Work Text:
It had been Arthur's idea to send merlin back to camelot alone to tell Guinevere that Arthur had survived Mordred's attack but wouldn't be coming back, that he and merlin would finally go and live on a farm on the outskirts of camelot where they would have the least likeliest chance of being recognised, after Merlin's magic had done the impossible and saved Arthur's life.
What he hadn't been expecting when merlin returned to their agreed meeting spot, was for Guinevere and Leon to be accompanying him. Leon immediately stops when he sees Arthur and gwen lets out a half laugh half sob before she's rushing over to pull him in for a hug and kiss him everywhere she can reach "when Merlin returned without you i thought we'd lost you!" She says, looking at him with relief and so much fondness he doesn't know what to do with it "i always knew you'd give up the throne to go live on that farm eventually" she says, laughter in her voice as the two remember what he had said during their picnic all those years ago.
Arthur leans into her touch when she cups his cheek "I'll be the Queen you've always said i am. I'll keep the kingdom safe and happy" she whispers, smiling emotionally "i know you'll do amazing, Guinevere." Arthur says honestly, because its true and he believes it wholeheartedly "There is one last wish I would like to ask of you though" he says quietly, eyes straying to where merlin was standing beside Leon.
When he looks back at Guinevere, he finds that she too is looking at him in fond amazement "i know its a massive ask, especially because of the war we've just been through, but i want him to be free to be himself, my last 'dying' wish is to ask you to work with Gaius and Geoffrey to repel the ban on magic" he says, watching Gwen's reaction carefully, but to his suprise she smiles a little more and nods "he's been protecting you for so long now, he deserves to be free from fear" she responds and Arthur realises she connected the dots during the battle of Camlaan and got confirmation from Gaius whilst waiting for news about Arthur's wellbeing.
He kisses her forehead, before moving back and bowing deeply to show that he was transfering power to her "Long live the Queen" he says softly when he stands straight again. Guinevere nods seriously in response, before bursting into giggles, making Arthur chuckle quietly as thats the weirdest thing they've ever done and yet Arthur's shoulders already feel lighter for it.
Arthur goes to leon once they've calmed down, he knows gwen is going to take merlin a short ways away to speak to him as well "Leon" he says as he clasps the mans arm for the final time "Arthur" Leon responds, a small smile on his face and fondness as well as relief in his eyes "we've been through a hell of a alot together all these years and you've never once faltered in your loyalty" he says, watching as his best knight goes a rosy pink at the praise "i want you to serve Guinevere just as well as you've served me. She's going to need someone in her corner when she changes the magic ban law and i can think of no one better" he says, keeping his voice low so only Leon hears it.
Leon nods seriously "its been an honour or serve you, Arthur and i will serve the Queen with pride" he responds, briefly tightening his grip on Arthur's arm in a show of friendship before moving back and bowing his head ever so slightly "im going to miss you, my friend. Even though i'm sure i'll visit as often as i can under the guise of going on a quest" he says after a few seconds, dropping the seriousness to just be the friend Arthur's always had by his side.
Arthur chuckles softly "its going to be strange for awhile, but im sure Merlin will write to you" he says, looking over at where merlin and gwen could be seen a few trees away "it'll be nice to just be Arthur though" he admits, watching as understanding takes over Leon's expression "no pressure, no need to watch what i say or when i say it. Just merlin and i being ourselves" Leon chuckles quietly at that, before he pats Arthur's shoulder as Gwen and Merlin come back to join them.
They part ways not long after, the sun begining to set on the end Arthur's reign and the begining of Gwen's. Though Leon's voice stops them from going further than a few feet away "Merlin" he says, voice grave and serious, that Merlin straightens to face him just as serious "look after him for us" he says, a small smile fighting its way through his serious Façade "always" the warlock responds, tone making it sound like a vow.
He grins afew seconds later "you look after our Queen" he says, giving Gwen a fond look as the knight nods "with my life" he responds, his eyes meeting Arthur's as he says the words, causing him to smile and nod before saying "keep our favourite knights out of trouble Guinevere" as Merlin had found Gwaine and Percival just in time to save Gwaine's life when he was on his way back to camelot "I'll try my best" she says, giggling quietly before all four of them rush towards each other for one last group hug.
Merlin and Arthur set off towards Ealdor once they've seen their friends off, though that's not their destination at least not yet anyway. They stop and make camp once it's too dark to continue safely, Merlin giving up all pretense and starting a fire without being anywhere near it as he hunts a few rabbits "i though you didn't like hunting?" Arthur asks, as the man is taken aback at how easily Merlin was able to do it.
Merlin huffs in amusement "i dont like hunting for fun like you and the knights do-did?" he pauses for a second at his wording before moving on "mother taught me how to hunt, because as a small village we needed whatever meal we could easily catch" he explains as he skins the first rabbit and puts it over the fire to cook "my magic makes catching or leading animals to me both a blessing and a curse, thats why i used to be so loud during hunts so it wouldn't look weird that half the forest animals were in a 3 mile radius of us when i was around" Arthur can't help the laughter that leaves him as he envisions Merlin surrounded by animals like some sort of fairytale princess.
Though he doesn't say it out loud, Merlin rolls his eyes "yeah, yeah im a fairytale princess. Will called me that all the time when we were younger" which makes Arthur laugh harder, as merlin continues to look unimpressed, even as a fond smile fights its way onto his face as he thinks about his late friend.
