AWanderersHaven: I really wanted to bring them together in a way that didn't feel forced. I think you will enjoy the very last scene in this chapter MUWHAHAHA *cough*
Nance: You know me, always leaving breadcrumbs hehe Thanks for polishing this up with your wonderful edits!
CarolynneRuth: sometimes I don't even know where I'm going. The last scene of this chapter wasn't planned, it kind of snuck in on me...so we'll have to wait and see :D
FeedtheFlames: Thanks, Flamie! I really try hard to capture the emotions I want.
SO...yeah, as I said to Carolynne...the ending scene was not in my planning or outlines. It really did just appear out of the blue. But it works and adds a bit of a new element. For the Gaters: I think you'll recognize him. Everyone else: You'll just have to be patient. hehe
It had proven to be a very long mission for all involved. The entire population of the Sodan Tribe had been wiped out. It was a move of retaliation by the Ori, for losing the Sodan as followers. One of the warriors had been transformed by the Ori into what Mitchell could only describe as a zombie.
With Mitchell's own out-of-phase mishap, he had been able to help, as the Sodan also employed a phase-shifting technology to surprise their enemies, which Teal'c was making use of to track the Sodan warrior.
They finally managed to defeat the zombie, but in the end, nothing could be done to save anyone in the tribe. It was a sad day all around, as they had also lost a couple of their own during the battle.
Carter and Jackson had received an earful for their timing in figuring out how to turn the device off, nearly getting Mitchell and Teal'c killed while they were setting a trap for the zombie.
"Just another day at the office." Mitchell sat, nursing his beer at the bar above the bowling lanes. The cacophony of noise from the wood floors, the echoes the sounds of the balls rolling, and raucous laughter from the people, were beginning to make his head hurt.
He jolted forward slightly, when a hand clapped down on his back.
"Hey."
"Hey." He responded to Gwaine. He glanced around to make sure there was no one else from the SGC nearby. "Listen...the other day, when I was kind of phased out...I came into the locker room to look for Jackson."
"Shit." Gwaine responded, hanging his head. He didn't need to ask which day, or what Cameron was referring to. They had known each other too long. "I knew there was someone in there."
"Eh-yeah...The two of you seemed rather cozy together in the shower."
Gwaine groaned and held up his finger to the bartender, indicating another round of beer was in order. "She ambushed me."
Snorting in disbelief, Mitchell finished off his beer, and reached for the new one that was placed in front of him.
"Seriously! I mean, sure we've been dating for a while, and having a bit of fun, but I think I'm moving too slow for her."
"Right...Mr. Ladies Man Dallon...moving 'too slow.'" He hooked his fingers in the air. "I find that hard to believe."
Gwaine rolled his eyes and sighed, "I'm not the same man I was before."
"Are you telling me..." Cameron lowered his voice and spoke out of the corner of his mouth. "...that you haven't...you know...gone all the way with her?"
"Nope."
"Dude!"
"I know! I've lost the Stud Award, haven't I?"
"Noooo...You can't lose something like that. However! You have graduated to the Gentleman level."
"Try telling her that."
"You're kidding me?"
Gwaine shook his head and took a drink. He glanced out to the lanes, catching Dr. Lam's eyes. He smiled and waggled his eyebrows. She giggled and turned back to the game. He whimpered as he shifted back to Cam and the bar.
"Who would have thought: Dallon...taking things slow." Cameron chuckled at the miserable look on his friend's face. "It's not because you...you know...can't or something?"
"Hell, no!" Gwaine responded emphatically. "That...is not an issue."
"Then, what?"
The major shrugged, "Too much time in the sixth century, I guess. I like her..."
"But?"
"...but...I just don't know for sure where I want to be yet. It'd be unfair to her."
Cameron nodded knowingly. He decided to shift the conversation to give his friend a break. "Well...that mantle-thing-a-ma-bob has given up some information now. I've already cleared it through Reynolds and Landry. This next week...you are going with SG-1."
His head turned slowly, and his lip was curled up in disbelief. "What?"
"It seems Merlin's Weapon...not your Merlin, the Ancient Merlin, might have hidden it on a planet...called...wait for it...Camelot."
"This is giving me a headache."
"You don't want to go?"
"Oh, I want to go. I just can't figure out why these aliens have to steal the names and stuff of all that."
"Jackson actually thinks all the names of the places you knew, were stolen (i)from(/) the Ancients, not by them."
"That would make more sense." He relented. Although, he still didn't seem too thrilled by it.
Cameron nodded his agreement. "So, you're coming with us, right?"
"Hell, yeah. Wouldn't miss it!"
