He very nearly dropped his pipe.

How?!

He stared at Arthur, completely at a loss for words; clearly this was not who he was expecting to see.

He then gave the bowl of his pipe a sniff. Tobacco. Normal tobacco.

He checked his little bag of tobacco too, just in case some mushrooms got mixed in.

No, this wasn't an accidental illusion or some kind of hallucination.

Getting to his feet, he cleared the distance between him and Arthur in a few swift strides.

"You were dying."

He had smelled death on him, Arthur had days at most, less if he strained himself.

"The wine - it could not have. It would need at least another century before -"

He cut himself off, and shook his head.

"It is you, is it not? I have not gone mad?"