A drabble inspired by "If You Ever Come Back" and "The Man Who Can't be Moved" by the Script
Merlin puttered around his chambers in Arthur's castle. Since Gaius' death Merlin had kept the rooms virtually in the same state they had always been in. He was now the court physician, sorcerer, and Arthur's chief advisor. He had enjoyed the recent changes in the past few years. Magic was once again restored to the land, and he had fulfilled his destiny. Arthur was now the Once and Future King he was destined to be, and Guinevere was his Once and Future Queen.
It was beginning to get dark outside. Another day come and gone as he started up his nightly routines. He left a candle burning, and put the kettle on. He also left his door unlatched, and a key under his doormat. He made sure everything was arranged just so, and allowed a small smile of satisfaction surface onto his face. Every night it was the same. After his duties to Arthur were done he repeated this night after night-just in case.
Just in case she came back. He would've given anything to have her back-thoughts of her plagued his mind constantly. Every minute of every day. He would've settled for receiving the cold shoulder from her like when they first met. She had pointedly refused his help, she was so scared and so alone. He would've allowed her to give him a hard time-it was just another endearing quality about her.
Merlin still remembered their last argument, and cringed at the thought of it. He wanted to run away with her and never look back. However, she didn't. She said that she loved him too much to allow him to sacrifice everything for her. He had a life here, that's what she told him, and he couldn't give up his destiny to be with her. Especially with her curse. He ignored her, and promised a life together. They would live by a large lake surrounded by mountains. There would be no one around except for the trees to disturb them. Her curse was of little consequence to him. She was beautiful in either form, and they would work it out. They would spend the rest of their days together, grow old together, and die together. Maybe they would even start a family. He left her that night with assurances that they would leave together. In the end they did, but not how it was planned.
With everything all ready for the night, Merlin once again climbed into his bed, and pulled the sheets around his body. He was almost overwhelmed by the pressure he sensed emanating from the empty space beside him. She should have filled that spot.
Arthur and Gwen had tried to introduce him to several lovely young ladies over the past years, but it was all futile. Merlin knew that they were only trying to help. They wanted him to stop being lonely, and experience their marital felicity. However, they were only making the pain worse by constantly pointing out his loss. Not that he ever told them about her. No, that was something special-something beautiful that was between him and his Love. None of the women he met could ever satisfy Merlin like she did. She was unique-beautiful inside and out. Her compassion, loyalty, devotion, strength, and intelligence put her beyond compare. He would not be moved in his eternal love for her. No woman could ever fill her place.
As he rolled over and shut his eyes in vain to escape the emptiness he felt his heart break a little more. It was a regular occurrence at the end of each day. Every time the sun set it marked another painful day apart from each other. In Merlin's heart of hearts, he knew that all of his hopes and routines were nonsense. They would amount to nothing for she was never coming back. If she could, she would've leapt into his arms. He would have wound them tightly around her and never let go. He was sure of it. Merlin knew that his love for her would never die, but she did. Freya.