Arthur POV:
"Arthur, there is no way you have magic. I can detect it in people. Everyone I meet has the slightest bit of magic, except you. I never understood it. I was so scared to tell you. Then, I- it's hard to explain." Merlin grins slightly through his tears. "But, yes. I do sense something different. I thought that someone was trying to mess with me."
I could cry right now. I put this boy through so much. He has been so loyal. Merlin is the best friend someone could ask for. "Merlin, please. I am begging you to forgive me. You are completely right. I should have tried harder to find you. I am such a prat. I put you through every type of torture imaginable, but I didn't realize it. You saved me every time I was in trouble. You have been so loyal, and have way more courage than I give you credit for."
"I thought you were dead! Sire, please, I will be hesitant, but I will try still to serve you." I can't believe it. Even though Merlin has been in a dark place, that I put him in, he still wants to be my friend. He is still loyal to me. Tears are streaming down his face. "How do you have magic?"
"The lake, I guess maybe it was locked inside me, the lake opened it up. Merlin, I truly am sorry for everything."
"I had thought that I had lost everything. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. We need to talk, Sire. You need to know what has happened."
"Merlin, please. Spare me the 'Sire's and everything. You are my friend." We both sit down and just talk.
We talk about everything. Magic, Gwen, the kingdom. But then, Merlin says something that makes me feel sick to my stomach, "Gaius passed away. He couldn't take anymore. He saw me suffering, and tried to comfort me. He was grieving and couldn't bear the pain. Gaius was with Gwen and me. He didn't die alone." Tears come to my eyes. How many more people am I going to lose? How many more people is Merlin going to lose?
Merlin POV:
I thought he was dead. I thought that my best friend was dead. Then that some person was playing a sick joke on me. Arthur is alive. Arthur is alive! I have tears streaming from my blue eyes. "Arthur. We have to get rest. It seems that I won't be staying here for a week."
"Wait, Merlin. My power is much weaker than yours. It is barely even a flame. Merlin, you may be able to take it from me. I don't want it. Merlin, take it." Arthur sighs, and so do I. How could I take something so wonderful from my friend?
"Arthur, I know that it is a burden. But, it is also a gift, a beautiful gift. Are you sure?" Arthur nods and looks at me with his blue eyes. All I see from him is genuine concern and regret. Something that I almost never saw from him. My head tilts to the left in confusion.
"Merlin, what is it?" Arthur laughs for a moment, but then turns serious.
"It's just… Something is different about you. Your emotions show more. It just doesn't feel right. I wish it was the way that it was before." Arthur puts a hand on my shoulder. I tell him what happened, "Arthur, when you died, or when I thought you died," I sigh and take a deep breath, "I wasn't able to use my magic. Today was the first day that I was able to do anything. I think that when you are around, my magic is strong. Like, when you are here," I stop and close my eyes, trying to hold back the tears, "I can do anything. If you are in danger, I am able to help you. I will do anything for you and you know that."
Arthur sighs, "You have changed, also. I can tell Merlin. You have been watching your every move, checking every corner. You live in fear. You can't trust. You are afraid to love because everyone has died. Merlin, I won't leave you. We can take care of each other. You don't have to be afraid."
I nod. Then we sit in silence. It is pitch black out. I look around. The shadows of the trees look sinister and it is freezing. If I use my powers, will they work? "Arthur, are you sure about me taking the magic?" He nods. "It may feel odd for a few moments." I close my eyes and they fly open, changing from blue to gold. I feel it. I pull back. "Arthur, I can't take it all from you. It would kill you." He nods.
"Merlin, if the lake helped me gain powers, would it strengthen yours?" I contemplate.
"Arthur, it may. Tomorrow, I could try it. We need rest. In two days, we can return to Camelot. But, when we go, I need to disguise you as someone else. Don't go to Gwen, immediately. Believe me, she will still be upset. She knew how much I missed you, so she would try to hide it around me." Arthur looks at me kindly, and lets me continue, "I remember the nightmares. There were so many. Gwen would try to calm me, but without Gaius, it was torture."
We lie back. "Good night, Merlin."
"Good night, Arthur."
~During the night~
Arthur POV:
I awaken with a start. It is still very dark and cold, but the fire still burns. Merlin tosses and turns in his sleep. I hear him mumbling, "Mother." Over and over again, but he soon starts screaming an abundance of names, "Gaius, Arthur, Gwaine, Lancelot, Father, Will." But most of all, you hear him scream for a person named Freya. I inch over to him, trying not to startle him.
"Merlin. Merlin, wake up. Merlin, everything is okay. It is safe." After minutes of coaxing, he wakes up in a cold sweat.
"Arthur, I can't breathe. I can't breathe!" He starts screaming. Merlin's dream became a reality. Then he gasps out, "Freya! Freya!" Soon, Merlin calms. He takes deep breaths as he quiets down. Then, Merlin does something that scares me. He gets up, and runs into the lake. Immersing himself deep into the lake. He is going to kill himself.
"Merlin! Merlin! Stop. Don't kill yourself. Please." I dive into the water. With all my armor and everything. It is hard to move, but there is no time to waste. I make it to Merlin, and grab his thin wrist. He trashes around, it is hard to hold a solid grip on him. His writhing stops, as if he has given up. No, he has only passed out. I drag him to shore. He is soaking wet. I bring him close to the fire. He begins to dry off.
~In the morning~
Merlin wakes up with a start, gasping. He sighs, looking around, searching for something. Then his eyes land on me, "You're still here." He breathes a sigh of relief. "You're still here. I was so scared that I was imagining things."
"Merlin, I told you, you don't have to be afraid anymore."
Merlin shrugs, "I think I will always have a trace of fear left in me. But, sometimes, I just panic. I freak out for no reason. Gwen will help me through it. But, maybe, you might be able to help me." He pauses, "I am sorry, by the way."
I don't know what he is talking about. "Merlin, what do you have to be sorry about?" I kind of chuckle, but he knows that I am serious.
"I am sorry that I almost killed myself. I am sorry that I didn't tell you about my magic sooner. I am sorry for everything that I did wrong. I am sorry for being a clumsy servant."
"Don't say that Merlin! You are my best friend. I will help you through this." I sigh, "Listen, Merlin, I have way more to be sorry about than you. I am sorry for making fun of you. I am sorry for throwing goblets at you in the morning. I am sorry for insulting you day in and day out-"
"Arthur. That was half the fun of it!" Merlin actually cracked a joke. Maybe he isn't completely lost.
So... What do you think? Any thoughts, ideas, or helpful criticism can be private messaged to me or left in comments. I would rather ideas be put in PMs and thoughts/criticism be left in comments. Thanks for reading. I will try to post more soon!