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Merlin was sitting in his rocking chair on the porch of the house he'd been living in alone for so long.
But he was no longer alone, and his chair wasn't the only one.
He looks away from the lake he still stares at out of habit, to the one who finally returned from it.
Arthur walks out the door holding two mugs, one of which he hands to Merlin before taking his spot in the other rocking chair.
"Thanks." Merlin says quietly, taking an appreciative sip of the tea that Arthur quickly learned how to make.
It was one of the first things he grasped, though over a thousand years in a lake hasn't done much to improve his skills in preparing anything else.
"We'll both need it to stay awake." Arthur murmurs nodding at the still dark skyline.
"You will. I've always been perfectly cheery in the mornings, you're the lazy daisy." Merlin teases.
"Probably one of your strangest qualities. And that's saying a lot."
"Prat."
"If I were a prat, would I have made you such a lovely drink? It's even got honey."
"Fine, fine. Maybe you're alright. Even if you can make tea though, that doesn't change the fact that you're a dollophead."
They laugh softly at their antics, quieting when they notice the red peaking over the treeline.
"Why are we doing this again? We could've slept longer."
"Because it's nice. One day a month, get up to watch the sunrise and remind yourself there's beautiful things in the world."
"But I already know that."
"Oh do you?"
"Yes." Arthur says softly but certainly as he looks at Merlin.
"Shut up." Merlin mutters, hoping the red of the sunrise masks the red of his cheeks.
"You're the one who asked."
"You don't have to do this with me. I guess I don't either. It's just a habit I've done for a long time. Helped me look forward to better things." Merlin says after a moment.
"I'll do it with you. It is calming."
"Very." Merlin says, looking like there's a story there that he doesn't want to tell.
Arthur can probably guess at it though, that he would do this when having an extra bad time.
"I really don't mind. In fact, I always wanted this."
"Getting up to watch the sunrise? Could've fooled me, I had to physically drag you out of bed most mornings."
"That was because I didn't want to get up and immediately have to deal with the council. I only have to deal with you now. Even though you're a clotpole, you're still better than those old cabbageheads."
"You really need to get your own words and stop stealing mine."
"You should stop acting like you own words."
"You're the one who wanted to storm the palace, acting like you own the entire country."
"I'm supposed to! But I suppose it's good that you didn't let me."
"Just proof that you should listen to me more. Why is it good though?"
"I dont want to be king anymore. Half the time, I never did."
"What do you mean?"
"I often thought of running away."
"What?" Merlin asks, surprised that Arthur thought about giving up the ability to order everyone around.
"When my father became too demanding, when I felt I wasn't doing well enough for the kingdom. I'd imagine packing a few things, mounting a horse, and never looking back."
"You never told me that."
"I only ever told Guinevere."
Merlin falls quiet at that, knowing that its only logical there's things Arthur told his wife, but not him.
He feels guilty even being bothered, he's the one who kept the most secrets.
Plus, it's always a bit awkward when Gwen is mentioned.
"Strange thing is, though she's the one I told, you're the one I talked about going with me."
"What?!"
"Yeah. I told her I wanted to become a farmer." He says, to which Merlin laughs.
"She thought it was funny too, so she said she couldn't imagine me working in a field all day. So I said obviously I'd take you with me, and you could do the work."
"Oh, so that's the only reason? So I could be a servant to someone who wasn't even royalty anymore?"
"You're the one who said you'd be happy as a servant until death!"
"That was before I knew about the whole immortal business." Merlin says, as though he doesn't see waiting all this time as continuing to serve Arthur.
"Still, it wasn't the only reason I would've wanted you to come. You've always been the person I was closest to, I couldn't have beared going to live somewhere without you." Arthur says, careful not to say leaving him, as he had ended up doing that and that road would only lead to unnecessary sadness.
"I never said anything because, well, do you really think I could've handled something so emotional? Still not the easiest thing to talk about. But I want to, so stop the interruption you're working on." Arthur says, reading Merlin easily.
"Also because you always said I'd be a great king. I wanted to make you proud." He finishes quietly.
"I was proud. Still am."
"But you wouldn't have been, if I'd abandoned all my duties."
"I'd have been happy you were happy. Leaving Camelot would've made us both safer."
"Yeah. But I don't know if I could've gone forever. We'd catch word of the kingdom in trouble, and I'd want to go back to help my people."
"And I'd go with you."
They stop talking for a while, watching the sun make it's ascent.
"It's too late now, anyway. No use in talking of all that." Arthur says, staring ahead.
"Not necessarily. We could have a farm now." Merlin suggests.
"Only if you do most of the work."
"You're the one who wants it!"
"You're the one who lived on a farm!"
"I could teach you."
"You'd tell me to do something that would get me kicked by a cow."
"I'd never!" Merlin says, pretending to be greatly offended.
"Would you like to live as a farmer?" Arthur asks after a while.
"I enjoy it. I've had a few farms. Usually no more than a few cows, some sheep. A flock of chickens."
"I know you kept horses too. You always liked the stables, just not mucking them."
"I did have one whenever I could."
"Only one?"
"If there were two, I'd want someone to ride into the woods with me. But we could have two now."
"Sounds nice."
"It is. Last time I had anything other than a small animal was, has it been that long? Fifty years?" Merlin starts muttering as he tries to think back.
"About time for one again anyway. If you'll actually do some work, we can get things ready."
"Can't you just magic it?"
"I always magic it. You could do with some work."
"The animals will be the work!"
"And you'd take care of them?"
"Some of them. You'll have to deal with the chickens though."
"Is the mighty warrior scared of getting pecked?"
"I can only handle one birdbrain, Merlin. It's either you or the chickens."
"Prat."
"You love me."
"You're lucky I do."
"I know. I love you too." Arthur works up the courage to say, wondering if emotions will get easier now that there's no pressure to be a stoic king.
If Merlin always answers with that smile, they just might.
He leans over to kiss him, the fully risen sun wrapping then in golden light and warmth, and for possibly the first time ever, Arthur is glad to have gotten up so early.