A Servant's Love/ Merthur

Ending

Merlin looked up from his small patch of Earth he was tending, towards the disturbance of leaves on the path ahead. He smiled as the familiar clinking of armour and hooves came closer, grinning he picked up the basket of food he had just harvested and headed for the cottage. He leaned in the doorway and laughed at the sight before him, although Arthur was slowly improving, it was still a sight to see the grown man focus so hard on the vegetables he was cutting, Valith sat on Arthur's shoulder, watching him with interest. Bringing his tongue in and clumsily dropping the knife on the table as he met Merlin's amused gaze.

Merlin dropped his head and shook it with an amused sigh. Meeting Arthur's eye once again, he smiled, "They're here."

Arthur burst out the door to greet the visitors, Merlin followed just behind him. Leon and Percival jumped down from their horses, Percival turning back to lower the boy who was riding with him.

"Da-da" The boy broke into a smile, running over to Arthur with open arms. Arthur energetically picked up the boy, bouncing him above his head and bringing him into his chest for a hug.

"I trust your ride over was not too unpleasant?" Merlin asked the two knights, walking over to greet them.

"Just as always." Percival replied, "Although our little prince here can certainly talk nowadays."

Merlin laughed in response, looking at Arthur as he chatted with his son while walking over to the three-foot-high fighting dummy to train together. The boy looked very much like a small Arthur, his stocky build, hair like pure gold, and eyes just as blue as the sky, unlike Arthur, his hair was curly like his Mother's and he had tanner skin than Arthur's. The boy's expressions while taking on the dummy reminded Merlin greatly of the Queen when she caught Merlin in a strife.

"How's Gwen?" Merlin asked.

"As regal as always, she's still very busy trying to settle Camelot into its new laws about magic, Gaius, is helping every step of the way. They both say hi by the way, she was meant to come visit today but she couldn't find the time." Leon replied to which Merlin nodded.

When Merlin and Arthur had been found, it took a great deal of discussion about what they would all do. Gwen was more than understanding of the love that the two had found for each other, she had been ready to say goodbye to Arthur forever before he had arrived. So the couple found their place just within the borders of Camelot in a cottage surrounded by woodlands and fields. Arthur was still able to see and be a father to his son. Gwen was doing a fine job of ruling the castle on her own. Arthur and Merlin would still have their own adventures from time to time.

"And how are you doing?" Merlin asked, looking to Percival a softer look on his face. Although it had been almost 5 years now, the passing of Gwaine had taken Percival a long time to get over.

"Managing" he said with a grim sigh, "There won't be anyone else in my future for me though I don't think, this son of Arthur's keeps me busy anyhow. I know for sure that Gwaine would be proud, and overly obnoxious, about of having a prince named after him" He eyed Merlin with a smirk.

Arthur's son, Gwaine, may've only been five, but he already had a hefty swing and a decent block with his wooden practice sword. The knights and Merlin laughed as the boy swung out, hitting Arthur in the stomach. Arthur tackled the child onto the ground, both erupting in laugher as Arthur began to tickle the boy's sides making him curl in on top of him.

Merlin set down the platter of fruits, nuts, meats and cheese that he had prepared for the gathering onto the table outside the house. Gwaine bounded up, climbing up onto one of the chairs, followed by a rather puffed Arthur.