AN: The final chapter always takes me a long time to write, because I hate letting go of stories! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. A huge thank you to Hamato-Grayson for the prompt and the freedom to run with it in all of the weird directions my head goes. I've truly enjoyed writing Mina, a funny, quirky, brave character, and I hope you catch the reference at the end. Also, there is a special moment in this just for Gingeraffealene, who always gives me so much affirmation.

CHAPTER 21: Finality

When I came out of the room I'd been given the next morning, there were four darling little girls who wanted to braid my hair, since I didn't have a ladies' maid. I didn't tell them I didn't need one but happily accepted the role of Rapunzel. They trailed me to the common room of the inn and worked while I put away warm, sweet porridge and worked out my stiffness.

Arthur came in as they finished up. I don't know if they realized who he was, but they all giggled loudly as they left, making me grin.

"Sire," I greeted him as he looked after my hairdressers with amusement.

"Lady Seraphina."

I winced. I had all of the memories and background from this life now, but that still didn't feel like me. I felt even less like Sara, the volleyball player who had been struck by a car. "Please, still call me Mina. I have...changed these last few days, and Mina feels like the real me."

"Of course." He was ever gracious. "And since we fought golems together and crawled out of a mud pit side by side, I think you'd better just call me Arthur."

He thanked the innkeeper's daughter when she set down his porridge, making her blush to the roots of her white-blonde hair. I sipped my tea as he ate and detailed Annis' plan to have me approach the bandits as if she wanted an alliance so we could find out who was supplying them. "I have a letter for you from her hidden in the hem of my cloak, but I forgot about it after I was attacked," I concluded. "It's a shame, because they underestimated me, as the queen thought they would." I was often her stealth weapon. "I could have learned more for both of you."

"I personally feel that we accomplished quite a bit," disagreed Arthur. "We know that Morgana has been backing the bandits, and many of them are now dead, including two of their leaders. We know where Morgana is hiding out, and we've stopped the creature attacks in the north. And my missing men are coming home safely."

I smiled. "That was you and Merlin and your knights. I was just hanging on for dear life. But you're right about one thing – you should be proud of what you've accomplished."

"You did more than that. You saved our lives at least once, putting your own on the line. You were loyal and courageous, and I want you to know that you're welcome to stay in Camelot, if you so choose. Sir Geraint had a small estate and no heir. I would gift that to you if you would stay."

My mouth fell open and I gaped like a hungry goldfish. It was truly a princely gift. Annis cared for me, in her own way, but she also used me like a chess piece to accomplish her goals. She was kind but cold, and I couldn't count many in her court I would consider a friend, as she encouraged competition over cooperation. She would not thank Arthur if he convinced me to leave her behind, but it was very tempting. "I...uh...may I think about it?"

"Of course." The door banged open and Gwaine and Percival walked in, followed shortly by the girls who had done my hair, now carrying flower crowns they'd woven.

"Hey, dumpling!" called Gwaine, grinning when I scowled.

"Your entourage has returned, I see," said Arthur. "So I will take my leave." He bowed to the girls as if they were queens, causing them to burst into even more giggles. I let them adorn me with both a crown and flower necklace, then I had an idea.

"You know who just loves wearing flowers and having their hair braided?" I asked the girls conspiratorially. "That dark-haired man over there." They took me at my word and I couldn't help but laugh out loud as Gwaine was swarmed by giggles and flowers. His bemusement as he was ambushed and adorned with flowers was a memory I would treasure for a long, long time.

Three Weeks Later

King Arthur and a contingent of his council and knights, plus an honor guard, Merlin, and me, were all waiting in a clearing near the place we'd come up against the dochraid. For a good ten days after we had left, the landscape had continued to gradually change. I was amazed at the differences. The entire valley had disappeared and instead there was a massive mountain that towered over everything else. It was totally out of place in the midst of the small, worn down hills around it. I shivered at the sign of so much power expended and briefly wished we'd move out of its shadow and into the sun. I was nervous about the entire meeting, since I had decided to tell Queen Annis that I'd be staying in Camelot. I'd considered going back to her – I knew she trusted me, but she had plenty of other advisers. And I had found a richness of friendships in Camelot that I had never known.

Arthur, Leon, Gwaine, Elyan, and Percival were all wearing the swords I'd gifted them when we had finally gotten back to Camelot. They were fine blades, and a nice way to give them my thanks on behalf of the queen. I had spent a long time during my recovery considering what I could give Merlin, and was happy with what I finally came up with. I glanced at the man in question, noting there was still a small scorch mark on the sleeve of his jacket and hiding a smile at the memory of how it had happened. A week after we'd returned and I was finally feeling like myself, I had wandered over to Gaius' chambers to see Merlin. I had been dismayed to find smoke billowing from the open door. Running inside, I'd overheard an argument between Gaius and Merlin.

"I thought the protective enchantment Gwaine's mother put on his necklace was a great idea. I just wanted to enchant something Arthur always wears, so I tried to put a spell on his socks. I don't understand what went wrong," Merlin was saying as he used his coat to beat a burning pile.

"Only strong materials can hold a spell like that," yelled Gaius, frantically waving his hands in front of his face to dispel some of the smoke. "Not wool socks!"

They had concocted the lie that Merlin regularly burned Arthur's socks when they became unusable, but for whatever reason had decided to do it inside the chambers instead of out doors, and Arthur bought it apparently.

The memory lightened my mood a bit as we waited.

Not unexpectedly, Annis wasn't pleased by my news, but she wasn't surprised either. She must have guessed from my extended stay or the tone of my letters what I was considering. She did, however, bring the gift for Merlin that I had requested. It was a beautiful, spirited roan mare. I knew Merlin spent a lot of time riding, but didn't have a horse of his own. His face when the queen presented him with the gift and a formal thank you for saving the life of her ward was another memory I'd treasure.

Talks were winding down when time suddenly slowed. I looked to my left and wasn't surprised to see my guide, in his Taliesin guise. "I've grown very fond of you, Mina. I don't usually do that. I won't come see you again after this, but I wanted to give you one last thing. This is a place where destinies can be changed." He smiled. "I think you're going to enjoy this life." Before he could disappear, I gave him a quick hug. He looked simultaneously shocked and pleased. "Don't change, Mina. Just be yourself. See you before the next life." He faded and time sped up. Behind Arthur's back, Gwaine winked at me, and I felt myself blushing. I forced myself to listen to their majesties' words.

"We'll have to give this place a new name," Annis stated.

"How about we name it for the accord we've just completed?" asked Arthur. "We could call it Amity Mountain."

Annis gave him a rare smile and they clasped forearms. "Well said, Arthur. After all, we can hardly call it Camlann Plains now."