Welcome to the next chapter of TFR!

I came out of hiatus for this. Dunno when the next chapter will be. Hope you like this and that it lives up to your expectations.

CAPTAIN OZONE is the amazing beta.

In this chapter, Colin is Merlin. Richard is Gaius. Bradley is Arthur. Eoin is Gwaine. Angel is Gwen. Katie is Morgana.

Remember to check my website whenthestormisthrough which is my TUMBLR url. I post chapter updates and some excerpts as well as all things Merlin on there.

Enjoy the chapter, and please review. I like to hear what you thought of the chapter, what you didn't like, any questions or concerns, your favorite parts, and any suggestions/comments about my writing in general.

Onto the chapter,

Erin

Side note (You get to listen to me bitch).
I loaded two stories called Arthur's Bane as well as Words of Wisdom. Thank you to all who have read, reviewed, and followed/favorited them. About Arthur's Bane, a lot of PM's I got told me how OOC Merlin was and how it's unbelievable and not worth reading. Here's a fun note: it is not a Dark!Merlin story. It was like that in the prologue to gain interest. That's sort of the point for the prologue: to set the scene. So there is alot more to the story than just the prologue. The entire story is about Merlin trying to avoid what happens in the prologue. Hope that clears things up, and if it doesn't, stop leaving fucking ANON HATE on my god damn Tumblr. Good day!

Chapter Fourteen

"Howling ghosts, they reappear,
In mountains that are stacked with fear,

But you're a King,

And I'm a Lionheart."

-"King and Lionheart" by Of Monsters and Men

He thought his reunion with Merlin was set in stone, but things changed.

After his meeting with Hunith, Arthur had headed for Uther's hotel room, throwing the parental rights papers across the room, and demanded to see Merlin straight away. The time had been creeping into the early morning hours, and Arthur had been well aware of that fact when his father pointed it out. Regardless of the time, Arthur had claimed that since he had found Hunith and retrieved her signature, just as he promised, Uther had to fulfill his end of the bargain.

However, when Uther told his son to wait just a little bit longer, the nineteen-year-old had merely shaken his head before dashing to the hospital, despite the fact that visiting hours had had long since been over.

Hailing a cab at the late hour proved to be the easiest part of his journey.

When he arrived at the hospital, he knew that Merlin would be deep in slumber, resting from whatever injuries Cenred had dealt him the night before. A part of him wondered if he should let his old friend continue his recovery without any interruptions, but it had reached the point where being able to see Merlin was truly a life or death matter. Well, perhaps not the death in the sense that this decision would end his very existence but rather his sanity. By the time Arthur managed to locate the waiting room in which he had stood earlier that morning, reunited with his knights for the first time in nearly two thousand years, his heart was thundering on, a million miles a minute, in beat to the drums sounding in his ears. He was becoming anxious; his eyes flickered down corridors absently, searching for any sign of Merlin's hospital room.

It was the two police officers positioned in the hall to his left that stopped him dead in his tracks.

It was no surprise that Merlin-Colin would have guards considering someone had just tried to kill him, but it meant that there was another obstacle in his path to seeing his friend for the first time. He crept slowly down the corridor, sticking close to the wall in case the officers took off after him. All he needed was one chance—just one glimpse of his friend, and he'd be satisfied.

"Arthur."

The sudden voice pulled him out of his reverie, and the officers cast him a wary look, subconsciously shuffling closer to the entrance to Merlin's room. Arthur's expression fell as he turned and threw a glance over his shoulder, irritation etched across his face. Hesobered when he recognized the pale and frail form of Gaius seated in the sofa against the wall. The elderly man stood up on shaky legs and gestured Arthur to come follow him down the hall, bypassing Merlin's room and continuing to another down the hall. Arthur followed as if in a trance, waiting with baited breath because there was a slight possibility he could finally see the warlock.

Gaius placed a hand on a doorframe and turned to address Arthur when a nurse appeared in the doorway, cocking her head slightly with confusion. "Dr. Wilson… What are you—?"

"I have family in the hospital," he announced, and Arthur merely stood there, watching as the nurse nodded in understanding before stepping out of the way and allowed Gaius to enter. He paused and swung around to face Arthur, flicking his wrist forward. "Don't just stand there, boy. Come in, but do be quiet now."