"So, why do I get the feeling there's still something holding you back?"
"It's Arthur and Merlin..."
"We may be friendly and all, but passing along this information would be considered treason. You could be Court Marshalled." The colonel warned. He had suspected Gwaine was possibly letting a bit more slip in his conversations with Colonel Emyrs than the non-disclosure contracts would allow.
"I know."
"But...!" Cameron smirked and tipped the mouth of his beer bottle towards Gwaine. "...If you suggested to Landry, that their help could be beneficial, and maybe get Colonel Emrys to put in a good word to the British government that we are working with them...it could go a long way in the views of those IOA bureaucrats...especially, since the item we found was on British soil, and Emrys already has Gate Clearance."
Gwaine grinned at the suggestion. "I'll talk to the general on Monday then."
"Good. Settled. Awesome." Cameron glanced over to the bowling lanes. "Now...about that gal you're dating...SERIOUSLY? You haven't done anything?"
"We've done some things. Second and third base type stuff."
"...But...no home run?"
"Nope...no home run."
"I can't believe it." Cameron snickered, "No wonder she ambushed you. You've been dating for months. Obviously, she's wanting to take it to the next level."
"Shut up, Mitchell."
"Look, I'm just saying..." He held his hands out in surrender.
Gwaine rolled his eyes, groaned, and finished his beer.
(*~*~*~*)
The bags were packed, and sitting by the front door of the apartment. The boarding passes had been printed and were sitting in her handbag, along with her passport and ID. Plucking her phone out of her pocket, Martha made another attempt at calling her husband.
His phone went straight to voicemail. "Again?" She scrunched her face in exasperation and hit the 'end call' button, without leaving a message. Taking a breath, Martha groaned. It seemed completely out of character for Merlin to not at least attempt to return a call.
In fact, everything from him for the past few days had been off. He was supposed to join her at their flat in Manhattan, after returning through the Stargate with Gwaine. An email informed her that the trip hadn't taken as long as he had expected. He was already back in the UK and would contact her soon. Since then, she hadn't heard a word from him.
She had called the house and spoken with Gwen, who told her that Merlin was indeed there, although he and Arthur were off doing their own thing. From the way Gwen made it sound, this appeared to be quite normal for the two men. While Martha was happy to hear that her husband was reconnecting with his former king, it irked her slightly that he had neglected to at least call her to discuss a change plans for their anniversary.
Hoping to have him in New York, Martha had made arrangements for a special gift to be delivered to a showroom in the city. Thankfully, the owner of the place was more than happy to keep the gift as a display, until Merlin arrived.
She bit down on her bottom lip and glanced at her phone. If she didn't leave soon, she might miss her flight home. One last check around, to make sure everything was turned off, or unplugged, Martha walked to the door and reached for the handle.
She yelped in surprise, when it opened just before she could touch it.
Merlin gave her a lopsided grin. "Miss me?"
"Nearly! I was just on my way to the airport!" She wrapped her arms around him and laid a kiss on his lips that took his breath away. "Why the hell haven't you returned my calls, or my texts?"
His shoulders lifted, and he shook his head. "A lot on my mind I needed to deal with." His blue eyes rolled in annoyance when a false coughing sound came from the hallway. "Shut up, Arthur."
"OH! Is Gwen here, as well?" Martha smiled and moved Merlin out of the way. Her eyes searched the hall.
"Sorry, just me. She sends her love, though." Arthur stated, accepting the embrace and light kiss on the cheek that Martha, and others of this time, seemed so keen on offering.
"We're actually just stopping in for the night, on our way back to Colorado." Merlin explained, heading towards the kitchen. He glanced at the bags in the small foyer. "Going somewhere?"
"I was catching a flight home, to see that husband of mine."
"Hmm. Well, I don't think he's there."
"Really? Whatever gave you that idea?"
"Just a feeling."
She motioned for Arthur to come inside, and shut the door behind him. "Wonder where he is?"
"Dunno, haven't seen him for a while." His head popped back out of the kitchen and he gave her a cheeky grin.
The smile didn't quite reach his eyes, and she felt a cold breath chill her. Something about his bantering words didn't seem too far from the truth. She wondered what it was, and was about to ask when Arthur yelled from the living room windows. Martha hadn't been paying attention to where the former king had wandered.
"My god, Merlin! Have you seen this!" His enthusiasm was contagious.
"Seen what?"
Martha laughed and moved to the windows. "I think he's talking about the view."
"No, Arthur. Can't say I have." Merlin deadpanned.
"Shut up, Merlin."
The warlock laughed, and joined his wife and friend at the window.
