After a rather scary review from a certain person... you know you are, you with the flaming pitchforks!
I thought I had better get the hell on with this.
I'm not a particulary confident writer, so please gimme feedback and ways to improve.
"Merlin?" Arthur stared at the sobbing figure in Lancelot's arms. "What happened?" He stood aside and let Lancelot through into his chambers. "Sit him on the bed."
Gwaine and the other nights stood and gathered around the shaking warlock, each of them masking a look of confusion. "Merlin, what happened?" Lancelot asked gently. sitting next to Merlin and throwing an arm around him.
"F-freya, s-she l-left m-m-me!" Merling sobbed into his hands.
"She left you?" Arthur said in shock. "But- but why?"
"She said t-that she had fallen in love with another man." Merlin brought his knees up to his chest and buried his face between his knees.
"Merlin," Percival started gently. "Do you know where exactly Freya is? We could go after her-"
"No." Merlin stated firmly, shaking his head. "Leave her be."
"Merlin, are you-" Elyan said slowly.
"He said he's sure." Gwaine said with a small glare at Elyan. Elyan held his hands up in defence, moving back to sit on the table.
"Can you at least tell us who she left you for?" Sir Leon said with a sympathetic glance at Merlin.
"His name is Osterid." Merlin spat the name out with such venom, it was a wonder he didn't set his trousers alight. "He's the crowned prince of Krolodor."
"Osterid?" Arthur said, vaguely remembering the name from somewhere. "I think he visited Camelot a few months before your first arrived here. Quite an arrogant man, very outspoken."
"The type of man Freya goes for." Merlin said with a snivel, wishing nothing more than to shrivel up and die right there.
"Merlin, get some sleep." Lancelot said.
"I can't." Merlin protested.
"Merlin, sleep." Lancelot said firmly. Merlin looked him in the eyes.
"Promise me one thing, then i'll sleep." He said.
"Anything you want." Gwaine said, trying to control his anger at Freya.
"Don't go after Freya." Merlin said dryly. The other men hesitated. "I mean it, guys. Don't go after Freya. Or Osterid."
Gwaine huffed mockingly. "There goes my sunday plans." Merlin smiled weakly. Lancelot helped Merlin on to his side, laying his head gently on the pilow and covering him with a woolen blanket. The knights sat with him until the manservant was restlessly dreaming of Freya and Osterid.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"Poor kid." Gwaine said quietly, as not to disturb Merlin's slumber.
"How could Freya do that to him?" Lancelot scratched his head. "They were perfect for each other."
"The heart works in strange ways." Elyan said wisely, taking a sip of wine. Arthur shot a side glance at Merlin. "Bless him."
Arthur had to agree with Elyan there. Freya had been Merlin's everything, and now she was gone. The prince wondered what had caused Freya to leave Merlin for Osterid. Arthur had seen the man, he wasn't particulary attractive. He was about 5 foot seven, quite large in more ways than one. He always insisted on wearing layers of expensive, heavy clothing lined with animal fur of some kind. His attitude was that of a three year old when it came to getting what he wanted. The man had such a horrible temper, it was a wonder he hadn't already blown up.
"We can't let him suffer like this." Said Gwaine.
"But Gwaine, what can we do?" Sir Leon said with a sigh. "Merlin asked us not to go after her or Osterid, so that is out of the question."
"But if we accidently stumbled across them..." Gwaine started. Leon glared at him. Gwaine shut up straight away.
"Sometimes talking to somebody who is grieving helps them." Percival offered.
"Merlin isn't the type of person who would share his inner and most deep feelings with people of a higher position than him." Lancelot shook his head. "He thinks that it is not his place."
"Why would he think that?" Arthur asked, genuinley confused.
"Well, princess," Gwaine teased. "It doesn't help that you keep ordering him to do degradory chores."
"This is not my fault." Arthur hissed. "If it's anybody's fault it's Freya's for leaving without even saying goodbye."
"Would you both shut up?" Elyan said in a shouted whisper. "You'll wake Merlin."
"Is he going to be okay?" Percival swirled his wine around in his goblet.
"Only time will tell." Leon said gently, casting a look at Merlin. "Only time.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Merlin awoke the next morning in strange surroundings. His pillow felt a lot softer than normal, his quilt was not scratchy and his bed had seemed to... grow. He groaned as he sat up, looking around. A sense of panic swept through him when he saw he was in Arthur's chambers. He rubbed his forehead in confusion, before he remembered. Freya had left him. He clutched his chest in pain as the words of the letter re-entered his head after the long night of dreaming about Freya and Osterid as Queen and King of Krolodor...
The young man was snapped from his thought when a figure stirred at the end of the bed. Merlin squinted through the dawn.
"Arthur?" The figure of Arthur stretched his arms above his head and yawned loudly.
"Good morning there, Merlin. Did you sleep well?" Arthur spoke as if it was regular to have your manservant wake up in your bed.
"I guess so." Merlin looked down at his hands sadly. He didn't notice Arthur sympathetic and almost protective stare.
"Merlin..." Arthur moved forward so he was sat in front of Merlin. "If you should ever need anybody to talk too, I am always here. You know that?" Merlin almost choked on his on soliva. That had to have been the nicest thing that his royal pratness had ever said to him! And certainly the most comforting thing.
"I- I know that, Arthur." Merlin said strongly. Arthur smiled gently and nodded. Merlin made to move, but Arthur pushed his shoulder back against the pillow.
"Go back to sleep Merlin, it's still early."
Merlin only nodded before he shut his eyes once more.
Fluffy enough for you all? :D