A/N: Fixed this version. Based off of Episode ONE! Not Two! I fail at times.
Drained. Yes, that's exactly how Merlin felt as he heard the alarm going off somewhere in this room. With eyes squinted, he shut off the clock radio and pushed his bangs back, trying to remember his surroundings.
Three days had passed. He remembered nothing about how he had acquired this apartment except that he must have used magic. Why else would I be drained? Merlin thought to himself with a groan. Without Arthur, his magic felt like a high. With Arthur, he was usually too worried to remember the bliss. Now that he had risen again, Merlin knew that it was time to start using his magic for the better.
The one-bedroom apartment held more fitness equipment than Merlin had ever cared for. All the items in the fridge were past the expiration dates. He sighed and sat on the couch, his tired eyes on the clock and his eyes on his new cellphone. Had it really been him who had manipulated everyone in his haste to return to Arthur? He had betrayed Elena but, somehow, not caring for humans had shaken him to his core. That night, the least harmful thing he had done was adding his information into his own file.
He slipped the laptop onto his lap, checking his messages continuously. He lifted his phone and set it down. He rested his head on his knees and shut his eyes. He walked around the apartment, pacing back and forth. It was the longest four hours of his long life when a call finally came through. He inhaled once and pressed the green button.
"Hello?" He spoke into the receiver.
"Hi. This is Angelica from London Bridge Hospital. Could I speak with a Taliesin Balinor?" Merlin held a smile, imaging how satisfying it would be to say there is no Taliesin and hang up on her like she did to many people.
"Speaking." He replied instead, leaning against the back of the couch.
Merlin waited an hour, staring off towards the bed with envy in the hopes that someone would call with his arms wrapped around his shins. He rested his head on his knees for a couple of moments, shutting his eyes for a few moments until, at three P. M., the call came through. He took a shaky breath and pressed the green button.
"Hello?" He asked.
"Hi… Could I speak to Taliesin Emrys Balinor?" Gwen's voice answered. Merlin held a smile, imagining how satisfying it would be to say 'there is no Taliesin' and hang up on her like she did to so many people.
"Speaking." He replied instead, leaning against the back of the couch.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Balinor. I'm sorry to disturb you but, your grandfather, Merlin Emrys, passed away last night." Merlin held a snicker, ignoring the surreal emotion. After all, how many times could he hear that he died when he knew he was alive? "I'll be patching you to his attending doctor, OK?"
"Yes, that's fine." He scratched the back of his head, crossing his arms over his chest. There was a cough on the other end of the line.
"Good afternoon. Am I speaking with Mr. Balinor?"
"Yes." Merlin stated curtly.
"Ah, Mr. Balinor. I'm Richard Bates, the doctor who treated your grandfather. We need you to come in to sign some papers if you want his ashes." The coldness in Dr. Bates' voice sent shivers up his spine. Merlin grounded himself again, thinking what a normal person would say.
"His… His ashes?"
"Yes. I'm sorry but, there was a fire caused by an incompetent nurse. Anyway, come in, go to the front desk and tell them your name. I'll leave the papers there." There was a click. Merlin sighed in relief. Despite how many times he had to do this, he could never lie well.
Taliesin Balinor walked into the waiting room of the hospital, his eyes wide as he took the white walls in. He had spent the last five years here only to return when he was healthy. By the definition of insanity, he thought, I am insane.
Jennifer approached him first, her similarities to Gwen pausing Merlin. He focused hard on reminding himself that she was called Jennifer, not Gwen. She dropped her pan carrying medicine by bumping into him. She flinched at the crash, her eyes curiously working up to his face. Slight recognition and a shake of her head, she managed a smile. "Sorry about that, sir."
Merlin bent with her, helping her to organize the tray. "I got it… Jennifer."
