fic: Lost Awhile
Title: Lost Awhile
Author: bandearg_rois
Rating: PG
Warnings: Major Character Death, Modern!AU(kind of), reincarnation!fic
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, the pictures are pretty pretty things that came from someone not me.
Author's Notes (A/N): Written for merlinxarthur 's fanfic challenge #5. I have no idea where it came from so don't hurt me! Also, death. None graphic, but death all the same.
Picture used:
Camelot - Date Unknown
It was surprising, when they met, the level of vehemence each was able to bring to bear. Surprising to those who didn't understand, maybe, or those without eyes to see or ears to hear (to the end of it, and beyond, all of them, including Uther, agreed that it was the King that was referred to in that). That vehemence, obviously, was a cover for things neither of them could name, could acknowledge. The depths of the unnamed feelings were never plumbed, at least not fully, even after Uther and Morgana had fallen from the mortal coil, as it were. They died together, as they had fought for most of their lives, and so neither was alone.
Britain - 867
Enemies.
England - 1215
Brothers
England - 1645
Enemies
American Colonies - 1776
Enemies/Lovers
World War I - 1916
Lovers.
World War II - 1940
Friends.
Reformation - Date Unknown
Every time they met, as enemies or friends or brothers, it was the same. War and strife, no peace in sight. As enemies they killed, as brothers they protected, as friends they loved as only friends can. But it was not until well into the future, during the Reformation, that their paths converged to the benefit of their destiny. The Time was upon them, and they had little time to prepare. It was said later, that the original legends of King Arthur and Royal Sorcerer Merlin were not written from memories of the past, but visions of the future, a future in which they were not born as enemies, or family, or indeed as friends, but Teacher and Student, Master and Servant, Lover and Loved. Such things were often twisted beyond recognition in tale and song, and this, their Life, was no exception.
The lives that came before were nothing more than practice, for recognizing that which is in the other and cultivating that thing, shaping it to meet the needs of the many, the few, and the two. For they were not one person, living two lives, as some later (or earlier, for the entire thing becomes quite confusing) said, but two people living the same life, walking their path side by side. The Time of the Sword was upon them, and they were as ready for it as any mortal could ever be. And when the battle came, Camelot stood once again, built again by those who loved her, everyone together again, after so many millennia apart from one another.
However, this Life was quite different than the 'First', or those in between. For they fought together, yes, with Might and Magic, two sides of the same coin, as had been foretold, The Once And Future King standing ready to protect and lead his people into a new Age. But at the end of it all, they did not die together, Merlin disappearing long before the battles were over, leaving Arthur to win or lose on his own merit. He won, of course, but Merlin never returned. Arthur knew he was not dead, but he was not alive either, at least not in this time and place, and Arthur died alone, for the first time, after many long years of peace and prosperity for his fledgling Kingdom.
Camelot - Date Unknown
Arthur ran through the courtyard, shrieking with laughter as his father chased him, their favorite game on warm sunny days, when he caught the gaze of a man, caught and held, stopping still. The man was younger than his father, older than him by leagues it seemed, but his eyes... they were like Arthur's, aged beyond reason, and the crack that rent the air bespoke powerful magics being wrought around them.
"Where have you been?" he asked quietly, later, after the feast for Merlin's return was finished and they sat on the ramparts, eating the fruit he'd pilfered from Gwen's kitchen.
"A lot of places, Arthur."
"You left me... Left me alone..."
"No! No, Arthur, I was only lost awhile. I'm home now, as you see, and I've no intent nor wish to leave again." And those eyes flashed gold with the unspoken promise, lightning arcing across the sky in dazzling colors as brilliant as the fire-rockets spoken of in the old songs. And Arthur knew, no matter what, that Merlin's promise would be kept, and he would never have to walk alone again.
A/N2: Okay, so if this sounds a bit loopy, forgive me, it's nearly 2 AM but the picture and quote (cut text by John Henry Newman) that I used for the title grabbed me and wouldn't let go. The dates given are real dates in British History. 867 was the Danish (Viking) Invasion, 1215 was a Civil War, 1645 another, and then we have the iconic wars, wars that affected the world.
I hope that my story has entertained and actually makes sense, and if you see anything point it out for me?
