Chapter 2
Arthur awoke the next day with a crick in his neck, sunlight streaming into the room.
After Merlin's revelation the night before Arthur, Gwen and the knights had all fallen asleep fairly quickly. Merlin, not wanting to let any of them out of his sight had given them all blankets and they had slept on the floor on a room adjoining the kitchen.
Arthur could hear someone moving around in the kitchen so he got up, slowly as not to wake Gwen who was sleeping next to him.
Entering the kitchen, he saw Merlin, the table laid out with breakfast for the eight of them. Merlin had his back to Arthur and carrying two jugs to lay on the table.
Arthur cleared his throat. Merlin obviously startled jumped a foot in the air and dropped both jugs on the floor as he whirled around.
'Arthur' he screeched.
Arthur just laughed at the ridiculous sight.
"Still as clumsy as ever I see Merlin."
Merlin bend down to pick up the jugs, which were miraculously still in one piece.
"Is everything alright?" Arthur turned to see Gwen and the knights standing in the doorway, woken by the crash of jugs on the floor.
Merlin looked a little sheepish, at waking everyone. "Everything's fine, I just dropped the jugs when the clot pole came in. Sorry for waking you."
Gwaine wondered over to the table and picked up an apple, taking a large bite out of it.
"No worries mate, I was getting hungry anyway."
The group sat down at the table and were quiet for a few moments as they ate. Finally Leon broke the silence, when it became clear no one else was going to.
"So Merlin, you said you've been waiting 1700 years. Can you explain what that means?" Leon still trying to wrap his brain around the seemingly impossible idea.
Merlin looked downcast for a moment, as if not wanting to answer. But when he looked up and saw everyone watching him, waiting for an answer.
"Well it means exactly what I said I've been here for 1700 years waiting for you guys to come back, it wasn't my idea you guys weren't exactly in a huge hurry."
"But Merlin." Began Elyan slowly. "You can't have lived that long, it's not possible."
"It is if you have magic."
The table erupted, all the knights bar Lancelot looked shocked, even Gwen started in her seat.
Arthur didn't know what to think, he knew Merlin had magic, finding out just before he died. He didn't know Merlin magic made Merlin immortal.
Gwen spoke, "How long have you had magic Merlin?" She asked softly.
"Um… I was born with it," Merlin answered quietly, looking as though he wished the floor would swallow him up.
"You never told anyone." Percival commented.
"Well Gaius knew, and Lancelot."
"Wait, wait, wait. You told Gaius and Lancelot but you didn't tell me." Gwaine looked rather put out.
"I never told anyone, they found out on their own."
"I found out when Merlin enchanted the staff to kill the griffin." Lancelot put in. "I promised to keep the secret for Merlin."
Gwaine looked around the table "So no one else knew?" He asked.
The table was quiet everyone looking around before Arthur spoke.
"I did." Everyone looked at him incredulously.
"What. When."
Merlin spoke quietly. "I told him after Camalan, when he was dying, I couldn't save him." Tears in his eyes threatening to spill.
Gwen came around the table and gave Merlin a hug. She didn't say anything in words, she didn't need to.
Percival spoke up. "Merlin, how is it you were born with magic. The druid's I lived with before I came to Camelot said it wasn't possible."
"I think, I should tell my whole story." Merlin replied.
"Get comfortable, it's a bit of a long one." Lancelot joked, Merlin glared at him.
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