It'd been a while since merlin lost Arthur. Long enough for the seasons to have completed their circuit almost a thousand times; not long enough for him to be over it. He had a little hut at the forest's edge where he spent his time wallowing in his memories. He set out the pills and brandy to end it all. He couldn't take anymore. He was about to swallow the pills in his mouth, when there was a knock at the door.
"Merlin? Are you in?" a girl called from the doorway. Merlin rolled his eyes. He spat the pills into the fire and heaved himself up from his chair to open the door and looked out into the dark. "Hello Gwen dear!" he said as cheerily as he could. Gwen smiled slightly the glow from the fire lighting her face.
"Will you be coming to the dance at the ball tomorrow merlin?" she asked handing him a flyer. Merlin wrinkled his nose. "I'm not a great dancer!" he said.
"That's a lie! I saw you dance all the time in Camelot!" she reminded him. Merlin shrugged. Back then he was able to be happy enough to dance. "Please come?" she fluttered her eyelids and gave him huge puppy dog eyes. Merlin closed his eyes instead of rolling them this time. "Fine!" he sighed.
"See you then!" Gwen smiled chirpily and walked away.
Merlin screwed up the leaflet and threw it on the fire. It burned a slightly green flame. Merlin stubbed his toe on the table, and stumbled backward. He felt himself about to fall when something took a firm grasp under his armpits. It hoisted him back to his feet and balanced him out. When merlin turned around, there was nothing there!
Merlin shook his head thinking he had imagined it. When he went back to the chair, he realised he no longer had any tablets and the last of the brandy had spilt over the floor. He sighed impatiently and cleared it up.
Merlin wandered over to his bed. He didn't bother to change he just crawled under the covers. A few small tears ran from the corner of his eye. He didn't like sleeping alone. Then he felt the invisible figure slide onto the bed beside him.
Merlin didn't bother to shake it off. He didn't care. The figure slid his arm around Merlin and cradled him close. Merlin felt the warmth and familiarity of the figure. He allowed himself to snuggle closer and drift off into a light sleep.
The sound of a barn owl hitting the window woke merlin. He was suddenly cold. He realised that the fire had burnt out but he couldn't be bothered to relight it. he laid shivering in his bed wondering where the figure had gone, if it would come back, who it was, if it had stopped him committing suicide, and if so, why.
Merlin groaned and rolled over to shiver himself back to sleep. Suddenly the fire flickered on again. Merlin froze. The warmth of the flames got through to him, and he relaxed slightly. A hand touched his head gently, so he pretended to sleep.