A/N This is the first thing I've written in an age. I didn't plan this at all, and it didn't go as I wanted. Hope you enjoy!
He never returned to Camelot. He never saw Gwen, Gaius or the knights again.
He wanted to of course, the burn to return stayed strong through the years, even when they were long gone and living only in the legends of men.
But Albion wasn't his home, not now. It wouldn't be till his King returned, for he would serve no one but Arthur. Destiny had always ruled Merlin's life as much as he fought it, so once again he was left waiting for destiny to complete.
For magic still had not returned to Camelot and perhaps in this new and decrepit, spoilt world never would. But Merlin held on to the hope, drifting from country to country patiently waiting to be needed once more.
It was a dreary day when destiny came full circle; he was old- so very old and so very tired. He had longed for his own end for so many centuries, but now his patience would be rewarded.
It had started as a tingling in his bones, an itch that wouldn't stop, and without his consent his depression was shattered. He could feel it, feel the return of his friend. The completion of destiny.
The lake wasn't there anymore, but the magic still ebbed through the soil and hung in the air. Such strong magic he hadn't felt in years, magic he had given up hope of existing.
The satchel dropped to the floor with a thud, a coat was shrugged off onto the soggy ground and Merlin sat (with a groan and a hiss of pain) and simply waited.
As sudden as the end had come all those years ago, he returned. There was hardly any magical fanfare. He simply returned.
He just was.
The heaviness of his heart, the pain of the years kept Merlin rooted to the floor, his aged body sagging with the weight of his years. But a smile crept through, happiness engulfed him and everything was forgotten, at least for now.
His skin tightened, his hair coloured and suddenly he could be young once more. He stood with more vigour since the Tudors and stared in amazement.
Arthur wore his armour; he had his sword by his side.
He hadn't changed.
"Merlin?" Arthur asked "I thought I was dead?"
"You were."
"But…"
"You have returned Arthur, for you are and will always be, The Once and Future King." Merlin proclaimed.
Arthur cuffed him around the head. "Shut up Merlin. We've got jobs to do. What year is it? What happened to everyone? Is Gwen okay? Merlin…"
They disappeared into the woods, Merlin transforming Arthur's clothes ignoring the shout of indignation from his former master as his sword became a stick.
Together they would return magic, unite Albion. Not in the way they'd ever imagined, but this time it would be done.
Because they were two sides of the same coin, and together they could do anything.
Merlin may be over, but this community will continue and continue creating fantastic works. Thank you for reading and being a part of this fantastic community.
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