Part 9

"Why not Lancelot?" Arthur asked Ellie one day during a lesson plan.

The spare room, still teeming with folders full of notes had been made into a classroom-like setting where Arthur could learn about the world.

"Lancelot was already resurrected once...and afterward he died, again. I'm sure Merlin's told you about it?"

"Yes," Arthur said, bowing his head sadly.

"Merlin probably wouldn't want to put Lancelot through that again," she concluded.

"It's a shame," Ellie lamented, "I wish...well I know it's selfish but I wish I could have met all of your knights. I've gleaned from Merlin's stories that they were all equally incredible, extremely brave, and completely loyal."

"That they were," Arthur confirmed, "I'm sure you would have got on great with them. In fact, you'd probably have to fight them all off with a stick. They'd be asking for your hand on a daily basis."

Ellie laughed. "Sometimes I think it would have been great to live during your time, in Camelot." She grew more serious then, "But then I wouldn't want to face prosecution, either."

Arthur's face fell. "If things had been different," he spoke with regret, "If my father hadn't been such a fanatic, I don't think I would have ever believed that magic was terrible. Things could have been better for so many people. Merlin...Merlin wouldn't have had to hide his magic..."

"Look, you can't keep beating yourself up about that," Ellie stated. "It's clear that you feel remorse about it, and also that you didn't have all the information about magic back then. You only ever heard one side of the argument on magic and it was an extremists' view. I know you feel terrible about your association, but the sins of the father are not the sins of the son."

* * *

When Ellie switched on a desk lamp, Arthur looked entranced.

"Is that magic?" he asked incredulously.

"No," she smirked, "it's electricity."

Arthur looked stupefied.

"Don't worry, it's in one of our lessons," she explained.

So Ellie had gone on teaching Arthur about the world; about history, geography, technology, culture, and societal norms.

One morning Arthur woke early and emerged from Merlin's bed. He trotted into the living room where Merlin was snoozing on the couch. He crouched next to him.

"Merlin," he whispered.

"Hmmphh?" Merlin grumbled groggily.

"I feel terrible taking your bed and making you sleep out here on this...strange sitting bed," he whispered.

Merlin moved into a sitting position.

"What do you suggest, then?" he asked with a hint of seduction.

Merlin hadn't wanted to be too forward with Arthur. Sure, they had had that amazing kiss but this was all still new to them. So he'd insisted that Arthur take his bed and he'd take the couch.

"Well," Arthur cleared his throat, "it seems that your bed is large enough for two."

"How bold of you, sire," Merlin grinned.

"Shut up," Arthur grinned back, "I just feel bad about taking your bed."

Merlin looked at the time. "I've gotta go to the sorcerer's market and try and catch old Clarisse. She's the only one who sells decent slugworms that we need for the resurrection spell. Have fun at your studies today," he smiled and planted a sweet kiss on Arthur's lips.

Arthur watched him longingly as he exited the flat. It was amazing, he thought, how wonderful it was that he and Merlin could be themselves with each other, that they could finally act on their feelings.

Once again Arthur found himself in the spare room with Ellie, who was pulling out a huge binder labeled 'Women's Suffrage and Feminism'

"Hey, Ellie," Arthur began, "do you think I could learn about something else today? Something I have some...questions about?"

"Okay..." Ellie responded, perplexed, "what is it?"

"Uh..." he began nervously, "so...in today's world...a relationship like mine and Merlin's..."

"It's certainly more accepted today than it was back in your time," she answered.

"Right, good," he said, "But also...I wondered about...uh...ermm..."

Ellie thought she knew where this was going. She thumbed through her binders, until she found the right one. She pulled it out and laid it in front of Arthur.

'Human Sexuality' it was labeled.

"This will probably answer any questions you have," she stated as Arthur stared open-mouthed at the binder. "I'll give you some alone time to read through it."

Ellie returned to the spare room later, bringing Arthur some lunch.

"What's this called again?" he asked.

"Pizza," she replied.

"Right," he said taking a chomp out of a slice, "it's magnificent."

"Do you...uh," she began awkwardly, "have any questions about anything in the binder?"

"No, you mapped out everything very clearly," he smiled slightly, "You even included illustrations. And very...graphic descriptions."

"I wanted to be thorough," she smiled sheepishly.

"Mission accomplished," he replied playfully.

"I do have some questions for you, though," he said, "Did you and Merlin ever...you know..."

"Yes," she replied frankly, wanting to be honest with Arthur, "there was a time, a long long time ago when we were romantically involved, but we broke it off because I knew something was missing. A piece of him was missing. He didn't love me that way and he never would. He would never love anyone as completely as he loved you. For Merlin, no one holds a candle to you."

Arthur smiled at the sentiment.

"So has Merlin...has Merlin been with men before?"

"Yes," she confirmed.

