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Apparently it was the 21st century, and a new millennium to boot. That would be Merlin's third. At midnight there were fireworks, calling in the new year. Merlin had merely pulled the covers further over his head until the noise stopped.
Summer came, and all the vast crowds that had suddenly started to appear every June. More noise, days of it. That year it was starting earlier, the local people celebrating too. Merlin watched their procession heading for the Tor. Perhaps it would be beautiful, the trail of torchlight like a golden necklace winding around the hillside.
He looked away.
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Arthur didn't care what a millennium was. It meant staying up way past bedtime and walking in a parade and being allowed to wear a knight costume and having a plastic sword that he was sure he could slay that stupid paper dragon with and he got to wear a crown and walk at the head of his class because his name was Arthur like the legendary king! It was brilliant!
He puffed out his chest and waved his sword importantly with all his six-year-old might.
People were smiling. Even that strange old man was, though he was crying too.