Morgana. Returned. It was his worst nightmare.
Merlin forced his eyes to leave the screen long enough to look at Arthur, and then immediately wished that he hadn't. Arthur was staring with wide eyes, a gaping mouth, and barely seemed to be breathing.
Merlin couldn't imagine what it was like for him, seeing her there. He had just regained his memories after all, and then finding out that his sister had returned as well? Someone who had been the sole reason of—
"What do we do?"
Blinking, Merlin was pulled out of his thoughts as intense blue eyes stared back at him. "About Morgana?"
"Yes, about Morgana. If she's returned, which also begs the question of how she returned, it can't be for a good reason." Arthur sounded exasperated, and Merlin couldn't blame him.
Did Morgana even remember who she was? Or rather, who she had once been? Arthur hadn't known for years, so he supposed it was possible that while Morgana was here, she didn't actually remember who she was.
"I'm going to make tea." Merlin murmured in response to Arthur's demand, exhaustion from the last few days suddenly hitting him hard. Glancing at his phone, he took note of the time, 9:43, and inwardly groaned. Not even two hours of sleep before he was forced to deal with this.
Dragging himself into his kitchen, the warlock bustled about for a few minutes in silence before he noticed Arthur standing in his doorway, staring at him like he had the television.
"What?" The warlock asked, trying to hide the weariness in his voice.
"How is she here?" Arthur demanded again, and Merlin shook his head once as he pulled a box of tea leaves out of one of his cupboards.
"I don't know."
"What does she want?" Arthur questioned, followed by Merlin setting the box down with a barely contained sigh.
"I don't know."
"But—"
"Arthur, please." Merlin finally gave in, unable to suppress his sigh any longer. "I don't know. I wish I did, believe me, but I don't."
Silence followed his outburst, and guilt quickly set in as he glanced over at his friend who was just watching him quietly.
"I'm sorry." The warlock uttered softly, his fingers curling against the countertop. "This is just a lot, all at once."
"I know. For me too." Arthur nodded, and with that simple gesture Merlin knew he was forgiven. "Tell you what though, we need more than tea. We should get breakfast."
Startled by the suggestion, Merlin stared blankly at the blond. "Breakfast?"
"Yes, breakfast. You know, the thing you eat in the morning to break your fast."
"I know what breakfast is, Arthur." Merlin frowned, and the blond threw his hands up.
"Well, you were acting like it was some foreign concept. I'm hungry, aren't you?" Merlin nodded once, cautiously with how the man was acting, and Arthur gestured towards the front door. "Then let's go eat. I need to run by my dorm too, and I know a place that's on the way."
And just like that, Merlin was caught up in the whirlwind that was Arthur Pendragon once again. "Alright, I'll get dressed." The warlock agreed, hoping the apathy he felt was kept out of his voice when he responded.
Arthur made a shooing motion with his hands that Merlin met with a dirty look before turning and slipping into his bedroom and then bathroom. Staring at himself in the mirror, Merlin couldn't stop himself from frowning. He looked awful, and that was putting it nicely.
Dark circles were so deep beneath his eyes that it looked as if he'd been double punched and had only just started to heal. His skin was pale and sunken in, and if it weren't for the scruff on his face, he was certain he'd look downright sickly.
Turning on the tap, Merlin ran his fingers beneath the water and tried patting down his hair, but after a couple of minutes he dried off his hands, counting it as a lost cause. Walking back into his bedroom, the warlock tugged open his closet and rooted around before changing into a pair of jeans and the first sweater he found, the warm gray fabric wrapping around his body.
Tugging on a pair of sneakers and stifling a yawn, Merlin reached for the small, hidden shelf on the other side of his closet. When he came up empty, panic gripped him tight, winding around his heart and choking him as he struggled to breathe.
The scarf. Arthur's cloak. It was gone. He put it there every night before he slept, keeping it safe and hidden and clean and now it was gone. Merlin's next breath came out with a quiet curse, when a voice suddenly called out to him from his sitting room.
"We're not walking down a runway, Merlin. Let's go."
Blinking, the panic began to ease, and the warlock's hammering heartbeat started to slow. Arthur. He was here. For a moment he'd forgotten. He'd kept ahold of the scarf for so long because he needed a reminder, a piece of Camelot and of Arthur to remind himself of why he kept going every day. But now Arthur was here, so he didn't really need it anymore, did he?
Merlin took one step towards his bedroom door before turning on his heel and walking through his bathroom and into his office, scooping up his scarf and carefully tucking it into his pocket.
"Alright, stop shouting." He complained loudly as he walked right past the blond and pulled his coat off the rack.
