Love is forever
Summary: "No!! Merlin no!!!" It was getting hot now, thick black smoke was starting to block her face from his gaze, but still he smiled on, for her.
Disclaimer: This is a Fan-fiction story of the T.V Series; Merlin, and is in no way affiliated with the actual series. All Characters and other materials related to the show that are used are not intended to infringe on any Copyrights. Elemental-Zer0 (Aka Mimi) takes sole responsibility for any mistakes or offence that may be taken but truly not meant.
The Song; "Listen to the Wind…" was written by James Horner and sung by Hayley Westenra and does not belong to me but to the aforementioned people.
However, this story plot and all Characters not affiliated with the show are Copyright © 2008 to Elemental-Zer0 (Aka Mimi)
Authors Note/Warnings: Implied Character death, not yet decided – might write a bit more and have him saved… depends on what response I get from you guys? Should I have him saved? Or let him die?
Let me know what you think, but no flames please (Pun notwithstanding). If you have any criticism to make please do it politely otherwise I shall ignore your words. (It's happened before, I'm sorry to say, and I hadn't even posted any chapters…)
Love is forever…
The sound of birdsong flittered cheerily to his ears. It drowned out the mass of gathered people that stood before him, watching, and waiting. He closed his eyes and pictured the large meadows, the green forests where the birdsong might be coming from. His mind disappeared to that beautiful place beyond the walls of Camelot.
Funny how now it seems that Camelot was not his favoured place to be in. But then maybe he'd had enough of the city? He was tired of having to hide who he was inside, tired of hiding everything that made him who he is. Afraid of the mistakes that almost ended his friends and family's lives in more ways that he thought was possible… and the mistakes that had ended friends and family's lives.
He was tired of it all. And it seemed now that this was a blessing and not a feared curse. He was ready for this.
"No!! Merlin no!!!"
And suddenly time stopped.
His heartbeat quickened.
She shouldn't be here. Not to see this! He'd promised her she'd never have to witness this! His eyes flew open and there she was; held in Gaius's tight embrace as her legs failed to hold her weight, tears flowing freely. And he was suddenly afraid. Afraid for her, for his friends, for everyone he held close that would have to witness this.
"Mother…" The affectionate word barely made it past the solid lump that had lodged itself in his throat. For a moment, the shackles securing his wrists to the ring-pull high above his head on the stake were too tight. The chains securing his feet to the bottom were too heavy. And the crowd was too big. He could pick out each individual face, friends, acquaintances, loved ones; all watching with regret, remorse… and a defeated helplessness for not being able to help in some way.
He closed his eyes again. And let the fear disappear. Instead he was angry; angry at Uther for not being able to see what his fear had done to his people; angry for not being able to help him see the bigger picture; and angry at himself for taking the fall for Morgana.
Morgana… she'd simply die if she found out he'd taken the blame for her mistake. She should be far away by now, running back to the Druids to hide with them, and learning to control her power. And just like that, the anger was gone with a sense of purpose replacing it. He'd make sure she at least had a head start on Uther's men. Not that they'd find her with Arthur helping her hide.
Arthur. A pang of regret welled up in his chest. The young Prince had only recently found out about his and Morgana's specialities and to his surprise, had taken it quite well considering. Though the Prince was still peeved he hadn't been told sooner but Merlin could tell that Arthur could understand why they'd delayed in telling him until it was absolutely necessary.
Another pang of regret hit him hard. Arthur would never become the Great King he was supposed to be now… Maybe Morgana would take his place in the Great Destiny? Maybe she could help the Prince become who is supposed to be when crowned? He hoped so…
"Merlin… please…" He squeezed his eyes tighter, trying to block out his mother's pleas. It wouldn't help his situation if he freed himself now. The King would hold his friends and family ransom until he gave himself up. He wouldn't ever let that happen. But her cries tore right through him.
"This man before you has admitted to practicing Sorcery, the penalty of which is certain death." And the hated man himself graced the surreal scene from his balcony high above his people and the accused. "Do you have any last words boy?" This was new. Last words? He wracked his brain for a good comeback but as he did, his eyes found his crumpled mother's form in Gaius's arms.
And suddenly an old lullaby she used to sing to him came to his mind. She'd sing it to him as though she were his father talking to him from beyond. It was apt, and she needed the little comfort it would offer as it had offered him as a young boy.
The crowd was silent, waiting, watching. But they didn't exist anymore. It was just him and his mother, locking eyes.
The sound of birdsong appeared again, and he began the first verse of the soft lullaby.
"Time is a river,
That flows endlessly and,
A life is a whisper,
A kiss in a dream.
.
"Shadows dance,
Behind the firelight,
And all the spirits of the night remind us:
We are not alone…"
He didn't hear them approaching; didn't see the torch moving closer.
"Tomorrow:
A sun soon rising,
And yesterday is there beside us,
And it's never far away
.
"If you listen to the wind you can hear me again,
Even when I'm gone you can still hear the song,
High up in the trees as it moves through the leaves,
Listen to the wind, there's no end to my..."
He didn't hear the sound of hooves galloping loudly up the cobblestone path. Couldn't see Arthur jumping off his steed and shouting out his protest, pushing past the crowds.
"Love is forever,
A circle unbroken,
Seasons keep changing:
It always remains...
.
"Spring will melt,
The snows of winter and,
The summer gives us days of light so long 'till,
Autumn makes them fade."
He couldn't hear Morgana scream, couldn't see her heart broken face as she realised she had forced this upon him.
"Remember,
The sound of laughter,
We ran together through the meadows,
Still we thought our hearts could break.
.
"If you listen to the wind, you can hear me again,
Even when I'm gone you can still hear the song,
High up in the trees as it moves through the leaves,
Listen to the wind and I'll send you my love…"
He could only see his mother's face, a shocked, heartbroken face that he'd vowed once to never force upon her pretty features.
"Listen to the wind where the sky meets the land,
I'm not really gone I've been here all along,
High up in the trees in the sound of the leaves,
Listen to the wind there's no end to my..."
It was getting hot now, thick black smoke was starting to block her face from his gaze, but still he smiled on, for her.
"Time is a river,
That flows to the sea and,
A life is a whisper,
A kiss in a dream."
"MERLIN!" And in that split second, his eyes left his mother and he saw him, Arthur; fighting to get through the crowds, through the guards that tried to stop him. And she was here too; Morgana looking mortified at what her mistake had caused.
"Merlin! No!" His eyes found Arthur's again, and he gave him a small smile. He'd made his peace. He was ready. Ready to be free of the chains that Uther's laws had so utterly binded him with.
He was struggling to breathe now; the smoke was getting thicker, the flames gaining height. He could feel the hot fiery embers licking at his shins, his knees. He felt faint and light-headed. The smoke, he reasoned, he would pass out for lack of air before the fire would burn him. That would be a small relief in itself. No pain. He wouldn't know he was passing until he'd passed.
"No!! Not my Merlin! Please no…"
'It's Ok, mother, I won't feel it.' Though the heat was becoming unbearable. His breath hitched, and that's when he found himself struggling to draw breath at all; the smoke was choking him, he was seeing stars, black tunnels… and then nothing at all.
His eyes had closed on their own, his body sagged against the stake, the cuffs biting into his wrists as his weight was suddenly held by them alone. Several loud cries echoed through his foggy mind. Then a ringing sound caught his ears intermittently; a clanging, clashing sound.
"MERLIN!"
And then there was sweet nothing.