He held the tray in his arms. She gave him a wide smile and held onto the edges, slipping it from his hands and gesturing to the counter with her head. He smiled back and nodded, approaching and scanning the familiar faces. Angelica and Richard were fighting about something. She wiped her face once he walked off, plunking herself in the chair. Her eyes lifted to Merlin after a minute. With a fake smile, she rested her head on her palm. "How can I help you?"
"I'm Taliesin Balinor. I had a phone call from… Angelica about my grandfather?"
Angelica nodded solemnly, her eyes downcast. "Yes, your grandfather, Merlin. I'm so sorry. He was such a sweet man. But, he never mentioned a grandson."
She eyed him skeptically. Merlin shrugged. "He and mum didn't get along. Probably disowned her after a while."
The lie was simple enough and she seemed to be defeated by that logic. "Well, Mr. Balinor. I'm sad to say that your grandfather's body…"
"I heard. What happened, exactly?"
Angelica held up a finger, lifting the clipboard to Merlin. "Fill that out."
She lifted the receiver and spoke in a clear voice, "Dr. Bates to the front counter. Dr. Bates, to the counter."
He raised an eyebrow at her. Angelica only smiled. "He can explain it better than I can."
"Thank you." He hoped that his face wouldn't smile at such a sombre time. She nodded and gestured to a seat. Elena does a good job, he thought to himself as he sat. He had finished the forms when Dr. Bates came around, his scowl intensified as he guided Merlin towards a hallway for privacy.
"Mr. Balinor, your grandfather had been suffering from a weak heart for a few years." Merlin nodded, his eyes wandering as Henry walked by. The boy who looked so much like Arthur stopped, came to stand by Richard. They had a few words which passed over Merlin's education. He could feel Henry's hand on his arm, helping him to sit down. After a few minutes, Merlin finally snapped himself out of his trance, his head turning towards his companion. The boys clear blue eyes turned serious yet, compassionate. His lips were chapped. Merlin scanned his face, confused by it.
"Sir, are you all right?" The boy asked, his voice husky and low. Merlin nodded, grinning to himself and hoping it wasn't shown.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He answered. Considering how he sounded, he wondered vaguely if this wasn't just a vivid dream. But, if it were a dream, why would he be so tired? Why would his magic be affecting him to feel drained? Anxious?
Henry patted Merlin's hand. "I have to go. Just stay here for a bit, take a few deep breaths and you'll be fine."
Henry shot Merlin a reassuring smile, standing and doing his walkabout. Merlin's eyes wandered, landing on a bulletin board. Scanning it, he smiled to himself and stood, writing with the pen on the volunteer sheet his name and his phone number. Regardless if Arthur had risen or not, Merlin was sure he could do some good here. Maybe Arthur would find him. After all, destiny – especially his destiny – is forever.
Arthur glanced at Merlin, his eyes immediately averting to the room down the hall. Avoidence was his best bet on occasions like this – especially when he was angry. What could he possibly say, after all? Oh, hey dude. How've you been? Me? Just hating you for not showing up. Of course, if he had chosen the room next to their conversation, he could listen in.
Unfortunately, Richard Bates had a different idea. "Henry, look after this man until he recovers."
Arthur thought of a few things he'd like to say to that but, the resemblance in both temperament and characteristics reminded him of his father. He had remembered laughing with Morgana as she mocked him. Her father. God, even after all these centuries, it was weird that they still shared a father.
He shook himself out of his daydream and took Merlin's arm, guiding him to a nearby chair. For a moment, hope bubbled up with the idea that Merlin would recognize him as Arthur and everything would be forgotten. But then, Arthur was one to hold a grudge – he had a right to.
Minutes passed before Merlin's attention returned to him, those big blue eyes in wonder. Arthur wracked Henry's brain for the training. "Are you all right?"
Merlin nodded, an expression of confusion and bewilderment on his face. Perhaps Merlin lived like I do, Arthur thought, returning over and over again. Maybe he hadn't remembered. Or maybe, he thinks I don't remember. What would happen if I told him? Right now? No, not right now.
