-Nineteen-
Awakening
"The time tables have moved," Uther said to the men assembled before him the following afternoon. Morgana's escape in the night had been discovered when she'd been brought breakfast. Uther had been devastated. "She's frightened – with her magic back she could get herself into trouble," he'd said, sending Lancelot off to find her. Of course Lancelot knew just where she was, but he put forth an effort to look for her, driving around in the early hours of the morning. Uther hadn't been happy when he'd returned alone, but he'd moved onto business quickly.
"We need to destroy the caves sooner than later. Once magic is destroyed, I'll have my daughter back and Nimueh and Morgause will be powerless. Double your efforts."
Lancelot's attention piqued at the mention of 'the caves.' He wasn't sure if they were a particular set of caves or where they were but it was more than he'd known before. Uther's men nodded and moved off to obey their king's orders. Lancelot wasn't sure where Uther had found them. When he'd awoken, he'd found himself already under Uther's control. He wasn't a wraith and he had some level of free will, but when Uther pulled, Lancelot was like a puppet with strings firmly in Uther's grasp. He suspected the other men were under the same influence as him. He hesitated to call it magic, but he had no idea what Uther would or wouldn't do to achieve his goal. Perhaps it took magic to destroy magic.
"I have a feeling that Morgana went straight to Morgause and Nimueh," Uther confided in Lancelot once the others had left. "We can't let her half sister influence her the way she did before."
"Morgana is frightened," Lancelot told him. "You need to show her that you really do accept her for who she is. I'm not sure destroying magic will accomplish that."
"Without magic there will be nothing wrong with her, and Morgause and Nimueh will be powerless. I can't lose her again."
Lancelot wanted to point out that there was nothing wrong with Morgana now, but he kept that thought to himself. "Just be careful you don't drive her away when you're trying to 'fix' her," he said.
"Do you think you know my own daughter better than me?" Uther said, rounding on Lancelot.
"No, sire, of course not."
"Good. Keep an eye on Nimueh and her kind. If you see Morgana, get her back here by any means. It's best for her."
Lancelot bowed, leaving the room. He had no intention of forcing Morgana back here. Things were getting out of hand; it was time to call in help.
…
When they reached the waters, Ryll was feeling nervous. It felt strange awakening King Arthur in a time when Camelot was lying in ruins. She wasn't entirely sure what their next step would be once they retrieved Arthur. Take him somewhere safe. Probably explain a few things about the 21st century first like cars and electricity. She was glad she hadn't woken up with no understanding of this new world. She couldn't imagine how lost she would have been. It was a far cry from the life she had lived before.
The same boat they'd traveled in before was waiting once more. This time Ryll got in with less trepidation. As Merlin used his magic to guide it forward, Ryll tried to summon her own powers. She felt nothing. It was as if the Second Coming had drained her of any and all magic. She stifled her disappointment and focused on the island that rose out of the mist. Her disappointment turned into nervous excitement as the boat bumped the edge of the island. Merlin stood, holding out a hand for her, and they stepped onto the island together. He grasped Excalibur in his other hand. Now Ryll remembered the time she had visited Avalon seeking to purge the dark magic from her. It was where she had first learned of her fate though the Sidhe had told her she would die for Arthur not Merlin.
Merlin didn't release her hand as they moved inland toward where Arthur lay, still asleep. The king was as they'd left him, golden hair lit up by the patch of sun that penetrated the mist. "How is it he's still so young?" Ryll asked.
"I don't know. We all seem to be about the same age as when you died. That must be significant. Maybe time sort of restarted itself just several hundred years later." Merlin held Excalibur, hesitating. "We should do this together," he said.
Ryll nodded. Merlin reached out a hand and unfolded Arthur's hands. "You take one hand, I'll take the other," he told her. Ryll reached out and took one of Arthur's hands. It was warm. Merlin took the other hand and then laid Excalibur on Arthur's chest, blade pointed downward. They both clasped his hands over the hilt and drew back. At first nothing happened, but then Arthur's hands moved, tightening on the blade. His eyes snapped open, as blue as Ryll remembered. King Arthur was awake.
