Merlin and Gwen's house

Morning

Reaching over and shutting off her alarm, Gwen blinked as she reached up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Sitting up, she glances over to where Arthur should have been sleeping, surprised when he wasn't there.

Gwen knew the past few days hadn't been a dream. She's dreamed of Arthur coming back to her enough times to know it had finally happened. He must already be up, she realized.

After getting dressed, she made her way downstairs. She found Arthur sitting in front of the TV, watching the news. He was wearing the clothes he had worn last night, a black T-shit that was a size too small and some sleep pants, both of which he had borrowed from Merlin. They really needed to get him some clothes of his own, Gwen mused.

"Arthur?" Gwen called out.

"Homicide, that's murder, is it not?" Arthur asked without looking away from the TV.

"Yes," Gwen said, having a feeling she knew what this was about.

"There were three homicides last night, senseless deaths of a mother, a father and their son. Poverty. Violence. Crime. It's been all over the news since I turned it on. Why have I returned to this world Guinevere? Why now?" Arthur asked tormented, looking at her, hoping she'd have the answers he was looking for.

"I don't know," Gwen said, hating that she couldn't help him. "I wish I did. I just know I'm grateful to have you back."

Gwen sat down next to him and their hands are intertwined as they watch the news together.

New York

Same time

Merlin sat at what was becoming his regular table in the café, taking a sip of coffee as he watched Morgana across the room. He had been coming here for the past few days, waiting to see if Morgana displayed any signs of magic. So far, he hadn't seen anything that suggested she had any magical abilities. But then again, he'd lived at Camelot for almost a decade and those closest to him had never suspected he had magic.

"Can I get you anything else?" Morgana asked as she walked to him.

"I'll take another cup of coffee to go, I should be heading into work soon," Merlin said after he checked his watch.

"I'll be right back with your coffee and your bill," Morgana promised with a smile.

Merlin nodded, pulling out his wallet as Morgana headed over to the counter.

"Table six wants a coffee to go," Morgana called back.

"Coming right up," the barista said as she began preparing the coffee. "So he ask you out yet?"

"Who?" Morgana asked confused.

"The guy who I'm making coffee for. Never seen him come in before, then a few days ago he starts coming in here every morning. Whole time he's in here he watches you like a hawk. Seems to me like he's into you," the barista shrugged.

Taken back, Morgana looked over her shoulder at Merlin, who was pulling out a twenty from his wallet.

At Nelson, Murdock and Page, Foggy Nelson was going over some case files as, a few feet away; Karen Page was at her desk, talking on the phone with a client. The door to the office opened and Matt walked in, using his walking cane. Foggy got to his feet, putting down the case files as Karen looked up at Matt.

"Yes Ms. Garcia, we'll see you then. I'm sorry, I have to go," Karen said before hanging up.

"What happened yesterday Matt?" Foggy asked as he walked into the room.

"Have you two been watching the news?" Matt asked as he put away his walking cane.

"I assume you mean have we heard about Luke Cage? Yeah, it's all anyone can talk about," Karen pointed out.

"Don't tell me you were involved with that," Foggy pleaded, breathing a sigh of relief when Matt shook his head.

"No, I wasn't there. But Luke came to see me yesterday, that's why I didn't come in," Matt explained as they listened. "Foggy, your family's butcher shop, it sends out a shipment of meat to Florida every few weeks, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, Theo is gonna send some down in a few days. Why?" Foggy asked wearily, although he had a feeling he knew what this about.

"Luke needs a way to get out of the city. That shipment might be his best shot," Matt said.

"Matt, come on. You know I want to help but if anyone finds out my family helped Luke Cage get away, it'll be even worse than the mess with Fisk," Foggy argued.

"I wouldn't ask if there was any other way. Foggy, you have to see what's happening. The law is being twisted into a weapon that people in power can use against anyone they can't control. A few weeks ago it was The Avengers. This week its Luke. How long until they start going after ordinary people?" Matt asked passionately.

"He's right Foggy. I mean, have you read the Accords? They feel like they were drawn up by Fisk," Karen agreed.

"I agree; the Accords are a horrible piece of legislation that should have never seen the light of day. But they did and if anyone finds out we helped Luke get away, not only will those people in power come down on us, but on my family to," Foggy argued.

