This is a sequel to my story "The Secret Kingdom". I recommend that you read that one before this to understand the plot and characters.
This takes place in the year 2019 - Arthur has just returned and now he, Merlin, and Elia must figure out why and prepare for whatever catastrophe is on the horizon. All the while, looking out for the return of the elves. And while there will be some tense/serious spots, as a whole I'm trying to keep this one more lighthearted. Felt like I needed to do something mostly happy after the latest round of stories I've posted...
And yes - all the chapter titles are a play on Disney songs or lines from Disney songs (though some were perfect for the chapters as they are). Don't ask me what possessed me to do that - I still haven't figured that out - but thought it would be fun. And usually I have a hard time coming up with titles (and end up repeating titles) and figured this was a creative way to get out of that rut. And well, I feel like Elia would be the kind of person who got a kick out of Disney movies.
Anywho, enjoy!
A Whole New World… For Arthur
"What is this place?" Arthur said, looking around the living room of Elia and Merlin's home, frowning. He was walking around the living room while Elia ran into the kitchen to make up some tea.
"Ehm, a lot of things have changed..." Merlin said, trotting down the stairs. He had gone up to throw on a t-shirt, feeling rather naked standing next to Arthur in full armor. He walked up to him, crossing his arms as he watched Arthur move around, taking in everything.
"What's that?" Arthur asked, pointing at the large flat screen that sat on a table next to the fireplace. "And how are your paintings so realistic?" He turned his head and walked towards the wall and fireplace, taking in the various photographs of the two from trips and such. They had a large one up of the two of them on a beach in Thailand from their most recent vow renewal.
Merlin had been trying to swing Elia around, but nearly tripped and toppled both of them into the ocean. Elia's head was tossed back as the photographer caught them both mid-laugh and mid-fall, Elia's curls flying around her as Merlin gripped her waist and stared down at her lovingly.
"They're not paintings, Arthur," Elia said, returning with three mugs. He turned to face her. "They're photographs. Taken with a camera. I'll show you later." She sat the mugs on the coffee table and picked up one of coffee, feeling she was going to need it to get through the rest of the day. "Those are from our last wedding."
"A what? Has the world gone mad?" he asked. He looked back at Merlin. "I die and suddenly magic is everywhere?"
"It's not magic," Merlin said. "Its technology. Science." Arthur just blinked. "No one in this time really believes in magic anymore."
"For how long?" Arthur asked.
"Quite some time," Elia said, sitting on the sofa. "Ages. Centuries."
"Why am I back, then?" Arthur asked.
"Just where have you been this whole time?" Merlin asked.
"No, you answer first," Arthur replied, frowning. Merlin rolled his eyes.
"I don't know. All we were told was that you would return when Albion's need was greatest," he said. "Wasn't really keen on details."
"Well that's fantastic," Arthur replied.
"Good. Sarcasm. It'll help you fit in with the times," Elia replied, smiling. Arthur glared at her. Merlin just rubbed his face. He was starting to get a headache. This was going to be harder than he thought.
"Well, obviously we need to figure out why he's back," he said. Elia snorted. "Not helping, Lia."
"Sorry," she said, though her grin told another story.
"Just how do you suggest we do that?" Arthur asked. Merlin looked around the living room before bounding up the stairs. "Where did he go now?"
"Likely to get his laptop," Elia said. "Have some tea, Arthur. It'll help calm you." He walked over towards the coffee table, staring down at the mug as though it contained poison. "It's just tea." He reached down and picked it up, pulling the tea bag out and studying it. "The leaves are inside there."
He then took a cautious sip as Merlin returned downstairs, carrying the laptop. He sat next to Elia and opened it, quickly typing away.
"What the bloody hell is that?" Arthur asked, stepping over to look down at the screen.
"Laptop. Searching the internet," Merlin replied.
"The what?" Arthur asked.
"For what? Impending magical catastrophes?" Elia asked. Merlin shot her a scowl before returning his attention to the screen.