They eat in comfortable silence once Arthur's laughter dies down, before Arthur breaks it "what did Gwen say to you when i was talking to Leon?" He asks curiously, watching as Merlin grows fond "she thanked me for saving you, thanked me for protecting you and promised me that i would be free to be myself someday soon" he chuckles quietly "she also called me an idiot for telling the whole court i had magic in order to protect her. Gave me a right bollocking for that when she asked if it was me that saved her father" at least he has the decency to look sheepish about it, whilst Arthur shakes his head in disbelief.
He does smirk in a way that makes Merlin nervous immediately afterwards though "now i know about your magic, you can finally tell me about your adventures, we have all the time in the world now after all" merlin groans quietly but smiles in quiet excitement to himself for a few seconds "it'd take years to get though them all anyway. Magic, dragons, embarrassing stories about you, ive got them all" he says, eyes alight with excitement.
Even as he mutters something that sounds like "speaking of dragons" to himself and sitting up straight "im a dragonlord, Balinor was my father and i got the power after he died and there are two dragon's around here somewhere" Arthur blinks a few times at the sudden information being thrown at him "you can talk to dragons?" He asks as thats the only thing he knows about dragonlord "talk to, call, command and hatch" merlin answers, looking shifty for the first time since he revealed his magic a day or so ago.
Arthur stares for awhile, before he says "the great dragon isn't dead is it" in a deadpan voice as he nor his father had actually contacted other kingdoms to see if it had flown there to die "no he isn't. Nor can he attack Camelot. I commanded him to leave that night and only return when i call. I made it so if he returned then it was on pain of death" arthur continues to stare at his friend in disbelief. He did not deserve a friend like Merlin, he truly didnt.
He sighs before asking "and the other? You said there were two" Merlin's eyes light up, but there's sadness there too as he says "thats Aithusa, i hatched her a few years ago after getting her egg from that tower that collapsed" Arthur wacks him around the head for that, not for taking the dragon egg they had been searching for and hatching it, no for putting himself in danger like that "we could have lost you that day!" He yells as merlin rubs his head and pouts "Stop putting yourself in reckless situations! You're going to be the death of me one day you idiot!" At least merlin once again looks genuinely sheepish and apologtic.
Arthur rolls his eyes in response "do i get to meet them now that im not king and we get to live in peace?" He asks, taking merlin by suprise "kilgharrah is on his last legs and Aithusa is on her own now that Morgana's dead, so we might need land large enough for them to settle down with us. If you want them that close that is" the warlock responds, looking over at Arthur who's looking concerned and slightly smug "its a good thing i know a spot like that after looking over maps and knowing them by heart for so long then isn't it?" Merlin lights up at hearing that.
They talk quietly for awhile longer, before Merlin settles down to sleep "you dont need to keep watch, i put protecting charms on the perimeter. No one can enter without my permission" he says quietly when he notices arthur not doing the same "gods I wish we knew you could do that sooner" is the response he gets, making him chuckle quietly as he begins to drift off.
Neither of them wake until mid morning the next day, both of them getting the best nights rest they've had in years, something that startles merlin at first, making him jump up and start the usual camp routine, until Arthur grumbles "calm down Merlin, not king anymore remember" behind him, causing the last few days to return to him all at once. He settles back down once he's washed himself up and done his business.
They don't start moving until the sun is high in the sky, arthur leading them to the large plot of lands he knows is far enough from Camelot that they wont be recognised or bothered, but close enough that Merlin can go visit and come back in the same day.
They have to stop a few times to eat and drink water and so Arthur can
rest, as even though Merlin's magic had healed him, his body was still recovering from the shock and blood loss, but they finally get to their destination in the late afternoon. The land is massive and if he focuses enough, Merlin can make out the castle in the distance as well as a village not that far away from them where they can go get certain supplies.
Merlin looks to Arthur, who is watching him expectantly "can you make a house with magic or do you need supplies?" He asks when Merlin stares back in response, causing merlin to pause for a few seconds before shrugging and letting go of his magic and imagining a house in front of them. The reaction is instant. The space in front of them glows for a minute or two before fading to reveal a good sized house "you never cease to amaze me, Merlin" Arthur says, looking gobsmacked.
When they go inside, they find a living area with tools to craft and fix things up, a kitchen which is a similar size to Gaius's workshop, two good sized bedrooms and a private room for their chamber pots and a bath, which Merlin and arthur are glad to see. They are also close enough to the forest that Arthur will be able to hunt to his hearts content and merlin can get any herbs they need.
Merlin goes outside and creates a small herb garden near the front of the house and a massive area for the crops and a few fruit trees to go a few meters away from the back of the house, letting his magic soak into the ground so everything grows better. It takes a few months for the two to get used to their new life, especially with Kilgharrah and Aithusa, who is slowly warming up to them, hanging out in the den merlin made for them, but they're getting there.
Merlin had gotten Arthur's blue cloak the last time he visited camelot and had bought another similar to it so they could go down to the near by villages, Arthur's hair had grown enough that even if people thought they knew who he was they would have a hard time actually figuring out where they knew him from.
Its two years later that the two hear about the magic ban repeal during a visit to get supplies. Gwaine is the one reading out the proclamation, something they never thought they'd see, but the moment they hear "the magic ban is offically repealed, as was the wish of his late Majesty King Arthur" Merlin and Arthur hug each other tightly, Merlin crying quiet tears of relief and Arthur whispering the words "you're free, my friend. You're safe at last" causing merlin to let his magic go, letting it create flowers and butterflies and dragons out of nearby sparks, something that makes the villagers watch them in awe.
The two live in peace and quiet for years after, Merlin happily using his magic to help Aithusa heal and the farm grow, and eventually he grows old and dies a few years after Arthur, who he meets, along with everyone he loves in Avalon.