I don't own Merlin.
"... announced that power has now been restored to over two thirds of major cities, and the Heathrow airport saw its first takeoff in nearly seven years. Lines of communication outside of the country have been functional for eight days now, and the Interim Cabinet has officially announced the date for negotiations with the United Nations. Those will begin in two days, and we will be sure to bring you further coverage as that moves forward. Finally, speculation that the figure of legend Arthur Pendragon is in fact the same man who has been heading current efforts is being greeted with surprisingly large support. More on this at 10."
In the two weeks since the battle, a lot had happened. After they had regained consciousness, there had been a good deal of confusion among the people at Camelot, but once it was mostly sorted out, no one had felt like fighting. Everybody had been rather willing to listen to Arthur as he directed them in forming a group that functioned as a rough form of government to work on reestablishing everything that had fallen into disarray. Things were far from perfectly solved, but fighting had stopped across the country and things were on their way to improving.
Though Arthur's leadership was useful, most of what he did was listen. He didn't know enough about the world as it currently stood to offer any substantial help. Mostly he offered solutions for dividing work and resources to the best effect. Merlin offered advice when he could, and Arthur actually let him.
Merlin had stayed young, but their borrowed friends hadn't lasted long. Merlin had flown back to Camelot on Aithusa to find his friends, including Gaius who had hurried back, the only ones still awake. And by that time all of them but Arthur were nearly transparent. He'd barely had enough time to explain what had happened before he and Arthur had needed to say goodbye. Over the following days, the group staying at Camelot had got thinner and thinner until at last, two weeks after the battle, it was just Merlin and Arthur.
Merlin flipped off the radio someone had abandoned, and looked over Arthur, who slowly shook his head. "I still find it hard to believe."
"Well, it's the influence of magic, not that they'll realise it. But they'll start believing in that sort of thing more, as it gets stronger."
"No, I meant that," he gestured to the radio, "Sending voices. What did you mean?"
"That people believed you were back."
"Thanks Merlin, your confidence in me is overwhelming."
"Well it is a bit hard to believe, you saving the world," Merlin grinned.
"You mean you, what did I really do?"
"You got people to come together. I don't think it could have worked if you hadn't done that. Besides," Merlin swallowed, "you'll be in charge now, if you want."
"Mmm," Arthur gazed at the view before them. They were sitting on the top of the hill, and it was starting to get dark.
Merlin watched Arthur's face and looked down before he spoke, "You don't want to be, do you?"
Arthur sighed, "It's just that- I don't fit here. They're alright, or will be. Soon enough. Even if I wanted to lead I doubt I'd be much help. I may have been..." he searched for the right word, "... something in our time-"
"You were the greatest king there was."
"But I'm not now. I don't know enough about how things work now."
"You could learn."
"Maybe, but that doesn't mean I could lead."
"It's not hard to find things out, really. We could get you caught up a-and we can-"
"Merlin." Arthur looked at him sympathetically, "I'd be more of an impediment than a help."
Merlin swallowed. "So what will you do?"
"I don't know," Arthur looked into the distance again, his expression unreadable, "I suppose you'll be in the middle of things, since you've saved the world and all."
"I never was much for getting credit," Merlin smiled, "That's what your ego's for."
Arthur swatted at him and Merlin ducked, laughing. Arthur shook his head as Merlin straightened up again, but he was smiling, "What do you want to do then?"
Merlin sobered slightly, "I'm not sure. I think I'd like to go home. At least at first."
Arthur nodded, "Let's do that then."
The journey back to Merlin's cottage was much shorter than their one to Camelot. The two were able to take a more direct route along clearer paths, and passing folk were much more keen to provide them with food and such. Merlin's house was still on the opposite side of the lake from Camelot, so it still took the better part of two days for them to walk there. As they walked, they fell into easy conversation. Both of them were a little subdued, but they still managed to spend most of the time talking. From time to time Merlin would see Aithusa following them, at such a distance that Merlin didn't think Arthur noticed. Merlin didn't point it out, just felt quietly comforted by the dragon's presence.
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