…
Merlin watched as his old friend awakened. He'd waited so long for this moment, waited for his king to return again. Merlin just hoped he hadn't changed too much for Arthur to recognize him. He might look the same as before, but he'd changed. Who wouldn't after so many years of solitude? He'd lived multiple lifetimes. He'd never be the same Merlin he'd been in Camelot. He glanced up at Ryll whose face was unreadable. She had changed too in the Second Coming. Now the question was, had Arthur changed?
The king's eyes fluttered open, staring up at the sky – now cleared of the mist and showing blue patches.
"Arthur?" Merlin said his name aloud, and Arthur turned his eyes to Merlin, recognition sparking. He moved to get up and Merlin helped him sit.
"Merlin?" Arthur looked his friend over. His eyes were a little unfocused as if he was trying to put everything together. Did he remember being dead? Arthur turned to look at Ryll. "Amaryllis."
"It's good to see you, Arthur," Ryll said, a smile breaking out across her face.
"Do you know where you are?" Merlin asked. Arthur looked around him, confusion etched on his face. "You're in Avalon," he answered for him when the king didn't speak. "You've just awoken in the Second Coming."
"I just woke up too," Ryll said. "Well, it's been three years, but I didn't have my memories until Merlin and I pulled that sword from the stone."
Arthur looked confused. "You pulled Excalibur from the stone?" he asked.
"Well, it took a little magic," Merlin admitted, watching Arthur carefully.
"Right, of course." There was no judgment in the king's tone. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Well, awhile now," Merlin said. "Pushing nine hundred years."
"Then I was dead." Arthur's tone was hollow as he spoke as if he'd known this all along even if he hadn't put it into words until now.
"Yeah."
"I was too," Ryll volunteered.
Arthur's eyes fell on her. He reached out for her hand, and she took it. "I could never forget the day you died," he said. "I remember you speaking of a second chance. I'm not sure I truly believed that it would come."
"Sometimes I doubted it too," Merlin said softly. Ryll looked over at him. The sorrow was clearly written in her eyes. "But we're here now," he continued before she could apologize. "It's not entirely clear who else has been brought back, but what is clear is that Albion is in trouble. Magic is failing, and we need to save it."
"Has Gwen come back?" Arthur asked. There was a desperation in his tone, and Merlin wished he could give him a different answer.
"I don't know," he said. "So far I've only come across Ryll, Morgana, and Byron. Ryll saw Lancelot before she remembered who she – and he – was. He was looking for her, so he clearly still had his memories."
"You mean to say you had no idea who you were when you woke up?" Arthur asked Ryll.
She shook her head. "I thought I knew who I was, but it turns out those were just false memories. I'm not sure why I didn't wake up knowing who I was. But I remember now."
"You said Morgana was back. Have you spoken to her?" There was concern in Arthur's tone, and Merlin knew he was wondering what Morgana was like in this lifetime.
"Yes, Ryll found her first. They hit it off right away. Morgana wants to change. She wants to do things right from the beginning this time."
"She regrets what she did in the past. Even if you made peace before I died, she was never truly happy after that. This is her chance to make a happy life for herself. I'm just afraid she'll let herself be influenced again," Ryll said.
"By Morgause?" Arthur asked.
"And Uther."
"My father is alive?" Arthur asked.
"I'm not sure," Ryll told him. "I haven't come across him yet if he is. I don't understand how this works, if we've all come back or just those of us who need a second chance. I think your father might fall under that category. I think most of us do."
"Nine hundred years?"
"Give or take."
"What is this world like?" Arthur asked, looking around him. All he could see were the ruins and the waters, however. "Does Camelot still stand?"
Ryll caught Merlin's eye, but there was no hiding the truth. "No, Arthur. Camelot is in ruins. It fell a few generations after your rule. Saxons. Your legend has lived on though."
"Everyone knows who you are," Ryll told him. "Though not everyone believes it really happened or that you really existed. This world doesn't believe in magic or legends."
"The world is changed," Merlin told him. "It's nothing like anything you could have imagined. It's evolved to something you won't recognize."