"Just for… anything big in the news," he said. "Anything that could potentially be related. Odd happenings. Strange occurrences that can't be explained by anything rational so therefore must be magic."
"Ah, well then," Elia said, reaching for the remote and turning the TV on, quickly navigating to the morning news. Arthur jumped back, his eyes wide as he nearly dropped his mug. Tea splashed out onto Merlin's legs.
"Watch it!" Merlin shouted.
"WHAT IS THIS MAGIC BOX?!" Arthur shouted, pointing at the TV.
"Again. Technology," Elia said, rolling her eyes. "Think it's best for now that he stay in the house. Don't want him scaring the neighbors. And he'll need normal clothes."
"I know, Lia," Merlin said, not taking his eyes off the screen. Arthur tore his eyes away from the TV for a moment to stare at the two.
"You two… you waited for me all this time?" he asked.
"Where he goes, I go," Elia said, not looking from the TV.
"But the rest of the elves…"
"Went to the Isles," she replied. Arthur studied her, his brow furrowed.
"You stayed behind…" he murmured. Elia glanced at him but then returned her attention to the screen.
"I had to stay with Merlin," she said. "Apparently that is part of my destiny… among other things."
"What other things?" Arthur asked. Elia glanced over at him again, sighing.
"Probably best we take this a bit at a time," she said. "Too much and your head will explode." Arthur's eyes widened. "For god's sake, not literally, Arthur." He shook his head.
"So… everyone's gone. It's just you two," Arthur said. They both looked up at him and then shared a look.
"It's been over a thousand years," Merlin said gently. "Just over 1,500, to be exact." Arthur nodded looking at the ground. He then walked over and fell into an armchair, his armor creaking.
"So, the knights… Guinevere…" he murmured.
"I'm sorry, Arthur," Elia said softly, sitting up. "I know it's a lot to take in…" She glanced at Merlin and then at the clock, groaning. She pushed herself off the sofa. "Christ, I've got to get ready."
Arthur and Merlin looked at her.
"Story time at the library," Elia said, walking towards the stairs.
"I think this constitutes as an emergency. Can't you cancel?" Merlin said.
"It's too late to find a replacement and we can't disappoint the village children," she called out, already halfway up the stairs. "I'll only be gone an hour or so! I'll stop by the market as well!" She popped her head back down the staircase. "And for god's sake, get him in some normal clothes while I'm gone, will you?"
"She seems about the same," Arthur said after she had left. Merlin chuckled.
"She's certainly made the last millenia enjoyable," he replied. Arthur looked around the cozy home.
"When did you two finally marry?" he asked. Merlin glanced at him and nodded.
"A few months after… though we do another wedding every so often to keep up appearances. Truth be told, I think Lia rather enjoys planning them," he said. "Got several albums upstairs full of wedding photos." Arthur stared at Merlin.
"Just what have you two been up to all these years?" he asked. Merlin sighed and put the laptop aside.
"A lot, actually. Traveling. Seeing the world - it's a lot bigger than we thought. Been to university a few times. Had a few careers," he said. "I can show you some of it, if you like. Stay here." He stood and walked upstairs, going into the study where they kept most of the photos, staring at the bookshelf there a few moments. He then pulled off several heavy books and made it back downstairs where Arthur was watching the TV with avid curiosity.
"You'll come to like it. Thought it a bit noisy at first, but there's some good shows out now and it's one of the fastest ways to keep up with the news," Merlin said, nodding towards the TV. "I'm still a bit partial to the wireless, but radios shows died out in popularity a long time ago."
"Shows?" Arthur asked, once again confused.
"Elia can explain later… she keeps up with it more than I do," Merlin said, sitting down. He placed the books on the table and then reached for the oldest one, opening it. Arthur leaned over, gazing down at the grainy, black and white photos. "Got them organized by decades. These are from the 1910s. Don't have many photographs from before then - the equipment was expensive and hard to come by - but Elia's a fair artist and has a lot of paintings and drawings."
