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Morpheus walked the lower town of a bustling kingdom, in search of a rogue nightmare. Varley covered his tracks well. But never well enough to hide from Dream of Endless, himself.
Eventually, Morpheus found him, playing dress up as a knight of Camelot. No doubt finding ways to slither into the Royal vaults and make off with the gold. Varley was nearly the personification of the greed that poisons men’s souls, and the consequences wrought from that greed.
He wasted no time before marching onto the lush green training ground, he waited until Varley sensed his presence, knowing his time was at an end.
Just as Dream was making to step forward, a voice stopped him.
“Gwaine, I swear to god, if you cheat at dice again, I’m putting you on southern border patrol for a month!”
As Morpheus followed the booming voice, he landed on a gorgeous, sweating face, his eyes spanned down to the man’s feet then back up to his crown, metaphorical, of course, but Morpheus could see it all the same. The crown was a part of this man as much as his heart or his head, so rare to find a True King on a throne these days.
Golden blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes.
Morpheus felt himself getting off track and pulled his attention back to Varley. Who was still shocked frozen in place amongst his fellow knights.
Giving him the chance to avoid a scene, Morpheus jerked his head to the area behind the resting tent, Varley took it and followed his lead, eyes to the ground.
When they stood face to face, Morpheus said nothing, only giving him a stern look. Almost that of a disappointed parent when their child misbehaves.
“I’m sorry, my lord. There’s just so much-“
“I know, Varley,” He said, sympathizing, “but we cannot meddle with their waking lives. You, of all people, are aware of the consequences when nightmares and dreams walk among the living.”
Varley nodded his head in shame.
“What will you do with me, sire?”
“For now, I am sending you back to Lucienne. She can decide where your fate lies.”
Varley knew this to be the mercy that it was, and nodded vehemently.
“Thank you, sire. You will not regret your act of kindness.”
With that, Morpheus sent him back, as a cloud of dust, and nothing more. Just a grey dream.
Instead of leaving, like he should’ve, Morpheus followed his curiosity back to the training grounds. To watch the golden man in his habitat.
It was quite a show. The Dream Lord had been watching duels and spars in his free time for as long as he could remember. This is how he came to know Cain and Able.
But this man, this King, was…other-worldly, especially with a sword in his hand. His movements were so fluid and graceful, they were almost akin to a dance. A dance he knew very well, by the looks of it. His sword was an extension of his arm, a part of his body that he moved accordingly, quicker than lightening and with a supernatural confidence.
Morpheus had a curiosity that would always get him into trouble.
Maybe that is why he decided to follow the man into his dreams that night.
They were near the ocean.
No one else for miles, the blonde boy was sitting on a seaside rock, looking out on the waves as they washed up on the shore, then departed once more.
The King did not notice Morpheus’ presence yet.
He seemed troubled, this man. Even in his peaceful dreams, his brows furrowed in worry.
“What troubles you, my lord?” He couldn’t help but ask.
The boy jumped two feet in the air, piercing blue eyes finally landing on Morpheus’ physical form. His original form, that he prefers to keep. Jet black hair and pale skin.
“Who are you?” He narrowed his eyes, sussing out the intentions of his companion.
As he sat on the rock beside the man, he answered,
“My true name is Morpheus. But you may call me Merlin.”
Recognition dawned on the man’s un-aged features. His eyes widened.
“I heard stories of you, as a boy. You’re-“ he stopped short, swiveling his neck to and fro. “Does that mean I am dreaming?”
“Yes, sire. You are dreaming.”
“Are you here to kill me?”
This made Merlin belly laugh.
“Of course not. I do not interfere with the waking lives of mortals, sire.”
The golden boy thought on this for a moment.
“Then why are you here?”
“I was curious.” He shrugged, eyes averted. “I was in your world today, retrieving a lost nightmare. I saw you and…wanted to know where you went when you slept.”
“You saw me in the real world?” He asked with a tint of nervousness.
Merlin smiled and nodded at him.
“I hope you were not…disappointed with us humans.”
Merlin shook his head.
“If not for humans, for all living things, I would not exist here. Nor would all the wonderful things your world has to offer. There is truly no other place like Earth.”
“So you were not…around before humans?”
This boy was very strange. Asking questions most would not think to ponder.
“I was. But my siblings and I were born into this plane the moment the First left the Garden.”
“Your-your siblings? What are they like?”
