I have made it a bit shorter than usual, just enough to quicken the pace back to the main plot at some point
But also to give you guys more slice of life fluff between Merlin and Morgana before we get to the big one
Let me know if you like this length for all my future chapters though, or if you like the more longer ones?
If only to keep this story from feeling like constant nonstop drama...I mean it kinda is but it doesn't have to be continuously lol
1 month later
It's as if the drama with Arthur and Destiny were a thing of the past, at least to Merlin and Morgana.
After weeks of simply flying from country to country along the Mediterranean coast they decided that winter was too cold…
So here they are now in Florida.
Miami was perfect, definitely having some of the best beaches in the world.
But damn did they hate the sun…
"Remind me again why you decided to tan when you're as pale as snow?" Merlin taunted as he kept himself safely beneath their umbrella, rubbing sunblock on Morgana's legs.
"Oh shut it, you're as pale as me! And how was I to know this would happen, it's not like I ever tried to tan before!" Retorted a now cherry tomato Morgana.
Even in November the sun still cooks you in Florida!
Merlin rolled his eyes as he continued to rub more sunblock on Morgana's back and shoulders.
Merlin has no right to judge her, it's not like she ever stayed in one spot for the sun to fry her before!
"Wait, have you ever tanned before?"
Merlin looked at her amused, "If by tan you meant getting crisped up? Sure. And I'm never doing it again."
Morgana quirked a brow "When was this?"
"Hmm, probably around the time I traveled to Alexandria around say the…7th century?"
"Egypt?"
"Yep."
"What were you doing there?"
"Trying to see if I can find Alexander the Great's tomb. I did."
Morgana waited for him to continue only to see the goof continue to just rub sunblock on her in silence.
She shoved his shoulder, "Well? Where was it?"
He had the nerve to stick his tongue out.
Morgana rolled her eyes "Ugh whatever don't tell me, I'll find out myself."
Merlin laughed, pulling her close, planting a loud smooch on her cheek. "I know you'd find that more satisfying anyway."
Morgana decided that she's been covered in enough of the sun protecting cream, and laid on her back…under the umbrella this time.
Merlin gave her his straw hat to help further block any straying sunlight from her face as she began to doze off.
He then just decided to stare at the ocean, ignoring the people that littered the beach all around them. If only they knew just who exactly was among them.
Honing his senses toward the ocean, he felt as if all of his problems and stress was washing away with the tides.
What was it his father told him once?
Son of the earth, the sky, the ocean?
It certainly feels that way right now, so peaceful.
At least until a volleyball hit him in the head.
Fucking why?!
Merlin turned toward the direction of where the ball was thrown and saw some college aged kids and a makeshift net.
"Hey bro can ya throw it back?" Meathead #1 asked with his arms raised.
Merlin was going to throw something alright…throw him to the Pacific...!
Morgana grabbed his hand before he ended up turning that guy into a dolphin.
Damn she woke up…
Once she was confident Merlin was calm, she took the ball and kicked it over to the players, accepting an offer to play on one of their teams.
Merlin didn't mind, at least he gets to watch her show off…
Morgana was always physically adept, recalling the time she tried to get him into swordsmanship before firearms really took off in the 18th century…yeah that didn't last.
Uther was such a fool never allowing her to sword-wield, not like she listened anyway even when she did discover her magic.
The way she moved as she ran to each available spot and spiking the ball at the other team was mesmerizing.
"Gods she's beautiful." To this day it is still hard to believe that out of all the people in the world, Morgana is who he told his vows to…and for her to actually love him especially…
Merlin shook his head, he promised her that he'd try and think more "positively" of himself…it's a work in progress but he'll give it a try he supposes.
In total there were 7 of those neanderthal brats around maybe in their 20s...?
Of course, you're probably wondering how does being 20 years old make you a kid? Well, nearly everyone's a kid compared to Merlin of course.
One team composed of 3 boys and 1 girl while Morgana's composed of herself, 2 girls and a boy - the caveman who hit his head with that damn ball.
To say it was amusing to see the guys and even the girls eyeing his wife was an understatement to say the least. None of them could handle Morgana even on the best day of her life.
Though it did irritate him slightly when the tall and wavy haired looking one kept flirting with her, they both trusted the other dearly to remain true to their vows.
He will admit though, the sight of his constant attempts at wooing his wife did remind him of…
Hmm...?
Goodness, has it been so long he can't even remember any of their names?