"Did you live here this whole time?" Arthur asked.
"Not the whole time but as much as we could. We have to leave every so often… to throw off the neighbors. Might get suspicious about a young couple that never ages. Though I do manage to change our appearances here and there when needed," Merlin said. "And we have ways of keeping up with what happens around here while we're away."
"So, you still use magic?" Arthur asked, glancing warily at him.
"Yes, though it's not as necessary nowadays with… everything," Merlin said. Arthur nodded.
"Where do you go when you're not here?" he asked.
"We've got homes all over the place, so just bounce around. There's a townhouse in London that Elia likes to go to when she's in the mood for some excitement. And we own the nearby cottages and land, so we can keep track of whoever lives nearby. Got an executor that takes care of letting them out so no one here knows we're the actual owners," he said. "Keep our tracks covered and whatnot."
Arthur just stared at Merlin as though he were speaking a completely different language.
"It'll take some getting used to, but you'll pick it up," Merlin said, smiling.
"Merlin was rather fast at it," Elia said, coming back downstairs. Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun and she had changed into torn jeans and a loose t-shirt with an oversized cardigan. She bent over the back of the sofa and kissed Merlin's head. Arthur just gawked at her.
"You can't seriously plan to go anywhere dressed like that," he said. Elia just laughed.
"Many things have changed, Arthur. Fashion included," she said, walking towards the front door. She pulled a bag off a hook next to the door and grabbed keys from a bowl on the table. "Have fun catching up while I'm gone, boys!"
"That is how people dress now?" Arthur asked, pointing towards the door that shut behind Elia. Merlin nodded.
"We've got a lot of history to catch you up on," he said. Arthur pulled the photo book towards him, flipping through the pages quickly before he stopped at one of Merlin in some sort of uniform, Elia standing next to him in a starch white dress and apron with a giant red cross on her chest. They appeared to be out in some field, both wearing grim expressions. "That's from World War I. Thought for sure you'd show up then…"
"World War I?" Arthur asked looking up at him.
"Nasty business. All of Europe was involved, as was America," Merlin said. "And then about 20 or so years later, there was another World War with even more countries involved. Figured maybe then you'd be there…" Arthur frowned unfamiliar with the names. "We both split our time between fighting and nursing, though Elia had to disguise herself as a man. Weren't too keen on women fighting then… She eventually went to medical school - really puts her healing to good use. She helps out at the local hospital from time to time. I do as well."
Arthur sighed and fell back on the sofa, covering his eyes.
"This is too much," he nearly moaned. Merlin studied him for a bit.
"I know it's a lot to take in," he started. Arthur looked over at him.
"I've been dead over 1,000 years, Merlin," he replied dryly.
"You never said where you were," he replied.
"I was… nowhere… one second I was lying in the forest - dying - the next I know, I'm standing along some lake shore and you and Elia are running towards me dressed ridiculously," Arthur said with a heavy sigh. Merlin nodded slowly.
"Think you might like to get out of that armor? Can't be comfortable. Think we have some things that would fit you," he said. "Besides, no one wears armor anymore. Not full armor like that, anyway. Hasn't since practically the 17th century…"
"Then what do you bloody wear to war?" Arthur asked. Merlin pointed back down at the photo. "That? Can't possibly protect you from swords."
"No one uses swords anymore either. Mostly guns and grenades. Granted, they're a bit more destructive. There is special plating in those to provide some protection," Merlin said grimly as he pointed at the photo. "And now that they've got jets and such…"
"Jets? Guns?" Arthur asked. Merlin sighed heavily.
"First things first, let's get you out of that armor…"
About 45 minutes and a million orders later, Merlin had gotten Arthur situated in the guest bath after explaining about 20 times how the shower worked and walked off to his bedroom to try and find something that might fit the still rather burly king.