Upon entering the patient's room, hope swelled in his chest when he caught sight of the figure lying on the bed, but it quickly dispersed when he recognized the girl from the paper. "Laura," he murmured under his breath, and he found himself subconsciously moving forward until he was leaning over her frail form.

Gaius managed a small smile. "You know who she is?"

"Merlin's foster sister," Arthur answered, his eyes flickering over her, searching for some form of awareness. "She was injured last night when they were attacked."

"A coma," Gaius commented, waving a hand over Laura's still body.

Many wires looped over her, threading through each other until they connected to their intended machines, keeping track of her vitals and other life signs. "How's he doing?" Arthur questioned, turning his attention back to the aged physician.

"As well as can be expected," Gaius answered, and Arthur wondered vaguely how that must be. Gaius continued without prompting. "He saw his foster brother murdered, his girlfriend is in a coma, and—"

Arthur whipped his head around and narrowed his eyes in bewilderment. "Girlfriend?"

"Oh yes," Gaius said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I would say he's quite smitten with Laura Smith."

Arthur managed a faint chuckle before biting his lip in hesitation, crossing his arms across his chest. "Who… Morgana told me that she was the Lady of the Lake in the past... Was he… Who was she?"

Gaius resigned himself to a mere shake of the head. "What do you know about the Lady of the Lake, Arthur?"

"Only what's in the legends," he confessed, "And even then, they're so screwed up that I can't tell truth from fiction."

Gaius sighed and seated himself in the chair beside Laura's bed. Arthur followed suit, hesitant to voice his thoughts: a part of him wanted to learn more about Laura's true identity, but a large majority was concentrating on the chance he would see Merlin again.

"Merlin had been in Camelot for two years when he came across a Druid girl in a cage," Gaius began, and Arthur's mind traveled back ages, back when he was a prat and Merlin an idiot. "A bounty hunter had captured her, but Merlin set her free. He attempted to smuggle her out of the city, but she was a Bastet: a creature with an insatiable desire to kill. She killed innocent people in the lower town—"

"Hang on," Arthur murmured. "I remember… With bat-like wings, right? I… I killed her."

"Yes," Gaius admitted, his expression filled with sorrow. "You eventually killed her."

Arthur swallowed a thick lump and licked his lips before asking, "Was Merlin in love with her then as well?" Gaius nodded, and Arthur couldn't form any coherent words. How did his servant not despise him for—?

"He did not hate you, Arthur," Gaius said, resting a hand atop Arthur's trembling shoulder. "He would have given his life for you had he gotten the chance; in fact, he did more times than I'd like to think about."

A frantic look came upon Arthur's face, and before he knew it, he had lunged across the space between them, reaching out for the doctor's shirt. He bunched up the fabric in his fists, but he dared not inflict harm on his old physician. "Merlin." The name rolled off the tip of his tongue, and Gaius closed his eyes, a low groan escaping his lips. Arthur cocked his head in confusion. "Merlin… Can I see him? Can you get the police away from his room?"

Gaius gently untangled Arthur's fingers from his shirt and stood up, guiding the young man to the seat beside Laura. The physician steadied him as he placed his hands on his shoulders, pursing his lips in a resolute expression. The look Arthur sent him was bordering on the edge of hysteria, and he knew that Uther had failed to explain the elder's wishes concerning Merlin—his son.

"Arthur," Gaius began and lowered his voice to a mere whisper, knowing he had the teenager's full attention. Arthur was hanging on Gaius's every word, and the doctor had not seen the ex-royal behave in such a way since the early days of his kingship when he was a novice captivated by any advice his advisor could give him. "Arthur," he began again, and this time, he felt an icy shiver travel down his spine with the knowledge he would have to break the young boy's heart. "You cannot see Merlin."

Gaius watched as, in the span of a single heartbeat, Arthur reeled back, and the look of disbelief he sent Gaius was so raw that someone might have believed that the older man had committed the worst kind of betrayal.

