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Fic: Nothing Has Changed (8a/8) ~ The Final Chapter ~
Title: Nothing Has Changed (8a/8)
Author: dk323
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 10,533 (total)
Characters/Pairings: Merlin/Arthur, Will Stanton, Bran Davies, AU! Arthur, others
Spoilers: Merlin ~ Tag to season 1 finale, “Le Morte D'Arthur”
Disclaimer: The show “Merlin” is property of the BBC. The Dark Is Rising book series is property of Susan Cooper. No money being made.
Summary: Fearing losing control of his magic, Merlin gives his magic up. But then Arthur gets involved…
Chapter 8: Arthur meets two travelers from the future, and he feels a little better about being parted from Merlin. Merlin spends time in the year 2008 and he ends up going to a Christmas celebration.
But what both Arthur and Merlin wish for most is to be reunited. How long will Arthur have to wait for Merlin's return to Camelot?
Author's Notes: I started this story back in August 2009, and it was the first story I ever posted on the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
merlinxarthur comm. I made an end of the year resolution that I would finish "Nothing Has Changed" before 2012 hits. I didn't want to go another year with this story left incomplete.
Happy New Year, everyone! :D
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7a | Part 7b
~ * ~
Arthur noticed the boy, who inexplicably called himself Arthur Pendragon, looked rather uncertain then. “I don’t know if you’d believe me since it’s a little hard to comprehend…”
“Try me,” Arthur challenged him.
“If I may sit down first?” He asked Arthur politely.
He suddenly looked younger than his fourteen years, which caused the prince to deflate. After all, the boy was most likely just a messenger. Arthur couldn’t help but change tact and try to be patient. Of course, he was still anxious to find out where exactly Merlin was, but he wasn’t going to scare off the one person who could tell him Merlin’s location.
Arthur nodded and directed him to a chair at his dining table. He himself sat across from the boy. The silver and blue phoenix was still perched on the boy’s shoulder. At that point, the bird was looking a bit restless. The boy talked to the phoenix, calling him Archimedes, as if he were an intelligent creature who could understand his words.
Arthur watched as the bird flew off the stranger’s shoulder, and then the phoenix flew out the open window.
“What if Archimedes is seen?” Arthur asked.
The boy shrugged. “There’s no need to worry,” he assured Arthur. “Archimedes is very clever and he has ways of concealing himself. He just wanted to fly about for a bit. He’ll be back soon.”
“Right,” Arthur said automatically. “Well, can you explain why your name is the same as mine?”
“It’s a bit strange, but I come from another reality. I’m an alternate version of you as a result. Merlin from your future sent me to talk to you.”
“You’re saying you’re me…from a different reality, whatever that may mean? Does Merlin have an alternate version too?”
The other Arthur shook his head. “No, he is the same Merlin who you knew. Years from now, he stops aging and gains immortality. After his time with you--”
“After I die?” Arthur interrupted him.
“Yes,” the boy said reluctantly. His eyes dimmed for a moment as if he were sad about what he had to admit.
“It’s all right,” Arthur assured him. “I know I’ll die someday as we all do. I’m sure it’ll be in the middle of battle. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Fighting for Camelot is the most honourable way to die.”
“To fight for the good of your kingdom is always admirable. I hope to do the same,” the boy declared almost passionately.
“So you’ll be King of Camelot?” Arthur assumed.
The younger Arthur nodded. “Yes, that’s what Merlin tells me. But I’m not being raised as a prince as you are. My father died when I was seven. Merlin is my mentor. Years into his future, he ventured into my reality. I’m grateful for his support. I don’t know what I would do without him.”
“I wish he didn’t have to leave,” Arthur muttered, wishing he sounded less like a plaintive child, but he couldn’t deny that he really needed Merlin with him now.
Like this other Arthur, he realized how much he needed, no, depended on Merlin’s support and friendship.
And now he was gone. For how long, Arthur wished he knew.
“Merlin will return to you,” the other Arthur declared, his tone carrying no uncertainty.
“When?”
His other self frowned. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t told that.”
“How convenient,” Arthur muttered sarcastically under his breath.
The younger Arthur appeared sympathetic to his soured mood. His alternate self attempted to reassure him, his tone earnest, “I understand how upset you are that Merlin has left. But you will have visitors who will tell you how Merlin is doing in the future. So even if you won’t know his return date, you’ll have that communication. It is only fair. I hope that would help you?”
Arthur sighed. “I suppose so. It’s better than nothing. How can I know for sure that you are who you say you are?”
“Merlin gave me a memory to show you. I think that should confirm that I’m telling you the truth. But barring that, do I really look like a person who would call myself Arthur Pendragon if I didn’t mean it?”
“No,” Arthur admitted. “You don’t look like a liar out to deceive me. But if you have this memory, I’d still like to see it. It would ease my mind.”
His other self informed him that their blood had to touch for the memory to appear in Arthur’s mind.
Arthur couldn’t help but be suspicious of a spell that required blood. He’d had more than enough of swallowing his own blood, which had carried Merlin’s magic, for that magic shield. Otherwise, Merlin would’ve attempted to attack him to get his magic back. Recalling those unpleasant few days made Arthur even gladder of the fact that Merlin had his magic returned to him now. And Merlin at least had his magic to keep him safe in the future.
The younger Arthur asked for a dagger, so he could do it first. He noted that he could tell Arthur was not too happy with needing to do this.
So Arthur shrugged and he handed him a dagger that he always had on his person. With only a small wince, his alternate self sliced into his open palm with the dagger.
“There, now it’s your turn,” his other self declared.
He gave Arthur the dagger, handle facing Arthur. Arthur took it from him.
Arthur would have probably laughed now if the situation hadn’t been so peculiar. A boy seven years his junior was being cautious with him. It seemed like he was trying to reassure Arthur that he wasn’t planning to suddenly attack him by keeping the sharp end of the small weapon away from the older man. But Arthur was still trying to comprehend this boy in front of him, so he barely registered the action.
The fact that this boy was him in another world, another reality, was not the easiest thing to accept. Despite that, Arthur felt that he would have to accept it -- for better or for worse. After all, he really did believe that the boy was not lying and the other Arthur certainly didn’t appear to be mentally afflicted either.
Arthur cut into his own palm, not even feeling much pain since he had suffered much worse wounds. This was nothing compared to them.
The younger Arthur directed him to grasp his hand with the hand he cut. Arthur did so, and he was startled when he inexplicably heard a strange, lilting music as if it were played on delicate instruments. He decided it was magical somehow. He wasn’t sure why he thought so, but maybe, if magic could be heard, Arthur thought this melody had to be what it sounded like.
