Sorry it took so long

Chapter 2 "An awkward summon"

Merlin stirred from his uncomfortable position on what felt like a floor. His head hurt and he felt bruises forming on his legs and arms. He rolled to stand up and opened his eyes to see the floor rise towards him. Thud. "Now everything hurts." He muttered. He pushed himself off the ground and stared in awe at his hands, it had just been another dream. He was still an old man wandering the island waiting for Arthur. He held the edge of his desk and pulled himself upright. In falling he had scattered papers and books once neatly stacked in small piles. "Why was I laying on my desk? Oh what does it matter?" He kicked some of the papers under the desk and headed towards the door.

Through the small window he could see a thick fog outside; once again shadowed figures walked through speaking softly. Hesitantly he opened the door and started walking; not sure where he was going. This time he was certain he was awake. As the figures neared him he realized they were citizens and not priestesses or shadows. They were having normal everyday conversations and going about their business completely unaware of his existence.

But he could feel behind him, someone was following him. A woman in heels, she stayed a couple meters behind him. Carefully he tried to throw her off by changing his pace or forcing his way through crowds. When it became apparent he couldn't lose her he turned to confront her. She walked up to him and waited for him to speak. "Please stop following me. You don't know who I am." He said calmly. "I did not watch them die multiple times to have you live. I've been trying to warn you, they're coming back." She said, her voice echoing through the street. "Soon, yes, I figured that out a decade ago when all of this-" he waved his arms gesturing to the fog and figures. "Appeared and started taunting me."

"What?" she cried out. "Taunting you? After all the years you've lived a little change in the weather is what bothers you! This is nothing compared to what lies ahead. The rest are returning tonight! Go prepare yourself!"

"The rest? Who's back?" Merlin asked; he had been relatively calm but now he was worried. "Go home." She said brushing passed him. "Who are you?" he called after her. "Who's back!" She looked back at him and vanished in a hail of golden dust. He stood for a while, staring at the spot where she had stood. People continued to move past him as rain settled over the city. It was getting cold and still he stared at the spot sifting through the small amount of knowledge he had. Someone had returned, and they were likely in his home; frightened and lost at the sudden change of scenery. The differences of the late fifth and early sixth century in comparison to the twenty first were otherworldly. All of the noise and light, even the architecture would be foreign. The shock would make Saxons look benign.

At long last he would see his friends again, but who knew how some of them might behave now. If Uther returned would Igraine return with him? And would it matter to him if she did; would it make a difference in his fear and hatred of magic? What about Morgana? Would she still be hell-bent on the murder of everyone she knew? Would Mordred and Morgause return with her? His worry grew worse and worse as he walked towards his home.

"I must look crazy." He thought to himself. "An old man running down the street, terrified." He ignored all basic safety needs as he hurried home. Buses and cars nearly flattening him as he crossed roads. Police stared in wonder as he hurried past; but none stopped him. He was cautious not to jostle anyone and on several occasions used his magic to make them misstep slightly out of his path. "Would the knights return first?" he wondered. "Will any of them remember who they are? If they do they'll be put in a madhouse for sure." He tried to imagine Arthur in a straight jacket yelling that he was the king and that was an act of treason.

Then he thought of Gwenivere; hopefully if she did remember she would comply instead of punching a cop in the face. There was a thought, the beautiful queen confused and alone and punching people because she didn't have a sword. Then he stopped dead in his tracks. Would any of them be returned together? Would they wake from the dirt and see each other before anything else? The only reason this concerned him was because Morgana and Mordred had been a bad combination; but adding Morgause to the mix? They could level London in a couple of hours. But they wouldn't have any reason to right?

He hurried along, even faster than before, to his home. As he opened his front door he noticed some of his witch hazel had been trimmed. From his first glance around no one was there. He checked the toilet and bedrooms; all empty and untouched. He sat down hesitantly at his couch in thought. "Perhaps I got here sooner than she anticipated." He said to himself. Then crash something heavy fell in his kitchen breaking a glass table he had been meaning to get rid of. He stood and ran to the kitchen. On the floor was an unconscious Gaius and next to him was a bowl of oil made from witch hazel.

Merlin lifted him and sat him up in a chair before waking him with spirit of hartshorn. Gaius shook his head and grasped his left arm groaning.

"It's alright Gaius; I've got some witch hazel oil here to help with the bruising." Merlin said. "Who the devil are you?" Gaius asked indignantly. "You don't remember me?" Merlin asked. "No! And I don't know any Gaius either! What's witch hazel oil and why does my arm hurt?" Gaius stood and backed away from Merlin. "What is your name then? You were unconscious here in my home; I just want to help you." He said calmly.

Gaius thought for a moment. "I don't know what my name is; why do I have so much knowledge of herbs and animals? Why did you call me Gaius?" "Please sit down, I'm your friend. My name is Merlin. You were once my teacher; you are very wise- sometimes more so than I am. You're name is Gaius. Witch hazel will help your bruising." Gaius sat down and dipped his fingers in the oil before rolling up his sleeve and rubbing it onto his already formed bruise.

"Why don't I remember very much?" he asked quietly. "I don't know." Merlin replied. "But if you don't remember I doubt anyone else will. I've got to find them before they hurt themselves or someone else. And you need a change of clothes; sixth century clothing will not work well here. Fifteenth century clothing and people would think you're going to work at a fair." "You're not making any sense." Gaius commented. "I'm not sure I ever have." Merlin said as he turned to a knock at the kitchen door. The woman from before stood in the doorway, behind her was Gwenivere with her arms crossed over her chest as she looked about anxiously.