Merlin smiled fondly down at his lap, thinking of his family.
“You know them well, sire.” His smile turned a bit cheeky, at the boy’s confusion.
“Dream,” he motions to himself, then begins to list off on his fingers “Death, Destruction, Delirium, the twins: Desire and Despair. And of course, Destiny. You are just as familiar with Destiny as he is with you, my lord.” After all, his brother would’ve been the one to bestow the prince his eternal crown. Dream would have to inquire at the next family dinner.
“They are your siblings? And all of them have…bodies? Manifestations of themselves?” Merlin could recognize the spirit of inquiry when he heard it. He found he did not mind answering this man’s questions, as he would most others. Maybe it is because he’s asking the right questions.
“Yes. And we all have places we call home. Much like your Camelot. I have the Dreaming.” He waved his hand to their surroundings. “Desire and Despair have their own lairs, though I try not to visit if I can help it.”
This pulled a chuckle out of the human, which lit something in Morpheus that had not been seen in some time.
“Well it’s a relief to know that even Morpheus has family he’d rather avoid.”
“And you, sire? What is your family like?”
“I have a sister,” he proclaims quietly with a roll of his gorgeous eyes.
“She is beautiful and smart but she is also a pain in my backside most of the time.” He shook his head, hidden smile slowly fading from his lips. “My father, well, I don’t think he knows anything about being a father. Maybe he would’ve, if my mother had lived. Maybe she could’ve taught him to be caring or at least understanding.” He shrugged again, eyes cast to the water. “Alas. We will never know.”
“I am sorry.” Merlin offers genuinely. “No child should ever grow up without love.”
It was the man’s turn to shrug.
“He is my father, so it’s hard not to forgive him. He lost his wife as she brought their only child into the world. Leaving him practically alone with this squalling little creature that always needed something.” He took a deep breath. “I am fully aware he was not the one caring for me…I am almost glad he left that up the nurses and maids. They taught me that there is another way to live, to rule. They taught me of my mother, when my father would never speak of her.” Then he pointed to a little white dot in the distance. “That is her home, Tintegel. She grew up here, before she married my father.”
Merlin was suddenly looking at it with new eyes.
This was someone’s home.
“It is beautiful. Have you ever visited? Awake?”
He nods.
“Only once when I was a boy. But I still think of it every day. I suppose I escape here in my dreams, to be with her. But she is never here.”
“This is your dream, sire. You control it.”
His brows furrowed.
“And how is that?”
Merlin chuckled to himself.
“You have more power than you know, little King.”
“I’m not the King.”
“Maybe not out there, not yet. But in any other realm, you are Arthur Pendragon, Once and Future King.”
“You know-? Well of course you know, you’re Morpheus.” He mumbles to himself, with Merlin finds amusing. “What does that mean exactly?”
“I cannot tell you anything more, except that you are a King of Legend. Destiny proclaimed it so, many many years ago. I did not realize until we spoke. Perhaps that is why I was drawn to you.” He say’s nonchalantly and also without thinking. He forgot for a moment, that he was actually speaking to this man. He hasn’t spoken to a human in some time.
“You were drawn to me? In what way?” Merlin began to rise, suddenly very warm and needing to move. He began pacing in front of Arthur. Thinking.
“I do not know. I haven’t ever… this is not a usual…what is happening to me?” He stopped pacing and stared down at his trembling hands, he felt sweat accumulating from his overheating.
“Are you alright, Merlin?”
For some reason, that name, the one he only ever uses with humans, coming from Arthur’s mouth, shot adrenaline through his body.
“I have to go, Arthur.”
“What? Where are you going? Are you well?”
Suddenly Arthur was standing and approaching.
“I am fine.” He held out his hands to still Arthur in his marching, it worked for whatever reason, he halted in the sand. “I just…feel…odd. And I have a sneaking suspicion…” he shook his head. Already feeling a headache forming just thinking about it.
“Will you return? When you feel better?”
The look on Arthur’s face paired with this raw, open feeling, Merlin couldn’t say no.
“Yes, I will return. For now, just stay out of trouble.” Something popped into his head then, a warning. It appeared from nothing and planted itself in his head.
“This may sound odd. But when the beautiful woman begins to sing, do not let it reach your ears.”
The last thing Morpheus saw before departing was confusion on Arthur Pendragon’s beautiful face.
But he could not stay.
He had to seek out his infernal siblings, for the first time in a century.