His other self smiled knowingly. They were still holding hands, and a glowing light grew around their joined hands.
“You can understand that meeting yourself from another reality is a rare occurrence,” His alternate self explained to him.
The boy’s eyes lit up, clearly excited by the result of the contact. Arthur himself couldn’t deny his interest in what just a touch with this other Arthur could make happen.
His other self spoke again, “Odd but still intriguing things happen when we touch, with our blood mixing together especially.”
“I can see that,” Arthur remarked.
Then he saw the memory in his mind’s eye. Arthur witnessed the relatively recent memory of Merlin saying those heartfelt words to him. It had been not long after Arthur had recovered from his injuries during the Questing Beast incident. The memory that Arthur still thought had sounded like a goodbye from Merlin.
“Okay,” Arthur declared as the memory left his mind. He let go of his other self’s hand. “I really do believe you now.”
The other Arthur smiled, pleased. “I’m glad to hear it,” he said. Then he cleared his throat. He explained to him, “Merlin wanted me to inform you that in a week’s time, you will be contacted by a man named Will Stanton. He’s Merlin’s apprentice, or will be, as Merlin hasn’t properly met him yet in my time. Merlin also said that Will would be travelling with someone else, but he didn’t tell me who. Will and his fellow traveler will be updating you on Merlin. They are both from the same time that Merlin has now travelled to. You need to talk to Will. He has an important task for you to do.”
“What do you mean by, ‘hasn’t properly met him yet’?” Arthur wondered.
“Merlin does things out of order. It’s best not to think too deeply about it,” his other self advised with an amused quirk of his lips.
Arthur raised his brow. “Right, of course.”
Soon after, the phoenix Archimedes returned. After he exchanged goodbyes with his alternate self, Arthur watched as the boy disappeared along with Archimedes.
~ * ~
One Week Later
So it was that one week later, Arthur found himself heading to the forest not long after lunch. He had received a letter from Will Stanton to meet in a specific location. And that Arthur would know where to go since the information had been magically put inside his head. Now Arthur knew he should have cared more that apparently he had been magically compromised, whatever you may call it, but after meeting an alternate version of himself…and just, well, wanting to ease his mind regarding Merlin’s current status; everything else paled in comparison.
Arthur wanted reassurance on whether or not Merlin was alive and possibly the state of his mental health as well. The letter was dated September 1, 2008 and the year 2008 was hundreds of years away. How was Merlin handling the shock of it? Surely a lot had to have changed over that span of time. Arthur was grateful that he wasn’t placed in such a jarring situation. He wouldn’t know what to do with himself.
Eventually, he sensed that he was at the right place in the forest. It was in a clearing, a stream passing through some feet away.
What shocked him was the man, who appeared to be in his late twenties, sitting beside a tree. There was no other way to say it, but the man looked like he had literally been drained of all colour. His skin was even paler than Merlin’s and his hair was white. The only colour came from his clothing – a dark long-sleeved shirt and dark grey trousers, which only served to accentuate his overall colorless appearance. Almost mercifully, dark glasses covered his eyes. Arthur wondered whether the colour of his eyes were white as well.
A blanket was laid out in front of him with all the things one would expect for a picnic. Most of the food, he assumed, was in the picnic basket, but a few pieces of bread and some meat and cheese along with fruit were laid out on plates in the open.
The pale man was eating an apple and even when he noticed Arthur there, he still didn’t take off his glasses. Arthur couldn’t really tell what the other man was thinking – looking into someone else’s eyes truly did reveal a lot, he knew. But when they were hidden, any hope of gauging the person’s reaction was almost completely lost as a result.
“You’re looking for the dewin? Will?” The man asked Arthur. “My name is Bran.”
“Yes I am,” he confirmed to Bran. “I’m Arthur, Arthur Pendragon,” Arthur introduced himself, unsure what to make of the man. “Are you Welsh?” He asked him, noting his different accent.
“Yes, and I know you’re going to say my name wrong with your English tongue, so don’t try,” Bran warned him, though an odd smile formed on his lips.
Arthur raised his brow at him in disbelief. “All right. If you say so,” he agreed bemusedly. He ventured, “You know Will Stanton then? He’s supposed to be--”
“Merlin’s apprentice, yes,” the other man confirmed with a nod. “I know him. I’ve known Will since we were children. We’ve been friends for years. He’s English like you too. He should be here soon.”
Arthur frowned. “Where is he?”
“You don’t need to know. Honestly, I’m not quite sure myself, but he’ll return soon like I said,” Bran reassured him. He patted the empty ground. “Sit down if you like. You can eat something too, if you’re hungry.”
Arthur sat down. “Thanks. Are you a sorcerer too?”
Bran laughed. “Definitely no. I leave Will to all the magic tricks. I’m just tagging along. It’s all a bit Doctor Who. A lot has happened in the past week. I still have a headache.”
“Who or what is Doctor Who?” Arthur asked, puzzled by the odd combination of words.
“Oh, nevermind that,” Bran dismissed. “It’s something from the future. Has to do with time travel and that sort of thing.”
“Like Merlin traveling to the future somehow?”
“Yeah,” Bran said with a smile. “You met an alternate version of you, didn’t you? He’s the one who told you to come here.”
“Yes I did, though he was a boy. He was about fourteen years old.”
“What was he like? At that age?” Bran asked, his voice breaking a little bit like it hurt to ask, but he was still earnest to know.
Arthur looked at him weirdly. “He was okay. Polite, self-assured… he seemed like a better version of me. I can’t believe I’m admitting that, but it’s true, I think. Merlin would love to hear me say that, I’m sure. He finds me arrogant sometimes.”
“Will thought the same about me when we were younger. But I needed to hold my own because well, look at me…” he said, drifting off as he swept his hand over his impossibly pale skin and his shockingly white hair. His eyes were still hidden behind dark-tinted glasses.
“You stood out…and your dark clothes?”
Bran looked defiant. “If others choose to stare and think the worst of me, then I’m not going to let that get to me. So I wear dark clothes to stand out, to prove that I won’t hide because of what others may think of me.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” Arthur said emphatically.
Since Merlin had become his manservant and their subsequent friendship, Arthur grew to learn how important it was to treat others respectfully – commoner and noble alike. It was the honourable thing to do after all. Merlin had been right all those times when he called Arthur out on being a prat. Arthur felt that he was becoming a better person under Merlin’s influence.
“Why do you wear those dark glasses?” Arthur asked him.
Bran shrugged. “My eyes are really sensitive to light.”
“Are they—are they white?”
“No, they’re tawny -- more golden than brown. Like an owl’s or a cat’s, I suppose. They’re still a bit startling to those seeing them for the first time.”