He patted Merlin's hand without an answer. He needed to get away and think about it. "I have to go. Just stay here for a bit, take a few deep breaths and you'll be fine."
He smiled his best and wandered aimlessly down the hallway.
The son of a prostitute deserves it, thought Arthur as he glided down the hallways. He shook his head and tried to smile as Gwen passed him. No, not Gwen. Jen, he scolded himself and stopped her. "Jen, where am I supposed to be right now?"
"Let me check." She glanced at the sheet posted on the wall. Duh. Arthur could almost hear Henry call from the land of the far or wherever his hosts go. He grimaced. If Merlin didn't show up this time, this poor boy would be dead. Just like the others. "OK so, first would be Steven's room. Poor boy. And then, it's the visit with Malcolm for about an hour and then, you have your lunch with Dr. Bates. Then, it's orientation for the volunteers."
"Thanks." Arthur tried his best to smile, walking Henry's familiar paths towards Steven. It turned out that it was meant to be Stevens: Mr. Harry Stevens who had suffered a car accident and was in a coma. The poor man still had pieces of glass in his skin. Arthur shook his head at the remarkable likeness towards Sir Ewan. Did that mean that Valiant was around again? No, it couldn't mean that.
With a quick check and a squeeze of the hand, Arthur disappeared into Malcolm's room. Malcolm had fallen asleep, a book lain across his chest. Arthur's heart skipped a beat. Gaius had been the one to help in most of their adventures. And now, here he lay with a serious issue. He could almost hear Henry's laughter when Malcolm shot up, grumbling.
"Excuse me." Angelica whispered as she slipped past, medicine in her hands. Gaius sat up abruptly.
"The useless one? I told you, I only want Jennifer to help me." Gaius shouted. Arthur jumped as the old man's face dissolved into a smile, all traces of anger leaving him. "Henry, m'boy. Come in, come on! Sit and take a load off, future king!"
Future King? Arthur thought as he sat down. Gaius had no complaints once Arthur had visited him. "Come and give your Grandad a big ol' hug."
"Grandad, what's going on?" Arthur asked as he patted the old man's back. "Why do you call me the Future King?"
If Malcolm noticed the slip up, he didn't say anything. "You know, when you were a little boy, you loved the story of King Arthur so much, you insisted on it. Oh, that takes me back. The Once and Future King, he who tried to make everyone equal. That's when you decided on politics."
On and on, the old man prattled and though Arthur should have paid attention, he could only think of how inaccurate it was.
After his meeting with Malcolm, he found Alison (Elena) getting scolded by Eleanor (Mithian). Apparently, they were together. Arthur tried to wrap his mind around that. It didn't seem to surprise Henry. The only thing Arthur could believe was his father's abilities. His thoughts continually returned to Merlin as he visited every patient, and his old anger inflamed. If he were honest, his anger is what got him through his shift. Just like old times.
Fields and hills and greenery surrounded him. A town, he knew, lay just behind him. He squatted near the road, hiding his face with the underbrush, his breathing stilled over the trot of horses. He half expected to hear Merlin's untimely talking next to him, drawing the riders in their direction. Nervous ramblings were Merlin's trait, he recalled fondly, returning his attention to the knights.
Since King Richard, the true King (ironic, Arthur thought, that he believed in this true king) went on his crusade, King John had levied a tax from the already starving outlier towns. He, a lowly peasant, was to stop him. He pulled out his sword as the last horse trotted by and paused. Valiant. That had to be Valiant.
The escort stopped as Arthur called out his name, crawling from the underbrush. Off guard, Arthur felt an old friend sinking deeply into his chest cavity. Blood clogged the air passages as he fell to his knees, his vision blurring. Lesson learned, no one knows.
"That's not right!" Arthur screamed from the crowd of people as the executioner lifted the ax. He glared at Arthur, swirling his ax. "It's not right to kill people just for being different, Morgana."