Arthur looked nervous, but he nodded, sheathing Excalibur in the empty scabbard at his belt. "Then I'm lucky to have two guides," he said, pushing past any doubts he had. "We'll figure out what our purpose is together and find those who also came back."
Merlin helped the king stand. Though Arthur was unsteady on his feet at first, he was able to walk to the boat and get in with no help. It was tight on the ride back, but Arthur seemed comforted to have his friends close as they drew close to the shore.
"What is that contraption?" Arthur asked the second the boat hit land. His eyes were set on Merlin's car.
"Something that you're going to see a lot of," Ryll said.
"It's called a car," Merlin put in. "Think of it as horseless carriage."
"What's it made of?" Arthur ran a hand over the side of the car when they reached it.
"Metal. Rubber tires. It runs because of a combination of things inside of it." Merlin pulled his keys out of his pocket, clicking the unlock button. Arthur started a bit at the sound of the doors unlocking.
"And it's safe?" Arthur asked as Merlin opened the passenger door for him.
"Yeah, very safe," Merlin assured him. "They've been around awhile now." He studied Arthur for a second. "You might want to take that sword off your belt," he told Arthur. And maybe get out of that armor. You'll be more comfortable. You can put it in the boot."
"In the what?"
"Oh, the back of the car," Merlin amended. "Not in my boot. I don't think it would fit there." He gave Arthur a grin while Arthur gave him a mock scowl. For a second it was just like old times. He helped Arthur out of his armor, popping the trunk of his car and stowing it safely away. Ryll volunteered to keep Excalibur on the back seat so it was still within Arthur's sight.
Merlin finally slid into the driver's seat and Arthur semi-gracefully fell into the passenger seat. "That strap to your left is what's called a seat belt. Just pull on it and clip it into that little square on your right." Arthur struggled with the belt for a few moments before snapping it successfully into place. "It keeps you safe, but don't worry, I'm a good driver. I've been driving since cars were invented."
"This is kind of exciting!" Ryll said enthusiastically from the backseat. "It's like seeing the world from a totally new perspective."
"Only you were lucky enough to wake up knowing everything," Merlin reminded her.
"It's true. Where are we going anyway?" she asked as Merlin started up the engine.
Arthur nervously gripped the door at the slight vibration. "Is it supposed to do that?" he asked.
"That's the engine," Merlin told him. "It's what gets the car running."
"How does it move without horses?"
"It rolls on the four wheels. There are a lot of things that go into making it move. Machinery replaced horses a long time ago." He looked back at Ryll in the rearview mirror. "I thought we'd go to my house," he said. "It's safe and removed. After that I can drive you back to Ealdor to get Owl and whatever you need."
"I need to check in with Morgana too. She was staying with me," Ryll explained to Arthur. He nodded stiffly, looking very uncomfortable as the car began to move.
"Relax," Merlin told him. "It isn't even magic."
"Just keep your eyes on the road," Arthur said as Merlin turned onto the dirt road.
"I know what I'm doing," Merlin assured him, glancing at the king.
"Watch out!" Ryll shouted a second later as a group of men moved to block the road in front of them. Merlin slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a halt.
"What the…" The men were all dressed in black with a single symbol on each of their shirts.
"That's the Pendragon crest," Arthur said, frowning at the men. "But I don't recognize them. Could they work for my father?"
As Merlin looked at the men, they drew swords from sheaths at their belts. "Well they're definitely involved with Camelot somehow because swords are not a preferred weapon anymore." The men started toward the car, fanning out as if they meant to surround them.
"Back up!" Ryll shouted at him.
Merlin pushed the gear into reverse and slammed his foot down on the pedal. As the car moved backwards, one of the men leapt forward, sword arching down to hit the car on the hood. A dent formed under the metal blade, but Merlin was gaining distance quickly. The men started pursuit, but before they could take another step, another group rushed out from the trees. Merlin stopped the car and they watched, astonished, as another group of swordsmen joined the melee.
"Well this is unusual," Ryll said.
"I don't see how," Arthur said. "Hand me my sword," he turned to look at Ryll who shook her head.
"You just woke up," she told him. "You're in no shape to fight."
"Nonsense."
