A/N: helloooo! just wanted to thank you all for the favs, follows and reviews! hope you enjoy this update...
Btw, sorry in advance for my grammar mistakes! English is not my first language, I'm trying my best :)
Arthur woke up on the shore.
It took a few seconds for his lungs to get the hang of breathing air again.
What happened?
Instinctively, he tried to get up, only to find that it was not a good idea - his head felt like it was going to explode.
He finally resolved to staying still, while he tried, unsuccessfully, to recall how he ended up here.
After a few more minutes of lying on the ground in a haze, Arthur got up, somehow ignoring the throbbing pain in his temples and the sharp ache in his chest. No doubt he was a strong young lad, both in body and spirit... until he almost lost his balance. He was certain he'd heard something in the water, but he turned too fast, and not only did he find nothing, but he almost fell face-down into the rocks.
Eventually, Arthur gained his balance once again and started to walk towards what he thought to be the way back to Camelot.
He might have gotten lost forever if it weren't for a certain red-haired knight.
"Sire? What are you doing here? Is Sophia with you?" It was Sir Leon, with a handful of other knights. Fortunately, they were on patrol when they noticed a familiar red cape moving through the trees.
Oh, Sophia! Arthur suddenly remembered.
Where is she, though?
"You'd better come with us, sire, it is nearly nightfall," Sir Leon suggested, worry in his voice, as he got off the horse and helped the prince mount it. Arthur followed, still dazed and confused by the day's events. The ride was unusually silent.
Even as they entered the castle's gates, Arthur couldn't find an explanation as to why he was unconscious by the lake, soaked through and on his own.
When Arthur returned back to Camelot alone, Gaius was sure something bad must have happened to Merlin. He knew that witnessing the Sidhe of the Lake of Avalon was a death sentence, but Merlin had seen them once before and came back unharmed... or was it just a matter of time? He tried to calm his mind. After all, he recalled, Merlin is the most powerful sorcerer to ever walk the earth. Yet the thought gave him no comfort whatsoever. He continued to ride in silence, his paternal instincts screaming inside his head.
The sun began to set when Gaius finally arrived to the lake. He got off the horse slowly and looked at landscape spread before him. Merlin wasn't exaggerating when he described its beauty; The calm waters masked from the world under a dense layer of evergreen trees, the happy chirping of birds, the sun reflecting on the surface making the water sparkle, the scent of magic in the air. It was truly breathtaking. One could easily get lost in thought in this serene environment, but Gaius must not be distracted. The young warlock could be in grave danger.
"Merlin?"
No answer.
"Merlin, where are you?"
Gaius leaned on a tree. The long ride wasn't easy on his body, and his back was certainly not cooperating with him. It was in times like this when the physical strain of life was too present for Gaius' taste.
The silence suddenly broke. Something was moving in the water.
"Gaius? Oh, thank Gods! I knew you would come, or rather hoped you would..."
Following the voice, a head came into view. There was no mistaking the raven hair and the smile; It was Merlin alright. But what was he doing in the water?
Gaius moved closer to the shore, and Merlin followed, making sure that only his head was out of the water. Gaius found this gesture a bit odd. It wasn't until the young warlock swam closer that Gaius noticed the slits on either side of his neck. Merlin had gills.
"Oh, my boy, what have you done?"
Merlin closed his eyes, his face suddenly darkened. "It doesn't end there", he all but whispered. With a sigh, he made his way to the shallow waters and positioned himself against a rock near the shore, his eyes still not meeting Gaius'.
Then the physician understood why.
Merlin was bare-chested, missing his signature shirt and neckerchief. Stray drops of water traveled from his collarbones down his torso. Gaius' gaze followed them, suddenly feeling uneasy about the whole situation. But that's when he saw it.
Right above where Merlin's belly button should be, the skin gradually merged into iridescent blue scales, and instead of legs, Gaius found himself looking at a long, shiny fishtail. The young warlock flipped his tail fin absentmindedly, clearly uncomfortable. As it moved, Gaius noticed that the scales shone golden when the (now setting) sun rays touched them. He was utterly mesmerized by the merman in front of him.
The physician searched the boy's face. Looking into these blue pools of Merlin eyes, same blue as the color of his tail, Gaius could sense his sadness and distress. Suddenly, Merlin closed them again. "I have... have to go ba... back..." he tried to say between short, hasty breaths. Gaius was so hypnotized by the sight that he failed to notice the young warlock couldn't breathe.
With a splash, Merlin was gone. It wasn't until a few minutes later that the boy resurfaced. "I don't know how it happened, Gaius, I never meant... I've tried every spell I know," he mumbled, resigned.
Gaius seemed to be deep in thought.
"I can't reverse it. My magic is useless. What if I could never go back? What about Arthur? You have to help me..."
"Hush now, my boy," the physician finally spoke, his features soft. "Why don't you start from the beginning?"
A/N: So, what do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts!
Till next time xx