For those of you who follow Protecting The Protector, you know that I welcome any prompts you want to see me try and write. Well, someone (and I am so sorry I cannot remember who) asked for a resurrection chapter. Well, I decided to turn that chapter into a fic. So, I'm bringing the knights (and ultimately Arthur) back one chapter at a time
So, yeah. Enjoy, thanks for reading, and I will see you in the next chapter.
I don't own 'em and drop me a comment if you can.
Bye!
Lancelot is the first one to come back.
It's a cold and rainy day in September, and Merlin had debated whether or not to don the Dragoon disguise and make the long trip to the lake, but he figures it can't hurt. Besides, he's been making the trip for over a century, in all kinds of weather; he doubts a little rain is going to do much damage.
He brings an umbrella, his magic sometimes shorting out if it's exposed to too much water, and shoulders his bag. Making sure he hasn't forgotten anything, he locks the door behind him and begins the long, long walk. Rain pounds against the umbrella, but it still does little to stave off the worst of the water, and he's soaked by the time he reaches the lake.
Merlin paces the edge of the water for a while, swinging his bag back and forth. He shivering by the time he stops pacing, taking a seat on the edge of a rock, looking out at the lake. He figures he can wait another few minutes before going home, trying to push down the ever present disappointment bubbling up in his chest. After a century, you'd think he'd get used to nothing happening.
Eventually, he stands, readying himself for the long walk home, but stops when he sees the water bubble. He drops his bag and umbrella, his heart in his throat, and races to the edge of the lake. He tries to rationalize what he saw, figuring it had to be a fish or something, but when it bubbles again he can hardly contain his excitement. After all these years, he's finally going to see Arthur again.
The lake bubbles a third time before a figure starts to emerge. Merlin is practically shaking, his eyes stinging with unshed tears, and even when the figure proves to be Lancelot and not Arthur he can't stop himself from racing towards his friend and embracing him.
"I've missed you," Merlin says softly, clinging to Lancelot.
"And I you."
Lancelot spends his first few weeks trying to figure out what happened to everyone. Merlin tells him everything he knows, but his knowledge extends to history books and rumors he heard while travelling. After Arthur's death, Merlin couldn't bring himself to return to Camelot, and he'd kind of cut off all ties to his old life. Even Gwen and Gaius, who had made it a point to write him as often as they could, eventually stopped trying to correspond with him when their letters continued to go unanswered. Sometimes he wishes he could go back and change that part of his life, get back in touch with his friends, let them know he's okay, but he learned a long time ago that he cannot change the past.
After he cannot possibly research anymore, Lancelot decides to venture out into the world. Merlin goes with him, as himself and not Dragoon, and they end up visiting every museum in England. Lancelot enjoys the art museums while Merlin favors the science ones, and it seems like no time has passed between them despite the fact that it's been over a century since they've seen each other.
Lancelot eventually gets a job working in a bookshop, saying he doesn't feel right not pulling his weight, and there he meets a girl named Penny. She looks a lot like Gwen, something that throws Merlin for a moment, but he figures she must be a distant relative or something. It's bound to happen.
He gets so used to having Lancelot around that, for a while, Merlin forgets what it feels like to be lonely, but he still misses Arthur. He still makes the long trip to the lake, and, when he's not working, Lancelot will go with him. He still waits for Arthur's return, knows in his heart that he will see his friend again.
"Ready to go, Merlin?" Lancelot asks and he looks up, glancing back at his friend. Lance is leaning against a tree, a Tablet sitting in his lap. He had been reading a book, something from last century, and he doesn't look like he's in any hurry to go home.
Merlin looks back at the lake and says, "In a minute."
"Alright."
They fall silent, Lancelot continuing his reading while Merlin leans back on his palms, watching the water. It's calm, peaceful even, and for a moment Merlin wishes he could draw; wishes he had remembered to bring his phone so he can take a picture. He wants to document this moment, preserve it so he can remember it forever.
He sits up suddenly when the water bubbles. He glances back at Lancelot, the other man already pushing himself to his feet, eyeing the water cautiously. Together, they slowly creep towards the edge of the lake, the former knight moving to stand in front of the warlock.
"It could just be a fish," Merlin says quietly.
"Maybe." Lancelot doesn't sound convinced, and for a moment Merlin can almost see him in his armor, holding a sword, willing to protect his friend with his life.
The water bubbles a second time, and, like before, a figure emerges. It takes a moment for the person to come into view, but when he does Merlin can't help grinning, especially when the knight says, "Where can a bloke get a drink around here?"
Gwaine is the second one to come back.