Merlin was beaming with the light of a thousand suns. 

"Yes." he said, Arthur smiled back. It had been two years since Arthur had returned, and Arthur had just asked Merlin to take part in the druidic marriage ceremony with him. Merlin smiled brightly, knowing that not only would they be getting married, but they would be able to have children of their own as well. Merlin beamed, and threw himself at Arthur, locking their lips together, tongues danced together in a loving performance, and the warlock and ex-king held each other close.

Merlin was ecstatic. He looked at Arthur, who wore peasants clothes. Arthur wore wool trousers, a pair of boots, a clothe blouse and overcoat. No one could tell he had once been a king. His armor and sword were kept in the secret chamber, only being used when Arthur trained. 

"So. When are we getting married?" Merlin asked, arms still around Arthur's neck, 

"I've already spoken to Iseldir, he said that if you agreed then we could do it anytime, all we need to do is send word before we leave, and he can have everything ready when we arrive." Arthur replied, smug, Merlin nodded, "I can send word tomorrow morning as we pack, it'll be about a week's journey." Merlin nodded again. 

"Perfect, I don't want to wait any longer." Merlin told the ex-king, "But don't let that go to your head." Arthur just laughed. 

The next morning Merlin began packing for the journey, and Arthur wrote a note for Iseldir, simply stating that Merlin said yes and they would be arriving in six days. Arthur grinned as he tied the note to the leg of a crow and sent it off to Iseldir. Then after putting on his armor and sheathing the sword at his side, as he did before quests back in Camelot. Arthur started for a moment. It had been years since Camelot came to mind. He knew Guinevere was still around, so it wasn't a concern. He shook his head, turning and looking at Merlin who had finished packing everything. He did miss Camelot sometimes, but not much, Arthur was perfectly happy with his life as it is. He mounted his horse, Merlin doing the same after putting up the wards around their home that they only put up if they went on a journey such as this. And then they were off.

They were camping out, it was the second to last night before they arrived. Arthur smiled again as he remembered where they were going. 

"I can't believe how lucky I am." Arthur mused, turning to Merlin who was sat next to him, 

"Me either." Merlin agreed.

Suddenly, they heard shouting. They heard the whinny of horses. Jumping to his feet, Arthur drew his sword. He was still unable to help himself when people were in trouble. He just couldn't leave them. 

"Arthur..." 

"It'll be fine Merlin." He heard Merlin sigh, 

"Fine, you stay. My magic will be able to do more. Besides, what if it's the knights of Camelot?" Arthur stopped at that. "If they see you, they'll know you're alive and then they'll force you to go back." sighing, Arthur nodded. 

"Fine, you go. But if something happens I'm coming to help." Merlin chuckled, before pulling on a hood and heading towards the noise. Arthur waited, the shouting stopped, the horses calmed. Then he saw Merlin come back. 

"So?"

"A patrol from Camelot, no one we knew. They were attacked by bandits. No one saw my face don't worry." Merlin told him, answering all the questions Arthur was about to ask, before Arthur even opened his mouth. He smiled.

Iseldir had welcomed the two joyfully, Merlin had already known what would take place, but it had needed to be explained to Arthur. This was yesterday. Merlin now, stood in the tent. Arthur was in a separate tent, they were getting ready for the ceremony. Merlin's hair, which had grown out to just below his shoulder, was braided to keep it out of his face. He wore purple robes, with a crown of white roses upon his head. One of the druid girls walked in. 

"It's time." she announced smiling. Merlin took a deep breath, he couldn't believe that this was happening. It was almost surreal. 

He walked out of the tent, and made his way towards the altar, where Iseldir and Arthur were stood. Arthur also wore a robe, but it was blood red in color. Walking forward through the crowd, he made his way to them. Soon he stood in front of Iseldir, facing Arthur. 

"We stand here today, to unite two souls before the Goddess. A sacred tradition only performed among our people. Tonight we celebrate to bonding of Merlin and Arthur Pendragon. With this ritual, your souls will be bound by magic. You will be connected by your souls and nothing, not time, distance, magic or even death can break the bond that will tonight be forged." Iseldir said, the silk clothe was brought forward. Merlin and Arthur joined hands, and the clothe was wrapped around them. 