"You have no idea who they are or whose side you would even be fighting on," Merlin said. The second group was dressed in scarlet cloaks with the hoods pulled up and their lower faces covered with matching colored fabric. They were otherwise unmarked and as they gained the upper hand, one of them turned and waved Merlin away.
"Go!" he shouted loudly enough for them to hear through the closed windows. Merlin didn't need to be told twice. He put the car in drive and shot past the fighting group, nearly taking out a sapling as he swerved a little off the road. He looked back in the rearview mirror but the next moment a bend in the road put the fighters out of sight.
"Well that was unexpected," Ryll said. "Things like that do not happen nowadays," she told Arthur. "People reenact Medieval Times now – that's what they call the time we lived – but weaponry has advanced much further than swords. Fighting has lost a lot of its elegance."
"Is there war now?" Arthur asked.
"There's always war," Merlin replied. "There always has been."
Arthur seemed to sense that this was a touchy topic because he asked, "If there's no Camelot anymore, then what is there?"
"Well, we're currently in England which has a queen now. She's queen of the entire country though. There aren't separate kings and queens like before. The queen appoints a Prime Minister who carries out laws and heads the government working with Parliament. I'll explain more later." He'd still always considered Arthur his king, but he kept this to himself. Something had definitely changed though. He no longer felt like Arthur's servant – of course he hadn't been for a long while – but there was a sense of independence. Merlin had lived a long time and experienced more than one man ever could in a single lifetime. He'd seen so many things Arthur couldn't possibly begin to imagine. He wasn't the same Merlin therefore they couldn't have the same relationship they'd had before.
"I suppose there's a fair amount of history to catch up on," Arthur said, trying to sound lighthearted but failing. He sounded lost and overwhelmed, and Merlin didn't blame him one bit.
"I know it's a lot to take in. Try not to take it all in at once," he advised the king.
…
Merlin's house was in a small town two hours from the ruins of Camelot. Ryll didn't know what she'd been expecting, but the second she set eyes on it she knew it was his. It was a two-story stone cottage with a rounded tower on one side with ivy that wound its way up the stone as if trying to shelter the house. The yard was filled with trees and the garden was full to bursting with the most beautiful flowers Ryll had ever seen. Everything about it was welcoming, and it felt like coming home.
When Merlin had parked his car in the driveway, Ryll got out, breathing in the fresh air. The fragrance of the garden hit her, and she closed her eyes.
"Do you like it?" Merlin asked her. She opened her eyes to find him looking at her. There was a hesitance in his eyes as if he'd been waiting for her opinion for a long time.
"I love it," Ryll said in a long exhaled breath. "It's beautiful."
The look on Merlin's face, the smile that lit it – she'd been waiting to see that for so long. She nearly threw her arms around him that moment, but then Arthur cleared his throat and she remembered that they weren't alone.
"Let's go inside," Merlin said. He got their suitcases from the trunk and led them inside. Arthur clutched Excalibur as he looked around, seeking comfort in the one familiar object he had left.
The front door opened up to a cozy living room with cushiony chairs and a couch. A stone-faced fireplace took up the corner and a flat screen TV currently held Arthur's attention. To the left a set of open doors led into Merlin's study. The rounded walls on one side let in streams of light through the windows, cascading around the room like evanescent gold. Ryll caught a glimpse of piles of books leaning precariously on the floor and the desk before Merlin led them into the kitchen. The island counter divided the kitchen from the living room. While the rest of the house had an old-fashioned feel to it, the kitchen was modern, appliances gleaming stainless steel.
"Bathroom is the second door to the right," Merlin told them, indicating the wall across from the kitchen. "Bedrooms upstairs." The staircase was situated at the back of the house next to the back door. Ryll looked out the kitchen window to see a sprawling backyard filled with flowers and shrubs. The grass was verdantly green and neatly mown.
"Is anyone hungry?" Merlin asked, setting the suitcases at the base of the stairs.
"I could eat a wild boar," Arthur said, setting Excalibur on the kitchen island.
"I'm fresh out, but I could make us some sandwiches," Merlin said.
"I'd be glad of whatever you have," Arthur told Merlin. "As long as it isn't stewed rat."