Pulling it on and tucking his phone, wallet, and keys into the pockets, he gestured for Arthur to go out the door first. A gray sky and a cold, muggy day greeted them the moment the door swung open, and Merlin shuddered as he locked his door behind them.
"Are you going to tell me where it is we're going?" Merlin asked as they walked down his steps and out onto the street.
"You have no trust in me, do you?" Arthur questioned, his tone teasing, and Merlin pulled his coat tighter around himself.
"I've followed you through much worse, but I would like to know if I'm going to freeze before we get there." The warlock muttered, stamping his feet with his next few steps as the cold seeped through his clothes.
"Would you stop complaining and just trust me?"
"Another adventure with the King." Merlin mumbled as Arthur flashed him a smirk.
"I remember my adventures being the best."
"How many of those adventures almost got us killed, Arthur?"
The warlock watched while his friend tilted his head back and exhaled a long breath that clouded into the air above their heads. "Honestly? Not many. I can think of about two."
Merlin couldn't stop the snort that left him, barely keeping from laughing outright as the blond glared.
"What?"
"If you only knew just how many times that I've saved your life." Arthur rolled his eyes in response before he stopped directly in front of a small convenience store. "What is this?" Merlin asked, blinking at the storefront and then at Arthur who threw his hands out in a ta-da gesture.
"This is breakfast." Pulling open the door, the blond ushered the warlock inside, and a quiet voice offered them a greeting.
"But, why?"
"Because my first semester at the university I lived off these sandwiches, and once you try them, you'll understand why."
Merlin could feel his shoulders dropping at the prospect of a simple sandwich that had probably been sitting under a warmer for the last two days. "I thought you said we were getting coffee." The warlock practically whined, stifling another yawn as he followed the blond down the aisles.
"Relax, we'll get there." His friend assured, pausing to take a look at a section with little travel packs of toiletries. "So, give me an instance of one of these 'many times' you saved my life in the past."
Merlin pursed his lips in thought as they wandered, barely paying attention when the man picked up a couple of items for travel and a phone charger, all of which were certainly not breakfast sandwiches. "The time your father tried to set you up with that arranged marriage, the daughter of that friend of his."
"Wait, uh, what was her name? Elena?"
"That's the one." Merlin nodded as they rounded a corner to where there was a counter with warm food.
"What was wrong with her? Other than those disgusting habits."
"She was a changeling."
Arthur pulled up short in the middle of the aisle, his eyes wide as he swung around and faced Merlin. "No, she wasn't."
"Yeah, she was." Merlin grinned, failing at his brief attempt to conceal his amusement.
"You know, I shouldn't be so surprised, because suddenly it makes so much sense."
"A lot of things would probably make more sense if you knew the real reasons behind the things that happened to or around you back then."
"Like what?" The man questioned, moving closer to the warm sandwiches and leaning in to read their labels.
"You've been cursed." Arthur glanced his way but didn't respond, instead picking up a sandwich and holding it with his other things while circling the display. "And I've been cursed. Which, you know, was bad." Merlin continued, shuddering as he remembered trying to kill his friend. "And then let's not forget the incident with the unicorn that effected the whole kingdom."
Snatching up another sandwich, Arthur pushed them at Merlin and waved a hand in his face. "Alright, alright. I've heard enough thanks."
"Honestly, I've saved you so many times that I've lost count." The warlock continued with a smirk as the two made their way back to the front.
"That's enough, Merlin."
"I'm just telling you the truth, Arthur."
At the front a young woman stood running the till, and Merlin saw the smallest smile on her face that she tried, and failed, to hide. She looked young, not quite twenty if he had to guess, and she had short brown hair that swept just above her shoulders whenever she turned her head.
"That all for you?" She questioned as she rang up the sandwiches and various other items Arthur had grabbed.
"Yes, unless you can help shut him up for me." Arthur joked, gesturing at the warlock as the woman's soft brown eyes flitted over to him.
"Sorry, don't get paid enough for that, I'm afraid." She was soft spoken, and her eyes fell moments after meeting his, but there was something about them that struck Merlin in a way he hadn't felt in years. Not in an 'she's attractive' sort of way, though she was pretty, but in a way he couldn't quite get his head around.
"That's alright, I don't think there's anything on Earth that could do that anyway." Pulling out his wallet, Arthur handed a note to the woman as Merlin's attention was pulled back to his king.
"Oh, you're paying?" He gasped, and Arthur rolled his eyes at his theatrics.
"Don't get used to it."
"I am truly honored, your majesty."
"Shut up." Shoving his hand into Merlin's arm, Arthur scooped up the bag and uttered a quick thank you before ducking out the door.
"Have a good day." The girl offered, and Merlin met her gaze one more time before his eyes fell to the tag on her shirt.
