So I'm finally here again with a new chapter! I haven't started writing chapter 17 yet, but according to everything that I want to happen there, it'll probably be a very long chapter again and it'll take a lot of time to write, which I don't really have this week because the teachers decided to drop bomb of homework on us during Christmas (I'm gonna procrastinate anyway oops).

And although this chapter is shorter than the previous ones (but still quite long), I hope you'll enjoy it because I decided to write as much Merthur as I can. When I started this fanfic, I rated it M because I didn't know it I would or would not write smut in the chapters where Merlin and Arthur are already together, and now that I think about it... talking about it is as far as I can go, so if you expected something more, don't be disappointed please, there's a lot of kissing yay XD And when you think about it, they've been together for only about two days so :D

Idk guys, this was supposed to be my first M rated fanfic... do you think I should change it back to rating T? Or maybe I should decide after I write the ending, I expect that to be very painful anyway and... well, I think I'll keep the M rating... there doesn't have to be smut for it to be a good fanfic, right? ;)

Enjoy! :)

CHAPTER 16
Wake up, You Sleepyhead

No, Arthur wasn't sure what time it was when he woke up. He wasn't even sure whether he's really woken up or whether it was all just a part of his dream about Merlin's hands all over his body. But then he heard a familiar creak of the door, followed by silent "shit," and that made him frown. Not that Merlin didn't curse in his dream, but there was no door.

So as happy as he was right now, curled to Merlin's side with his arm over Merlin's waist, he moved his head and looked over at the door that was – as he expected – open.

Agatha was standing there with a grimace on her face, looking at Arthur apologetically. When she looked behind him at Merlin, she sighed and smiled.

"Arthur?" She whispered and made two steps forward. That was when Arthur noticed she was already in her clothes outside. What time it was again?

"Time?" Arthur asked, closing one eye and suppressing a yawn.

"It's eight," she told him in a whisper. "Listen, I'm going back to Morgan's flat and maybe she'll open the door this time."

"Okay," Arthur nodded and closed his eyes for a bit. When he opened them again, Agatha was already leaving and closing the door behind her.

So Arthur turned back to Merlin and almost yelped when he saw Merlin was looking at him with one eye open and the other one closed. He hummed and smiled up at his king, making it almost irresistible for Arthur to just lean down and kiss him.

"Good morning," Arthur whispered and pulled him closer with his hand on his waist under the blanket. Their thighs touched and Arthur shuddered, taking a deep breath and smiling at Merlin.

Not a good time to remember that dream he had.

"It's not morning until I say it is," Merlin mumbled and closed his eyes again, snuggling the blanket up to his chin and shifting under the blanket so he could be as close to Arthur as he could.

"Oh, I didn't know that you can control time as well," Arhtur chuckled and kissed Merlin's forehead. When he looked down at his boyfriend, Merlin was smirking up at him and both of his eyes were open again.

"I can't control time, but I can control you." He told him, making Arthur laugh suddenly and raise his eyebrows.

"Oh, I see," he grinned and lifted himself carefully above Merlin so they weren't touching yet, but Arthur was keeping Merlin trapped underneath him with the prison bars being his arms on each side of Merlin's head. When Merlin didn't say anything and just stared at Arthur's lips, Arthur smirked. "And tell me, sorcerer. Can you control me if I do this?"

He waited a few seconds just to drive Merlin crazy and then he leaned down, pressing his entire body to Merlin's and keeping their lips just mere inches apart.

"Tease," Merlin breathed out in a whisper, not daring to move or try some spell on Arthur to control him. Arthur only smirked again, leaning a tiny bit closer, but not touching Merlin, not yet.

"Maybe I can control you," Arthur smiled.

In that second, Merlin lifted his head and pressed their lips together, bringing his hand from underneath Arthur to the back of Arthur's head and to his hair. Arthur didn't expect it, but he didn't hesitate to kiss Merlin back either.

He had to take a deep breath through his nose as the kiss started to feel a bit more intense. This wasn't new to him, things like this sometimes happened with Guinevere, but never... were they ready for this?

"Arthur," escaped Merlin's lips as he kept kissing his king, and in that moment Arthur knew that he didn't care. All he saw, felt and breathed was Merlin's body underneath him, every movement he did, his soft lips connected to his. Every thought of his mind screamed Merlin.

