A/N
This story was previously called time is running out, it was on hiatus for a while and its gone through restructuring now i'm back quick explanation here : As i have finally decided on what this story is going to be like (originally it was going to one long story now its going to be like a re-write of season five these chapters so far being episode 1) the story will be going through restructuring, the story won't actually change i might go through and correct mistakes etc. but mostly it will just be renamed chapters, the story will be renamed and the summary will change (it will still suck though, summaries aren't my thing).
For those who were reading this before, skip to chapter 8 :)
POV- Merlin
Merlin groaned as he knocked over another bucket of water, luckily Arthur had not been there to witness it that time, the last time and the time before that Arthur had thrown something at his head, Merlin rubbed the sore spot on his head in memory. He didn't mean to be so clumsy but his mind was on other things, he was focussed on Kilgharrah, normally not that had he'd noticed till this morning when he was no longer there part of Killgharah was in his head he'd been able to feel him there all the time, and now where that feeling was there was nothing, just complete emptiness and it worried him, something was wrong and he knew it. He finished tidying Arthurs room only knocking over one more bucket and a chair in the process. He used magic to pick up the spilt water and put it back in the bucket, the magic just reminded of what was missing and a few tears rolled down his cheeks.
'MERLIN!' great, he thought miserably just what he needed. He rubbed his face and took a deep breath to calm himself and ran to the king.
'Annis has invited us to a feast tonight, I would like the bags packed and the horses ready within the hour.'
That was good; he would get a chance to see if Kilgharrah was ok while Arthur was gone.
'He needn't pack mine Arthur, Sophie will do it.' Gwen said softly giving Merlin a reassuring smile. Arthur nodded.
'Very well just mine and yours then.'
'Mine?'
'Yes Merlin, yours.'
'I'm invited?'
'To the feast? No, but I hardly going to travel without my servant, I need you to dress me, get be ready for bed, carry my bags and.' Arthur stopped and frowned 'is there some reason you didn't want to come?'
'Well I was hoping to stay sire. ' Merlin took a moment to think of an excuse 'for Gaius; to help with his physician needs. And I haven't been feeling myself so some rest would help.'
Arthur looked annoyed at the suggestion; he'd been in a bad mood since the last morgana encounter. Helpfully Gwen placed her hand on his arm stroking it and gaining his attention before he could say anthing Gwen gripped his arm, 'Arthur maybe you should give him this one night off, you don't really need him, I am more than happy to dress and bathe you.' She said softly, it had a cheeky ring to it and Merlin bowed his head embarrassed. 'He clearly hasn't been himself some rest would do him good.'
Arthur looked at Merlin 'you have been more clumsy than usual.' He said thinking it through 'fine, but you will clean my stables while I'm gone and make sure my room is spotless before you take any time off.'
Merlin nodded grinning 'thank you sire. My Queen.' He said bowing she always hated it when she did that, he flashed them the cheekiest, goofy Merlin grin he could before quickly leaving the room in case Arthur changed his mind. He had their things ready faster than he could have imagined possible and got started on the tidying of the stables before Arthur and Gwen arrived, he was only halfway through when they arrived. He quickly ran through the list of everything packed got them up on the horses and checked the straps.
'In a hurry Merlin?' Arthur asked somewhat amused
'To get rid of you sire? Never' Merlin mocked and slapped the horse on its ass sending them galloping away, Gwen laughed and gave Merlin a reassuring wink before trotting after him, Leon and Percival however whizzed past Merlin in attempt to catch up with Arthur while the Elyan trotted alongside Gwen.
He breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the stables. There was still a lot to do, no matter, he would do it in the morning before Arthur returned, he left straight away using the smaller streets to remain unnoticed he slipped through the town hurrying towrd the forest. For some reason people had crowded to watch the king leave through the gates, so they didn't notice when he slipped down an alleyway and created a hole in the wall to get out.
The second he was out of Camelot's earshot he called for Aithuisa, he knew calling for Kilgharrah would be no use and that was deeply worrying. He didn't have to wait for long, Aithuisa was young and fast, she had grown so much since the last time he'd seen her, her scales looked very much like ivory and her big golden looked just like Kilgharrah, she held her self with grace and although she could not yet speak the common tongue she spoke the old religion language as if with centuries of wisdom. She bowed slightly to Merlin which made him groan slightly and she snapped back up suddenly looking sheepish.
'Sorry my lord, I mean Emrys.'
'Do you know what I have come to ask?'
She nodded 'I too wonder where Kilgharrah is, I can no longer sense his presence on this earth.'
Merlins heart thumped this was what he had feared 'you mean?' he couldn't bring himself to say it, thankfully she shook her head.
'no, it is not that, he still remains among the living, he may be old but he has many years ahead of him still, he disappeared to suddenly, I am assuming you want arrive?' she said smugly. Merlin grinned and nodded jumping on the creatures back as she lowered herself to his height.
'I fear this will be a long journey my lor… Emrys.'
'I know, it doesn't matter.'
As she leaped into the sky Merlin knew she was right he had a long day, and most probably a long night ahead of him he sighed realising his day off would not be restful after all but as he watched the earth pass below him, it looked so beautiful from here he could not help but relax and watch the lakes shine up at him, the trees wave silently and the different colours of the earth whizz by.