When the plane had landed, the sun had just begun to set. Arthur was amazed at all the bright, glass buildings reflecting the colors of the sun. Now, he stood in awe at the city lights that had come to life. He'd never before imagined anything like it. Everywhere he turned in this new world, held fascinating aspects, that a man from the sixth century could never have dreamed of.
Electric billboards highlighted the latest in fashion trends, plastered with scantily clad models. Neon glared and flashed like magical beasts battling for the brightest place in the eyes of the human population. He wondered out loud, if he would ever get used to it all.
Down below on the streets, cars weaved in and out, like skillful dancers. The windows of the apartment were thick enough that they couldn't hear the horns and engines below.
"Ooh! I better call and cancel my flight." Martha said suddenly. "Have you boys eaten yet?"
As if on cue, Arthur's stomach grumbled in response.
(*~*~*~*)
Martha wrapped her arm around her husband's, threading her fingers with his. She watched as Arthur bounded ahead of them, like a kid at Christmas, ogling different things in the windows of the shops they passed.
They had eaten dinner at a Sushi Bar, just down the block from the apartment. She wished she had thought to pull out her phone, and record the entertaining show of Merlin attempting to teach Arthur how to use chopsticks.
"Happy Anniversary." She said to her husband, with a smile.
Merlin raised their joined hands to his lips, and kissed the back of her hand. "Happy Anniversary."
"Is everything alright?"
He nodded, "Just a lot on my mind right now. I'm sorry I'm such poor company."
"Want to talk about it?" Typically, he was observant of his surroundings. The lack of comment on her rather short dress alone, didn't escape Martha's notice. The mauve sequins sparkled as they passed under the street lights, and she hugged her free arm around her waist. There was a cold sense of distance that was almost tangible.
"Not really. Not yet."
Most of the time, she could discern, simply by his tone, if his mind was wandering into the past or the stuck on something more recent. His current mood didn't quite fit either of those scenarios. "Well, I know something that should get your mind off whatever it is that's bothering you."
"Oh?"
"Window shopping."
Laughing, he squeezed her hand and pointed to Arthur. "I thought that's what we were doing?"
"...But you know what's just around the corner, don't you?"
"Eh..." He offered her a disappointed shrug.
"Eh? Really? You don't want to go look at the Jag dealer?"
"Not really...A little annoyed with them at the moment."
"Why?" They turned the corner, and she led him reluctantly towards the dealership.
"They never got back with me about the new car." He scuffed his foot against the concrete walk.
"Well, then, perhaps you can speak to them while we're there?"
He shrugged again. She led him into the brightly lit showroom. Merlin sneered at the vehicle that took center stage. It was a brand new Jaguar XLR GT. The bright, white paint gleamed tauntingly.
Arthur's lips raised in a forced smile. He still wasn't able to comprehend his friend's fascination with these cars.
Martha felt Merlin stiffen in annoyance as the Sales Manager approached them. She knew he had been dreaming of owning one of these cars for a while, since he first heard they were being produced. The thing that made them even more enticing, was that there were only twenty-five made. It had taken a lot of finagling and underhanded dealings on Martha's part, to make certain he wouldn't be able to get one.
"Ah, Dr. Jones. I received your message and everything should be in order for you to take possession this evening." The keys dangled enticingly from his fingers, as she took them and turned toward Merlin.
His blue eyes glistened with surprise. "You didn't?"
She smiled and pressed the keys into his palm. "I did. Happy Anniversary."
(*~*~*~*)
Years of having propriety and etiquette drilled into him, from the time he was a young child, was the only thing that kept Arthur from bouncing his leg, or tapping his fingers, as the plane soared over the countryside. He much preferred the smaller jet, which Merlin had borrowed from a friend to fly them to and from Colorado the last time. Arthur longed for the days when he had been able to ride across the countryside with his knights, without the machinery to interfere. Just the sound of the horse's breath and hoofbeats, pounding along a seemingly endless expanse of earth and mud. The smell of clean air, untainted by the exhaust of the automobiles; or the sweet sounds of nature, unimpeded by the dull electric hum from street lamps, would have been a welcome state...but it seemed nowhere to be found in this new world.
He shifted and yawned, the hypnotic view outside the window made him feel small inside. He watched as the hills, grasslands, and canyons sped by underneath, sometimes lost under the clouds, but others times, starkly highlighted in the bright, midday sun.
The first class seating, which Merlin had arranged for, was comfortable, but the hours still crawled by at a snail's pace.
Merlin stared at a device in his hand, appearing entirely too calm about the affair.
"What's wrong?" The warlock finally asked, feeling Arthur's eyes scanning him again.
