So. Here it is. The last of this story: the Epilogue.

Du-du-du-duuum:) Took me longer than I'd though to write it, but hey-still on time!

Enjoy!

Fourteen years and a half later...

The slants of afternoon sunlight that managed to break through the blanket of puffy clouds fell in burning beams down on the ground, painting patches of the green forest canopy a bright gold. They also fell on the rooftops of the houses in the citadel, on the wet ground and on the mud and puddles of the previous three day's rain. The beams stopped however at the towers and turrets of Camelot's castle, breaking and winking at the bustling market as they reflected on the shining windows, or slipping like water on the high stone walls, painting them yellow.

The woods were silent, but as you approached the famous Camelot, as you passed the guards and entered its grounds, a noise that got louder and louder the closer you got to the castle filled the air: shouting, talking, laughter and yelps as men, women and children hurried this way and that, buying and selling and cleaning. Servants rushed to do the last preparations for the feast that was to take place that evening, cook helps bought last minute spices and fruits they had just discovered they were lacking, ladies frantically searched the displayed wools and silks in the market for that perfect dress they still did not have or desperately hoped to spot the perfect piece of jewelry, knights trotted this way and that, druids flooded inside the city walls dressed in their best bright green and blue robes, magicians did last minute checks of their colorful and inventive spells and so on and so forth: the whole Camelot gone mad, some would say. It really was like a madness had suddenly spread throughout the packed citadel, but then again: this was how the city was whenever it was the eve of a big celebration. And today was the eve of a very big celebration. For today was the 38th anniversary of birth of Camelot's Court Sorcerer.

Said Court Sorcerer, however, was at the very moment hiding in an alcove, praying to all the Gods there were that the two servants wouldn't notice him there. Thinking it was better to be safe than sorry, his eyes glowed in the shadow for a second as he muttered a silent spell that would make him almost invisible. It was more of a trick than a real spell, really. Something he had picked up a couple of years ago: it deflected one's attention from that which the spell was cast upon, so that when one looked one wouldn't immediately notice-in this case-Merlin crouching there against the wall. It worked somewhat like an illusion spell, altering people's perception of him rather than altering his own person-which would've been a lot harder.

Merlin released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, checking that the corridor was empty before quickly running in the direction of the Physician's Chambers. It was one of the downsides of being a famous and important person: he couldn't walk the halls of the castle without being noticed anymore. But Merlin had gotten used to it a long time ago. After all, it was almost nine years since he'd officially become Arthur's Court Sorcerer. But on days like these: on anniversaries and things like that, he always got these moments of reminiscence of times past. Which-he assumed at least-was pretty normal. People don't usually get to think too much on the past, caught in the bustle and hustle of everyday life, but moments like these, or stumbling into old things, or maybe even meeting an old friend: these are the small moments in which we remember what has been.

Merlin had to duck another two times and hide another three before he reached Gaius' chambers-which were situated in the East Tower. Arthur had given Gaius the whole Tower to fill with books and herbs and sick rooms, given that the ex-chambers he used to have-which had been destroyed in an attack two years before-had been way too small. Especially for Camelot, a city that seemed to naturally attract disasters. Or maybe that was just Arthur. Either way, the Court Physician now had a tower to himself and his apprentices. Merlin reckoned it was a good thing, remembering how in the old days, whenever an attack took place, Gaius had to practically move all the injured in the Great Hall, where there was more space.

The Court Sorcerer watched the entrance and sighed, starting to mutter under his beard an illusion spell. He hoped whatever sorcerers were in there were way too busy with the preparations for the damned feast Arthur insisted on giving in his name, otherwise they'd sense the magic.

Merlin stepped out of the shadows and smiled innocently at the guards there, who looked at him with a suspicious eye. To them, he now looked like one of the castle servants. One of the guards-the one on the left-suddenly gasped, and proceeded to burst into a "coughing" fit. Merlin scowled at him: he was one of the Order. He always put one of them at Gaius' door, disguised as normal guards. Even though he had put powerful wards around the whole Tower, Merlin had wanted to be sure his old mentor was safe, and a trained member of the Order of the Gylden was always better than a ward. Gaius wasn't aware of any of this, or if he knew he'd never given Merlin any clues.

The warlock threw the guard a very icy look, glaring as hard as he could. He couldn't remember who was on duty today: Maerc? Gilffry?

The guard tried to compose himself, staring at his non-magical companion.