"Arthur—"

"No." Shock was the only tangible emotion present in Arthur's expression as the blond pushed himself to his feet "No. I've waited months. I'm not going to just sit here and not see him when he's just down the god damn fucking hallway!"

Arthur began to pace while Gaius seated himself, watching the younger male warily and casting a panicked glance in the direction of the hall. "Calm down, Arthur. You're in a hospital for god's sake, boy."

"I can't 'calm down,'" he snapped in retort, choosing to ignore Gaius's command. "You can't tell me what to do." How could he just calm down when he was so close to finally meeting his friend?

Gaius was a bit taken back by Arthur's reaction. "Arthur… Surely you can wait just a little more."

"No, I can't," Arthur said. "I honestly can't, Gaius."

"Why?"

Arthur opened his mouth to respond when he paused. He then realized that he himself didn't understand it… the impatient urge to see Merlin, the necessity to have him in his life—to be by his side. The legendary Emrys with the Once and Future King: they were the heroes of legend. Back in Camelot, Merlin had been a constant presence in Arthur's life, and for the ex-royal to enter his second one without him, it was nearly unfathomable.

The thought took him back a thousand years, just before he died and shortly after Merlin unmasked himself as a sorcerer. Ever since he was young, his father had taught him that everyone with magic was evil and lusted for his blood. To have his closest friend (the first and truest he had) fall into that category had almost been too much to bear. In the ten years he had known his manservant, Arthur had lost a lot, but the one thing he always had was Merlin.

Merlin had been there at every obstacle, enemy, and loss. He was always by his King's side, and Arthur relied on him more than he would ever like to admit. Merlin always had been a constant in his ever-changing life, the rock he clung to when the white-water rapids became too hard to swim against. To learn that Merlin, the one who was always the same, who was a sorcerer nearly killed him. Arthur had been so lost and so very afraid, unsure of what to do. For a man who was used to being in control, Arthur had been so unsure of what to do and of what was to come. He had been so lost.

To think that magic had corrupted someone as close as Merlin, much like it had Morgana years before, had shaken Arthur's world entirely. Everything he had ever known to true had been thrown out the window because sorcerers were evil, but at the same time, it was Merlin.

If there was one thing he could swear to be true, it was that there was no possible chance that Merlin was evil.

Merlin had gone out of his way to prove that he was still there for Arthur, trying to be his servant and friend. Arthur had been so confused, unable to comprehend how "friend" and "sorcerer" could be used in the same sentence. Throughout the journey to Avalon, Arthur had seen Merlin for what he truly was. Even though he was dying, even though his strength was leaving him with each step they took, even when his world was spinning out of control—Arthur had just wanted Merlin to stay the same. Somehow though, through all the lies and secrets that came to light, slowly but surely, Arthur had discovered the truth about Merlin.

Yes, he was a sorcerer. Yes, he had magic. But he was still Merlin.

In the end, Arthur had finally come to realize that Merlin was still the same person he had always known: the same naïve farm boy who crossed Arthur Pendragon's path one morning and called him a prat.

"It's Merlin," was the only answer Arthur could give, and for Gaius, it was enough.

"Arthur," Gaius said, always the voice of reason, "He needs to rest."

Arthur shrugged helplessly. "Then I'll come back in the morning—"

"Arthur," Gaius said firmly. "You cannot see him."

"Why not?" he pressed, eyes flashing furiously as he let his gaze rest on the open door. "He's my friend; I can't just leave him alone when he needs someone."

"You honestly think I'd leave him alone, Arthur?" Gaius asked.

Arthur said nothing, beginning to frantically pace in the confined space, nerves on edge. "He…. He was always by my side; it's my turn now."

Gaius shook his head and gestured for Arthur to resume his seat beside Laura's bedside. When the younger man had planted himself beside the elder, Gaius leaned forward and placed his hands on Arthur's shoulders once more. "Oh, Arthur… You are helping him."

"How?" His voice was full of anguish.

"By giving him space," Gaius explained, his face set in a serious expression. "He needs time to adjust to everything that's happening."

"I want to see him." Arthur dropped the doctor's gaze and turned to face the window. There was nothing outside save for a few thunderheads and the moon dancing along the horizon in the distance.

