Translation: " Cost the eyes of the head, " which would be like the English idiom: " it costs an arm and a leg. " This idiom is in French. If you have any you'd like me to do (no matter the language), let me know!

" Sorry about that, " Merlin muttered.

" He's alive?! " Gwaine gasped.

Aroused by the commotion, many of the other knights appeared, and Arthur noticed how Merlin never really looked at anyone-including himself- in the face. A sickening thought quickly came to the moist, newly-awoken king:

did Merlin think none of this was real?

Arthur supposed it made sense, and that only frightened him more.

He had slept for thousands of years and had awoken to a strange, new world.

Merlin had been awake for thousands of years after leaving many a world behind.

And that scared Arthur. Even though he would never admit it in the past, Merlin was his best friend. Maybe, Arthur thought, it's time he told him that.

" Merlin, " Arthur dragged out, " will you explain once more? You explained it so well before. "

When given the compliment, Merlin looked at him-or near him, anyways- as if he had grown two heads, but proceeded to tell the Knights of the Round Table the same story he had told Arthur. The much, much, much, much abridged story of how so many years had passed.

" So, I'm sure you all remember your deaths, " Merlin began. " As unkind as it is to remember them, y'all must- "

He recieved a bunch of bewildered looks.

" Sorry, you all. I lived in Texas during Anerica's civilization era. Anyways. you all died. Gwen-where is she, by the way- ruled the kingdom for a very long and peaceful time until she succumbed to old age and passed. She had had no heirs, and thus passed the throne to me. I ruled for many a year, but deemed it unfair to rule a kingdom when death can never stop you, and thus, I later quit my position as king.

Eventually, the era of swords and shields-our era, the Middle Ages-ended and Albion moved onward. Albion became Britain, and we survived deadly plagues that nearly wiped Britain out.

Today, we live in the era of technology-a tool such as your swords or magic that can be used for good or evil. It's been used to kill and used to save. I survived the thousands of years it took to get you all back here, and after I pretended to be a wizard- "

" You are a wizard! " Arthur interrupted.

" I'm a warlock. There's a difference. " Merlin retorted, mock-offended. Arthur rolled his eyes and interrupted again.

" So he thought it'd be a brilliant idea-you're an absolute idiot sometimes, Merlin- to jump off the modern equivalent of 10 castle towers stacked on top of each other. "

" Well, depends on the tower size... "

" Shut up Merlin. Anyways, after he did that, we came back to life. So thanks, I guess, " he muttered.

" You dumbass! You could have hurt yourself! " Gwaine yelled at Merlin.

" Well, I am immortal... and a warlock. The worst I could have done is bruised... "

he paused.

" Like, you know... an apple. " Merlin grinned, smirking at Gwaine.

Immediately, despite the thousands of years difference, the knights, Arthur, and Merlin laughed as if they had never been seperated.

Eventually, Merlin pulled away with a withdrawn look on his face.

" What's wrong, Merlin? " Lancelot asked. The knight cared for Merlin, and hated to see him this upset.

If anything, when Merlin looked at him, he looked even worse. However, he still smiled it off and lied, " I'm fine. " All of them, even the incredulously ignorant Arthur Pendragon, could tell it was a lie; but not on of them knew how to address it.

" Oh god, I hope nothing was here. " Merlin muttered, changing the subject. He pulled out his phone-which fascinated the knights-while Arthur questioned him.

" What do you mean by that? " Arthur responded.

" Simple! You know how Camelot appeared out of nowhere? "

" Yes... " Arthur continued.

" What if it landed on something? A city, people? "

Leon looked up from Merlin's phone to stare at him quizically. " What's a city? "

" Oh fuck, " Merlin exasperated.

" Merlin! " Arthur scolded.

" Sorry. " Merlin muttered, unapologetically. " Not sorry. "

" What was that, Merlin? "

" Nothing. Anyway, nothing was here. And besides, I'm surprised the authorities aren't here yet. "

At even more confused faces, he explained, " Guards. And speaking of Gs, where's Gwen and Gaius? " He asked. " They normally make an appearance. "

All the other knights, busy playing a game with a bunch of cats-Neko Atsume-Merlin recognized, didn't hear the last part. Arthur did, and pulled Merlin to the side.

" Merlin, ever since I came back, you've been acting weird, like you don't know if any of this is- "

" Gwen! " Merlin exclaimed, running straight towards her. She looked like she had the day Arthur had died, all her wrinkles diminshed like she had been using Olay cream. Merlin doubted she had any idea what that was, and he wasn't going to tell her so.

" Merlin! " She yelled, as she sprinted in her dress. They hugged each other. After Arthur had died, they had supported each other, so much so that Gwen had trusted him with the throne as she had birthed no heirs.

Arthur scoffed. " Helloooo, " he said, looking straight at his wife, who quickly left Merlin like he was a 5th cenury fashion in the 21st. Oh, wait.

He was.

Arthur quickly forgot about Merlin too, who turned away and began to explore the castle he had called his home for so long.

" It feels like I'm dreaming, " he whispered to the cool stone walls as he passed through the hallways.

Arthur's people-who were once Merlin's-bowed and waved to him as he passed. He just grinned.

But, as his grin slipped off his face, he found it all too unreal.

Too much.

Everything

was

too

much.

So, with a snap of his fingers, he left.

The cost of Camelot's return was its savior-Merlin- doubting his own sanity.