“Can I see them?” Arthur asked him.
Instead of speaking, Bran just removed his glasses in a careless gesture. “There you go. See, not white.”
Arthur nodded. It was startling to be sure. His eyebrows were white and his eyelashes were so pale that they were near invisible. The effect certainly made his golden-brown eyes all the more shocking. Arthur was more used to see the eye colour on a cat or a bird. But to see it on another person was a separate matter entirely.
“Yes, right. Thanks for showing me. You must hate it when people stare at you because of your appearance.”
“Ah, well, your mouth wasn’t gaping open. I’ve had worse reactions,” Bran tried to ease his mind. “It’s fine. I was born this way. I’ve learned to deal with the looks.”
Arthur saw a man about Bran’s age, late twenties, walking toward them. A small dark bird was perched on the man’s shoulder. He had light brown hair and blue-grey eyes.
While he was slender, he wasn’t as thin as Bran.
He was wearing a white, collared shirt with a dark tie and grey trousers. The material and look of the clothing was indicator enough that the man was from the future. While a bit plainer, Bran’s clothing also had given Arthur the same impression. There was no chance of someone from his present time wearing such clothing.
Both Arthur and Bran stood up as the man approached.
“That’s Will,” Bran told him what Arthur could already guess. “He’ll probably get all Old One on you.”
Arthur looked at him questioningly. “Old One?”
“Merlin and Will are a part of the circle of Old Ones. From your time, Merlin has yet to become an Old One. It’s something that occurs years into his future. All of the Old Ones are immortal – it’s a part of their gift. They’re…” Bran paused, seeming unsure how to continue before he pressed onward, musing, “…sometimes they act human like you and me. They feel emotions, they bleed, they fall ill…but other times--”
By then, Will had reached them and Bran didn’t say anymore. “Really, Bran. I think Arthur has gone through enough these past few weeks. I doubt he’d want to hear about the Old Ones,” Will remarked.
“Sometimes they have super-hearing,” Bran declared, rolling his eyes.
Arthur decided that these Old Ones must be some kind of otherworldly beings. Because what else could be the opposite of being human?
Will looked mildly amused. “Yes, only to make sure you don’t get into any trouble. Do you still have that headache?” He questioned him, pressing his hand to Bran’s brow as if he were checking for fever. He removed his hand a moment later.
“No. I’m feeling better. It’s not as bad as before,” Bran argued.
Will looked at him carefully and then he nodded. “I can see the light is affecting you. You should put your glasses back on, Bran,” Will asked of him.
“It’s all right. The light isn’t that bad.”
“Whatever you think is best,” Will acknowledged. Then he turned to Arthur. “Hello, Arthur. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Will Stanton.”
Will offered him his hand to shake, which Arthur did. He couldn’t help but notice how much older Will seemed, more so than his physical appearance belied. His blue-grey eyes revealed that he held the sort of wisdom or knowledge that only old age could provide. Or maybe it was a trick of the light?
“I was told you have a task for me to complete?” Arthur ventured.
Will smiled at him, the smile reserved, but the jarring feeling of his knowing, old eyes had gone. Like a mask had been lifted, and Arthur felt like he could breathe again.
Arthur thought Will was like Bran. Though while Bran’s outward appearance was immediately startling; Will’s quieter, wise look on an otherwise ordinary face was only realized when one peered closely enough. From a distance, Will was so common-looking that one would pass him by without a second thought. No one would even consider that he was more than just a man.
“Yes, you have to look after Archimedes, this little bird here,” Will directed his attention to the dark bird on his shoulder.
The bird stared at Arthur, the look so piercing that Arthur was slightly unnerved by it.
“Or, more like, make sure he keeps out of trouble,” Will corrected with a wry smile.
“He’s quite a smart phoenix as the young Arthur told you. But Archimedes is very young now and a bit of a risk taker. He needs someone to keep an eye on him. He will be Merlin’s phoenix once he returns, so for his sake, I know he’d appreciate it if you look after Archimedes for him.”
“So I’m supposed to take care of a pet bird then?” Arthur inquired incredulously. On the one hand, it sounded ridiculous, but at least it was a task Arthur knew he could handle.
Will nodded. “Yes. It may seem like a small task, but believe me, it is very important that you look after him.”
“Fortunately, phoenixes can be reborn, so there’s a very unlikely chance Archimedes will die permanently if you mess up a bit,” Bran pointed out.
“There are still entities who may be able to kill phoenixes though. But they won’t trouble you if Archimedes avoids going where he shouldn’t. You should make sure he doesn’t get too adventurous,” Will advised him.
“That should be fun,” Bran commented with brisk cheerfulness.
“All right,” Arthur said in acknowledgement of Will’s words of advice. “But when I last saw the phoenix, he had silver and blue feathers. Or does he just look different when he’s young?”
Will nodded. “Yes, that’s how it is. It is definitely the same bird, I assure you. Give it a few months or so, and he’ll look more familiar to you.”
Then Will instructed him how to communicate with Archimedes. Of course since he was a magical bird, communication was done differently. Arthur was surprised that he could mentally communicate with the phoenix as well. Will had told him that since Arthur was borne of magic even if he didn’t have active powers so to speak, that still allowed him to do some things others couldn’t. Arthur was perturbed by Bran’s intrigued gaze, emphasized by his exposed golden eyes, as Will discussed Arthur’s connection to magic.
Who was Bran really? He highly doubted he was just a friend of Will’s. And just because Bran wasn’t a sorcerer, that didn’t mean there wasn’t something more to him, more than his obviously peculiar appearance, of course.
After Will had finished speaking, Bran leaned into him, whispering in his ear.
Will nodded. “Would you like to see where Bran lives? We live in the same reality as the Arthur you met. Merlin is still in your reality, of course, just many years into the future.”
“So you want to show me another reality?” Arthur confirmed.
“The better reality,” Bran added with a bit of a smirk.
Will nodded. “Yes. And you don’t need to worry about culture shock or anything like that. We’ll just be going to the Welsh hills.”
“Into the future in another reality. Okay. I almost can’t believe that kind of travel is possible,” Arthur mused.
If this were all a dream, Arthur was sure he would’ve woken up by now.
Will looked understanding. “It’s a truth you need to get used to,” he said to him, but Arthur wasn’t too reassured by that statement.
“It’s better that we go to my and Bran’s present time in our reality. Some unpleasant things exist in the past in our reality that I’d rather avoid awakening,” Will continued, looking uneasy for a moment before his usual placid expression reasserted itself.
“Is Archimedes coming with us?” Arthur questioned.
“No, it’s better he stay here. Archimedes belongs in your reality for now,” Will informed him.
