Welcoming

„How can you look like that after 120 years? I mean seriously...when I heard you are still alive I pictured you as an old frail cripple..." he says not noticing that the others continued walking without him.

„I guess that is the benefit of my immortality" Merlin shouts without turning around.

„Your WHAT now?" Arthur yells and starts running after them.


When Arthur reaches Merlin and Dorothea, both of them are giggling. Merlin looks at him and sees blank confusion in his face. With a fading smile he explains:

"I didn´t understand it either when I figured it out. At some point, people started complimenting me for looking healthy for my age. But when I was 60 years old and still looked like 40, I knew that something was going on. It was a hard realisation...and if I am honest I still don´t quite understand the reason behind it."

Arthur looked at his friend with sadness in his eyes. "I can´t even begin to imagine how it must have been for you! I am so sorry…at the same time I am very grateful that it enabled us to meet again" he says with his slight smile.

At this point the three of them reach the gates. The last few minutes, Dorothea walked silently next to them, observing Merlin´s and Arthurs´ conversation with a smile. Now she turns to Tonitrua and strokes the stallions nose.

"Bye my friend. We will visit you very soon" she says grinning. Tonitrua turns to Merlin and puts his head on the man´s shoulder. The warlock returns the hug and mumbles a few parting words after which the horse turns around and leisurely trots back to the forest.

Astounded by the creature´s behaviour, Arthur asks Merlin "Doesn´t he come with us?"

"Tonitrua is a being of the wild. He comes and goes as he pleases. One day, I was wandering through the woods and found him entangled in an old fishing net someone had lost there. After freeing him I found that he was slightly injured and helped him using my magic. We grew quite fond of each other and since then we often walk our ways together. But the human realm is no place for a being such as him so he rather stays in the forest awaiting my return."

In awe Arthur looks back at the brown stallion and back at Merlin. Now more than ever, he is fascinated by his friend´s world view and wisdom. Who knew that the same boy who slept face down in horse dung could grow up to be an immortal warlock. The memory brought a bright smile to his face. Merlin looked at him furrowing his brow.

"What?" he asks but Arthur only answers with a dismissive hand gesture and an even brighter smile. That makes Merlin even more curious but before he can ask further questions a chorus of voices reach their ears. There are young, old, high and croaky voices merely talking or literally screaming at the top of their lungs. Despite them being extremely diverse, the voices have one thing in common: they are spreading the word of the Great Warlock´s returned to Camelot like wildfire.

Within seconds, Merlin, Dorothea and Arthur are surrounded by dozens of people. They are welcoming Merlin and touching his cloak slightly while keeping a respectful distance as to not block his way. Merlin in return puts on a warming smile and takes his time to greet them, slowly walking to the castles entrance.

Arthur finds himself speechless by this welcoming and stays behind Merlin as close as he can, fearing to lose him in the crowd after just having found him again. Dorothea takes one look at him and smiles knowingly. She walks closer to him and takes him by his hand.

"Don´t worry. There is no way Merlin looses sight of you again" she says reassuringly. In that moment Merlin – as if he heard her – turns around to gaze at Arthur for a second and his smile widens.

They reach the front steps of the castle on which top King Sebolt and Queen Idrid await them. Merlin stops at the first steps and bows his head to the royals who return his behaviour respectfully. The King raises his voice for everybody to hear:

"Hello Merlin, wise warlock and true friend of the realm. I, Sebolt King of Camelot, am very happy to welcome you back in our fortunate kingdom. The people of Camelot have awaited your return with great anticipation and it will fill my daughter Dorothea – whose tenth birthday is the occasion for our meeting today – with the greatest joy." The King looks around for his daughter only to find her stepping out behind Merlin with an apologetic smile on her face. "Ah, I see" he says laughing.

The King´s gaze wanders over to Arthur and turns into a contemplating frown which Arthur understands and answers with a quick nod. Sebolt gathers his thoughts and turns to his people:

"As some of you might have already figured out, another special guest arrived here only yesterday. To our greatest surprise, Dorothea came to our family dinner with a man who we instantly recognised as our ancestor and well-known hero King Arthur." A murmur goes through the crowd and Arthur feels many eyes turning towards him. He gets a bit uneasy but lightens up instantly when recognising the expression on the peoples faces: they are delighted to see him!

"It was foreseen that he would return one day but the reasons behind it are yet to be found. We welcome him back with open arms and hope that the changes Camelot went through since his time may please him" the King finishes his speech and the Queen raises her calm and clear voice:

"A sight that Camelot has not seen in over 120 years delights our hearts today: The Great Warlock Merlin and King Arthur Pendragon are finally reunited! Let us give them some time and space for a long journey lies behind them and they must have much to talk about. On this special occasion my hope is great that Merlin will finally accept our offer to stay in Camelot for a couple of days. His room in the castles is already prepared as it is custom by now." Upon hearing this, Merlin bows his head respectfully and a warming smile appears on the Queen´s face. The crowd explodes into loud cheering and Dorothea jumpes up and down excitedly.

The Queen continued: "I am very pleased with your decision. But come now, you must be very weary from your travels and the excitement of the day. Lunch must be ready any minute now. Let us dine together and then retreat to our rooms for a couple of hours for in the evening there will be a great festival to celebrate Dorothea´s birthday." The crowd cheers again while Merlin, Arthur and Dorothea join the King and Queen at the top of the steps and enter the castle together.

At the dining table everybody is so overwhelmed by the events of the day that not many words are spoken – but many warming glances are exchanged. After finishing their meal they all retreat to their rooms. It turns out that Merlin´s room is in the same hallway as Arthur´s and the latter soon finds himself on his way there. He finds himself standing in front of the wooden door wondering if he should be bothering Merlin right now. But he has so much to say and it physically hurts him to be alone again – not knowing if the events of the day were just a nice dream.

He makes up his mind and lifts his shaking hand to knock on the door. Suddenly, the door swings open and Merlin nearly walks into him. Apparently, Merlin has had the same idea.


Hey guys! Yep, I finally got the time to continue one of my favorite stories^^ I know it has been a looong while since I last updated but I hope some of you are still keeping an eye on this fic.

Your reviews and fresh ideas are keeping my spirits high and I will try to update soon if my studies don´t stop me:D

And as always: Take care!