"It's alright. I know him. Let him through"

The other man still looked unsure, but let Merlin pass. Merlin made sure to throw his Order-man a dirty look over his shoulder when he heard another snicker. So what if you saw your boss trying to sneak into his ex-mentor's Tower on his birthday under a powerful illusion? Surely that wasn't any reason to laugh?

Merlin made his way through the crowded rooms, dodging rushing people as he climbed the stairs. Finally he reached Gaius' library-where the old man had agreed to meet him-panting. Merlin's eyes glowed as he knocked, muttering the illusion away.

"Enter" came Gaius' voice, muffled by the wood, and Merlin pressed on the door.

Gaius was sitting at the large, beautifully carved desk at the back of the huge library, writing carefully something on a piece of parchment with an ornate white feather. Shelves upon shelves full of books and scrolls spiraled up around him, elegant stairs rising next to them. The last rays of sun seeped in dull reds and greens through the mosaic on the ceiling.

Merlin walked to Gaius, a mad grin sticking to his face and refusing to fall off. He stopped in front of the desk, waiting patiently for the old man to stop writing. The library, unlike the rest of the Tower-and the rest of Camelot-was silent, so silent that Merlin could hear the nib of Gaius' white feather scratching against the paper. The whole room, with its high circular walls and dusty smell of a thousand books, was like a safe bubble of silence. Merlin breathed in happily, excitement bubbling in his stomach as he realized Gaius had put the feather down and was now dripping hot wax on the paper, preparing to put his seal on it. The warlock couldn't get his hands to stop moving, so he twined his fingers and willed them to wait patiently these last seconds.

It seemed as if Gaius put the papers away in slow motion, and when he finally looked up to Merlin, the warlock couldn't contain himself any longer: he jumped into Gaius' arms, hugging him fiercely.

Merlin felt Gaius gasp and heard his muffled chuckle, but it only made him hug the man tighter. Gods, had eighteen years really gone by so fast? It seemed like only yesterday that he was first walking into Gaius' chambers, fearful and excited about a new life, a new beginning.

"Merlin, my boy. I can't breathe"

Merlin forced himself to step back, grinning madly. "Sorry"

Gaius smoothed down his golden hemmed robe, his Eyebrow clearly saying "No you're not". The old man cleared his throat then, finally breaking into a large smile.

"Happy birthday, my boy"

"Thanks, Gaius" he answered, too quickly. He felt more excited than he had in weeks. Merlin hadn't gotten to see too much of Gaius this past week, what with the work he had to put in the preparation for his own birthday party: he had had to work with the Gylden and strengthen the wards around the castle and downtown, he had had to visit the main druid clans in the area and the more important ones in the neighboring kingdoms, he had had to go all the way to Kilgharrah-because the dragon was too old to move his scaly ass-not to mention the visits they'd had from all the Lords that inhabited the planet and their Court Sorcerers. These anniversaries were more pain than they were fun, really.

"Are you excited about tonight?" Gaius asked with a wink in his old eyes, and Merlin collapsed onto a chair that magically floated to him just in the nick of time. He groaned.

"Don't even talk about that"

Gaius only smiled knowingly. "It is beyond me why you complain so much. You know you have always been the one who most enjoys these celebrations"

Merlin opened his mouth to protest, but Gaius raised a wrinkled finger in his face, cutting him off.

"Ah, shush now. Help me and bring that wooden box over there will you?"

Merlin grunted again, but stood up and went to the shelf Gaius was pointing at. Gaius was very old now, almost ninety-four, and Merlin knew he had trouble moving around too much. Nowadays, his apprentices and team of physicians did most of the healing. His old mentor usually sat here, in the library, dealing with the more political side of the things and teaching.

Merlin scanned the shelf and spotted a large wooden box with a beautifully carved dragon stretching its wings on the lid in between two large, red and respectively green, books.

"This one?" he asked, moving so that Gaius could see the box-or chest, really.

"Yes, that one. Bring it here"

Merlin grabbed it with both hands and drew in a breath, but found that the chest was much lighter than he'd thought. He easily carried it to the desk and carefully placed it in front of Gaius, resuming his seat. His eyes followed the old physician as he slowly traced the dragon with fingers that trembled only slightly-a barely noticeable movement. Merlin muffled a concern he'd had for some time now-that Gaius seemed more and more tired and fragile, that his hands trembled almost imperceptibly all the time, that his wrinkles were too deep. This was not the time for worries.

