Note: I do not own Merlin or Doctor Who. SPOILERS! If you have not seen Merlin Series 5 or Doctor Who 7.1 - don't read this. I'd hate to spoil it for you!
Chapter 1 – Loneliness
Sat on the shores of the lake, Merlin gazed out over the calm, misty waters. He came to the lake every day, and waited.
It had not been two months since the day he had sent the boat with Arthur in it out onto the lake. It had not been two months since he had lost his King.
And he sat and waited.
As night fell he got up and headed into the woods. Lighting a fire with magic he huddled close, wrapping his arms around him, trying to keep warm. The wood was dark and cold, strange noises sounding through the trees. He felt so alone.
An owl, flying overhead startled him and he looked up into the dark canopy of trees, with a sense that someone was watching him.
The Doctor fingered the reading glasses then set them aside. It was dark inside the T.A.R.D.I.S. and silent. His eyes were straining to see the book in front of him and eventually he gave up, closing the book with a snap. He kept thinking about them, about her. His Amelia, his Ponds. He kept expecting them to appear, laughing, smiling …
Angrily he threw the book aside, feeling tears beginning to well up in the corners of his eyes.
Getting up he stood before the console and rested his hands on it, feeling the slow, steady vibration of his ship.
"Just you and me now eh?" he said, trying to muster a smile.
Merlin got up from where he was sat and looked around, certain now that something was watching him. He turned around hurriedly, peering into the darkness for signs of movement.
"Who's there?" he called.
Suddenly there was a blinding flash of light and something gold materialized through the trees away to his left. Merlin's eyes widened and then he turned and ran, stumbling over the forest floor. No, they couldn't be here, not them …
The Doctor's thoughts suddenly sharpened as he caught sight of something on one of the monitors. Frowning he peered closer, then blinked. No, that was impossible.
Merlin was brought to a sudden halt as before him, another Dalek materialized and then two more landed around him. Raising his hand he blasted one away and then another.
"Exterminate!" the final Dalek said and fired a bolt of energy at Merlin.
Merlin was thrown backwards across the forest floor but apart from being dazed, there was nothing wrong with him. Sitting up he raised his hand and the Dalek exploded.
Away through the trees he saw a flash of light and the first Dalek disappeared, obviously back to where it had come from.
He leant forward, bringing his knees up to his chest. This couldn't be happening …
He remained there for some time until he eventually stood up and walked back to where he had had his fire. The embers were still glowing and he crouched near it as he relighted it, feeling colder than before.
Why could they be back here now? After all this time? Why would the Daleks return?
Launching the T.A.R.D.I.S. into flight the Doctor kept an eye on the monitor.
"Don't worry Merlin," he muttered, "I'm on my way."
Back in the clearing, Merlin rocked slowly back and forth, his arms wrapped around his knees. He felt so cold and so broken. He had lost his king and now the Daleks were back. He wished for a time when things would be right again. He wished for a time, when he wouldn't feel so alone anymore.
Note: Well this took ages! And sorry its so short! Inspiration was pretty thin on the ground and of course, I had drowned in a puddle of Merlin feels. And Doctor Who feels. In fact, everything is feels right now. I'm of course picking up on the fact that Merlin is now immortal and we'll see what happens when he meets the Doctor again, why the Daleks have returned, is Camelot in danger? All this and more in the installments to come (grief i sound like a TV show host) Happy Reading! :)
