"What?" you say. "She's posting another chapter the next day? Who is this?"

Point taken, but this chapter has been written for a couple months, actually! Hope you enjoy the epilogue!

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The End of the Beginning

"-and this poor man, with his cart completely aflame, just falls to his knees and yells, 'MY CABBAGES!' Merlin, of course, just kept apologizing profusely."

Merlin folded his arms in embarrassment as Leon finished the story.

Arthur stared. "Wait-Annis asked Merlin to be a spy instead of executing him on the spot?"

"Oh, she nearly did," Mithian snorted, struggling to control her laughter. Elyan was crying with mirth. "We thought he was another spy from Morgana at first, but then she figured that Morgana couldn't be that desperate!"

"Hey," Merlin objected, "I managed for two years without being caught!"

"And you did a lovely job, Merlin dear," Freya soothed him, her mouth twisted in a smile.

"I should tell you the story of when Merlin and I first met," Arthur mused. Merlin coughed significantly.

"Arthur, need I remind you that I have in my memory a certain story about a vacation to the Sun Warrior ruins . . ."

Arthur gaped. "You traitor," he said. "You would not."

The conversation devolved into bickering and laughing again. Soon Arthur stood up to get a drink of water from the nearby well. They were sitting amid the almost cleared rubble of the palace's courtyard, enjoying an hour of well-earned respite from the almost non-stop work that had followed the coup. There hadn't even been a formal coronation yet, though most of the Fire Nation embraced Arthur's leadership. It had only been a few days; none of their company had begun heading back to their countries yet. Arthur was glad. He loved his country and his people, he thought as a group of children dressed in red and black rushed past him, but he was not sure if he was ready to be left alone with them yet.

The dark pool, ever-present, still sat in the corner of the courtyard, dark and foreboding. Arthur had decided it would always look malevolent to him.

Merlin came up behind him for water. "Any news on Morgana and Morgause?" he asked, his eyes squinted anxiously.

"None," Arthur replied, then paused. "None on Mordred either," he added.

Most of the high-ranking Fire Nation officials and benders had been caught, but some had escaped along with Morgana and Morgause. Old courtiers, soldiers, and some citizens had disappeared into the night, including Arthur's uncle, Agravaine. Arthur had been planning to question Agravaine about Morgana's plan, but also about Ygraine, Uther, and the life before the Purge.

He supposed it didn't matter. He didn't even remember his mother. Besides, it was a new day, a new age. Better to put the past behind him.

"What are you brooding about?" Merlin asked before taking a sip, his eyebrows drawn together as he watched Arthur.

"Just thinking about what the future will bring," Arthur replied. "The Fire Nation. You, as the Avatar. Everyone going home."

Merlin nodded slowly. "Lance wants me to go back with him to the Northern Air Temple, so that I can learn airbending. After that, it'll be to one of the Water Tribes."

"Northern, surely," said Arthur. "You can't leave Freya alone for too long." He winked and Merlin rolled his eyes. He was blushing.

"Besides, Cendred's still in power in the South; he doesn't like any of us too much right now." Arthur sighed. He really wasn't looking forward to everyone leaving. He did have certain plans in place to see if Gwen, at least, would stay. "Even with all the work we put into freeing the Fire Nation, there is still much to be done."

There was gleam in Merlin's eye, contemplative, wondering. "What's is it?" Arthur asked. "You look like you're thinking-never a good sign."

The firebender did not even react to this jibe. "I was just-thinking about something I heard someone say . . ." he murmured, barely heard over the noise in the courtyard. Arthur raised an eyebrow. "There may be a lot of troubles still, and there will be more to come, but I think that you're going to be a great Firelord. There's a lot of hope for the future."

Merlin turned and walked away, leaving behind a confused Arthur. Where had that compliment come from? He wondered if he would ever understand Merlin.

The Firelord took a last swig of his drink, shrugged, and followed the Avatar to join their friends.

Please let me know what you have liked and disliked about this story, whether it be the plot, the characterization, the bending, etc. I'm always looking for ways to improve my writing, so please let me know what worked for you and what didn't.

You can probably tell that I have totally set this up for a sequel. You can probably also tell that I'm not a fast writer, however, so I don't know when that sequel will happen. In the meantime, please enjoy my other stories-and also take a look at my beta's profile, General San3. She's a talented author!

That's all, folks!