As Merlin took in the figure standing outside his door...his smile turned blank.
"No…"
Arthur paused at the front door to a humble wooden cottage in what appeared to be the only forest left in the lands he once called home, stunned at the blatant rejection that came his way from his long time friend.
Whom he should add was in what was perhaps the most ridiculously garments he's ever seen in all of Albion. A brown shirt that appeared to be of a different material than Merlin ever wore in Camelot, or Arthur for that matter. Blue trousers that appeared rather ripped in some parts to the knees. And black shoes with an abundance of laces. No neckerchief to be seen at all.
And how did Merlin even get a home of his own? And so far from Camelot at that? None of this makes sense to him at all!
"Merlin please I don't know why I'm here I just know that it relates to you somehow."
Merlin's gaze however seemed distant as if he wasn't even in the same plane of existence as Arthur.
"Merlin?" Arthur placed a hand on his shoulder.
Merlin flinched, blasting Arthur back 20 meters toward a tree with the force of his golden eyes.
"No no no no no no no…" Merlin continues to mutter beneath his breath looking as if he would collapse at any moment.
Arthur meanwhile groaned as he got back to his feet. Merlin just attacked him with magic…is he evil after all? NO! He shook his head of those thoughts as he banished his father's words from his mind.
If Merlin were evil, he had more than enough time to actually kill him or destroy Camelot in all the years he's been there. Merlin is his friend; he should work hard to keep an open mind.
"Merlin" Arthur kept his hands where Merlin could see them, well if Merlin would actually gaze up at him. "I'm sorry but please I need your help, I don't know why I'm alive again but I do know that that magic lady from the lake said that my destiny was intwined with yours."
Merlin finally looked Arthur in the eye, with a face so stoic and cold that Arthur had to hold back a flinch of his own as he only saw that look once before from his friend right before he died as he stabbed Morgana with his sword.
"Destiny you say!" Merlin spat as a glare began to form.
Arthur than looked on as Merlin reached into the pocket of his odd looking trousers and pulled out a small rectangular looking metal box.
"You stay right there"
"Merlin-"
"I said stay there!"
"…Alright…alright I will"
Arthur saw as Merlin kept pressing his finger into the box. Why? He didn't know. But than Merlin began speaking to it, Arthur began to wonder if his former manservant had gone mad and then he tried to listen carefully to what Merlin was saying.
"…need you" "…please" "…can't do this"
Arthur wondered if this was some magical hocus pocus, perhaps Merlin was communicating with another sorcerer? If so than who? Did they also live in Camelot without his knowledge? Arthur's thoughts halted when he heard Merlin shout.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S HERE TOO!"
Arthur was now very curious as to who "he" could be but if Merlin was stressed before just seeing Arthur, he now seems ready to cause a hurricane just by his hyperventilation alone.
"Arrrgghh!" The magic box shattered as Merlin in his rage tossed it at the nearest wall.
All that could be heard was the deep breaths from Merlin as he tried to maintain his sanity. He couldn't do this. He couldn't go through this again. In fact, he won't!
Merlin looked at Arthur still standing by the tree with a look of concern at the sight of his old friend unraveling at the seams.
"Take your Destiny and shove it so far up your bum you could floss your teeth with it!" *SLAM* Arthur was now alone outside the cottage as Merlin escaped inside locking the door behind him.
*"Well that could have gone better"* Arthur was now at a loss at what to do. Merlin was clearly not the same Merlin he was prior to his death. Surely he couldn't have changed in just a few days?
In any event Arthur knew that if his beloved wife were here she'd say to simply give Merlin time, to allow him to calm down and try again later. Very well, he'll wait right here. Perhaps there's some game he can hunt in the meanwhile and he can shelter in what looks to be some kind of … shed? But what is that metal monstrosity with what looks to be 4 fat wheels covered in dry mud?
*"I can't wait until I can return to Camelot, Guinevere no doubt has been ruling well in my stead"* Arthur smiled at the thought of reuniting with his wife once more. She must have been heartbroken when he died, but soon he'll put a smile on her face again.
For now, Arthur decided to lay against the tree and rest his eyes for a bit, hopefully when he wakes up Merlin will be up to talking.
*SPLASH*
Arthur jerked awake as he felt a wet sensation on his body and realized he'd just been…rained on? Huh? How the now night sky was clear without a cloud in sight as far as he can tell.
Then of course the answer presented itself…herself, glowing golden eyes and all. But how is she alive?
