After Arthur died, everything reminded Merlin of his king. Every day he would wake up thinking "c'mon, the prat's probably waiting for you…" before he realized that Arthur was gone. Once, he even started walking towards Arthur's chambers before he collapsed in a sobbing heap on the floor, screaming about clotpoles and destiny.
Guinevere had found him like that and tears had risen in her own eyes as she watched her friend. She had knelt down next to him, speaking slowly as if to a young child. He nodded dumbly to all that she said as she led him back to his own chambers where they both sat on the bed and clung to each other whilst thinking of their king.
Eventually, it was her that suggested that he leave Camelot. Not of cruelty, of course, but more for Merlin's sanity. He agreed readily and started packing right away.
After he said his goodbyes, he walked directly into Arthur's chambers, took one look around, and walked out without ever looking back.
And that was how he left Camelot.
It was ironic, Merlin had thought to himself then, that when he first came to Camelot he was walking alone with nothing. Now, he was leaving Camelot, alone, having lost everything.
Merlin.
The warlock rolled over, trying to ignore Kilgharrah calling him. It probably wasn't even that important.
Merlin.
He shoved his face deeper into the couch cushion. Couldn't that bloody dragon leave him alone for once?
He already was sitting up, wide awake, when he realized what he just thought.
Merlin. Merlin, hellooooo? Helloooooooo? Can you hear me? Testing, one, two, three….
KILGHARRAH?! Merlin screamed, shocked, in his mind.
Hey man! The dragon thought back, and Merlin could almost imagine him smiling. Yep, it's me.
Merlin sucked in a breath. Kilgharrah, aren't you…you know…dead?
Merlin heard a laugh in his head. Not in this life, buddy.
Merlin shook his head, confused and freaked out. What?
You know, Merlin, not just Arthur and his knights got reincarnated. Technically, everyone gets reincarnated at some point in their existence.
Immediately, Merlin thought what any other rational person would think: What?!
I'll explain later. Anyways, could you come to the park? I think I have something of yours.
"What" seemed to be the only coherent thought the warlock could form, seeing as he responded with a stunned-stupid, What?
Hmmm….I don't know. Are you missing something? The dragon's voice was sarcastic. Let me just ask this; where's Arthur?
Merlin jumped up and yelled the little boy's name before sinking back down to the couch with a hiss as pain shot through his broken leg.
"Arthur?" he called out again, a bit panicked.
Calm down. I have him with me.
Merlin nodded, even though the dragon couldn't see, and grabbed his crutches before hobbling over to the door as quickly as he could.
You're still at the park, right? Merlin thought, trying to remember everything.
Nah, we're on the moon…Of course we're at the park! I can't drive yet and it's too far to walk anywhere else.
Merlin paused for a second before he continued walking towards the door, not minding to put on a jacket despite that it looked like it was going to rain. Arthur was out there, alone, with a cryptic dragon that may or may not be human in this life (Merlin wasn't sure. For all he knew, Kilgharrah could be a dog or something. Telepathy had nothing to do with whether or not you could talk verbally).
How's Arthur doing? Merlin asked, hoping the little boy was alright.
He's fine, don't worry. I know how to handle him, I have a baby brother. Relax.
A calm sort of silence fell between them, until Kilgharrah decided to break it.
You know, Arthur's raaaaaather cute, the dragon thought at him, drawling out the 'a' in rather. You should see him now, he's trying to get on the swing-set and…
A vision of Arthur trying to pull himself up on the swing filled the warlock's head. He smiled. Every time Arthur pulled himself up with his hands by the chains, he would slip and fall back onto his feet. With a disgruntled expression the four year old stomped his foot and tried again. Merlin smiled.
That he is, the warlock thought back as the vision faded away.
He reminds me a bit of my baby brother…cuteness wise, I mean. Arthur's not a baby.
Merlin frowned. Arthur's still a baby.
Dude, have you looked at him recently? A one year old is a baby. He's four. He'll be going to kindergarten soon.
Merlin said nothing in reply as he entered the park. Kilgharrah was right; Arthur would be going to kindergarten. Next thing you would know, Arthur would be graduating high school, driving a car, going to college…
Merlin bit his lip, trying not to think about his little Arthur growing up.
"Merlin!" a young voice called out. The warlock turned, only to have two arms wrap very tightly around him.
"Kilgharrah?" a winded Merlin wheezed out.
"Yep! Have ya missed me in the past thousand years?" Kilgharrah let go of him and handed him the crutch he had dropped.
Kilgharrah was young, fourteen, maybe thirteen, and his hair was a dark red color that almost looked brown. His eyes were a dark green and freckles were splattered here or there across his face.
"It's great to see you," he said with a smile that made him almost look like the dragon he once was.
Merlin looked him over again. "So, um, how did you - ?"
"Become human? Remember everything in Camelot?" Kilgharrah smiled. "Yeah, it's a long story. Let's just say my mom nearly put me on meds when I started to remember. Then one day – pop! Everything came flashing back. And as for being human, I really don't know."