Arthur realized his mistake. Idiot, he thought, no one KNOWS. The executioner's green eyes narrowed into slits. "Morgana? This man is obviously a witch."
"How?" Someone in the crowd asked.
"Can't it be he just really likes the tales of King Arthur?" Another shouted. Through their disagreements, Arthur felt his head lopped off. Doubt flooded his spirit.
World War One. It had been four hundred years since his last resurrection. He stood in the garrets with his men. He was in the first wave of those that had been sent to fight. A German on the other side of the barracks had this planned. For the second time, Mordred had killed Arthur.
Only twenty years later did Arthur find himself in the body of a young adult. He knew well, unlike the others, that his features had shifted. It didn't matter, he reminded himself, because Merlin was dead.
Others of his battalion had been injured past saving and there was only one hero – some doctor that had 'true' skills. He never would have believed it if he weren't bombed. When he woke again, he saw Merlin's expression of relief, the kindness in his eyes. That had to have been Merlin, Arthur thought. He stared in disbelief and tried to sit up. Merlin held him down. "You've had a bad break, soldier. Please, sleep."
Arthur did as he was told, hoping for an explanation. He didn't see Merlin again in that war but, he had been healed beyond their expectations. He took his steps, Gwaine and Lancelot reincarnations following him closely. The ground gave out under him and he fell into a small cave, one that reminded him all too much of the one Nimueh had trapped him in. With no escape, he felt the bites of the Balorian spiders, their poison in his system. No one would find this body.
Arthur jolted awake, holding onto his chest where he felt his heart beating rapidly. It took him a few minutes to realize that he was not in the cave where he died but the room in which he slept. In a cold sweat, he rested his head in his hands, trying to shake the images away. I'm safe, he told himself over and over. Somehow, the words weren't as assuring as he intended them to be.
He paced back and forth at the edge of the bed, continuously pushing his hair away from his face. The memories clouded his judgment. Finally, he calmed himself enough to sit.
Why had this all occurred? Who could have saved him in every circumstance? The answer came to his mind and his face flashed through. Of course. That Taliesin had to be Merlin. There was no other.
Finding a pen next to his notepad, Arthur took a deep breath and wrote at the top: Questions to Answer.
The week was painful and taxing. Arthur, regardless of what year it was and what body he was in, was never going to be a morning person. Yet, every morning at six am, Mr. Bates would pull Arthur's ankle and lead him out of the bed while Arthur, subconsciously, would grab onto whatever he could just to remain asleep for the next four to five minutes. His sleep blurred eyes covered his groggy, slouched stance as he dressed and tiptoed towards the car, covering his yawns.
After that, he started his early ritual. Apparently, Henry used to slip through the rooms with coffee for the staff, biscuits and donuts for kids and crumpets for adults until he caught a bus around eight to take him to school. School, Arthur thought each day, may be bad for you, Henry, but imagine being over a century old and having to return to learn things. Although Arthur knew everything from history to the development of science to the evolution of the English language, one thing never changed: his love for gym. And that was where he discovered Henry's only secret.
Arthur recognized the love and respect in Andy's eyes as the other boy wrapped his arms around Arthur's waist and kissed his forehead, resting his cheek on Arthur's blonde mess of hair. "Hey, beautiful."
"Morning." Arthur whispered although some form of arousal and resentment had clouded his judgment. The resentment he knew from being raised by Uther Pendragon. The arousal, however, had caught him off guard.
And just like that, Arthur's thoughts were plagued by Henry's genetically engineering towards men. Arthur spent hours trying to push the thoughts away with other anomalies. Was Henry the first homosexual he had been reincarnated inside? Or were there others? Now that he thought on it, he could recall the World War One private but, that may have been a coincidence. Yet, considering that his own soul was aroused, is it possible that he, Arthur Pendragon, was boy crazy?