"I know you do," Gaius assured in response, his hand resting atop the blond's head. He ruffled Arthur's hair in a comforting manner before smiling slightly. "And I promise…You will see Merlin. Very soon. Just a little bit longer."

Arthur held his breath before slowing blowing out, trying to calm his raging nerves. "That's what everyone says, and yet, it's been months." Gaius opened his mouth in protest, but he continued, ignoring any action the older man had made. "Damn it. I just want to see him and—"

"He can't deal with this, Arthur. Not now."

"—I understand that," the ex-student grumbled in reply, sulking in his chair.

"I hope you do, for Merlin's sake."

"Why can't I help him?" Arthur asked, confused and fighting hard to make Gaius see his point. "I can help him deal with everything—"

"I don't want you to."

For a moment, the world stopped spinning, simply tilting on its axis. Arthur felt the most unbearable coldness seep through his body, freezing his limbs and chilling him deep down to the bones, sending trembles up his spine and jolting him back to reality. The seriousness of the situation set upon him, and the thought that Gaius was purposely keeping Merlin away from him hurt him more than he cared to admit.

"And why not?" Arthur shot back. "He's my friend."

"He just saw his best friend stabbed, Arthur," Gaius said. "His girlfriend is in a coma. Honestly, boy! Can't you see that Merlin cannot possibly deal with the added responsibility of your life mingling with his own?"

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"You're investigating the murders. You want to bring him into it," Gaius responded, standing tall as he stared over Arthur. "You want him to use his magic—"

"I don't want to fucking use him for my own benefits, Gaius," Arthur retorted with an icy edge to his voice. "And it hurts that you'd even think that for one moment. Merlin means a lot to me, and for you to think that I'd use him for some stupid…" Arthur shook his head and inhaled deeply.

He braced himself for the onslaught of the doctor's anger, but Gaius settled down, choosing to seat himself on the edge of Laura's bed, shaking his head. Arthur froze, face screwed up from all the internal bellowing and crying he was doing, hands clenched into fists as his nails dug into the heels of his palms. With a feeling of mingled dread and anger, Arthur seethed through his gritted teeth, deciding to leave rather than face the damage to his heart.

He managed to take one step before Gaius's voice shot through the room like a whip. "Don't, Arthur."

Arthur took a deep breath, but it hardly did anything to calm his nerves. He turned back to face Gaius and found himself collapsing in the nearby chair, the fight completely taken out of him. "I just…" he began, and his tongue suddenly felt too big for his throat as he attempted to swallow his brimming emotions. "I don't understand it."

"The bond you share with Merlin is strong, Arthur," Gaius answered, and Arthur wondered how the older man knew where his thoughts were. "You had him in your life almost every day, and suddenly, you wake up and he's gone. It's hard to adjust to."

"It's not just that," Arthur admitted. "It's like… a part of me is gone. It's a hollow feeling, in my chest… like… there's something missing."

Gaius paled a bit, but he quickly recovered. "I know you want to see him, but all I ask is that you wait."

"….How long?"

"A month at the least."

"A month?!"

"Give him time. Just one month, and then… Then come by my clinic downtown."

Arthur felt broken and out of his element, paralyzed with the circumstances that had been thrust into his arms. Where was he supposed to go from here?

He swallowed his retort, a thick lump following, only to get lodged. Tears threatened to spill, and he fought like hell to keep them from falling. He would walk away from this, knowing that he would eventually see his friend again. He had Gaius' promise. Without sparing the other man a second glance because he knew he'd lose whatever control he had on his emotions, Arthur turned on his heel and stepped out of the room. He was aware that Gaius was following, but he didn't stop until he heard the elder call out to the officers in front of Merlin's room as Arthur passed.

Before Arthur could comprehend what was happening, the officers had stepped away from their positions for a split second. It gave Arthur enough time to complete the journey he had set out for when he came to the hospital.

Glancing over his shoulder to make sure the officers were unaware of his movements, Arthur peered around the open door, his azure eyes flickering around the room absently until it found the figure in the bed. The head of unruly, inky black hair stuck out against the ivory pillowcase, and Arthur felt the breath leave him. The younger boy's face was etched so deeply into his memories that he wondered once more how he could have gone a day without this person.

