Merlin turns sharply, startled by the sudden sound in the middle of the public library.
A woman with dark curly hair and grey eyes looks at him expectantly.
âI know who you are, Emrys,â she says, and a chill crawls down his spine. No oneâs called him that in centuries.
His brow pinches. âAnd yet, I donât know you. Bit rude, donât you think?â
âOf course. I apologise.â She smiles and extends her hand. âI wonât insult your intelligence by pretending to be someone Iâm not. Iâm Athena.â
Merlin nearly brushes it offâthere are plenty of ordinary people named Athena these days, just as there are plenty named Arthurâbut thereâs a peculiar, ancient light in her eyes. The same light he sees in his own.
Merlin takes her hand. âMyâŚlady?â
Her smile grows. âThereâs no need for that; I donât belong to your pantheon. Truthfully, I almost never make my way up hereârespect for each otherâs domains is crucial in maintaining peace, after all. We had hoped youâd visit Greece one day.â
She examines him, eyes sharp. âBut you havenât left Albion in a thousand years. In fact, youâve barely left this town.â
She gestures to a banner hung over the information desk: SIGN UP FOR CAMLAD PUBLIC LIBRARYâS ANNUAL BOOKMARK CONTEST!
Merlin frowns, unsure if she means him harm. âWe?â
Athena raises her eyebrows as though the answer is obvious. Then again, to a goddess of wisdom, it probably is. âThe Greek gods. More so Aphrodite, though I believe Calliope has an interest in it as well. I would have preferred not to have come at all, but I was in the area, and, wellâŚAphroditeâs presence would likely be too intense for you to bear.â
Merlin blinks, mind racing and stuttering in intervals.
âIâwhat? An interest in what?â
âYou and Arthur,â she explains slowly. âWe meant to do this sooner, but the last few centuries were very busy and we lost track of time.â
Athena checks her watch, a glimmering golden band with a creamy face resembling a barn owl. âEven now, Iâm late for a few protests.â
She looks at him, wearing that expectant look once more. âWe wondered if you might like to place a constellation in the sky for Arthur.â
Her words strike at his heart, sending it rattling against his ribs.
Merlin sucks in a breath and clutches his books close to his chest. He doesnât know what to say. He can barely fathom the idea.
âYou said,â he manages, âthis isnât your domain. So how do you know aboutââ
âAphrodite was bedridden for a century or so with the effects of your heartbreak after his death,â Athena says simply, as though it isnât a gut punch. âYour heart hasâoh, what was it.â
Merlin watches in disbelief as she fishes a neatly folded slip of paper from her bag.
âYour heart has yet to recover,â she reads. âI am sorry I cannot make you this offer in person, Emrys. My presence can deeply wound those who have lost a great love. For you, a man who lost not only Arthur but every single loved one and his home as well, I did not wish to risk exposing you. Athena is in the U.K. on protest business and for a meeting with representative deities from Europe. I asked her to pop by. I thought you would take to her much better.â
Athena re-folds the note and places it back in her bag.
Merlinâs heart is hammering; he can feel his hands start to tremble. He clenches them tighter around the books.
âAphroditeâŚshe could feelââ
The thought of a goddess being bedridden by his heartbreak hurts. Thereâs no other word for it. He would have preferred to suffer that alone.
And Arthur in the stars. Scientists have discovered a new constellation which they are calling King Arthur five billion lightyears away from Earth, humanity, Wales, Camelot, Merlinâ
Athena doesnât so much as blink. âNo?â
âHeâs coming back,â Merlin says, voice too loud in the silent library. âHe doesnât need to be remembered in the stars because heâs coming back.â
Athena assesses him, grey eyes sharp, and Merlin realises the world had frozen around them. A book hovers midair on its way to the returns chute; two womenâs mouths are half open mid-discussion over a history volume.
Merlin looks back at Athena. A soft glow emanates from her skin, and Merlin can see the faint golden outline of a helm over her face.
âVery well,â she says finally, and Merlin squeezes his eyes shut as the glow grows.
âActually,â he hears, âwould you care to join me?â
Merlin peeks an eye open. Athena is extending a hand to him.
âThe council could use your input,â she says. âTheyâd be very honoured by the presence of the famous Emrys.â
âBut I can see you wonât,â she says.
His brow pinches in question. âMy lady?â
âYou cannot take on our role yet,â Athena hums. âFor the same reason you will not put Arthur in the stars.â
Merlin shuts his eyes just before the glow becomes bright enough to burn.
Voices hum, pages rustle.
âLooking for something specific, love?â
Merlin startles. A librarian in a fluffy green cardigan is looking at him expectantly.
âEr, no, Iâ just browsing,â he stammers, and turns on his heel toward the door.
âCourse, love,â she says. âAstronomy sectionâs that way.â
When he spins around, sheâs gone.
for @merthurmicrofic âs prompt stars | 912 words