As he walked in, he found a pile of clothes on the bed with a note from Elia. Seems the elf already had a stock of clothes in Arthur's size waiting in case. Merlin chuckled to himself as he walked the clothing to the bathroom, slowly opening the door to make sure that Arthur wasn't standing there naked. He breathed a sigh of relief to see the curtain shut as he quickly placed the clothes on the counter and then left, shutting the door behind him.
After he showered and changed quickly, he walked downstairs and into the kitchen, looking around for something to do. He wondered if Arthur was hungry and stepped towards the fridge to see what they had. Merlin then suddenly stopped, straightening up slightly as it hit him what he was doing.
Even after over a thousand years, he was still falling into his old role of servant without even thinking. Closing the fridge, he chuckled as he shook his head and walked into the living room, sitting on the sofa and reaching for his laptop.
Times had changed and he was no longer a servant. He had been many things over the years, but never again had he served another except for the occasional breakfast in bed that he would spring on Elia.
After some time, Merlin glanced up towards the ceiling, wondering just how long Arthur needed in there. As if on cue, there was a shout.
"MERLIN! COME MAKE THE BLOODY WATER STOP!" Arthur shouted. Merlin sighed and rolled his eyes, putting the laptop aside as he made his way upstairs. A wet and dripping Arthur was glaring from the partially open door.
"Please tell me you've at least got a towel on," Merlin said, tiredly. Arthur just stared at him. "They're hanging on the wall next to the shower."
Arthur disappeared back into the bathroom, returning a few seconds later and opening the door fully with a gray towel wrapped around his waist. Merlin pushed passed him and over to the shower where he turned the knobs until the water stopped. "You're going to need to learn how to do this yourself, you know. It's not that complicated. One way turns it on and the other turns it off."
"But I thought it was your job to draw my baths," Arthur said, seeming genuinely confused. Merlin walked over and picked up the clothes, pushing them towards Arthur.
"I'm not your servant anymore," he replied. "I doubt even the current monarchs have their staff draw them baths."
"Current what?" Arthur asked. "Who is on the throne?" Merlin sighed.
"Camelot doesn't exist anymore – it's known as England or the United Kingdom now. There's been a whole string of kings and queens since you. The current being Queen Elizabeth II," Merlin said, walking passed him to leave the bathroom. "Arthur and his knights, Camelot, me, all of it is just legend now."
"Legend?" Arthur asked.
"Get dressed and I'll show you," Merlin replied, shutting the door behind him.
When Elia walked in later, her arms filled with cloth shopping bags, she found Merlin and Arthur on the sofa with Arthur glued to something playing on TV.
"That NEVER happened!" Arthur shouted as he pointed at the screen. "And really… he looks nothing like me!" She stepped over, discovering that Merlin had put on one of the many King Arthur movies to have come out over the years. She chuckled to herself.
"Educating him, are you?" she asked. Merlin turned to look at her.
"Figured this was the easiest way to explain what the world thinks of him now," he replied. "There are loads of lore and myths. Entire university departments and libraries devoted to Arthurian legend." Arthur looked over at him.
"Arthurian legend?"
"Don't get him started on the loads of books written about him; he'll talk for days... Help me with the shopping, love? Got more out in the car," Elia said, walking towards the kitchen. Merlin left Arthur on the sofa and went out to retrieve the last few bags. He then joined Elia in the kitchen where she was unloading various things.
"Get enough?" Merlin asked, noting she had a lot more food than she usually got for the two of them.
"Well, there are three of us living here now. And I figure he's still got a rather large appetite being fighting fit and all," she said, not looking up from her work. Merlin chuckled.
"True… how long do you think it will take to teach him how to cook?" Merlin asked, walking over to the pantry with various food items. Elia snorted.
"Unless you want him to blow up the house, I'd keep him away from any sort of appliance for the time being. Even back then, he didn't cook for himself," she replied. "In fact, we probably shouldn't leave him alone. There's no telling what trouble he'll get himself into."
"He's a grown man, Lia," Merlin said.
