It was impossible to say how depressed Merlin had become in the past millennium. Time would be the only healer for how severe it really was. He thought that hopefully, now he had someone to talk to, the process would quicken.

"As much as I've always wanted you to hug me Arthur, I think that's enough. You're hurting me..."

"Oh, sorry," Arthur immediately released his arms from Merlin and stepped back, "But seriously, thank you. I can't imagine how hard it was for you, living longer than.. Well, anyone..."

"Yeah.. It was hard, but I'm glad you're here. I think It's best we leave the past for now"

"Merlin, we need to talk. I think you could do with it. Have you actually spoken to anyone since-"

He hesitantly interrupted, clearly a sense of fear and sadness still lurked in his voice. "So would you like a drink? A coffee? I have never had any myself.. I didn't get round to it"

Arthur was determined to find out about all he's missed, but that can wait. "What the hell is Coffee?"

"Oh, I forget.. You're still all medieval aren't you."

"What's medieval, what the actual hell, seriously I've missed a lot haven't I?"

"I suppose.. Just wait until you get into the city- cars everywhere, the place stinks. Worse than your boots-"

"I'm not even going to ask."

Merlin wondered aimlessly back into the room, holding an old mug and two cushions. He then placed them on the stools and handed the mug to Arthur, who was pulling his boots off to take a wiff. They can't smell that bad.

"Er- this mug's empty." He looked down to find that the mug had clearly never been used, yet it was covered in dust from possibly centuries before. Peering back up at Merlin, the bags under his eye's were more prudent than ever, and he appeared to be limping as he struggled to reach the other stool.

"Oh... I'm sorry. I-I could get you some water sire?" He was evidently breathing quite heavily at this point, his eyes red and swollen.

"You've been through a lot today, you know, you've de-aged about fifty years in two minutes." Although he was thirsty, it was now his turn to be the servant. His ragged best friend has suffered all these years; he needs care. At this point Merlin had finally clambered on the stool and was fiddling with his now short hair and predominant cheekbones. "You should get some rest, we can talk tomorrow."

"No, Arthur please, I need you, you don't know what it's been like-"

"I understand Merlin, really I do, if you want I'll sleep on the floor next to your, er- mattress. You really need to rest."

Sighing, he huffed out a little "fine" and smiled at his friend. Arthur agreed to carry him to the next room, and after a small argument about 'personal space', agreed to close his eyes while Merlin got changed into his night clothes, which hadn't seemed to have changed since he last saw him. As he slipped his tunic off over his head, Arthur caught a glimpse of Merlin's chest. To think he must have been tortured to endure such wounds. A scar on his chest which had obviously ran fairly deep, bruises all over his torso, and what appeared to be a scorch mark around his neck. God knows what had happened, but it was bad. He dared say anything, It might upset Merlin too much. He's fragile at the moment.

As Merlin knelt down to grasp his quilt, he noticed his reflection in a small shard of broken glass on the floor, and saw his young-self staring back at him. He took another look at Arthur, who still had his hands over his eyes, and smiled. One of the biggest smiles he had done in one thousand five hundred years. Merlin was Merlin once more. It might be strange to have Arthur back, but it made him happy. And that's all that matters.

Both lay down comfortably, or not so in Arthur's case, stared silently at the ceiling. Deep thought's crossed both of their minds. Finally Arthur began to feel dozy himself. He grabbed Merlin's hand as he turned his head to face him.

"I'm here Merlin. And I always will be. Good night"

"Night" He then turned around to face the wall and whispered "And I know." He was safe.

Light shone brightly through the windows of the cottage. Arthur's first morning, alive, in god knows how long. He looked to his left and Merlin was gone. No doubt fetching his breakfast. Well, hopefully anyway, he was starving. To his relief, Merlin came prancing in the room like nothing had changed. His neckerchief was back, and so were his boots. Just like it used to be.