At that, the little phoenix stretched his wings and finally flew off Will’s shoulder. Archimedes soared high into the air, achieving an incredible height for such a young bird.
Will spoke in a commanding voice, in a tongue Arthur wasn’t familiar with, but it certainly sounded like gibberish to him.
Archimedes came back down, presumably because Will had ordered him to in that strange language.
“That’s the Old Speech. All Old Ones speak it and know it,” Bran informed Arthur as Will continued to speak to the phoenix in the foreign tongue. “We mere mortals aren’t meant to understand it,” he remarked, smiling.
“Bran,” Will said in warning without much heat. He just shook his head.
Meanwhile, Arthur was trying to collect his thoughts. Alternate versions of one’s self from another reality and the existence of time travel was the talk of a madman – at least that’s what Arthur would’ve said before he got caught up in this mess.
But now he had to change his way of thinking.
Will turned to Arthur, and he informed him, “While we are in Wales, Archimedes will remain here as I’ve told you. The phoenix should be fine while we’re away. We shouldn’t be gone for long. I will do my best to return you shortly after you left.”
“It’s fine. No one is expecting me for a few hours,” Arthur assured the other man.
After nodding at Arthur’s words, Will then turned away from the other two. The Doors of Time, as he called them, materialized in front of the three of them. The two carved wooden doors were cracked and pitted and yet polished by age. The wooden doors could have been mistaken for stone if it were not for the presence of the knotholes. The doors had no handles on them.
“You should go first,” Bran waved at Arthur.
So Arthur pushed against the doors as Will told him to. At the moment of opening, he heard that same lilting, magical melody that he had heard when he’d touched the other Arthur. But then it was gone, a fleeting string of music that faded away…
~ * ~
Arthur was standing upon a mountainside. When he looked up, he saw the mountain rise, with a grey-black crag as its peak, which dominated the surrounding land though it was admittedly lower than the mountains around it. The skies were open, clear and blue, with only a few clouds passing through. It was a near ideal day: cool and breezy, the air he breathed in making him feel more alive than ever.
Further up the valley that was carved into the mountain, a large area covered with spruce trees caused the land to be blanketed in dark green. He along with Will and Bran were on a steep hill, the mountain’s peak about halfway above them.
Will explained to him, “Bran and I were both eleven when we first met. I had to go to Wales then to convalesce from a terrible illness. My uncle has a farm here, so I stayed with him and my aunt. Bran’s father used to work on my uncle’s farm.”
“My father passed away a little over a year ago,” Bran revealed somberly. “He may not have been my birth father, but he was as good as,” he said firmly.
Will squeezed Bran’s shoulder briefly in a show of sympathy.
“Who was your birth father?” Arthur asked curiously, intrigued by this new detail that Bran had been adopted.
“I can’t tell you, not now at least. It’s too early, I think. Right, Will?” Bran looked to him, putting his dark glasses back on. His startling eyes were hidden from view.
“Something like that,” Will answered. “I’m sorry,” he told Arthur, “but I don’t doubt you’ll figure it out even before we tell you.”
Arthur cut in, “That’s fine. I understand that it’s a personal question. My mother died not long after I was born, so I know what it’s like to be without a parent,” he was quick to say.
Bran nodded. “Thank you. I’m sorry about your mother,” he said in a conciliatory tone. “Since Will and I will be visiting you while Merlin is away, I’ll tell you more about me another time.”
“I look forward to it,’ Arthur told Bran.
Will turned to Arthur, and he informed him, “You’ll feel a sensation since this reality is not your own. It affects people at different times, so some may get a delayed effect or as soon as they enter a different reality.”
“I haven’t felt a sensation…” Arthur noted.
But then, he may well have just eaten his own words. The sensation soon swept over him. He thought he was drowning for a moment, the pressure of the unseen water keeping him down. But as suddenly as the unpleasant feeling overcame him, it had left him as he relaxed and breathed in and out slowly.
Will looked apologetic and he tried to reassure him, “You only feel like you’re drowning the first time you cross realities. I believe it’s in part to the different reality recognizing you don’t belong, but fortunately, the sensation is a passing one.”
“Good. I’d rather not feel that again if I can help it,” Arthur remarked frankly.
“I agree with that,” Bran said heartily.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Bran spoke again, his passion for the place clear in his voice. “There’s no better place to recuperate. That’s why Will came here to Wales.”
“A part of the reason, yes,” Will contributed.
“I can’t deny this place has a certain charm to it,” Arthur agreed.
“When I was younger, I used to spend hours exploring these mountains,” Bran confided in Arthur. “But of course, when Will came along, things became a little more exciting.”
Bran grinned at Will, and Arthur was regaled with the story of how they first met.
With the odd feeling that Bran was familiar somehow, but not quite, Arthur found that his impatience for Merlin’s return was waning away.
Maybe he would make it through the time without Merlin. He had Archimedes the phoenix to look after, which would keep him busy in addition to his princely duties. And then Will and Bran would update him on Merlin’s well-being during their visits.
In the end, maybe the wait wouldn’t seem as long after all.
Part 8b (the final installment)
Author: dk323
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 10,533 (total)
Characters/Pairings: Merlin/Arthur, Will Stanton, Bran Davies, AU! Arthur, others
Spoilers: Merlin ~ Tag to season 1 finale, “Le Morte D'Arthur”
Disclaimer: The show “Merlin” is property of the BBC. The Dark Is Rising book series is property of Susan Cooper. No money being made.
Summary: Fearing losing control of his magic, Merlin gives his magic up. But then Arthur gets involved…
Chapter 8: Arthur meets two travelers from the future, and he feels a little better about being parted from Merlin. Merlin spends time in the year 2008 and he ends up going to a Christmas celebration.
But what both Arthur and Merlin wish for most is to be reunited. How long will Arthur have to wait for Merlin's return to Camelot?
Author's Notes: I started this story back in August 2009, and it was the first story I ever posted on the
merlinxarthur comm. I made an end of the year resolution that I would finish "Nothing Has Changed" before 2012 hits. I didn't want to go another year with this story left incomplete.Happy New Year, everyone! :D
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7a | Part 7b
~ * ~
Arthur noticed the boy, who inexplicably called himself Arthur Pendragon, looked rather uncertain then. “I don’t know if you’d believe me since it’s a little hard to comprehend…”
“Try me,” Arthur challenged him.
“If I may sit down first?” He asked Arthur politely.
He suddenly looked younger than his fourteen years, which caused the prince to deflate. After all, the boy was most likely just a messenger. Arthur couldn’t help but change tact and try to be patient. Of course, he was still anxious to find out where exactly Merlin was, but he wasn’t going to scare off the one person who could tell him Merlin’s location.
