Arthur's return

The endless questions

Merlin sat cross legged in front of Arthur on the sofa, he was fidgeting with his fingers anxious about what Arthur wants to know.
Arthur thinks for a few seconds then clears his throat, "how long have I been gone?" He then looks at merlin who still has slight tears in his eyes, "um.. well you have been gone for 2000 years" "WHAT?!!! I've been gone for how long? What about Camelot? The knights? Gwen?" Arthur says with wide eyes shocked at the information he just learned. "Sorry Arthur but they are all gone, everyone. I'm the only one left" merlin whispers the last bit hoping Arthur didn't catch onto his sad tone but Arthur did "so you had to watch everyone die after me? And all you could do was let it happen?" Merlin was quiet And couldn't find the words to answer, he just looked down at his hands and nodded with a tear dropping onto his lap. "Oh merlin.. I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that" Arthur says slowly inching towards merlin though he didn't know how to comfort people well, he would never have to comfort the knights before a battle because they all knew death would be inevitable so they learned to enjoy each day as it comes. "Don't worry Arthur, I'm fine now" merlin says wiping a tear away and looking back up at Arthur. Arthur wasn't convinced but decided to not press the matter. "Ok then so I've been gone for 2000 years, there has to be things I don't know right? So why don't you show me?" Merlin gets up of the sofa and brings Arthur along with him, he takes him to the kitchen and proceeds to show him the sink. "WOAH! So there's no well? It just comes out of that silver thing?" Merlin laughed "yes Arthur and it's not a silver thing it's called a sink, the same thing happens with a shower" "what's a shower?" Arthur quietly asks. Merlin drags Arthur into his bathroom and turns on the shower. The noise it made scared Arthur and made him jump backwards, "what is that!!? Sorcery?" Arthur says whilst cowered into the corner, "no Arthur it's what you use to clean yourself, like a bath but standing up, but if you don't want to use that because it scares you, you can use the bath tub over there" merlin points to a big bath tub which compared to what they had in Camelot seemed like a pool.

They were back in the kitchen, Merlin showed Arthur the fridge, "so this is where we keep food that needs to stay cold, and if it needs to be frozen it can go in the freezer" " where do you get the food? And why is some of it in a box?" Arthur says whilst picking up a frozen pizza out of the freezer and inspecting it. "We get it from a place called a super market, you know like in Camelot there were some stalls in the lower town that sold goods, like that but for food, next time I go shopping you can come with me if you like"

The rest of the night was spent with Arthur asking merlin what everything was and did until they were both sat back down on the sofa, Merlin was quiet and stared into the floor not knowing what to say, Arthur for the first time since he woke up looked at merlin properly, he noticed merlin had a bit of stubble on his face which outlined his defined jaw, his eyes traveled to his shoulders and torso and was surprised that his servant, or not servant anymore because apparently they don't do that still, had gained some muscle, he had rounded out shoulders that showed through the hoodie he was wearing and Arthur assumed his stomach was just as toned, however merlin looked tired and pale, he had dark bags under neath his eyes which showed that he hadn't been sleeping well and Arthur felt pain at the image of Merlin upset.
Suddenly Arthur spoke again "I'm sorry merlin" merlin looked up at Arthur who had a Furrowed brow "what are you apologising for?" "For leaving you, you had to deal with losing everyone you ever loved and I wasn't there for you" Arthur says whilst tears prickled his eyes, "Arthur it's not you fault, you couldn't help it, it was destiny that you would die and rise again, that's what kept me going" merlin smiled softly at Arthur who returned it, "not just that though merlin, even back in Camelot before I knew about your magic, you had to deal with so much and you couldn't tell me about it because you thought I would chop your head off, I'm sorry you had to go through everything alone but I can promise you now that I will always be there for you no matter what" merlin stared at Arthur in awe, this man who just said he will always be there for him, Merlin didn't know how long he had wished for someone to say that to him and now someone finally has, Merlin leapt towards Arthur and hugged him so hard Arthur struggled to breathe, "thank you arthur, I mean it, thank you so much for coming back" "it's ok merlin, and really I should be thanking you"
After they let go of each other merlin showed Arthur his chambers or bedroom they now call it, his room was right next to merlins which gave him some odd comfort. Arthur settled down into his bed and felt an unfamiliar feeling of loneliness, he didn't know why, before Gwen he slept alone and never felt like this. He sighed and decided to think nothing of it until morning.