Gone

Merlin smiled weakly and opened his mouth to say something in return when Arthur's eyes slid shut. Confusion spread across his face and he shook the king, confusion turning to worry, horror and then deep, crushing sadness. Merlin closed his own eyes and pressed his forehead to his best friends.

'Don't leave me Arthur... You can't leave us all behind...'

Tears burned his eyes when there was no reply, and he raised his head to the sky, his arms still wrapped around the lifeless body of his friend, and screamed, hot tears trailing down his cheeks and landing one. two. three. Onto Arthurs cold face. Birds rose in great clouds from the trees all around, to escape the heart breaking sound. Such sorrow was in the sorcerers heart, the grass around the two shrivelled, life being torn away along with a part of Merlins heart. The scream died faded to desperate sobs and he lay his king onto the now brown and crackling grass. As soon as he removed his hands from Arthur's shoulders, his body seemed to curl in on its self, knees raising to tuck under his chin, arms wrapping around his legs as he cried almost silently.

'It wasn't supposed to end like this...', he wept, voice thick.

'And end it shall not'

Merlins head whipped up and his vision was filled with the great yellow eyes of the ancient dragon.

'I have failed', he cried, 'Arthur is dead, and he will never see Gwen again! The kingdom will fall, and it's my fault..'

The dragon sat down, folding its wings as it observed the desperate scene before it. Arthur lay on the cold earth, face pale, armour dirty, and looking for all the world as I he were asleep. The dragon smiled slightly, a small, sad smile that did not suit it's huge, fearsome mouth. Then he spoke.

'Maybe not, young one'

Merlin looked up, tear stained face void of any hope.

'What do you mean?'

The dragon sighed. Maybe he was going soft? Maybe, in his last moments, his mind had finally gone. He decided that's what he would tell himself, as it was unheard of for a dragon to have a soft spot for anyone, even the greatest sorcerer of all time.

'I can save him, but at a cost'

The young Mages face set in determination.

'Anything. I will pay anything, even my life'

To his surprise, the dragon laughed.

'Do not be foolish, young warlock. Your life is too precious', he said, his powerful voice causing the trees to shake. 'But... My life is near it's end. I can taste the bite of death nearing, and I cannot bring myself to leave this world without something to leave behind'

The dragon shifted, and it's wings rustling, and he preposed his offer.

'I will exchange my life for that of the kings, with my dying strength. Even my spirit, old as it is, will be enough to revive this human. I am happy to give this great sacrifice if...'

'If?', asked Merlin, the tension within him threatening to make his heart burst.

'If you go and find, and protect the young dragon', finished the old being, 'It is young, and is unsure of what it should do now it's only friend is gone. Guid it, help it to become strong. It could be a powerful ally one day'

A familiar grin spread across Merlins face.

'Yes, of course! I swear in my heart. No, my soul!', he said, tears brimming at his eyes, but these were tears of happiness.

'Well then. Let us get started...'

*. *. *

'The King has been gone for too long. We pronounce him... dead'

Heart broken whispers broke out through the court, and at the very back, a woman could be heard sobbing.

'As the only person with right to the throne... We must now follow the queen', declare the messenger, clearly, his voice carrying through the hall and causing everyone to fall silent. Gwen looked up from the throne, the crown placed upon her head. She wore her best dress, red with white lace, but she looked.. Different. Dead inside. Empty.

'ALL HEIL THE QUEE-'

'Wait!', cried a deep voice from the doorway.

The whole world seemed to freeze. Everyone turned, man woman and child, to see two men standing in the doorway of the hall. One of which was-

'ARTHUR!', cried Gwen, tears welling in her eyes, a smile breaking through her mask of sadness like sunlight through the clouds. She tossed the crown aside, picked up her skirts and ran down the steps, through the crowd and leapt into the arms of her grinning husband, who buried his face into her hair and spun her around, laughing.

'I though I had lost you', whispered the queen into his ear, her face wet with tears.

'So had I... But then I realised that I could never leave your side'

Merlin edged over to Gius, who stared at him is awe as people from the court began to cheer.

'So you made it then?', he finally managed to say.

Another grin.

'Not really! I'll tell you the story later', he whispered, turning to watch the joyful reunion of the queen and the kind.

'And after that, I have to find a dragon'

*I hope you like the story! I know it's SUPER short, but its still pretty cool. Tell me if you found any mistakes! It might not be perfect, but writing it after watching the last episode of Merlin Made me feel a lot better. this story is dedicated to friend!*