"No, no. Not like that. You can switch the camera and then you can see yourself." Merlin reached over and gently flipped the phone that was in Gwen's grip. He switched the camera and Gwen gasped as her own face filled the screen.
"Oh my god. It's like a mirror." Gwen dragged her finger over the screen, awed.
Merlin laughed softly and adjusted her grip so it was at the right angle to capture both Merlin and Gwen. "It's called a selfie. Smile."
Merlin tilted his head against her and quirked a small smile, perfectly capturing Gwen mid-laugh. He pulled the phone down and swiped up to his camera roll. "There. It's a picture."
Gwen frowned. "What's it for?"
"Just for the memories. You know, so you can look back and see what you were doing and it's a way of recording your life so you don't forget."
Gwen scrolled up and saw more pictures of Merlin and the Coffee Shop and the other barista, Rowan. Merlin quickly scrolled back down, grabbing the phone. "Yeah, it's just for fun."
Gwen offered a small smile. "So you don't forget me?"
Merlin winked. "I doubt I could ever forget you, Gwen."
She swallowed down the surge of bitterness in her throat and forced a smile. "I'm sure."
They were trekking through the forest to a back path that Merlin said was a faster way to get to the lake. The sun was high in the sky and danced through the leaves and branches that towered around them.
Gwaine suddenly swooped over and pressed himself to Merlin's side. "Can we take a selfie? It would be a shame if my face wasn't in your memories."
Merlin snorted and sped up a bit to catch up with Gwaine. Gwen fell back into step with Elyan, who was near the back of the group. His hands were tucked in his pockets and his eyes were locked on the trail before them. Gwen nudged him. "Hey. What's up?"
Elyan glanced up, startled. "What? Nothing."
She tilted her head. "No? Because it looks like you're jealous that we're stealing Merlin from you."
Elyan scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous, Gwen. You're not stealing him."
"Then why the hell are you hanging back here like we are? I know you guys weren't as close in Camelot but once Merlin gets his memory back, he's not going to abandon you. I promise."
Elyan glanced up and met Gwen's gaze. "That's a hefty promise."
Gwen shrugged. "It's Merlin. When has he ever let us down?"
Lancelot watched as Merlin burst into peals of laughter, trying to take his phone back from Gwaine, who was dangling it just out of reach.
"Cute, are they? I always thought that if he didn't get with Arthur, these two would've been just as revolting."
Lancelot shot Morgana a sideways look. "Don't let Percival hear you say that."
Morgana let out a sigh, her face relaxed in the light breeze. Lancelot didn't think she'd ever seen her look so content. So carefree.
"You look comfortable."
Morgana snorted softly. "Do I? I lived in a hovel in the middle of the forest for a good couple of years. It feels like home."
Lancelot furrowed his eyebrows, watching as Morgana ran her fingers across the barks of trees when they passed. "I will never understand you, Morgana."
"Lot of people say that. I'm not sure why, though. I'm as straightforward as they come."
Lancelot rolled his eyes. "Of course."
The two walked in silence until Morgana finally spoke up. "When did you know? About Merlin's magic?"
"When I first came to Camelot. With the griffin and all. I didn't do anything really. Merlin defeated it and I got the credit."
Morgana glanced up. "He told you the first time you came?"
Realization dawned on Lancelot. "He never told me, Morgana. I caught him. He got a bit careless. Or rather, I was just more observant. He didn't voluntarily tell me. As far as I know, the only person he's actually told, rather than them just finding out, is Arthur."
Morgana frowned. "Arthur? He hadn't told anyone else."
"Nope. His mother obviously knew but for me and Gauis, we found out because he saved our lives. I'm pretty sure he didn't even tell his childhood friend. They just caught him."
Morgana fell silent. Lancelot could almost see the gears whirling in her mind and he couldn't resist speaking up again. "Don't think that you were the odd one out. He told no one. And you can't use your own magic as an excuse to feel betrayed."
"Why can't I? So what if you all didn't have any use of the knowledge? I thought I was going crazy. He could've helped me. He could've told me."
"You're right. He could've. And maybe if he did, things would've turned out different. But he didn't. And that's his own decision. You weren't the only one terrified. It's not just your life on the line." Lancelot spoke, using all his willpower to keep his voice soft.
"What did he think I was going to do? Turn him in? Get him executed for trying to help me? Who the hell did he think I was?"
"The king's ward. One wrong move, Merlin's life is gone. You, on the other hand, were one of the only people who could've survived Uther's wrath."
Morgana gave a bitter laugh. "Don't be stupid, Lancelot. If Uther knew he wouldn't have hesitated to kill me."
"If you truly think that then I'm not the stupid one here." Lancelot retorted, quickened his pace a bit.
Morgana didn't try to catch up, falling back.
"Nice day out, right?"
Merlin jumped, twisting around to see Leon, who had easily fallen into step beside him. After Percival came to steal Gwaine away, Leon saw his chance to talk to Merlin.
"Yeah. It might be a bit hot for me though." Merlin replied, giving Leon an easy smile.
"I wanted to thank you," Leon said. "for coming out with us. Really, it means a lot. We're kind of clueless if you hadn't realized."
Merlin laughed. "Of course. The lake is really beautiful and it's a shame that most people never get to see it."
Leon and Merlin weren't the closest before Arthur had died but after Camlann and after Percival had fallen prey to disease in his forties, Leon and Merlin had quickly bonded over their losses. Merlin had opened up about his father and his past lover. Throughout the years that the two have known each other, he'd rarely seen Merlin relax and simply be. Even through his easy laughs and banters, there was this darkness in his eyes that Leon never saw leave.