Arthur nodded and directed him to a chair at his dining table. He himself sat across from the boy. The silver and blue phoenix was still perched on the boy’s shoulder. At that point, the bird was looking a bit restless. The boy talked to the phoenix, calling him Archimedes, as if he were an intelligent creature who could understand his words.
Arthur watched as the bird flew off the stranger’s shoulder, and then the phoenix flew out the open window.
“What if Archimedes is seen?” Arthur asked.
The boy shrugged. “There’s no need to worry,” he assured Arthur. “Archimedes is very clever and he has ways of concealing himself. He just wanted to fly about for a bit. He’ll be back soon.”
“Right,” Arthur said automatically. “Well, can you explain why your name is the same as mine?”
“It’s a bit strange, but I come from another reality. I’m an alternate version of you as a result. Merlin from your future sent me to talk to you.”
“You’re saying you’re me…from a different reality, whatever that may mean? Does Merlin have an alternate version too?”
The other Arthur shook his head. “No, he is the same Merlin who you knew. Years from now, he stops aging and gains immortality. After his time with you--”
“After I die?” Arthur interrupted him.
“Yes,” the boy said reluctantly. His eyes dimmed for a moment as if he were sad about what he had to admit.
“It’s all right,” Arthur assured him. “I know I’ll die someday as we all do. I’m sure it’ll be in the middle of battle. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Fighting for Camelot is the most honourable way to die.”
“To fight for the good of your kingdom is always admirable. I hope to do the same,” the boy declared almost passionately.
“So you’ll be King of Camelot?” Arthur assumed.
The younger Arthur nodded. “Yes, that’s what Merlin tells me. But I’m not being raised as a prince as you are. My father died when I was seven. Merlin is my mentor. Years into his future, he ventured into my reality. I’m grateful for his support. I don’t know what I would do without him.”
“I wish he didn’t have to leave,” Arthur muttered, wishing he sounded less like a plaintive child, but he couldn’t deny that he really needed Merlin with him now.
Like this other Arthur, he realized how much he needed, no, depended on Merlin’s support and friendship.
And now he was gone. For how long, Arthur wished he knew.
“Merlin will return to you,” the other Arthur declared, his tone carrying no uncertainty.
“When?”
His other self frowned. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t told that.”
“How convenient,” Arthur muttered sarcastically under his breath.
The younger Arthur appeared sympathetic to his soured mood. His alternate self attempted to reassure him, his tone earnest, “I understand how upset you are that Merlin has left. But you will have visitors who will tell you how Merlin is doing in the future. So even if you won’t know his return date, you’ll have that communication. It is only fair. I hope that would help you?”
Arthur sighed. “I suppose so. It’s better than nothing. How can I know for sure that you are who you say you are?”
“Merlin gave me a memory to show you. I think that should confirm that I’m telling you the truth. But barring that, do I really look like a person who would call myself Arthur Pendragon if I didn’t mean it?”
“No,” Arthur admitted. “You don’t look like a liar out to deceive me. But if you have this memory, I’d still like to see it. It would ease my mind.”
His other self informed him that their blood had to touch for the memory to appear in Arthur’s mind.
Arthur couldn’t help but be suspicious of a spell that required blood. He’d had more than enough of swallowing his own blood, which had carried Merlin’s magic, for that magic shield. Otherwise, Merlin would’ve attempted to attack him to get his magic back. Recalling those unpleasant few days made Arthur even gladder of the fact that Merlin had his magic returned to him now. And Merlin at least had his magic to keep him safe in the future.
The younger Arthur asked for a dagger, so he could do it first. He noted that he could tell Arthur was not too happy with needing to do this.
So Arthur shrugged and he handed him a dagger that he always had on his person. With only a small wince, his alternate self sliced into his open palm with the dagger.
“There, now it’s your turn,” his other self declared.
He gave Arthur the dagger, handle facing Arthur. Arthur took it from him.
Arthur would have probably laughed now if the situation hadn’t been so peculiar. A boy seven years his junior was being cautious with him. It seemed like he was trying to reassure Arthur that he wasn’t planning to suddenly attack him by keeping the sharp end of the small weapon away from the older man. But Arthur was still trying to comprehend this boy in front of him, so he barely registered the action.
The fact that this boy was him in another world, another reality, was not the easiest thing to accept. Despite that, Arthur felt that he would have to accept it -- for better or for worse. After all, he really did believe that the boy was not lying and the other Arthur certainly didn’t appear to be mentally afflicted either.
Arthur cut into his own palm, not even feeling much pain since he had suffered much worse wounds. This was nothing compared to them.
The younger Arthur directed him to grasp his hand with the hand he cut. Arthur did so, and he was startled when he inexplicably heard a strange, lilting music as if it were played on delicate instruments. He decided it was magical somehow. He wasn’t sure why he thought so, but maybe, if magic could be heard, Arthur thought this melody had to be what it sounded like.
His other self smiled knowingly. They were still holding hands, and a glowing light grew around their joined hands.
“You can understand that meeting yourself from another reality is a rare occurrence,” His alternate self explained to him.
The boy’s eyes lit up, clearly excited by the result of the contact. Arthur himself couldn’t deny his interest in what just a touch with this other Arthur could make happen.
His other self spoke again, “Odd but still intriguing things happen when we touch, with our blood mixing together especially.”
“I can see that,” Arthur remarked.
Then he saw the memory in his mind’s eye. Arthur witnessed the relatively recent memory of Merlin saying those heartfelt words to him. It had been not long after Arthur had recovered from his injuries during the Questing Beast incident. The memory that Arthur still thought had sounded like a goodbye from Merlin.
“Okay,” Arthur declared as the memory left his mind. He let go of his other self’s hand. “I really do believe you now.”
The other Arthur smiled, pleased. “I’m glad to hear it,” he said. Then he cleared his throat. He explained to him, “Merlin wanted me to inform you that in a week’s time, you will be contacted by a man named Will Stanton. He’s Merlin’s apprentice, or will be, as Merlin hasn’t properly met him yet in my time. Merlin also said that Will would be travelling with someone else, but he didn’t tell me who. Will and his fellow traveler will be updating you on Merlin. They are both from the same time that Merlin has now travelled to. You need to talk to Will. He has an important task for you to do.”
“What do you mean by, ‘hasn’t properly met him yet’?” Arthur wondered.
“Merlin does things out of order. It’s best not to think too deeply about it,” his other self advised with an amused quirk of his lips.
Arthur raised his brow. “Right, of course.”
Soon after, the phoenix Archimedes returned. After he exchanged goodbyes with his alternate self, Arthur watched as the boy disappeared along with Archimedes.