"Merlin?" He gasped in bewteen the kisses. "Are you... are we..."

Merlin laughed slighly and pulled away, his eyes still closed. "No, I... I don't have what we need in here," he sighed and opened his eyes, looking at Arthur's face and caressing it with his thumbs.

"What do you mean?" Arthur asked. "Are we talking about the same thing?"

"I'm pretty sure we do, yes," Merlin smiled up at him and looked down at his lips, running his thump over them and then kissing them once more. When his head fell down on the pillow again, he shrugged. "These days, people have all sorts of enhancements to make sure it's safe, and I don't have that, so..."

"Alright," Arthur smiled and leaned down to kiss Merlin again. Then he decided to roll off of him and he ended up on his back next to Merlin, who laid his head on Arthur's chest and smiled down at him.

"So... can you wait?" Merlin asked him, with worries in his eyes.

Arthur nodded and ruffled his dark hair, making it even more tousled. "We'll wait."

Merlin smiled and leaned down to kiss Arthur again, enjoying the slow and passionate kiss. Then Arthur pulled away and slowly sat up, waiting for Merlin to let go of him and snuggle back into the blankets.

"Where are you going?" Merlin moaned and then yawned, trying hard to frown up at Arthur. Which made the king chuckle.

"I'm going downstairs to prepare some breakfast." He answered as he finally got up and stretched himself, his arms over his head.

"Well, that's something I'm sure you've never said before," Merlin smirked and watched Arthur's stomach after his white sleeping t-shirt had ridden up while he was stretching himself.

Before Arthur could respond, Merlin asked, "hey, and where's Ag?"

"She went to Morgan's flat to try to persuade her to open the door again." Arthur shrugged.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Merlin propped himself on his elbow and turned to Arthur, looking up at him and frowning.

"They were... are friends." Arthur said. "I don't think Morgan would hurt her."

"And Morgana?" Merlin voiced his doubts, but Arthur just shook his head.

"She has memories of both of her lives now, Merlin." Arthur reassured him with a smile. "I don't think she would be capable of hurting Agatha, Agatha wouldn't even go there if she thought Morgan would hurt her."

"Yeah, but Agatha wants to save Morgan from her own self." Merlin shrugged and fell back into the bed, lying on his back.

"Everything's going to be fine, don't worry." Arthur smiled and finally disappeared behind the door.

He didn't hear Merlin's voice again as he went down the stairs, thinking about what could have happened, hadn't he started talking during the make out session. Perhaps something similar to what happened in his dream?

But that was only for Arthur to decide.

He sighed and reached the kitchen, making two cups of cocoa and bread with butter and honey. That was the breakfast he had the first morning he spent in this house. Well, they had tea then, but Arthur liked cocoa drink better. So he prepared all of that and laid it on a tray he found in one of the cupboards under the sink and then he returned to their room again, carefully opening the door with his leg.

"A little help, maybe?" Arthur smiled, thinking about different ways Merlin's magic could help him right now. He expected a usual witty answer, like "Suffer like I suffered," or "I've been doing this for actual years, having to get it from the royal kitchen up to your chambers and you can't even get it here?", but Merlin was silent and all Arthur could hear were his silent snores.

He finally looked up from the tray and put it on Merlin's desk, careful not to destroy any of Merlin's drawings (majority of them were of Arthur's face or of them both together, so destroying those felt almost like a sin), and he turned to look at Merlin.

His boyfriend was asleep, wrapped in the warm blanket and lying on both halves of his big bed. And how could Arthur not smile at that?

So instead of waking him up, he kissed his forehead and entered Gaius' old rooms, looking around and reminiscing. He sighed and then took a deep breath, imagining as if nothing had changed and he was back in Camelot.

The enchanted fake windows on the wall with the view of the Lower Town were helping a lot, but the soft snores coming from the other room were just a reminder that Camelot was gone now. Arthur wasn't sure he would ever get over that, but the snoring was also a sign that there was something good in this world.

Like his new boyfriend and a very old best friend, his loyal warlock, Merlin.

And Agatha was in this century too, he could never forget that. Sometimes she seemed a bit strange to Arthur, but she was a good person and a good friend.

