As Merlin walked the long road back to Avalon Lake he thought of how great it was going to be to see Arthur after all these years. Merlin's only fear was that Arthur would not recognize him now.

Merlin finally reached the lake. Happiness flooded through him as he saw Arthur standing in the distance, his back to Merlin. He was staring out across the dark waters. A sudden thought filled Merlin's mind that he had no idea what he was going to say to Arthur. But when had that ever stopped him before? Merlin cleared his throat. "Arthur Pendragon?"

Arthur turned around. His eyes tried to take in the stranger in the darkness. "Do I know you?"

"Yes." Merlin gave an inward groan at his own foolish simple answer. He knew Arthur would need much more than that. "You used to. Long ago." Merlin knew he was still being vague but he couldn't bring himself to come right out and say the things that most needed saying.

Arthur looked uncertain.

"This is not going to be easy for you Arthur. It's hard to explain."

Arthur had already begun to get frustrated. "I don't mean to be rude but who are you and where am I?"

"I will start with the easiest question first. You are still at Avalon Lake."

"I thought something looked familiar about this place. My eyes must be playing tricks on me because somehow things look… off."

"Arthur, what is the last thing you remember?"

Arthur thought for a moment. "I was with Merlin. He had it in his head that he was going to save my life. I knew I was dying." Arthur paused for a moment, lost in the memory. "I guess he made it in time after all."

Sadness crossed Merlin's features. "I… he wasn't in time. You died that day. But there was a prophecy that said you were the Once and Future King which meant you would return in Albion's greatest time of need."

Arthur frowned. "That makes no sense."

"Why do you have to be such a clotpole?"

Arthur eyed the stranger suspiciously. He only knew one person who used that word. "Where is Merlin," he demanded.

Merlin took a deep breath. He knew he needed to just tell Arthur who he was and get it over with. "I am Merlin."

Arthur stood in stunned silence for all of two seconds before he burst into laughter. "No really, where is he?"

"Arthur, we are currently many years into the future from the last time you remember. For some reason I have been alive all of this time. As the years pass I get old, scary old, and when I would normally die from old age, my body simply regenerates back into its younger form. I don't know why that didn't happen this time."

"That is a ridiculous story."

Merlin shrugged. "It's still true."

"Prove it. Tell me something that only Merlin would know."

This caught Merlin off guard. He quickly scanned his brain for a memory that would be convincing. At last the perfect one came to him. "I know," he announced proudly. "The last words you said to me. You said 'thank you.'"

Arthur stepped closer so that he could get a better look. He didn't focus on the face or the body, but just the eyes. He could see Merlin in those eyes. "It can't be."

"Believe me, I wish it wasn't!"

"This is weird Merlin, even for you."

Merlin gave an inward sigh of relief. At least Arthur believed him. That was more important right now than being accepted. Though he did long for acceptance, especially after having waited so very many years to see Arthur again. "I'm still the same person," Merlin couldn't help but plea.

Arthur could sense how distressed Merlin was over this. He couldn't blame him! "You know what? This is fine. I'm fine with this."

Merlin rolled his eyes.

"No, I am! It's like you said. You're still the same person. You're still my best friend."

Merlin smiled. "I am? I don't get to hear that very often."

Arthur scowled. "Don't smile like that." He looked away and cleared his throat. "So you said I have been gone for a while? How long has it been?"

Merlin wasn't sure Arthur was ready for this. "I am so sorry…"

"How long Merlin? Just tell me."

Merlin hesitated before he blurted out the truth. "It's been fifteen hundred years."

Nothing could have prepared Arthur for the shock he felt. Fifteen hundred years? Everyone he knew would be long gone. How could this even be possible, for either of them? "Merlin, you have been alive all this time? What have you been doing?"

"Well, I've traveled. All over actually. I've kept busy."

"Tell me, what became of Camelot? Of Gwen?"

Sadness crossed Merlin's features. "I don't know."

Arthur snorted. "How could you not know?"

Merlin got a faraway look in his eyes. "I'm sorry Arthur, I never went back to Camelot."

Arthur couldn't believe it. "What? Never?"

Merlin shook his head. "It was too hard. Too many memories. But I did hear that Guinevere remarried Leon. They had children. That's really all I know. I'm sorry."

Arthur considered everything thoughtfully. He decided that he didn't want Merlin to feel guilty. That wouldn't help anything. "It's all right Merlin, I understand." He lay a comforting hand on Merlin's shoulder and gave a squeeze before he turned back towards the water.

They stood there for a time, each lost in their own thoughts.

It was Arthur who finally broke the silence. "This thing with you," he said. "Did you have to turn into a beautiful woman?"

Merlin gave a goofy grin. "You think I'm beautiful," he teased.

"Oh shut up."

"Are you ready to get out of here," Merlin asked to change the subject. "I have a place nearby. During all my travels I have never seemed to stray far from here for long."

Arthur nodded his consent to leave.

With one last glance at the lake they headed for home.

I always long to see great outpourings of love and emotion between Arthur and Merlin but that is hard to manage while still keeping them true to their original characters, which is important.

I can see the appeal of writing them as physically attracted to one other because then at least they can express an infinite amount of love and still be in character as it applies to that AU story.

This story is my vision of the only real way to have the best of both worlds. I wrote it a while ago just to get it out of my system and vowed it would never see the light of day, mainly because I am not (usually) into Slash fanfics. I feel their friendship is more beautiful because they are just friends. But this story kept returning to my mind so I have decided to go for it even though I am really nervous to post it. So, PLEASE review and tell me your thoughts. Good and bad, I would just like feedback! I will update often and I hope you enjoy.