(And We Can Have Forever) In Our Own Little Corner Of The World - Part 2
Merlin comes to Avalon again and Morgana answers, she wants to tell him to leave he knows but Arthur appears behind her, his hands settle at her hips and Morgana goes to lean back into him but stops, Merlin is there.
“It’s ok.” Arthur tells her, “Let’s go somewhere and talk.”
Morgana hesitates but nods.
“Ok.” She says in a softer voice than usual, Merlin feels the victory settle into his chest, Arthur is coming back to lead the country he was born to. Morgana takes them from Avalon and the next thing they know they’re standing somewhere just outside of London. She wouldn’t want Merlin in Avalon even if he could come there without destroying it, the fact is as soon as he was to step foot in their paradise it would cease to exist, it was her and Arthur’s place, untainted from the outside world and she would die before she would give it up to someone else.
They’re in a dark, wet parking lot next to a closed fish and chip shop and an alley with a rather pungent dumpster, there’s one working streetlight and even that flickers occasionally. There’s a graveyard across the street and the whole pace just feels depressing, Merlin even shivers a bit. He wonders if Morgana chose one of the least desirable places she could think of to try and sway Arthur because he wouldn’t put it past her.
The storm is full of harsh winds and chilling rain with a couple of claps of thunder and one or two strikes of lightning. Arthur looks to Morgana like she could fix that, Merlin nearly scoffs but doesn’t, maybe in Avalon, a place tailored to her and her abilities she could control the weather but now here, here no one couldn’t, he’d even spent some time trying but discovered it to be futile. Morgana simply shakes her head and Merlin holds himself a little higher, glad to know they were the same here.
Morgana’s not dressed for this weather though, apparently in Avalon with was going to be a wonderful warm summer’s day, the dress she wears clings to her and she shivers slightly, Arthur puts his arms around her and holds him close but Morgana pulls away.
“The two of you have things to discuss.” She says and Arthur goes to protest and keep her by his side but the one thing Merlin has always known about Morgana is that she puts duty first because she leaves Arthur’s side and stands in the doorway of the closed fish and chip shop to shelter herself slightly from the wind and rain. It takes Arthur a long time to let her go though, holding onto her hand until she found it in herself to turn away, there wasn’t much they could do about the rain but the small bus shelter a couple of meters over seemed like it would offer some protection from the elements so Merlin lead Arthur there. As they sit it’s only then Merlin realises how long it’s been since he’s seen his friend but Arthur is stealing a glance past the fogged glass and through the rain to Morgana like it's been centuries since he's been with her.
“I can’t stay here.” Arthur tells him eventually after all the reminiscing but before Merlin gets down to the plans of resurrecting Camelot’s empire.
“Yes you can, you are-” Merlin stops realising it for himself, it’s not that he can’t it’s that he doesn’t want to, he doesn’t want to be king again, he doesn’t want to lead the country anymore all he wants is what he has, all he wants is eternity in Avalon with Morgana.
**********
Arthur comes over to her, Merlin is still at the bus stop watching them, Morgana meets Arthur in the middle of the car park and stands in the rain trying to ignore Merlin’s presences because it’s her and Arthur and it’s goodbye, a moment between them Merlin shouldn’t be there for, she tries not to let his presence ruin whatever is to come, Arthur stands in front of her and smiles, she tries not to sob. Arthur puts a hand on the side of her face and used his thumb to wipe away the wetness on her face, both rain and tears. She thinks she’s saying goodbye - she can’t stay with him, if she’s not in Avalon it will decay and crumble into nothing, it will cease to exist and they’ll have nowhere to go to be safe. The whole time Arthur was talking with Merlin Morgana was memorising everything about him because he would have to lead the country and she would keep Avalon waiting. If she didn’t there’d be nothing but a grave left for him. A reunion years away was a comfort but not much when she thought about the lonely nights head, so many lonely nights, shaking her head she firmed her resolve. Even though she’d swore to herself no more sacrificing it was who she was, this time it wasn’t for the country it was for him, for his second chance to be the leader he was and have everyone see him the way she did.
“Arthur you were meant to lead this country.” She tells him and she tries to sound happy about it, a well-rehearsed start to a speech she was practising in her head ever since they landed in this place.
“I did.” Arthur told her with a smile.