He shook his head and tried to focus on his first life. People had to have been stupid if they thought that he and Merlin knew nothing of the rumors that they hid behind. Even Gwen had shared in the topics, sharing secrets like Gaius had actually started the spread, not serving girls. What had it been? Oh, yes. It's like you two are two sides of the same coin. You'd do anything for Merlin and he for you. At the time, Arthur chortled. Yeah, well, if he'd do anything for me, he'd give my room a better tidying, wouldn't he?
Arthur snapped out of his thoughts as Saturday morning rolled around. Uther had tapped on the door impatiently. "Henry, get out of bed!"
"Coming." Arthur called back as he redressed himself, shaking himself awake. Today had to be better, he thought as he ran a comb through his hair. Uther was waiting by the kitchen, breakfast on the stove.
"You know your tasks today?" Uther asked, not glancing up from his morning tea.
"Yes. I check in on people, look at their charts, visit with Grandfather and then train the new volunteers." Arthur recited as Henry had done a million times before, picking up a coffee. Uther nodded and tossed the rest of the tea in the drain.
"We have a long day ahead of us. Let's go."
Unlike his kingly counterpart, Merlin wasted no time in settling into his life. Though his unknown flatmate had let him live there, Merlin knew that his magic was a little off with this latest return. Updating his licence was a breeze yet, getting a car and a flat of his own were a little more challenging. The final landlord in a crap hole halfway across the city had finally given in but, Merlin was not impressed with the state of his bachelor suite. Acquiring new furniture had sucked up most of his life's earnings. He decided he would not redecorate until he could move out.
The worst thing about this reincarnation, though, was school. Now mandatory for kids to go to school, Merlin hissed at the concept but, he did know one thing: his education was nothing. He talked and looked like an old man from the thirties. Reluctantly, he slid his name in for an interview with the finest schools, hoping to find his Arthur. After all, a doctor who wanted his son to be a politician wouldn't spare a dime for that education.
Finally, he heard the alarm clock blazing in the darkened room, a groan surpassing his lips. He yawned as he sat up in bed, feeling his head for the familiar stick up hair. Seven am, he thought to himself as he sat upright in his new bed. Three hours of nothing and then work. He put the kettle on and stared at it intently, hoping he wouldn't doze off and miss his first shift.
"Hello, I'm here for orientation?" Merlin asked Gwen, trying to control his tired expression. Gwen nodded, a brief smile on her lips.
"I'm glad that you came to help others. How are you feeling about your grandfather's… passing?" Her pause made Merlin melt. Same Gwen, different name.
"It's hard but, I want to show my appreciation to all the staff and, the only way I can do that is to volunteer here." With that, she put her hand on his arm and led him to a room filled with chairs and a projector. At twelve precisely, Arthur came in and closed the door. His eyes shifted around the room, counting out loud, then back to his checkboard.
"It seems we're all here. If we're not, boo hoo to them." He grabbed one of the chairs and straddled the back, resting his arms on top. "You're here to volunteer which means, you're not a professional. If you have some training, do what you can while waiting for a doctor."
On and on Arthur prattled. Merlin glanced around, amazed at how struck the others were with his instructions. Of course, Merlin knew that Arthur was charismatic and, it seemed, so was his double. With a dismissal, most of the room filed out. Merlin approached Arthur slowly, unsure of what he was to say.
"Um, hi…" Merlin started. Arthur's head shot up.
"Uh, zoned out guy." Arthur nodded to himself as he leaned forward.
"Taliesin. I just wanted to say thank you for the other day and that if there's anyway I could help-"
"I don't know what orientation you came into, buddy, but volunteers assist as I just spent an hour describing. If you're too stupid to remember to listen, that's your business." Arthur glanced down at his checklist. Merlin backed away.
"Prat." He said out loud, quickly checking to make sure Arthur didn't hear him.
A/N: Sorry I had to redo this one. Just the notes. I failed on that portion. But, hopefully I didn't kill it.