Hello everyone !
Well this is my first ever english story written and published and my first Merlin story too. Please be nice to me, english it's not my native language. Don't hesitate to point my mistakes it will help me improve. I hope you'll like this one shot. I wasn't sur if I want to continue it. What do you think ?
The sky was dark, huge, menacing, black clouds covering the otherwise summer blue. Thunder can be heard from somewhere West, over the Woods and people are preparing themselves to regain the safety of their home before the storm brakes. The air was heavy, warn and tense with the electricity. Merlin could nearly feel it from where he stood on the top of one of the multiple towers of the Citadel. He had recently developed the habit on getting out there to be alone and think. It settled him to be away from Arthur and Gaius and all the other friends he had in the castle. He was grateful for the attention he received from Gaius but nothing the old physician could say to him would erase the feeling of unease he's constantly living with since the loss of his magic. He felt incomplete, like there was something absolutely vital to him missing, everything around him seemed dull, the colors washed away, the sun not shinning as bright as ever, the food not tasting as it ever had. Lancelot, too, had been worried about him, constantly following him, just in case he'd encounter some threat. Well, that was until he had just lost control of his nerves and scream at his friend to leave him alone. He still feel a little guilty about that event but he feel hopeless enough, he doesn't need to be reminded of that everywhere he go and, moreover, if he's current state is going to be permanent he has to learn to cope alone. Maybe he should have learned how to properly fight with a sword after all. He already imagined what Arthur would say about that idea. The first flash of lightening crossed the sky and thunder followed seconds after, sending a light shiver through Merlin. He closed his eyes as the first drops of rain fell, appreciating the cold feeling as they dripped on him, soaking his neckerchief and his clothes. A voice in his head, sounding very much like Gaius, told him to get inside before catching a cold or being struck by a lightning but he ignored it and instead leaned a bit more on the wall circling the tower. Light bolts were erupting everywhere know, the rain falling heavier, the wind beginning to blow harder. Merlin was now completely dunked but he still refused to move, feeling somewhat more alive now than he had been during the last three weeks. Without magic he had just be wandering the corridors, carrying out his chores without enthusiasm but determinate not to show how he was feeling to avoid embarrassing questions. Well, obviously Gaius and Lancelot had noticed but that was merely because they know all that happened but to all the other, including Arthur and Gwaine, he was still good old cheery Merlin. He was particularly proud of himself for being able to deceive them, as they had shown themselves pretty anxious about Merlin's state after the whole incident back in the forest where everyone had thought he'd been killed by a rock fall. As for Gwaine, it has been irritating to have him fussing around Merlin but he has soon noticed that Merlin was trying not to get off with his head and so stopped. As for Arthur, it hasn't been so hard. At first he too had been surprisingly soft on his manservant but they were now back to their old self. Well Arthur was and Merlin was pretending to be. He was all the more worried about the Prince now. He didn't know how he was supposed to be protecting him without his only power and that was scaring him to no ends. He had desperately tried to find a solution in Gaius's books. He had even gone to the Great Dragon but, even for the creature, no solution was showing itself. So he was left to wait and hope that his magic will miraculously come back to him. God knows when or if this will ever happen. He didn't know for how long he'd been in the storm before he heard the door behind open loudly and clashing against the wall.
"There you are", cried Prince Arthur to cover the sound of the storm. "We've been looking for you for hours now! Gaius was really worried! "
"Yeah, well, there am I", answered the young manservant looking back at the scenery before him, lacking the courage to confront his friend just know, fearing it might reveal his current feelings. "I'll get inside in a minute and find Gaius."
"Why were you doing here in first place", asked Arthur, trying not to sound too concerned. "You're soaking wet."
"Nothing I just wanted to watch the storm and think a moment I guess. Don't worry I've finished all my chores."
"I'm not worry about that", said the Prince in mid-voice. Merlin tried to ignore that and turned to face Arthur, an, hopefully, goofy smile on his face.
"Oh, come on! Let's go inside before you get a cold! I don't want to have to care about you if you're ill."
"I'm not going to be ill. I'm a Knight."
"Yeah, doesn't mean you're immortal, Sire."
"Oh shut up will you!"
They fell into silence as they went back in the castle. Arthur sent Merlin away to Gaius in order for him to get dry and to reassure the Physician. He observed the young boy until he turned a corner, unable to stop the worry that was blossoming in his heart. He didn't understand why but he felt something was wrong with his manservant. To anyone he would look normal, still his clumsy; happy self but Arthur knew better. People always think that he is completely unobservant but he had noticed how Merlin is quieter and how he will sometimes looks into space, eyes empty and then come back to him looking like he had lost something crucial. At first, he had thing it was the aftermath of the injuries he had suffer in the rock fall but now, three weeks later it doesn't seems plausible. He had also noticed how Merlin looked paler than usual, more worried and how he will sometime disappear like today. For one moment, when he had found the boy on the tower he had been afraid that he would jump. He shakes himself out of those thoughts, feeling ridiculous for worrying so much. Chances were his idiotic manservant was just the kind of man to go outside and admire the weather, even if it gets him ill.
Further away, Merlin had let go of a breath he hadn't noticed he'd been holding. He cursed himself for being caught by Arthur. He should have thought that Gaius would worry and send someone to look for him. He made a mental note to find a new hiding place and to be more careful about the time spend alone or it will finish to draw the attention of Arthur. A shiver ripped through him and he noticed that he indeed felt really cold now and he hurried a bit more to get to his chambers to put some dry clothes on.
Reviews for me ? I'm really anxious about what you'll think about it...
