The Truth of a Legend
Prologue
Woven throughout time,
There are legends.
But none quite like the greatest King that Britain ever saw.
They say that he would return,
When there came a time of great need.
They say that was his destiny.
But the legends are wrong.
He never left.
.:Merlin:.
He staggered through the woods, heart pounding against his ribcage with every step he took.
Come on, come on, he muttered to himself. Or maybe it was out loud. The warlock didn't know or even care any more. As against his side, armour knocking and digging into him as they struggled through the thick undergrowth, was the King.
His best friend.
Nearly there, come on, just got to keep moving.
But he could steadily feel the strength leaving Arthur's body. Every moment that passed saw the King leaning a bit more heavily on him, his breath growing shorter and eyes staying closed longer than they were open.
Just a bit more, please.
As if in answer the woods opened up revealing a huge grassy field. A sliver of hope dared to come to life within him. They were nearing the lake, they were going to make it.
But just as the flame of hope flared, Arthur's legs buckled and he fell to the ground, taking Merlin with him. The flame gave a pathetic splutter before it died down only to a simmering ember.
"It's too late"
Merlin gulped down his next breath, struggling to lift both his and Arthur's bodies. "No" he declared angrily.
But Arthur was patting his hand, stroking his hand, clutching his hand. "It's too" But the rest of the sentence was lost in a long sigh and the King's weight now slumped entirely against Merlin's.
"With all your magic, Merlin" The tone was breathy, hardly more than a whisper, yet there was an underlying current of the usual mocking attitude that Arthur always used around him. "You couldn't save my life."
Emotion that had been pooling in his stomach surged to the surface at the words and tone. It tasted like bile in his throat.
"I'm not going to lose you" he declared, pushing the emotions back down determinedly. He wouldn't let himself believe. This wasn't going to happen. It couldn't happen.
Yet Arthur was patting his hand again. "Just" he began before he had to swallow and take a deep breath. His hand continued to pat Merlin's, almost soothing in the action. "Just hold me"
Merlin wondered how he could sound so defeated and so like his usual bossy self at the same time.
"Please"
Arthur's hand was again clutching Merlin's but it was the almost begging plead that caused Merlin to still. Unlike his body though, his mind was less easy to still. It raced through thoughts, memories of all the books he read or spells he had seen. There's got to be something, has to be something.
"There's something I want to say" Arthur's breath ghosted past his ear, bringing Merlin's thoughts back to man lying in his arms.
"You are not going to say goodbye" The instant denial flew to his lips and once again Merlin resumed his struggles to stand.
"No" Arthur denied, hands once again trying to quieten his friend. "Mer" Arthur grimaced and closed his eyes, swallowing before trying again. Merlin once again stilled, even his breathing slowed so he could hear his friend's next words.
"Everything you've done" Arthur's eyes were boring into his and he couldn't look away. "I know now"
Relief flooded through him. It was what he had wanted, all these years. But immediately afterwards horror and guilt took over. Why did it have to come to this? He didn't want it to happen like this.
The emotions spilled over and next thing he knew, Merlin was crying.
This was all wrong, there were still things they had to do.
"Thank-you"
The two simple words, crashed down onto the man and underneath all of the pressure, Merlin sapped. He felt Arthur's hand rise up to grasp his hair, felt blue eyes looking at him, boring into him. They were usually so full of life, full of courage, wisdom, stupidity, mischief, love. Now they gazed at him with pain and sadness and longing. But it was the spark of fear that undid the young warlock.
Arthur Pendragon, Great King, Noble Prince, Loyal Husband and Best Friend, was scared.
Somewhere in the back of his mind his sensed Arthur's arm drop limply to his side, his breathing slow to a shuddering end and heartbeat still, but Merlin was already lifting his head to heavens.
Gazing up at the coiling black clouds, a spark of fury swept through him. He was Emrys! The most powerful sorcerer to walk the earth. He could bend fire, earth, water and air to do his bidding. Cause a tornado to sweep through a valley, command Dragons to his will and invade a person's mind.
If any one had the power, it was him.
Words streamed out of his mouth, but he had no comprehension of what they were. He was just screaming to sky… and the sky was answering. Fat droplets fell onto his skin and rebounded off of Arthur's armour as thunder rumbled and lightning flashed.
Eyes blazed gold, the power coursing through him almost like second blood.
The balance must be preserved.
To bring forth life, a life must be taken.
Nimueh's words echoed in his mind and like the last time, he offered the same bargain. But this time he was in control. He would decide the rules.
"I gladly offer my own life in exchange" he whispered. His head dropped back down to Arthur's forehead resting on the cool chain mail. "I'll readily give up my life for his"
Merlin didn't know how long he sat there, head tucked away against the world. He felt utterly spent, utterly useless.
"I can't lose him" he muttered, words muffled by the armour. "He's my friend"
But eventually the rain slowed, until it was just a drizzle and the clouds rolled away allowing sunlight to filter through onto the pair.
And somewhere, beneath the armour and clothes, Merlin felt Arthur's heart beat again.
TBC…
A/N - Just a short prologue, sorry for making you go through that scene again. It was almost too for me to painful to write.
This story will be loosely based off of the video "There were legends" created by raselased47 on Youtube. ( /watch?v=-mztW5QTiAE) I'm sorry if there is already a fic written (I searched but couldn't find any) so all credit for the idea goes to them. However I will be changing the Modern Era to something of my own design.
Also I haven't completely decided what profession Arthur will have in the 21st century. If you have any preferences, I promise to consider any ideas given.
And lastly I hoped you enjoyed. Any feedback is gratefully received.
Harlisan