It was very quiet in the chambers of Camelot, with most people outside enjoying the sun. It was around noon and the sun was shining through the window, creating the room to let off a warm glow.

The quiet didn't last long though as the door swung open and a young girl stormed in, slamming the door shut behind her. She was about 12 years old and was wearing a light blue dress that had long arms and reached down to her feet. Her blond hair was up in two French plaits that ran down the length of her back. Her sky blue eyes looked frustrated as she undid the laces of her dress and let if fall to the ground so she was left standing there in her undergarments which consisted of baggy shorts that reached her knees and a top that covered the majority of her chest. She stepped out of the mess of her dress on the floor and kicked it aside.

She then walked over to the wardrobe in the room and threw up the doors. A young boy with black hair and matching blue eyes was sitting on the floor, staring back at her.

"Shut the door, Freya!" He hissed. The girl, Freya, sat down next to him, manoeuvring her legs to fit comfortable against his lanky legs. The door closed and an orb of soft light was floating in the darkness, illustrating their faces.

"How long have you been in here, Edward?" Freya asked, looking at the book in his hands.

"Since breakfast," Edward answered. Freya scowled.

"Mother took me away straight away to do my lessons," she grumbled, "Why would you hide from training? I'll rather do that then learn to be a Lady."

She started to unplait her hair, rubbing her scalp where they had been pulled too hard.

"Freya, look at me, do I look like a Knight?" Edward asked, raising an eyebrow. Freya laughed, looking at his skinny arms and legs and his innocent face. He looked so like their Papa. A nearly splitting image.

"Father is going to bed mad," Freya told him.

"Not just with me," Edward smiled, pointing at her underwear.

"They're so uncomfortable," she moaned, "You're lucky you don't have to wear them."

At that moment the door to the chambers opened and they both fell quiet, the orb of light disappearing with a wave of Edward's hand. They peered through a small gap in the doors to see their Papa walk in and sigh as he spotted the dress on the floor. He picked it up and waved his hand in a small semi-circle. The dust and dirt on it disappeared and he draped in over a chair. He then turned his head towards the wardrobe and opened the doors.

"You two really need to find a better hiding spot," he smiled down at them, "You've hid here since you were four."

Freya and Edward stood up, both looking sheepish.

"Well, Father said the beams of the throne room were too dangerous," Edward said, his tone flat.

"He wasn't saying that when we were saving his life from them soldiers," Freya laughed, remembering the time when Camelot had been abashed and several soldiers had made it to the throne room, where their Father had been. Freya and Edward had just discovered how to make their selves float and had been playing around the beams in the massive hall. Their Father had told them to keep quiet and they hid and watched as the men had come in and tried to attack their Father. They had conquered up stones and had thrown them at the soldiers, knocking them out and saving their Father's life.

"Freya, why are you in your underwear?" Merlin sighed, looking at his daughter. She sighed and said,

"Because the dress in uncomfortable and restricting and my underwear is comfortable."

"You can't walk around in your underwear, it is improper," Merlin told her.

"I'm not parading around the castle, Papa, I am only in Edward's chambers," she argued.

"Like you haven't walked around the castle before in just your underwear," Merlin smiled at her knowingly and picked up her dress to hand to her.

"That was only from here to my chambers, and it was dark," Freya told him with a pout, putting her dress back on.

"Yeah, but a servant boy saw you," Edward grinned. Freya punched his arm and he glared at her, rubbing the spot. Merlin shook his head and helped her do up her laces.

"Come on, we are having lunch with your Father, Mother and Mama," Merlin told them, and then looked at Edward, "Your Father wants to discuss with you about missing training this morning."

"He knows I hate training," he grumbled, following his sister and Papa out of the room, "Why do I always have to do it?"

"Because as future King, you need to know how to protect yourself and your kingdom," Merlin replied, a hand on his shoulder. Freya was grumbling in front of them and tagging at her dress, but she cheered up as they passed a serving girl and they waved at each other as they went by.

"Yes, but I can do that with my magic, I don't need to know how to fight with a sword," Edward argued.

"Magic isn't always enough and you shouldn't rely on it as much," Merlin told him, "You might not be able to use it one day, and it would be unfair to fight someone who doesn't have magic with magic, it would be an unjust victory."

