The Heartbeat

Epilogue

1500 Years Later

One thousand and five hundred years was a great amount of time. Merlin and Arthur spent this insane number of years alive and together, accommodating to the changing times.

They had many adventures during that time but they tried to live as peacefully as they could. There were plenty of obstacles on their way, including the perception of their relationship by the society and the changing views on magic. It was a crazy ride but they finally reached the time where magic was long forgotten and where it was considered a myth. They were considered a myth too.

It had some pros and cons but they decided not to worry about it. Merlin could feel that there was as much magic in the world as it was before, however it was dormant. He had no doubts that it would be awakened one day. Nevertheless, until that time, he was going to have a reasonably normal life.

Fortunately, the type of Merlin and Arthur's relationship was no longer considered wrong, at least not in Albion or the United Kingdom as it was called these days. They could even legally get married, which they did, even though they considered themselves married to each other for the last 1500 years. Remarrying didn't change anything in their relationship but it somehow felt right. Finally, they didn't have to hide it from anyone and it was liberating.

Generally, they changed the place where they lived every few years, which was a bit tiring. If they really liked their home and wanted to stay somewhere longer, then they had to use magic to start ageing again, just like they did it in Camelot.

The small town in which they were living currently was one of such places. Their home was small but cosy, and they didn't really need anything else. Moreover, they liked their jobs and they made a few good friends in this town. Leaving the place out of the blue would be heartbreaking not only for them, but also for the people they considered friends.

They just wanted to spend their current lifetime there. Besides, the town was situated near the Lake of Avalon, which currently had a completely different name, and during all their lifetimes, they always liked staying near it. The Lake was one of the few places that was still full of magic, even though the rest of the world didn't seem to notice that.

It was also the place where Merlin changed their destiny and where their new lives had begun. It was natural that they were sentimental about it.

"Merlin," mumbled Arthur in the middle of the night, sitting up on their bed instantly.

Merlin raised his head and looked at his husband, confused. "What's wrong, Arthur?" he asked.

"I had a strange dream," he said.

"It was just a dream. Don't think about it," murmured Merlin, hoping it was going to end this discussion.

Arthur shook his head. "It didn't feel like a dream. It felt important."

Merlin was awakened completely by these words, as he learnt long ago not to ignore them. "What is it?" he asked, sitting up too.

Arthur glanced at him uncertainly. "I have a feeling that we should visit the Lake of Avalon," he said.

"Now?"

"I don't know..." Arthur admitted. "I saw this girl that you loved all these years ago. It seemed that she wanted to tell me something."

Merlin frowned. "You saw Freya in your dream?" he asked. "Are you sure it was her?"

"Yes, we visited her a few times," Arthur reminded him.

"I visited her and you followed me, despite my request not to," Merlin told him. "You were so jealous of her."

"I wasn't," Arthur denied it instantly. "Besides does it matter now? I think she wants to see me."

"Why would she want to see you?" Merlin just couldn't understand it.

"I have no idea but it felt important," said Arthur.

Merlin sighed heavily. "All right," he said and got up.

"What are you doing?" Arthur asked him.

"We're going to the Lake," Merlin stated decisively.

"It's the middle of the night," Arthur pointed out.

"I won't be able to sleep quietly now. Not until we find out what's going on," he explained.

Arthur sighed inwardly but he knew that Merlin was right. It was better to check it as soon as possible.

"I didn't want to worry you," murmured Arthur apologetically but he got up to dress himself too.

"I know." Merlin sent him a small smile. "I hope it's nothing serious but if it has something to do with our destiny, then we shouldn't wait until morning."

Arthur hesitated. "Do you think that it can concern our destiny?" he asked. "Albion seems quite safe now."

"We need to go see Freya to find out," said Merlin. Then he looked at Arthur and squeezed his shoulder to console him. "We're in this together."

"Always," replied Arthur and kissed his hand tenderly.

The road to the Lake of Avalon seemed impossibly long. When they finally found a place where Arthur could park their car, they felt strangely anxious.

"We should go," murmured Merlin but did nothing to get out of their car.

Arthur glanced at him hesitantly. "It's probably nothing but if it's what we've been waiting for, I want you to know that..."

"We're not dying, Arthur," Merlin interrupted him.

Arthur laughed nervously. "You're right but I mean what I want to say." He sighed. "We have a wonderful life here and now but if our destiny is calling us right now, I only care about being with you. Nothing else matters. I don't care where we end up as long as we're there together."

Merlin nodded silently. He felt the same.

"Let's go," he murmured after a while and they finally got out of their car. "Our destiny is calling," he half-joked.

The closer they were getting to the Lake of Avalon, the more nervous they were becoming.

The moon was high in the sky. The night seemed quiet but there was something unusual in the area around the Lake. The surroundings were too quiet for it to be natural. It was a bit disturbing.

When Merlin and Arthur finally reached the shore, they looked around. There was no living creature in sight.

