A/N: The end! It's probably anti-climactic for many of you, but as I stated earlier this is something I wrote for myself based on my own experience so if you don't like it then too bad :p

Merlin felt... something break inside him as he hugged his mother. Some sort of wall being torn down. It was then he realized he had known. For at least a day now he had known that he could come out of this... whatever it was... if he only reached out to someone- he simply hadn't wanted to. But even as he was now, he couldn't reject his mother.

They stayed like that for several moments, Merlin reveling in her comforting aura and Hunith clinging to her boy as if he would float away.

Gwaine and Arthur made themselves scarce, moving off to find lunch and give the little family some privacy. Seeing the two leave, Hunith's smile widened and she pulled Merlin toward his childhood home. "Come, I've got your favorite stew waiting over the fire and some fresh bread and fruit."

"Mother..." his voice filled with dismay. She can't afford this...

"None of that, just come and enjoy," she tugged his arm again and he followed her, the corners of his lips threatening to rise.

Unable to stay away, Arthur and Gwaine hovered outside the window with the bread and cheese they'd managed to buy. At first it was only Hunith talking, sharing mundane happenings and village gossip with a silent Merlin; but eventually he began to interject, recalling stories of life in Camelot or memories of his childhood in Ealdor. But it wasn't until they heard Merlin laugh- it was rough and hesitant, but genuine- that they were able to relax and give up their eavesdropping to set up camp on the village outskirts.

Hunith found them that evening and invited the pair in for dinner, not that they could have refused- but she was too polite to demand.

Merlin was already seated at the table, hunched in on himself and awkwardly averting his eyes. "G-good evening Arthur, Gwaine."

"Good to hear your voice, Merlin!" Gwaine grinned, barely stopping himself from clapping his friend on the back.

"...Yeah," his voice was even smaller, but a smile was gradually forming on his face.

Hunith rubbed his back encouragingly and served dinner, the four of them crowded around the small table and modest meal.

The servant's conversation was sparse and stilted, but it was clear he was making an effort and they were relieved to see him finish his food without prompting. Afterward Hunith offered her home to the knights but the two gently declined, returning to their camp for the night.

A new day dawned and Arthur and Gwaine rose to see mother and son working the land together, Merlin smiling openly and honestly as he helped with the harvest.

They stayed two more days, each seeing Merlin closer to his old self, before reluctantly saying their goodbyes and turning back toward Camelot.

"You could stay longer, Merlin," Arthur offered.

"No... it was nice, but my place is by your side," he gave a shy smile, then refocused on guiding his horse.
The emotional moment had barely begun when Gwaine ruined it.

"And my place is in the tavern! For the love of The Rising Sun!" He galloped forward, leaving his companions to catch up, trailing laughter.

That night Arthur sent Gwaine out to gather firewood as he settled next to Merlin on a fallen tree.

"Would you like to talk about it?"

Merlin looked at him, incredulous, then returned to staring into the fire.
"I can't really... I don't know how to put it into words... what I was feeling or even why it happened. I just woke up one morning and nothing seemed to have any importance. This- this trip has helped but I still need to put extra effort into... this," he made a vague gesture at the two of them. "I think it'll get better as long as I stay around people, but it's- it's hard." He hugged himself, bringing his knees up and tucking his chin behind them.

"It'll be okay, Merlin," Arthur lightly rested one hand on his friend's shoulder, "we'll help you through this."

Gwaine chose that moment to blunder back into camp, unceremoniously dumping his armload of branches by the fire pit. "Have you lot started talking already? I haven't even gotten the mead out yet!"

Merlin rolled his eyes. Yes, he wasn't quite himself yet, but with friends like these by his side it was only a matter of time.