Merlin nodded distractedly. "Where's Arthur?"
Kilgharrah inclined his head over to the slide. "Over there. Want me to get him?"
Merlin didn't get a chance to answer. When Arthur saw his babysitter, he ran over with his arms outstretched and a huge grin on his face. The warlock placed his crutches on the ground and knelt on his good leg. He hugged Arthur tight when the little boy finally reached him.
"Merlin! You're here! Did you follow the warm feeling too?" Arthur asked as his babysitter picked him up (while using one crutch as support). He nuzzled the warlock's neck as Merlin shot a puzzled look at Kilgharrah.
"It was me reaching out to him with my magic," the once-dragon explained. "I led him to your house one time by having my magic pave the way. He felt the warm feeling because the magic was inside him and showing him the way."
"You have magic?" Merlin asked a bit dumbfounded.
"Well, yeah, sorta," Kilgharrah shrugged. "I was a dragon in my past life, you know. It's not like yours, or anything, but more like an extension of energy."
Merlin decided to ponder that later, seeing as Arthur was listening. Merlin gave Kilgharrah a look, and the boy understood that the warlock didn't want Arthur getting thrown into the world of magic and past lives just yet.
"You know Killy?" Arthur whispered to Merlin.
Merlin bit his lip to prevent himself from chuckling. "Killy? Yeah, you could say we're friends."
Arthur nodded and asked to be put down. When he stood on his own two feet, he toddled over to Kilgharrah, who had bent down to the four year old's level, and whispered in his ear. Kilgharrah smiled.
"Arthur would like to know," said the older boy quite seriously, "if we could have a play-date."
Merlin raised his eyebrows. "Arthur, I don't think Kilgharrah would want us to bother him –"
"No, it's okay, my parents won't mind," said the once-dragon with a smile. "Actually, I think you'll want to come over."
"Why?"
"Well, like I said before, not only Arthur and his knights were reincarnated. Like my mom for example – she's Aithusa, 'cept this time 'round, her name's Ann. Kinda reversed, isn't it? I took care of her when she was a baby in our last life, now she's taking care of me. And, anyways, my baby brother is the physician….ummm, His name was Guy, right?" Kilgharrah gave him a puzzled look. "I could never really remember his name."
"Gauis is your baby brother?" Merlin asked incredulously when it clicked.
Kilgharrah's eyes lit up. "Gauis! That's what his name was! Yeah, he's my baby brother. We call him Mikey nowadays, seeing as his name is Michael."
"Anyone else get reincarnated?" Merlin asked, half-sarcastically, not expecting an answer. Kilgharrah nodded.
"Yeah, I think…did you know anyone named Freya?"
The warlock swallowed a lump in his throat and Arthur gave him a curious look. "Yes."
"Great, she's my mother!"
"I thought you said Aithusa was your mother?"
Kilgharrah nodded. "Yeah, she is. And Frankie, or Freya, is my other mother."
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked with a furrowed brow.
Kilgharrah rolled his eyes. "You're not that smart, are you?"
Realization dawned on Merlin's face. "Oh."
"And, um, did you know anyone named Will?"
Merlin nodded, remembering his best friend from Ealdor fondly. "Yeah. Who's he?"
Kilgharrah made a face. "Ugh, he's my older cousin that lives on the couch. Annoying bastard, he is."
"Language," Merlin hissed as he reached down and covered Arthur's ears. The little boy looked at the warlock, then the past-dragon with confusion.
"What's a bastard?"
Kilgharrah suppressed his smile at Merlin's death glare, and hurriedly changed the subject. "So anyways, are we having that play-date?"
Arthur looked up at Merlin with pleading eyes. "I guess," sighed the warlock.
"Great!" said Kilgharrah enthusiastically. He took a few steps in one direction and looked back at the warlock and the little boy. "Are you coming?"
Merlin nodded and let go of Arthur's hand so he could pick up his other crutch. He wobbled a bit, making Arthur bite his lip, then straightened up and raised his eyebrows at the past king. "Ready?" he asked the four year old.
Arthur nodded and began walking next Merlin as they caught up to Kilgharrah.
A/N: I'm...*pants*...here! Here's...*wheezes, doubling over* Oh dear Herman...*wheezes some more*...the chapter!
Hey, guys. Yeah. I haven't updated in a while. Blame my grandparents. (I was in Colorado visiting them [I live in NJ] for two weeks [the week before that, I was at camp] and they have no Wi-Fi. [Suckage, I know!] So, yes, blame them for my lack of fanfiction activity.)
And yes, I might kill Arthur. I'm that evil. (Last I checked, the "YOU PYSCHOPATH, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT" category is winning. It's not a "no," so... *evil Morgana smirks*
And this is the chapter in which nothing really happens. Ooooooh. (Every story's got to have one.)
I'm lacking creativity right now, so I'll just get to the point: Thanks for reviewing, fav-ing, and following guys! I love you people! You all get free air guitars.