“But you could do so much more.” Morgana says seeing the endless possibilities of a new Camelot, an empire bigger than any of them have ever dreamed, “You could build your empire again and reign as you truly should.”
“I was king once Morgana, I did the best I could but I don’t want to rule again.” Arthur explains. “I don’t care for the good I could do or the good I did because through it all I wasn’t happy and I won’t be happy this time either, not without you by my side.”
“What about Brittan?” Morgana asks.
“The country has a new ruler already.” Arthur says simply and then remembers the newspaper in his hand, it’s not too wet so he goes to lift it over Morgana’s head to cover her from the rain, as he does he sees the picture of the future king and queen of Brittan.
“They seem happy don’t they?” he asks and Morgana nods, a small look of confusion o her face, he loves the way her brow crinkles when she doesn’t quite understand, something he doesn’t see too often.
“Why is a stranger’s happiness important?” she asks because neither this man nor this woman look familiar to her and her soul doesn’t recognise them either.
“He is the future king.” Arthur explains.
“You are the rightful heir.” Morgana says and Arthur nearly laughs at the slight glare she sends the ‘stranger’ in the picture like he has somehow done the unforgiveable and hurt them, hurt him actually, he has always known how protective Morgana was of him, it had always been a reason he loved her. The look is fleeting and she thinks he doesn’t see it but he sees everything when it comes to her.
“He seems happy to lead them.” He tells her softly.
“It should be you.” Morgana says wistful for the future he deserves.
“It was.” Arthur says and finally holds the newspaper above her head to protect her from the rain, Morgana smiles gracefully and shifts closer to him.
“I would only want to be king if you were my queen.” Arthur says.
“Arthur I can’t.” Morgana begins she hates to reject him like this because she would love nothing more than to be his queen but other things are more important than her wishes.
“I know, so will you take me back home?” he asks her and Morgana smiles brighter than she has in a long time but still holds herself back.
“Do you know what you’ve giving up?” she asks wanting to be sure, he can change his mind if he wants, now, next week or next year but it will break her heart, she wants him to be sure of what he’s going. Arthur nods.
“I know what I’m gaining as well.” He tells her taking her hand in his and intertwining their fingers, he pulls their interlocked hands to his lips; he kisses her hand and pulls her body closer to his.
“We should get you out of these clothes; I don’t want you to catch a cold.” Arthur says with a grin.
“Such a prince aren’t you?” Morgana smiles, her old self coming back, he’s glad she doesn’t push him away this time, he always knew she did it for the country but humility wasn’t a trait he liked on her, she was at her best when she admitted it herself.
“King actually and you’re my queen.” Arthur smiles. Morgana leans into him, it’s a small movement but it means the world to the both of them, Arthur grins and leans in to kiss her.
**********
Merlin watches his best friend walk away from him to the girl he’s love since childhood, Arthur could do so much as king but as Merlin watches him run his hand down the side of Morgana’s face it seems right, like he was meant to be at her side and nowhere else. It has taken them centuries to find themselves and their places.
Merlin feels strange to spy on his friends, to watch their intimate moments but he stays in the rain and watches Arthur give up crown and country for love, Merlin finally sees everything for what it is and what it should be, Arthur and Morgana together is better than the Camelot empire being built again, he wills himself to believe that because it’s not all about him, he can live a million lives as nothing more than what he is, he already knows he doesn’t have to be the king’s advisor to be important, he’s had lives where’s here’s felt happier than ever with people who love him just as Arthur and Morgana will be happier in Avalon by each other’s sides than as the leader of Brittan or Camelot or ‘New Camelot’ or anywhere else.
Arthur shows his gallant gentleman side when he tries to protect Morgana from the rain with an old newspaper, it’s not much but it makes Morgana smile and Morgana lean into him, it’s small but it’s there and the little things mean the most. Something happens that Merlin doesn’t hear but the real Morgana’s back and Arthur kisses her hand.
Merlin hails a taxi cab as Arthur kisses Morgana and she takes them home, locking the gates behind them.
**********
Avalon is waiting for them, a little worse for wear from their absence but soon enough it’s fixed to its former glory and it’s perfect, not because of the breathtaking views of rolling hills and rivers and gardens or the rich furniture and gold and silvers and marble and jewels, all the finest things but they pale in comparison to having each other next to them.
