It takes a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye." ~Anurag Gupta
"Wait, let him go. He may be an idiot, but he's a brave one. There's something about you, Merlin. I cannot quite put my finger on it."
The first time we saw each other, you were bulling a servant and I told you to stop. I asked who the hell you thought you were and you told me that, while you weren't king, you would be, someday. Well, you said that in a sense.
The next day I was in the stocks for asking you how long you had been training to be a prat. I never regretted walking into your life. Sometimes, though, I wonder if you ever regretted meeting me. It felt like you did sometimes.
You hurt me, over and over and over again, without ever knowing it. As the years went by, and one betrayal after another unfolded, I stood steady with you. When Morgana revealed her true colors, I wasn't fazed, but I had to act like I was.
Your father disappeared then died on your birthday, and, while that wasn't the first time you hurt me, it certainly was the only time I felt like crying. You swore that magic was evil, that you would never turn to it again, and I watched as you began just as spiteful as your father towards it, and I knew, in the back of my mind, that I had failed.
I felt like I was dying every day after that.
You refused to believe that your uncle would betray you, but that train of thought came back and bit you on the ass. I killed that bastard for it.
You never knew.
I watched with regret when you tossed Gwen aside for a mistake, and then brought her back when you couldn't handle it anymore. Your knights died, one by one, in your name. I would have done so, too, if I could have told you.
I told you of my magic as you lay dying on the battlefield, way before your time.
When you finally died, my heart broke. Though I had promises from the Old Religion that you'd come back, I found it hard to believe over the next few centuries. I waited through Camelot's fall, through the final Great Purge and several thousand witch-hunts, and through the Great Plague. The latter was particularly nasty. I watched people tear themselves apart in wars, and I was certain you'd be there for World War I. Then WWII. You showed for neither.
Eventually I gave up hope. The War of Terror came and went, along with several others. Still no sign of you.
You showed up, just before Great Britain was about to fall. You took over as King, with Gwen at your side, Gwaine, Leon, Lancelot, Elyan, and Percival, serving as your circle of knights. I had a position in court- court sorcerer, and when you died for the second time, having live a full, full life, I heard the call of the Old Religion and knew my time was up.
I walked to the now long deserted Isle of the Blessed and my love, Freya, handed me a dagger. I joined you moments later, finally at peace. I couldn't let you be away from me for that long ever again. I couldn't say goodbye to you for a second time, so I was happy to do it.
The last time I saw you alive, though, I knew that we were okay. We were best friends, brothers in everything but name and blood. And that's okay with me, more than okay. It's brilliant, Arthur.