Authors Note: Just like many people I had mixed feelings about the ending to the show. I honestly loved it and I think the writers did a great job of ending it where the watchers wanted more instead of making the show drag on. But, like many people I wanted to actually see Albion in full swing, I wanted to see what Merlin and Arthur's relationship was like after he revealed himself. So, I made this, a reveal fic! This will take place during the end of season 4/ the beginning of season 5. I hope you guys enjoy this!
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin
It was a nice trip considering they were checking out slave traders. It was about a three day travel north through The Forest of Baxt The battle was quick as the knights quickly disarmed the barbarians and freed those enslaved. Arthur cracked a quick joke about Merlin cowering in the corner, the knights laughed which caused Merlin to mumble something about them not being alive without his help under his breath.
"What was that?" Arthur pried, a smirk on his face.
"Nothing," It was Merlin's turn to smirk, "Just that I've saves your royal ass more times than I can count."
"That's not saying much," Arthur and the rest, including Merlin, laughed. This kind of behavior was not uncommon on the lot's rides. It brought a sense of normalcy to their strange quests. They rode like this for a while, Gwaine telling wild bar tales, Merlin and Arthur bickering, the other knights laughing along. It was nothing special, just another ride.
When the sky began to turn a warm orange they had decided to set up camp for the night. Gwaine fetching firewood with Percival, Merlin cooking food, Leon settling in the horses. It had just turned dusk when they settled together, now about an hour later the only sources of light was the moon and the fire in the center of their camp. The night was quiet and fun for the most part. They didn't instantly set down to sleep, instead they sat around the fire and each took turn telling stories.
"I remember the look on his face when I told him," Leon was in the middle of telling a story from when Uthur was king. They had taken a ride to an outlying village where a sorcerer had started turning people that annoyed him into dogs. "He looked at me like I had an extra limb." The knights all chuckled at Leon's retelling. "I didn't-"
"Emrys," It was just a whisper, but clear and crisp in Merlin's mind. His face went white.
"Merlin are you okay?" He hadn't noticed Elyan staring at him, "it looks like you've just seen a ghost." At this the rest of the nights turned to him and Merlin was forced to give a fake smile.
"I'm fine, just tired is all," Merlin had noticed the king was not convinced, staring worriedly at his servant. "I'm fine, really," he added after none of the knights looked away.
"Emrys," There it was again, a clear and crisp voice calling out to him.
"Merlin," Arthur's voice was stern.
"I think I need rest," He spoke faintly which worried the king. He had gripped the bottom of his tunic, his knuckles matching the color of his face, not many knew him by that name.
"I think that's best for all of us, we still have at least a two day journey to Camelot," this was Gwaine, who was just as worried about his friend as the king.
The group split up, Percival grumbling that he would take first watch, Arthur instantly going over to Merlin.
"Are you okay, Merlin?" He didn't speak too loud, not wanting to alarm anyone else.
"Yes, I just-" His voice died when he spotted a woman standing on the border of wood and clearing.
"Emrys," her mouth did not move but he knew it was her that was speaking. Time slowed. He unknowingly grabbed the king's arm, tightly locking his hand on the king's forearm. If Merlin only saw the woman's eyes he would have believed her to be older, at least 70 years of age, but when he looked at the rest of her body he saw that she was in fact only a couple of years older than him. Merlin went to speak but found his throat dry. "Be wary on the road you take," she spoke with power and wisdom, "the choices you make in upcoming time with seal the fate of Albion," Merlin realized why her voice sounded like it did, it was as if hundreds of different souls were talking to him at once, all directed by this one woman. "They have been awoken and are here to take away the things you hold most dear, protect those dearest to you young warlock," he felt chills fall down his spine and his body fell frigid. "Be wary Emrys," at this the woman in the white dress turned into the darkness of the woods and time sped up. Merlin felt a breath escape from his lungs and when he breathed in again he felt nothing but ice fill his body. He collapsed into Arthur's arms.
"Are you okay Merlin?" He had noticed before that all the color in his friend's already pale face had left.
"Yes, I just-" His voice died as he looked into the emptiness of the forest. Merlin's hand gripped tightly onto the king's forearm. Arthur winced at the surprising strength of his servant. Merlin clenched his jaw, gripping even tighter.
