When?
Merlin belongs to BBC
He stood on the shores of the lake, catching the summer sun. His scraggly beard (now real and not merely an illusion or result of an aging spell) fluttered in the light wind as he looked at still cool waters. This lake held so many memories, and most of them were of good-byes. Here was the place where he'd last held the only woman he'd ever truly loved, here was the place where two men whom he'd loved like brothers were laid to rest. Merlin still remembered them so well, Lancelot's smile and sparkling eyes, and Elyan's easy skill with the forges.
This lake was where Merlin had brought both his great mentors (the great dragon and Gauis) when their time came. Their losses still hurt him deeply, Kilgarah had been the one who had guided him on the path to his destiny and helped him face the challenges that he had struggled with along the way. As for Gaius, Merlin sighed heavily, Gaius had been like a father to him (as much as Merlin loved and missed Balinor Gaius had been different) he had been there for Merlin through it all, Gaius had held Merlin when he'd cried, cared for him when he was sick or injured, comforted him when he'd felt lost and overwhelmed, and pulled Merlin back into line when he'd gotten too reckless in his actions.
However, with all the losses Merlin had suffered, and all the memories this lake held the strongest one was definitely Arthur. This place was where he'd last been with his dearest friend, his soul brother, the one he still felt alone without. Merlin waited day in and day out for that man to return to his life. He knew that it would happen someday, but why couldn't the bloody prat hurry up? The prophecy had said the Clotpole would return one day, but it had never said when.
So, Merlin had been left here, alone, waiting for years on end, and as always he stood on the shores of the this lake waiting, waiting here in this wonderful, precious, painful, and scared place asking himself when? When will it end? When will the time come? When will the need be great enough? When will he and his dearest friend be reunited once again? When would his life began again? How much longer would it be? Hadn't he waited long enough? Hadn't he proven himself worthy enough? Been patient enough? Sacrificed Enough to have his one and only wish for himself granted? When would his king return to him?
Merlin stood staring out at the shores of the lake for a few more moments as a car raced passed him, causing his jacket to ruffle, Merlin thought of how he missed his old brown jacket even now after all these years. Of course the jacket wasn't all he missed, Merlin missed his friends, his home, and his family, he stood there waiting and hoping and as the sun began to set he closed his eyes, leaned his head back and gave a silent wish; Arthur, please come home soon, please make me whole again. Then he turned and walked back to his house (which was just a place he lived and not a real home to him) and he knew that no matter how long it would take, when Arthur did finally return he would be here waiting to welcome him once more.
a/n so what do you think?