Barring Gwen, there wasn't really much of a reason left for Merlin to keep himself integrated in Camelot, he barely cared about anything after Camlann.
Not until he and Morgana slowly began to repair their damaged relationship, when he and Aithusa finally saved the Dragon race from extinction did Merlin find a new purpose to live for.
But damnit come on! Who is the one he's trying to remember?
He was a warrior, he was flirty like this guy, even similar hairstyles…
Merlin's thoughts were interrupted as he heard a commotion and saw that Morgana had judo flipped the so-called Casanova on his back. His buddies all taking the piss at him.
Merlin winced, yep that imbecile's lucky they were on sand and not a pavement.
Looks as though there were no hard feelings as she helped him up, eyes rolling as he complimented her skills.
Then Morgana turned over to him and waved him over…
Wait what?
For what? He doesn't play volleyball, hell he barely plays sports…
She kept beckoning him over with the others looking towards him with smiles.
Ugh whyyyyy?
He's very comfortable sitting his ass beneath the generous shade of their umbrella thank you!
Morgana's look turned into one of annoyance as she rolled her eyes at him, placing a hand on her hip.
Merlin's not going to get up just to meet some kids he won't even remember hours from now.
Morgana's gaze quickly turned into a challenging one.
Oooohhh he's so scared…whatever will he do?
Then came the evil eye, now usually that also wouldn't intimidate him…but than it was followed by a smile.
Ugh he knew that smirk anywhere, fine she wants to be like that?
She had best be careful with what she wishes for than, because if she wants him to socialize …he'll bloody socialize.
And well he actually wanted to try his luck tonight but that's neither here nor there…ssshhhh.
With a dramatic groan Merlin got up and made his way over to them.
The flirty man looked at him and it almost appeared as though he was comparing them, the rest of the players decided now was a good time to go soak in the water.
"Well it's about time Billy , good to see you return to the real world." Morgana quipped.
"Please do tell Lena, why have me leave the sanctity of my cool shade?" Replied Merlin who now regrets giving her his hat as now he had no protection from the sun's rays.
"Billy Appleby right? Just fyi your last name makes me hungry for Apple Bee's haha get it?"
Merlin and Morgana both had to sweat drop at that one…
"Please man ya gotta tell me your secret! How'd ya score such a hot babe?" Flirty man gazed at him with a look that simultaneously said "Teach me maestro" and "How'd YOU get HER?"
"Trust me I ask myself that same question to this day." Merlin thought.
"You really have no filter huh?" Morgana asked him
"What can I say? I appreciate beauty when I see it." The guy smirked.
Merlin really felt nostalgic for some odd reason.
"What's your name?"
The man glanced back at Merlin "Eoin Macken at your pleasure." Such a flamboyant bow…
Morgana quirked a brow "Welsh?"
"Irish actually, was born there before the rents moved here to Miami."
"Fascinating."
Merlin thought perhaps the name might give him a clue as to this feeling but nope. Oh well.
"Well lad, to answer your question in a non-answered way…I simply gave to her all I that I was, and promised to always and forever give her all that I can be."
Morgana's quirked brow melted into a serene look on her face with that gorgeous smile.
He just quoted part of his wedding vows to her.
Meanwhile poor Eoin was a bit confused…what did that mean?
Someone sure loved poetry…
Wait…
"Dude, who're you calling lad ? You look younger than me if anything?" Eoin even pointed out he was taller, had facial hair and even rock-hard abs.
Merlin just snorted as he turned his gaze back toward the sea, returning to his earlier feeling of zen.
Merlin felt he's humored his wife enough with socializing for the day.
Wow 5 whole minutes, what an effort…
"Trust me, Merlin looks far younger than he really is. As a matter of fact, so do I." Morgana clarified, inwardly smirking knowing that
Eoin's probably trying to rack his brain around that she can be older than 25 and still look 20.
Ok now Merlin definitely has to jump back in when she gave him a good opening.
"Fun fact. She's older." He couldn't resist his smirk which grew when she turned towards him unimpressed and with a tight mouth.
Eoin's eyes widened as he looked at Merlin as if he hung the sun, the moon and the stars.
"Dude…not only did you win the lottery with what is perhaps the sexiest woman alive but one older than you? Hah! My man!" Eoin raised his hand towards Merlin, expecting the man to high five him back.
Merlin stared at his hand very perplexed. What was he doing? Isn't his arm going to tire out?