"You too, Mirelle." He nodded, and her smile widened as he turned and headed out after Arthur.
"Here." After rummaging through the bag, Arthur passed one of the sandwiches over to his friend before sliding the bag over his wrist.
"So, these are your special breakfasts?" Merlin asked, carefully unwrapping a bagel with meat, cheese, and egg layered in between.
"Don't call them that. But yes. And the coffee to go with it is even better." The blond assured, taking a bite of his own bagel and groaning. "That is so good."
"Do I need to leave you alone with it?" The warlock cringed as Arthur took another slow bite, leaving his mouth open as much as possible as he did.
"You might have to."
Rolling his eyes, Merlin took a bite of his own and, while he wouldn't admit it to his friend, it was a fantastic breakfast.
By the time they'd finished eating, a coffee cart that frequently went around the campus was parked near the entrance of the university. There was a small line, and Arthur didn't hesitate to step in next.
"See, you get the drink right after you finish the food and it's a great gourmet experience."
"Sure, if you say so."
"Did you ever splurge like that?" Arthur asked suddenly, taking a step forward as the warlock dug in his pocket for his wallet.
"Splurge on what?"
"You know, buying ridiculous things you don't need or going to eat a meal that costs hundreds of dollars."
"No, never." Merlin snorted, pulling a note from inside his wallet and folding it over and over again as they moved forward in line.
"Why not?"
"I never needed to." Merlin shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious as they moved up again and he heard the woman in front of them ordering. He had gone off the deep end once or twice, but it was never about spending money. And really, he wasn't ready to talk to Arthur about the time in his life when he did.
Stepping up to the counter, the two ordered their drinks and Merlin handed over the bill, waving off any change, and gratefully accepting his cup that immediately began to thaw his chilled fingers.
"I don't know what else we have planned with Morgana, but I need a change of clothes. My dorm isn't far."
The invitation wasn't stated, but Merlin felt its presence all the same as he took a sip of his bitter drink and nodded. "Let's go then."
Walking together across the lawn, Merlin's eyes wandered to the different buildings and the occasional professor that he recognized. "It's been months since I was last here." He mused, and Arthur glanced his way in surprise.
"You were going here just a few months ago?"
"I was pursuing a journalism degree." He confirmed, and at Arthur's quirked brow he shrugged one shoulder. "I have so many degrees and it was one I hadn't acquired yet. Which is understandable now because it was incredibly boring at the best of times. I'm not one for writing." He explained, diverting his gaze back to his drink and hoping Arthur would get the message that he wanted the topic dropped.
"I can't believe we've never run into each other before now." Of course, this was Arthur he was talking about, and he was never one for taking hints before.
"Fate has a way of making things happen on its own schedule." Merlin sighed, looking up at the dorm building with relief. "How long have you lived here?"
"Since the semester began. My father decided it would be beneficial to me to be forced to share a small space." A look crossed over the blond's face at the mention of his father, but with the way the man shoved open the door and let it slam behind him, it was enough to deter the warlock from prying.
The two walked up a flight of stairs to the second level, and Arthur walked to the very end of the hall before opening his door. Taking a step inside, Merlin's eyes widened at just how small the space really was.
It was a square room, with a bed and a desk on each side. Each bed had a tiny end table beside it, and that was it. Someone had placed a blue, round rug in the middle of the floor, and there were a couple of posters hanging above the bed on his right, but that was all the personality the room held.
"Wow." Was all Merlin could get out as Arthur sighed.
"Yeah, it's awful, I know."
Walking towards a door that was tucked into the back corner of the room, Merlin caught sight of a tiny wardrobe with clothes on the bottom in a messy heap, and organized clothes at the top. Arthur selected a shirt from the top and a pair of jeans from a small box attached to the wall.
"Make yourself at home, I'll just be a few minutes." Already pulling off his coat and the bag on his wrist and tossing them on his bed, Arthur disappeared into the bathroom while Merlin tucked his hands into his pockets.
He felt for the cloth of his scarf, and he breathed in a slow, steadying breath. Wandering to the left side of the room, he sat on the bed and let his eyes fall to the books stacked on Arthur's desk. Business, that's what he was in school for. It seemed fitting, but the warlock wondered if his friend was actually happy with that.
The sound of a door opening startled Merlin, and his head swiveled as a man stepped inside the room. He was tall and lanky, with a headphone cord looped around his neck, a beanie pulled down to his eyebrows, and was wearing a thick hoodie with a man with dreads that was wrinkled and stained.
For a moment, dull brown eyes met the warlock's, and Merlin noted the red that rimmed them. "Hey."
"Hello." Merlin offered politely, and the man narrowed his eyes at him.