"Rise and shine!" he bellowed, stood at the end of Arthur's bed, with a large cheeky grin planted upon his sunken face. All he could see was the sight of him sprawled half naked on top of the blankets. "I guess you got too hot Sire, you know-"

"I always sleep with no shirt on Merlin, remember?"

"Oh yeah, sorry, I forget these things. It was a very long time ago that I served you after all..."

"Why are you even doing this? I am no longer King..."

He let out a snort before he replied, "Oh Arthur, you still are!"

"I think you've finally lost it"

"Hah, no. Listen, you're the Once and Future King, the King of Albion. It may not seem it, but you're still my master, and I'm still your servant. Besides, I've missed this"

Arthur smirked and dragged himself out of 'bed'. Only just managing to slide his tunic over his head and arms, he continued into the room where Merlin had neatly laid out a meal for himself and Arthur to enjoy; the table was small, but it was packed.

"Wow Merlin, you've outdone yourself this time mate, I thought you didn't have any food?"

"What makes you say that?" Raising a familiar eyebrow at Arthur looking slightly offended.

"Nothing... Thank you." And he settled down to tuck in to the meal he had prepared.

"It's a pleasure, wasn't that hard, I just used magic- found it in one of Gaius's old books. I don't tend to do any spells for food."

"Clearly.. I keep forgetting you're a sorcerer. For me it was only a couple of days ago which you told me."

The two shared a concerned look and continued to eat. Whilst they ate, Merlin began to preach all he had witnessed while he had been gone, telling him of how civilizations had evolved right before his eyes, and how he struggled to cope. He told him of the inventions men had made, and he had never seen anything like it, and explained everything about 'modern day' which Arthur might need to know. As intrigued as he was about Merlin's incredible experiences and his long life, he was itching to ask a question that was sitting at the back of his mind. Who injured Merlin. Perhaps it was just bandits, but he hated to think of him in so much pain, he would be long dead because of it if he wasn't.. Well.. Immortal.

They were sat down by the warm fire in his living room when Arthur finally dared himself to ask.

"Right, don't freak out at me or anything, but I just want to know, I'm your friend. Who was it that injured you? Your chest, your neck?"

Merlin looked down and stared at the flames while sniffing almost as if he was ashamed of himself. Just as he had struggled revealing himself as a sorcerer to Arthur, he was under similar pressure now. The situation was delicate, and he didn't want Arthur worrying about matters such as this. But he eventually managed to answer, in a soft, quiet tone.
"It was me."

His reaction was almost too fast to take in. "What! Merlin, Why? Have you gone crazy? You absolute idiot- you better explain things to me right now or I will be forced to run you through where you st-"

"Alright! Alright... Not that you'd understand, but I.. I-I tried to kill myself. Multiple times. And before you complain, you have no idea how I have been living. I couldn't bare to live anymore Arthur- I couldn't. No matter how hard I tried, I hated myself, I wanted to die, I stabbed myself, strangled myself with rope, punched my body until it bled from the inside." Arthur was already cringing at the sound of it, his eyes became watery. "Even then, because of my so called 'destiny' I could not die. You have no idea! I had no one, yet I had so much power I could bring down the city, everyone had died. Everyone had left me. I didn't think you were going to come back, and I had given up all hope." Now he was crying.

"Merlin I don't blame you. Your so brave to have- oh just come here." He embraced Merlin and patted him on the back. "Your right, I can't imagine what you have been through, but I know it must have been hell. I'm sorry. I'll never leave you again." And he meant it.

Suddenly, an immense sound of flapping wings could be heard outside the cottage, along with a loud 'thud'. Merlin instantly knew who this was. A rush of adrenaline and heat flew through him, It was Kilgharrah.

Right so that chapter was just sort of a warm up and Merlin and Arthur getting to know each other better with a little catch up after all that time that had passed. Hope you liked it so far. It's going to get quite eventful in the next chapters so we can have a break from them just 'chatting' and being depressing. Hopefully I can fit in some funny parts too- but because of the situation they will be in, I don't have a clue what I'm going to do :) Thanks for reading x