"Swords are cool anyway," Freya told him, "And bow and arrows, I love going hunting with Father."

"But it is more fun to use magic," Edward told her.

"I don't think so," Freya said, "It is more rewarding to use a weapon because it involves a lot more focus."

"Well, I would disagree with that," Merlin told her, "Magic involves a lot of focus, and skill."

Freya shrugged, turning her head to smile at her Papa.

"I know, but I still prefer swords."

Merlin shook his head and smiled. His children were like chalk and cheese, but then again so were their parents. Freya was a lot like her Father, even with the way she looked. She enjoyed fighting and hunting, and had even managed to get Gwaine to teach her how to use weapons, and she was shorter then her brother, with Arthur's blonde hair. She was kind like Merlin though and loved going around the market and town with Gwen to talk to the town's people.

Edward, on the other hand, didn't like fighting and had the same attitude as Merlin on hunting. He didn't like killing animals. Arthur used to drag him out every week to do it, but decided that it wasn't worth it with all his moaning, so started taking Freya instead, who was very glad of this. Edward is quieter then Fraya, and not as much as a people person, a bit like his Father. He knows how to talk to important guests and is polite and knows all the right things to say to who, but he doesn't seek out company like Freya. Edward is also more interested in magic and enjoys his lessons a lot more with Merlin then Freya does. He studies more, while Freya would rather be outside. They are both equally good at magic, but Edward has more skills because he practises a lot more.

They arrived at the small dining room in the castle, which is lit up by the high windows that has the sun shining through. Arthur is already there, along with Katherine and Eleanor, who are all sitting around the table. Arthur stood up to greet them, smiling at his daughter and kissing her cheek. Freya was definitely a Daddy's girl. Arthur loved both his children equally but he could relate more to Freya because they were so similar, and it was easier to show affection towards her because she was a girl. He gave Edward a stern look.

"Where were you today?" He asked, sitting back down with his son beside him. Edward sighed.

"I was studying magic."

"You need to be at training, son, these men aren't going to follow you if you don't even show up at training," Arthur told him, his tone firm but gentle.

"I am no good at sword fighting, I am just like Papa, you've said it yourself," Edward told him, "Why can't I just fight with my magic and let Freya led the knights?"

Freya lit up at this suggestion but Arthur shook his head.

"Freya can't go on the battle fields," Arthur told him.

"Why not?" She grumbled, "I am just as good as any of them knights in training, better in fact."

Arthur turned to her and sighed.

"Because you're a girl," he answered. Merlin smirked at this. He knew this one wasn't going to go down well.

"So what!?" Freya protested, "I am good at fighting, just admit it, and I can protect myself with magic."

"I just don't want to see you hurt," Arthur told her, his eyes gentle. He turned back to Edward, "Either of you, so that means you have to go to training Edward, so you can learn to protect yourself, and Freya when there is a battle you have to stay here and look after the woman and children with your Mothers, as this is your duty."

"Duty sucks," Freya mumbled, attacking her lunch with her fork. Edward nodded beside her and Arthur just sighed. Merlin, who was next to Fraya, turned to her and tilted her chin up with his hand so she was looking at him. He smiled at her, her blue eyes sparkling with frustration.

"One day, you will be Archmage and Edward will be King, and then you will understand why all of this, us moaning at you and you doing things you don't want to so, is so important," he told her and then looked past her to Edward, "And then you will thank us."

"Yeah, but it is still no fun today," Freya told him.

"I know," Merlin smiled, releasing her chin, still smiling, "Why don't we go and see Kilgharrah and Aithusa tonight?"

Instantly the two children lit up and nodded.

"Can we? We haven't seen them for ages" Freya asked.

"Aithusa can give us a ride," Edward smiled at his sister.

Merlin looked past them to Arthur who was smiling at him. He shook his head in amusement.

"Trust you to have the most unruly children in the kingdom," he laughed.

"They're not that bad," Merlin told him, "I think you were worst."

But their children didn't hear them as they chatted away about tonight and seeing the dragons.

Arthur looked at his children, both grown now. Freya had long, blonde hair, tied back in an elegant braid. Her blue eyes were a crystal, just like Merlin's, and her skin was just slightly tanned like his own. She was beautiful, even with her eyes red from crying like they were now. She was holding his hand tightly and stroking his arm.

