Always Rising

Arthur wakes up in modern Glastonbury and to his unfathomable relief finds Merlin. But nothing is simple. Everything he knew is gone, for one. He wonders what of his achievements were actually his own, and not just Merlin's magic, for another. Arthur also has to face the fact that he kept the ban on magic going. Was he ever truly a good king?

There is also the “I love you” he mouthed to Merlin before dying. Something he cannot afford to focus on, because, as Merlin tells him, Albion’s time of greatest need is upon them.

Then comes the unthinkable. Merlin’s magic, which has been growing over the last thousand years, is suddenly too strong for the sorcerer's human body to handle. Faced with the prospect of losing Merlin, feelings suddenly come out and Arthur realizes that if he can save the man he loves and the land of Albion, he might be able to forgive himself for his mistakes and everything he is not.

The question is, can he?

Expect fluff, angst, humor, banter, hurt/comfort, whump, and lots of Merthur!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Merlin held Arthur as the sun began to set. He rubbed a hand up and down the other man’s back as Arthur gripped him tightly. He could hear Arthur slowly working to pull himself together. 

Finally, Merlin heard a whisper. 

“Sorry.” 

“You’re apologizing to me?” Merlin said incredulously. “For having emotions?”

Arthur raised his head slowly, letting go of Merlin. “Seems so.”

Merlin could not let that stand. 

“Of all the… Arthur, don’t you dare try to apologize to me for crying after learning what you did just now,” Merlin told him. “Don’t you dare. You emotionally repressed, impossible, dollophead of a king! Don’t you dare apologize for being human.”

Arthur met Merlin’s gaze with his red-rimmed blue eyes slightly wide. Then a smile started to grow on his face. “You still can’t address me like that.”

“What? The dollophead bit? Or the emotionally repressed, impossible, idiot bit?” Merlin crossed his arms. 

“Both… Wait, did you just add ‘idiot’ to the insults, Merlin?”

“Yes. Seems I did. Problem, Your Majesty? ”

Merlin saw Arthur open his mouth to retort, then let out a slight laugh and shake his head. “I’m glad you didn’t change, Merlin.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Art By @gyrhs Army of Betas: Sleepygecko, Joyale, Anne Exception, vandalyssm, Sage_Owl, Loki_Lover_1234, @kadenemrys ____________________________________________________________