He turned his eyes to his wife who stealthy clapped two hands together as he finally understood what he was supposed to do.
Ohhhh right it's a high five duh…
But why? For being married? I mean sure okay...
Merlin slowly raised his hand to clap Eoin's who was beginning to lower his arm but regained his smile when he saw Merlin reciprocate.
Truly this guy was weird, he made Merlin feel older than he is.
Or maybe Merlin has just grown grumpy in his old age?
Hey at least he doesn't look like ol' Dragoon…
Morgana was pleased at the sight of Eoin dragging Merlin out of the shell he constructed for himself. It really was around the time they should make some new friends; as their previous identities were well over 20 years ago, their current ones being Billy and Lena Appleby.
As she watched Eoin finally convince Merlin to trade numbers – he having to do it for him since Merlin's practically a caveman – she thought that perhaps finally things can start to look up for them.
Her ideas are always the best, aren't they?
As they exchanged farewells, they made their way back to their belongings and laid back beneath their umbrella, enjoying the breeze that came by.
It was times like these that made Morgana question what she and Merlin would have been like had they been born in the modern era. Would they have been the same as in Camelot? Different?
Have the same parents?
Would they have even found each other at all?
Merlin wrapped his arm around her when he noticed her just starring into space, a reverse of what usually happens between them. But for the first time in a long time, Merlin felt comfortable enough to be the shoulder for Morgana to lean on this time.
Morgana leaned into him as she sighed, allowing herself to simply bask in this peace they've made for themselves.
She felt the urge to share this moment, ugh curse herself for developing this habit.
Morgana grabbed her phone and took a selfie of herself and Merlin with Merlin looking confused while she had a devious grin presented to the camera.
A few clicks and it was posted to her Instagram in seconds.
Merlin rolled his eyes, of course she couldn't help herself. He warned her that phones would be unhealthy…it took like 70 years but he finally became right!
Morgana kept moving her body into different positions to take as many photos of herself on this day as possible. If only phones were around during her time in Paris in the 18th Century, what a great time in her fashionable life.
"We should start vlogging" Morgana told him, finally finishing up her little photo shoot.
"What are you talking about now?" Merlin really needs to know how she can keep up with all these modern terms.
"Think of a diary, but in video form. We just say whatever on the camera and there you have it a vlog."
"…Yeah, no thanks."
"You know I'll get my way at some point, right?"
Merlin pillowed his head with both of his arms as he closed his eyes with a smirk.
"You forget my dear, those petty threats of yours work both ways and they lose their potency the more you use them."
"Oh Merlin, I play to win. You know that."
"Look do whatever you want as long as I don't need to talk."
Morgana thought about it, not really what she was hoping for but she can work with that.
"You have to at least talk if I'm speaking to you directly."
"Fine."
"Thanks love"
"I'll never understand your new fixation on strangers all over the world seeing our lives, but if it makes you happy…"
Morgana smirked as she leaned to his ear "You realize I won again right?"
Merlin gave her a blank look, for a few moments nothing happened.
Morgana suddenly felt tense…what was he up to?
Suddenly she gasped as she was lifted up and she realized Merlin was carrying her to the bloody water!
"Don't you fucking dare Merlin I swear!" Morgana was gripping his shoulders hard as Merlin just laughed and ran faster dropping her in the freezing ocean as some people around them were laughing at the sight of the supposedly young couple.
Morgana emerged spitting out the foul sea water and glared viciously at her idiot husband.
Then she grinned as she covered the gold in her eyes with her hand, causing Merlin to lose his swim trunks.
Merlin blushed and quickly submerged to quickly rectify her little prank with a spell of his own.
Plotting his revenge, he decided to toy with her a bit by remaining underwater for a little longer.
Morgana knew Merlin was fine, he can't drown. At least even if he did drown his magic would just spell him some gills or create an air bubble.
But where exactly will he pop up?
But than he rose in front of her looking all fine and dandy…
Hmm…curious...
She gasped when she felt a snail oozing up her stomach into her bikini at an unnatural speed, shaking it off and shivering at the gross feeling.
"You're so hilarious!"
"Well you did decide to escalate a bit of harmless fun into a pissing contest"
"Oh Merlin, lest we forget who started this?"
"You did actually. I don't see a winner at all, more like an angry wet cat." Merlin snorted as he began to laugh at Morgana trying to contain her blush and hiding it with anger until she chased Merlin around.