Arthur smiled at her, squeezing her hand with as much strength as he was able. His hand was worn and wrinkled from age and his face was just the same. His once blonde hair was now grey, like his Father's had been. He was old and he was dying. It was his time and he did not feel sad about it.

He looked to his son, Edward, who was a striking image of Merlin. Skinny, black hair, limbs too long for his body, big ears. His eyes were the blue of Arthur's though. Such a slight difference. He was very much like Merlin in every way though. He loved to read and hated sword fighting. He was excellent at magic. They both had the same abilities but Freya wasn't as focus on it so Edward's talents were far more controlled and disciplined. Freya was more hot headed where Edward was calm and thought things through. He was brilliant at planning tasks and was a great leader in battles. Freya was always at his side though, despite being ordered to stay at the castle. She always found a way out by dressing like a knight. They made a great pair and fought side by side like they had one mind.

Edward was sitting by Freya's side, one arm around her shoulders, his other resting on the bed beside Arthur's leg. He hadn't cried. He had stayed strong for his family.

Merlin was on the other side of the bed, his head resting on the mattress, where he had passed out from watching over Arthur for too long. His hair was white now and he had grown both his hair and beard, and his face was wrinkled. Arthur was happy to know they were mostly laughter lines, rather than from worry.

"It's tonight, my children," Arthur said and Freya let out a sob.

"Don't speak like that, Father," she begged. Edward wrapped his arm further around her shoulders.

"Be strong, my Princess," Arthur smiled, "It is time."

Freya shook her head, bringing his hand to her lips as she silently cried. Arthur stroked her cheek, a smile on his face. He then looked to his son, who had his head hold high but his jaw was tense and his eyes were shiny.

"I know you will be a great king, my son," Arthur told him, "fair and just, and you are already a great leader."

"I learnt from the best, Father," Edward smiled and Arthur chuckled lightly.

"You will become the Archmage when Edward becomes the King," he told Freya, "Rule beside your brother and try not to get into too much trouble."

Freya laughed shakily and nodded.

"I'll try, Father," she whispered.

Arthur took a moment to take in his too beautiful children. His quiet but strong son and his loud and kind daughter. They had grown quickly but he trusted them to look over Camelot. Merlin always said that they will be the greatest rulers that Albion had ever seen and they will bring all the kingdoms back together. Arthur had started that task but he knew his children would finish it. They were fair and smart and powerful. They were both great in battle and their knights and people trusted them. He was leaving his kingdom in safe hands. He had never doubted that, even when Freya turned down every suitor who had tried to win her hand or when Edward skipped all his training sessions in two weeks to study magic. They evened each other out and together they were great leaders.

"I am very proud of both of you," Arthur told him, and his children smiled at him. Edward moved closer to Freya and hugged her tightly. Freya squeezed her eyes shut, her whole body shaking with tears. It hurt Arthur to know she was so sad because of him.

"I will still look over you," Arthur told them, a promise he knew he could keep. He then looked to Merlin, who was mumbling slightly in his sleep. Arthur found his hand and gripped it tightly.

"Look after him," Arthur said quietly, "Make sure he doesn't shut himself away and listen to his guidance, because he is very wise when he wants to be."

Both his children chuckled at the hint of banter that they were use to from their fathers.

"We will Father," Edward promised.

Arthur coughed roughly then and sighed, feeling worn down to his very core.

"Give me a moment with your Papa," he requested, knowing his end was near. Edward nodded and stood. He bent down and kissed his father on the forehead. Arthur eyes were soft as he looked at his son, who stood tall and proud, but the grief weighing on his shoulders was very clear. Freya let out another sob and gripped Arthur's hand tightly for a moment before Edward helped her up.

"I love you, Father," she cried, leaning down and kissing his cheek.

"And I love you," Arthur smiled sadly. Freya bit her lip, tears streaking down her cheeks. Edward wrapped his arm around her shoulders and guided her out. Arthur watched, tears coming to his own eyes, as he watched his children disappear for the last time.

