by hollowfall. » Wed Jul 30, 2014 1:59 pm
Merlin opened his eyes, shocked to the bone at the simple thing that he had seen. The sight of Arthur dying, the simple sight of it.. Just made him shiver and shudder to the bone. He had awoken in his chamber, his thick black hair tousled and going all over his forehead. The servant boy sat up and stretched. He had to stop the future from happening. Arthur couldn't die, could he? Gwen was a good queen, but even so the kingdom would be in mourning. Even in the dream, he had told Arthur he had magic, which was something he could never do.
The boy got dressed for the day, his normal servant's uniform and boots. Walking into Gaius' living area, he looked around at the things there. He needed a weapon, though glass bottles could hardly suffice. "Gaius?" He called. His voice was raw with something like terror, despite Arthur not really dying. He hadn't died.. He hadn't died.. Merlin perked up when he saw the old alchemist rise from his room, with a sad expression.
"I'm sorry, Merlin.." He said, sighing. Merlin furrowed his eyebrows.
"For what?" The servant boy asked. "What happened?"
"Arthur passed on. Do you not remember? You got very drunk last night, I wouldn't expect you to have remembered." Gaius explained as Merlin's face fell.
"But.. He can't have done.. He can't have done!" He cried, tears welling up in his eyes. "He was alive! He's so, so alive!"
Gaius put his arm around the boy and sighed. "The kingdom is facing a large loss without their king. Tell Guinevere what happened."
Merlin walked out of the house, tears streaming down his face. People appeared to be crying with him, but not on his level. They barely knew their king, but Merlin's grief was contagious. Those who appeared to not to have liked the king even watched the servant boy with a saddened expression. Some had the nerve to laugh at Merlin, swiftly falling to the floor with a 'suspicious' pain in their stomach. But Merlin carried on walking to Gwen's room.
As he knocked on the door, Merlin felt a wave of sadness come over him. Just the thought of Arthur's slack and empty expression made him want to cry his eyes out, though he needed to keep his composure. For the kingdom, he guessed. It was depressing, yet something in his mind knew Arthur's name would live on forever. He had heard whispers as he had walked the streets that Arthur Pendragon would rise again when England was at its most need. He liked those legends, though that's what he thought of them. Stories, myths. Nothing to hold on to, but something to listen to for encouragement to move on. And hope. So much hope shone in those villager's eyes that it was unbelievable.
Gwen soon opened the door, though it had only been mere seconds it had felt like hours. She shared Merlin's depressed expression, and they shared a hug. It wasn't hard for Merlin to start crying again, sobs escaping his mouth as they walked inside, sitting down on one of the chairs. Gwen wore a beautiful chain, on which held her wedding ring, showing that she was in fact, a widow. She had her whole life ahead of her and yet she'd probably spend it without looking at another man again, which was sad. Merlin knew, if Arthur was alive, he would still want Gwen to be happy, whatever the cost. Even if it meant losing his position as her husband. But then again, the dead don't tend to remember.
Merlin and Gwen shared kind words about Arthur, remembering funny moments, stupid moments, secrets that only they knew about him. It was nice to talk to her, though the thought of Arthur still made his face fall. "Will the laws about magic be lifted?" He managed to ask.
"Of course they will, seeing as one of our trusted friends is a warlock," Gwen looked the young warlock in the eye. "I know."
"How, though?" Merlin asked, eyes wide in shock.
"You think I haven't noticed when you tried to embarrass Arthur using magic? The eyes give it away. You're still the same person, are you not? So you will be able to live in peace, without the judgment and fear of having magic. Morgana was a good person once, but she was stilted by her powers. You've had powers since you came to Camelot, and yet you always stayed loyal to your kingdom."
The next couple of days were a blur for the young wizard. Rules on magic and dragons were lifted, allowing Kilgharra to live in peace within his home, without being locked away or attacked, or even hunted. Camelot was happy. Gwen lived well, as did Merlin, marrying and having children of his own. Gaius died peacefully years later of simple old age. He died with a smile on his face, which Merlin was especially happy about. Camelot was born to live on in people's hearts, and it did. Arthur will one day return, as Merlin is sure of. He lived past his friends, whispering the stories of Camelot to anyone who would bother to listen. Merlin never asked to be thanked, or for attention, he just wanted to pass on that brilliant, brilliant story of Arthur Pendragon. He even met a man, with the name of Russel, who agreed to document Merlin and his life.
Arthur may be gone, but his name will live on.
- Black Star's entry.