I apologize, my Moffat is showing...

The Apparition Returns

Arthur didn't see Merlin again after that night concluding his execution and their first anniversary. Not once. Arthur assumed that it had been a hallucination or a very realistic dream but none other could compare to it. It had been real which meant Merlin, his servant was not dead his, love was not dead. A year after the encounter Arthur wasn't sure if it was real or a figment of a years later he never thought about it unless he was having a really bad day and needed to remember his lover's final smile. If all the dreams were fake Arthur could not of been more pleased because that one night, real or fake, helped him mourn and forgive his father just as Merlin had begged before he died. There were times Arthur would reach for the man who was no longer there in his sleep some, nights he would still cry, but seeing his warlock peacefully happy that night soothed any sores he had. His bond with his father only strengthened, oddly enough, and the father mourned with his son once he realized that there was no enchantment done. Though his opinion of magic never changed, even to the day he died.

oOo

It was a week after King Uther's death and everyone was still in mourning. Gwen took care of Arthur during this week as he sat in the silence he hadn't endured since the death of his lover two years before.

"Arthur," Gwen said as she came in with his breakfast, "you need to get up okay? Please Arthur I know this is hard for you, but you need to get up." Arthur sat up in his bed facing away from Gwen.

She walked over to him and rested her hand on his shoulder.

"I know this is difficult but we will get through this together just like always." She offered him a comforting smile as she turned away and left to let him get ready at his own pace. Gwen returned to the table and set the food out, she didn't leave the room because if she did she knew Arthur would go back to sleep and she also knew he wasn't going to get dressed, but rather stay in his sleeping clothes; she had long since gotten over improperness of the situation.

Just as Gwen expected Arthur lumbered over to the table and slumped into one of the empty chairs. Gwen sat quietly in another waiting for Arthur to start eating or at this point cry.

"They are both gone." Was all he said in the silence that spread between them almost separating them from the rest of the palace. Gwen knew who he was talking about. It had been hard for Arthur to loose Merlin but once he followed his former lover's wish and forgave his father the father son bond had been stronger than any metal forged. So to lose him as well had been devastating almost like losing Merlin all over again.

Arthur couldn't sit still so he jumped out if his chair and stared out the window at the court yard below and the mourners in black. Gwen stood as well though more gracefully and placed herself slightly behind him settling a hand on his arm.

"Arthur I know it's hard but you do have a kingdom to look after." She spoke softly almost as if she would scare him and he would run away.

"I've been thinking about that." Arthur said thoughtfully. "Gwen if I am to take the throne I would like to do so with you."

The servant in question was taken aback at the offer she knew that he had never and would never love anyone other than Merlin in addition Arthur knew how much Gwen loved Lancelot.

"Arthur what is the meaning of this? You are offering me a servant the crown and asking for my hand in marriage when I know you do not love me and that my heart belongs to another." Arthur turned to meet her questioning gaze.

"I know it sounds mad but I feel that you would will make an excellent queen." Gwen shook her head as she tried to sort out what was going through Arthur's mind.

"Why Arthur? Why are you offering this to me?" Arthur's face fell as his depression penetrated his heart again. Gwen couldn't stand to see him this way she gathered him in a hug whispering sweet comforts in his ear in hopes to protect him from his troubles.

"Because I cannot do this without you. Nothing would change you would just be queen." Gwen knew that Arthur meant her relationship with Lancelot.

"I need to speak with Lancelot first but the answer will most likely be yes."

They stood in the morning sunlight holding each other in the way two friends would.

oOo

Sir Leon knocked at Arthur's door after Gwen had left with his once again uneaten breakfast.

"Sire," he said coming in to see Arthur once again by the window, "there is a sorcerer down stairs in the throne room who wishes to speak with you." The new king nodded and left the room followed by Leon.

Arthur had down everything in his power to make magic legal and accepted in Camelot using everything Merlin had taught him to make informed laws and proper restrictions. The legalization of magic had gone well though he needed someone with experience to regulate it at this point it was Gaius but the physician was that a physician as well as on the older side.

Arthur entered the throne to see an old man standing in the middle of the room with a walking stick and a satchel.

"Can I help you sir I have been informed that you have something you wish to discuss with me." Arthur started the conversation as he sat on his throne.

"Yes I was passing through when I noticed that you did not have a court magician. I am here to fix that." Arthur eyed the man he had long hair and an even longer white beard.

"Sir don't you think you are to old to take on this position."

"Oh I am not as old as one might think. Bring Gaius and he will vouch for me. Shall we not go together to the physician it has been many a year since I have seen him."

Arthur did not feel like arguing in his mood so he agreed to walk with the old man to the court physician's quarters.

When they got to Gaius's chambers the physician was hunched over a table working on a new draught for whomever it was intended for.

"Gaius," Arthur said as they enter the room," this man says you will vouch for him so he can obtain the court magician position will you?" When Gaius looked up from his table and saw the old man he smiled, walked over to him and embraced him.

"Yes sire I will vouch for this man's ability and I say it is wonderful to see you again."

"Gaius I would wish for you to prepare some tests for him so I know you always talk of wizard's duels may I see one."

"Sire I would not want to oppose this man he is infinitely more powerful than me."

"Very well. Please follow me sir to your temporary quarters I will wish to see some display of your ability."

"Of course sire. I would expect nothing less." They left the physician's chambers and left Gaius smiling larger than he had in a while.

oOo

"Sire if I may how are you knowledgeable of magic? I see that your country is still young in its experimenting of it." The old man watched closely for the king's response. They had gotten to the room he would be staying in, it was in the guest wing a fair distance from the king.

"Someone very close to me taught me enough and that is as far as we will go into that." Arthur snapped at the stranger.

"Of course sire." The man said as he set his satchel in the cabinet.

"You know," Arthur said as the old sorcerer turned to face him, but Arthur turned away to his signature spot of staring out the window, "I do not believe I got your name." The old man chuckled.

"Indeed you did not. I have two names," the old man said and then was quiet for a moment, "the Druids call me Emrys, but you call me Merlin." The voice had completely changed and sounded years younger, it was the familiar voice of his former lover, the man he thought was dead.