Hey guys! Here's chapter 4! Please Review!

Disclaimer: If I owned Merlin, Arthur and Merlin would have made it to Avalon in time and Gwaine would still be alive!

Chapter 4- Two Thousand and Thirteen

"Who was that and why did she look suspiciously like the druid girl who escaped in Camelot years ago?" Arthur asked, sounding exasperated.

Merlin grinned sheepishly as he knelt beside Arthur and placed Excalibur at his side. "That was Freya and because she is the druid girl who escaped in Camelot all those years ago."

Arthur's eyes narrowed. "You helped her."

Merlin shrugged. "She was like me..."

"She was killing innocent people!"

"She couldn't help it! She was cursed!" Merlin argued.

Arthur's expression softened. Merlin clearly cared greatly for Freya and Arthur knew how he felt when people spoke ill of Guinevere. He again found himself looking about and said eager to steer away from the subject, "Where are we Merlin?"

Merlin paused before answering. "The banks of Avalon..."

Arthur lifted an eyebrow. "So you did save me?"

Again, Merlin's face fell as if he'd been dealt a blow to the gut. Tears formed once more in his eyes. "I tried Arthur... I am so sorry..."

Arthur stared disbelievingly at Merlin. "I... Died?" Arthur repeated slowly in his 'duh Merlin' voice.

Merlin nodded, pursing his lips.

Arthur looked around again and felt the wet earth beneath his fingers. "Merlin," Arthur began slowly, exasperated, "I don't feel very dead."

Merlin grimaced. "You wouldn't."

Arthur stared blankly at Merlin. "Start talking sense Merlin. Now."

Merlin sighed and lowered his eyes. When they returned to Arthur's his expression was unreadable and his eyes were determined. "Arthur... It's the year two thousand and thirteen... Camelot and everyone we knew... They're gone."

Arthur stared at his manservant in utter disbelief. He looked around again. Avalon looked almost exactly the same to him as it had before; a beautiful lake surrounded by trees with beautiful snow capped mountains standing tall against the horizon and an island with a large tower at its centre. He frowned as his eyes took in the tower. He could have sworn it was taller before...

Arthur just looked at Merlin with his 'seriously' expression which made Merlin bite his lower lip, an action which Arthur had never seen Merlin do before.

"Two thousand and thirteen?" Arthur repeated hollowly.

Merlin nodded.

Arthur leaned his head back against the tree trunk and laughed. Two thousand and thirteen? Either Merlin had been drinking or this was some kind of joke. Arthur looked back at Merlin and his laughing subsided. Merlin's expression was grim and pained and his eyes were shining with tears.

"Merlin..." Arthur frowned. "This is a joke..."

Merlin pursed his lips and shook his head. "I'm sorry. Arthur... I... I've been waiting for you for a thousand years."

Arthur shook his head. "Merlin... You're being ridiculous." Arthur's voice was desperate and pleading.

"I'm sorry." Merlin said again, his voice thick.

Arthur stared at Merlin. "No." Arthur whispered. "It can't be."

Merlin put a hand to Arthur's shoulder. "At Avalon, you... I really did try to save you but it was..." Merlin swallowed. "It was too late. The dragon told me that you would one day rise again, in Albion's time of greatest need. So I waited..." Merlin grinned despite the tears in his eyes. "Until now."

Arthur looked at Merlin with tears welling in his own eyes. "Merlin..." Arthur didn't know what to say.

Another chapter done, sorry it was so short. More explaining on what happened to our favourite characters later! Oh and the tower thing was because I swear it wasn't as tall when the end of the episode skipped to modern times. So anyway, what do you think? Review, review, review!