“My queen.” He says.
“My king.” She smiles. He kisses her.
That’s what makes Avalon their paradise.
MERRY XMAS 2010!
“It’s ok.” Arthur tells her, “Let’s go somewhere and talk.”
Morgana hesitates but nods.
“Ok.” She says in a softer voice than usual, Merlin feels the victory settle into his chest, Arthur is coming back to lead the country he was born to. Morgana takes them from Avalon and the next thing they know they’re standing somewhere just outside of London. She wouldn’t want Merlin in Avalon even if he could come there without destroying it, the fact is as soon as he was to step foot in their paradise it would cease to exist, it was her and Arthur’s place, untainted from the outside world and she would die before she would give it up to someone else.
They’re in a dark, wet parking lot next to a closed fish and chip shop and an alley with a rather pungent dumpster, there’s one working streetlight and even that flickers occasionally. There’s a graveyard across the street and the whole pace just feels depressing, Merlin even shivers a bit. He wonders if Morgana chose one of the least desirable places she could think of to try and sway Arthur because he wouldn’t put it past her.
The storm is full of harsh winds and chilling rain with a couple of claps of thunder and one or two strikes of lightning. Arthur looks to Morgana like she could fix that, Merlin nearly scoffs but doesn’t, maybe in Avalon, a place tailored to her and her abilities she could control the weather but now here, here no one couldn’t, he’d even spent some time trying but discovered it to be futile. Morgana simply shakes her head and Merlin holds himself a little higher, glad to know they were the same here.
Morgana’s not dressed for this weather though, apparently in Avalon with was going to be a wonderful warm summer’s day, the dress she wears clings to her and she shivers slightly, Arthur puts his arms around her and holds him close but Morgana pulls away.
“The two of you have things to discuss.” She says and Arthur goes to protest and keep her by his side but the one thing Merlin has always known about Morgana is that she puts duty first because she leaves Arthur’s side and stands in the doorway of the closed fish and chip shop to shelter herself slightly from the wind and rain. It takes Arthur a long time to let her go though, holding onto her hand until she found it in herself to turn away, there wasn’t much they could do about the rain but the small bus shelter a couple of meters over seemed like it would offer some protection from the elements so Merlin lead Arthur there. As they sit it’s only then Merlin realises how long it’s been since he’s seen his friend but Arthur is stealing a glance past the fogged glass and through the rain to Morgana like it's been centuries since he's been with her.
“I can’t stay here.” Arthur tells him eventually after all the reminiscing but before Merlin gets down to the plans of resurrecting Camelot’s empire.
“Yes you can, you are-” Merlin stops realising it for himself, it’s not that he can’t it’s that he doesn’t want to, he doesn’t want to be king again, he doesn’t want to lead the country anymore all he wants is what he has, all he wants is eternity in Avalon with Morgana.
**********
Arthur comes over to her, Merlin is still at the bus stop watching them, Morgana meets Arthur in the middle of the car park and stands in the rain trying to ignore Merlin’s presences because it’s her and Arthur and it’s goodbye, a moment between them Merlin shouldn’t be there for, she tries not to let his presence ruin whatever is to come, Arthur stands in front of her and smiles, she tries not to sob. Arthur puts a hand on the side of her face and used his thumb to wipe away the wetness on her face, both rain and tears. She thinks she’s saying goodbye - she can’t stay with him, if she’s not in Avalon it will decay and crumble into nothing, it will cease to exist and they’ll have nowhere to go to be safe. The whole time Arthur was talking with Merlin Morgana was memorising everything about him because he would have to lead the country and she would keep Avalon waiting. If she didn’t there’d be nothing but a grave left for him. A reunion years away was a comfort but not much when she thought about the lonely nights head, so many lonely nights, shaking her head she firmed her resolve. Even though she’d swore to herself no more sacrificing it was who she was, this time it wasn’t for the country it was for him, for his second chance to be the leader he was and have everyone see him the way she did.
“Arthur you were meant to lead this country.” She tells him and she tries to sound happy about it, a well-rehearsed start to a speech she was practising in her head ever since they landed in this place.
“I did.” Arthur told her with a smile.
“But you could do so much more.” Morgana says seeing the endless possibilities of a new Camelot, an empire bigger than any of them have ever dreamed, “You could build your empire again and reign as you truly should.”
