Author's Note: Well, this is it. Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed. I hope you've all enjoyed it, and that it's been a satisfying ending. There are some things I feel like I could have wrapped up more neatly if I had planned better, but overall I'm happy with it, and I hope you are too.
Epilogue
Over the next ten years, the kingdoms of Albion slowly came under Camelot's rule. Merlin stood at Arthur's side for every treaty, battle, and peace talk. He sat beside the king at every meeting of the Round Table. Though Arthur offered many times to assign him a court position, Merlin refused, preferring to remain the king's manservant and advisor.
Three summers after Morgana's defeat, Guinevere became pregnant. Merlin toasted the king's future heir with a show of fireworks above Camelot's main square. And when the queen went into the birthing room, Merlin sat vigil with the king until the early hours of the morning. They named the young prince Elyan, and Merlin gifted him a silver rattle with a charm to keep nightmares away.
Gaius took on a young boy named William as his new apprentice. The boy had a strong aptitude for the physician's craft and quickly earned the affection of nearly everyone in the palace. He possessed some modest magical abilities, and when he was not treating patients or running errands for Gaius, he trailed Merlin like a stray puppy. Gaius did live to see the unification of Albion, but died quietly a few months after the final treaty was signed. Arthur kept his hand on Merlin's arm through the funeral.
In time, Arthur and Merlin too grew older. The warlock aged slowly, but the king's hair grayed more and more each year. When Merlin finally stopped shaving his beard, Arthur teased him about turning into the grizzled old Dragoon, but Arthur too had beard enough himself.
Arthur died of a fever on a cold October morning. Guinevere, Merlin, and Elyan sat by his side through the night. The king's funeral was held in the square that afternoon. Merlin lit the pyre solemnly, not bothering to hide his tears. As the crowd looked on, the glowing image of the dragon of the Pendragon coat of arms rose from the flames and soared into the sky.
The court was in full mourning for a week. When the mourning period was through, preparations for the coronation began. Elyan stood tall on the dais as the crown was placed on his head. Merlin made no attempt to hide his tears as Elyan turned around. The young man bore his mother's dark hair and skin, but his features were strikingly like Arthur's. Merlin smiled as the crowd around him began to chant. Swallowing a lump in his throat, he joined them.
"Long live the king!"