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The three of them were having a picnic when Freya mentioned it. “I spoke to the Sidhe elders,” she said after eating a particularly juicy strawberry, “and I managed to get them to agree to it.”
“Agree to what?” Gwen and Merlin asked.
“When Arthur returns, he won’t be alone,” Freya said.
“You mean” - Gwen cut heirself off and took Merlin’s hand excitedly.
“Lancelot?” Merlin asked at the same time, their voice breathless.
Freya nodded, and they beamed. “I’ve been trying to teach them about the modern world to prepare them for when they return, but I’m not sure they understand half the words I use.” Not to mention that she had had to invent words for modern technology. Freya had also been trying to teach them English, but that hadn’t exactly gone well. Lancelot wasn’t bad at learning languages, but Arthur…well, there was a reason Freya hadn’t become a teacher like Merlin had. A reason that wasn’t that being the guardian of the Gates of Avalon took up much of her time.
Gwen hummed. “I suppose it can’t be easy trying to explain it without being able to demonstrate what you mean.” Another reason it was difficult to prepare them for modern life. Freya had tried to convince the Sidhe elders to lift the ban on electric devices in Avalon, but they were adamant that that would be going too far; if they allowed it the mortal taint would spread to Avalon and pollute it - or so they claimed.
“No,” she said aloud. “Do you want me to pass a message to Arthur and Lancelot?”
They were silent for a while, trying to think what they wanted her to tell them, before Gwen said, “Tell them we miss them and that we’re glad Lancelot will return too.”
“Maybe you could give them strawberries,” Merlin said, before they paused. “Do you need to eat in Avalon?”
“I suppose the Sidhe do,” Freya said, “but the dead don’t. They can, of course, but it isn’t necessary for them. But I’ll keep that in mind.” A smile tugged at her lips. She was glad that the Sidhe had allowed her to leave Avalon all those centuries ago when she had first met Guinevere at heir wedding to Merlin.
It had been a beautiful summer’s day when all manner of people had gathered to celebrate the wedding of Emrys and the Once and Future Queen. Merlin had, for probably the first time in their life, worn a silk shirt and cape, which was quite different to the plain shirts and neckerchiefs of his youth, while Guinevere had worn a blue dress adorned with red dragons. They had been smiling delightedly at each other throughout the ceremony, and it had been clear to everyone that this would not be an unhappy marriage.
Freya had sought them out when they were mingling with their guests in one of the gardens. It was Merlin who had noticed her first, and they had called out to her, before introducing her to Gwen, who, it turned out, had already known about Freya. There had been much discussion and laughter before Freya had had to leave Camelot for Avalon, where she brought the news of their marriage to Arthur and Lancelot, who had by that time entered into a relationship with each other.
Arthur had been surprised when he heard, but glad that Gwen and Merlin had each other. They had both been glad when they found out what Camelot was like, now that Gwen had lifted the ban on magic with Merlin’s help, though Lancelot was gladder than Arthur, having shouldered Merlin’s secret for so long.
Freya shook herself out of her thoughts as they finished their meal, leaving Gwen and Merlin for Avalon.
Arthur and Lancelot were already in the main room of the home they shared in Avalon when she arrived. She smiled at them fondly as she sat down. They, too, were people she was glad to have met (she didn’t count her actual first meeting with Arthur as their first meeting, as it had been less a meeting than a fight - one that she had lost).
“How are they?” Arthur asked her.
“They’re well,” Freya replied. “Gwen said shey misses you both and that shey is glad Lancelot will return to Albion as well.” She paused for a second. “Oh, and Merlin asked me to give you these.” She held out a box filled with strawberries.
“Strawberries?” Lancelot asked, confused.
Freya’s smile widened as she explained, “Strawberries are very important to us,” remembering when she had asked Merlin for strawberries whilst hiding from Halig. She had been surprised that they remembered when Merlin had visited her shortly after taking Camelot back from Morgana and Morgause and had given her strawberries, but glad. Strawberries had been theirs ever since.