"Who was last awake somewhere about the year 500," she replied. Merlin stopped for a moment.
"Suppose you have a point there," he said. "He still thinks I'm his servant."
"You'll likely have to be for most things," Elia said. Merlin scowled at her. "Not for everything! I don't expect you to help him dress and undress every day. Just, help him out until he starts getting the hang of things. He's a smart man. Sure he'll start picking up most things soon enough."
"This is worse than being his servant," Merlin groaned. "I've now become his minder." Elia chuckled and walked over to him, sliding her arms around his neck.
"It'll be fine," she said. "Besides, isn't this what we've been waiting for all these years? The return of Arthur, the Once and Future King? The elves?" Merlin sighed and smiled slightly.
"Suppose you're right," he said, kissing her gently.
"Who are you?" they both heard Arthur boom. Immediately, they looked towards the living room, noticing that he was no longer sitting on the sofa.
"You expecting company?" Merlin asked.
"We never have company," Elia replied as they started towards the front door. "Except for the neighbors… Did you hear the door?"
As they rounded the corner, they saw Arthur standing the doorway, looking down at someone blocked by his large body.
"Ehm… I'm Clara. I live next door. I was just looking for Leo or Elly," she said, the admiration apparent in her voice.
"Bugger," Elia muttered.
"There is no one here by those names," Arthur said.
"Arthur! We've got this!" Merlin shouted as he grabbed his arm and started pulling him back towards the living room.
"There was a knock at the door and neither of you seemed to hear… I was just trying to help," he started to say. The young woman, Clara, peered over at him, her brown eyes wide.
"Sorry about that," Elia said quickly, a warm smile on her face. "That is… Leo's cousin - Arthur. He's just out of hospital and staying with us a few months." Clara looked back at Elia.
"Oh, dear. I hope he's alright," she said. "Nothing serious?"
"Ehm, no. Just… he's, ehm, well… he's a bit… just had some surgery. They've got him on rather strong pain medication that makes him a bit loopy," Elia said, grasping at the first thing to come into her head.
"Whatever this 'loopy' is, I most certainly am not that!" Arthur declared, glaring over the sofa at Elia, who just rolled her eyes.
"What can I help you with?" she asked, returning her attention to Clara.
"Oh, ehm, Niall and I are having a small dinner party next week - my cousin is coming in for a visit and we thought we'd have a little soiree for him. Wondered if you and Leo might want to drop by," she said, smiling hopefully. "You can bring your cousin."
"Thank you so much for the invitation, but I'm not sure that we will. We're both rather busy taking care of Arthur and with work and such," Elia said. Clara nodded.
"No worries, then. Just let me know if you change your mind," she said before stepping back from the doorstep.
"We will!" Elia called out cheerfully before shutting the door. She then turned and walked to the sofa.
"Under no circumstances are you to ever answer the door unless it's myself or Merlin," she said, crossing her arms in front of her as she stared down at him sternly.
"Well, what was I supposed to do? There was a knock and neither of you seemed to hear it," Arthur replied.
"Christ, you've become troublesome," Elia muttered as she started walking towards the kitchen.
"Who was that?" Arthur asked.
"Our neighbor. She lives next door with her husband," Merlin said.
"Why did you turn down the invitation? Seems rather rude," Arthur said.
"Because we can't get close to anyone, Arthur. Kind of makes the whole 'never dying' thing more noticeable," Merlin replied. Arthur thought for a moment.
"Ah… I see," he said.
"Alright, boys… what shall we have for lunch?"
Author's Note: To be honest, I wanted to get more written before I started posting, but it's taking a while to get to the halfway point (my original "you can start posting" mark – still about 3-4 and a half chapters from there), so I thought it wouldn't hurt to post the first chapter. Since I've already posted half of it anyway. This bit hasn't changed much since I first wrote it even though I'm already rewriting chapters a bit later on because I keep changing plot points. Don't expect an update for a bit, but I'll try not to make it too long…
Thanks for reading!