~ * ~
One Week Later
So it was that one week later, Arthur found himself heading to the forest not long after lunch. He had received a letter from Will Stanton to meet in a specific location. And that Arthur would know where to go since the information had been magically put inside his head. Now Arthur knew he should have cared more that apparently he had been magically compromised, whatever you may call it, but after meeting an alternate version of himself…and just, well, wanting to ease his mind regarding Merlin’s current status; everything else paled in comparison.
Arthur wanted reassurance on whether or not Merlin was alive and possibly the state of his mental health as well. The letter was dated September 1, 2008 and the year 2008 was hundreds of years away. How was Merlin handling the shock of it? Surely a lot had to have changed over that span of time. Arthur was grateful that he wasn’t placed in such a jarring situation. He wouldn’t know what to do with himself.
Eventually, he sensed that he was at the right place in the forest. It was in a clearing, a stream passing through some feet away.
What shocked him was the man, who appeared to be in his late twenties, sitting beside a tree. There was no other way to say it, but the man looked like he had literally been drained of all colour. His skin was even paler than Merlin’s and his hair was white. The only colour came from his clothing – a dark long-sleeved shirt and dark grey trousers, which only served to accentuate his overall colorless appearance. Almost mercifully, dark glasses covered his eyes. Arthur wondered whether the colour of his eyes were white as well.
A blanket was laid out in front of him with all the things one would expect for a picnic. Most of the food, he assumed, was in the picnic basket, but a few pieces of bread and some meat and cheese along with fruit were laid out on plates in the open.
The pale man was eating an apple and even when he noticed Arthur there, he still didn’t take off his glasses. Arthur couldn’t really tell what the other man was thinking – looking into someone else’s eyes truly did reveal a lot, he knew. But when they were hidden, any hope of gauging the person’s reaction was almost completely lost as a result.
“You’re looking for the dewin? Will?” The man asked Arthur. “My name is Bran.”
“Yes I am,” he confirmed to Bran. “I’m Arthur, Arthur Pendragon,” Arthur introduced himself, unsure what to make of the man. “Are you Welsh?” He asked him, noting his different accent.
“Yes, and I know you’re going to say my name wrong with your English tongue, so don’t try,” Bran warned him, though an odd smile formed on his lips.
Arthur raised his brow at him in disbelief. “All right. If you say so,” he agreed bemusedly. He ventured, “You know Will Stanton then? He’s supposed to be--”
“Merlin’s apprentice, yes,” the other man confirmed with a nod. “I know him. I’ve known Will since we were children. We’ve been friends for years. He’s English like you too. He should be here soon.”
Arthur frowned. “Where is he?”
“You don’t need to know. Honestly, I’m not quite sure myself, but he’ll return soon like I said,” Bran reassured him. He patted the empty ground. “Sit down if you like. You can eat something too, if you’re hungry.”
Arthur sat down. “Thanks. Are you a sorcerer too?”
Bran laughed. “Definitely no. I leave Will to all the magic tricks. I’m just tagging along. It’s all a bit Doctor Who. A lot has happened in the past week. I still have a headache.”
“Who or what is Doctor Who?” Arthur asked, puzzled by the odd combination of words.
“Oh, nevermind that,” Bran dismissed. “It’s something from the future. Has to do with time travel and that sort of thing.”
“Like Merlin traveling to the future somehow?”
“Yeah,” Bran said with a smile. “You met an alternate version of you, didn’t you? He’s the one who told you to come here.”
“Yes I did, though he was a boy. He was about fourteen years old.”
“What was he like? At that age?” Bran asked, his voice breaking a little bit like it hurt to ask, but he was still earnest to know.
Arthur looked at him weirdly. “He was okay. Polite, self-assured… he seemed like a better version of me. I can’t believe I’m admitting that, but it’s true, I think. Merlin would love to hear me say that, I’m sure. He finds me arrogant sometimes.”
“Will thought the same about me when we were younger. But I needed to hold my own because well, look at me…” he said, drifting off as he swept his hand over his impossibly pale skin and his shockingly white hair. His eyes were still hidden behind dark-tinted glasses.
“You stood out…and your dark clothes?”
Bran looked defiant. “If others choose to stare and think the worst of me, then I’m not going to let that get to me. So I wear dark clothes to stand out, to prove that I won’t hide because of what others may think of me.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” Arthur said emphatically.
Since Merlin had become his manservant and their subsequent friendship, Arthur grew to learn how important it was to treat others respectfully – commoner and noble alike. It was the honourable thing to do after all. Merlin had been right all those times when he called Arthur out on being a prat. Arthur felt that he was becoming a better person under Merlin’s influence.
“Why do you wear those dark glasses?” Arthur asked him.
Bran shrugged. “My eyes are really sensitive to light.”
“Are they—are they white?”
“No, they’re tawny -- more golden than brown. Like an owl’s or a cat’s, I suppose. They’re still a bit startling to those seeing them for the first time.”
“Can I see them?” Arthur asked him.
Instead of speaking, Bran just removed his glasses in a careless gesture. “There you go. See, not white.”
Arthur nodded. It was startling to be sure. His eyebrows were white and his eyelashes were so pale that they were near invisible. The effect certainly made his golden-brown eyes all the more shocking. Arthur was more used to see the eye colour on a cat or a bird. But to see it on another person was a separate matter entirely.
“Yes, right. Thanks for showing me. You must hate it when people stare at you because of your appearance.”
“Ah, well, your mouth wasn’t gaping open. I’ve had worse reactions,” Bran tried to ease his mind. “It’s fine. I was born this way. I’ve learned to deal with the looks.”
Arthur saw a man about Bran’s age, late twenties, walking toward them. A small dark bird was perched on the man’s shoulder. He had light brown hair and blue-grey eyes.
While he was slender, he wasn’t as thin as Bran.
He was wearing a white, collared shirt with a dark tie and grey trousers. The material and look of the clothing was indicator enough that the man was from the future. While a bit plainer, Bran’s clothing also had given Arthur the same impression. There was no chance of someone from his present time wearing such clothing.
Both Arthur and Bran stood up as the man approached.
“That’s Will,” Bran told him what Arthur could already guess. “He’ll probably get all Old One on you.”
Arthur looked at him questioningly. “Old One?”
“Merlin and Will are a part of the circle of Old Ones. From your time, Merlin has yet to become an Old One. It’s something that occurs years into his future. All of the Old Ones are immortal – it’s a part of their gift. They’re…” Bran paused, seeming unsure how to continue before he pressed onward, musing, “…sometimes they act human like you and me. They feel emotions, they bleed, they fall ill…but other times--”
By then, Will had reached them and Bran didn’t say anymore. “Really, Bran. I think Arthur has gone through enough these past few weeks. I doubt he’d want to hear about the Old Ones,” Will remarked.