"gyden, eard, ýð swâðêah swegl, we cirman æt−bregdan êow hebban bewrîðan ðês freonds, ono innoð, in bl¯æst eornostlîce binnan feorh m fêores." he chanted, there was a golden glow that surrounded Arthur and Merlin. It was a warm feeling, Merlin somehow seemed to feel, complete. It made it's way through his body, until in his lower abdomen, Merlin felt something change within him. And then it was gone, when their hands were unwrapped, Merlin and Arthur each wore a tattoo around their left ring fingers, like a ring but tattooed on. Merlin smiled up at Arthur, who was grinning back, and then their lips met, and all that was felt was love, joy, and home.

Meanwhile in Camelot...

Queen Guinevere laid upon her bed in her chambers. The Court Physician, Adrian, stood next to her. She had been having headaches for a couple weeks, she hadn't been sleeping well, and she had started forgetting things. Adrian checked her over, before coming frowning worriedly.

"My lady," he began, "I believe I found the cause." 

"Well?" the Queen asked, 

"My lady, you have a tumor, in your head." the queen stared at him, she knew what this meant. Her brain was killing itself. The physician was staring at the floor.

"Can it be treated?" she asked, "magically or otherwise?"

"My lady, there is no cure that I know of, one druidic healer posited that perhaps a healing spell with sufficient power behind it could cure it, or at the very least stop it from spreading enough to be fatal." he told her, "however no sorcerer has been powerful enough to do so." 

"Then what can be done?" Sir Bedivere asked, 

"There is one sorcerer, who might be powerful enough to succeed." The physician told them, "Emrys. Otherwise known, as Merlin." 

"We cannot trust him. My lady surely you are not considering-"

"Silence. Adrian, in your time here, have you heard tell of where Merlin can be found?" she asked him, 

"There are conflicting rumors, my lady, some say that he is in Cenred's kingdom, others say that he is among the druids. However, some also say that he resides on the shores of the Lake of Avalon. I am inclined to believe this theory, as supposedly that is where he had laid King Arthur to rest." 

"Do we know where this lake is?" 

"My lady surely you won't-"

"Silence sir Bedivere." she reminded, "I do not wish to ask again." 

"No. My lady, we do not. The druids might, however they likely will not tell us, if Merlin is there, they are likely going to be loyal towards him." Adrian revealed, the queen nodded, 

"Then this is my decision. Sir Bedivere, you, Sir Leon and Sir Percival will ride out in search of the lake, if you manage to find Merlin, or the druids ask why we seek him, you tell them the situation. Tell them this as well. If Merlin agrees to use his magic to cure me, or tells us of another way to do so, and it is successful, then his banishment will be lifted. He will be free to return to Camelot." The queen decreed. "Normally I would not go to such lengths, however neither I nor Arthur have an heir. If I die with no heir, then all that we have built could fall." 

And with that, the knight left. 

"My lady, until then I will be prescribing regular tonics to help with the symptoms. Unfortunately we have no way of combating the illness itself." The queen nodded, accepting the answer. 

A little over a year passed, Merlin was overjoyed. He was laying on his and Arthur's bed, exhausted. Arthur was sat next to him, holding his hand. A druid healer, Elis, was wrapping their newborn child in a blanket. This was their first child. Arthur had not been shocked when they discovered Merlin was pregnant, but Merlin had been. The months had been filled with excitement and joy. Merlin was overjoyed, especially when Arthur had revealed that he had always wanted a large family. Merlin remembered how he had been forbidden from using his magic, as he couldn't do anything to put strain on him or the baby. They had built the nursery in one of the empty rooms, with everything they would need for their little one. 

"Here we are." Elis told them, before placing in Merlin's waiting arms, a baby. "You have a beautiful, healthy baby girl." she informed them, and Merlin was overjoyed. 

"Thank you Elis." Arthur said, not taking his eyes off the baby Merlin was holding. Alis had been right. She was beautiful. It was clear that she would have dark hair in the future, her eyes were that color that baby's had before their final eye color showed. She would clearly have Arthur's bone structure, but Merlin's pale skin. 

