A/N - So here's the second chapter, hope you likey!
Special thanks to reviewer, Fire Child 123
On with the show!
Immediately, Merlin was crouching beside him, sweeping Arthur's soaking blonde hair away from his eyes.
"Arthur, can you hear me?"
No response came. Merlin resolved to pick him up, grabbing under Arthur's arms. The heavy armour, chainmail and waterlogged cloak had increased the prat's weight considerably. Merlin began unbuckling the armour, his fingers working quickly and nimbly out of habit. Some things he simply never forgot.
When he had Arthur down to his tunic, breeches and leather boots, Merlin hid the remaining garments under a bush. He put Arthur's left arm around his shoulders and pulled him up, and he began the arduous journey back to his cottage.
It was still early, so there weren't very many cars around. Those who did see them probably thought they were two young men stumbling home after a heavy night of drinking down at the pub. Merlin thought it just as well that the road was quiet, dreading what Arthur would make of the cars zooming along at an alarming pace. Knowing Arthur, he'd probably blame it on sorcery or suchlike.
When he finally reached his front door, Merlin fished his keys from his coat pocket and lugged Arthur up the stairs, finally laying him on the bed in the guest bedroom. He pulled off Arthur's boots, put them under the bed and glanced around the room, making sure to stow away anything Arthur wouldn't recognise. The clock went into the chest of drawers, the television was stashed inside Merlin's wardrobe, and the radio went straight in with the clock. Satisfied that the room looked as mundane as it could, Merlin left Arthur to rest and went to shower and change into black skinny jeans, a blue t-shirt and brown zip-up hoody. He quietly drew up a chair and got out his copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Merlin didn't care if it was meant for children, he still got teary every time he read it). Before beginning, he checked the time on his phone. It read 06:14 - the sight alone made Merlin yawn loudly. His eyes battled against the next few pages, until he nodded off once more, his chin dropping down to his chest.
"Merlin?"
His eyes snapped open to find another pair staring into his. Arthur was awake, propped up on his elbows. A smile slowly spread across Merlin's face at the sight of his King.
"Arthur..." Before he could stop himself, Merlin threw himself at Arthur, hugging him as tightly as he could.
"Glad I'm back, then?" Arthur said, slightly winded by the strength of the Warlock's embrace. Merlin drew back, wringing his hands.
"Merlin, what are you wearing?" Arthur asked, looking Merlin up and down. Merlin glanced down.
"Well, these are jeans, this is a t-shirt, and this is called a hoody," Merlin replied, indicating each garment as he mentioned it. "Times have changed, Arthur," he added softly.
Arthur lay down on his back, staring at the ceiling. He turned back to Merlin with a slightly inquisitive and confused expression. "Merlin... how long has it been since...?" he asked.
"Almost a thousand years. It's the year two thousand and thirteen."
Arthur's eyes widened. "It can't be... Not a thousand years, surely..."
Merlin nodded.
"But.. you can't have been-"
"Alive all this time? I have. I'm immortal, Arthur. I can't die."
Arthur sat up again, still shocked. "You've been alive for almost a millennium?"
Merlin nodded. "Nine hundred and eighty-seven years, seven months, three weeks and four days. Waiting for the return of the Once and Future King," he said with a small smile.
"And so it has come to pass," Arthur replied. The two men grinned widely. "It's good to see you, Merlin." They clasped each other's forearms in the familiar warrior's greeting.
I'll post the final chapter sometime... maybe tomorrow if you're lucky... :)
Reviews welcome!