Arthur smiled and entered Merlin's old little room, looking around and then eventually picking up the first diary they read together. He knew he shouldn't, he definitely shouldn't, but Merlin had his memories now. They didn't have to continue reading his diaries and if he wanted to know anything, all he had to do was ask.

And Arthur was sure he would miss all those moments they spent together in peace, Merlin reading for him out loud and Arthur losing awareness of his surroundings and imagining himself in Merlin's place. And then Merlin would always clear his throat or move slightly and Arthur would be thrown back into the reality, back into the room or bed with Merlin who was only reading a diary and not regaining any memories whatsoever.

That was different now, as he said. So Arthur ignored his hesitation and for a moment forgot he was supposed to be in the room with Merlin, and he picked up the book and opened it on Merlin's old bed.

He started flipping the pages, recognizing the paragraphs they've already read together and then finding new paragraphs that Merlin had purposely skipped. Arthur was very curious, and he had an inkling as to what was written in those paragraphs, so he knew he shouldn't read them, but... he's already opened the diary, hasn't he?

Dear Arthur.

I don't understand why I'm beginning every damn sentence in this stupid book with dear Arthur. It's stupid, isn't it? To dwell on the memories of you when all of us except for me had moved on? I can't take this, I can't. It's taking too long. It's been five years Arthur, five bloody years! I'm not mad at you for not coming back, why would you want to come back when we're at war with the neighboring kingdom with a new young and inexperienced king? Why would you? Why would I want to keep waiting for you when it's killing me inside? But I want to Arthur, I need to, I love you.

Tonight, I dreamt about you again. It felt so real, it felt as if you were here with me, holding my hand and promising to come back soon. I couldn't let go of you, but you disappeared, as you always do in the end, and then I wake up to the sad and dark reality. Lonely and so very alone.

Arthur blinked the tears away and turned a few pages back, trying to find something they haven't read yet from earlier after he died. And then he found another promising paragraph.

Dear Arthur,

I know this is weird for you if you're reading this right now and I'm so very sorry for making you uncomfortable. Sometimes, I'm making myself just as uncomfortable, believe me. But why should you believe me when I had been lying to you for so long? That is a question I'm asking myself every day, every day that I spend looking for a spell or a ritual that would bring you back.

Dear Arthur, dear Arthur, I'm sorry if you're still reading this. If you've skipped paragraphs or entire pages that are dedicated to you and my feelings for you, I wouldn't blame you. *But maybe you should skip the entire diary number five.

Arhtur frowned, and realized that the last sentence was written by a different pen or quill. It was a note from Merlin who'd already written most of the diaries and was just reading through the old ones, most likely.

I've been dreaming about your face. I keep dreaming about your face almost every night and those nights are blessed because every morning I wake up, and your face is gone and all I'm left with are my memories and a few old paintings that don't look like you at all. I need to get better, I know that. Even Gaius told me that, along with something like "Merlin, you need to stop leaving and trying to revive him. He's dead, you can't change that. It will drive you crazy." I don't listen, I never listen, and maybe I've gone mad, but it's worth it, Arthur. I'm crazy about you.

I miss your voice, your scent, everything that makes you Arthur, I even miss the ghost of your breath on my bare skin that I can only feel in my dreams.

Arthur closed his eyes and closed the book. This was getting too intimate, he shouldn't be reading this. He looked at the cover of the book – a simple brown leather cover, with Merlin's engraved name in the middle and some old druid symbols in the corners.

Merlin in the next room snored a bit more loudly, and Arthur raised his head and sighed. It was still morning, so Merlin would wake up very soon and he was reading something he definitely shouldn't be reading. So he put the diary back on the shelf and closed the door as he left the little room, and entered Merlin's modern room.

When he saw Merlin's innocent sleepy face, he smiled and walked over to the bed, leaning down and kissing Merlin on his lips.

"Rise and shine, you idiot." He smiled when Merlin stirred. "Rise and shine."

xoXÖXox

After she rang the doorbell of one of Morgan's neighbors and made it inside the house, Agatha immediately started running up the stairs, so she could start texting and knocking again a little bit sooner. Morgan lived in the fifth floor though, and soon Ag was panting and supporting herself on the rail. Thankfully, that happened when she was in the fifth floor already. (Her fitness couldn't have been that bad, could it?)