Arthur sighed, not holding back the tears that fell. Once the door was closed he turned his head and looked at his love. Merlin was fidgeting a lot in his sleep and muttering. He looked restless and tired and Arthur slowly stroked his hand with his thumb to try and smooth him. Arthur watched him for a little while until Merlin started to stir. Arthur was glad. He could feel the strength leaving his body and he had been scared that he was going to go before saying goodbye to Merlin.

Merlin leant his head up and looked at him. As soon as their eyes connected Merlin seemed to know the time was near and he shook his head, tears rushing to his eyes in an instant.

"No," he whispered. Arthur squeezed his hand, not able to stand the look of pure grief on Merlin's face.

"I'm sorry," Arthur said quietly. He felt so guilty for leaving Merlin. He couldn't stand the thought of leaving. He had promised long ago not to leave and here he was, nearly gone.

Merlin climbed into the bed and laid down beside Arthur, his head resting on the King's chest where he could hear that his heartbeat was slow and his breathes were uneven.

"I don't know what I'm going to do without you," Merlin told him, "You have been my reason for living for so long."

"You're wrong," Arthur told him and Merlin looked up to look into Arthur's now grey eyes, "You gained a new reason of living over twenty years ago."

And it was true. Merlin was an excellent father and he loved their children more than anything. Arthur knew he had been very depressed for a long time after what had happened to him and he had relied on Arthur for a while. However, no matter what Arthur had done, no matter how much love and understanding he had given Merlin, Merlin hadn't actually felt whole and clean again until he was pregnant with their twins. It was their children who had saved Merlin from the darkness in his mind. Not Arthur but two sweet little babies.

Arthur smiled as he remembered Merlin singing to Freya when she refused to go to sleep when she was just a baby. He would rock her back and forth for hours, singing softly until she fell asleep in his arms. He would then sit on the windowsill and stare out of the window. Arthur would wake and the first thing he would see was Merlin with the babe in his arms, moonlight making them both glow softly.

It was one of Arthur's favourite sights. Another was remembering Merlin and Edward curled up in the bed when he was still little. He would sit in Merlin's arms while holding a massive spell book and pointing at spells for Merlin to do. One morning Arthur had been trying to get ready and Merlin had taught Edward a levitation spell. They kept moving Arthur's clothes so he couldn't find them.

The children riding the dragons. They started doing this when they were really little. Edward had climbed up onto Kilgharrah when he was just five years old and the old dragon had just flapped his wings and lifted off, the boy cheering in glee. Before Arthur could say or do anything Freya had climbed onto the smaller Aithusa and they had taken off as well. Merlin had laughed while Arthur had demanded that they came back down.

"Don't worry," Merlin had told him, still sitting on the grass.

"They could fall!" Arthur had told him, trying to see the dragons had gone. They hadn't gone out of sight but the sun was making it hard to see.

"I trust the dragons, they won't let anything happen," Merlin reassured him. Arthur could hear his children laughing and he relaxed. He sat down beside Merlin and watched as the dragons soared through the sky.

The children had gone flying many times since and nothing had happened. The dragons were great allies to Camelot now and even helped in battles. Edward always rode Kilgharrah and Freya rode the younger, white dragon. They suited each other quite well, with the younger dragon more carefree, like Freya.

Arthur continued on smiling and stroked Merlin's shoulder as he remembered watching Freya training with Gwaine in the courtyard. The sword was too big for her but she held it up all the same, swapping at the Knight who laughed at her as he blocked her blows. She got the better of him though and hit his legs when he was too busy laughing. He fall over and Freya had jumped on top of him. Most of their training sessions had ended like this when she was young, and she had always proclaimed that she had won, making the King and the Knight laugh fondly.

While Freya was always attached to the Knights, Edward could always be found following Gaius and Merlin around, begging to be taught magic or helping with the potions to help cure people. Seeing him with Gaius's medicine bag, tagging along after the old man, was like déjà vu as it was like looking back into the past and seeing Merlin following Gaius like a shadow, his clumsy movements dominated by his long limbs.

