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[getsthecredit]

[This place doesn't make any sense, as far as Arthur is concerned. And while interrogating what faculty he could taught him a little more about this whole school thing, it took a great deal of calm on his part not to draw his sword on them as his kidnappers. The fact that they were so congenial about the whole thing is the main reason he hasn't threatened anyone. Yet.

It wasn't until after a humbling talk with the headmaster that he calmed down and really began to look at his situation. After which he began wandering Balamb Garden, feeling unusually lost in more ways than one. A king without his kingdom, his people, was nothing more than a man. The only consolation he had was Excalibur, sheathed at his side. A small comfort, but a comfort nonetheless.

So that leaves one (1) King of Camelot, in full chainmail, a bright red cape, and a crown, wandering around exploring the place. And occasionally asking questions, because displacement aside, he's not exactly up to date on the modern technology.]

Comments

[getsthecredit]

...

[He was right, this was the work of magic. Still, that seemed a bit much on top of everything else he was trying to accept about this place.]

So... despite the fact that I just saw you at my wedding today, for you it's been a month already. Forgive me if I find that a bit hard to swallow.

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[Excuse Merlin, his brain has just come to a complete stand still]

...What.

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[He waits for him to go on... then raises his brow at him.]

Was I unclear? Or have you confused yourself as well as me?

[nevergetscredit]

Confused? Yes, a little bit, because you're not married.

[there was Gwen, Merlin knew, but as long as Uther was King there was no chance that they'd ever actually get married. Which left...oh no. Arthur was enchanted again, wasn't he?]

...Arthur. Who exactly are you 'married' to?

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Not until today I wasn't, but... now I am. [It still felt strange, but unfortunately he couldn't linger on that for long without getting back to the fact that he was here and Gwen- as far as he knew- wasn't. So much for that.

In any case, he only grows more incredulous as he stares at Merlin.]

Gwen, who else? I know you can be a forgetful oaf, but your memory can't be that bad.

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[Merlin's eyes widen, and he stares.]

The King actually let you marry Gwen?!

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[What was left of his grin quickly faded away, brow furrowing as he tried to imagine why Merlin would say something like that. His voice lowered.]

That isn't funny.

[nevergetscredit]

[Merlin draws back, not sure what was the cause of this change in Arthur] Of course not, why would it be funny?

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Have you lost your mind?

[He might have gone on, but when he considered what had led to this in the first place- the things Merlin had been saying about being here for a month, and going back to the same time you'd left, along with his apparent lack of knowledge of recent events. If that sort of thing really was possible...]

Merlin... what's the last thing you remember from a month ago, before you came here?

[nevergetscredit]

[The question made Merlin pause. He knew at least a bit about what the Time Compression did too, and with Arthur asking him that question...but he hadn't actually imagined that Arthur could possible arrive here from a different point in time]

We were working on the restorations, from the damage caused by the dragon's attack. And you were planning to go and search for Morgana.

[getsthecredit]

[He could only stare at first, struck dumb for a moment. If that was the last thing Merlin remembered... this hardly seemed possible, but this wasn't exactly a day where he could rely on the possible.]

The dragon's attack, and Morgana... that was at least two years ago.

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Two years?!

[Merlin is now going to goggle at you, Arthur]

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[Oh boy. Arthur rubs the back of his neck, trying to wrap his head around yet another conundrum.]

That's honestly the last thing you remember?

[nevergetscredit]

Yes, that's the last thing I remember!

[But if Arthur is from his future...then what happened?! How did he manage to actually marry Gwen?]

...what exactly happened since then? Other than marrying Gwen. Wait...if you've married Gwen, does that mean she's a Princess now?

[getsthecredit]

I can't just stand here and tell you everything that's happened over the past two years.

[This was going to give him a headache. He sighed.]

I suppose... I should at least tell you this much, so you can stop making a fool of yourself. My father is dead.

[He could forigve Merlin for what he'd said, since he just hadn't known, but it wasn't something he needed a reminder of on top of all this other stress.]

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[Merlin goes still]

...Uther is dead?

[The feelings Merlin has on this are conflicting. Uther is Arthur's father, and he knows how much his death would hurt him. But on the other hand...Uther is still the man who killed innocent magic users by the thousands, who made Merlin's mere existence illegal, and who is the reason that magic is feared and hated.

He can't really bring himself to regret the man's passing.]

Then...you're the King? [Merlin looks up at that crown again. So that was why...but if Arthur was King, then did that mean he knew? Had Merlin been able to tell him about his magic?]

[getsthecredit]

[He nods. There was a lot more he could say, but there was too much, and he suspected way too much to force Merlin to take in all at once.]

Not that it means anything, here. I can't be a king without my kingdom, my people.

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Well it's not that bad. You still have me! [Merlin grins, although inside he's burning to know whether Arthur knows about the magic, and still has him around anyway]

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[He just looks at Merlin... then scoffs, giving his shoulder a light punch.]

That's right. I don't have my knights, my Queen, or my kingdom, but at least I have my bumbling, good-for-nothing idiot servant. That makes me feel so much better.

[Sarcastic, but still with a touch of fondness. He's glad to have Merlin here, really.]

[nevergetscredit]

So I take it that means I have two years of washing your dirty socks to look forward to? Well, that's a disappointment. [Merlin might sound glib, but he's grinning at the same time.

Then he eyes Arthur.] Are you sure there isn't...anything else you need to tell me about what happens in the next few years? Nothing...important? [Like magic?]

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[He laughs, but sobers up quickly enough to address his question.]

How about this. I couldn't possibly explain everything that has happened, but ask me anything and I'll do my best to answer it. I can try and fill you in on the rest later.

[nevergetscredit]

[Merlin looks at Arthur hopelessly. He can't ask if magic is still banned, he can't. And Arthur...sure if Arthur knew, he'd know that? Surely if he'd really accepted Merlin, then he'd know to just...tell him.

Merlin felt his stomach sink. Two years in his future, Arthur finally King, and was magic...was magic still illegal?

And he couldn't ask. Not about that.]

Well...is everyone still alright? Well... [Apart from Uther, but Merlin shouldn't say that.]

...did we find Morgana?

[getsthecredit]

[He had to think for a minute. It had been an... eventful two years, when he thought about it. 'Everyone' now included a lot more people than it did back then.

Maybe it was best to address the question about Morgana first, at which his jaw tightened.]

We did find Morgana, after a year of searching. I thought- we all thought- things went back to the way they were, for a time. But she... [As long as it had been, it still chilled him, recalling the moment he watched her reveal her true intentions before Uther. Not to mention more recent memories...]

It turned out she'd joined forces with Morgause. She betrayed us.

[nevergetscredit]

[And here Merlin had thought his stomach couldn't sink any further. He'd hoped that Morgana would be alright, and that she wouldn't have been tainted by Morgause, but...if even Arthur acknowledged her as betraying them...

How? Morgana...what did she do?

[getsthecredit]

She tried to usurp the throne. [A pause.] Twice. The second time was much more recent, not long before I arrived here.

[He deliberates for a moment whether to add in certain details before deciding he should. Merlin was always someone he knew he could speak more or less openly to, and possibly the only person he could really talk to here. It wouldn't serve any purpose to conceal things from him.]

Gorlois wasn't her father. My father... Uther was. She believes she is the rightful heir to the throne, and has turned to magic and deceit to take it.