And he knew that even when Leon was in his seventies and nearing his death, Merlin still wasn't telling him everything. He was still keeping secrets. Merlin didn't even tell Leon and Gwen that he was immortal just a few weeks before Leon had died. Merlin was aging along with them but when Leon caught Merlin one morning looking like he had just arrived in Camelot all those years ago, he had a sudden whiplash to the past.
Now, that tension was still there. Secrets lurking in his eyes and Leon only prayed that maybe, once Merlin was back for good, he would let go and relax and lower his guard.
"How many times have you been?"
Merlin hummed, looking up at the sky. "A couple of times. There's this energy about the place, you know. It makes you feel alive and the most amazing feeling."
Leon watched as Merlin closed his eyes and bathed in the golden light. As if sensing his gaze, his eyes cracked open, and stared back at Leon.
Leon forced a smile, his mood dampened for a reason he didn't quite understand. "I can't wait to see it."
Merlin tore his gaze from Leon as the trees melted into a familiar pattern. "We're almost there. Just through these bushes."
He sped up and moved to the front of the group, where Arthur was walking alone. With a breath of courage, he grabbed Arthur's hand and pulled him forward. "Come on. It's the most beautiful sight."
Arthur jerked at the sudden movement but went along willingly. his fingers unconsciously squeezing Merlin's. Merlin pushed through the last few branches and pulled them back to reveal the clearing.
They had arrived at the opposite side of where Arthur and the rest had risen. From here, you couldn't hear the noise of traffic or people. All that was there was the birds chirping and the gentle laps of water against the shore. The island that Arthur knew was there was hidden behind the curves of the lake so all he could see was the rising mountains that cast a light shadow over the shore.
Gwen gasped softly, moving forward. "It's beautiful."
Merlin smiled. "Most people come to see from the street view but this one is a million times better. There is an island, which is the only thing you can't see from here. Morgana, you saw in my sketchbook remember? That was the street view."
Arthur stepped forward, forgetting that his hand was still in Merlin's when he followed. Arthur let go, his face flushing with heat. He made his way down and hesitantly stepped onto the wet dirt and sand. He crouched down and ran his fingers over the water, mesmerized by the way it rippled beneath his fingertips.
Merlin watched as Arthur made his way to the water, his gaze filled with awe. A bitter part of Merlin hated the fact he'd forgotten the first time he came. Forgotten that feeling of pure astonishment at seeing the lake for the first time.
Merlin smiled as Arthur ran his fingers over the water's surface. He was aware he probably looked like a love-struck idiot but honestly, the man was so much more adorable than his demeanor let on. Kind of like an awed child. And it instantly made the entire trip worth it.
He stepped down to where Arthur was and removed his shoes, sinking his feet into the wet sand. Arthur, seeing Merlin, did the same and climbed up onto a small rock so just his feet would be immersed in the water.
"It's nice, right?"
Arthur smiled, taking Merlin's breath away. "Yeah. The water's the perfect temperature."
Merlin crouched down to scoop a handful of water and watched it filter through his fingers, leaving a couple of small pebbles and dirt in his palm. He reached back to cup another handful to find the water was already rippling.
The gentle waves of the water had shifted and surged forward to completely engulf Merlin's feet. He stumbled back, shocked. Arthur blinked at the water, noticing the change as well. "Um, what is that?"
Merlin's eyes focused on what looked like a mini whirlpool that spun out waves of water. "There are only small fish in the lake. I have no idea what that is."
The other started to come down as the water swelled as if something beneath it ached to break the surface. Merlin took a step forward, something in his chest throbbing. His vision blurred at the edges and he suddenly felt like he'd gotten up too quickly and the world was threatening to topple in on itself.
"Oh my god." Morgana whispered and Merlin jerked. He hadn't realized how close she had gotten. "That's definitely not a fish. Or an animal."
Gwen was suddenly at his other side, a comforting hand on his shoulder. "That looks like—"
Gwen broke off as the figure in the rose, water pouring off it as it was made of the liquid itself. In a flash, the world went blindingly clear, like everything had just gotten into focus.
The figure looked up. Long, dripping dark hair fell past her shoulders and her eyes were warm and filled Merlin with a type of heat he didn't recognize. She was clad in white silk that wrapped around her like an extension of her skin and seemed to float across the water as she neared closer to Merlin. He couldn't help but think that she looked like a goddess.
Every coherent thought his mind instantly vanished as she slipped onto the ground, her eyes locking with his. She moved forward and though every single part of Merlin told him to push back, it seemed like the ground beneath him was quicksand and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move.
The goddess reached up and cupped his jaw, ever so gently. The touch sent all the tension in him melting like ice on a hot day. The world around him disappeared and all he could see was her soft, heart shaped face and eyes filled with an emotion he couldn't place for the life of him.
She leaned close and pressed her forehead to his. An aroma of salt and strawberries and roses wafted over Merlin and the scent, though odd, felt like home. Her skin was dry as if the water had evaporated the moment she broke the surface of the lake. There were flecks of dirt and sand on her nose and Merlin had the sudden urge to wipe it away. The small imperfection broke the image of the perfect goddess Merlin had thought she was, but for some reason, it only pulled him in further.
The pads of her fingers swiped over his cheekbone and a watery smile curled at her lips. Her eyes were fond and ever so soft. Her voice instantly smoothed over the jagged edges of his mind and was the only thing he could hear over the waves in his ears. And though Merlin couldn't tell who she was or why she was here or what she meant to him, he was gone the moment their eyes locked.
"Merlin, my love."
-0-o-0-