One of Arthur's favourite memories was when all four of them would curl up in bed together when their children were still little. A massive throw around them and the fire burning. Merlin and the twins would conjure up little balls of light and Arthur and Merlin would tell them tales of their adventures. Freya would always end up asleep in Merlin's arms, lolled to sleep by their voices. Edward would always stay awake, begging for more stories. He always wanted to know everything and he wouldn't go to sleep until Merlin put out the fire and the lights would go out. Even in the dark he would ask for one more story and Arthur would hold him close and whisper him a story. Merlin would stay silent but Arthur knew he would lie there and listen as well. Edward would finally go to sleep in the dark and Arthur and Merlin would hold hands over their children.

"You have to stay strong for Edward and Freya," Arthur told him, "They will need you."

"Please don't leave," Merlin begged, burying his head into Arthur's chest.

"You know I have to go," Arthur told him, holding his head and bringing to his lips to kiss gently, "But I will be with you in spirit."

Merlin leant up and looked at his King. He bit his lip as he accepted the fate of Arthur. He didn't like it and he was scared, but he knew this is what had to happen.

"Remember our promise?" Merlin whispered, stroking Arthur's face gently. Arthur nodded and Merlin leant down to kiss him as he felt the life leaving Arthur's body.

"I will find you in another lifetime," Arthur told him, his voice quiet and distance.

"In another lifetime," Merlin promised, kissing Arthur one last time before he took his last breath.

2012

"Yes Morgana, I'll be fine," Arthur sighed as he unzipped his suitcase, the phone balanced between his ear and shoulder. He looked inside at the clothes and then to the tiny wardrobe where the university expected them to fit all their things. He wondered how the girls did it.

"I'm sorry I couldn't come up with you but work is killer at the moment," Morgana sighed on the other end, "How is the room?"

"Small but manageable," Arthur told her. He looked briefly around the room. There was a single bed that looked extremely uncomfortable, a desk, the small wardrobe and a bedside table. The door was propped open with a box filled with kitchen stuff, waiting to be taken to the small kitchen across the hallway, and the rest of the room was cluttered with boxes and bags.

"Have you met anyone yet?" Morgana asked.

"Yeah, a girl called Gwen who is doing fashion design, but I think most people are getting here tomorrow," Arthur answered.

"So no hot boys to shag yet?" Morgana asked, wickedly.

"Morgana!" Arthur gasped, shocked at her bluntness.

"Sorry, I forgot, ickly Arthur is still a virgin," Morgana laughed.

"You evil witch!" Arthur scowled, rubbing his forehead but he grinned. He was going to miss his older half sister and their banter.

"Careful, I could still hoax you, you know, even from this distance," Morgana told him.

A knock on the door caught Arthur's attention and he turned around. A boy with dark hair and lanky limbs was standing there, looking slightly shy and holding a tin of sweets.

Arthur swore he felt his heat stop as he stared at the boy. He seemed to be speechless.

"Sorry," the boy mouth upon seeing that Arthur was on the phone. He made to walk away.

"No, wait," Arthur said, a bit too loudly. The boy looked surprised.

"I've got to go, Morgana, I'll speak to you later," Arthur said and before his sister could reply he hung up.

"Hi," Arthur smiled and walked over to the boy. The boy smiled back.

"I'm Merlin," he said, "I live across the hall."

"I'm Arthur," Arthur replied and held his hand out. Merlin took it and Arthur felt a shot of electricity run through his arm. He had never believed in love at first sight but maybe this was it.

"Have we met before?" Merlin asked, shaking his hand, "I swear I've seen you before."

"No," Arthur replied, letting himself hold Merlin's hand longer than necessary, "I don't think so."

But he too had that nagging feeling. Merlin seemed very familiar.

"Maybe in a previous lifetime," Merlin laughed.

"Yeah," Arthur said, staring at Merlin's blue eyes, "Yeah, maybe."

I can't believe it has taken me this long to finish this! I am so sorry for the people that have been following this, but my life has been unbelievable busy the last couple of months.

So this is it, the end. Thank you for everyone that has read and reviewed :) The reviews mean so much to me.

Just in case you were wondering, Edward is named after King Edward VI, and I was originally going to kill him off and have some more Merlin angst, but writing this story was taking too long and I would probably would have ended up rushing it and it would be more terrible then it is now, and I think Merlin and Arthur deserved a happy ending after what I put them through.

Anyway, thank you again for being so patient and reading this. Please review and tell me what you thought of it.

Nuk.