"So what's her name?" Elis asked, Merlin smiled, he and Arthur had talked about it, and they had decided to name her

"Morgana." Merlin informed her, "In honor of the woman who had always done what was right, before she had been twisted and turned into something evil." he continued, 

"Alright Merlin, you need rest. She'll be here when you wake." Arthur decided, before kissing his husband on the forehead and picking up the baby girl from his arms. 

Morgana was a beautiful girl. As she grew up her eyes had turned to the sky blue of her father's, while her hair and skin were of her Mother. She was only a couple months old. Merlin had remained at the cottage, Arthur had taken 'gana into town with him, so that Merlin could get some housework done. Suddenly the wards that alerted him of intruders went off. Quickly he summoned his hood, and pulled it over his head. it was enchanted to cast a dark shadow over his eyes. He slowly made his way towards the place where he could hear the horses. 

"Do you think he's here?" a familiar voice was heard asking, 

"I'm not sure, but he could be anywhere along the lake." Another familiar voice replied, Merlin peered out of the bushes where he hid, knights. Of Camelot. Merlin felt his blood freeze.

"He probably won't even help us. He was banished for a reason."  Merlin quickly recognized this man, Sir Bedivere, sad excuse for a knight in Merlin's opinion. Quickly he recognized he other two. It was Leon and Percival.

"But remember Bedivere, the queen agreed to life his banishment if he did this and was successful." Percival reminded. 

"What is it you seek?" Merlin asked, revealing himself from his hiding place. "What is it you seek?" he asked again, 

"Who are you?" Bedivere demanded, 

"What do you seek?" Merlin asked, Bedivere seemed to turn slightly red, 

"I demand to know who you are." 

"I do not answer to those without true honor." Merlin snarked, before turning away from the man. Merlin then heard the man give a cry of fury, on instinct Merlin felt his magic lash out and then the man was thrown back against a tree. "I will ask one more time, what is it you seek Knights of Camelot?" he asked, turning towards the other two knights.

"We are looking for Merlin, Camelot needs his help, we were told he might be living around here." Leon told him, Merlin rose an eyebrow, not that the knights could see it.

"What is it you wish of him?" 

"The queen is dying. She has a tumor in her brain. We were told that Merlin might be able to save her." Percival revealed, 

"And why would I do that?" Merlin asked, causing the knights' eyes to widen, "she banished me, tried to arrest me and put me to death when I went to pay my respects to Gaius. She betrayed me for things that were not my fault. Why should I help her?" 

"Merlin, the queen has said that if you save her, or tell us how we can save her and we succeed, then your banishment will be lifted." Percival said again, 

Merlin scoffed, why would he want that? He had a life he enjoys, he has Arthur and a beautiful daughter. If he did return to Camelot, Arthur would be forced to come to, and their marriage would never be accepted as legitimate, he would be forced to return to Gwen, who would accuse Merlin of putting Arthur under a love potion and kidnapping him, and Morgana would never be accepted as a legitimate heir. 

"Why would I want that?" he voiced, "I have a life now. A purpose, outside of Camelot." 

"Merlin," Leon began, "Queen Guinevere is very sick, she will die, and then everything Arthur built will be gone. She has no heir, and without an heir one of the other nobles will be made king." Merlin frowned, this was true. Gwen was dying. The only thing that might save her was the Cup of Life, but Merlin would be forced to go with them, as he would never allow the cup to remain somewhere he could not protect it. But even then, it was still unlikely, as the cup mainly heals wounds, illnesses such as tumor might be slowed, or even reversed temporarily, but in the end the illness will always return.

But what if Arthur returned? 

"How long does the queen have left?" Merlin asked, 

"About 2 years according to our physician." Percival told him, Merlin saw him furrow his brow in confusion. He felt the wards shift again as Arthur and Morgana returned.

"Wait here for a moment." Merlin instructed, "I must go check something." and with that Merlin turned and walked back to the cottage. Entering the building he saw Arthur setting food on the counter. 

"What is it?" he asked, seeing Merlin with his hood up,

"Percival, Leon and Bedivere are in the clearing in front of the lake. They were looking for me." Merlin told him, Arthur tensed slightly. 

"Do they know I'm here too?" 

