Hic jacet Arthurus, Rex quondam, Rexque futurus. Here lies Arthur, the once and future King.
When it all started, and I mean really started, it was raining, though I suppose that it's always raining in London. Gray-silver clouds cover the entire sky while cold raindrops fall from the heavens. All the rain used to frustrate me, because I felt claustrophobic when I couldn't see the stars. I don't know why Elrohir decided to move back to England, the grief still seems to overwhelm me. After the whole St. Bart's incident…
But I digress, that is another story for another day. You wanted to hear about the return of Arthur, didn't you? You want to hear about the glorious battles, if such wanton bloodshed could ever be called glorious, and the inspiring words uttered by none other than Earth's Mightiest Heroes. I feel as if I am going to disappoint you. Because wars are not as glamorous as history or newspapers make them out to be. The story I am about to tell is not glamorous nor is it uplifting. I, as well as many others, lost many friends during that time, but I would do it all again for now the world is so much better and brighter because of that war. Interesting, isn't it, that humans must experience war and terror in order to truly enjoy peace.
Again, I must apologize. You didn't want to hear the ramblings of the old, for I am old even if I don't quite look it. Allow me to start again, from the beginning. I will do my best not to side-track and stick to the important parts. Please tell me if anything needs clarifying and I shall explain. Are you ready? Do you need to adjust the recorder again? No? Alright, good, I shall begin then.
I have known Merlin for a long time. An outrageously long time some might say. I have known him for centuries, yes, you heard me right. Needless to say, I know all of his quirks and the faces he makes when he is hiding something or when he needs his space. In short, I consider Merlin to be a close and dear friend and I think he returns this thought. On a particular day in March, however, in rainy England, I had just finished my stroll through the woods of a park near Elrohir's and my apartment. The last time I had seen Merlin was a few years ago, though we had kept in touch via email and texts. I thought Merlin was well; he was traveling through the Swiss Mountains at that time, hoping to find serenity in the snow covered hills and quiet landscape. I didn't expect to hear from him for some while. But as I was walking back through the rain from the park, with my shoulders hunched forward (I had forgotten my umbrella) and my dark braid slightly undone (the sight I must have made), my phone rang out Merlin's ringtone. I hadn't heard from him in weeks.
"Indilwen, get here now, please, I can feel it. Something is happening. You have to hurry." Then he hung up. Typical Merlin
There was never any question to where 'here' was. 'Here' was the Lake Avalon. I know you have heard the stories of that lake, because I think everyone has, no matter how much they read or how much they care. Some say that it's a mysterious place, fringed with mist and whispers of ancient prophecies in long forgotten tongues. Others say that it's peaceful and calm lake: a place of beauty. I must admit that both of those descriptions are wrong. Lake Avalon is nothing special because locations can never be special. Only your memories make the land 'special' or 'magical' and the lake was nothing if not filled with memories.
You should know that I am Sindar, or, in you people's language, a wood elf. When my kin came to this world, we were granted by Lord Eru himself that ability to travel across great distances. I cannot explain it very well in your language because there is nothing to explain. It is a feeling in you feä, your soul. The trees help us travel as we go through their roots for their roots go deep and are connected to all places. The trees even connect to other worlds, which is extremely helpful as you will see later on in my tale.
It was by means of this way that I reached Lake Avalon, after I sent a thought to Elrohir of course. My husband worries if I am out too long. Not because he doesn't trust me, but because he cares for me…I suppose I should be grateful. I stood with my hand on an ancient ash tree, watching the world from around me and waiting for Lake Avalon to appear. Oh, I apologize; you must want me to describe the lake. Very well, even though it most likely looks better when you imagine it. The sky above the lake was cloudy, just like it was in London. The trees were green and lush and the grass beneath my feet was soft. The Lake itself was in chaos. It's usually reflective waters churning with waves and buffeted by a rough, north wind.
"Stars and seas, what is going on?" I am not going to lie to you. I was afraid, nothing good ever comes from stormy waters and you would do well to remember that.
The wind whipped my hair around my face and it took me a moment to adjust to the sensations of the wild storm. Even so, it took me an obscenely long time to notice Merlin in the center of the lake in the midst of the storm. You should know that I am usually much more attentive to my surroundings, even in scenes of chaos. I blame the weather.
I will not repeat the thoughts that were running through my head as I ran forward to the immortal idiot. But for every stride I took forward the wind pushed me back towards the forests. Embarrassingly, it was only when I was pushed against a tree that I noticed the storm was coming from Merlin. The shock from that thought stilled my limbs and as soon as I stopped fighting, the wind died down a bit. Now that the wind had calmed and I was still, I could feel the wild energy in the air. You humans call this energy magic. The focus of the energy was of course Merlin who, at that point, was standing on top of the water. He always did have a dramatic side.
Of all the, erm, creative stories that you could read on the newspapers, the rebirth of Arthur is one that no one has to edit. I was present for Arthur's return and I still can't quite believe it really happened this way. Like a cliché in a fantasy book, the storm intensified. I could say that the trees swayed back and forth in the wind or that the clouds darkened and crackled with lightning, but I think that bit is obvious. However, I will say that when the energy swelled I got goosebumps. For one brief second, I felt my feä connect with the earth and trees around me and that was something that had not happened since Middle Earth. Yet that moment was shattered to pieces when Merlin brought lightning from the heavens down to his feet. The resulting flash blinded me so I confess that I do not know how exactly Arthur was brought back. But some things are best left for the imagination.
When I regained my vision, I was greeted by the welcome and familiar sight of Arthur and Merlin walking side by side together. They were both smiling, broad happy smiles that can't be contained even if one tried. That sight made me smile as well. Because even if the coming of Arthur meant Camelot's need was greatest, even if war and destruction were looming on the horizon, I was overjoyed. Because I had something that I thought I had lost forever: my boys. My boys were reunited. So while all three of us might have been smiling like idiots, we were the happiest beings on earth at that moment. Do I even need to tell you that the sun was shining?
Hello there, I apologize for my hiatus. Broken wrists don't really help :/
But I'm finally out of my cast and done with finals so I decided to begin a new story. This one will be long, I don't really know how long but there is a possibility of it being novel length. I'm trying a different style of writing, less poetry and more action, so please bear with me if there are any awkward sentences. This is a learning process and I'll (hopefully) be a better writer at the end of this thing.
This is just setting the scene, don't worry. Avengers will be present shortly. I don't know if I'm writing merthur, but if I do it will be really light slash. I write stories, not porn thank you very much.
Thank you for reading and please review. Tell me if you like it or tell me what I need to fix.