Pinterest inspired.  I know it's been a while since I last updated, but I got this idea, and had to figure out how to login again. Modern day.

Arthur had grown up in a small town beside a lake. Small towns were filled with rumours, myths, and stories that spread quickly. They in a way, were the modern day place of legends. Between the creature said to be waiting in the corn, and the faerie rings that everyone so desperately avoided. The rule was always 'even if you don't believe in it, for the love of food, still don't mess with it'. Arthur had heard that one from girl at school.

Among these many legends was one about a statue that stood staring into the lake. Everyday he went to town, Arthur went past it. Still, everyday it intrigued him. Only recently though had he learned of the legend from a friend. Apparently he had been turned to stone when caught off guard. He was truly feared when he was still human. Which was truly surprising due to the fact that that it was the thinnest, least muscular statue Arthur had ever seen. If it weren't for the platform that the man stood on, Arthur would guess that they would be about the same height. The second part to the legend was that he would come to life when his soulmate touched his arm. Sounded like a cheesy rumour created to get the town publicity.

Arthur knew what was engraved into the platform by heart. He walked by it everyday after all. It read, 'Two sides of the same coin', and below that, 'Made by Cendred in a time of change'. The entire thing was a complete... enigma. It lured him in. Despite that, he'd never touched it. 

It seemed that soon that would change. He'd been asked if he'd ever touched it, and now he'd been dared to touch it. He'd always followed the, 'don't mess with it' rule. Although as it turned out everyone else at that party had touched it through a dare, or the hope that the man would be their soulmate. Dating a person and claiming they're your soulmate, compared to a legend proving they're your soulmate, the second is much cooler. Either way, he was on his way toward the statue with his friends.

The idea was daunting. If the statue actually turned human, would he be forced into a relationship with him? He didn't want to come out to his friends that way if for whatever reason the legend was true, and the statue came to life. You can't just throw that on someone either, "Oh yeah I'm your soulmate. What's your name?". Man that would be a weird greeting. Who was he kidding though, it wasn't likely that the legend was true. Arthur was probably fine.

"Oi, Arthur,  get up there." The walk had been quicker than expected. "Let me get my camera set up, and then scrawny over there is getting a hug. You could spice it up and give 'em a kiss if you wanted you know."

Arthur was weirdly enough, considering it. This would be a good way to hint that he was gay, without fully coming out. 

His friend waved him over. "Ready. I'll start when you get close."

Taking a deep breath, Arthur prepared himself for a hug, and a kiss with a statue. Then a step forward. Then another. Finally reaching the statue, Arthur climbed the platform. As it turned out his assumption that he'd be about the same height as the statue was spot on.  

Up close you could tell the intense amount of detail in the statue. The eyes held a look of longing, while the bottom lip seemed to be slightly further out than the resting point. His hair was messy, and wind blown. Not to mention all the details put into that neckerchief. 

"Hey man, you gonna stare at the statue all day, or are you gonna do your thing?"

Arthur looked back to see Gwaine filming. "Yeah, yeah, you know how I feel about legends."

Not letting Gwaine mock him further, he wrapped his arms around the statue, and going for the lips. Earlier he'd decided that he'd go for a full out make out session to amuse his friends. 

Arthur had never imagined himself kissing a statue, but if he did he would have imagined a statue to be cold. Not warm as it was. Nor had he expected it to be so... pliable. Kissing the statue for a good twelve seconds, Arthur was sure that they had enough proof that he hugged the statue. Although he was wondering why no one was cheering. Usually when you did something stupid your friends cheer. When he pulled back, Arthur got the shock of his life when a pair of bright blue eyes were staring back at him. 

He fell in the lake. 

The statue, well the boy now, had fallen off of the platform as well. He was looking around confusedly. His friends sported the same look, and Arthur was sure his face contained the exact same look.

Gwaine spoke loudly, "What the f-"

One of Arthur's friends threw a rock at the boy, and ran away when it froze mid air. Only Arthur was at the right position to see the boy's eyes glow orange.

No one would let Arthur hear the end of this ever.

"Arthur?" His jaw dropped. How did this boy know his name? A moment later the boy ran at him, and Arthur was still too shocked to stop him. The boy started sobbing while hugging Arthur. "You're alive! I'm so glad you're alive!'

How did this boy know him already? It was Gwaine who answered his unspoken question. "Merlin?"

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The next two months was extremely strange between Arthur and Gwaine slowly regaining their memories, Arthur's confusion over Merlin being gay, and getting past the fact that they had made out. Once Arthur's memories had almost fully returned, Arthur asked Merlin out. Merlin was absolutely petrified of being murdered by the government if anyone found out, but after Arthur explained it wasn't illegal anymore he said yes.