Night fell early the following evening. A thin mist trailed along the hard, cold ground, and far off in the distance Merlin could hear owls screeching in the darkness.

He was stood in amongst the thin dark trees, hugging himself for warmth and seeing his breath in a smoky cloud before him. He waited.

-

Arthur flung his cloak around his shoulders. His replacement manservant George had freshly washed and dried it that morning, but it didn't feel the same as when Merlin had done it.
He needed to know if that letter was true, not a trap or something as sinister, or even a sick joke. Perhaps Morgana had set this up... No. Arthur shook his head and closed his door behind him. He mustn't think like that. He must keep faith that Merlin was alive.

Arthur walked quickly down the silent corridors, every shadow a guard, every night whisper someone waiting in the darkness for him. Finally he reached the tiny side gate commonly used for sneaking out at night. He would really have thought that Uther would have realised by now, but no one was eager to let him in on the communal secret gate.

Arthur set out quickly, sweeping through the long black grass, to the edge of the woods outside the citadel walls. He strained his eyes through the darkness, trying to find a familiar figure, but there was nothing.

Arthur shivered in the chilly night air, and the deep ringing bells of the castle struck midnight through the still clouds. It was time; where was he?

But then, out the trees, pale, tall, tripping occasionally on the foliage, came Merlin. Good old clumsy Merlin, reliable, hardworking, generous Merlin. He was alive.

"Arthur," breathed Merlin. "You came."

"Of course I came," Arthur exclaimed, rushing forwards and grasping Merlin's hands in his. "I thought I was never going to see you again."

Merlin blinked rapidly and held Arthur's hands tight and close to his chest.

"Arthur, I need to apologise properly for... Well, everything."

Arthur looked searchingly into Merlin's eyes.

"You already have, and I've already forgiven you."

"...I..."

"Merlin, stop this. Thinking I had lost you made me realise what really matters. It's not who you are born or where you come from that's important. It's how you treat others. It's how you contribute to the world. And with or without magic, you are the single most generous, kind, hardworking, forgiving, bravest man I have ever known."

Merlin was crying again now, slow, warm tears leaking from his eyes. He didn't wipe them away. Arthur smiled.

"And I know that what happened with Matilda was an accident. She would have killed you- blimey, she nearly did, but what happened was... Well, technically it was manslaughter, but- let's call it accidental self defense gone wrong."

Merlin laughed, even though he knew he shouldn't.

"Anyway, she wasn't all that nice. She said that the execution of that sorcerer was excellent. I wanted to get to know her; her beauty captivated me-"

Merlin was surprised and not a little hurt.

"-but now I know there is only one person I ever want to be captivated by. I thought you were dead, and I couldn't comprehend it. I didn't know what I was going to do for the rest of my life, because Merlin, I want you to be the rest of my life. Deep down I suppose there was always an idea, but nearly losing you made me see it for what it was- and is. Love."