The sun was soft in the afternoon sky as the two young people stood in a field of flowers. The wind blew them gently sending an aroma to cling around the two souls. They looked at each other; blue eyes looked at dark brown ones. Silence was all that was heard. Merlin breathed hard, his breath spent and a struggle to bring into his poor weak lungs; he closed his eyes and took a step forward only to topple forward. He could hear Arthur begin to move forward to catch him.
"No…"
Arthur stopped. He stood there, arms coming to rest at his side, sadness in his eyes, confusion playing in the blackness of the iris. His mouth a thin line as his teeth worried at his bottom lip.
Merlin opened his eyes and swallowed hard, "Please stay where you are, please, Arthur. "
Arthur did as he was told but said, " we can go back, Merlin. If you're hurting, we can go home and rest, Mer. Please, let's go home."
Merlin shook his head and begun to move little by little bringing a fist to his chest and his other arm to balance himself out. Each step was pain laced, each breath labored. He whispered, " I have to do this Arthur. Have to try. You told me to be strong, I'm trying to be, and I am. All I ever wanted was to be happy. Before, before I had no one. I was all alone. All I knew was hurt, I thought people hurt each other because that's all anyone ever knew. No one would talk to me or be my friend no matter how hard I tried. I tried to have friends because I hated being all alone. Hated being left alone. It was like being in a big room in the dark all you can do is hear what's going on around you. i..i told myself I'd give it one last shot at finding happiness, just one more shot. This…this has been the best, " merlin doubled over in pain and stopped, Arthur felt tears down his face and shook his head as Merlin pushed on, " best time I've ever had in my whole life. "
"It all began when I met you. I still…still remember when I told you I liked you, your face, when you first kissed me. I remember all of it. Because of you, I was able to make friends and be myself; I was able to live just a little longer… I hold all my memories close to my heart so they don't slip away. Even though some memories hurt I hold all of the memories of me and you closest. You….you gave me happiness…that was my goal. I can rest now right? I tried my best? You gave me what I wanted all along Arthur. You coming into my life was the best thing that has ever happen to me. I'm so, so, so sorry if I ever hurted you, if I was ever a burden. Thank you….thank you, for the memories, for catching me when I fall, for being there and loving me. Thank you for making me happy. " Merlin took a few more steps and was in Arthur's arms and kissed him before laying against him, his voice becoming soft like, "I'll…I'll….always love you…." Merlin looked up and smiled," Arthur. I miss you…I love you…thank you…now…now I can…fly."
Arthur held Merlin close to him and dropped to his knees and cradled him close and let out a painful scream. "No! no! We just have begun. I love you, I love you! No! Merlin please! Please! You'll get better, I promise. You'll be okay! Don't leave me!"
Merlin breathed softly, "goal…"
Arthur's tears leaked out on the now still body and sobbed as the wind blew, he looked up to the sky and there, in the sky, a Merlin falcon flew high and free.