Wonderful story!

Can't wait for next chapter!

Love it!

Please brace yourself for the sappiest (and maybe longest) review ever written. I am so in love with this story for so many reasons. I generally and sadly stay away from returning!Arthur fics only because they're not usually what I'm expecting and tend to break my already broken heart (still repairing from the finale lol.) They're either unrealistic or too dramatic or not dramatic enough and other stuff like that. I have stopped a few in the middle because they were similar to something you quoted in this story - Arthur in chain mail rising from the lake speaking in Old English. lol. I just don't love that concept and so I don't really get my hopes up for reunion fics because of it. But, the way you wrote this fic, in my eyes, was like perfect. I wasn't even sure how I wanted Arthur to come back until I read this. I just knew it wasn't the ways I've read before. I need to tell you that your writing is breathtaking. There is something surreal and magical, even, about this whole returning concept. Your quality of writing has a similar magical, powerful way of saying things that I didn't think could be articulated. I'm referring especially to the first chapter when you describe the passing years and what Arthur experienced during this seemingly impossible passage of time. Loved the line, "He watched Merlin struggle, that first lifetime. The pain is near, and the memories are both sharp and fond, but the gradually-accumulating years still lie lightly on the shoulders slightly bowed under the familiarly worn brown jacket." I could cry that's so powerful, but also so sweet. I'd quote more amazing lines but it would be every line and you've already read the story. :p The concept of Arthur being there - watching Merlin go through all he's been through, wanting to be there with him but not being able to be there until, well, he is, is hauntingly beautiful. It also takes away another aspect of the returning!Arthur stories that I don't love which is Arthur's confusion because of the lost time. I have read fics where entire chapters were just about how crazy it is that 1,000 years or so have passed and how Arthur deals (or usually, can't deal with that) and I just always want to skip past all of that and this fic did that. I love that he's already a part of Merlin's life. That he always has been. It was awesome how you showed Arthur being there with Merlin, though not quite there, and then suddenly being physically there with him. There was no theatrical emergence from the water. It was so very real. The reunion was so beautiful. With Merlin not being able to believe it was real and Arthur trying to be sensitive of that fact. I thought it was a really sweet part of the story. I also liked that explaining to Arthur that so much time has passed was one less burden for Merlin to deal with. A lot of fics deal too much with the consequences Arthur experiences with the return and less with Merlin's inevitable self-doubt and overall adjustment. I think you handled the aspect of self-harm really well and like that you focused more on Merlin's own inner turmoil for a change. The characters were very real and in character during the dramatic, H/C parts of the story, as well as more of the humorous ones. (Nod to the last lines) Wow this is insanely long so I'll end here. Thank you for the amazing story! Tbh it lived up to expectations I didn't know I had. It was so sweet, yet heartbreaking and your writing is stunning.

My heart aches for Merlin. This so well explores the results of him focusing everything on one single person, unable to truly live his own life. It's something he'd have to deal with to be able to be whole.

This so well encapsulates Merlin's trauma and pain. Sad, tense, well written.

Beautiful. I have tears in my eyes.

Wow, very well-written! I loved all your details regarding the day-to-day of their new lives and your descriptive prose. I thought Merlin's issues rang true and I felt he was very in character (albeit, the darkest parts of his character).

Nice work!

This has to be the most realistic "Arthur returns" story I've ever seen. I can't wait for the next update (well, at least it hopefully won't be like Merlin waiting for Arthur XD)

Thought I'd look at your latest stories. I loved this. I really like all the stories that just follow on from the TV series. This is a perfect description of what came after Arthur 'died'.

Amazing story.

My word, that was powerful.

Knowing how close they were and how devastated Merlin was by Arthur's death it made perfect sense that having to live without him for all those centuries has created deep (mental) wounds that cannot be healed simply by Arthur's return. I actually found myself quite angry with whatever powers-that-be put them both through that, because it was equally hard for Arthur to have to watch Merlin suffer without being able to even let him know he wasn't alone.

The fact all those issues weren't just solved immediately made it seem very realistic and despite the angst it never appeared out of character for Merlin to have such dark moods and resort to such desperate measures. It also felt very real that having got Arthur back he's terrified of losing him all over again.

You did a marvellous job with both characters and their voices. I especially liked the way you brought out all of Arthur's good qualities and showed that the years observing Merlin and adjusting to what he learnt just before he died has only enhanced his natural kindness and given him even more patience with Merlin than he already had, which is just what was needed.

I must also applaud the way you had Arthur adapt to all things modern and the believable scenario that his observing of Merlin has allowed him to follow history as it unfolded.

I loved that it ended on a positive note. Whatever might be coming their way - and there must after all be a reason Arthur was finally allowed to return - they are going to face it together and in the meantime they might actually get the chance to enjoy 'normal' life together as friends without the constant threat of death hanging over their heads. After all, your paragraph where it sinks in for Merlin at last really sums up their relationship; that they will bicker, and argue, and fight, and drive each other crazy but at the end of the day their bond and brotherhood transcends all that.

You've made me smile at the thought of this and I may just consider it canon, to take the sting out of that heart-breaking final episode. It would be just too sad to think it never happened this way...

Omg, there were so many moments you despribed things a certain way I had never seen it before. This is so phylosofical. I absolutely love it. Best fic ever... Again. I can't give any of your merlin-fics less than that title.

Beautiful. :)

This breaks my heart, how easy for you to make my tears drop. Brilliant story wryter, as always.