Chapter Six 

The Return of Merlin

Merlin was silent as he returned back to his childhood home. The carriage ride was long and he would have slept if his mind wasn’t filled with nerves of his return to Camelot. He wondered what it would look like to him now. He wondered where he would fit in Camelot once again. Before he had left he had always known where he fit. Now he was a man, he wasn’t the child he once was when he left Camelot the first time. 

He looked out the small window as the Great Wall surrounding the vast kingdom came into view. He watched the walls of Camelot grow higher and higher as he came closer and closer before they were stopped just outside of it. The bridge to the Kingdom opened down for him and they continued further. Merlin looked out at the outer region of the realm. It was far more broken than he had once known it to be. The people were broken, their spirits worn thin, Merlin could see it on them as he passed. They all watched the carriage pass with a lifelessness Merlin had long forgotten. He leaned further back in his seat as they left the outskirts and entered into the higher realms of the kingdom. As the castle came closer and closer Merlin had to steel away his nerves. What was Arthur like after all these years? Was he exactly how he once was, or was he also changed? Would he be happy to see his old best friend, or had he forgotten their once strong bond? The prophecy had made it clear that their paths would always be intertwined, that their bond would always hold steadfast, but it was hard to believe after so long apart. 

Merlin stepped out of carriage slowly and looked on the castle he had called home only for a few short years, what would be his home once again. He followed a guard inside as he was led to the Great Hall. It was almost exactly the same, large stone arches, beautiful tapestries hanging from the walls, servants bustling this way and that. Everything was the same, and yet almost unrecognizable to Merlin. He stepped into the Great Hall to find it completely empty save for one page boy who walked up slowly to Merlin. 

“The King is currently in a war meeting.   He didn’t expect you this early.” The page said.

“He knows I’m here?” Merlin asked.

“King Arthur was informed of your arrival when you reached the gates.” The page said with measured tone. “He will be with you once his war meeting has finished.” 

Merlin huffed and went to the stained glass window. His only other time in the Great Hall was when Master Blaise and King Elric informed him of his part to play in the prophecy. At the time he could never have imagined that he would be strong enough or powerful enough to be of aide to Arthur in a time of Great Darkness.  Now of course he knew what he was and what he was capable of. 

He leaned against Trinity and looked out at the grounds below him. A door opened and there was some rushed whispering behind him he was sure was meant to be private, so he pretended he couldn’t hear every word. Then a second door opened quickly, Merlin felt an odd buzzing like electricity throughout his body as he slowly turned around. 

“When the King enters the room everyone stands at attention.” Arthur’s voice was different. Heavy and darker than it once was when they were children. Merlin slowly met his eyes. Arthur had scars going down one half of his face now, crawling down his neck below his robes. 

“Your Highness,” Merlin said slowly. He saw then the odd glint in Arthur’s eyes before the toying of a smirk around his mouth gave him away. Merlin couldn’t help but smile as well as Arthur stepped towards him quickly before pulling him into a bracing hug. 

“Hello again Merlin my old friend.” Arthur said as he squeezed Merlin tighter. 

“Arthur…” Merlin said clasping his friends shoulders. “You’ve changed.” 

“I’ve grown up, as have you.” Arthur clasped at Merlin’s shoulders. “Are you everything they thought you would be?”

Merlin nodded. “I surely hope so.”

Arthur chuckled. “Well no worries Merlin. I’ll try not to need you.” Arthur turned and walked away. “Your chambers will be in our guests suites—“

“Hold on, sorry. What do you mean?” Merlin asked quickly.

Arthur looked confused. “You didn’t expect to have to stay in the servants quarters did you?” 

“No, no sorry not that. What do you mean you’ll try not to need me exactly?” Merlin asked again. 

Arthur glanced towards the guards standing by. “Exactly what I’ve said old friend. I haven’t needed you thus far. We don’t need magic to win this war. We need knights. And I know you aren’t one for battles.” He smiled, but it wasn’t genuine, Merlin could see through it immediately. 

“I’ve returned to aide you in ending this war, Arthur.” Merlin said with measured breath. “That’s what I’m meant to do, that’s what’s prophesied.” 

Arthur eyed Merlin up and down. “That is not what I intend to happen. So, thank you for returning Merlin. Always a pleasure to see an old friend, but do not fret of a war you needn’t have any part in.” 

“Needn’t have any part in, Arthur I’ve seen what is come to pass,” he took a step forward and reached out for Arthur. “Together we are unstoppable, but separate—“ 

Arthur took a step back and glared at Merlin. “I am your King, Merlin. I am not some young child you can speak to with such a lax tone. This is not your war, it hasn’t been for the past decade and it isn’t now that you’ve returned to Camelot.” Arthur turned and walked away. “Baldrick, please escort our guest to his chamber.” 

“Arthur stop, hold on a moment.” Merlin tried to follow but Arthur turned on him quickly. 

“You left for ten years. Nothing is as it once was.” 

Merlin stopped and looked at his old friend. Deep in his eyes there was the haze of fear, even deeper Merlin could see the sting of betrayal. It pierced into him as Arthur glared at him. 

“That is all, you are excused. Do what you will, but stay out of my way. I have enough to handle.” Arthur left the Great Hall leaving Merlin alone. 

“Come this way Master Merlin.” Baldrick said quietly. 

“What happened while I was gone?” Merlin asked the old servant.

Baldrick hesitated for a moment as he led Merlin to his chambers. “The King has been through a great deal. He is not the same child he once was. The weight on his shoulders is great.”

“And he blames me for leaving?” Merlin asked. 

“He’d never say as much, but the ten years have weighed heavily on him.”

“They’ve weighed heavily on me as well. Or has he forgotten that I was the one sent away?”

“Yes Merlin, but he was the one left behind.” Baldrick responded slowly. He nodded towards Merlin’s small trunk of possessions. “I’ll leave you to rest, Merlin. It brings me joy to see how much you’ve grown.” 

Merlin smiled at the old servant as he shut the door and left Merlin alone. He sat his staff just off the bed and fell into bed. He hadn’t slept on such a soft surface sine he left the comfort of his best friends bed in Camelot. “Arthur,” Merlin whispered out in a breath. It felt odd and almost foreign on his tongue. They had changed over the years. They were very different people now. Merlin had realized quickly that Arthur was not the young boy Merlin had known. He would have to regain his King’s trust it seemed.