You take my breath away
Sitting on a wooden bench Merlin had the perfect view over Glastonbury tower. It was now centuries ago that he had said a tearful goodbye to Arthur here, but some of the pain had healed and time no longer mattered. He would wait until the end of time for his lover's promised return. Search the ends of the earth even, until he would find him. One day he would, Merlin firmly believed that. He had to or he would lose his mind.
Sure at times he felt lonely and that was why he came back to the place where he had last held him in his arms. Even after all these years here at the side of the lake of Avalon he felt close to Arthur and far less alone. For a while he could catch his breath here and feel at ease by remembering what they had together. Inevitably though Merlin would get restless and then he would continue his search.
While their friendship was a turbulent one at first it grew into something deeper slowly and unmistakenly. There were some who claimed they were two sides of the same coin and Merlin now utterly embraced that phrase. It surely was true when they made love. Oh, how he longed to be touched in that way again. To be held and to be kissed as if he was the only one that mattered to Arthur too.
Time had changed nothing for Merlin. While the world around him was far different his mind and soul had stayed young. He had kept his appearance the same too, all out of the hope Arthur would recognise him when he returned to this world. In his dreams he would turn to a shout of "Merlin!". He would look upon his king and say the three words that were in his heart…
Sudenly a happy voice, filled with laughter and joy cut through his thoughts. Startled Merlin looked around and saw no one, until he noticed a man came running towards him from about a yard away. The newcomer was dressed in sneakers, blue jeans and a red sweater with a hoodie. His blonde hair was matted to his forehead and even from where Merlin rose off the bench he'd recognised the stormy blue eyes.
"Arthur?", his mind asked in both joy and total shock.
He was pulled into a big hug before he could react. An out of breath voice whispered, "Merlin. I knew you would be here".
Their eyes met and it was as if the centuries of time fell away. Arthur still took Melin's breath away. His beauty, his touches and his smell. All so much a part of his King, the man he loved deeply still and would love until the end of time. Reality was far better than his dreams.
Merlin finally found his voice and spoke the words he longed to say since the day they were parted, "I love you".
Arthur stepped back, still holding Merlin's hand. "I love you too, you idiot. Now come with me, we have a lot of catching up to do". His eyes shone with such promise that made Merlin forget about the insult.
They ran off together, determined to let nothing get between them ever again…