Chapter 1:

Immortality.

Men had searched, died and killed for it. Wars had been fought and loves lost for it. Years and time wasted on something that did not exist. Something that was beyond the power of mortals. Something that was unreachable for those who were not magic itself.

With more than a thousand years of knowledge on his side, Merlin understood immortality more than anyone else ever could. Living since the reign of Uther Pendragon in medieval Camelot to this modern age tended to give Merlin a bit of experience. He felt it was far from the amazing, powerful eternity men claimed it to be. However, if it meant that one day he would be able to see Arthur again and reunite Albion he would gladly wait until the end of time.

Merlin sipped out of his coffee, leaning back against the soft leather booth in his favorite café in London. He gently moved around his neck, easing out the stiffness and soreness that came with being eighty years old. He would've thought that maybe after being stuck in this state for so long he could get used to it. Turns out he was wrong, always was.

The morning newspaper was laid on the table in front of him, open onto the fourth page. The date was at the top: Saturday 14th December 2012. He wasn't actually reading it; he'd already done that earlier. It was more of a disguise, an excuse. A reason to be in the one place that still even slightly resembled his real home. The café that stood upon the grounds of what had once been one of his friend's favorite places. The Camelot tavern.

Merlin couldn't help but grin at that thought; the smile a ghost of what had once been the renowned goofy grin of the young warlock. Now to everyone who saw it – unknown due to the ageing spell that it belonged to a young man - it looked strange and weird and didn't fit the old, white bearded face. Merlin just found it more amusing when mothers would steer their children away from him slightly creeped out by the smile. If only they knew who he really was …

Merlin jumped slightly as his phone beeped, signaling that he had a new text. He saw the couple across the room from him give him a strange look at his actions but he ignored them, deciding instead that he could always make them 'accidently' spill their drinks. After living so long with nothing majorly important to do, his magic had significantly increased and he knew more spells than anyone would in ten lifetimes. Also he made up some spells, a feat he was very proud of.

It took him a moment to reach around in his over-sized bag before he managed to grab the small … thing. He guessed that he was probably never going to get used to technology, as he much preferred the older method of magic. However, he had come to realize that using magic to contact people on their phone without a phone on his end tended to confuse and frighten people.

To: Myrddin Ambrosias

From: Dr James Whillsome

Achieved some portraits and documents surrounding Arthurian legend. Come to college and look at them ASAP. Ronald wants you to in put new information for lessons for tomorrow. Don't want to get him angry.

Merlin smiled and quickly finished his coffee, placing two pounds on the table to pay for it. New portraits and documents? This should be interesting. It was always funny to see what others thought his life was like, and it was even more fun to teach people about a slightly different tale of it. Being a history college professor had its benefits, especially since he was surrounded by a version of Camelot almost every day.

It helped him stay in contact with his real destiny and life until the time came when he no longer needed a fake name, fake life and this despised disguise. Until the Once and Future King would be reborn in Albion's greatest time of need.

In all reality though Merlin was diving into this job to distract himself from something. Something was coming. Something dangerous and maybe all his waiting were coming to an end. That the greatest battle the world will ever see was just beginning and he didn't want to prepare for nothing.