"Perhaps it was just a dream," murmured Merlin hopefully.

Before Arthur could say something, the water in the middle of the Lake rippled and the silhouette of a woman emerged from its depths.

"Freya," whispered Merlin but the woman was not looking at him. Her gaze was completely focused on Arthur.

"It's time for the return of the Once and Future King," she stated. "The time has come and your heart is finally cured, Arthur Pendragon. All you have to do is reach out for it."

Freya looked down and Merlin and Arthur followed her gaze. They could see something glowing at the bottom of the Lake. It took them a moment but they eventually realised that it was a heart. Arthur's heart.

Merlin gulped. He was ready for many things but not for this. Arthur had a half of his heart beating in his chest and Merlin took this state of things for granted. His heart was keeping Arthur safe and immortal, and it always gave him comfort.

"What's going to happen now?" Merlin asked her.

For the first time during that night, Freya looked directly at Merlin. She smiled at him sadly and said, "We're not certain."

"We?"

"The Sidhe have been awakened after a thousand-year-long slumber," she explained. "I was sent by the Elders of Avalon to warn you and to offer the Once and Future King his heart. You all need to be ready for the dark times that are upon us."

Merlin nodded silently but Arthur had more questions in mind. "You said that you're here to offer me my heart," he said. "So I can refuse it?"

Freya looked at him seriously. "We can't make you do anything, Arthur Pendragon. You were supposed to die by Mordred's hand and you were meant to come back on this day."

"You didn't answer my question," Arthur pointed out stubbornly.

"The decision is yours. You can get your heart back and face the enemy as a man you used to be, or you can keep Merlin's heart and face your destiny on your own terms, as a man you aspire to be," Freya explained it patiently.

"What about the consequences of my actions?" he asked.

"No matter which path you choose, the consequences are unknown," she said. "You need to make the decision on your own." Then she glanced at Merlin emphatically.

"I'll leave you to it," he said, understanding what she meant right away.

Arthur raised his gaze to him. "Merlin, you don't have to..." he assured him hastily.

"It's better this way," Merlin told him. "I'll wait for you in the car. Take your time."

Then he walked away quickly. He didn't want Arthur to see the tears in his eyes.

Arthur watched him walking away with a heavy heart.

"I believe you've made up your mind already," Freya said quietly when Merlin was gone. "Do what you must."

Arthur looked at her and nodded. She seemed to understand his reasons and it was reassuring.

oOoOo

Merlin was waiting for him outside their car. He seemed small and afraid. Arthur's heart was aching at the sight.

"Merlin," he whispered.

His husband raised his gaze and looked at him worryingly.

"Would you like to have your heart back?" Arthur asked him quietly.

Merlin glanced at his hand in which he was holding something, most likely the half of his heart.

"I'll take it if you don't need it anymore," he said, trying to sound neutral but failing.

"You know that I love you no matter what," Arthur told him in a trembling voice. "You can't doubt it after everything we went through."

"I don't doubt it," Merlin assured him with sadness written all over his face. "That's not what worries me." Then he took a deep breath. "Can I have my heart back so we can move forward and focus on what destiny prepared for us?" he asked and pulled his hand out to get the half of his heart from Arthur.

"Merlin... you're such an idiot sometimes," said Arthur and revealed what he was holding in his hand. It wasn't a heart. It was a pile of ashes.

Merlin looked Arthur in the eye and asked, "What is it?"

"It used to be my old heart but I crushed it," he admitted.

Merlin gasped at his words. "How could you do something so stupid?" he asked in disbelief. "You were meant to get your heart back to fulfil your destiny..."

"It wasn't my heart for a very long time, Merlin," Arthur told him. "The best things that happened to me happened when I had your heart beating in my chest."

"But your destiny..."

"I don't need my old heart to fulfil my destiny. The half of your heart is more than enough." Arthur's voice was so decisive and certain that it made Merlin shudder.

"You didn't want to leave me," murmured Merlin, understanding.

"I couldn't imagine leaving you behind," Arthur confirmed his suspicions. "It's not about keeping myself safe. It's about keeping both of us sane. We live together and if it comes to it, we'll die together one day too."

Merlin could no longer hold his tears. It all was just too much.

"I thought I was going to lose you," he admitted, sobbing.

Arthur took him into his arms and pressed his forehead to Merlin's.

"You will never lose me, Merlin," Arthur promised. "I am yours and you are mine. Nothing can keep us apart."

"Something evil is coming but I'm no longer afraid," Merlin whispered eventually. "Together we're invincible."

Arthur hummed with agreement. "Do you think that our destiny can wait until tomorrow?" The tone of his voice was a bit suggestive.

Merlin kissed him in response. They didn't know what kind of danger was coming but together they could face it and win.

After all, every heartbeat they shared made them stronger.

THE END

This is it. Thank you so much for reading the story. I hope you enjoyed it!