AN: So this is my first fanfic, but I've belonged to the community for a while now. So, hello, I suppose. I've had this written for a while, but this website always confused me, so I finally figured out how to post. Constructive criticism is appreciated, comments are adored. I'm not quite sure where this fic is going yet, but I have many questions that I plan to answer. Updates are probably going to come fairly quickly in the beginning and gradually level off, but I'll try to update at least once a week. Just as final note, I appreciate people following and favoriting and such, but I'm not really writing this story for you. I'm writing to get my work out there, not to please my followers. But, if there is an 'everybody' who choose to push for something in the story, I'll go with it. So that's it for this super long AN. Read on :)
Merlin rose up from his bed, hair tousled. He walked over the cupboard and got out his trousers, a red shirt, his boots, his jacket, and the blue neckerchief. He then exited the room, emerging into the kitchen with bright morning light streaming through the clean windows, and cool air blowing through the open door. The warlock walked over to the door and leaned against the jamb, conjuring an apple in his palm and taking a big bite.
The view was beautiful. The ground cascaded down a gradual slope into the middle of the valley, where there sparkled a glistening lake, the sunlight turning the tiny waves to a million diamonds. Dotting the rolling hills, wildflowers of purple and pink and white completed the picturesque view. Opposite the modest house, a few sheep bleated, their voices carried on the summer breeze. Merlin smiled to himself, and turned back into his home.
Freya gracefully stepped down the stairs. Her hair was freshly brushed and braided down one side, with the wildflowers they had picked on their walk yesterday weaved into it. Aithusa bounded down the stairs after her, nearly knocking her over. Merlin couldn't help but stare in awe, as he did every day. She always seemed more and more beautiful, especially once her curse had been broken. She smiled more now, and it transformed her face into the most exquisite, delicate creature that exists.
"Freya!" Merlin cried, like a happy child would scream "candy!". She glided over and they embraced, kissing quickly.
"Shall we get some breakfast?" Freya suggested.
"Alright." Merlin turned towards the table and waved his hand, eyes burning gold and food filling the table.
"Merlin." Freya said, happily. She always protested but secretly enjoyed it when he conjured the food instead of cooking it. When she said it like that, Merlin was eerily reminded of Arthur, and that put a damper on his morning every time.
He didn't let it bother him.
"Shall we?" He asked, leading her to the small table and pulling the chair out for her. He was just sitting down when a knock came on the door.
Aithusa growled, his white scales gleaming in the morning sun. A little spurt of flame escaped from his mouth, which Merlin quickly extinguished.
"Who could that be?" He asked, his expression darkening. They never got visitors, in all their months here, they had only seen other people when they went into town.
Merlin cautiously went to the door, priming his magic in case of quick needs. He wished he had time to get his Sidhe staff, but it was in the workshop and he probably wouldn't need it. There should be nothing to be afraid of, but he couldn't help but shake the feeling that something big was happening, and when something big had happened in Camelot, it was usually bad.
Merlin opened the wooden front door quickly and violently, confronting whatever was beyond it.
It was beyond bad.
It was Arthur.