Author: bandearg_rois
Rating: PG
Warnings: Major Character Death, Modern!AU(kind of), reincarnation!fic
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, the pictures are pretty pretty things that came from someone not me.
Author's Notes (A/N): Written for merlinxarthur 's fanfic challenge #5. I have no idea where it came from so don't hurt me! Also, death. None graphic, but death all the same.
Picture used:
Camelot - Date Unknown
It was surprising, when they met, the level of vehemence each was able to bring to bear. Surprising to those who didn't understand, maybe, or those without eyes to see or ears to hear (to the end of it, and beyond, all of them, including Uther, agreed that it was the King that was referred to in that). That vehemence, obviously, was a cover for things neither of them could name, could acknowledge. The depths of the unnamed feelings were never plumbed, at least not fully, even after Uther and Morgana had fallen from the mortal coil, as it were. They died together, as they had fought for most of their lives, and so neither was alone.
Britain - 867
Enemies.
England - 1215
Brothers
England - 1645
Enemies
American Colonies - 1776
Enemies/Lovers
World War I - 1916
Lovers.
World War II - 1940
Friends.
Reformation - Date Unknown
Every time they met, as enemies or friends or brothers, it was the same. War and strife, no peace in sight. As enemies they killed, as brothers they protected, as friends they loved as only friends can. But it was not until well into the future, during the Reformation, that their paths converged to the benefit of their destiny. The Time was upon them, and they had little time to prepare. It was said later, that the original legends of King Arthur and Royal Sorcerer Merlin were not written from memories of the past, but visions of the future, a future in which they were not born as enemies, or family, or indeed as friends, but Teacher and Student, Master and Servant, Lover and Loved. Such things were often twisted beyond recognition in tale and song, and this, their Life, was no exception.
The lives that came before were nothing more than practice, for recognizing that which is in the other and cultivating that thing, shaping it to meet the needs of the many, the few, and the two. For they were not one person, living two lives, as some later (or earlier, for the entire thing becomes quite confusing) said, but two people living the same life, walking their path side by side. The Time of the Sword was upon them, and they were as ready for it as any mortal could ever be. And when the battle came, Camelot stood once again, built again by those who loved her, everyone together again, after so many millennia apart from one another.
However, this Life was quite different than the 'First', or those in between. For they fought together, yes, with Might and Magic, two sides of the same coin, as had been foretold, The Once And Future King standing ready to protect and lead his people into a new Age. But at the end of it all, they did not die together, Merlin disappearing long before the battles were over, leaving Arthur to win or lose on his own merit. He won, of course, but Merlin never returned. Arthur knew he was not dead, but he was not alive either, at least not in this time and place, and Arthur died alone, for the first time, after many long years of peace and prosperity for his fledgling Kingdom.
Camelot - Date Unknown
Arthur ran through the courtyard, shrieking with laughter as his father chased him, their favorite game on warm sunny days, when he caught the gaze of a man, caught and held, stopping still. The man was younger than his father, older than him by leagues it seemed, but his eyes... they were like Arthur's, aged beyond reason, and the crack that rent the air bespoke powerful magics being wrought around them.
"Where have you been?" he asked quietly, later, after the feast for Merlin's return was finished and they sat on the ramparts, eating the fruit he'd pilfered from Gwen's kitchen.
"A lot of places, Arthur."
"You left me... Left me alone..."
"No! No, Arthur, I was only lost awhile. I'm home now, as you see, and I've no intent nor wish to leave again." And those eyes flashed gold with the unspoken promise, lightning arcing across the sky in dazzling colors as brilliant as the fire-rockets spoken of in the old songs. And Arthur knew, no matter what, that Merlin's promise would be kept, and he would never have to walk alone again.
A/N2: Okay, so if this sounds a bit loopy, forgive me, it's nearly 2 AM but the picture and quote (cut text by John Henry Newman) that I used for the title grabbed me and wouldn't let go. The dates given are real dates in British History. 867 was the Danish (Viking) Invasion, 1215 was a Civil War, 1645 another, and then we have the iconic wars, wars that affected the world.
I hope that my story has entertained and actually makes sense, and if you see anything point it out for me?