EPILOGUE

8 YEARS LATER

Arthur was walking in the corridors of the Castle, trying to be as silent as he could be.

The King of Camelot wasn't trying to flee ennemies, nor was he trying to fleed his Council or even his friend Merlin.

No.

Because today was Sunday.

And on Sundays - unless something extremely urgent recquired his attention, was dedicated to his family only.

Indeed, on that day Guinevere and him let the Kingdom in the hand of some of their most trusted men while they took care of their children.

By doing so, they were also trying to remember the humans they were behind the titles.

And they didn't have children because they had to, they had children because they wanted to.

And they wanted to see them grow up.

They couldn't forget about that.

So Arthur was walking in silence in the corridors, trying to escape Anne - who was his first born, with wom he was currently engaged in a passionate game of hide and seek in all the Castle.

And he might know the Castle like the back of his pocket but his baby girl was as smart as her mother and she managed more time than not to win over him.

He chuckled at the thought.

And then glimpsed the perfect hiding spot behind some pillars, was halfway there when he stopped because something had caught his attention.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he exclaimed and the two people jumped from their kiss.

The woman rolled her eyes, annoyed.

"Oh don't be such a baby, Arthur."

"A baby?" he said, eyes wide.

The man had the audacity to laugh and Arthur glared at him.

"And don't you have things to do other than doing whatever you're doing with my sister?"

"You gave me the day off, Sire."

Arthur groaned.

"Oh, yes." he glared again at Merlin whose had his arms around Morgana still. The man blushed by his sister only raised an eyebrow in challenge. Arthur couldn't give up without a fight, though. "Doesn't mean I want to see these disgusting things!"

"I have to see you snog with Gwen all the time!" exclaimed Merlin and it was Arthur's time to blush while Morgana laughed.

"I do no such things!"

"You do, all the time!"

"Shut up, Merlin. I am the King."

"How is that an answer?"

"Well, it's mine."

"But that's not an answer, dollop head!"

"It is and you know why?"

"Please don't tell me because you're the Kin-"

"Exactly!" cut him Arthur, very proud of himself. "Because I'm the King!" And then he added, "And what if someone were to witnesss these... disgusting proof of affection?"

Merlin laughed, Morgana ran an exasperated hand on her face.

"Arthur..." she sighed.

The King tried to hold back his smirk.

Because there was nothing he loved more in the world than annoying Merlin and Morgana.

But the truth was?

Arthur was very happy for them ( not that he would ever admit it outloud).

He would never have trusted anyone more than Merlin to keep his big sister happy and on the path of light.

And the other way was true, also.

He wouldn't trust anybody else with the happiness of his best friend ( that either he would never admit out loud).

They were actually perfect for each other.

Morgana was fire to Merlin's calm and he was peace to her inside storms.

"And what if Ann sees you?" he asked, then, not ready to let it go.

Merlin raised an eyebrow.

"Ann is a grown up girl, Arthur-"

"What?" he exclaimed, outraged. "She is only 7 ! And Merlin I have to warn you, if your goal is to traumatize my baby girl, then-"

"I found you, daddy!" laughed a child voice and instantly, Arthur's face lit up.

He turned around and walked closer to his child, hugging her tightly and making her turn around while she laughed happily.

He finally let her down on the floor and looked at her.

Big blue eyes, blond hair long and slightly curly ( the only thing from her mother in her appearance, but she had her brain and her heart.)

She was so beautiful, though.

Inside and out.

She would be an amazing Queen someday, just like her mother was.

And Arthur smiled to himself, thinking about the fact that he was right to change yet another law and allow any first born would it be girl or boy to get the throne as long as she or he was the first born.

"You won, sweetheart."

She smiled and snuggled closer into his arms, waving at Merlin and Morgana in doing so.

"Hi Uncle Merlin, Hi Auntie Morgana."

They both smiled and said hi.

"You won again?" asked Merlin, raising an eyebrow and Arthur glared at him. "How does it feel to be smarter than your dad?"

Ann laughed.

"Shut up, Merlin." said the King.

"Language, daddy!"

Arthur smiled and kissed her hair.

"Sorry. You're right."

"Wow, that's words I never thought I would ever hear coming from you." whispered Merlin and Morgana laughed.

Arthur was about to answer, but Ann tugged on his hand.

"Can we play again?"

He smiled.

"Of course. But first, where is your mum?"

Ann seemed to think about it.

"I think she is still taking care of Tommy. Would you want me to come with you?"

He nodded and his daughter took his hand as they left, hopping happily alongside him.

Merlin and Morgana looked at them, longing evident in their eyes.

"Merlin?"

"Yes?"

She took a deep breath.

"Do you want to marry me?"

A silence.

And then he laughed and cupped her cheeks, making her look at him.

"I love that you're so impatient all the time." she opened wide eyes as he picked something from his pocket, a beautiful ring and tears pricked at the back of her eyes. "You couldn't even wait for me to ask you."

She chuckled tearfully and he did, too.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" her voice broke and he laughed again.

"Morgana Pendragon, will you marry me?"

She didn't answer but leant in and kissed his smiled away.

The King and his daughter came in the children's chamber which were right aside their parent's.

And that was a thing Arthur and Guinevere had been adamant about.

