This has a teensy bit to do with the chapter "I Serve" in my story "Especially There." Why? Because we are not told about what happened at Merlin's departure, and I like mine. So there.
Gawain frowned at the rudeness, but Terence grinned, recognizing worry when he saw it. Arthur just stared. "I'm sorry," he told the younger king, reaching out to touch Merlin's shoulder, then thinking better of it and dropping his hand. "It's just I…I had a Merlin, too, once…"
Merlin cocked his head, aware of Arthur's arm tightening on his shoulders. "What happened to him?"
"He…he asked me to dismiss him, so I did and he left." Arthur hesitated, looking down at the grass beneath his feet. "I haven't seen him in over a decade. I…I miss him."
Merlin and Young Arthur both frowned at this, glancing at each other. "If you don't mind my asking, why did he ask to be dismissed?" Merlin said.
"Yes, and why on earth would you agree?" Arthur followed up. They both blushed but their curiosity was stronger than their desire to hide their friendship.
Old Arthur closed his eyes a moment. "Because I had to," he said, opening his eyes and staring at the grass. "I'd kept him longer than he had ever meant to stay. He was hurting. He had to go home, it was his time. I couldn't…" He sighed and shook his head. "He was hurting, and I couldn't refuse that. But I still miss him like the devil…"
Another small wave of horror flashed through Young Arthur's eyes, and Merlin looked nauseous for a moment.
"He's happy, Sire," Gawain said. "I'm sorry I never mentioned it before, but he's definitely happy. He married his Lady. Did I tell you they have a daughter? We haven't seen Merlin, but Terence told me he met their daughter. Apparently she's a lovely thing who never shuts up and doesn't mind her mother…"
Terence's eyes crinkled in silent laughter as Merlin's eyebrows shot all the way up into his hairline. Young Arthur and Gwaine were staring at the manservant with some apprehension. England's Arthur looked very happy at this notion. And Gawain—
Gawain had been wordlessly trying to get Terence to take control of the situation ever since they'd first arrived, and now he was looking at him again, doing that stupid deferring thing with his eyes. Take us home, this place is insane. It's your area, Your Grace. I'm perfectly happy to let you play prince instead of squire.
Terence frowned at his master and shook his head a fraction of an inch. I'd rather not, so quit that before I lose my temper. I don't know what's going on, and I'd rather stay in this position until I figure something else out. I don't know them, after all, even if they might be you and Arthur. He took a tiny step backward and tilted his head toward the others.
Gawain smiled slightly and rubbed the back of his neck, sniffing. Whatever you say, my lord. That doesn't make you any less of the leader around here.
The squire's eyes flickered to Old Arthur. Nice try, Sir Knight, but I'm still a squire while Arthur's around. He tugged his earlobe and glanced at the castle in the distance. And other world or not, this is still England, not Avalon. I've no authority here.
He'd follow you, just as you follow him. That was sent with a twitch of his beard and a glance to Terence's feet. And you're every bit the lord in England that you are in Avalon.
Terence gave very soft snort and rolled his eyes. Yes, I'm a lord while I'm cooking your food and polishing your armor and mending your clothes and—
"You two are doing it again," Old Arthur said, his arms crossed over his chest. "What did I tell you about doing that?"
The two friends broke eye contact and turned to the rest of the company. All of them were staring, Arthur with an odd sense of familiarity, Old Arthur with a little annoyance, Merlin with respect, and Gwaine with a frown of confusion. Gawain sighed. "Sorry, Sire. Bad habit, I'm sure. We'll try to avoid in in future."
"Of course you will," the old king said, and somehow he managed to fit an eye roll into his voice without being sarcastic or actually rolling his eyes. Young Arthur burned with jealousy. He'd give his eyeteeth to be that smooth. And he was going to have to rethink the idea of Terence as the ideal, distant servant with no personal connection to his master if the two of them could have whole conversations like that.
Remember to drop me your thoughts on what you want to happen! Who do you want to see conversing with whom? I've already got a little scene where Gawain says Terence could probably match Merlin secret for secret, but how many of those secrets should be revealed? Who wants to see more knights coming into play? Should something attack Camelot? How about Morgana and Agravaine? How long before the gate reopens? Any other ideas I might have missed?