[team one] a heart as strong as oak
~1300 words of a Red White and Royal Blue / Merlin crossover fic with Alex/Henry and Merlin/Arthur (pre-relationship)
“Absolutely perfect,” Alex groaned. “No service, miles from the road….”
Arthur stopped listening as Alex complained a bit more about other ‘conveniences of modern life’, he missed in the hour or so they had left the car.
To Arthur, it was a step back into the familiar. A breath of fresh air (and given Alex’s other complaints about pollution, that might be more literal than he thought). Walking through the forest- he may as well have stepped back in time, on a hunt with his knights, or searching for an escaped sorcerer on his father’s behest, or running from bandits with--
- with Merlin.
“You okay?”
In an instant, Arthur was thrown back 1500 years into the future. He glanced over at Henry. “I’m… fine.”
Henry gave one of those half smiles. “Yeah. I know how that goes.”
I’m… er, hanging in there?” Arthur amended, looking past Henry to Alex to make sure he used the colloquialism correctly.
Alex gave an encouraging grin and a thumbs up.
Arthur looked around. “So your friend said that Merlin’s… electronic email? Said he was living around here?”
“Email,” Alex corrected, surprisingly patient. “And yes. Somewhere around here-ish is where your friend sent his last email. Though, given the area… and the fact it was 10 years ago… I’m not sure where he would have gotten the bars. It’s a dead zone out here.”
Now Alex was just talking nonsense.
“Maybe the magic helped him?” Henry turned to Alex, a grin on his face.
“Yeaaah, I’ll believe that when I see it.”
Laughing, Henry reached out to pull Alex close. “So ancient King comes out of the lake- average Tuesday. But someone using magic to boost the range of a early 2010’s cellphone capability is completely out of the question.”
“Your argument is persuasive.”
Henry laughed in response, answering Alex’s chuckle.
Arthur groaned and shook his head, stepping deeper into the forest. They were worse than Merlin with some of his knights.
Though Arthur was sure Merlin hadn’t been dating any of them.
… pretty sure.
Arthur shook his head once more, ridding the thoughts of Merlin with any of his knights. He had to focus on finding Merlin now.
Placing his hand on his sword, Arthur tried to focus on the feeling he had when he first picked it up out of the lake. The feeling that told him Merlin was in danger.
Instantly, he felt another wave of power wash over him, though this one was more focused.
There was something deeper in the woods. Something powerful.
Arthur!
He took off running at the voice, not hearing if Henry and Alex would follow.
“Merlin!”
He ran deeper into the forest until sunlight barely passed through the tree canopy and the air turned cool.
And still, that feeling drew him deeper still.
“Merlin!” He turned, calling out.
Finally, he broke through the treeline, stumbling over a tree root and into a patch of sunlight that lit up a small clearing.
There may have once been multiple trees here, but all that remained now were their decaying stumps, many of the trunks having been blown over by some massive blast
But- standing straight in the center of that blast was an oak tree. It towered over every tree around them, its trunk was large enough that it would take several people to embrace it fully, its branches as thick as a grown man.
And it called out to Arthur. Just as loud as his manservant used to.
“Merlin,” Arthur breasted, reaching out to touch the oak.
It pulsed beneath his palm, as if someone else was trying to reach out.
Arthur clenched his fist. Stupid magic. It never made anything easy.
Drawing his sword, Arthur decided to try to strike towards the base of the tree. Less likely to hit anything vital that way.
At least he hoped.
He swung hard, his sword embedding itself deep into the wood.
“Woah, what are you-”
A burst of power suddenly blasted them all back to the tree line.
Arthur groaned as he hit the tree behind him. Looking over he saw Alex and Henry bracing themselves from the blast.
“What was that?” Henry asked.
“I’m guessing magic.” Arthur groaned, looking at the spot where he had hit.
It was completely healed over.
Great.
“Okay… and you were hitting the magical tree because…” Alex trailed off.
Arthur pointed. “Merlin’s inside.”
“Inside the tree?” Alex turned to Henry who shrugged.
“Well, there was that one legend but-”
“He’s inside the tree,” Arthur said again. Stepping forward once more with his sword he swung, this time slicing through the middle. Now that he was prepared for it, he was able to brace against the wave of power.
The tree split open and for a moment, Arthur caught a glimpse of dark curly hair and the most ridiculous ears.
“Merlin!” Arthur shouted.
But Merlin’s eyes were closed, his brow furrowed. He didn’t even twitch as the tree reformed around him.
Arthur grunted and swung again. “Merlin! Wake up, you idiot!”
Another wave of power pushed him back a step, but Arthur persisted.
He glared at the tree. “I am King Arthur of Camelot. That is my manservant and my friend. And I will have him back.
This time when he swung, the tree split open far enough that Arthur was able to grab onto Merlin’s shirt and scarf.
“Merlin!”
Other hands reached out to wrap around Merlin’s shoulders, another grabbing his jacket.
“We got him,” Alex said.
Henry nodded. “Maybe if we pull together.”
They did so. Whatever magic was keeping Merlin there resisted, until with one great pull they managed to pull Merlin’s torso, then the rest of him out of the tree. Falling back into the grass, Arthur felt Merlin’s weight land on top of him.
And something deep inside his heart finally settled.
The oak tree seemed to shrink in on itself, testing around the void where Merlin had once slept. When it reformed once more it was smaller, the leaves a little less lustrous - but at least the waves of power had receded.
Beside him, Alex and Henry groaned from where they had landed.
“Merlin?” Arthur reached up to gently shake Merlin’s shoulder. “Merlin? C’mon you idiot.”
Merlin groaned, burying his face in Arhtur’s shoulder.
Arthur shook his shoulder harder, “Merlin. Up you lazy daisy.”
Merlin shook his head. “No.”
“Your nap was long enough,” Arthur grinned. Only Merlin would want five more minutes after spending years sleeping. “It’s time to get your lazy butt to work.”
“If I open my eyes, you’ll be gone.”
That broke all the humor from Arthur’s grin and he gently pulled Merlin away from his shoulder. Merlin’’s breath shuddered, and Arthur saw tears catch in his eyelashes. “Merlin. I’m here.”
“You can’t be.” Merlin whispered.
“I am,” Arthur insisted. “C’mom, open those eyes, you clotpole.”
That did cause Merlin’s eyes to flutter. “That’s my word.”
“It’s not a word at all.” Arthur reached up to drag his thumb under Merlin’s lashes. “C’mon. I didn’t drag myself out of a lake for you to deny that I am here.”
Merlin’s eyes blinked open, the irises widening in shock. “Arthur?”
“No, I’m Cenred.”
Merlin huffed, a sob breaking through the noise. “Don’t even joke you clotpole!”
Arthur suddenly found himself back on the grass as Merlin tackled him, burying his face back in Arhtur’s shoulder.
“I waited for you.”
Arthur sighed, bringing his arms up to hold Merlin close. “I know.”
“I waited… centuries.”
“I know,” Arthur sighed again, feeling his own eyes prick with the tears he had refused to shed for days now. “I know. I heard you. Even through death, I still heard you.”
Next up is Nichi with "Even through death, I still heard you.” I'll tag you on discord!