Finally, Gaius gingerly grabbed the lid and opened the box ever so slowly, as though it might break if he opened it too fast. Merlin could spot two old, yellowed pieces of parchment and a silver chain peeking from underneath, before his eyes were drawn to the small rectangular bundle wrapped in blue silk and tied with a purple ribbon that was picked up by Gaius' fingers. An unreadable expression crossed the old man's face as he looked at the bundle in his hands, and then it was gone and he offered it to Merlin with a smile.

"Happy birthday, my boy" he said softly.

Merlin gingerly took the proffered bundle, distantly aware of Gaius watching him as he carefully untied the ribbon and let the silk fall to the floor with a barely audible hiss.

Merlin felt his breath hitch in his throat for some unknown reason. In his hands lay a very old, weathered notebook that had once probably been a bright blue, but was now a slushy, faded color. The edges of the cover were fringed, eaten by the ages, and the ghost of a title scratched illegible lines on it. Yet Merlin knew time would affect this notebook no more, as he could feel the distant pulse of magic beneath his fingers like a fragile heartbeat. Someone had put a spell on this notebook to preserve it.

Merlin opened the notebook with immense care, a feeling of powerful déjà-vu washing over him. But the feeling was gone a second later as he perused the pages, noting the yellowed corners and numerous spells scribbled on them. He realized this must be a journal of some kind: the scribble was mostly the same, though now and then different writings pitched in and over the original elegant script, sketches and drawings and runes all tossed together on worn pages.

Merlin looked up to Gaius. "Thank you"

Gaius smiled. "You're welcome, my boy"

Merlin closed the notebook, shaking his head, excitement already bubbling up under his skin again: he needed to get moving, to reach his chambers and study this journal, read every word and every rune.

"No, thank you. Really. This is great" He hugged the old man again, and then sprinted towards the exit, waving the journal happily at Gaius.

"See you at the feast, Gaius"

This was ridiculous, thought the king of Camelot as he shifted uncomfortably in front of Merlin's door, biting his lip, sword in hand. Ever since his birthday, when Gaius had given the warlock that damned notebook, the Court Sorcerer had locked himself in his experimenting chamber of his Tower(a room feared by the most brave of all Camelot, a room even Arthur was reluctant to enter) and had ignored his duties and the numerous unfortunate servants the king had sent after him, refusing to get out.

Arthur sighed, shouting for the second time at the door. "Are you sure it's safe?"

Arthur had prodded the door with Excalibur and checked for smoke and other foul smells, but the room seemed safe enough-at least from the other side of the door. He had then asked Merlin if it was safe, but you could never trust the warlock too much on that, so it was better that he made sure. Last time he entered without properly checking, Arthur had been hit by a wayward spell that had turned his hair blue for a whole week. The week Queen Eleanor was visiting.

"Yes, I'm sure. Now get in or leave, you coward" came Merlin's muffled voice.

Coward? Nobody made the king of Camelot a coward and got away with it. Arthur straightened up, sheathing his sword back and putting a hand on the knob.

He remembered Merlin coming to him three days ago before the feast for his birthday: The whole Council Room had watched as the Court Sorcerer came running like a madman towards the king, an idiotic grin of never-before-seen proportions plastered across his face, silk robe billowing behind him as he waved a book of some kind at Arthur, shouting 'Hey Arthur look what Gaius gave me for my birthday!'. Luckily for Merlin and Arthur's pride, it had been only a Round Table meeting, and everyone there knew Merlin well enough not to be too surprised: Gwaine had burst into hollering laughter and had yet to shut up about the event, Tiron had chuckled behind Arthur, and the king remembered Lehaandra burying her face ashamedly in her hand. That had been a laugh later with Tiron, Gwaine and Percival-a laugh which had sadly ended in a lot of pain. (Note to self: do not make fun of Lehaandra ever again)

Arthur pushed the door open. A powerful smell of mixed herbs hit him like a brick wall, but the king was so used to it that he didn't even flinch this time, closing the door behind him and crossing his arms in front of his chest with a scowl on his face.

Merlin was circling one of his unfortunate work tables like the madman that he was, crisscrossing the room now and then as he searched for objects that he then returned to the table.

The damned notebook was flipped open, hovering a couple of inches above the table that was packed with things Arthur did not want to know about, a small steaming cauldron placed exactly underneath it. When he searched Merlin with his gaze again, Arthur noticed that the warlock had already moved and climbed on a ladder that was currently flying towards one of the top shelves.

