Once and Future

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"What the hell?" Arthur mumbles to himself raising a balled fist to pound on the door again with increased vigor.

What does Merlin think he's doing? He should be happy to see him, that ungrateful, little...

"Go away!" comes Merlin's angry voice from inside. "I don't have time for this!" he shouts.

"Merlin, open this door right now, or I swear, once we get back to Camelot, I'll have you put in the stocks!" Arthur shouts back before thinking back to Merlin's history. "Again!" he adds.

Arthur hears footsteps as Merlin stomps his way back towards the door, and smiles to himself, satisfied that he's managed to rile him up so quickly.

The door swings open suddenly, and there Merlin is, but he looks different. He's bigger, no longer the scrawny kid that Arthur knew him as, almost big enough to be a knight. He's also got some scruff on his slender face, and his hair has grown longer and uneven, as though personal hygiene has taken a backseat since the last time Arthur had seen him. He's also dressed strangely.. in some materials Arthur's never seen before.

"Look," Merlin begins sternly, "I don't know who you are, or what you're playing at, but I don't have the time or energy for whatever kind of sick joke this is, alright?"

"Merlin, what are you talking about?? How could you not know me??" Arthur asks confusedly, feeling a panic begin to rise within him. Merlin is his best friend, and Arthur likes to think that he's Merlin's as well.

What could possibly have happened to make him forget him like this??

"Who sent you?!" Merlin demands.

"No one! Alright? It's me, Arthur," he shouts back.

"You're not, you can't be," Merlin says. "I lost Arthur long ago, and I've spent years of my life searching and waiting for him to come back to me, so believe me, if you were him, I'd know it," Merlin attempts to shut the door on him again, but this time Arthur is ready, shoving his boot in the way before he can.

Arthur pushes on the door, but Merlin doesn't give way as quickly as he had in the past. He's gotten stronger, seemingly overnight.

Still, after some struggle, Arthur manages to overpower him and push the door wide open, stepping inside.

"Stay back!" Merlin shouts, raising a hand at him, and for a moment Arthur is almost sure he sees a brief flash of bright yellow in his friend's eyes, as a glass on a table nearby falls to the floor and shatters.

Why does that seem so familiar?

Arthur raises his hands in defense, taking slow, but deliberate steps towards him. "Merlin, you're my closest friend, and I don't know what's happened to make you forget me like this. The last thing I remember is the battle with Morgana and Mordred. I remember being wounded, but I can't for the life of me remember much of anything after that, then suddenly, I'm lying on the shore of that lake," Arthur explains as he can see realization begin to dawn on Merlin's face.

"Merlin, I am so very lost right now and confused. So you can imagine my relief that I was at least able to find you. But something strange is going on, and you need to remember me so we can figure it out together," Arthur says. "Please, my friend, I need your help," he finishes, and Arthur sees something break behind Merlin's eyes.

"Arthur?" he says tentatively, lowering his hand.

A sly smile starts to make it's way onto Arthur's face. "The one and only," he replies with a grin.

Merlin moves towards him, and immediately wraps him in a tight hug, and Arthur responds just as vigorously.

After a few moments, Arthur moves to let go, but Merlin only holds on tighter.

"Merlin, it's alright, you can let go now," Arthur says with a short laugh, confused at Merlin's behavior.

"Sorry," Merlin says pulling back and running a hand over his face, and Arthur swears he sees him wipe away tears. "It's just.. There were times I thought I'd never see you again."

Arthur simply nods his head at this, still baffled by Merlin's words and actions. "So um," Arthur begins, clearing his throat, "down to business I suppose. I remember being gravely wounded, and I remember you were there. I thought I was going to die," Arthur remembers with a shudder. "But I guess you found a way to save me after all, eh Merlin?" he asks, patting his friend on the back.

Merlin grows silent and turns his back to him, beginning to stoke the fire burning softly in the background.

His failure to answer begins to make Arthur nervous. "Merlin?" Arthur repeats, waiting for him to face him. "Well? How'd you do it?" he asks.

Hesitantly, Merlin turns to look at him. "Arthur..." he begins slowly. "I am deeply sorry my friend, but no, I was not able to save you."

Arthur's stomach drops. That's not possible. How then could he - "Then how?" Arthur asks, feeling an anger begin to rise within him. "What kind of dark magic was performed to make this so?"

"None," Merlin answers quickly. "Well, not that I know of. It's the prophecy -"

"Prophecy? What prophecy?"

"The prophecy about you. Arthur, you are the Once and Future King. You died yes, but the prophecy clearly stated that when Albion's need was greatest, you would rise again. And so you have,"

Arthur shakes his head as panic begins to wash over him. "What? No - what does that even mean? I don't -"

"Don't you see?" Merlin begins, cutting him off. "Now that you're here, we must do something about the state of things. Something wicked is coming, I can feel it. We need to stop it, and together we can!" he says matter-of-factly.

Arthur's head is swirling with all this new information.  He died?? And yet somehow he's back? The once and future king? What is he meant to do? His entire life everything had been planned out for him. He never imagined that even his death would have a plan. However, one question makes its way to the forefront of his mind.

"Merlin..." he begins, almost afraid to ask for fear he won't like the answer. "How long have I been gone?"

Merlin hesitates for a long moment, looking to the floor and shaking his head as Arthur waits with baited breath for the answer. Merlin looks up and his gaze meets Arthur's.

"Centuries," he says.

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