The two mages swam for nearly an hour trying to outmaneuver each other before finally deciding to go back to their property in Florida to shower and ready themselves for a night out.
Living for hundreds of years, so easy to just buy stuff all over the world. A house in suburban Miami? Pocket change.
As they were getting ready to leave for dinner, Morgana had just finished putting on her blouse and was finishing up her makeup when she just had a thought.
"Merlin"
"Yes?"
"That Eoin bloke, did he seem familiar to you by any chance?"
Merlin paused putting on his blue long sleeve shirt, a bit surprised at the question.
"You thought so as well?"
"Yes, I don't know why. But he sort of looks like someone I…"
Merlin looked at his wife as she tried to remember where she could have seen this man before…it looks like she finally did.
Because her face turned ghost pale.
"What's wrong? Who is this person?" Merlin was getting worried, Morgana was rarely startled by much so it had been serious.
"He looks like a man I…tortured to death. A long time ago…" She put down her makeup as she sat down on their bed.
Merlin tried to deduce who it could be. Morgana tortured plenty of people in Camelot, only mellowing out long after the Saxons conquered Albion…and her numerous failed attempts on his life.
Not like he gave much of a fight.
But does that mean that person reincarnated?
Sarrum? Nah, he'd recognize that ugly mug anywhere as would she.
Uther? Same.
Perhaps Alvarr? But he doesn't recall his death being by torture least of all from Morgana.
...Sigan...?
Merlin may not know where or when that snake could have been reborn...but he's absolutely certain he didn't feel him in Eoin at all. No way could Cornelius fucking Sigan be so...jocky...
"I think Eoin is Gwaine, Merlin…"
Merlin froze…Gwaine? Who's…?
Of course.
Shoulder length, pretty hair, uncontrollable tongue, easy going personality…has it been so long that he forgot most of his oldest friends?
Who else did he forget?
Were they even his friends at all?
Would they have tried their hand at killing him?
How was Gwaine even here?!
Why was he here?!
Merlin took a deep breath, glad that for once he took those damn meds without Morgana reminding him…even if it barely gave him half a days reprieve of his vicious thoughts.
Merlin then came to a realization.
"Arthur…"
Morgana looked at him questioningly before she too saw the conclusion he came to.
It was odd to run into a face they haven't seen since the days of old and yet…is it a coincidence that they only encountered Gwaine after Arthur had returned?
Arthur is the nexus point, from him appeared Mordred and now Gwaine.
Which means who's next?! Are there more familiar faces out there?!
Destiny is trying so hard to force Merlin away from her it seems, and she foolishly brought him and Gwaine back together…
Had she just doomed them?!
"Let's not worry about it right now."
Morgana looked shocked at Merlin's suggestion. Again it's usually that he'd be the one freaking out and she the soother.
Goodness what's in the Floridian water and how can she replicate it?
"Even if Gwaine has reincarnated into Eoin, it's not like he remembers anything from his previous life like Mordred.
Now that I know it's him, I know to avoid him. So please wipe that look from your face and let's return to our pleasant evening together Morgana."
Morgana couldn't help but feel like flying as relief flooded her body like a dam breaking.
Gwaine never really hurt Merlin, she was scared that Destiny found a way to sink its ruthless claws back into his heart with this new trick.
Merlin can say whatever he wants of himself, but it is in fact she who has never been so lucky to have him.
She kissed him with a passion, yearning for a time when it was just them and their beloved dragons in a world that has moved on despite their presence.
Destiny would have to try a lot harder to ruin their holiday…
Of course now she had the added worry about vetting people they speak to…just in case.
But at least they'll face it together.
Merlin offered his arm as she hooked hers around it.
"So what's the agenda after dinner?"
Morgana thought about it, "Flying to Brazil? Maybe Rio?"
Merlin looked like a kid on Christmas morning.
"Finally going somewhere I actually like!"
"Wow okay"
"Let's go!" He shouted as practically dragged her running down the street and into her car.
He's just so lucky his ears are cute.
So…yeah…hahaha
To be honest Gwaine just wrote himself in there
I wanted to emphasize that while Merlin has a whole host of issues...Morgana also has things to work out. Serious fear of being abandoned being the main one.
The main plot point will return soon but mostly on Arthur and Mordred's end of the story until it finally attracts the attention of our main duo
So yeah the 2 M's will be enjoying themselves clearing their minds of all the D stuff...
But our lesser duo? Who knows?