They would have shared Chambers and nothing would change that, ever.

And they wanted their children by their sides, no matter if it wasn't traditional.

So Anne brought her father to the room and they came in.

Arthur stopped and his heart stopped from love at the sight awaiting him.

He laid a tender stare on the woman in front of him, so busy playing with their 4 years old son that she had not seen him come in.

Arthur looked at their precious boy, then.

Tom looked so much like Guinevere... He had taken her dark curly hair, the caramel colour of her skin and the only thing he inherited from Arthur was his blue eyes.

Well, the only thing in appearance, that was.

Because if Anne was her mother in character, Tommy was his father.

He was very much lively and always was ready to get in trouble.

Plus, he loved sword fights.

Gwen always joked that one day he'd be an even greater warrior than Arthur.

And truth was?

Arthur would even be okay with that.

He'd be proud, even.

"Mummy! Daddy is here!"

At that, Guinevere looked up and their eyes locked.

And he looked at her,

The woman he had been married with for 8 years.

His Queen.

The love of his life.

The woman he loved as much as the day they had met, if not more...

Gwen smiled at him, such hapiness radiating from her when she walked to him and threw herself in his arms, her face in his neck.

"Well, I didn't know you still missed me that much after a few hours away." he teased her and she chuckled before she receded and kissed him passionately.

"Well I do, husband."

He laughed and she kissed him again, with a lot of passion.

And there was something about her today...

She was always affectionate, but this seemed more...

Seemed like he was missing on something important.

And then Tommy ran to him with his wooden sword,

"Daddy!"

Arthur smiled and took his boy in his arms, squeezing him against him.

"Hi my little man. How are you?"

"Daddy! Daddy! I want to show you my new attack!"

Arthur laughed,

"Go then, sweetheart."

They walked away and Arthur picked up another wooden sword, under the tender gaze of Guinevere.

Gwen stared at him, her eyes wide with love and happiness she felt toward this man she married all these years ago but still made her heart beat like he did on the first day.

She laid a discrete hand on her stomach and smiled.

Before she noticed her little girl staring at her with blue eyes opened wide - and God if she looked like her father, it took Gwen's breath away each and every time, full of admiration, her doll sqeezed tightly against her heart.

Gwen walked closer and knelt, stroking her soft hair tenderly.

"What is it, baby?"

The little girl seemed to think, then hugged her mother tightly, whispering.

"I hope one day I will fall in love with someone who will look at me the way daddy looks at you, and I hope I will look at him the way you look at daddy."

Gwen smiled brightly.

And then hugged her daughter again before she receded,

"Listen to me. You are an amazing person, Ann. You are beautiful, you are witty and kind and funny. And one day, you'll find your very own Prince."

The little girl smiled but then frowned lightly.

"What's the matter, Ann?"

The girl hesitated a bit.

"And what if... What if he is not a Prince?"

Gwen had to hold back a smile then, she was so cute !

She took her daughter's free hand, the one which wasn't holding the doll, and squeezed her hard,

"As long as you love him, as long as you're happy, as long as he treats you well and as long as he shows you the respect you deserve? Well daddy and mummy will be happy for you. It doesn't matter to us if he is a Prince, or a velt, or even a servant."

Anne could see the gleam in her mother's eyes and comforted, nodded, before going to play again.

Gwen got up, smiling, and crossed Arthur's stare, who was playing with Tom,

He was looking at her with this look, making her melt each time, even now, 8 years later ...

Later, much later...

When children were asleep and it was time for parents to be together, Arthur and Gwen were sharing a meal, when Arthur wanted to serve wine to Gwen,

"Not tonight my love." she breathed and he stared at her a few seconds,

before dropping the pitcher.

"Are you alright?" he asked, frowning.

"Perfect." she smiled again, "I just can't drink. Actually," said again Gwen, searching for his eyes. "I'm not going to be able to drink for a few months..."

Arthur laid his fork down, his wide blue eyes locked on his wife's chocolate ones.

He took her hand, his heart beating hard.

He didn't dare believe it.

Could it be?

Could he be so lucky?

"Guinevere ?"

The young woman got up and took him with her, she then took his hand and laid it on her stomach, her eyes full of tears.

"Yes Arthur, I'm with child."

Arthur's eyes filled with tears and he stroked his wife's stomach tenderly.

"Are ... Are you sure ?" he whispered,

"Yes ..." she breathed and from emotion, her voice broke. "For the third time, you're going to be a father, my love."

He closed the gap between them and kissed her with all that he was and all that he had. The young woman moaned slightly and laid her hands on his shoulders, trying to regain her balance while his hands were losing themselves in her hair.

When they broke apart, they both laughed and he took her in his arms, making her turn once or twice.

Not too much for not making her sick, not wanting to hurt the baby.

The baby.

Arthur couldn't help a sob of hapiness and Gwen either.

"I ... Oh my God. I have no words to thank you. I just love you so much myGuinevere ! "

She laughed and wiped his cheeks while getting closer to kiss him again and again and again, their hands lying in her stomach again.

"And I love you. I love you, I love you I love you ! I love you so much more than anything ..."

He laughed and kissed her again, their joined hand on her stomach where laid the third of their children...

The Pendragon line was going strong.

And life was good.