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"Da!"
"Yes Mordred, I'm in here," Merlin said as he ground the herbs with his mortar and pestle.
"We have a visitor," said his son with a cheerful lilt to his voice.
"Can you take them to head to the healer's hut kiddo, and I'll be there in a minute," he replied as he finished up his latest batch of yarrow salve.
"I'm not injured, I've come for you," said a familiar voice and Merlin whipped his head around to see the familiar and welcome face of Lancelot.
"Lancelot! How did you?! Gods never mind get over here!" he yelled placing down the salve and hurrying over to embrace his friend, when he suddenly stopped in his tracks when he saw what Lancelot was wearing.
Armour and a red cloak.
A Camelot cloak.
"Mordred come here now," he stated firmly and Mordred hurried over beside him.
"Did you bring them here? Did you come to hurt us, because I can assure you I will not allow harm to come to these people nor my son."
"Merlin no, I would never hurt you or cause you harm, we've come to bring you home. They thought I'd be best to come see you first since we left on good terms," said the knight.
"Home? You mean Camelot, that's not- I do not have a home. How'd you end up a knight I thought you were banished?"
"Arthur came and found me, and a few others on the journey, you know I think you'd like them a lot. They're here with me just outside the camp, nobody is hurting anyone we just want to bring you home, well I suppose both of you, since… what's his name? He's yours?"
"Mordred! My name is Mordred!" he said excitedly.
"Yes Mordred is my adoptive son," he said warmly, glancing down at the kid that he'd grown to love so dearly.
"Don't you see Da! You can go home now! I knew the Once and Future King would come around eventually, he did save us after all," said Mordred tugging on his hand lightly.
"I don't understand though how did-"
"Uther is dead," Lancelot interrupted.
"What?"
"It's a long story but he was slain by a wraith and now Arthur is king, you have to see it Merlin nothing is the same. He's been looking for you for months, he misses you terribly, but when he heard back from the Camelot Druids telling them that Emrys was living in deep in the Northumbria woods, he sent us," explained the knight gently.
"Does he… Does he really want me back? How does he expect, with the magic ban?" Merlin said testing the waters.
"Lifted, it's been hard they argued apparently but it was one of the first things he did, he said he did it because he had learned that magic had saved him so many times, please will you just come home now? He can explain it all much better then I. The knights and I can escort you both home safely," said Lancelot, and Merlin sighed, his nerves fluttering in his chest.
Yet... All he really wanted was to go home and now that he had the chance...
He looked at his son, leaning down and asking, "Mordred do you-"
"Yes, Da, you gave up everything for me, I want you to go home," he said warmly and Merlin knelt down placing a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"Alright kiddo go pack your things, I guess this exile is finally over…"