"Man, sorry, do I know you?"
"Uhm, no. No, I'm a friend of Arthur's."
"A friend?" The man repeated, blinking a couple of times before making an o shape with his mouth. "Right. I got it." Slinging his backpack off his shoulder and onto the empty bed, and man gave Merlin an awkward smile. "Glad to see he's finally getting something. I thought maybe he hung with the ladies but he's here every night. Guess now I know why." The man started chuckling to himself, and Merlin frowned.
"No, I think you've got the wrong idea. I'm an old friend."
"Uh huh. Makes even more sense."
"No, I—"
"Merlin?" Arthur stepped out of the bathroom, his hair wet, and wiped a towel along the base of his neck. "Hey, Dominic."
"Sorry man, didn't see a sock on the door."
"Shut up." The blond scowled. "Merlin, this is my roommate, Dominic." Arthur made a weak wave between the two as Dominic narrowed his eyes at the warlock.
"Like that wizard guy from those old stories. Cool."
"Yeah, cool." Arthur muttered, walking over to his desk and looking around before pausing. Merlin watched while his friend did a double take over the desk's surface, moved his textbooks, and then crouched to look under his desk. "Dominic, have you seen a book on Arthurian legend? I left it on my desk yesterday morning."
"Oh, that was yours?"
Four words. That was all it took for Arthur's face to turn red and fury to fill his voice. "It was on my desk. Yes it was mine. Where is it?" The question was enunciated slowly, and Dominic shrugged one shoulder as he began to rifle through his bag.
"Thought it was one I borrowed for my class, honest mistake. I returned it to the professor."
A sharp exhale left Arthur, and Merlin leaned forward to catch his eye. "What was so important about the book?"
"It was a gift." He grit out, huffing another breath as he snatched his coat off the bed and tugged it on. "Do me a favor, Dominic, and stay off my side of the room."
"Whatever you say man." His roommate waved, sliding his earbuds back in and falling back onto his blankets.
A string of choice curse words left Arthur under his breath as he stalked towards his door. "Come on, Merlin."
"Where are we going?" Hurrying to get up, the warlock cut his eyes to Dominic one last time before darting after his friend.
"I have to get that book back."
"Why? What was it?"
"A gift for my tenth birthday." Arthur scowled, jogging down the stairs and shoving through a door as Merlin trailed behind him, once again following after the enraged Pendragon just liked he used to.
"Okay, but where is it?"
"Dominic is taking a special course offered to seniors this year about Arthurian legend. We have a guest professor here, Professor DeGrance. I need to get that book back."
Not that he had much say in the matter given how emotional Arthur seemed to be about the book, Merlin voiced his support as they strode across the grassy lawn towards one of the other buildings.
No one knew or remembered Merlin, but every couple of minutes someone called out or waved to Arthur. "Lots of friends." Merlin commented softly after the fourth time, and Arthur glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
"None real. None I can share or talk about real things with."
"Why not?"
"Because." The answer was less than satisfactory to the warlock, but he decided to press the issue later, slowing his pace as the hall filled with students. "There, on the left." Arthur pointed to a large hall where a temporary plaque hung with the professor's name.
As Merlin pulled open the door, they heard the scraping of chairs and the sound of books stacking together as the lecture ended.
"Just in time." Arthur whispered, and the two slipped into the back of the room as the hall began to empty.
Standing at the front of the classroom wiping off a massive white board was a young man with curly red hair. For some reason, Merlin had expected an older man, but the way the professor dressed and stood, the warlock suspected he wasn't any older than thirty.
"Excuse me, Professor. I think a book of mine was accidentally brought to you by one of your students." Arthur spoke once the room emptied, and Merlin bit down on his lip as a sense of déjà vu began to rush through him.
That man. That professor. Something about him was familiar. Incredibly familiar.
"Oh, yes. I think I know what you're talking about."
And that voice. Merlin knew he knew that voice. Arthur seemed to think the same, because his eyes cut to Merlin while his brows drew together.
Offering him the smallest shrug, the warlock followed his king to the front as the professor set his eraser down. Stepping to the side, the man plucked a book off his desk and turned around as the two stopped just a few feet away.
Merlin caught his breath at the same time that Arthur did, and the book remained in the professor's outstretched hand, hanging in the air between them.
"I'm assuming you must be Arthur?" The man spoke, a small smile curling his lips. A smile that was warm and bright and familiar. A smile that had once, a long time ago, belonged to Sir Leon, a knight of Camelot.
A/N
I liked writing this chapter, I put in a lot of hidden things that you'll discover at the end of the story, or even during a second read through!
I hope you guys enjoyed, I would love to hear from you if you did!