"No, but listen Arthur, this might be a bit crazy, but just promise you'll think about it." Merlin pleaded, moving to stand before the man. 

"Guinevere is dying. She has a tumor in her head. It's fatal."

"Will she be all right?"

"They were looking for me cause they thought I might be able to heal her, however the only things that have a chance to work only have a small chance of doing so." Merlin told him, 

"Where is this going Merlin?" 

"Arthur, she has no heir, and as far as anyone else knows there is no one else with Pendragon blood around. If she dies with no heir, and even if someone else with pendragon blood comes forwards, Camelot as we know it, could fall. Magic could be outlawed again, wars could start, the new king could end up being extremely cruel." 

"Merlin,"

"Arthur, what if when she dies, we return to Camelot, you become king again, we make sure Camelot doesn't fall into another dark age."

"Merlin, I don't know, I mean, would they really recognize our marriage or our children as legitimate?" 

"We can make them. I can go tell the knights that I know where someone of Pendragon blood is living, I can tell them that I can prepare them to take over the throne, and the lineage can be traced and confirmed. I can tell them that he might be willing to take the throne, that I know he is a good person and will be a good king, but he will have some demands, including that he will not set foot in Camelot until the queen has passed." Merlin finished his rant, Arthur just stared at him, before he got that look that meant he was thinking, part of Merlin really wanted to make a joke about it, but he refrained. 

"I don't know." Arthur said,

"The queen still has 2 years to live according to the court physician." Merlin said, "I can tell them that I will send word once the person has made their decision, and to, when the queen has only days to live, to send word to me via magic crow, and then we will make our way there. I won't tell them who it is, I'll say for safety reason, and that I will train the person myself. You have time to make your decision dollophead, I want you to do what you want to do. I'll stand by you no matter what you decide." 

"Alright, tell them that, but I haven't decided yet." Merlin nodded,

Merlin made his way back to the knights, this time without his hood. Leon was leaning against a tree, Percival sat next to him. Bedivere was looking after the horses. They all turned towards him when they spotted him. 

"Well?" Bedivere snapped,

"Unfortunately, I cannot save your queen." Merlin told them, 

"What about the spell the physician mentioned?"

"The spell you are referring to only works on illnesses caused by bacteria, or viruses. A tumor is caused by neither." Merlin told them, 

"So there is nothing you can do?" Leon asked, 

"Not necessarily," Merlin told them, "Tell me, if no one with Pendragon blood comes forward, how would the kingdom go about selecting a new king?" the knights seemed surprised at the question, but Merlin held his expression, 

"Well, usually they would look for the closest relative of the current king, if their relation is confirmed and accepted by the court then he becomes king, however the Pendragon line ended with Arthur, at this point it would usually be whoever the queen decrees, however due to her common origins some on the council are refusing to accept her choices citing that she wouldn't know if someone would make a great king or not. As such what will end up happening is one of the council members will take over." Leon explained, 

"But if someone of Pendragon blood came forward then the council would choose to make this person king?" Merlin asked, "I mean would they truly prefer this over voting amongst themselves who should be king?"

"Yes, they would." Leon furrowed his brows, "why?" Merlin smirked,

"You were wrong, there is still someone living who carries within them Pendragon blood. He is living as a commoner." Merlin revealed, the knights all looked disbelieving. 

"That's impossible!" 

"I traced his lineage back myself, I may be able to convince him to come forward. However I can guarantee that if he agrees, he will only do so if certain demands are met, nothing that can be held or physically touched, but I can guarantee he will not come forward unless they are met." Merlin told them, 

"What are they?"

"I think that can wait until I have convinced him to come forward. I cannot tell you who he is, as I am sure that there are those who might no wish for a man who has been living as a commoner to be king. I will send word to you if he decides to come forward. Until then this is all I can tell you." Merlin replied, smiling cheekily. The knights nodded, "Now, return to the queen, tell her what I have told you, you can send word to me of her and the council's response via crow, you will need a sorcerer to do this." and with that the knights left. 

Merlin returned to the cottage and found Arthur and Morgana playing. The warlock smiled. As long as he had his family he didn't care where they lived. 

Word Count: 3445