Return Of the King

by thatdamfangirl23

Merlin has almost given up hope after a vengeful Morgana ruled over Camelot for centuries. Arthur never did return. But, one day, his hope is restored when he finds a boat with a person on it. A breathing person. A person who looks remarkably like Arthur Pendragon.

1. Chapter 1

This is actually written by my friend who doesn't have an account so I said I would post it. To be honest, I've been wanting to write something like this too so it will be fun. I'm going to be doing some stuff along with a couple of other people who have varying degrees of interest in Merlin (as in one of them loves it but has no fanfic experience and one of them hardly knows it but writes quite a bit). Anyway, hope you enjoy this!

Merlin sat underneath an ancient, twisted tree on the shore of lake Avalon crying, as he did every year on the anniversary of Arthur's death at the battle of Camlann over 1000 years ago. His head swimming with the memories of those who he had loved and lost: Arthur, Gwen, sir Lancelot, sir Gwaine, sir Percival, sir Elyan, Gaius and many more, so many he couldn't even count. He was the only one left; the rest were just around in legend.

They had all died leaving just him alone. Merlin was immortal and still looked very young but he was over 1000 years old and had been waiting for his King to return when Albion was in its time of need. At the present moment Albion seemed like it was in a great time of need but Merlin had given up hope a long time ago.

After Arthur's death, Camelot had been peaceful for many long, glorious years under Queen Guinevere's reign, Merlin had decided that he could no longer hide his magic from her and at his request she lifted the ban on magic and all people had lived in peace and prosperity until her death when one of the bloodiest wars in history began over who would rule next because Gwen never remarried and never had an heir. The war was won by Merek, a cruel and evil man who persecuted magic users and began the second great purge. Merlin had barely escaped with his life but unfortunately some incredibly powerful sorcerers had decided that there was only one way to deal with him. They found Morgana's body and raised her from the dead, but the magic was too powerful for them and though the spell worked, they all died in the process. Morgana had killed Merek then started a rule of cruelty never before seen in Camelot, she had invaded all 5 of the kingdoms and joined them to create one kingdom ruled by her and had oppressed people without magic while elevating those who had magic to higher statuses so that no one could or would rise against her and succeed though over the years many had tried, she had suppressed science and technology so the kingdoms had barely changed in that way since Arthur's time.

To avoid her finding him, Merlin had fled north and hidden on a tiny Island far away from any form of civilization but every year he made the perilous journey down to the lake of Avalon, which he had hidden from Morgana by magic so that she could never poison it with her magic and would not be able to guard it.

Looking up briefly to gaze at the wide expanse of cool, clear water before him, he saw something flicker out of the corner of his eye. Merlin looked again, his eyes brimming with tears, across the lake that was usually has calm and clear as glass and saw a small black speck on the horizon. He jumped to his feet and ran down to the water, he didn't dare to hope but the thought that this could be Arthur's return cut through his mind like a well sharpened knife. The speck was closer now and moving closer. Merlin strained his eyes and, with his heart pounding like a drum saw a boat. A small wooden boat. The same boat that he had put Arthur in all those years ago. Was it possible that Arthur was returning to save Camelot after all these years?

The boat grew steadily larger until it was fairly close to the shore, which was when Merlin, unable to keep the anticipation at bay, splashed into the water and grabbed hold of the prow of the boat and pulled it to the stony shore.

Turning, Merlin finally glanced into the boat and saw what he had longed to see for so many years; Arthur dressed in the same clothes and armour he had worn on the fateful day of his death. He look exactly like he had done then except his fatal wounds had gone, and the slight rise and fall in his chest told Merlin that he was breathing. The once and Future king had returned.

There you go - Arthur is back! Also, yes. The title is a LOTR reference. I couldn't help myself.