It was Merlin.

Arthur had waited seven months since he first regained his memories, and now, he had been sentenced to another thirty days of pointless wanderings until he could finally (and properly) see Merlin.

When he first returned to the apartment, Morgana and Gwen had listened with baited breath as he relayed the details surrounding his meeting with Gaius and the small glimpse he had caught of Merlin. As he announced the truth as to how Merlin had ended up in foster care, Morgana had retreated to her bedroom, proclaiming she needed sleep after the last, few stressful days they had undergone. However, Arthur knew the truth. He knew she was looking for answers through her visions.

As the weeks passed, Morgana drew up a more solid plan. She was a firm believer that Morgause and Cenred were behind the murders, and all of the visions seemed that they were heading on the right track.

Nothing particular interesting happened within the span of four weeks save for more of Arthur's angst over his upcoming reunion with Merlin as well as a rather unexpected encounter with Leon, Percival, Elyan, Lancelot, and Gwaine.

Arthur had invited the knights over in order to enlighten them on the happenings with the murder case and the other reincarnations. They had sat around the coffee table, newspaper clippings and manila folders crowding the space between them, deep in thought, when everything changed.

Morgana had entered the room in all her ethereal beauty. Her long, raven-colored ringlets had been pulled back in the same extravagant style she had worn during the last few months of her life in Camelot over a thousand years ago. It was the only similarity that Arthur could associate with her old self. Her bright, emerald-green eyes flickered around the room in surprise, and he hoped that his friends could see the same difference he did in his sister. She held herself with an air of confident, possessing a certain kind of grace that she had lacked as a vengeful witch. Her face was alight with a wide smile, happiness flooding from her every pore.

This wasn't the same witch bent on destroying everything they had all once held dear, the same person who had gazed over their dying forms with a malicious glint in her eye.

She approached the small gathering on the couch, smiling hesitantly and biting her lip shyly. "Hello... I'm Katie."

"You didn't tell us about her," Lancelot argued, and even Percival looked apprehensive.

"Look," Arthur defended, "She's... different. She's changed."

"I'm sorry," Morgana suddenly blurted, tears brimming in her eyes. "What I did was unforgiveable... I..."

"Eoin," Gwaine suddenly announced, pushing himself to his feet. "Nice to meet you."

"Gwaine!" Leon pressed, but Gwaine waved his friend off.

"New life, new start," Gwaine announced, striding forward, "I'm Sir Gwaine, my lady. And last time I saw you, you killed me. Nice to meet you."

The rest of the group attempted to argue, but Morgana quickly won them over when they realized the truth. They were all fighting for the same thing. Things were quickly shaping up to be exactly as they were a thousand years ago, with a few minor differences.

They still needed Merlin.

A month passed.

Thirty-one days.

A month passed, and Arthur found himself in front of a clinic belonging to one Richard Wilson in downtown New York. He closed his eyes tightly, almost unable to believe he was finally here. Sunlight penetrated his eyelids, colors swirling in an intricate dance through the darkness, the light finally overcoming them. He opened his eyes to meet a vast, cloudless blue sky and a scrawny figure working diligently on the other side of the clinic window. Arthur blinked to clear his vision and managed to form a coherent smile, wide and happy.

After a short pause, Arthur pushed open the door and walked into the clinic. He waited with baited breath for Merlin to see him, silence being the only barrier from him and his older friend. He resisted the urge to run at the boy and throw his arms around his scrawny form, embracing him tightly and relinquishing in the fact that he had found the other side of his coin. No one could ever see such a thing, of course, which was why he restrained himself and waited for Merlin to make the first move.

He still couldn't believe it. He could feel the blood draining from his face.

Merlin, Emrys, the last Dragonlord, his old friend, stood in front of him with a bright smile on his face.

It was common knowledge between them how much they meant to one another, so he hadn't expected Merlin to hold back. This was his chance. He had finally found the warlock, and it seemed like the final puzzle piece had fallen perfectly into plan. Arthur had thought about this moment for months, planning what he would say, what he would do, how they both react, but his plans disappeared like smoke from a fire drifting away, evading his mind's capture.

