"Can miles truly separate you from friends... If you want to be with someone you love, aren't you already there?"

~Richard Bach

Gwen's POV

"There has been no sign of Morgana." Sir Leon continues. I struggle to concentrate on the meeting. I keep glancing out the window, hoping to see them riding up to the castle. Gaius sits next to me, and I can tell that he knows I'm distracted.

But of course, we're still searching. We won't let her escape again. Do you have any suggestions? Guinevere?"

I snap my head back to the table. "Hmm? Oh, have you searched the forest to the east?" I ask. I had been staring out the window again. I notice a dark shape moving through the sky. Probably a bird, but I can't shake the feeling that it's important somehow.

"Yes. We found traces, but she was gone when we arrived."

"Oh." I glance out the window again. Suddenly, the black shape comes into focus. I see a tail, wings, and fire. It's not a bird. It's a dragon.

I jump to my feet. "Gaius!" He stands and follows my gaze.

The old man smiles. "Go."

I sprint from the room. I run through the corridors. I fly down the stairs. Finally, I emerge in the courtyard where the Great Dragon is just landing on the cobblestones next to the fountain.

Arthur, Merlin, and a girl i don't recognize are sitting on his back. "Arthur!" I call. His eyes lock on mine and he grins. He climbs down off of the drgon and I run forward to meet him. He jumps the last few feet to the ground and stumbles, but I catch his shoulder before he can fall.

"Gwen--" I cut off his greeting with a kiss. He doesn't protest, wrapping his arms around me.

I pull back to examine him, wanting to be sure he is alright. Satisfied, I lift my eyes to meet his. "You're safe." I gasp.

Arthur smiles. "Thanks to Merlin. He..." he trails off, unsure.

"It's okay." I assure him. "Gaius told me about Merlin's magic, how he was taking you somewhere to heal you, because Mordred..." my voice breaks. "I was so worried, Arthur. I was afraid I'd never see you again." Tears threaten in my voice and my vision blurs.

"It's okay, it's okay." Arthur murmurs. He places his hands on both sides of my face and strokes my hair. "I'm here now. Merlin did it. I never knew..."he shakes his head.

"I know..." I agree. "Merlin's so...Merlin. It's hard to believe..." I trail off.

"Hey!" Merlin protests. I didn't notice him walk up.

"Oh, Merlin, You know what I mean!" I amend. "You're just so...well... Merlin." I giggle as I hug him.

"Since when is my name and adjective?" He asks.

"Since you were you. Really, Merlin, there's no other way to describe you." Arthur gives Merlin a friendly punch on the shoulder.

"Is that a compliment?" Merlin laughs. Arthur just raises his eyebrows at him. They seem different somehow, like I've missed an important shift in their relationship. Well, I have. I realize. They've been through a lot together that I haven't been there to see. It makes my heart ache for my friends.

A small, pale face appears behind Merlin's elbow. Her eyes are uncertain, as if she's not sure how to introduce herself.

I take a step toward them. "Who's this?" I ask, prompting him.

"Oh!" Merlin steps back, revealing the pale, thin-boned girl behind him. A tattered red dress hangs off of her, and suddenly I recognize it. It's Morgana's. I folded it enough times, I should know. "This is Freya. She--"

"Why is she wearing Morgana's dress?" I interrupt, my voice thick with suspicion. Arthur glances at Merlin, suddenly worried.

Merlin's calm expression does not shift. "Oh! I took it." he explains. "When I met Freya...she was alone. I wanted her to be happy...to feel like a princess, so I stole one of Morgana's dresses." He swallows. "But...uh, then..." he can't seem to say the words and suddenly Arthur picks up the story.

"Do you remember, a few years ago, there was a girl. A slave trader had her locked up and she skate? Without the Druids did it, but... Well, now it all makes sense."

Suddenly the pieces fall together and I look at Merlin with shock. "You let her out?" I ask. He nods, still looking uncomfortable.

Arthur continues. "And then we found out that the girl had been cursed."

"I remember."

"And the Knights and I fought...it...her..." Arthur pauses for a moment, puzzled, but then he keeps speaking. "We injured the beast. It was a small cut for an animal of its size, but she changed back into the girl, and, well...she...she died." The last words are barely more than a whisper. His face flashes with guilt.

