*Author's note at the bottom!*

...

"Fight this, Arthur. Stay with me." Gwen begs, holding onto Arthur's hand.

Arthur smiles weakly and coughs. His body feels heavy as the lays in their large bed.

"I want that more than anything." Arthur wheezes and gently squeezes Gwen's wrinkled hand. "But, it is no longer possible."

Tears run down Gwen's face and fall upon their clasped hands.

"You have fought this for two months, why not longer?" Gwen asks.

In the late winter months, Arthur contracted a severe cold that was sweeping through Camelot. He seemed to heal until three weeks after, when it returned and did not leave. It has plagued him with fever, headaches, horrible pain and hacking coughs.

"Guinevere, if I could hold on and never leave you, I would. I do not want to leave you and our family." Arthur says. He knows that his time is drawing near.

"Please, no."

"Our family has said their goodbyes. Ralph has told me that today is the day."

"What about Merlin? Could he not save you?" Gwen asks, pleading for some way of saving her husband.

"No." Arthur says, shaking his head slightly. He coughs again and a small drop of blood slips out of the corner of his lips. "He said he will come to me a few minutes before and help me. I am dying today, Guinevere. Please accept it as I have."

"I cannot accept it!" Gwen shouts, pulling her hands away and standing up from the bed. "You are my husband and the man I love, adore and cherish. How can I accept that you are dying today?"

"You must. Llacheu has accepted that today is the day that he will become King of Camelot. Our other children have accepted that they will no longer have a Father to talk to and that their children will not have their grandfather with them anymore." Arthur says, softly.

"I will not accept that today is the day that I lose my husband, Arthur! It is impossible for me to conceive any idea of life without you." Gwen exclaims and begins to cry, placing her hands over her face.

Seeing his wife in such a state, Arthur tries to sit himself up. He groans loudly with the effort and catches Gwen's attention.

"No, Arthur. Ralph says you must lay down." she says, rushing over to Arthur.

"There is no point in trying to improve my health and comfort when I will die soon enough and when my wife is in such distress." Arthur says as he drops himself down.

"If you will not listen to Ralph, listen to me." Gwen says, placing her hands on Arthur's shoulder. "Ease your pain by laying down."

"No, Guinevere. I will not ease my pain when you are also in pain." Arthur croaks, stubborn in his actions.

Gwen sighs and forces Arthur to look her in the eye.

"My pain increases as yours does." she whispers. Arthur looks at Gwen, sudden fear in his eyes.

"I do not want to leave you." he mumbles, voice breaking with emotion. "I may be ready to accept that I will die but I cannot accept leaving you alone."

"I do not want you leaving me, Arthur. It breaks my heart to see you in such pain."

Arthur, ignoring the crippling pain in his limbs, lifts his hand and places it on Gwen's cheek. "Lay with me?"

Gwen quickly goes around to her side of the bed and crawls up to Arthur. He lays out his arm and Gwen places her head on it before Arthur turns and holds her. Gwen holds on top the arm she is leaning on with both hands, clinging to the warmth Arthur is providing. Arthur's other arm goes up and holds on top Gwen's shoulder. He places his head just behind Gwen's and sighs.

"My last wish was not to leave you. I would have preferred to outlive you to save you the pain." Arthur whispers.

Gwen holds Arthur tighter. "The pain of leaving you alone would be greater than what I currently feel, Arthur."

"You would be joined by your family, Guinevere."

"But I would leave you, our children and our grandchildren. That would pain me."

"It pains me, more than I can say." Arthur says. He pulls Gwen even closer to him. "It is so cold."

Gwen frowns as it is very warm in their chambers and feels Arthur's hands. They are ice cold. Gwen tries to move out of Arthur's arms but he holds her still.

"Arthur, we need to keep you warm." Gwen says and she feels Arthur shake his head. She ceases her movements.

"You just need to stay with me for as long as possible. I want the time I have left in this world to be spent with you in my arms. No one will know when I will be able to do it again."

"We have lived long lives so far. I feel it will not be too long until I join you, Arthur." Gwen says.

The door to the chambers then opens and Merlin walks in. His face barely changed since the day he first came to Camelot.

"Is it almost time then, Merlin?" Arthur asks, now allowing Gwen to sit up.

Merlin looks at the ground and then back at his friends.

"I am afraid so, Arthur." Merlin says, walking around to the other side. Gwen twists around so she is facing Arthur who has turned on to his back.

"Is there anything you can do for him, Merlin?" Gwen asks, looking to her friend.

"If I could Gwen, I would have done it by now. He is destined to return one day, you by his side. You are the Once and Future King and Queen. You will be reunited and return to Albion together."

Arthur looks at Merlin. "Are you sure that we will be reunited?"

Merlin smiles very slightly. "Gwen has seen her family and your parents. You are sure to reunite immediately with each other. Your love is still strong."

Arthur turns his head and looks at Gwen.

"I will be there for you as soon as you cross over, I promise."

"I'm sorry I cannot do the same for you." Gwen says and kisses Arthur's forehead.

"Do you want me to help your passing? I know I can do that much." Merlin says, placing his hand on Arthur's shoulder. Arthur turns his gaze to his best friend.

