Chapter Text
Camelot has been gone for centuries. Arthur has been gone even longer. Merlin always wondered why the once and future king never returned, even as Camelot fell.
At first there were just long days by the lake. The knights, Gaius, and Gwen would visit once a year to remember the great king. They insisted Merlin at least have a nice place to call home. The entire Camelot army helped to build the house, with the peace that Arthur worked towards, they never saw another battle. They all helped Merlin build a house with a library large enough to hold all the secrets of science and magic, art and history. Of course Merlin did all the heaviest lifting, the practice of magic no longer a crime.
The first to pass on was Gaius. Gaius left all of his books to Merlin. The new court physician understood, even though he wished to keep them to learn all he could. In the end the physician would borrow a few books at a time. In return he brought Merlin news and developments that were happening beyond the lake.
When Gwen came towards the end of her reign she had all of the magical books and items delivered to Merlin’s home. She trusted that Merlin would protect this knowledge as well as he protected her husband.
The library Merlin amassed became a pilgrimage point for those seeking answers. They were always greeted in the same gruff manner, but none were ever turned away. Those who sought power for power’s sake ended up disappointed. Those who wished for answers to the meaning of life often didn’t like the answer, but that’s life. Knights and princes would stop at the House of Emrys on their quests to increase their chances of success and survival.
Merlin learned languages, read books, and a century after Camelot’s fall, finally let himself travel beyond the lakeside. He kept collecting books. He learned everything he could. He made advances in science and magic alike, but never took any credit.
Eventually there wasn’t much more to learn or master. Knights and quests had gone out of style. There was only so much to busy himself with. Merlin reversed the aging spells for the first time in a long time and was surprised to see he never actually aged past the day Arthur entered the lake.
Merlin re-lived life as a young man. He had a social circle. Friends who he trusted but always hid his magic from. Aging spells helped Merlin grow old with his dear friends, though he never answered when they asked how old he was. His friends always marvelled at how much Merlin knew of the world and many were entranced by the sheer size of House of Emrys’ library.
As time passed, even living lives with different careers, Merlin grew bored. Remembering that trick Gaius pulled making Merlin a witch instead of a warlock, Merlin lived a few lives as Emma. Emma was a fierce woman with many friends. Outspoken and ahead of her time. A leader among the women’s rights movement. And never becoming a mother even when she was shunned for it.
Merlin never looked for anything more than friends, or quick flings, never feeling quite right with the idea. It was still his destiny to protect Arthur, the once and future king. He never strayed far from his beloved house on the lake.
Technology advancements brought a lot of new things to the table, but it was only a new system to him. When you already have a world of knowledge at your fingertips, there’s not much more the internet brings. Except cat videos. Cat videos were new.
Merlin started to understand more about what psychology books meant by depression. All he had was tending to his books. He had given up on making friends. Pretending to grow old was tedious work, and there was only so much loss one person can take. Merlin decided to get a dog to help with the loneliness, but Merlin was missing things more than ever. Missing the adventures and the laughter. Missing the round table and the people who sat there. Missing Arthur.