She knocked on the door, but as soon as her knuckles touched it, the door opened and she was standing under the door frame.

Morgan wasn't at home? She always locked the door, something must have been wrong.

Agatha's eyes widened as she entered the flat and closed the door behind herself. The first thing she noticed was that almost all the shelves were empty and most of Morgan's belongings were gone. Ag quickly checked Morgan's room, her bathroom, kitchen, but there was no sign of her.

Where has she gone?

When it was clear Morgan wasn't inside and Agatha almost lost all hope of finding her again, she found a letter addressed to her on the table in the living room.

She hesitantly opened it and started to read.

Dear Agatha,

I know you were knocking on my door today and texting me and I'm sorry I ignored you like that, but you need to understand that I can't be talked out of this, and you might be capable of doing just that. Talking me out of my plan.

As you already know, I have my memories back. And you have no idea how much I've changed, I'm a completely different person now, one you might not want to be friends with. But I appreciate that you wanted to talk to me. If I answered though, that would mean that whatever I told you, you'd tell Merlin and Arthur, and that can never happen.

It's strange to remember two lives so well. But now I finally understand what made me move to Glastonbury in the first place, and why I kept visiting Arthur's Tomb so often. There was always a part of me missing, and now that I've finally found it, I feel better, much more like myself.

I've left Glastonbury, that much I can tell you. And I'll be back, but first I need to find someone and do something and I don't know how long will it take. My magic is very weak right now. But I found out there are special camps for people who have magic in England, and I plan on going there.

Only you can decide whether you believe what I just wrote or not. It might be the truth, and it might not.

You won't hear of me for a while, so don't bother calling me or texting me – as soon as I get into some city, I'll buy a new phone.

Morgana Pendragon

Agatha sighed and closed her eyes for a few seconds, trying to understand what she just read and what it meant. For starters, she couldn't trust Morgan anymore, that much Morgan told her herself in the letter. She also wouldn't be able to find her and she won't see her until... until what exactly? Until she returns to Glastonbury with that someone and after she did that something?

What was she after? Merlin's and Arthur's lives? Would she be capable of killing them? She did say she was a completely different person...

Agatha opened her eyes and folded the letter in half and then in half again, putting it into the inside pocket of her coat. Then she took a deep breath and with one last look at the empty apartment, she left and closed the door, taking her phone out of her pocket.

Maybe she should call Merlin and Arthur and tell them what happened... or maybe she should tell them in person, she wasn't ready to speak or even think after what she just learned.

She just hoped she was alright enough to drive.

xoXÖXox

They were sitting on the sofa in the living room, all drinking cocoa drinks and talking about Morgana's letter. Well, Agatha was mostly talking, and Arthur was too, but Merlin? He was sitting with his side pressed to Arthur's side, with his head falling onto Arthur's shoulder and he was thinking about his dream, the person he saw in the garden, and also about the letter Agatha was telling them about.

"So she's gone? For good?" Arthur asked, taking a sip of his cocoa and glancing down at Merlin who moved his head slightly on Arthur's shoulder.

"No, she said she would eventually come back," Ag sighed and smiled slightly when she saw how comfortable Merlin looked around Arthur. "She said that before she could return, she needed to find someone and do something."

"Any idea what that might be?" Arthur asked.

"No," Ag shrugged. "She said she was a completely different person now, so it could be anything."

"Well, we know the old Morgana," Merlin said, not really looking anywhere and narrowing his eyes as if he was the only one in the room. "And you know the new Morgan, so..."

"She doesn't have anyone." Agatha nodded, thinking about it. "She said her parents died and she spent the rest of her life as a child in an orphanage in London. So I really don't know who she might be looking for."

"Maybe it's someone from her previous life." Merlin shrugged.

Arthur nodded and then he shook his head right after. "Yeah, but there's no one here who lived in Camelot. Is there?"

"I know only the two of you and Morgan," Agatha said and looked out of the window at the garden.

As Merlin followed her gaze, he ended up staring at the garden. It was just after noon and the garden was illuminated by the sky because there were clouds everywhere and no sign of the sun whatsoever.

He squinted his eyes and tried to see the black haired girl again. In his mind, he could almost see her. It was only for a second, but he recognized the long wavy black hair and the coat. He didn't notice the coat in the darkness, but she must have had it, he was sure she had it. And there was no doubt who that girl in his garden from last night was. He would recognize her anywhere, and it seemed she stopped for a visit before she left Glastonbury.