Arthur looked uneasy. It wasn't that he felt envious of any of Merlin's previous partners. It was just that Merlin was so much more experienced than him. What if I'm no good at it? Arthur worried. He'd only ever been with one person: Gwen, and never with a man before. He was worried he would mess things up and embarrass himself. Arthur wanted to know what he was doing, and wanted to be able to please Merlin.

"Arthur," Ellie sighed, reading his aura, "You're going to do just fine."

Later that night, Merlin and Ellie were carefully adding the slugworms to their spell. Arthur was in the living room on the laptop. Ellie had taught him a little about technology and the internet. She'd shown him how to use Google and he'd been completely awestruck by it.

"So Arthur learned about Google today, eh?" Merlin asked, smiling. "Was today's lesson all about technology?"

"Well, actually this morning he wanted to learn about something very specific."

"And what was that?" Merlin asked.

"He, uh, inquired about...sex between two men," Ellie couldn't hide her smile.

"Are you serious?" Merlin asked, with what seemed like a relieved laugh.

"Yeah I think he just wanted to know how it worked and...you know, what you can do with each other."

"Well," Merlin grinned slyly, "he could have just asked me. I'd have shown him."

"Oh my god," Ellie laughed.

"Wait, did you actually have a lesson plan for guy-on-guy sex?" Merlin laughed.

"Just sexual relations in general," she replied, "but I think he was only interested in reading the guy-on-guy part," she smiled, "Honestly, Merlin I think he's just a little insecure about the whole thing. He's a lot less experienced than you. I think he's worried he's going to, like, mess up somehow."

There was a knock on the flat door.

It was Willie, looking out of breath and frantic.

"Willie, what's the matter?" Merlin asked, inviting him in.

"It's the sorcerer hunters. They've killed someone here in Albion," he spoke, panicked. "This would be a good time for that king of yours to rise and...." He trailed off as he spotted Arthur in the room. There must have been something in Arthur's eyes, or perhaps something in the way he carried himself that emitted the regality of a king. Willie seemed to know who he was. "By god, is that...is that him? It's him ittin' it?"

"Yes, it's him," Merlin confirmed, "and Ellie figured something else out about the prophecy."

So they explained to Willie what Ellie had found and about their spell that now had about a week left to be completed.

"Why 'adn't ya told me before?" Willie asked, "Blimey, Merlin, there are a lot a' sorcerers here. We wanna help. These bastards are murderous pricks and we won't let you fight them all on your own. I think I speak for all of us sorcerers here in Albion."

So Willie recruited all the sorcerers of Albion and they all began preparing for the fight of their lives. They were more than willing to fight alongside Merlin against the sorcerer hunters who seeked to destroy their lives. Many of them were thrilled to see the famous once and future king, who insisted on teaching them how to fight in combat.

"With all due respect, Arthur," Ellie said, "combat today is quite different from that of your time. Remember the wars you've learned about? People today use guns as weaponry, not swords."

"Actually," Willie began, "my spying informant has told me that these sorcerer hunters are obsessed with the old ages. They don't use guns or any weapons that have been made in the past few hundreds of years. They actually love using swords, maces, those kind of things."

* * *

Though Merlin and Arthur had been sharing a bed, nothing physical other than kissing and cuddling had occurred. Merlin wanted Arthur to be as comfortable as possible and hadn't wanted him to feel pressured in any way. Arthur could be a demanding man at times, so Merlin figured when Arthur was ready for something more, he'd let it be known.

"The spell only has a few days left," Merlin told Arthur as he climbed into bed next to him, "Do you think Gwaine will freak out?"

"I don't know," Arthur scrunched his brow, "but knowing him, probably not. Gwaine will be down for anything."

Merlin smiled at the memory of Gwaine, "I expect we'll probably need to keep some alcohol around for him. That is, if we have any down time for that sort of thing."

"It's okay," Arthur said, "I don't think Gwaine will need training. He'll remember all his combat skills, even after all this time. I do."

"Arthur," Merlin whispered, brushing a piece of Arthur's golden hair off of his forehead, "I just..."

"What is it, Merlin?" Arthur asked, rubbing his thumb alongside Merlin's face.

"I'm just so glad you're here," Merlin choked out.

His statement wasn't enough to express just how thrilled and relieved he was that Arthur was finally here by his side. He couldn't find the words to accurately describe his elation. But more than that, he was terrified.

"I am too, Merlin, but what's the matter?" Arthur asked, concerned.

Merlin's face looked pained and he was close to tears trying to respond.

Arthur placed his own forehead on Merlin's.

"What is it, Merlin?" he asked gently, "You can tell me."

"I just...I'm terrified of losing you again," Merlin said as a tear streamed down his face.

"Merlin," Arthur spoke softly, brushing away the tear with his thumb, "nothing could ever keep me from you." He cupped Merlin's chin so that they were now looking into each other's eyes. "I promise you."

Even though Merlin was still terrified about Arthur's fate, he smiled at his reassurance.