I chuckled at Arthur's face when the second movie of his life finished and the credits rolled.

"It wasn't anything like that either," he said.

To be fair, I hadn't expected it to be, having chosen one of the animated movies aimed at children. It was definitely a white washed version of events.

"There are plenty more where they came from," I replied right before yawning. It made him stop and finally turn to me.

The coffee table was strewn with empty bowls from the stew, the ice cream I had followed it with and various drinks we'd also consumed. Arthur had been a wonderful guest in accepting whatever I offered him without complaint and generally being enthusiastic.

Not that there had been much conversation between us, not yet. He had been far more interested in watching the movies. It had given me time to process and adjust more too. He really did appear to think he was Arthur and so far every bit of body language and response had made me think he was being truthful.

It was strange, but I wasn't doubting whether I could read him correctly either. If he wasn't Arthur and this was all in his head, I could have spent the evening in far worse ways. He was good looking and this was the first evening I had been blessed with good company for movies and dinner in a long time.

Of course, it was now the early hours of the morning and no longer even close to anything like evening.

"You need rest," he said, concern for me flashing across his face and only improving my impression of him.

"At some point, yes. It has been a long day."

"I think that I have complicated it compared to normal." He frowned and looked sad for a moment as if that was the last

"You could say that." I paused and thought about it. "But that doesn't mean the complication is unwelcome or bad. You are being you and also struggling through the situation you find yourself in."

"This is definitely a struggle. When I last spoke to Merlin, he told me I would be back when my people needed me. I've awoken to find that my people don't even know they are my people."

"On the up side, we clearly haven't needed you for a long time," I blurted out before I thought about how insensitive it was. Thankfully he chuckled and nodded.

"I confess, when I saw how much had changed and the first two police of yours came to take me to you in that carriage of theirs I thought no one would believe me." He shook his head and seemed to deflate his shoulders sagging.

For a few seconds, I wasn't sure how to respond, wanting to correct all the slightly off assumptions in what had happened, from him saying the police were mine, as if I owned them, to thinking he had been brought to me specifically. Did he think I had more power and authority than I did?

"It is something very hard to believe and I won't deny that I thought you were crazy at first. I'm still not sure that you aren't crazy, or some really really good magician who is taking me for a fool."

"If I can't convince you that I mean what I say then what hope do I have at all in proving my lineage and claim to the throne."

Shaking my head as well, I tried to think of something comforting to say, but the day had been long and no amount of caffeine was going to keep me up and awake much longer. This was a situation I hadn't expected and him proving he was Arthur for the world not to doubt him was going to be a bigger challenge than proving it to me.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Does this world need me?" he asked. "If so, I do not understand how."

I nodded, not doubting that if anything was true of his story, that he was needed. As if to prove it, I picked up the remote again and flicked through the programs to the all day news channel. Immediately there was a reserved night reporter talking about the events of the day with footage and pictures of war, violence and other atrocities being committed behind her.

While I cleaned up and took all the dirty crockery to the kitchen again, he watched. I didn't really want to listen as they recapped all the countries who had bombed each other, what gangs had fought over what, even in London, and how bad the economy and homeless and jobless situation was right now.

The country was a mess and the 2030 election was only going to stir things up even more.

"But it wasn't always this bad?" Arthur asked me when I returned to him and sat down again. I shuddered as they showed a slum in another country full of children who were starving and dying of all sorts of diseases. The government there planned to tear it down in only a few days to make way for something else that would only serve the rich elite.

"It wasn't always like this. Thirty years or so ago, it was a lot better, but the rich and elite just keep getting richer and more elite and they're leaving the rest of us behind."

Arthur reached for the remote and tried to turn the TV off or change the channel or something, but he didn't have a clue how to do so and turned the volume up, down and then rewound the show before I pointed out what all the buttons did.

"I do not think that we need to watch any more of that tonight. While I understand a little better, it does not change that I need to figure out what I am going to do about it."

It was my turn to raise my eyebrows. I couldn't believe that after everything I had just shown him, he still wanted to try and prove who he was and take on the problem that was my country and the world around it.

"Do you actually think you can make a difference?" I asked, not sure it was possible. I'd tried to do my bit and I knew I was doing something. But actually save the world?

"I have no idea. But I did once before. I united this land against its common enemy and I made sure the people were looked after. I stood for justice and the country prospered. All of us."

Everything he said was something the country desperately needed, but beginning was the hard part. It wasn't as if he could march up to the palace and demand the throne. We had democracy now. Governments were chosen and elected. He couldn't take the country by force. He didn't have an army of any kind. And his magic had all been showy things so far that didn't defeat people with guns and drones and tactical nukes.

No, the world wasn't easily going to bend the knee to a king, no matter how legitimate his claim was. So many people wanted to abolish the monarchy we had as it was. They were seen as equally elite and privileged and didn't do very much for those around them.

But to explain all of this to Arthur would take hours, if not an entire day. And this time of night was not the point to begin those lessons.

As if to make my point, I yawned involuntarily. Although I tried to stifle it, the motion snuck up on me so well, I could do little more than make it quieter and put my hand over my mouth.

"We should sleep. But would you aid me in the morrow?" Arthur asked.

I nodded, not really thinking about what that would entail. It could wait. The sleeping part was a whole new problem, however. I had a bed and a sofa and that was it and I told Arthur as much.

"Then I will sleep on this," Arthur replied, bouncing slightly as if to test the comfort. "I assure you that before I was king, I slept on far worse and even in my best days there was not much that surpassed this in comfort. The world has gained much in my absence if everyone has a seat this soft and comfortable.

He had a point and it made me excited to show him many other new technologies and manufactured furniture and items. I kept those thoughts inside as well, however and merely fetched him some bedding.

"If you need any food or drink before I wake, help yourself to what's in the kitchen. There's fruit juice in the fridge and cereal in the cupboard."

Arthur nodded, but I could see the slightly blank expression on his face and realised that he was unlikely to know what any of those things were. Again, I didn't explain. If he was hungry, I was sure he would find something. He could experiment if he chose. My brain was shutting off and there was no keeping it awake any longer.