Author's Note/ Disclaimer: I'm not even going to try and guess how long it has been since I last updated this Fanfic xD its not one of my main fanfics so you'll be lucky to see another update within the next three months O.o anyway, this is the second chapter - I'm not 100% happy with it because its something that was started in April and I've literally finished it within the past half an hour (while I was watching Doctor Who: The Sound of Drums) and there is likely to be 1001 mistakes in this chapter because I haven't got a BETA reader for this story - I'm not really looking for one either because the updates are going to be too random. I'll start the next chapter now while I remember though! As for the previous chapter - after finding the document in the notes of my iPod and read it with the though "hey, what's this?" And then found so many typos that I wanted to punch myself in the face! So if you see typos that annoy you, let me know and I'll sort it out :)
If anyone is currently waiting for an update on A Study In Magic then I should hopefully have an update by next Tuesday - no promises though. The chapter has been completed its just being checked through by BETA readers.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Oh yeah! Before I forget, thanks to JoWashington for booting me into finishing this chapter, it was indirectly, but I got your review this morning and just - "oh yeah…"
Chapter Two: Questions
Merlin sat comfortably in the doorway of the TARDIS with his legs dangling over the threshold while he gazed down upon the Earth's breath-taking beauty and sipped at his tea with the Doctor sitting beside him.
'Beautiful, isn't it?' The Doctor sighed happily.
Merlin nodded. 'Can I ask you a question?'
'You already have, but you may ask another.'
'You said that you are a Time Lord, what's a Time Lord?'
'An extraterrestrial humanoid, also known as Gallifreyans. We have a non-linear perception of time which allows us to see anything that is, was or to be.' The Doctor rattled off without drawing breath.
'So… you're an alien?' Asked Merlin in astonishment.
'Mmm hmm.' The Doctor bowed his head slightly.
'But, you look like a human.'
'No,' The Doctor smirked slightly, 'you look Time Lord, we came first. Although, you're not exactly human yourself, are you? You're a-'
'Sorcerer.' Merlin nodded again. 'A being of the Old Religion.'
'How old are you now, Emrys?'
'Please, call me Merlin, I don't go by the name Emrys anymore.'
The Doctor cast the warlock a sideway glance, but did not push on the topic of his name. 'How old are you now, Merlin?'
'Around a thousand years old, I guess.' Merlin sighed heavily, his eyes still focused on the planet below him.
'I'm worried about you, Merlin.' The Doctor confessed quietly. 'I've seen you sitting by that lake; day after day. I know what you're doing.'
The ebony haired warlock fidgeted slightly; how could this man always make him feel so nervous?
'You're waiting for Arthur, aren't you?' The Doctor pushed on, determined to get a response from the sorcerer.
'When Albion needs him, Arthur will return.' Merlin replied dully, wishing that they didn't have to talk about his late best friend. He cast his eyes around for another topic to discuss. 'This machine… it can travel through time and space, can't it?'
'Yes.' The alien threw Merlin another cautious look.
'Will you take me to see him? To see Arthur.'
'Merlin, I -'
'Please?' The raven haired man began to beg staring down into his own lap as tears welled up in his eyes again. 'I've waited so long, I just want to see him again.'
The Doctor looked at Merlin with a sorrowful expression. 'I'm sorry, I can't. We'll cross into your timeline and create a time paradox.'
'Can't we go back to a time before I met him?'
The Doctor considered this question for a while; he too stared down at the planet below them. 'I could… but it's still risky. I'm sorry, Merlin.' The warlock remained silent, keeping his crestfallen gaze locked onto his lap. The Doctor, deciding that it would be best if he gave Merlin a minute to himself, stood up and strode further into the police box. His eyes constantly flickered towards the ebony haired man's figure. 'I know how it feels…' The Doctor spoke in a hesitant voice; this would be a grim subject for both of them, but he hoped that it would help comfort the wizard to know that there was someone who understood how he was feeling. 'I've lost people who are precious to me too. I can never see them again either.' Merlin swiftly glanced around at the Doctor to show that he was listening. 'There have been lives I couldn't save. Now I'm the only one of my kind left… just like you. We're not so different, you and I.'
'How do you cope with it?'
'Not easily.'
Merlin swung his legs back inside the TARDIS and hung his head to hide his disappointed expression. The sorcerer stood up and shut the TARDIS doors; hiding the Earth from view.
'I've got an idea!' The Doctor's face lit up. 'Let's go somewhere fun!' He started approached the console once more and started pushing buttons and pulling levers - the groaning-whining noise started again.
Merlin looked worried, 'where are we going?'
'Somewhere fun!' The Doctor grinned as he clapped his hands together - his grin only widened when he saw the warlock's frown deepen. The Doctor then eyed the man in front of him with interest, making Merlin feel extremely uncomfortable again. 'So, you've been around all this time?'
Merlin nodded slowly.
'A thousand years.' The Time lord paused for a moment in thought. 'Thats a long time.'
'It is.' Merlin agreed, beginning to wonder where their conversation was going. 'I've spent most of my life in hiding or travelling in disguise.'
'In hiding?'
'Yes, especially around the Cousins' War and the Tudor eras - many of the King's court believed in witchcraft so it became to risky to make myself known.'
The Doctor nodded, 'I see. What do you do nowadays?'
Merlin gave a little shrug, 'I just wait really.'
'What did you do after Arthur's death?'
'Returned to Camelot.' Merlin replied simply. 'I continued my duty to serve as Gwen's servant, until the day she died.' Tears threatened to spill from Merlin's eyes but he blinked them away and continued. 'She never remarried and she never produced an heir to the throne. Leon and Percival tried to keep control over the Kingdom, but Camelot fell to ruins. I had to flee so I joined the Druids, but they were eventually hunted, put on trial and…' Merlin trailed off.
'That's when you started to go into hiding?' The Doctor asked quietly.
'I tried to help them,' the sorcerer's glistening blue eyes met the Doctor's brown ones, 'I honestly tried, but I couldn't save them all… and those that I did save were only caught again.'
The Doctor rushed to Merlin's side and squeezed his shoulder in a comforting manner. 'It's okay… it's not your fault, none of it was your fault.'
