Merlin is awoken by a slight kick to the side. He slowly opens his eyes and there, illumined by the sun, stands Arthur.
"Arthur..."
He extends a hand to Merlin, which he readily takes. Arthur helps him to his feet. Tears prick at Merlin's eyes; he has been waiting for this moment for so long! Wordlessly, he hugs Arthur, who awkwardly pats his back before putting him at an arm's distance. He can now see the tears in his eyes.
"Oh, don't be such a girl, Merlin." He says, punching his shoulder in what he believes to be a playful way. Merlin winces and Arthur rolls his eyes. "Come, we must return to Camelot. Guinevere will be worried." Merlin tries to interject, but Arthur continues: "And why are you an old man? Do away with that, it's weird." He begins to walk, not waiting for Merlin. When he realises that he is not following, he stops and turns, "Come on, Merlin. We need to go back to Camelot. We need to prepare the knights for further attack."
"Arthur..."
"Guinevere probably thinks I'm dead. Let's go."
"Arthur, you don't understand."
"I understand perfectly. You... You have magic and you used it to save me. Now let's go."
"That was centuries ago."
Arthur pauses, staring at him in disbelief as if waiting for some sort of punchline. When he sees that Merlin is serious, he begins to walk back towards him.
"... What do you mean?"
"You have been dead for... a very long time..."
"Dead?"
"Dead. I have been waiting, all these years, Arthur. I have seen things you couldn't even imagine. Entire civilisations rising and falling only to rise again, anew."
"Guinevere... She... She's not...?" He cannot bear to ask.
"She's fine. Camelot is fine. Hidden from sight and from time. I have not been there in... about a millennium, maybe two."
"And you've been waiting all this time?"
Merlin nods.
"... I... Thank you, Merlin. You... You are a true friend..." He bows his head for a moment. "You are very loyal, faithful. You always have been. Thank you..." Merlin places a hand on his shoulder amiably.
"I'll lead you to Camelot, then." Merlin says. "After I... rejuvenate."
"Right." Arthur says, "I'll be over there, waiting." He still feels awkward about the fact that his loyal servant has magic, has lied to him all this time— yet has saved him more times than can be counted.
He walks a short distance away and observes his surroundings. The lake... That's the same, but the forestry... It's all different. Arthur doesn't recognise it at all. Merlin must be right; it has been a very long time. Strange, he thinks, he doesn't remember dying. It's as if he had only just closed his eyes and upon reopening them, he found himself in the lake, Morgana and Merlin in the near distance. He doesn't feel as though any time has passed. At the very least, it feels as though he may have fallen asleep, only to wake up in the lake. He shakes his head and dismisses the ordeal as magic. Magic, what a perfect catchall.
Soon, Merlin is at his side, young as Arthur believes he ought to be. Surely, Merlin has not changed. Not completely. Arthur has faith in this, in Merlin, just as Merlin has had faith in him. Always, he has had faith. It has never wavered.
Neither of them notices that Morgana has dragged herself away.
"Ready to go?" Merlin asks him. Arthur offers a stiff nod in response. The two begin to walk.
"No horses?"
"No, sire. I haven't had any need for them. Ever since the regression of society, I have stayed close to Avalon, close to Camelot. I knew it wouldn't be long before you returned. And then when I saw Morgana... Then, I knew."
"Are you sure Camelot is safe?" He is thinking of Guinevere.
"Yes. I'm certain."
"Good."
The two walk in silence for awhile, both still processing what has transpired.
"So how much do you remember?" Merlin finally asks.
"Everything. Except for dying."
"I remember the dying part all too well." He shudders, "It replays in my mind constantly."
Arthur glances at him and finds a haunted look upon his face. He can sees all the many years Merlin has lived in his eyes.
"Buck up, Merlin." He says, "I'm back now and we're going to Camelot." There was an unspoken 'what more could you ask for?' in his tone. Merlin pales as he thinks of his encounter with Morgana. That is one thing he could ask for: the lack of a Morgana. "Don't look so grim, Merlin. Come on. Now, how much further."
"Shouldn't be too far..." He murmurs, "There is one other thing I should mention."
Arthur stops and gives him that look, the look that clearly tells him to choose his words carefully, the 'what have you left out?' look.
"Camelot is hidden from time. Only those from that generation can see it. I am fairly certain that you will be able to see it since your memories have not progressed past that point. But Morgana... I don't know... She'll heal herself and now that she remembers..."
"She'll try to attack Camelot." Arthur finishes his sentence. Merlin nods. "Then we'll be ready for her when she comes. She has no armies now, I take it? We'll be ready."
"Right. Of course. Camelot's right this way, come on."
The two walk on, resuming their friendly banter from so many years ago. Soon enough, Camelot is visible in the distance and Merlin smiles, reminiscences beginning anew. Soon there will be new experiences, new adventures with Arthur. He will see Gaius again, and Gwen, and the knights. Finally, his life will resume after being on hold for so long. Merlin is ready for it, he invites it, and he can barely contain his excitement.
"At least Camelot hasn't changed." Arthur murmurs to himself.
"No," Merlin agrees, "it hasn't changed at all."
Neither of them could know of the surprise in store.