Chapter 2: THE BURIAL

Three days later, a barque filled with fir boughs was on the shore; men loosely grouped on the beach, awaiting their Crown Prince.

Slightly further to the left, two men, one grey-haired and one dark stood close but distinctly separate. Gaius had steered Merlin across the beach to the far side away from the other mourners.

His patient's health was improving daily but his mind was still fragile and needed to be protected. He often retreated into himself and was unaware of the goings on around him and he came out of it suddenly, looking frantically for Arthur until his eyes teared up as he remembered.

Gaius was certain Merlin would conquer all these feelings and become even stronger but at this moment he did not intend to allow Merlin to cause mayhem, unintentional as it might be.

So he stood on the beach by him, even though as Court Physician and old friend of Uther, he could have, by right, stood near the King in a supportive role.

From the forest, came the beat of a muffled drum and approaching men. Lancelot was the first to come out of the trees onto the beach and he was acutely conscious of the charged but controlled atmosphere as wave after wave of uncontrolled sorrow emanating from Merlin. He glanced in Merlin's direction but made no eye contact as Merlin stood, impassively gazing into the lake in a world of his own.

Merlin suddenly became conscious of Lancelot and turned to see him leading six knights with the Prince's bier upon their shoulders. Arthur was in full armour minus his helmet and as in a proclamation of denial, the knights' red cloaks billowed, whipped in a sudden gust.

Beside him, Merlin shuddered violently, seeing Arthur's body which he had last seen in bed and Gaius, worrying, glanced at him. The boy had emotionally exhausted himself insisting on cleaning the armour and clothes for the burial but that was the extent of his involvement as it was the knights who had dressed the body. The first time in many years that Merlin had not done it for the Prince.

The knights reached the barque and laid the bier into it.

Sir Leon, carrying Arthur's helmet and his red cloak, reached the water's edge. He handed both to Lancelot who climbed into the barque, placing the helmet in the bow and wrapping Arthur's red cloak over his inert form.

All that was now visible to Merlin was Arthur's head, his golden crown and blonde hair which was ruffled by an errant breeze and Merlin could see Arthur shaking his head, laughing and saying, "0h, come on, Mer-lin, out with it, what have you done this time?"

A guard lit a torch and handed it to Uther, Gaius felt Merlin sway against him but remain upright. Uther, his eyes tearfilled, handed the flaming torch to Lancelot who lit two small fires in the barque then, holding the flaming torch high, said, "For the love of Camelot!"

The red-cloaked knights echoed his words with raised swords, as almost with a caress, he gently placed the lit torch on Arthur's chest.

Gaius turned as Merlin with a strangled cry fell to his knees. He gently placed his hand on the young man's head . . . he wanted to keep him grounded until they were alone. He didn't want to lose both of them.

Lancelot left the barque to join the knights who walked it into deeper water. It drifted slowly away from the beach, black smoke rising gently as Arthur's body set off on its final journey. The wind picked up and again the knights' cloaks unfurled.

After minutes which seemed like hours, the King turned and stumbled up the beach supported by Lancelot and Sir Leon. Gaius as a physician shifted his weight to follow but that shocking idea was hardly formed when he realized that never could he leave Merlin alone today, even if ordered under penalty of death.

The knights and mourners left the beach, to the two solitary figures as the smoking barque slowly floated further out onto the lake.

Once the beach was deserted, Gaius felt safe in removing his hand from Merlin's head. He did so and walked back fifteen paces leaving Merlin on his knees.

When Merlin realised that he was alone except for Gaius, he felt safe; he stood, opened his eyes which had turned golden and held out his right hand towards the smoke engulfed object.

He inhaled, his voice broke, he lost concentration, he closed his eyes. He tried again but only one word, could he manage; so, he just cried in anguish, "Arthur!"

The barque burst into a fireball surrounded by a rising pall of black smoke. The lake surface opened to receive Arthur's body, then closed upon itself.

Clouds formed overhead, thunder rumbled, lightening flashed and a vortex formed in the shape of a waterspout, stretching upwards to the cumulus clouds and dancing over the lake towards Merlin.

Gaius stiffened, flaunting with the powers of nature was dangerous, "What in heavens, was Merlin thinking?"

The waterspout faded and all that remained was a rippled effect which spread across the lake until it reached the beach at Merlin's feet, as little wavelets which kissed his boots, filling the indentations previously made by his knees.

Merlin's eyes were again blue as he lifted them to the clouds. He smiled sadly, Arthur felt so close, so he whispered, "To the ends of the earth and back again!"

Reality hit him like the broad side of a sword. He gasped for air, his heart began racing. He saw all the plans which they had hoped to fulfill dashed upon the beach. There was such a large hole in his being that he literally tingled with magic as he focused his mind on Camelot. . .

A vicious storm hit the castle. Rain pelted down, sending the returning mourners scurrying. Lightening such as had never been seen before lit up the sky. Thunder deafened man and beast alike. The wind shrieked like a banshee. The wing with the royal chambers seemed to be the target. Hail hit the windows, damaging many of them. Stones fell from the battlements, crashing into the courtyard. The pennants on the towers were ripped and tiles showered down.

Merlin felt more in control, he was breathing normally and the clouds over the lake dissipated. Reaching his arms above his head, he stretched; turning he looked back and the corner of his mouth lifted and he gave Gaius a little smile.

Gaius nodded his head and waited patiently. . .

As they arrived closer to the castle, their pace slowed as Merlin's feet began to drag. When they saw the destruction, Gaius put his arm around Merlin's shoulders. As exhausted as he felt, he would never regret knowing this young man.

Maybe one day, they could laugh about it but not today