I glance at Freya, confused. "Then how...?"

"Merlin brought me back." Freya explains. "when he healed Arthur, he healed me, too. I don't know how, but..." she trails off, uncertain, and glances at Merlin who is watching her with staggering affection in his eyes. Freya blushes.

"How did you do it, Merlin?" Arthur asks, taking my hand. "I thought magic couldn't bring even one person back from the dead. You revived Freya and me. Doesn't that break some kind of rule?" My heart throbs sharply and I squeeze Arthur's hand tighter. I feel almost lightheaded for a moment. The thought of Arthur dead is too painful to even think about. I take a deep breath and lean into his shoulder.

Merlin shakes his head. "It does. It breaks every rule I've ever learned. I don't know. I--" a blush colors his cheeks. "Well, I...I was thinking about Arthur, how much I care about him, and then I thought about everyone I love. You, my mother, Gaius, Freya, Kilgharrah, and...well, I don't know. Whatever it was just...happened. I don't understand it, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to do it again." He shakes his head again. "I don't know."

"Merlin!" We all turn to face the steps of the castle. Gaius shuffles down the stairs, his arms outstretched. Leon and the other Knights follow closely behind, their faces lighting up at the sight of Arthur.

"Gaius!" Merlin exclaims. He takes a step forward and clutches his stomach, then shuffles forward again.

"Here." Arthur moves up to stand by Merlin and wraps Merlin's arm across his shoulders. "It's my turn to help you."

Merlin leans gratefully on Arthur who supports his weight with ease. Freya trails close behind.

"What happened to him?" I ask Kilgharrah. he stands a few feet away from me and seems startled to be spoken to. His large golden eyes stare at Merlin, full of gentle, protective love.

"It was Morgana." as if by instinct my hands curl into fists. I feel my face harden into an angry scowl. "Kilgharrah tells me how Arthur rejected Merlin at first and how Merlin saved Arthur's life - not for the first time, I realize. He explains how Arthur and he had gone back for Merlin and how Merlin had healed Arthur and resurrected Freya in the process. we stay in the courtyard until it is dark out. The Knights go with Gauis to get Merlin home. Freya and Arthur go with them to help.

When Kilgharrah is almost finished with the story, Arthur comes back. He has changed out of his bloody, grimy armor into a soft red shirt and loose brown trousers. He places his warm hands on my shoulders and strokes my arms. His thin fingers slide up and down slowly, in time with our hearts.

I'm so glad to have him back.

Kilgharrah pauses in his narration. The clearing feels empty without his ancient, raspy voice.

"How is he?" The great Dragon asks.

"Gaius says he'll be fine." Arthur answers. His hands still trace warm patterns on my arms. "He's asleep now."

Kilgharrah nods. "He deserves some rest."

"He has done more to deserve it than I ever knew, probably more than I ever will know." Arthur agrees. He places a hand on Kilgharrah's side. "And you have, too, despite what my Father did to you. You will be rewarded. Anything you want, you shall have."

Kilgharrah shakes his massive head. "I require nothing; the service of Albion is it's own reward."

"Nonsense." A deep voice booms from all around, seeming to come from the very stones of the courtyard and echo off of them all at once.

I look around, trying to find the source of the voice. Suddenly, it comes again, this time from directly behind Arthur and me. I whirl around.

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A/N: So funny story; when my sister (Wanderer97) and I started watching Merlin, we always noticed that one knight that was always in the background and like carried out Uther's orders but he never really had a name. And one time one of us was like, "There's that guy." and we just got to the point where every time he came on screen we would shout "That Guy!" and that became his name. And then at some point I swear he died and I was sad because I liked the constantly-present-but-unnamed knight (aka That Guy). But then all of the sudden there he was again and we both freaked out like "That Guy! That Guy is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and then they named him Sir Leon and acted like he had been "Sir Leon" the whole time but he totally didn't have a name until like Season Three and to this day I still call Leon That Guy. So yeah. We also call Agravaine (I have no idea if I spelled that right but I'm too lazy to look it up) Uncle Jerk Face because we couldn't remember his name for the first few episodes he was in but we wanted to complain about him being a Jerk Face so that became his name.