Lies of the Mist
Disclaimer: Do not own Merlin or Percy Jackson, rights to BBC and Rick Riordan.
Fandoms: Merlin & Percy Jackson
Rating: T
Genre: Angst & Friendship
Warnings: character self-harm, references to suicidal attempts
Summary: Arthur comes back in the arms of someone who looks exactly like his former servant though he claims he is only his descendent. His name? Emrys, son of Hecate the goddess of magic and witchcraft. AU with slight PJATO/HOO - and Arthur never married Gwen
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"Hello? Sir?" A voice calls out, a familiar voice. Arthur feels hands grasping his upper arms, shaking him. He slowly opens his eyes to see a man leaning over him. His hair was raven black and the bangs fell just underneath his brow, his eyes were just a shade darker than the blue sky above them. His face is structured with sharp cheekbones and prominent ears.
"Sir?" The man asks again. Arthur realizes who he is.
"Merlin?" His voice was rough, and his lips and throat were dry.
"No, I'm not Merlin, sorry mate. Come on, let's get you somewhere warm, yeah?" The man's voice seemed sincere enough for the former king to give a small nod that gave approval to the other to help him up.
They weren't far away from the man's flat, so when they reached the door to the room, Arthur instantly begged, "Water." The stranger with the familiar face gave him a glass of water with a pitcher sitting on the coffee table.
"So, if you're not Merlin, who are you?" Arthur interrogated the man, taking a sip of his drink.
"I'm his descendent, if that makes you feel better. The name's Emrys, and I know you're Arthur. My grandfather told me about you, carrying on the legend. Merlin was your manservant and successor right?" The stranger said with pride and curiosity throughout his words.
"Emrys. I've heard that name before. Tell me, what era am I in?" Arthur looked around the room noticing many things he could not recognize.
"Era? Well, it's the year 2014, first month of the year." Emrys replied and continued, "We should probably find you a change of clothes, you look like you just came home drunk from a reenactment. Chain mail and armor isn't exactly... our main way of protection anymore."
"No armor? How do you people protect yourselves?" The blonde asked worryingly.
"We've bullet proof vests, and helmets, but that's about it. I'll be right back, I can bet I have something that'll fit you. Do you... know how to um..." Emrys said, gesturing to his armor.
"I believe so." Arthur replied not so convincingly.
Emrys flew his skinny fingers through his shirts and trousers trying to find something big enough to fit the other man in the flat. It has nothing to do with him not being fit, he was, just Emrys is so skinny and inferior to him, as he always has. He finally found a black button-up shirt with dark blue jeans and a belt. He dressed Arthur without much difficulty, which the former king found a tad bit strange.
"Where have I heard your name before?" Arthur asked again, wonderingly.
"Emrys, was another name for Merlin. Those of magic were the only ones to call him that though. They were wrong too, the destiny seems to be mine and not his." The raven haired explained.
Arthur turned to look Emrys in the eyes when he saw a flash of the same man, but looked as if he had not slept well in days. Arthur blinked to find the other the way he was previously, he tells himself it was just a hallucination.
"You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." Emrys said with a deep chuckle erupting from his throat. "What am I saying, 'course you look like you've seen a ghost, I'm a splitting image of your manservant."
They continued to talk about all the changes to the world since the 6th century, and about the legends passed down through Emrys' family. Emrys also taught Arthur how to turn a light switch off and on, and where to get food when he is hungry, even if there was only cheese and grapes in the mini fridge.
"Arthur, I'm going to head over to the market to get some food alright? Don't touch anything while I'm gone." He ordered the blonde.
Of course, Arthur, being the prat that he is, decides to be curious. He didn't fool with anything he couldn't understand, for example the oven, or a television remote. No, he decides to let his feet wander to the bookshelf in an alcove of the room, containing old to new books. His fingers scan across the worn books as he found The Legend of Emrys. He considered reading it but for now, he wanted to explore.
It was then when he found a paper from a Dr. Smith, who seems to be Emrys' therapist. Arthur looked at the paper more closely, it read:
Dr: Smith, John
Patient: Emrys, Merlin
DOB: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Patient Concerns: Sleep deprived, depression, stress, hallucinations, self-harm, suicidal attempts.
Arthur shoved the paper back where he found it and sat down on the sofa with The Legend of Emrys in hand.
The book claimed Emrys was a demigod, showing two alike personalities, and uses "the mist" as a guise to hide from enemies. His mother is the goddess Hecate. She is the goddess of magic and witchcraft.
Emrys' other personality was known more to mortals, going by another name.
Emrys was an ancient name that Balinor, a dragon lord and Emrys' father, decided was the best fit for his young boy. Emrys meant immortality.
Emrys was destined to serve and protect the once and future king, and wait for his return. During his service to the king, he went by the name of Merlin.
Arthur didn't know what to do with this new information. So Emrys was Merlin, well, that is what he thought in the first place. But why would he lie? He decides to wait and see if his former servant would reveal who he was. And so, he waited.
------
{2 Weeks Later}
Emrys was sitting at the island in their small kitchen which was open to the living area, while Arthur was sitting at the sofa as he dug deep into his thoughts.
"Why did you lie?" Arthur asked abruptly, breaking the silence that filled the room.
"What?" The raven haired replied, his brow furrowing.
"Don't you think I would have figured it out, Merlin. While you were out a couple weeks ago, the day I got here, you really didn't think I would stay in one place did you? Now answer my question. Why. Did. You. Lie?" He emphasized each of his last words repeating his question.
"Have you ever met someone who always has so much going on you don't want to bother them about your own problems? Well you're that kind of person Arthur. When you were gone, I was in a bad place, I didn't know what to do. I was alone, I had no one. When I saw the flash of light from the lake I put on a guise so you would never know." Merlin explained as tears welled up in his eyes. "Arthur, I can't die. I know 'cause I've tried, multiple times. But that doesn't mean I can't be hurt, it doesn't mean I can't stay awake for ages, I just can't die from it."
Merlin's eyes flash a fiery gold and a glow comes off his skin. His guise was fading. His arms had scars running all the way down them, his dark circles seemed to be fading, but they were still there. His cheekbones had tears trickling over them like waterfalls.
Merlin's eyes seemed cold, they seemed dead. But when he looked up to Arthur, there was a great spark of life behind them. Finally having something to live for again.
"I am a demigod, a monster even, but my soul is still human." Merlin said with a small smile.
Arthur took his former servant into his arms and hugged him tightly saying, "Never a monster, Merlin. Never."
---
{3 Days Later}
"Here you go, Arthur. Just how you like it, eggs scrambled, bacon crisp, bread toasted topped with butter, and a glass of milk." Merlin placed a plate in front of Arthur with a glass beside it.
"Why are you still acting like a servant sometimes, Merlin?" Arthur asked in curiosity, also remembering when he asked the same question when finding out about Merlin's abilities.
"As I have said many times, I was born to serve you Arthur." He replied with a smile and sat down with his friend to eat breakfast.
And I am proud of that. Merlin finished in his head, but Arthur didn't need to hear him say it again. He already knows.
All was well until the week followed with the mirror in Arthur's room shattering out of its frame. The mirror was replaceable of course, it was just the memory of Arthur's eyes flashing gold in the reflection that terrified him.
May have just been the lies of the mist.
- FIN
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