that I loved, I wouldn't hesitate to stop them."

"That's easy to say, Merlin, but –"

"- I've done it before, Arthur," I cut him off again. "I have killed so many before all of this happened."

"That wasn't through dark magic, Merlin. Those people were evil – you were protecting Camelot! You can't possibly be blaming yourself for stopping those with evil intentions!"

I bit my lip, shaking my head. "How can we decide that it is alright to kill some but not others? There has been too much death, Arthur."

"So let's change that," Arthur grips my shoulders, looking me in the eyes. "Let's show the people of Camelot that you aren't the man you were this past week."

"I can't control myself," I protest, pulling away. "What just happens proves that."

"You were panicking, Merlin! How were you supposed to react after what happened in the lower town?"

"We need to know that I can be trusted in any and all situations! I can't be trusted if I'm going to end up panicking and hurting someone!"

"We can get through this, Merlin. I know we can!"

"Promise me that if I ever lose control you'll kill me before I get the chance to hurt anyone," I demand, looking Arthur directly in the eyes.

His own eyes widen. "Merlin –"

"Promise me!"

The hall is deadly quiet, no one daring to make a sound. Arthur looks to the floor for a moment before looking back to me. "…I promise."

I simply nod before turning and walking to mine and Gaius' chambers. Arthur may have promised that he'd kill me if I ever lost control, but I won't let it come to that.

Guinevere

It's been several hours before everything that happened in the hallway. Arthur told me all that happened while we ate. He said he wasn't hungry, but I insisted he eat anyway. He had said he wouldn't be able to fall asleep, either, but it ended up being me lying awake in the bed while he slumbered beside me.

I'm strolling through the corridors now; moonlight streaming in through the large windows to my left.

I was so relieved when some servants informed me that the King and his knights had returned to the castle. While he was gone I felt utterly hopeless, the fear of it all too much to handle. I cried for hours, hidden away in our chambers while clutching his nightshirt, wishing him back at my side.

I couldn't believe that Merlin could ever kill Arthur. They've been too close for too long. However I also couldn't have guessed Arthur would have acted the way he did towards Merlin in the first place.

I stop walking when I hear the sound of faint crying echoing down a stairwell leading to one of the watchtowers. Cautiously, I climb up the stairs, trying to be as quiet as possible. When I reach the top my breath catches in my throat.

Merlin is standing by one of the low parts of the tower's parapet. His shaking hands grip the stone, tears rushing down his face. His weight is shifting on his feet as if he's trying to prepare himself to –

"Merlin, don't!" I protest, rushing forward as it all clicks into place. The warlock whips around, losing his footing for a moment and almost falling off the edge. He steadies himself with wide eyes, staring down the long distance to the ground with wide eyes. He does not move away from the edge.

"I have to, Gwen," He says in a broken whisper, refusing to look at me.

"No, Merlin, please," I protest, walking forward slowly, arms held up warily. "Step away from the edge."

"I've hurt so many," He shakes his head, tears glistening in his eyes. "I can't turn back from that."

"You already have."

Merlin tears his gaze from the ground to meet my eyes. "You saw what I did to Arthur today in the corridor. I'm not strong enough to contain myself."

"And I also know what you did to him in Ealdor. You cannot compare that dark magic to pushing someone away in panic –"

"- But I didn't mean to do anything!" He protests, looking back to the edge of the tower. "We all know I am capable of much, much worse. There's no way I'm letting myself hurt anyone like I did ever again."

"Everyone has darkness in them, Merlin. It's harder for those with power to control it; yet you have for all of these years. I believe that you will never turn to it again."

"No," Merlin shakes his head, returning to the edge and putting one foot on the stone wall. "I know you don't really mean that. Not after what I threatened to do to you and what I did do to Arthur. I can't be trusted!"

"I forgive you," I say sincerely, heart thudding in fear as Merlin is far too close to falling. I take a step forward, outstretching my arm towards him.

Merlin stops at my words, and looks back at me in shock. "What?"

"I forgive you, Merlin."

"You can't –"

"- I can because you stopped before you killed Arthur. I can because I know you had no intention of hurting anyone in Florin. I can because your magic reacted out of pain and grief in Ealdor the day your mother died. I can because you came home instead of running away. I can because the fact that you are ready to sacrifice your life to protect Camelot proves that you can be trusted."

"What about Sir Peyton? I killed him in cold blood in Ealdor today."

"Yes, yes you did," I whisper. "But I would be a hypocrite if I ignored the fact that Arthur has killed innocent people in a moment of mistakes, as well."