The room was huge, with a very high ceiling covered in cracks (the result of Merlin perfecting a spell he had made up, that allowed him to make any wall see-through whenever he wanted) and was very similar to the library in the Court Physician's Tower: there were three levels, shelves and stairs spiraling along the length of the wall. Three large, round tables rested on the floor, and a small cot was tucked somewhere between two shelves for when Merlin slept through one of his longer experiments. However, different from Gaius' organized and clean library, Merlin's experiment room was a total and utter mess: objects floated freely, chairs moved, books flipped madly opened and closed, herbs and magical items sat on top of countless books, the torches that lined the stone walls burned all the colors of the rainbow, pots and cauldrons of all sizes steamed and colors exploded at the corner of Arthurs vision. And this was on a good day. Some objects didn't stop their unnatural movement even when Merlin slept-that's how powerful the spells were.

"Merlin!" Arthur bellowed, just as the warlock floated down and added two green leaves to the steaming cauldron. Then, promptly ignoring Arthur, he muttered something rapidly in the Old Tongue and suddenly the cauldron stopped steaming with a loud pop. And then it started moving, pouring a bright red liquid into two glass bottles that materialized out of thin air.

Merlin then took the bottles and walked to Arthur, offering him one, the notebook floating after him.

"Here, drink this" Merlin said, already gulping down his own bottle and making a face. Then he grabbed the notebook from the air and looked to Arthur expectantly.

"Merlin" Arthur said, looking him in the eye. He'd try to reason with him first. "What on-"

"Just drink it!" the warlock suddenly said, grinning. Arthur found the journal pushed into his face, blocking all but Merlin's finger pointing at an incantation from view. The incantation seemed to be scribbled across the ugly sketch of some kind of animal, half of the page blurred as if someone had spilled water on it.

"There's this teleportation spell that allows you to travel very long distances. And unlike the other spells I know it can get you safely and in one piece wherever you want, and you can even send objects instead of people. But it works on people too. And-"

"Merlin" Arthur pushed the journal away from his face. He needed to get some sense into this lunatic's thick skull. "You don't even know if this spell it's going to work. Look at the state of it! Besides, you know how runes are hard to read, and these ones are barely visible"

"Please" Merlin looked up at him with that innocent look. "Please, Arthur" he repeated, his blue eyes big. "The potion is protection-nothing will happen to us. No missing parts of body will happen if you drink this, and I really want to try it because we'd be able to transport to very far away"

"Merlin" Arthur tried again, but the warlock wasn't even stopping for breath, never mind him.

"And it's a variation of the teleporting spells I already know. Nothing big. Imagine of you could get to whatever castle you want in a second. The visits would be so easy to make!"

"Merlin" Arthur scowled, using his best authoritative voice. "Merlin-no"

The warlock looked at him, blinked, then his face dropped the act, taking on a stubborn look.

"Fine. I'll do it without you then"

Arthur felt a headache coming. There was no way Merlin would back up this. When he got it in his head to do something, Arthur knew there was no stopping the warlock. And he really, really didn't want Merlin to do it. But more than that, he really didn't want the stupid warlock to do it all by himself. Especially if it involved long distance travelling. Or teleportation, whatever. It wasn't that he didn't think Merlin could take care of himself. It was just that-well. The man was an idiot.

Arthur gulped down the contents of the bottle, praying he wouldn't regret this. Merlin's face broke into a huge grin. "Knew you'd give in"

"Shut up and cast the spell before I change my mind"

Who was he kidding? He was definitely going to regret this.

Scrolls and papers flew around the room, a bottle of something spilling as a howling wind suddenly picked up, followed by a blinding white light.

Then the wind died down and the light faded, leaving the high walls of the ceiling empty of the King and Court Sorcerer of Camelot, several cauldrons still steaming in the silence.

I want to thank you all for reading this story and being there for me every step of the way. Thank you for making time to read this, for reviewing and favoriting and following. Thank you for your support and thank you for your criticism, without which this story would probably be much, much worse. You helped me improve and you gave me the strength to write when I felt down.

I cannot tell you how amazing it is to know that people-strangers, persons you have never met and probably never will-found the patience to read and actually enjoyed the words that you wrote, the stories that you told, the threads that you wove. Some understand and some don't-and to those who are afraid of being criticized, I'd like to tell that this feeling is worth it. Write those stories without fearing anything.

Thank you:) Thank you all.

I might write a sequel in the future world of king Arthur and Court Sorcerer(Warlock!) Merlin, but I'm not sure yet. I think I will though-it's too interesting:)

Well, for now it is goodbye.

Hope I'll see you all soon^^