"Martha seemed in a rather good mood this morning."
"Mmm. Yes, she was. Hope we didn't keep you up too late." His tone was unapologetic, and a wry grin teased at the corners of his mouth.
"You didn't tell her, did you?" Arthur asked abruptly.
Merlin simply shook his head. "If you had known you were going to die at Camlann, would you have told Gwen?"
Arthur's gaze shifted to the window. "No, I suppose not." After a few moments, he asked, "Did you know I was going to die there?"
Merlin set his tablet down on his lap. He stared at the back of the seat in front of him. "Would it have made a difference, if I had told you of my magic...or of an obscure prophecy, or a vision? Would you have stayed away from Camlann? Would you have knighted Mordred...or, would you have turned your back on me in condemnation? Would you have thrown away your sword, if you knew it was forged by a dragon?"
"It is rather unfair to ask me that now, don't you think?"
Merlin shrugged, "No more so than your question to me."
"Touché." The hiss of the fans overhead created a dull ache in Arthur's temples. "When Mordred was dying, after we met with the Disir...you returned to that cave with me. Why didn't you tell me then?"
"I have no idea."
"You must have some clue, Merlin. I know you're not a complete idiot. I knew you weren't one back then, either."
"Honestly...I don't remember my reasoning."
"How can you not remember?"
Merlin gave his friend a bug-eyed look of incredulity. "...Because it was...umpteen hundred years ago?"
Grumbling under his breath, Arthur pouted in defiance. Merlin turned back to his reading, with a chuckle.
"Percival and Leon will be meeting us?"
"Yes. I'll send them a message as soon as we find out the address."
"Are you nervous?"
"A bit. You?"
"King's don't get nervous."
"Good thing you're not a king anymore."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you can afford to let yourself be a normal man." Merlin gasped melodramatically at the seemingly sudden revelation.
"What if I don't want to be a normal man? I'm tired of pretending I'm suited for this new lifestyle, when I really don't feel like I am."
Merlin turned to Arthur. He stared at his counterpart thoughtfully. A bright, goofy grin suddenly lit up his face, as an idea took hold. "Guess we'll just have to find you a new kingdom then, eh?"
Arthur's eyes were cool and his face was like stone. "Yes, I believe you should."
The grin faltered momentarily, before it twisted into a snorting sound. Merlin brought his hand up to his face, attempting to conceal his laughter. "I'll get right on that, Sire."
"You do that, Merlin." Arthur couldn't keep the straight face any longer, and both men tried desperately to stifle the chuckles that threatened.
"Maybe when we reach this Camelot, they'll be needing a king."
(*~*~*~*)
A row ahead of them, a dark-haired man with a long narrow face, smirked in delight. He was the picture of a perfect businessman, in his designer suit and tie. Nothing about him really stood out. Handsome and confident, when he wanted the attention of those around him, he easily achieved it, but he could also blend into the crowd and go unnoticed..
The overheard conversation from behind, was very informative. Most people would have probably dismissed the odd dialogue, as simply a couple of young men playing some sort of game. Taken in the right context, however, it was the break he'd been waiting for.
In a fortuitous coincidence, he had decided to travel by the conventional Tau'ri method of flight toward Colorado. He suspected that no one looking for him...or one of his fellow clones...would suspect such a mundane maneuver. He wanted to place himself in a closer position to the Stargate to be in a better position for the future.
Camelot...a sword...a king. He rubbed his hands gleefully. The opportunity that was presented was beyond perfect. The fabled weapon of the Furlings...was closer than it had been in centuries.
The plane landed and the people on board began to disembark. The man with the shaggy, raven-colored, mop of styled hair grabbed his bag, and his companion's from the overhead storage bin. He paused out of politeness and motioned to man who had been seated in front of them.
"Oh no, that's quite alright." The businessman smiled pleasantly.
The raven-haired man shrugged and started down the aisle.
Grabbing his own carry-on, the businessman tripped over the seat, and accidentally knocked into the blond man who was trying to catch up to his companion. "How clumsy of me. I think my legs must have fallen asleep a bit on the flight."
Nodding, the blond man let him no there was no damage or hard feelings, before he moved on after his friend.
Note for upcoming chapters: The next chapter(s) will be taking place mostly within SG canon, end of season 9 (919 Crusade, 920 Camelot). I am attempting some actual character insertion...and wondering WTF was I thinking when I started this fic LOL Wish me luck! Depending on muses and school schedules (OMG my husband and kid are going back to school this week. I may actually have some quiet time!) Next chapter MIGHT be out by Wednesday, if not it will be by Saturday.
Please Review if you would be so kind!