“I was king once Morgana, I did the best I could but I don’t want to rule again.” Arthur explains. “I don’t care for the good I could do or the good I did because through it all I wasn’t happy and I won’t be happy this time either, not without you by my side.”
“What about Brittan?” Morgana asks.
“The country has a new ruler already.” Arthur says simply and then remembers the newspaper in his hand, it’s not too wet so he goes to lift it over Morgana’s head to cover her from the rain, as he does he sees the picture of the future king and queen of Brittan.
“They seem happy don’t they?” he asks and Morgana nods, a small look of confusion o her face, he loves the way her brow crinkles when she doesn’t quite understand, something he doesn’t see too often.
“Why is a stranger’s happiness important?” she asks because neither this man nor this woman look familiar to her and her soul doesn’t recognise them either.
“He is the future king.” Arthur explains.
“You are the rightful heir.” Morgana says and Arthur nearly laughs at the slight glare she sends the ‘stranger’ in the picture like he has somehow done the unforgiveable and hurt them, hurt him actually, he has always known how protective Morgana was of him, it had always been a reason he loved her. The look is fleeting and she thinks he doesn’t see it but he sees everything when it comes to her.
“He seems happy to lead them.” He tells her softly.
“It should be you.” Morgana says wistful for the future he deserves.
“It was.” Arthur says and finally holds the newspaper above her head to protect her from the rain, Morgana smiles gracefully and shifts closer to him.
“I would only want to be king if you were my queen.” Arthur says.
“Arthur I can’t.” Morgana begins she hates to reject him like this because she would love nothing more than to be his queen but other things are more important than her wishes.
“I know, so will you take me back home?” he asks her and Morgana smiles brighter than she has in a long time but still holds herself back.
“Do you know what you’ve giving up?” she asks wanting to be sure, he can change his mind if he wants, now, next week or next year but it will break her heart, she wants him to be sure of what he’s going. Arthur nods.
“I know what I’m gaining as well.” He tells her taking her hand in his and intertwining their fingers, he pulls their interlocked hands to his lips; he kisses her hand and pulls her body closer to his.
“We should get you out of these clothes; I don’t want you to catch a cold.” Arthur says with a grin.
“Such a prince aren’t you?” Morgana smiles, her old self coming back, he’s glad she doesn’t push him away this time, he always knew she did it for the country but humility wasn’t a trait he liked on her, she was at her best when she admitted it herself.
“King actually and you’re my queen.” Arthur smiles. Morgana leans into him, it’s a small movement but it means the world to the both of them, Arthur grins and leans in to kiss her.
**********
Merlin watches his best friend walk away from him to the girl he’s love since childhood, Arthur could do so much as king but as Merlin watches him run his hand down the side of Morgana’s face it seems right, like he was meant to be at her side and nowhere else. It has taken them centuries to find themselves and their places.
Merlin feels strange to spy on his friends, to watch their intimate moments but he stays in the rain and watches Arthur give up crown and country for love, Merlin finally sees everything for what it is and what it should be, Arthur and Morgana together is better than the Camelot empire being built again, he wills himself to believe that because it’s not all about him, he can live a million lives as nothing more than what he is, he already knows he doesn’t have to be the king’s advisor to be important, he’s had lives where’s here’s felt happier than ever with people who love him just as Arthur and Morgana will be happier in Avalon by each other’s sides than as the leader of Brittan or Camelot or ‘New Camelot’ or anywhere else.
Arthur shows his gallant gentleman side when he tries to protect Morgana from the rain with an old newspaper, it’s not much but it makes Morgana smile and Morgana lean into him, it’s small but it’s there and the little things mean the most. Something happens that Merlin doesn’t hear but the real Morgana’s back and Arthur kisses her hand.
Merlin hails a taxi cab as Arthur kisses Morgana and she takes them home, locking the gates behind them.
**********
Avalon is waiting for them, a little worse for wear from their absence but soon enough it’s fixed to its former glory and it’s perfect, not because of the breathtaking views of rolling hills and rivers and gardens or the rich furniture and gold and silvers and marble and jewels, all the finest things but they pale in comparison to having each other next to them.
“My queen.” He says.
“My king.” She smiles. He kisses her.
That’s what makes Avalon their paradise.
MERRY XMAS 2010!