Like Merlin she also wore strange clothing, though hers was far more scandalous than anything she ever wore in Camelot under Uther's reign. By the gods he could see her ankles, her legs and is that some cleavage?!
She also didn't really look happy seeing him, but was somewhat amused by his surprised look. Dare he say that it brought Arthur memories of a time he wishes would return.
"Morgana?"
Morgana's eyes returned to its emerald green, as she sighed rubbing her forehead.
"Hello brother, as always you tend to create problems where there shouldn't be."
Arthur's shocked expression morphed into a stern glare. "As if you have any leg to stand on."
A leveled look is all the response he got, as if this discussion wasn't even worth getting angry over. Simply confusing Arthur even more as to what's changed in his sister, but more importantly…
"I thought Merlin killed you?"
Morgana's eyebrow rose as she looked above him, the memory returning to her as she remembered the sensation of Merlin running her through with Excalibur.
"It's a rather long story and quite frankly I doubt you have the attention span for it" Morgana looked back at the cottage with a look of concern and what appears to be…sorrow? Wistful?
"I'm letting you know right now; I'll make sure you die for good if you're going to take over Camelot again." Arthur rose to his feet and kept his sword gripped tightly at his side, ready for anything Morgana might throw at him.
Morgana's neck practically whiplashed as she looked at Arthur in shock than confusion.
"Camelot?"
"Did you suddenly forget the very kingdom that was your home? The one you tried to conquer time and time again?!" Arthur was getting quite annoyed at her playing the fool, he didn't have time for this. She could be trying to get revenge at Merlin and he had to protect him. Getting ready to enter his fighting stance.
"…" Morgana was stunned, she didn't really know what to say to this before she realized.
"Arthur…what year is this"
Arthur paused, why would she ask him something so ridiculous? What did the current year have to do with the situation?
"This is a rather pitiful attempt at distracting me from your schemes Morgana I must say I expected better"
"Would you just answer the damn question!" Morgana has no patience for his stubbornness.
Arthur looked skeptical, but figured what the hell, he'll humor her.
"537 in the year of the Christian God, 127 years after the Romans left Albion. What else would it be, now why are you here?!"
Morgana's mouth practically was a black hole, suddenly it made sense why he brought up Camelot, why he acted as though they had just seen each other moments ago when for her it was…but yes for Arthur it would be nothing more than mere moments since his death.
*Sigh* "Ok Arthur I'm starting to see the issue now" Morgana had to gather her thoughts as she contemplated how best to inform Arthur that he isn't anywhere near that time period…or Camelot.
"The only issue I see is you, you still haven't told me why you're here!" Arthur honestly couldn't tell why Morgana was trying so hard to pretend she wasn't trying to kill him and Merlin. He'd been fooled by so many people all his life and he wasn't about to let her do it again.
"I live here Arthur, this is my home and you are the interloper so I'd speak with a bit more respect If I were you."
"Your home?!"
"Did I stutter?"
"B-but but this is Merlin's?!"
"Yes."
"But you just said it was yours!" Arthur had enough of her mind games, he wanted a straight answer damnit!
"It is, we live together Arthur, that tends to happen when you've been married for centuries." Morgana than left it at that as she finally moved to open the front door and bade for Arthur to enter.
Arthur stood stunned, unable to move and barely think coherently.
*"Married?! Merlin? Morgana? Merlin AND Morgana?! Together?!"*
But that last word is what really shook him to his core sending shivers down his spine colder than any of the lake water he crawled out of or the breezy autumn air blowing around him.
"Centuries…?"
Morgana looked at him with a look that appeared to be one of understanding, most people who knew the truth had similar reactions, unfortunately most if not all of them no longer dwell among the living.
"Yes Arthur, Merlin and I are immortal, we never died, nor will we ever so long as the Goddess wills it"
"…"
"Or at least in my case. Merlin, or rather Emrys is a force of nature, Emrys is the physical embodiment of all magic, he will never fade less the very Earth itself were to be destroyed. So as long as the planet lives on, then so too will he."
Arthur could barely begin to digest all this sudden information, he—he had to sit down.
He felt an arm wrap around his shoulders…Morgana's.
"Come let's get you inside, I bet your having a mental overload at the moment" Morgana helped Arthur into the cottage and Arthur finally had a look at the rather odd-looking home. Some things familiar but others very foreign to him.
For one, the room to the right of the front door there was a rather large comfy looking bed chair thing? It was rather long so he couldn't tell if it was meant as a seat or a bed. He assumed a chair as beds don't bend. To the wall in front of said comfy seat was a rather large black metal box that seemed to cover a large portion of the wall. Was that another magic box? In between the seat and the box was a simple table, at least that was familiar.
