Chapter Text
Merlin had been waiting more than 1000 years for Arthurs return, stuck in a little cottage by the lake of Avalon. Overtime everything in the world had changed. Wooden huts became brick houses. The outhouse became indoor plumbing. Horses were abandoned for cars. Merlin couldn't imaging Arthur returning to this changed world. How would he even be able to adapt when even Merlin, who had been alive this entire time, couldn't get used to the modern world. He'd only just gotten used to CD players and it was 2022 for goodness sake!
He was a soul out of time and he knew it. The world didn't feel right anymore. The only remaining magic was him and he couldn't even spot where Camelot had once stood. The passage of time had been cruel, not only to him but to the kingdom his friend once ruled as well. Camelot, now part of the United Kingdom, was ravaged by a pandemic. If this was an indicator of what the greatest need of Albion would be then Merlin knew it was time to acknowledge that Arthur would be useless. What could he even do for a modern threat? Go to university and become a Doctor? Fight on front lines with guns and tanks? There was no way that with his pre-medieval knowledge he would be of any use. Merlin couldn't stay here when he now knew his friend would never return. The prospect of thousands more years alive on this earth without Arthur was torture. But at the same time he knew he would never be allowed to join his friends in the afterlife. It was the curse of the immortal after all, longing for friends long passed.
It had taken a lot of research and a long time, but with the lockdowns he had nothing but time to research, to find the spell that would do what he needed but find it he did. The spell would take him to the place he was needed the most, a large part of him hoped this would be back in Camelot before Arthurs demise, but he knew the gods were never that kind to him. He packed his books of spells into a travel case and set off to find a exited his lake-side hut. He hoped that where ever he ended up he could keep his books at least, he prayed they would survive the journey.
Merlin stood on the banks of the lake of Avalon for the last time and said a quiet goodbye to Arthur and to the life he was giving up. He turned his back to the lake, confidently cast his spell and closed his eyes waiting.
The wind began to howl and swirl around him. He could feel that he had been picked up into the air, he was tossed from side to side and squeezed tightly for what seems like hours. The, suddenly, it all stopped. Everything was quiet barring what sounded like a human breathing deeply. He could feel something holding his body, it was giant. What could hold him like that? Merlin decided to open his eyes and check his surroundings. He was greeted with the sight of a giant face peering down at him. Fuck! Maybe the spell had sent him into a giant layer? Why would giants need him the most!
Before he could panic too much the giant spoke. "Its a boy, my lady" the giant said, before hanging him over to another giant that laid on a bed.
Merlin was so confused. What the hell was happening? He tried push away from the giant now holding him, only to realise he had very little strength. Slowly he looked at his arms. Fuck, he thought. Those are not my arms. Those are baby arms. The spell must have changed him more than he was expecting. He kicked himself mentally for not researching more into the spell he used. How is he supposed to live as a baby. He was over 1500 for fucks sake!
"What will you name him, my lady" the first giant asked.
"He will be Julian, Julian Alfred Pankratz" she replied.