“Sometimes they have super-hearing,” Bran declared, rolling his eyes.
Arthur decided that these Old Ones must be some kind of otherworldly beings. Because what else could be the opposite of being human?
Will looked mildly amused. “Yes, only to make sure you don’t get into any trouble. Do you still have that headache?” He questioned him, pressing his hand to Bran’s brow as if he were checking for fever. He removed his hand a moment later.
“No. I’m feeling better. It’s not as bad as before,” Bran argued.
Will looked at him carefully and then he nodded. “I can see the light is affecting you. You should put your glasses back on, Bran,” Will asked of him.
“It’s all right. The light isn’t that bad.”
“Whatever you think is best,” Will acknowledged. Then he turned to Arthur. “Hello, Arthur. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Will Stanton.”
Will offered him his hand to shake, which Arthur did. He couldn’t help but notice how much older Will seemed, more so than his physical appearance belied. His blue-grey eyes revealed that he held the sort of wisdom or knowledge that only old age could provide. Or maybe it was a trick of the light?
“I was told you have a task for me to complete?” Arthur ventured.
Will smiled at him, the smile reserved, but the jarring feeling of his knowing, old eyes had gone. Like a mask had been lifted, and Arthur felt like he could breathe again.
Arthur thought Will was like Bran. Though while Bran’s outward appearance was immediately startling; Will’s quieter, wise look on an otherwise ordinary face was only realized when one peered closely enough. From a distance, Will was so common-looking that one would pass him by without a second thought. No one would even consider that he was more than just a man.
“Yes, you have to look after Archimedes, this little bird here,” Will directed his attention to the dark bird on his shoulder.
The bird stared at Arthur, the look so piercing that Arthur was slightly unnerved by it.
“Or, more like, make sure he keeps out of trouble,” Will corrected with a wry smile.
“He’s quite a smart phoenix as the young Arthur told you. But Archimedes is very young now and a bit of a risk taker. He needs someone to keep an eye on him. He will be Merlin’s phoenix once he returns, so for his sake, I know he’d appreciate it if you look after Archimedes for him.”
“So I’m supposed to take care of a pet bird then?” Arthur inquired incredulously. On the one hand, it sounded ridiculous, but at least it was a task Arthur knew he could handle.
Will nodded. “Yes. It may seem like a small task, but believe me, it is very important that you look after him.”
“Fortunately, phoenixes can be reborn, so there’s a very unlikely chance Archimedes will die permanently if you mess up a bit,” Bran pointed out.
“There are still entities who may be able to kill phoenixes though. But they won’t trouble you if Archimedes avoids going where he shouldn’t. You should make sure he doesn’t get too adventurous,” Will advised him.
“That should be fun,” Bran commented with brisk cheerfulness.
“All right,” Arthur said in acknowledgement of Will’s words of advice. “But when I last saw the phoenix, he had silver and blue feathers. Or does he just look different when he’s young?”
Will nodded. “Yes, that’s how it is. It is definitely the same bird, I assure you. Give it a few months or so, and he’ll look more familiar to you.”
Then Will instructed him how to communicate with Archimedes. Of course since he was a magical bird, communication was done differently. Arthur was surprised that he could mentally communicate with the phoenix as well. Will had told him that since Arthur was borne of magic even if he didn’t have active powers so to speak, that still allowed him to do some things others couldn’t. Arthur was perturbed by Bran’s intrigued gaze, emphasized by his exposed golden eyes, as Will discussed Arthur’s connection to magic.
Who was Bran really? He highly doubted he was just a friend of Will’s. And just because Bran wasn’t a sorcerer, that didn’t mean there wasn’t something more to him, more than his obviously peculiar appearance, of course.
After Will had finished speaking, Bran leaned into him, whispering in his ear.
Will nodded. “Would you like to see where Bran lives? We live in the same reality as the Arthur you met. Merlin is still in your reality, of course, just many years into the future.”
“So you want to show me another reality?” Arthur confirmed.
“The better reality,” Bran added with a bit of a smirk.
Will nodded. “Yes. And you don’t need to worry about culture shock or anything like that. We’ll just be going to the Welsh hills.”
“Into the future in another reality. Okay. I almost can’t believe that kind of travel is possible,” Arthur mused.
If this were all a dream, Arthur was sure he would’ve woken up by now.
Will looked understanding. “It’s a truth you need to get used to,” he said to him, but Arthur wasn’t too reassured by that statement.
“It’s better that we go to my and Bran’s present time in our reality. Some unpleasant things exist in the past in our reality that I’d rather avoid awakening,” Will continued, looking uneasy for a moment before his usual placid expression reasserted itself.
“Is Archimedes coming with us?” Arthur questioned.
“No, it’s better he stay here. Archimedes belongs in your reality for now,” Will informed him.
At that, the little phoenix stretched his wings and finally flew off Will’s shoulder. Archimedes soared high into the air, achieving an incredible height for such a young bird.
Will spoke in a commanding voice, in a tongue Arthur wasn’t familiar with, but it certainly sounded like gibberish to him.
Archimedes came back down, presumably because Will had ordered him to in that strange language.
“That’s the Old Speech. All Old Ones speak it and know it,” Bran informed Arthur as Will continued to speak to the phoenix in the foreign tongue. “We mere mortals aren’t meant to understand it,” he remarked, smiling.
“Bran,” Will said in warning without much heat. He just shook his head.
Meanwhile, Arthur was trying to collect his thoughts. Alternate versions of one’s self from another reality and the existence of time travel was the talk of a madman – at least that’s what Arthur would’ve said before he got caught up in this mess.
But now he had to change his way of thinking.
Will turned to Arthur, and he informed him, “While we are in Wales, Archimedes will remain here as I’ve told you. The phoenix should be fine while we’re away. We shouldn’t be gone for long. I will do my best to return you shortly after you left.”
“It’s fine. No one is expecting me for a few hours,” Arthur assured the other man.
After nodding at Arthur’s words, Will then turned away from the other two. The Doors of Time, as he called them, materialized in front of the three of them. The two carved wooden doors were cracked and pitted and yet polished by age. The wooden doors could have been mistaken for stone if it were not for the presence of the knotholes. The doors had no handles on them.
“You should go first,” Bran waved at Arthur.
So Arthur pushed against the doors as Will told him to. At the moment of opening, he heard that same lilting, magical melody that he had heard when he’d touched the other Arthur. But then it was gone, a fleeting string of music that faded away…
~ * ~
Arthur was standing upon a mountainside. When he looked up, he saw the mountain rise, with a grey-black crag as its peak, which dominated the surrounding land though it was admittedly lower than the mountains around it. The skies were open, clear and blue, with only a few clouds passing through. It was a near ideal day: cool and breezy, the air he breathed in making him feel more alive than ever.