The room to the left of the door appeared to be where food was kept. But there was this rather large white box with a door on top and below, making a rather ominous noise.
"What is that?!" Arthur tried to break free from Morgana's hold but she steadfast as she looked at his gaze's location.
"That's just a refrigerator Arthur" Morgana's tone couldn't be more unimpressed.
"…I'm so bloody confused…" Arthur just wanted to lie down at wake up from his nightmare.
Morgana laid him on the sofa making sure however to magic his filthy armor off which startled Arthur. He remembered just who the hell he was with, and now he was vulnerable and gripped his sword turning his knuckles bright white.
"Oh would you relax already, if I wanted you dead don't you think you'd be dead the second I laid eyes on your rather buffoonish looking self?" Morgana rolled her eyes as she opened a door beneath a staircase and stored the armor on shelved…was that a compartment of sorts?
"I don't know what you want…and it appears I know even less than I realized" As if it weren't enough, he never knew about Merlin's magic or what he did for Camelot…now apparently, he's some sort of God and he and Morgana are old as hell and married? She has to be lying! Another one of her hocus pocus mind tricks! There's no way this is real!
Morgana looked at Arthur with a mixture of annoyance and pity, he had to give her credit she was giving this performance of hers all she got, but he won't be fooled for a second!
A noise than began in Morgana's pocket, Arthur grew curious and surprised that she also had a small metal box that she can speak to. Looked similar to the one Merlin used earlier.
"What is that magic contraption?!"
Morgana paused briefly, magic contraption? Huh?
"This is a cellphone; now hush I need to take this"
"A what?!"
"Ssshhh!" Morgana's eyes glowed as she silenced Arthur's voice and went to speak to the caller in the kitchen.
Now this was outrageous! How dare she take his voice! But before he could try anything he heard a name that brought mixed emotions to his heart.
"You can come tomorrow morning Mordred."
Mordred is here too?! What's going on?!
"Don't ask about Merlin please, he isn't going to kill you if that's what your wondering, if anything once he's calmed down he'll be happy to see you again. But it's best for you both to give him his space."
Mordred was asking about Merlin? Why? Did he want to kill him too?! And why is Morgana acting like this?! Like some kind of concerned…wife?
*"NO!" I refuse to fall for her tricks! This is just to let my guard down so she'll strike, I'll not be made a fool of by her again!"* Especially since the last time Arthur fell for Morgana's sick sinister scheme his wife was possessed, and the time before that? Agravaine. He had banished his wife, caused Gaius' torture and both times he must have caused Merlin pain. If only he knew what exactly, he wished Merlin would speak to him.
There was so much he was in the dark on, it was honestly depressing that he did not inspire trust in the one man who believed in him from the start…
"Arthur is here as well, yes I know you two aren't exactly best friends but you'll just have to play nice when you arrive."
Mordred is coming here?! Now he knows Morgana is up to something! She's trying to repeat Camlann! He has to get to Merlin and warn him quickly! But where is he? There's only one more door that leads to the garden behind the cottage. So surely that means his chambers must be upstairs!
Arthur very stealthily got up from the couch and up the stairs without alerting Morgana of his actions, things would get very bad if he had to fight her on his own.
Gripping Excalibur just in case he slowly made it to the top as he heard Morgana about to be done with the conversation.
Upstairs seemed to only have 3 chambers. 1 was empty of people but had a rather soft looking modest sized bed and what appeared to be glass where the window should be? He'll have to figure that out later.
Another looked to be a smaller room but a strange looking white seat with water inside. Next to it a glass box with something on the wall pointing down. Finally there was a mirror, below it being a table of sorts with 2 silver bowl shaped mechanisms that when turned poured out water.
Arthur was astonished at this discovery but remembered his goal. One chamber left, and the door was closed.
Turning the handle gently, he was pulled away harshly as he looked back at Morgana's unimpressed gaze.
"Really? Did you honestly think I wouldn't notice?"
"…" Arthur just glared at her
"..? Oh right here's your voice back" A flash of gold and finally Arthur can feel his voice returning with a groan of his throat.
"Though I'll admit it was funny watching your excited face seeing water coming out of a sink"
Arthur couldn't help but feel embarrassed, remembering the times when they were children when a prank of his was foiled by Morgana than tattling him to Uther.
"Arthur no matter what it is you think is going on, trust me when I say that Merlin can't and won't see you now" Morgana for once going for a more calm and gentle approach.