"Merlin," he said, his tongue like thick sandpaper against the roof of his mouth. He managed to swallow the lump in his throat, moving a step closer to the boy who tilted his head as if analyzing the older man's advancements. "You're…"

His nerves felt like shocks of electricity were tickling their frayed ends as his friend opened his mouth and said, "Hello."

Arthur took a deep breath, shoulders heaving forward as he attempted to steady himself. He fought the urge to run headlong towards his friend, choosing to close his eyes and welcome the moment (He paid little attention to the tears that pricked in the corners of his eyes). He silently vowed not to cry in front of his friend; he didn't want to be seen as weak (plus, he knew Merlin would use this moment to tease him for the next decade or so).

"Merlin, by gods," Arthur gasped out. The name rolled off his tongue like habit, and a bubble of joy swelled deep inside his chest. He had missed him so much. It felt so good to say that. "Do you know how long it took me to find you? We've been searching for you for months!"

It was the wrong thing to say as Merlin skittered back a few steps. "You've... What?" Before Arthur had a chance to correct himself, the young boy's face seemed to crumble before him. The bright-eyed man turned into a frail, helpless teenager who was looking for any means of escape. "Who's been looking for me? You—You can't take me away! I've been adopted… I'm—I have a legal home! You can't take me away! I won't let you!"

As his voice raised a few decibels, a vase shook on the desk, and if Arthur hadn't reached for it when he did, it would have shattered on the tile floor. He looked to Merlin to try to understand his reaction, but all he saw was the molten gold fading from those scared, confused eyes.

The air left him in a gasp, and he struggled to regain his bearings. This wasn't possible! He had been waiting all this time! He needed his friend. How he survived all this time with only just his memories, he had no idea. Disappointment hit him like a ton of bricks. Arthur had built up for this moment in his mind every waking second, and now… It was useless. Merlin didn't know who he was. He was scared, hurt, and vulnerable. He wasn't Merlin.

He was an entirely different person.

"You're not…" Arthur couldn't get the words out.

He watched Merlin's reincarnation for quite some time, noting his rigid limbs and impassive features. That boy was trying so desperately not to flee and face this stranger, and Arthur couldn't bear to face him anymore. He turned towards the door, his back facing the boy, and he fought with the tears of disappointment. This was it. Everything was truly gone. Merlin didn't remember, but he was here! Standing in front of Arthur with those familiar blue eyes and ebony hair, dressed in a loose pair of jeans and a green and white plaid shirt, the young boy was shaking slightly, showing no resemblance to the confident, kind-hearted sorcerer he had been back in Camelot.

"What do you want?" the boy asked softly, stiffening when Arthur raised his head to meet his gaze. "Why were you trying to find me?"

"You…" Arthur swallowed thickly and quickly regained control over his emotions. "I'm sorry. I thought… You looked like a friend of mine."

The boy's comfort immediately returned. "Oh… I'm sorry, but I've never seen you before."

It felt like a stab deep within his chest. "My bad, then. I'm sorry if I frightened you…" Arthur paused for a moment before stepping forward, the boy flinching back on instinct, and held out his hand. "My name is Bradley. Bradley James."

Colin looked at his outstretched hand for a moment longer than necessary before shaking it with a firm grasp that he quickly withdrew. "Colin," he said, biting his lip softly, before adding, "Colin Wilson."

"You're…" A sad smile crossed Arthur's face. "Dr. Wilson adopted you?"

Colin swallowed thickly, ducking his head in the direction that Arthur could find the older man. "He is my guardian." He resigned himself to skittering back a few steps, gesturing towards the door on his left. "He's in his office… I can get him for you. I'll just be a second."

Before Arthur could answer, the boy had disappeared behind the desk, and he was left with nothing but his continued disbelief at the situation at hand. He didn't understand how someone who had once been so full of life could retreat into a former shell of themselves. After a short while, Colin returned with Gaius at his heels. When the older man caught sight of Arthur, he turned to Colin and ordered him to restock some medical supplies in a random room.

Once Colin had left, Arthur broke the silence. "He doesn't remember me?" he managed in a small voice.

To this, Gaius closed his eyes and lowered his head.

There were no words to heal a broken heart.