MERLIN'S POV

The last person I am going to interrogate. This is the last person I am going to ask if he saw him or knows someone who did. The last person. For today. I looked myself in the mirror. I didn't change. So many years passed and I didn't change at all. My thoughts were interrupted by the knock on the door. And here it comes. The last chance in this week from where I can get any information about him, to know if he's back or if he is not.

I couldn't wait there forever. I couldn't stay there and watch the wind take the leafs from the ground to the water as I was sitting there with my eyes open, waiting for him to rise from that cursed lake. But he never did. He never showed up despite all my prayers. So I left. I left Avalon and started a new life, trying not to use magic, trying to be a normal man. And then I realized I was still waiting; waiting for the one that even in the 21st century was my King. And now I am waiting too. For him. For my life to come back. For everything to be the same as it was or at least closer to how it used to be. All I need is him.

"Come in" – I say on a professional tone, arranging the documents in front of me so that I don't look like a messed up policeman, even though on the inside I am.

I look through the statement the man gave and then I come across a photo of Arthur. I needed a picture with him to show to the people I interrogate so I took the only picture I had with him and it wasn't actually a picture; it was a drawing I made when we were in Camelot.

"Come on Merlin we have to go! Finish that painting because the entire kingdom waits for us". Arthur was looking at me and he beamed like he didn't care about the kingdom. Like it was only me and him.

"Maybe if you stopped moving I would finish this painting. It's my gift to you for your birthday and you don't want me to make a cartoon out of the King of Camelot, right?" – I say smiling, almost laughing as I add some color to his cheeks.

Arthur smiled and came closer to me, took the brush from my hand, took a look at the painting and he laughed.

"Oh... so this is how I look to you? Merlin, I really look like a cartoon!"

"It's not ready, my Lord" – I say hastily as he turns his back looking attentively to the painting. He came to me and took my hand whispering to my ear:

"You will have enough time to finish it tonight. Now let's go. I am the one who is celebrated and I am already late. Give me my ceremonial sword"

The memory fades and the image of Arthur is replaced by the image of a tall man with dark eyes, dressed in a suit so I know he is a business man. He doesn't seem the kind of man who would wear jeans. I smile as he sits down without me giving him permission.

"I suppose you know why you are here." – I say unafraid. In the end, I am the one with magic and I am the cop here. He doesn't know it.

"I do. Although I don't understand why you called me. My statement says very clear that there is no way I know the man you are looking for."

The man stands up and wants to leave.

"I didn't give you permission to leave nor to sit down. I called you because your statement is a lie. You were seen with a person who has the characteristics I seek for. So if you don't mind, I would want you to answer me some questions."

The man didn't say anything so as I made him a sign to sign down he did and raising his dark eyes to me he speaks on a low and serious voice.

"What do you want to know?"

And then I started putting my questions, but I didn't get any answers. Nothing that I was looking for and I felt that every part of me was breaking at his answers.

"Have you ever seen this person?" – I asked as I showed him the painting which was like a photo of Arthur.

The man shook his head and a part of me died.

"You were seen with a person that looks like him! Don't lie to me", I stand up and yell at the man who did nothing but stay calm and look straight, "please, don't lie to me", I say more calm, trying not to burst into tears.

"I didn't. Why would I lie? I have no interest. I have never seen this person and I don't know anyone who did." – the man said trying to be calm and forcing himself smile.

I have no choice but believe him, even though I don't want to. I can't believe that we are in the 21st century and Arthur is not back. For when Albion's need is greatest, Arthur will rise again. It has been years and I can't get these words out of my mind. Years, when all I did was hope that these words are true, moments when I asked myself if it is worth trusting a dragon's saying. And I didn't answer those questions, but I believed; believed that someday the door of my office will open and Arthur will come in saying "So you are searching for a person with my characteristics, aren't you? You're such an idiot, Merlin", grinning with that smile that I miss so much. I shake my head; letting these thoughts slink from my mind as I raise my look to the man who is waiting patiently for me to let him go.

"Thank you. You can leave now" – I say disappointed and the man stands up and leaves quickly with no intention to come back. He was lying, I know he was, but I couldn't do anything.

While I am collecting the pictures and the documents that are spread on the table, my boss comes in.

"Merlin, did you finish with the interrogatory?" – he asks on a calm tone and after I nod he continues on the same voice "please come to my office after you finish here".

I start asking myself what he can want when I have always solved the cases he gave me and I have always been an example for all the policemen in this building. I hope he is not going to fire me. 'Cause if he does, then I will say goodbye to my chances of finding Arthur. As soon as I finish cleaning the table I go to my boss' office. When I am in front of it I take a deep breath, hoping that it's about a promotion or a case of maxim importance that I should solve. I knock on the door and as I hear my boss' voice, I enter his office, my shoes making a powerful sound on the wooden floor.

"Sit down, Merlin" – my boss' voice making me feel more nervous than I am.

I take a sit and fake a smile, like I am feeling very good of being here.

"Is there an important reason why you called me, sir?" – I say trying not to sound very anxious or worried.

"Merlin you are one of the best detectives I have ever had in the last years."

"But? It's going to be a "but", am I right?" – I say, interrupting him with impudence.

"Yes. You are a great detective, but I am afraid you are not going to work with me from now on." – he says and in his voice I can find both happiness and repentance.

"I am afraid I don't understand. What do you mean I am not going to work with you? But with whom am I going to work?"

"You are being displaced to London to work at an important company which needs such a great detective like you." – my boss says faking a smile.

Displaced to London. I can't be displaced to London. Here is the place where Avalon once stood. This is the place where Arthur would rise I can't go.

"I can't go to London. I belong here. You don't understand. Don't make me go to London please, let me stay here. I don't need greater cases or more difficult. I am happy here." – I say trying to convince my boss that I have no intention of leaving this place.

"I am sorry, Merlin. I have already confirmed your presence there in two days."

"Who do you think you are deciding for me? I –"

"I am your boss, Merlin. I am sorry, but you have to go there whether you like it or not! You don't go there because you want; you go there because it's a must. It's something your job requires and you can't deny."

I don't say anything. I feel a lot of words blocked in my throat, words that I can't say because I don't want to insult my boss. I just put my look down and nod as I stand up and going to the door. As I open the door I hear my boss' voice.

"When you are there ask for Mycroft Holmes. He will tell you all you want to know"

And I bang the door without saying anything. Displaced to London, I repeat those words in my mind with the picture of Arthur in my mind.