"I know and I would not ask you this if there was any other way. But someone once said all it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing," Matt said and Foggy sighed.

"Really wish you hadn't seen my speech," Foggy muttered. "I'll see what I can do but I'm not making any promises."

Wakanda

Late afternoon

In the room he had been given for his stay in Wakanda, Steve Rogers sat on the bed, staring down at his Captain America suit with a pensive look on his face. It had been mere hours since he had freed his friends from the Raft with help from T'Challa and Natasha and they had all returned to Wakanda for medical attention and to regroup. Steve's hands unconsciously clenched into fists as he remembered the shock collar around Wanda's neck and Clint and Sam informing him that the guards had made a game of shocking Wanda when they felt she 'got out of line'.

Steve was startled out of his thoughts when the door to his room opened. Steve looked up to see Natasha lingering in the doorway.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," Steve echoed.

"How are you doing Steve?" Natasha asked as she walked in, closing the door behind her.

"About as well as you. How are they?" Steve asked.

"Sam and Scott are alright, mostly minor injuries. Wanda's are a bit more severe, she was shocked with the shock collar multiple times, there might be some scaring but T'Challa says Wakandian medical care should take care of that. Clint has multiple fractures from the beatings but I've been assured that he'll be good as new in a few days," Natasha said.

Steve nodded grimly, the news of Clint causing him to remember what Sam had told him. Steve refused to think Tony had exposed Clint's family on purpose but whatever the case, the damage was done. Once Ross knew he had something he could hold over Clint, he had done everything he could to make Clint divulge the location of his family. He had Clint beaten until he lost consciousness, had guns pointed at Scott and Sam's heads, even had Wanda shocked until she was a whimpering mess on the floor. But Clint never broke.

"How are Laura and the kids?" Steve asked.

"Fury still has some contacts in the government. He got word to me they were exposed and I got them out on the chance Clint broke. They're in a safe house, I just called Laura to let her know Clint's okay," Natasha explained and Steve nodded, relieved. "What happened in Siberia Steve?"

Steve had been trying to put it off for as long as he could but he knew he couldn't put it off anymore. Steve then told her everything: Zemo, Bucky, Tony's parents, the fight with Tony, even returning the shield to Tony. After he finished talking, it was silent for a moment.

"So Zola was telling the truth. I thought he was just trying to stall us," Natasha noted.

"Me to. I should have looked into it though. I just didn't want to accept it. I thought I was sparing Tony but I guess I was really sparing myself," Steve said with a sigh.

"You made a mistake Steve, that doesn't make you a bad person," Natasha told him gently as he put a hand on his shoulder. "You should get some rest; it's been a long day."

Steve nodded, tired and Natasha kissed him on the cheek before walking out of the room. After the door closed behind her, it was silent in the room. Then, Steve walked over to his suit. Staring down at it for a moment, Steve then pulled out a knife and brought it down on the stars in his suit, beginning to carve them out.

Merlin and Gwen's house

Same time

Merlin walked into his house after a long day of work. The crime in this city, he thought grimly. And it was only getting worse with The Accords being enforced. Criminals were getting bolder now that superheroes were essentially being outlawed. Sooner or later, things would come to a head. Merlin had seen it happen multiple times over the centuries he had been alive.

Merlin walked into the kitchen to see Gwen was pulling a pot roast out of the oven. As she set it down, Merlin could see that she was troubled, the look in her eyes saying she was far away.

"Gwen?" Merlin called out and she turned around, seeing him.

"Merlin. How was work?" Gwen asked.

"What's wrong?" Merlin asked and she sighed. He knew her too well sometimes.

"Have you been watching the news?" Gwen asked.

"We don't listen to the radio at the station. What's wrong?" Merlin asked.

"This morning, Captain America led a raid on The Raft. He freed the other Avengers. Arthur's been watching the news all day. He had…questions. I didn't know what to tell him," Gwen said and Merlin was silent for a moment.

"We have to tell him everything," Merlin said and she looked at him sharply.

"You know what he's like Merlin. If he finds out about the Accords…" Gwen trailed off.

"He'll want to do something about it, I know. But that's' going to be his choice. For years, I stood back and said nothing when I knew things that could have helped him. I told myself I was protecting him by keeping the truth from him. But all that did was get Arthur killed," Merlin pointed out and Gwen paused, conflicted. "We just got him back and it's scary, I know. But he's not a child, he's an adult. He deserves the truth and he should hear it from us."

