Merlin: The chance to change fate

The difference between the two

"I-I" Arthur could barely mutter the words he had never wanted to say. His eyes were red and his face was hot and puffy as if he had cried out till he was dry.
"Out with it boy!" Gaius yelled.
"I think M-Merlin is...is dead." Arthur held his breath after those words left his mouth.
Gaius' face showed no emotion. It was as if time stopped, his whole body was still. It lasted that way for a few more moments until he spoke. "Tha-that is not possible." The old man turned around and started to organize his remedies.
"Gaius."
"No!" Gaius yelled back, startling Arthur. His face was full of rage. "Merlin can't be dead."
"Gaius, we-we have to be prepared for the worst." Arthur replied.
"No, I mean, he can not be dead, it is not possible, not yet, he has not even fulfilled his destiny yet." Gaius said as he stared down at the table.
"What are you talking about? Destiny? All you and Merlin have been talking about is stuff that I don't even understand and-"
"Because you can't understand, not yet," Gaius said sharply. "There are things you can not know, and I do not care if you are the king, there are simply things that I, myself can not say. Only when Merlin is ready can you know."
"What could he possibly be hiding that had all of you guys so worried?" Arthur asked.
Gaius decided not to answer Arthur, but instead ask him something, "Tell me what happened to Merlin."
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Light started to peak through the windows. It was beginning to be morning.
"Arthur?" Merlin said.
"Yes?" Arthur replied a little nervous.
"Is there somewhere we can talk, you know, to sort things out, maybe think of a way to get me back to my world?" Merlin asked, his face still in his hands.
"Yes, of course." Arthur said as he walked over to the door, "you coming?"
"Of course," Merlin said as he stood up and walked to the door to meet Arthur. They left and Arthur lead the way.
People bowed to Merlin as he passed them. Some nodded and acknowledged him as 'sire' or 'your majesty'. It felt weird for Merlin, to be called something that he really wasn't. He was really just a servant, and none of these people knew that.
Arthur lead him outside and into the woods, not soon after they had reaching a pond.
"Here is fine." Arthur finally spoke and sat down on beautiful green grass. He sat there staring out to the pond.
Merlin sat down next to him, enjoying the view.
"We don't have this where I'm from." Merlin said softly.
There was a long pause before Arthur finally spoke, "I thought everything was the same in your world, just we are reversed."
"Maybe the fact that our roles are different here, has effected lots of outcomes." Merlin replied, now looking towards Arthur.
Arthur turned and looked at Merlin. His eyes gazed down at his lips then back up to his eyes. Merlin turned back to the look at the pond. He sighed and then looked down at his lap.
"How long have you two been intimate?" Merlin asked nervously.
"How did you know?" Arthur asked.
Merlin turned back to look at Arthur. "The way you look at me, my Arthur never looks at me like that. Your different, you look at me as if you love me, and like you want to kiss me."
There was another long silence.
"Merlin and I are in love." Arthur replied, now looking out at the pond again. "Merlin was going to tell Guinevere soon, but I guess he never got the chance."
They made eye contact again, but this time Merlin had pity in his eyes.
"He was going to tell her this morning, wasn't he?" Arthur just nodded. "Sorry, I did not plan to take over your lovers body." Merlin said.
"How did that even happen anyways?" Arthur asked.
"One moment I was yelling at the gods, the next I was yelling at Arthur, then a lightning bolt came out of nowhere, and, well... Here I am." Merlin replied.
""What about you and Arthur, are you guys-"
"No," Merlin said abruptly, interrupting Arthur. "Arthur is the king, and I am just his loyal servant. He's married to Guinevere, a women he dearly loves. There's nothing going on between Arthur and I."
"Have you ever considered liking him?" Arthur asked.
"No, not really. It would never work, it never could be. Arthur can barely even call me his friend, let alone call me his lover if we ever happened to get together. But, we are just... Acquaintances I guess." Merlin said, looking down again. "I'm not used to seeing you wearing my kind of clothes." Merlin said trying to change the topic to more funny matters.
"Really?" Arthur said with a grin, "what do I usually wear over there?"
"Mmm, what you'd probably expect out of a king, Royal clothes, armor, and of course, a crown."
Arthur chuckled at that, "sounds like a dream come true."