Further up the valley that was carved into the mountain, a large area covered with spruce trees caused the land to be blanketed in dark green. He along with Will and Bran were on a steep hill, the mountain’s peak about halfway above them.
Will explained to him, “Bran and I were both eleven when we first met. I had to go to Wales then to convalesce from a terrible illness. My uncle has a farm here, so I stayed with him and my aunt. Bran’s father used to work on my uncle’s farm.”
“My father passed away a little over a year ago,” Bran revealed somberly. “He may not have been my birth father, but he was as good as,” he said firmly.
Will squeezed Bran’s shoulder briefly in a show of sympathy.
“Who was your birth father?” Arthur asked curiously, intrigued by this new detail that Bran had been adopted.
“I can’t tell you, not now at least. It’s too early, I think. Right, Will?” Bran looked to him, putting his dark glasses back on. His startling eyes were hidden from view.
“Something like that,” Will answered. “I’m sorry,” he told Arthur, “but I don’t doubt you’ll figure it out even before we tell you.”
Arthur cut in, “That’s fine. I understand that it’s a personal question. My mother died not long after I was born, so I know what it’s like to be without a parent,” he was quick to say.
Bran nodded. “Thank you. I’m sorry about your mother,” he said in a conciliatory tone. “Since Will and I will be visiting you while Merlin is away, I’ll tell you more about me another time.”
“I look forward to it,’ Arthur told Bran.
Will turned to Arthur, and he informed him, “You’ll feel a sensation since this reality is not your own. It affects people at different times, so some may get a delayed effect or as soon as they enter a different reality.”
“I haven’t felt a sensation…” Arthur noted.
But then, he may well have just eaten his own words. The sensation soon swept over him. He thought he was drowning for a moment, the pressure of the unseen water keeping him down. But as suddenly as the unpleasant feeling overcame him, it had left him as he relaxed and breathed in and out slowly.
Will looked apologetic and he tried to reassure him, “You only feel like you’re drowning the first time you cross realities. I believe it’s in part to the different reality recognizing you don’t belong, but fortunately, the sensation is a passing one.”
“Good. I’d rather not feel that again if I can help it,” Arthur remarked frankly.
“I agree with that,” Bran said heartily.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Bran spoke again, his passion for the place clear in his voice. “There’s no better place to recuperate. That’s why Will came here to Wales.”
“A part of the reason, yes,” Will contributed.
“I can’t deny this place has a certain charm to it,” Arthur agreed.
“When I was younger, I used to spend hours exploring these mountains,” Bran confided in Arthur. “But of course, when Will came along, things became a little more exciting.”
Bran grinned at Will, and Arthur was regaled with the story of how they first met.
With the odd feeling that Bran was familiar somehow, but not quite, Arthur found that his impatience for Merlin’s return was waning away.
Maybe he would make it through the time without Merlin. He had Archimedes the phoenix to look after, which would keep him busy in addition to his princely duties. And then Will and Bran would update him on Merlin’s well-being during their visits.
In the end, maybe the wait wouldn’t seem as long after all.
Part 8b (the final installment)
no subject
I loved Will and Bran keeping Arthur updated while Merlin goes hopping about future realities. Arthur should really sit down with some of the Doctor's companions for some tea and commiseration.
"It's all a bit Doctor Who." Lol just got to that part! XD
"What was he like? At that age?" Bran asked, his voice breaking a little bit like it hurt to ask GAH kill me now, why don't you?
Boy, do I love descriptions of Bran's eyes. "It's fine. I was born this way." ...Not gonna lie, I DID just spontaneously picture Bran singing and dancing to Lady Gaga. Damn you, Glee!
Gaah, I love so much that before giving Arthur vital information, Will still has time to be all domestic with Bran. <3
"Fortunately, phoenixes can be reborn, so there's a very unlikely chance Archimedes will die permanently if you mess up a bit," Bran pointed out. LOL! Oh, Bran is just killing me in a variety of ways this scene.
The Doors of Time! And the lilting music! \o/
Whoa, the sensation of not belonging in a different reality is such a cool idea! This entire last scene on the mountainside is gorgeous--the scenery, the adorable Will/Bran, and of course the ~secrets to be revealed~. Omg only one more part! *mixed emtions*
no subject
LOL. Yes you're so right about that. Arthur is sort of like the companion left behind and has to resort to hearing about the Doctor's (aka Merlin :p) adventures in the future and other realities. I tried to make things a little more even by Arthur visiting the other reality too, if only briefly.
I couldn't resist getting a Doctor Who reference in whatwith all the time travel in the story.
Poor Bran. :( That bit broke my heart. It's one of my favorite moments in this chapter no matter how sad it is. I'm glad you liked that small part.
OMG. The mental image of Bran singing/dancing to Lady Gaga...I won't un-see it now. :p I wrote that particular part in 2010, I believe. That was before the song came out. And now that line holds new meaning. :p
There's always time to get a little domestic, lol!
I'm glad you're enjoying how I'm writing Bran. :) Had to put that line in there to assure Arthur that Archimedes was a tough little phoenix. :)
I really enjoyed writing the Doors of Time scene. Another favorite scene of mine. I referenced the description of the doors from Dark Is Rising and I hope I captured that great moment of stepping through those doors for the first time. I had to include the doors in the story. *nods*
I thought that'd be an interesting idea to explore -- that a reality not your own would remind you that you're "alien" to this other world. I'm glad you liked the scene at the mountainside. I referenced The Grey King for that bit -- it's the part right before Will meets Bran for the first time.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Reading all the different things you liked definitely made finishing this story even more worth it. :) Thank you for commenting on both parts of Chapter 8. ♥ ♥ You're awesome.
no subject
Guess what I'll be doing today? :D
Will comment more after reading!
no subject
I hope you enjoy the story. Thank you for your interest. I appreciate it. ♥
Happy (slightly belated) New Year!
no subject
It's an interesting story. I like it when authors are creative with magic and realities, you even incorporated some blood magic (not something I see much of in this fandom...). I also like the thought of Merlin jumping between realities.
Lovely ending :)
Congratulations on completing your story!
no subject
Yeah, as if it wasn't enough for Merlin to travel to the future, I have him jumping to a different reality too. :p I had to make another reality due to The Dark Is Rising verse having several key differences that I couldn't combine with the Merlin verse.
I'm glad you liked the ending. :)
Thank you for reading and commenting! I appreciate it. :D