The only thing he didn't know was what was she doing there during the night and why did she leave just as fast as she came, leaving no damage behind. And how did she get into the garden after he put the protection spell over it... maybe she climbed over the walls?

"Merlin?" Arthur moved his shoulder slightly to make Merlin pay attention again. "Are you alright?"

"What? What, yeah." Merlin nodded and pulled away, leaning against the couch instead of Arthur's shoulder and finishing his mug of cocoa. "Uh, so Morgana is who knows where, planning something against us for sure."

"Do you really think she would do that?" Agatha asked him silently.

Merlin looked at her and nodded with sad eyes. "I'm sorry, but if she remembers who she was, she must have recovered also feelings and urges and she was hell bent on killing us in the past. She'll definitely try again."

"And she said her magic was weak, so she'll want to take some time to try and regain her powers." Arthur confirmed it. "She said she knew you were going to tell us, so everything that was in the letter is what she's comfortable with us knowing."

"And the rest is only for her to know." Ag looked down into her half full and half empty mug and frowned.

"I think I'll go take a nap," Merlin suddenly said, putting the empty mug on the table and standing up.

"Now? It's afternoon." Arthur frowned up at him, but Merlin just shrugged.

"What, I probably won't even fall asleep, I'm just tired."

"Are you sure you're alright?" Agatha asked, but Merlin was already leaving the room as Ag and Arthur exchanged worried glances.

"I'm fine," he said and went up the stairs, leaving them downstairs alone. He really needed a little bit of time alone and he really felt a little tired. He hoped he wasn't coming down with something.

So as soon as he fell down into his bed again, he sighed and closed his eyes, accidentally falling asleep in seconds.

xoXÖXox

It was two hours later when Arthur went to Merlin's room and found him asleep there. He and Agatha just kept talking and ended up watching a movie after he said he'd take a nap, and when Arthur noticed Merlin was still upstairs, he decided to check on him.

Merlin woke up to a kiss on his forehead, that then traveled down to his lips. He smiled into the kiss and instead of opening his eyes, he reached out his hand and his smile got even bigger when a strong hand entwined their fingers and a body lay down next to him.

"Wake up, would you?" Arthur's voice commanded, making Merlin instantly groan. He opened his eyes at last and looked up at Arthur's happy face, looking down at him with love in his eyes.

Merlin wrapped his arms and legs around Arthur and snuggled closer to him, enjoying the warmth and closeness. "How long was I asleep?" He asked.

"Nearly two hours," Arthur answered, making Merlin tense. Before Merlin could say anything, Arthur continued. "And now it's almost four in the afternoon and we're both very worried about you, so I'll ask you again. Are you alright?"

Arthur looked down into Merlin's blue eyes and kept staring at him until Merlin looked away and shrugged.

"I'm just really tired today, that's all."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Merlin nodded against Arthrur's shoulder and sighed. "Yes, I'm sure. We can go on a trip tomorrow if you like, I won't be tired tomorrow."

Arthur raised his eyebrow, not very sure whether he should believe Merlin, but then believing him anyway because of Merlin's cute face and easy smile.

"So you're okay."

"Yeah, maybe it's just the weather or something, I don't know." He rolled his eyes and sat up, rubbing them. "Anyway, since I'm awake now and was asleep most of the day..." he turned to Arthur and raised one eyebrow, a little scared to suggest what he had in mind, but on the other hand deciding he was ready after so many years of waiting. "... so that means I'll have a lot of energy during the night." He said in a silent voice, waiting for Arthur's response as he heard the fast beating of his heart and stopped breathing for a few seconds.

Arthur kept staring at him, slowly realizing what Merlin was suggesting and offering him. "What about... the other things..."

"I can go to the town," Merlin breathed out as he turned to Arthur and sat a bit closer to him. "And get everything we need."

"And what about Ag?" Arthur added another question.

"I have magic Arthur, I can shield the room and make it soundproof and lock the door, if that's what you're worried about. Now will you give me an answer?" He asked, glancing at Arthur's lips and then staring into his crystal blue eyes again.