Arthur's skepticism raging full force as he shook her hand off his shoulder.
"You think I'm going to trust anything you say after I heard you bringing Mordred here?!"
Morgana looked at the door behind him, wondering if Merlin was awoken by the disturbance. When she sensed he was still asleep she dragged Arthur to the guest room while closing the door.
"Look Arthur I'm just going to say it, you've been dead a long time. And quite frankly Merlin doesn't need to deal with this horseshit, not now not ever." Crossing her arms, it's as if Morgana were erecting a wall between him and Merlin, herself being the wall.
"Oh here we go, yeah yeah you're Immortal. How stupid do you take me for?!"
"Do you really want me to answer that brother dearest?"
"Don't call me that! You've made it perfectly clear how you feel about our family!" Arthur remembering all the times she caused chaos to him, to their father especially.
"I'm not going to apologize for anything Arthur. Uther deserved everything he got and if you were even half the man Merlin insisted you were, we may never have had to be enemies." Morgana calmly explained, not bothered by at all by Arthur's rage, as if he was merely a child throwing a tantrum. Well considering the age gap…he might as well be.
"He loved you…a lot more than he ever loved me. He never would have hurt you" Arthur clenching his fists as he remembered all the times Uther favored Morgana despite the fact that at the time, she was but his ward. All of it making sense when it was revealed she was in fact his daughter, he never stood a chance.
"Oh please, his hatred of magic would not have forbidden him from seeing me burnt or worse forcing me to live a lie!" Morgana's calm demeanor finally showing cracks as Arthur smirked, finally the real Morgana reveals herself.
"Given all your actions with magic, you haven't exactly done anything to prove him wrong"
Morgana glared viciously at him, before regaining her composure…lest she squeezes the life out of him.
"It seems death didn't change you at all, you're still the poor fool who puts his daddy on a pedestal."
"Father may have had his flaws but he did what he believed was right, you and Morgause only reinforced those beliefs."
"You couldn't be more wrong you imbecile. But I suppose it's simply the result of Merlin telling you that Morgause lied about the truth of your mother." Morgana smirking at Arthur's shocked expression.
He had some nerve barging into her life and creating a ruckus of the peace she and Merlin have finally garnered for themselves.
To force past memories back into the surface, well two can play at that game…
"You're lying! Merlin would never…." Arthur paused, but Merlin would, he HAS lied before. About so many things, in that case what was the truth and what was false?
"Of course he lied, in his eyes you killing Uther would have been a terrible way to begin your reign. Not only would you have committed regicide but patricide and that wouldn't have been such a good look on your privileged image." Morgana remembering when Merlin first revealed this to her how angry she had gotten that his actions saved Uther.
Of course, by that point in time who cared anymore when Uther's bones have long turned to dust.
Any refute Arthur had was stopped when he realized that yes…that is something Merlin would do. All the times Merlin tried to get him to show mercy to his foes…why wouldn't he do the same for his father?
"I don't understand! Merlin's magic right?! So why wouldn't he want my father dead?! It would have freed him, freed you, your people!"
Morgana sighed "I asked him that myself, he simply thought you'd have never forgiven yourself if you killed Uther no matter what he was guilty for"
Arthur thought about it, could he have really gone through with it? At the time it was assuredly yes, but looking back he can say he was glad Merlin stopped him. He didn't want to be responsible for losing his only remaining parent at the time…not like it mattered since the sorcerer he trusted to heal his father killed him instead.
"I of course felt no such shame or guilt"
Arthur came alert as he looked at Morgana in confusion than dread
"You didn't…"
Morgana's quirked her brow, "Why not? I made it no secret my disdain toward daddy dearest plus you know that Agravaine served me. It was quite easy really."
Arthur's blood ran cold, he remembered that day clearly, the worst decision of his life. But Morgana was responsible?
"So Dragoon worked for you as well?"
Morgana looked confused, Dragoon? Ah yes now she remembered.
"Ah you mean Merlin in his elder form; oh please didn't we just discuss that he practically saved Uther from your wrath years prior to this. You think he could have possibly done this? No brother, Merlin genuinely tried to heal your father with his magic, the amulet I had Agravaine put on Uther was enchanted to reverse any spell used on him.
In simple terms that even a halfwit like you can comprehend, the spell with which Merlin intended to heal Uther with, ended up killing him instead. So yeah I killed Uther and by the gods I wish I did it sooner"
Arthur could barely control the rage he felt as he remembered how shocked Drago-Merlin appeared. Only now does Arthur see he was sincere, and Arthur just branded him a criminal and ordered his guards to seize him.
