Notes: In case it isn't clear, this is a continuation from where the show left off (not the exact scene, but same time period) and Merlin is still old for now.

Merlin was walking through the crowded streets on his way to his favorite bakery in the city. His joints were aching slightly from the walk from his apartment, but he always preferred to walk rather than take a taxi. He liked the fresh air and taking the time to enjoy the scenery. He only wished he was still young so he could enjoy more.

He stopped to admire one of the cherry trees when someone crashed into him. The force of the impact sent them both to ground.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. Are you alright?" the woman asked worriedly.

He looked up to see who had run into him and froze. He was met with warm brown eyes and dark curly hair.

Gwen, he thought in amazement.

He stared at her with wide eyes until he realized she was expecting an answer. "It's fine, everything seems to be in working order. No need to apologize," he assured with a weak smile.

"No, it's all my fault, I was in a hurry and I wasn't looking where I was going and–" She suddenly cut off and her expression changed as if she was looking at something familiar, but couldn't place where it's from. Probably me, he thought.

"I'm sorry, have we met? You look…very familiar."

Merlin looked into her eyes. There was certainly recognition, but not remembrance. "No, I don't think so. I wouldn't forget such a pretty face."

Gwen smiled at the complement. "I'm sorry, I just– You just look really familiar."

"I have that kind of face," he joked, making Gwen chuckle.

She stood up, then helped Merlin to his feet. "Well, I'm sorry again for bumping into you. I'll have to be more careful next time."

"It's not a problem. Have a nice day."

"Thank you, you too," she replied kindly, then started walking away.

Merlin wasn't sure what to do. He stood there, frozen, thinking. If Gwen had been reincarnated, then what about the others? Was it time? But…she didn't remember. Maybe they weren't supposed to remember? Or maybe their memories needed to be awakened. What was he supposed to do? Go after her? Maybe–

"Merlin?"

He whipped around at the sound of his name. Gwen was looking at him in disbelief. "Gwen?" he asked, unsure.

Her face light up in a huge smile and she ran towards him. "Merlin!" she shouted as she wrapped him in a bone crushing hug. "It is you."

Merlin laughed joyfully. "It's me."

She pulled back to look at him in amazement. "You're so…different."

"It's alright, Gwen, you can call me old, I won't be offended," he teased.

She lightly slapped his arm. "Shut up." They stood in silence a few moments, taking each other in. "Merlin… What happened? Why am I remembering?"

Merlin took a deep breath. "Honestly? I don't know. You're the first person I've met from back then, so I don't really know what's happening."

"Well we have to figure out what's going on."

"I know. Let's, um, let's go to my apartment for some tea and then we can talk."

Gwen pondered a minute. "Alright. Lead the way."

Ten minutes later and Merlin was showing Gwen into his sparsely decorated apartment. There was a small kitchen that shared the space with a cramped living room and a door leading to the bedroom and a door leading to the bathroom. The living room had white walls, a plain coffee table, an old yellow plaid couch, and an even older tv sitting on a wooden cabinet. A few nondescript landscape photos decorated the walls.

"Please, sit down. I'll make us some tea," Merlin said, gesturing to the couch.

Gwen walked into the living room and sat on the couch, taking in her surroundings. Then she looked to Merlin who was moving about the kitchen, making tea. "I don't know why, but I expected a bit more decoration."

Merlin looked around his apartment. "I used to have a lot more. Not in this apartment, but an old one. It was amazing-not the apartment, but all the decorations. It was colorful and cramped with things from every corner of the world," he said with reverence.

"What happened?"

"Well...it was too noticeable. I've been trying to keep a low profile, so...small, crappy apartments, with crappy decorations," Merlin replied sadly.

"Well, the beard is definitely working with the low profile. I barely recognized you," Gwen said, trying to change the topic from something that clearly upset him.

"That's right, you passed before I grew it."

"Yeah, well, not much you can do about a plague, even with magic," she said.

"Yeah. You did a lot of great things, Gwen, but you could've done so much more," he replies regretfully.

"I wasn't that young, I had been queen for many years, it was my time." There was silence for a few moments as Merlin pulled out some mugs and teabags.

"So…why do you need to keep a low profile? I assume that's why you're old?"

Merlin paused. His back was towards Gwen. "Well…that's a long story, but basically? I'm immortal and ever since Arthur died I've been waiting here for him to return."

"You've been here? All this time?" Gwen asked incredulously.

Merlin filled the two mugs with water and boiled the water with magic. He put a tea bag in each cup and brought them over, setting one on the table in front of Gwen as he sat down next to her.

"Well, maybe not the entire time. After you died, I stayed in Camelot for many years. Watched many kings rise and fall. But then I started to branch out. I explored other neighboring kingdoms, then went farther. Across the seas. Of course, I never left for long, I didn't want to miss Arthur's return. But I've been all over the world many times," Merlin told her, getting slightly lost in the memories. "I haven't left in a while though, thus the need for the low profile. Eventually someone would realize that I'm not aging, or dying. So every ten, fifteen years or so it's a new apartment, a new grocery store, a new coffee shop," he trailed off.