"How can you help, Merlin? I am dying and leaving my true love, best friend and family behind." Arthur says, tears falling out of his eyes. Gwen grabs a tight hold of his left hand.

"I can give you a small spell that will remove any pain and allow you a calmer and peaceful passing. I know that Gwen is the same in this; we do not want you to suffer if we can prevent it."

Arthur looks at Merlin.

"Do it, please." Arthur says. Merlin does not say anything, tears falling from his own eyes which then glow their signature molten gold.

Arthur's eyes shut for a moment before reopening.

"Merlin." Arthur says, sounding like his previous, healthy self.

"Arthur?"

"Thank you for everything you have done. For me, Guinevere and our family. I have only ever thought of you as a brother and it saddens me that I have to leave you."

Merlin looks at Arthur and smiles.

"You are the only person I feel I can call brother. I promise you that I will continue to protect our family and wait for the day that you return." Merlin awkwardly hugs Arthur and smiles at him. "I will leave you two alone. I hope that your passing will be easy and that you are united with those who love you."

"Thank you, Merlin."

"It has been my honour to serve and protect you, Arthur. Just promise that you will not seriously injure your Father. Perhaps just punch him in the face for me."

Merlin winks and Arthur laughs. With a final smile, Merlin leaves his best friends to say their farewells.

"I feel as if I have not told you how beautiful you are." Arthur says to Gwen, kissing her hand.

"You tell me that I am beautiful multiple times a day." Gwen says.

"I have not done it enough then." Arthur says and brings his spare hand to Gwen's cheek.

"Arthur." Gwen says, blushing.

Arthur brings Gwen's face down to his and kisses her forcefully. After a minute, Gwen pulls away.

"You feel yourself slipping, don't you?" Gwen asks, after feeling Arthur slacken slightly.

"I do." Arthur mumbles, slumping a bit more on the pillows.

"Are you in any pain?" Gwen questions, placing her hand on Arthur's chest.

"No, I am not."

"That is perhaps the only reassuring thing at the moment then." Gwen says, looking away from Arthur. Arthur, however, wants his wife to look at him in his final moments and forces Gwen to look at him.

"Guinevere Pendragon, you are the most beautiful woman in existence. From the first day you treated me like a regular person all of those years ago, my heart has belonged to you. Never have I been able to picture my life without you. You have made me the man I am today and I could not be more thankful for the family we created together."

"Oh, Arthur." Gwen says, tears starting anew.

"I feel my only regret is not living longer with you."

"That cannot be changed."

"That is true. I also cannot help but wonder about the what ifs."

"What ifs?" Gwen asks, confused.

"What if you had only ever treated me as a Prince? What if I was forced into marrying someone and we never created our family? What if you never fell in love with me? What if you died when giving birth to any of our children? What if I was never good enough to be the man you love?" Arthur says.

"It does not do you well to think of what might have been." Gwen says, kissing Arthur's forehead. "Think about what has been. The memories we share; the memories we created together."

"Will you stay with me and let me hold you? Please?" Arthur asks, opening his arms.

Gwen collapses into his arms and allows him to hold her tight.

"We will be reunited. I promise." he vows, refusing to let Gwen go. In Gwen's heart, she knows it to be true.

...

It was eight long years later when Gwen's turn came. Surrounded by her children and aided by Merlin, she peaceful passed on into the next world.

When she opens her eyes, blinding white light surrounds her.

'I know that I am truly dead this time.' Gwen thinks.

She looks down and notices that she is in one of Arthur's favourite dresses; the deep Pendragon red that shows her bare shoulders. When she looks at her hands, they are youthful, no wrinkles are present.

"How can this be?" Gwen asks herself.

"Your body, like mine, has gone back to its youthful appearance." a voice says.

Gwen turns around and a large grin forms.

"Arthur!"

Gwen runs up to her husband and jumps into his arms.

"I cannot believe it is you!" she exclaims. Arthur laughs and then places her back on the floor. He makes sure to keep his arms around her. "I have missed you so much."

"I have missed you too. I have been watching over you and seeing you like that, less happy and more reluctant to express yourself, it was heart breaking to witness."

"You will not have to watch it anymore. I am with you now, nothing could make me happier." Gwen says and kisses Arthur, very forcefully.

Arthur tightens his arms, drawing Gwen closer, and responds with passion. It is only when their lungs are on fire from lack of oxygen that they separate.

"Come, we must leave this place and begin our lives together." Arthur says, kissing Gwen's forehead.

"I could want nothing more."

A/N: That is it! Thank you to every single one of you who have stuck by me and read this story! To those who have left a review at any point during the story, you have no idea how much it means to me. I have had nothing but positive feedback from you all and it warms my heart! There are many of you who have clicked the follow or favourite button for this story, or for me as an author. Words cannot express my gratitude for your love of this story. It has brought a tear to my eye writing the ending for this story that has become quite a big thing in my life - taking over sleep to plan out chapters, ideas running around in my head and many other things! Thank you for being on this journey with me!

I have a few more stories planned and one that will be updated about once a month - an agreement I have with one of my friends! But this is it from me for 2015. All that is really left to say is...

I wish every one of you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Arwen4eva xxx