There was slight fear in Arthur's eyes, and Merlin was sure there was some in his eyes as well. But there was also an excitement and as Merlin touched Arthur's wrist lightly, he felt his rapidly beating heart as his hot blood was pumping through his entire body, gathering in his cheeks a bit.

And then Arthur nodded. "Yes." Arthur whispered, still nodding and cupping Merlin's face. "I think I'll be awake. You?"

Merlin smirked slightly. "I can't think of any better way to spend my night when I'm not tired." He smiled and his smirk disappeared as he felt Arthur's hot breath on his lips.

He closed his eyes and did the final move forward, connecting their hungry lips and moving his hand from Arthur's wrist up to his hair. He took a deep breath through his nose and he was sure Arthur heard that judging by how passionate the kiss became.

"I need..." Merlin mumbled against his lips. "Where's Agatha?"

Arthur pulled away for a few seconds. "She's gone back to Morgan's flat to gather some of her things. She wanted to be alone for a while too, so she said she'd return for dinner."

Merlin nodded and sat on Arthur's lap with his hands on Arthur's shoulders as Arthur looked up into his eyes. He glanced at his lips and Merlin leaned down for a quick gentle kiss.

"I need to go to the bathroom though," he giggled when Arthur wrapped his arms around Merlin's waist and it tickled a little.

"What if I just won't let you go?" Arthur smiled and kissed his neck. When his tiny kisses reached Merlin's jaw, the warlock smiled and moved his head down so Arthur kissed his lips again.

"Well, then I'll have to use my magic," he smirked.

After a few more kisses, Arthur let him go with protests, but when Merlin kissed him one more time, he was finally able to leave the room and lock himself in the bathroom.

He sighed as he stood in front of the mirror with his eyes closed. His head was spinning whenever he started thinking about Arthur and he found himself wondering if Arhtur felt the same when he was thinking about him. That made him open his eyes and he stared at himself in the mirror.

Then he washed his hands and his face and looked at his reflection again, thinking about how tired he was that day. He knew he wouldn't be able to fall asleep that night, that much was certain.

A little laugh escaped his lips when he looked at his hair.

It was almost too dark and tousled, with traces of Arthur's fingers in it, which made Merlin's cheeks a little bit red. So he ran his hand through his hair and-

what the fu-

"What?" Merlin frowned as he quickly leaned closer to the mirror. But yes, he wasn't wrong. There was a lock of grey hair.

His heart started beating faster and this time it was not because Arthur was close to him or because of what they were planning to do in the night. This time it was because he was scared.

This hasn't happened to him before, not ever. He never aged after Arthur died, he just stayed the same for the next 1500 years so Arthur would recognise him once he returned, and although he used the aging spell many times because of some people he got to know, this has never happened on its own.

He gritted his teeth and forced himself to take another deep breath and as he exhaled, he tried the de-aging spell. "Edniwe min geoguð!"

Of course Merlin knew exactly how to use the spell so that he wouldn't change himself into a baby, all he needed was the grey hair gone. But the spell didn't work. His eyes flashed gold and nothing happened, and Merlin felt himself starting to panic.

He didn't want to get old, he still looked as if he was in his 30s and he really didn't want to change that into 1530s. How old would he even look if his body had kept changing after Arthur died? He wouldn't have been immortal then.

Merlin turned around and looked at all the shelves in his bathroom. He didn't have a magic shampoo or anything that would change the colour of his hair from grey back to black (and he would need to buy that later if this kept happening), but he had scissors.

Without any hesitation he grabbed the scissors and found the grey lock of hair. With a shaky hand, he cut it and flushed it down the toilet as soon as it was detached from his head.

This didn't erase the problem, he knew that. But it allowed him to forget.

At least for another day.

TBC

"Edniwe min geoguð!" - means "restore my youth" and was used by Merlin in 3x10 Queen of Hearts, when Uther and Morgana saw Arthur with Gwen in the forest and Merlin tried to save Gwen from an execution by changing into Dragoon the Great, but then couldn't change back.

I'd love Arthur to read more from Merlin's diaries, so I hope I won't forget about that.

Well, I hope you liked it and that you're properly worried about our favorite warlock. This chapter is very similar to one of the episodes from season 1... you know, that one with young Mordred... titled The Beginning of the End? *evil laughter*

Okay, so sorry for that.

Merry Christmas?