Chapter Text
PROLOGUE
Emrys tightened his grip on the king's wounded body, in a desperate attempt to keep him awake. But he could see his eyes become heavier and heavier by the minute.
Around them lay their friends. Dead. Gwaine, Percival, Lancelot, Eylan, Leon. Dead, all of them were dead, scattered to the ground, struck down by the mortal blows of the Dark Kingdom's obscure magic. Morgana was also laying near a tree, wounded and unconscious. The situation was hopeless.
"No, no, stay with me, stay with me, please..." Emrys pleaded, trying to keep the desperation from his voice.
"I...I am so-rry, we…we…I tri-ed, with all of my strength…I’m-m s’rry I could not..not stop th'm…Ca’mlot… is doo-doomed…”
Emrys could not bear to see his king in pain. He could not bear to hear so much sadness and resignation in his lover’s voice. He did not want him to die thinking he had failed.
The warlock pressed a frantic kiss against the king's forehead, rocking him gently, trying to reassure him about Camelot’s destiny, but the tears falling from his eyes were betraying them.
“Shh, don’t talk my love, they have not won yet, I won’t let them take Camelot, I promise…just try to keep your strength…”
This could not be the end, it was not fair, it was not right.
“Lo-ve, pl’se, there is no-nothing you can do now…run-‘way, sa-save yourself…let me d-die in peace, kn'wing that you are sa-safe…s’mwhere…”
Emrys laughed bitterly, as he pressed the king's body even closer “I am never going to leave you…never…I prefer to kill them all and die in the process than to leave you…”
But then, an impossible idea occurred to him. Safe…somewhere safe…maybe he could…yes! Maybe he could try to bend a bit the rules of time and space, and he could…
Well, he could not defeat the Dark Kingdom right now, on his own. Their powers were much too strong since they came in possession of the Cup of Life, but…he was strong enough to change the setting of time and space. He could bring his lover and his friends back to another time, and another place, where they could be safe, and where they could fight the Dark Kingdom even before they became too powerful before they came into possession of the Cup…
Merlin took a deep breath…the spell was undoubtedly very risky. To reincarnate someone was already something only heard of in the tales of the Old Religion, let alone send them to another planet or dimension…but after all, they had nothing left to lose…
Well, maybe except for the memories of their life in Camelot…
Emrys looked fondly at the blond king in his arm, almost unconscious by now.
The Once and Future King, the love of his life…he thought about the beauty of the life they shared in Camelot before the Dark Kingdom's attack, when magic was finally legal, and the kingdom blossomed under the king’s brave guide.
He thought about all the things they overcame together, the bumpy steps of their early friendship, and the way it evolved into unconditional love and trust.
He thought about the first time he saw that stupid blonde head, when they were nothing more than kids. He remembered with a tearful smile how much he had despised him then, only to crumble under his annoying charm, cheeky smile, and good heart in a matter of weeks.
He thought about their first clumsy kiss and the day of their handfasting, the dancing and the drinking with all of their friends and families…
Emrys shook his head with resolution. Memories like these could never get lost, they could be locked up for a while, but in the end, nothing could keep them apart, no matter how far in time and space they would end up.
And when the time will come, they would wake once again. They will find each other someway, somehow.
Arthur’s pained voice roused him from his deep thinking.
“I ne-ed you- to n’-know how mu-ch…” the king was slurring, struggling with every word as a single tear fell from his eye. “lo-l've you…-l’ways.”
Merlin closed his eyes, feeling his heart shatter, yet he kept his resolve. He gritted his teeth and he focused on summing all of his powers, ready to bend the law ruling time and space just to save Camelot and his king.
"We will see each other again cariad...I promise. We will bring our kingdom back…This is not the end, my love…it’s only the beginning…”