Gwen still looked conflicted when they heard footsteps before Arthur entered the room.

"Merlin," Arthur said in greeting.

"Hello Arthur," Merlin said, staring at Gwen until she gave a reluctant nod. "We have some things we need to discuss."

That night, as Gwen slept soundly beside him, Arthur stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts keeping him awake.

Over dinner, Merlin and Guinevere had explained to him about the Accords. Although Gwen had seemed reluctant, Merlin had spared no detail, patiently answering all of Arthur's questions. Merlin and Gwen had painted a picture of these Accords. And they didn't paint a flattering one.

Tags that let one know where these so called 'enhanced' were at all times. Mandatory registration for those with powers. Thrown in prison without any sort of trial for violations. These Avengers forced to get permission from a group of people who can never seem to agree on anything or let innocent lives be lost. The more he learned about the Accords, the more horrified and disgusted Arthur was with them.

It also wasn't lost on him that the Accords bore striking similarities to his father's ban on magic. A ban that he himself had continued once he became king. Arthur had had his reasons, but now that he knew about Merlin, that magic was in fact not inherently evil, he couldn't help but feel disgust at his father and at himself.

Was this how Morgana had seen them, Arthur wondered. As two tyrannical kings who persecuted innocent people for being different? Forced to live in fear of being punished or killed for something was not her fault? Was this what had turned her from the kindhearted girl he had grown up with into the mad sorceress who wanted all of Camelot to burn?

It was these thoughts that haunted Arthur until he finally fell asleep.

Arthur found himself back by the lake. He looked around in confusion until a voice spoke up behind him.

"Arthur."

Paling, Arthur turned around, seeing a blond woman standing a few feet from him. Although he had only seen her once, he would never forget her face.

"Mother," Arthur breathed and Ygraine smiled at him.

"Hello Arthur," Ygraine said as she approached her son. "It is good to see you again."

"So that wasn't a trick, it really was you," Arthur said hopefully and she nodded.

"Your friend Merlin knew that if you killed your father, all would have been lost. The only way to continue on was for you to believe that it had been a lie," Ygraine explained.

Arthur nodded after a moment. He didn't like it, but he could understand Merlin's point of view.

"This is a dream, isn't it?" Arthur said after a moment.

"It's a dream, but why does that mean it can't be real?" Ygraine asked with a smile and Arthur wasn't sure whether to laugh or be annoyed.

"Do you know why I'm back?" Arthur asked.

"No. But you are the Once and Future King Arthur. If you have returned, it is for a reason," Ygraine told him wisely. "And I have a feeling you'll need this."

To Arthur's shock, Excalibur suddenly materialized in her hands. Silently, she held the weapon out to him and, after a moment, he took his sword from her.

"Use it wisely my son. I fear that not only Albion, but the entire world may be affected by the decisions you make," Ygraine warned him.

Arthur's eyes snapped open and he found himself back in Gwen's bedroom. Glancing over at the alarm clock, he saw barely ten minutes had passed since he fell asleep. It was only a dream, he thought to himself. Feeling something heavy in his hand, Arthur glanced down and his eyes widened in shock.

"Or maybe not," Arthur muttered as he stared at Excalibur grasped tightly in his hand.

New York

Same time

At the same time, across town, Morgana tossed and turned in her sleep, her mind haunted by images.

A man with blond hair and blue eyes she felt she should recognize opening a box.

That same blond man arguing with Merlin and a dark skinned woman that looked vaguely familiar to Morgana.

A man in a black body suit complete with a cowl with two white holes wielding a sword against several men.

Captain America, Falcon, Hawkeye, Luke Cage and a blind man Morgana realized was the lawyer Matt Murdock kneeling before the blond man as he looked down at them, his sword in hand.

Finally, Morgana saw herself, standing in front of Merlin as he held her hand.

"Do you trust me?" Merlin asked.

"I do," Morgana heard herself say.

Morgana's eyes snapped open, breathing heavily as she tried to figure out what she had just seen.

This chapter ended up being more filler than anything but I do hope you guys enjoyed it.

I know the MCU movie timeline is a little confusing here, but let's just say this chapter takes place the same day as the ending scene of Captain America: Civil War.