Hey I've had a lot of requests for a sequel for Can't stay... and I finally decided to give in and write one. Enjoy...
Oh yeah... I don't own Merlin
Arthur couldn't sleep; this had been the norm for the last week. He couldn't do anything; his heart was no longer put into everything he did. You couldn't see him smile anymore. He looked broken. Uther had tried numerous times to get him to start his duties again and to take another manservant. To this, Arthur had started to cry. His life was falling apart and it was all Merlin's fault.
Merlin
The name still brought him immense pain. He just wanted him back, wanted him home, in his arms. After three days, everyone had stopped trying. Merlin wouldn't have stopped; he would have carried on until Arthur started his training again.
Merlin
He thought back to the look on Merlin's face when he... when he... arrested him. Merlin looked heartbroken. Arthur knew then that Merlin was a sorcerer, but he was not responsible for the crimes he was being punished for. Merlin didn't have an evil bone in his body, there was no way he would use his magic for anything other than good.
Merlin
Merlin Merlin Merlin Merlin Merlin Merlin. The word refused to leave his head, refused to leave and ease his guilt. He knew why Merlin had left and he didn't blame him, he just wished that he could apologise to Merlin for all he had done to him.
Merlin
He wanted the man he loved to come home.
In the forest
Merlin looked at the sky and wondered if anyone at Camelot missed him. He couldn't go home and face his mother; he couldn't bear to tell her that she had been wrong about Arthur.
Arthur
He was overcome by pain every time he thought the word. He wanted to go home. He wanted to sleep in his bed, to be cooked strange meals by Gaius, but most of all, he wanted to tell Arthur how much he loved him.
Arthur
He felt so cold, so empty, he was all alone. When he thought about it, he supposed that was part of his destiny, to be alone. Loneliness, he supposed was his only friend, as it was the only thing that had always been there with him.
Arthur
He heard the rustle of the leaves behind him and mentally cursed himself for not bringing a sword to defend himself. He didn't feel panicked, if there was something there that would end his life, he would finally feel peace. He could be free.
Arthur
Merlin was shocked; he stood there staring at what had emerged from the bush. It was staring at him back. Too stunned to move. It moved slowly towards him. Merlin couldn't believe it. As it reached him, he was pulled into its embrace and soft words were whispered into his ear, distorted by even softer sobs.
"Come home my love,"
Merlin's arms encircled its waist and he felt free, for the first time in his life. He didn't feel alone, he felt happy.
Arthur
Hope you liked it, took me a long time to come up with something that would suit all my reviewers. For the person who asked for no slash, I'm sorry, but the vast majority wanted slash, but I tried to make it as subtle as possible. For the rest of you, thank you for all the reviews, it really meant a lot!
EC