A/N - I think this is the saddest thing I have ever written. And on that note...
The young man dragged one foot in front of the other, almost to the gates leading into the castle of Camelot. The red flags emblazoned with roaring dragons swayed in the gentle breeze. At the sight of the Camelot symbol the man fell to his knees, shaking with rattling sobs.
"Merlin!" A female voice cried out as she rushed to her weeping friend. She reached him, kneeled next to him, and joined his sobs with her own, their mutual grief radiating off of them.
"I couldn't...I couldn't do anything...G-Gwen I'm..." Merlin choked out.
"I know, Merlin. And I know you tried..." Gwen pulled away slightly and met his bloodshot eyes with her own. The usual joy that would shine in the man servant's eyes was gone, leaving them dull. "You've done so much for us Merlin. You've protected us without ever being thanked..."
"B-before he...before he died...he thanked me...After I told him about what I am he wanted n- nothing to do with me...but in the end he...he..."
"Shh...Shh..." Gwen embraced the man again and rocked him back and forth.
"Morgana's dead."
"Are you sure?" Gwen's voice grew cold with hatred at the thought of the woman who played such a huge part in her husband's death.
"I killed her myself."
Merlin sat on the floor in front of the small fireplace, watching the flames with such intensity that you would think he would start blazing as well. He pulled his thick wool blanket tighter around himself.
"Merlin, you must eat something." An elderly voice pierced the heavy silence.
"Not hungry." The young man in front of the fire mumbled.
Gaius set a bowl of soup next to the huddled figure of the floor. "Eat." He said in a gentle, yet firm, voice.
"He's gone." Merlin breathed.
Gaius kneeled next to his ward and put an arm around his shoulder. "You did everything in your power to save him, Merlin. None of this is your fault."
Merlin turned his blotchy tear-stained face to the old man. "No. It's all my fault. All of this...Everything that happened is because of me."
"Merlin-"
"I was the one who showed Morgana the extent of her magic. I was the one who wouldn't let Mordred die. And then I was the one who sealed Arthur's fate by renouncing magic..."
"Merlin, listen to me. You did what you thought was right. You dedicated your life to protecting Arthur, you-"
"I failed. Arthur is dead-"
"He is the Once and Future King. He will come back, and you will be there when he does. Just like the old prophecy, the new one will not die."
"He was my best friend..."
"He still is."
"But he's gone..."
The old man hugged the young one tighter.
"He's gone..."
Like I said, that was really sad. :( I could imagine it all happening too, which only made it so much sadder! :'( Sadder isn't a word...Whatever.
The Merlin finale...Ugh. I was so upset. I was crying and upset and...Ugh. WHYY? Dumb original Arthur legend. And what is up with the ending? I want the show to come back - but I don't want it to be modern! Part of what I love so much about Merlin is the time period. Medieval times have always fascinated me.
And it needs Gwen! I don't want Arthur to come back and Gwen to have been dead for centuries...That's what Captain America is for.
And to those who might be concerned - I am still doing my Narnia story: "The Return of Jadis"! I just had this idea and wanted to write a one-shot for it.
Thank you for reading (which I assume you have, considering you're at the bottom of the page. Please review! (I mean, if you want to. I love reading nice reviews! :D Although I suppose I would not enjoy not nice reviews…)