Prologue
It's been a long time. A long, long time. So long I've stopped keeping the time. Everything has changed. Although, I had not noticed until very recently.
I woke up. Finally. I could tell that a length of time had passed but it only seemed like yesterday that…wait, what? What happened? I shook my head and began to rise into a sitting position. Ah, I have such long hair now. My hair had grown to below my waist and I could feel a lengthy beard lying over my abdomen. I looked around taking in the sight of my decades old cabin. It was small and simple - all I needed for such a long slumber. Slowly, I got out of the small bed and stood up. Luckily, preserving myself and my cabin in a series of intricate spells, I was not the worse for wear after having been asleep for all these years. What was more concerning was why I had awoken. I stumbled outside to grab some wood, and blinking away the glaring sun, I gasped.
Sprawled out before me was a, well a… hmmm how could I describe it? They were homes, but made of material I had never seen before! Tall and skinny castles made of some reflective material that shone like armor. I could hear such a clatter as I have only heard in battles, only there was no melancholy wailing and there were no fires or the familiar sound of metal upon metal. They were higher pitched and more upbeat, and yet such wailing as still grates against my ears. How long had I actually slept? My stomach complained, louder than the sound rising from these houses and castles. I chuckled to myself, "Welcome to a new life!" I said aloud. Grabbing a small pile of wood, I went back inside and made a fire. Oh, I don't have any food. Quickly, using magic, I doused the fire and went back out to look for some source of food. The magic circle in which I had encased myself had left a fair amount of woods available for me to grab a few berries and plants that could provide sustenance. However, there was no water. I would need to venture away from my current residence and establish myself in the new age. But first, this hair had to go. I returned to the cabin. I know I put a sword somewhere…
It all came rushing back to me, the dragons, the army, the war, the forbidden magic, the druids, Morgana, …. Arthur… Arthur…Arthur. I collapsed onto the ground holding my head as it pounded with each memory that came flooding back. I couldn't hold the tears back. My magic had preserved me for this long and I couldn't even protect him. Wait for him. That's what I had to do. As long as I was around, he would return. The prophecy must come true and I must be here to fulfill it. Wiping away tears and drawing Excalibur from its sheath, I cut off as much of the hair as I could except the beard, to remind me of how long I had waited for the rightful king's return. And so, I set out to begin my life in this new world and search for my lost king.
And thus begins the tale of Merlin in the New Age