So are there any fics where people just assume Arthur is batshit crazy?
Bradley who isn't called Arthur in this timeline was always a promising young lad, his parents helped him with his somewhat odd hobbies of archery and fencing and even just playing strategist games with him
He is fascinated by the Greek and Roman Gods, Ancient Egypt and Camelot
His dad takes him to book stores and he becomes somewhat of a history buff
One day (idk say he's like 22-25) he gets these odd dreams and at first it's just the odd comment "no Gwen was black not white" he has no proof, no evidence, but he knows his dreams aren't wrong
They become more vivid and eventually lead to a breakdown because he is confused about his place in this modern world
He doesn't know why but he drives to Wales, he has to, something is calling him there
Merlin had decided this time around he was going to be a doctor, he had studied when he lived in Ireland (even picking up the accent again) but had stayed too long there and people weren't believing he was 40
Moving to South Wales wasn't the worst idea because he got to visit his lake
The lake
It wasn't his
It hasn't been his for longer than he dare think
Merlin had settled his way into a medicinal career, having been a hacker of sorts to not exactly falsify information
He WAS trained, just under a different name
Merlin hated being back in Wales
He missed everyone
Even Uther
Even Morgana, even after the turn
He just felt so hopeless
Lonely
Just plodding through the new world, learning new skills to distract himself from that
He was perhaps overqualified for the entry level job but who would believe a 20 year old had 30+ years of experience?
The younger he pretended, the longer he could stay in one area
He had made a few friends but always stuck to himself, what was the point in friends these days?
Fingerprints on an abandoned rail
He trudged into work receiving a few "hello Colin"s
He was a carer
Essentially a glorified Merlin
But he'd take it for a few years before he could start mental and physical therapies
Was this a stupid idea
No
He had just plonked his bag into his locker and placed his lunch in the fridge before he was officially late on the ward
"Col' there's a new patient coming in today." Becky told him between scribbling notes "a fighter, from what I've been told, be careful"
"okay, any other information?"
"no, just a breakdown, probably a few months in here with some meds and he'll be gone." She looked up. "He's not actively hurting himself, but he wanders, he was found just walking into some lake. Obsessive behaviour with history too."
Merlin nodded, it wasn't unusual
He'd seen worse
The patient in question did arrive when Merlin was dealing with Mrs Davies, she had had an episode and needed sedation
He didn't like manhandling a 70 year old but she could punch when needed
He just exited her room when he heard a familiar voice
Becky was informing the new patient of the rules and that number 12 was his room
Merlin thought it only right to say hi whilst he's standing right there
She introduced him to the man, who actually had his back to them and was staring out the window
"Bradley, this is Colin."
"Hello, I'm one of the nurses in charge of your health, be careful of your neighbour in number 13. She's a handful." Queue the awkward chuckle
Merlin had spoke as his brain processed what his eyes were seeing
The man was so familiar
The shoulders
The hair
Even the posture
Curse him for standing Infront of the window because when he turned he was haloed by the golden sun
Merlin's heart stopped
"Merlin?"
The recognition in Arthur's eyes broke Merlin's heart
He was quick to stop himself from running up to the King as Becky was examining the patient's reactions
"hello." Merlin nodded to Arthur "Becky I'm just gonna ask some questions," before mouthing "he thinks I'm part of it"
She gave a look but there was always so much to do so if Colin was offering to finish Bradley's orientation so be it
Once she had left and the door was closed Merlin smiled so widely at Arthur
"you took your time, clotpole"
Tears pooled in Arthur's eyes, "I knew I wasn't crazy. Merlin where have you been?"
Merlin sat on the neatly made bed, Arthur following suit, and explained the past thousand years
He ended it with "had to wait for my King."
Arthur placed a hand in Merlin's knee, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for how I acted back then, I'm sorry that you had to hide yourself, why are you here? You're a warlock?!"
Merlin did chuckle at that. "Doesn't exactly pay the bills. I mean it helps but there's also boredom."
Arthur smiled back, the visible ease he had with Merlin vs Becky was comforting
"I'll help you survive this place, you'll be out soon."
"thank you, I don't know why but I kept having these memories, I drove from London to Wales, went to the lake and then I was being pulled out by strangers. I don't remember getting into the water."
"has anything happened like that before or since?"
"no."
"then that's fine."
"why am I back? Why did you stay?"
"Our lives were never our own. Destiny was woven through us. I don't know what we do but we are needed." Merlin hoped Arthur didn't read that as the cop out it was
"you'll stay with me? Even after this place?"
"of course."
"good."
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