"You disgust me"
Morgana snorted in retaliation.
"If only your opinion mattered to me. You'd honestly be shocked if you knew even half of what Merlin's done for you."
Arthur was beginning to get a clear idea in his head, but he doubts it'll come close to the reality. How long has Merlin had to protect him, and why even bother?
"Honestly, after Merlin finally revealed the truth to me I just hated you even more"
"No difference there" Arthur retorted.
"Oh there is…do you know how much I wish Merlin would have chosen me even just once instead of you?!" Morgana, no longer feeling spiteful now began to speak earnestly.
Arthur was a bit puzzled by her choice of words.
"It was always about you! You were the golden boy of Camelot! Uther's heir! Gaius only ever helped you yet left me to rot in my nightmares!
And because of Destiny, you were Merlin's chain! By the goddess he even went as far as to poison me for you!"
Shocked, Arthur asked what she meant.
"When the Knights of Meddir attacked, apparently, I was the source of the sleeping spell. Morgause, all along used me. For years I thought Merlin had simply forsaken me as his friend as his …" She caught herself before she could say more, but Arthur finished her word.
"Love. You were lovers even then?"
"Not like we could broadcast it at the time Arthur"
Arthur didn't know what broadcast meant but will simply ask about it later.
"At any rate it's not like I believed Merlin when he told me, it was when a…friend of his shall we say who hated my very existence verified it for me by revealing his memories of the event. Let's just say I hated him right back, just as much if not more. I was glad when he died."
"Who are you speaking of?"
"To you he would be the Great Dragon, to Merlin he was Kilgarrah, fucking lizard...STOP" Morgana catching Arthur before he could interrupt. "This conversation is getting long, so long story short Merlin is also a Drgaonlord and only received his powers when Balinor his father died. Yes, he was his father and no he didn't know until the day before you left when Gaius told him"
Okay…Arthur agreed they should end this little talk before his brain turned to mush. But he needed to know one thing…desperately.
"Camelot…what happened to Camelot?"
"…Arthur the current year is 2022. It's been roughly 1500 years since your death and around 1400 since Camelot was reduced to rubble and myth. The Saxons eventually won, take comfort knowing however that it happened only after Gwen had died to a peaceful reign"
This is too much, Arthur collapsed on the bed. Willing himself not to shed any tears in front of Morgana, but the thought that his wife and home are gone…that he's in the far future that everything he ever knew was not at all what it seemed...it took all he had not to sob like a child in front of his sister and…former enemy?
"Sleep. Tomorrow will no doubt be a much more exhausting day for all of us." Morgana opened the door to leave, stopping for just a moment. "And don't go picking fights with Mordred, as I've told him this isn't Camelot, this is a different time. Though I will say I'm curious as to how you've both appeared on the same day..?"
Arthur briefly looking up before muttering "Meaning?"
"Well unlike you, he never resurrected. Apparently he's been reincarnated and only today had his memories restored. Doubtful it's a coincidence with your presence here. Good night Arthur"
Arthur just stared blankly at the night sky from his bed finally letting himself mourn the loss of Camelot, his knights, his people, his wife.
*"Guinevere…"*
Morgana softly entered her and her husband's room and lay next to his side as she gently raked her fingers on his hair.
*"Why did this have to happen now?"*
"…You should have kicked him out…"
Morgana looked down at Merlin staring into her eyes with a lost expression.
She gently kissed his lips as he closed his eyes in bliss and comfort.
"Don't worry I won't let anything happen to you"
"I can't do this anymore Morgana"
"You don't have to"
"Destiny always demands it"
"Destiny can go to hell"
"Hell has always been here"
"No Merlin, we've turned hell into heaven for the past 80 years, and we'll continue to do so. I promise." Morgana pulling Merlin over to her chest as they lay their together.
"…I love you Morgana…so much…"
"I love you too Merlin, please sleep you need at least 8 hours."
Finally relaxing, Merlin blissfully entered the realm of dreams.
Morgana more determined than ever to keep Arthur, Mordred and more importantly Destiny from dragging them into yet another twisted joke.
Unlike Merlin, Morgana had no issues at all getting her hands dirty to protect what's hers. She'll do the dirty work so he won't have to.
After over a millennia of struggle she and Merlin finally have a happy life together, she'll be damned if she let's it be taken away from them.
As she gripped tightly on her sleeping love, she made a vow.
*"If they want you, they have to get through me…"*