Merlin drags him foot down from the wall, and fully turns to look at me. It feels as if a weight has lifted from my chest. "You really think that after everything I can be trusted?" He asks slowly, looking at me imploringly.

"Yes, yes I do." I say truthfully, looking him straight in the eyes to make sure he knows I'm serious.

Suddenly he rushes forward, enveloping me in a hug. He's crying against my shoulder, and I find that I'm crying, too as I return the embrace.

Merlin

(One Month Later)

It has been anything but easy to convince the kingdom that the lifting of the ban of magic is for the best. Camelot's people have been so used to hating magic that the idea of accepting it is incredibly foreign. Some happily accepted the change, revealing that they had been magic sympathizers all along. There have even been a few who have confessed to having magic themselves. I personally met with them to ensure them that they really are safe now.

There were angry outbursts from a few groups, and the man that tried to attack me when I came back from Ealdor led a riot that was difficult to subdue. All of this has been hard on Arthur, as many on the council fought hard before the ban was officially lifted a week after our return. It took that long to convince those who were unyieldingly loyal to Uther's laws. I do my best to ignore the dirty looks I still get sometimes.

Another change to get used to is my new position in the kingdom. I've become Arthur's right-hand man, specializing in matters dealing with magic. It's been a tough job to take on, and sometimes I wish I could take on the chores I used to have as Arthur's manservant – they seemed exhausting at the time, but that was before I was able to openly complete them with magic.

Arthur refused to take George on as his manservant, much to the man's disappointment. Instead Gwen has insisted that Arthur do some things himself, such as dressing and general tidying. Because she was a peasant before a queen, Gwen said rather openly that it was ridiculous that Arthur hadn't been doing more himself over the years. I thoroughly enjoyed observing that conversation.

Arthur has taken on a new manservant, however: a teenager named Josef. Based on the king's complaints, the new addition is just barely better than I was. I have noticed with amusement that the King refuses to take on someone else in the boy's place. I don't think he would know what to do with himself if he didn't have a 'competent' servant to tease. Josef has taken the job on quite well considering what a clotpole the King is.

I now have my own chambers, nearby to the King's and Queen's, but not too close so I won't "be a bother" as Arthur so kindly put it. I was worried Gaius would be lonely without me in the physician's chambers, but he said with my change in position he will need a new apprentice, anyway. It feels a bit strange to watch someone take on my old jobs, but I'm thankful for their sake that they won't have to juggle being the King's manservant, being the Physician's apprentice, and protecting Camelot against evil magic like I did.

One of the most difficult things was reconciling with the Knights. Elyan was understandably wary of me after I threatened his sister, but he, too, offered me forgiveness. I didn't need to say anything to Percival: he cut me off when I tried and simply patted me on the shoulder and said he understood and would stand by me. Leon, in his older, wiser way, asked that we speak about everything at length. It was an uncomfortable conversation, but when I finished talking he cut the silence by saying I had earned a second chance through all the service I'd done for Camelot in the past.

The conversation I was dreading most was the one I knew I needed to have with Gwaine. We stood for a while, looking to each other in silence, neither wanting to make the first move. I was sure in that moment that there was no possible thing I could say to him to make him forgive me. I was just about to say as much when he engulfed me in an unexpected embrace.

"You're my best mate. And you were my only friend when I came to Camelot. I always have thought that out of everyone, you were the one who deserved to be a Knight – certainly more than me." He said sincerely.

"Thank you for staying with me through all of his," I replied, tears threatening my eyes. "You never had to…But you did. Everything could have happened so much worse if not for you."

"That's what friends are for, mate." He'd said with a smile. Then he had dragged me off to the tavern, insisting that I'd earned a few drinks.

We haven't heard from Morgana at all, which is both a relief and worrisome. I can't help but find myself hoping that she is doing well; and not just so she is no longer a threat. I feel badly for the ways I know I hurt her. I understand her in ways I never did before everything happened. I've felt the darkness, and I know from our time together that we turned to it for similar reasons. Whether she can turn back from it, I have no clue. I was consumed in darkness for a week, whereas she has been for years.

I am simply grateful that all of that horror has passed, and that for the moment, Camelot is at peace.

I hope this was a satisfying conclusion for all of you, and I want to sincerely say a huge THANK YOU! For all of the WONDERFUL support you have given me.

I'd love to have concluding feedback from anyone who has read my story, and I am so grateful to all of you!

Happy New Year and have a wonderful, blessed 2016!