"And you've been alone the whole time?" she asked sadly.

Merlin chuckled. "Not at all. I've made lots of friends during my travels and my stays here. But I suppose watching them all die has been quite lonely," he added, almost as an afterthought.

"Oh, Merlin," Gwen gasped. She grabbed his hands and looked into his eyes. "I suppose if you're immortal you'll outlive me again, but right now, you're not alone. You have me. And I'm sure that Arthur and the other knights will find their way to us again. You won't be alone."

Merlin smiled at Gwen's determination. "You haven't changed a bit, Guinevere," he said, making her smile.

"So why am I remembering now? Why am I back now?"

Merlin's face turned dark at her questions. "Well, it's not exactly a good thing," he said hesitantly.

"Tell me," she said earnestly.

"Well, when Arthur died, the Great Dragon told me that he would rise again when Albion's need is greatest. Which means, if it's not just you, if Arthur is here somewhere, something is about to happen. Something bad. Worse than anything I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot," he finished ominously.

She swallowed nervously. "Well, we'll just have to face it head on, like any other problem we've faced."

"Your bravery does you credit." He smiled.

Then her phone went off, disrupting the moment. She rummaged through her purse in confusion and pulled out her phone. "Lancelot!" she exclaimed, jumping up, when she read the screen.

"Lancelot's calling you?" Merlin asked in confusion.

"No! Well, yes. He's– It's–" she tried to explain, waving her hands in the air. She let out a breath. "He goes by Lance now."

"What?" he asked, even more confused.

She sighed and sat back down. "I ran into you because I was in a hurry because I was late for my date with Lancelot. I completely forgot with everything that happened. He's been my boyfriend for the past year."

Merlin chuckled and grinned playfully. "You're dating Lancelot?" he teased.

"Stop it," she fussed, but smiled anyway.

"No, I'm happy for you," he promised earnestly.

"Oh my gosh, what about Arthur?" she exclaimed. "I mean, I love him, but I love Lancelot too, oh, but he is my husband–"

"Gwen, calm down. Don't worry about that right now," Merlin said, taking her hands in his in a reassuring manner. "I'm sure it's...confusing with all these conflicting emotions from your two lives coming to you all at once, but you'll figure it out. Just...take some time to sort through everything and figure out how you really feel. I doubt Lancelot will expect you to make a decision right away."

She took a deep breath. "Maybe you're right."

"Things like this have a way of working themselves in the end."

"I suppose." Gwen smiled. "Well at least we have some good news."

"What?"

"We found Lancelot," she answered smugly. Then her eyes widened. "And Elyan! He's still my brother."

Merlin laughed. "Goodness, Gwen. Got any more knights hiding up your sleeve?" he joked.

"I'm afraid not, but we have to get Lancelot and Elyan over here soon so they can remember."

Just then her phone went off again, startling them both. "Is that Lancelot? You should answer it."

"And tell him what?" she hissed. "That he's not Lance, he's actually a medieval knight that served King Arthur, he just doesn't remember?"

"I meant you should tell him that you won't make your date," he replied flatly.

"Oh," she said, a slight tinge of pink across her cheeks. "You're probably right." She stood up and took her phone and hit accept, bringing it to her ear. "…Hey Lance, I'm sorry, but I won't be able to make our date…Why? Because…my, um, dog got hit by a car…Well, obviously not my dog because we don't have a dog, it was, um…"

Merlin snickered. "Shut up," she snapped. "No, no, no, not you…no, I know you didn't say anything," she said into the phone. She closed her eyes and raised a hand to her temple in annoyance, pacing back and forth. "The dog? Right, the dog…No, the dog's okay, it's fine…It belongs to an old lady I was passing, it ran into the road out of nowhere and the lady was so distressed so I was comforting her…Right now? I'm, uh…taking it and the old lady to the vet…No, I know I said it was fine, but I, uh, just meant it's alive. It's got a, um, a limp, and the old lady can't drive, so I'm taking them to the vet. Alright, gotta go, love you, bye," she said in a rush and hung up. She slumped onto the couch with a big sigh.

"You are a terrible liar, Gwen," Merlin said laughing.

"I know I am. And if that didn't sound the like most suspicious excuse ever," she said with a chuckle.

"So, how soon can you bring them over?" Merlin asked.

Gwen thought about it for a moment. "Well, I can bring Lance over tomorrow, but Elyan is on a trip and won't be back for nearly a month."

"Well, let's start with Lance then."

"I'll bring him tomorrow, say 2:00?"

"Sounds like a plan."

"Now, Merlin, I want to hear all about your life."

Notes: Thank you for reading, comments and kudos are much appreciated. :)

Next chapter is Lancelot. Also, this ends once everyone remembers and will not continue with them facing whatever's coming. I don't have the imagination for that.

There will be eight chapters, one for each character, but I don't know what the posting schedule will like, so sorry. It might take a while.