A/N: Okay guys, here it is! The 3rd installment of my "To The Future" trilogy! I hope your all excited! I know I am!
Merlin POV
I was sitting by myself in a circle of trees meditating. I know it sounds corny but I was trying to draw as much energy from the earth as possible. I knew the journey ahead, or back, was going to take its toll. I was just beginning to think I could stay like this forever when, I was interrupted.
A hand gently touched my shoulder "Merlin," Morgana whispered "Everyone is ready."
I took a deep breath and stood from my spot on the ground. "Alright."
"Are you? Ready, I mean. This is would be difficult to do alone but, now, you have to take a rather large group with you. Can you handle it?" We started to make our way back to the camp.
I smiled at her concern for me "I have you to help me."
"Merlin, I don't think I can-"
"I know. But, you just being there is helping. You are a connection to magic that I desperately need."
She looked at the ground and begun playing with her hands "Merlin… I am really worried about you. The space time continuum is breaking down and finding a specific moment in time will be near impossible. Any other sorcerer wouldn't be able to do this."
"Well, lucky for me, I'm not any other sorcerer."
She stopped in front of me and put both of her hands on my shoulders "Merlin. This could kill you."
"Morgana, I have the most powerful magic in the world… I think I can handle this."
"That's what worries me. When you pass out or have an attack, everyone just thinks your body just can't handle the stress. I know better. That powerful magic you are depending on, is trying to take over. And on day, Merlin is going to be gone and all that will be left is all that magic using your body as its puppet. You are the Old Religion Merlin… and one day all of this is going to catch up to you."
I shook my head and stepped back "You can't know that for sure."
She stepped toward me again. This time she put both of her hands on my face so I couldn't escape. Her nose was nearly brushing mine. "Please, listen to me. Take any kind of precaution here Merlin!" she whispered "Leave someone behind, find another wizard to help you, anything." I reached both of my hands up to take hers but I didn't remove them from my face. I couldn't seem to form any words so I simply nodded. Our faces were getting closer and closer and I couldn't stop looking at her lips. Just when we were about to meet a booming laugh pulled us out of the moment.
We turned to see Gwaine nearly doubled over cackling and every time he looked at us he laughed harder. Morgana walked past him toward the camp sight. I glared at him. "I'm sorry." He said between giggles "I came to see what was taking so long and…" he took a deep breath "I didn't mean to interrupt your moment."
I put my head in my hands "I hate you." I mumbled.
"Oh, I know." He came up and patted my shoulder "But you love me too."
We shuffled back into camp and everyone seemed to be all packed up. Arthur stormed up to us.
"What took you so long?" he growled
Gwaine snorted "He was having some private time with Morgana."
Everyone looked toward me at once. I shoved Gwaine. "Oh, shut up. We were having a magic talk and she brought up some good points."
He grinned "So if I bring up some good points, do I get Merlin smoochies?"
I groaned "I didn't kiss Morgana!" Everyone seemed to believe me but, I knew I wouldn't hear the end of this.
Arthur helped me by changing the subject. He was beginning to be my new favorite person.
"What points did Morgana bring up?" he asked
"Well, the spell is going to be difficult as it is but, with this many people, it is near impossible."
"What are you saying?"
Isobel appeared from behind Percival "He is saying some people need to stay behind."
"What?!" Yelled…several people.
"I need Morgana to go for her magic and Arthur because he is pure of heart. The fewer people I take, the better."
"How are you going to decide?"
I thought a moment "…Draw straws?" So, I collected a few sticks and straws were drawn. The short straw got to go with us.
Gwaine pulled the short straw "Yes!"
Arthur POV
Gwaine drew the short straw and I was a little disappointed. I was honestly hoping Gwen could come with us. Deep down, I knew it was better for her to stay here…deep, deep down. The people who remained in the present were going to see what they could do about liberating the castle, I put Lancelot in charge. We formed our groups and Gwen's group was about to leave. I pulled her aside and sat her down on a log; I knelt in front of her.
"Guinevere," I started "I know things are crazy right now and are probably just going to get worse. I need to just tell you that… I love you more than you could ever imagine and if things start to get out of hand, I want you to take Isobel and make a run for it."
"Arthur." She whispered "I could never just 'make a run for it'. These people are my family; I need to help them as much as you."
"I know but-"
"Shh," she laid a finger across my lips "We are going to be just fine, you hear me?"
I nodded in agreement. She leaned down and kissed me. I knew the rest of the knights were probably watching but I didn't really care. This could be the last time I saw her, ever. I deepened the kiss but, it only lasted a moment longer. I rested my head against hers and whispered "Will you marry me?"
She slapped me, really hard.
"Wow, not the response I expected." I rubbed my cheek
"Arthur," she whispered "You are only asking me because this is the end of the world."
I laughed "Fine, when the world doesn't end, I will ask you again. Just promise you won't hit me when the time comes."
She smiled and kissed the red mark she left "I will make no such promises."
I laughed and helped her up. The group went on their way to Camelot and I wished them all of the luck in the world. I shuffled over to my travelling party with my hand still cupping my face.
Gwaine smirked at me "Ask her to marry you?"
"What? How did you know that?" I asked bewildered
He sighed "I would recognize that slap anywhere. That was very clearly a marriage proposal slap." I would have to ask Gwaine how he knew about those later.
"Everyone, join hands." Merlin ordered and he grabbed mine and Morgana's hand and we formed a circle. I noticed that she gave his hand a tight squeeze. Maybe Gwaine wasn't joking about their little…thing. I don't even know what to call it. Merlin started to mutter something in the weird magic language and the scene around us was slowly getting blacker. Sweat was starting to break out on Merlin's forehead and his muttering became faster and faster. It didn't even sound like him anymore. His voice was getting deeper and echoing, like he had multiple voices instead of one. The setting around us was black and rippling and, if you looked closely, you could see stars. Merlin's hands started shaking and he fell to his knees. I looked down and his entire eye was gold, not just his iris. Light left his eyes and he passed out. I had just a moment to see the fear in Morgana's eyes before we started to plummet. We were falling through the space time something-or-other and didn't know where we would end up. This terror only lasted a moment because we hit the ground…of a barn?
We took in all our surroundings. I stuck my head out of the barn door. It looked like Ealdor. I took a deep breath. It smelled like Ealdor.
"Guys, I think we made it." I reported. I turned back to the group.
Morgana was kneeling over Merlin who was still unconscious on the floor.
"Merlin, wake up, please wake up. Merlin, Merlin! Can you hear me? Merlin! Wake up, please!"