"Merlin," Arthur tried to get to him, looking at the same spot in the wood Merlin was looking at. "Nobodies-" he was cut off when Merlin collapsed in his arms. He was still at first, before he began to violently thrash back and forth.
"He's convulsing," Arthur was quiet at first, "Help!" he now screamed this, the other knights quickly rushed to their king, watching as the servant shook on the floor. It took a couple of minutes for him to stop. The knights all felt useless, staring at their friend. Arthur went to feel his pulse but quickly pulled back after feeling his friends ice cold wrist. "Get him blankets, anything you can find," Arthur quickly took of his cape, wrapping it around his friend. "Gwaine, help me move him closer to the fire," Gwaine nodded, wrapping Merlin's arm around his neck and carrying him next to the fire.
Arthur wasn't lying, Gwaine wanted to pull away when he felt Merlin's ice cold skin. The boy shivered, curling his knees to his chest. Percival, Leon and Elyan came back with blankets and their capes off, piling one by one a layer on their friend.
"What happened?" Gwaine was the first one to talk.
"I- I don't know," Arthur didn't pull his eyes from Merlin, "He just turned white and still before dropping," Arthur looked at the woods again, trying to look for anything that would help explain this.
"What can we do?" This was Elyan. Arthur shrugged, his mouth open, searching for anything to say.
"Keep him warm, for now that's all we can do," Thankfully, Gwaine had spoken up, "in the morning we'll see how he is, if nothing progressed we'll take him back to Gaius," Gwaine also didn't take his eyes away from the man. "That's all we can do," this was more a note to himself than to anyone else.
"I'll take first watch," Arthur spoke up, only now looking towards Percival, "we leave at first light."
The group didn't move at first, only after Arthur urged them to sleep did they split up. Gwaine was the last one to move, patting Arthur on the shoulder before finding his section in the clearing.
It was a quiet night, no noise but the crackling of the fire and the slight snoring of his men. He had stared at the fire for what felt like hours, thinking of his manservant deathly cold lying next to him. Every so often he would throw a twig into the fire and watch it crumble in on itself. The flames danced throughout the night, Arthur made sure of this. Any form of heat would help.
"Arthur," the creakiness of the voice startled him. Arthur turned looking at his servant, just waking. When he saw this a heavy weight lifted off of his chest.
"Merlin, buddy, you had us" me "scared to death." Merlin smiled, still not removing the blankets as he sat up.
"Good to know you cared." His face was still white but seeing him now able to move and talk let Arthur relax a bit.
"What happened?"
"I-" Merlin went to speak but then quickly closed his mouth, a look of puzzlement on his face. Of course Arthur didn't see the woman, why even bring it up. "I don't know," Merlin shivered, outstretching his hands towards the fire. He shivered, he wasn't as cold as before, but every breath brought ice cold air into his frigid body.
"The moment we get home you're going to Gaius, you had us all worried." Merlin smirked at the king, then noticing Arthur's serious tone he took it off his face.
"I'm fine, I really am-"
"Don't lie to me Merlin," Arthur threw another stick into the fire, "It doesn't suit you well." Merlin almost broke out laughing at this, but he did not in fact have the life force to do anything but speak a couple of sentences. They both stared at the fire for a long time, neither daring to move.
It was eerily quiet, no noise came from anywhere but the camp. Arthur had wanted to investigate, see if there was a reason not even a bird had flew overhead, but decided against it, instead staying with Merlin.
"You should sleep," Merlin's voice was still hoarse. Arthur chuckled.
"I'm fine, Merlin, it's you who I should be worried about."
"I told you I'm fine," he whispered this, now his turn to throw a stick in the fire.
"That wasn't the case a couple of hours ago when you were convulsing on the floor." Merlin tucked his knees to his chest, not saying anything else. He felt himself dozing off, his mind mystified by the sparkling fire. His eyelids were heavy and darkness had overwhelmed him. He was on the verge of slipping into a deeper sleep when he heard it. The screams.
So I hope you guys enjoyed it. I will update as soon as possible!
Reviews will be surely appreciated!
Thanks for reading, Olivia.