Author's note:
Continued thanks to all of you that support my first Merthur fanfic! I really love you all.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. It's a sad fact, really… The title of the song is from "By your side" by the Tenth Avenue North. Isn't mine either.
To Kigy: I wish I could reply to you personally but I couldn't send you a PM for some reason my account won't let me. Anyway, thank you but the story is not finished yet. I guess that was my fault. I should have written TBC or some other sort of note to tell readers that the story is not yet completed. So sorry about that. I hope that the next chapters that I will write will suffice. Thanks again.
To Sweet: Oooh… I don't want to spoil the next chapters so you have to read on to find out. :-)
To MirrorFlower and DarkWind: Thank you! Hope you keep on reading. I have more sweet stuff coming.
To HELEN: Another chapter for you. I will keep on posting probably every other day (or everyday if I'm fast enough) as it takes me quite long to edit stuff. Thanks again!
Chapter 3: I'll Be By Your Side Wherever You Fall, In the Dead of Night, Whenever You Call…
After riding back to Camelot all night, an exhausted white horse gallops his way to the gates of the kingdom carrying an even more exhausted Prince Arthur who still had a noticeably tight hold around the frail form that is Merlin. He forces his way out of the army of knights that dared stop him. He got down from his horse and carried Merlin's still unconscious frame from up the steps and into Gaius' room. He did not even dare knock on the physician's door although it was past the middle of the night and probably in the wee hours of morning.
"GAIUS! Gaius, come quickly, please!" Arthur yelled and pleaded after the elderly court physician.
Gaius wobbled up and off his bed as best as his weary form would let him; his tired body beginning to remember some form of coordination as he reached for his glasses on his bedside table. But all exhaustion and slight irritation fled the window as he saw Merlin's limp body being carried by the prince, who wore an expression full of sadness, fear, and… something broken that Gaius can't really name.
He just knows it broke his heart as well to see the once strong prince in such a state of distress.
Quickly he clears a long table of books and other vials and lays a blanket and pillow for Merlin to rest on. He could feel the younger man's slow and shallow breathing. He quickly reaches for his magnifying glass to examine the noticeably dark purple bruise that etched Merlin's pale chest. He grabs his medicine kit to immediately tend to the open wounds that he now sees scattered on the young boy's body, from his face to his arms, all while trying to decipher Arthur's breathless explanation of what had happened.
"He was there… and then there as a lady in a red dress and I'm certain that some form of magic was used… and, and … oh my god, Gaius, if you could have seen it! She threw a ball of fire at him! For the love of Camelot, tell me he's going to be alright!" Arthur finished with a plea as he clutched at Gaius' shoulder as a dying man would for dear life; for his Merlin's dear and precious life.
Gaius took a moment to look at the distraught prince who was doing a poor job at concealing his fear and genuine concern for his manservant. Gaius tersely wondered if Arthur was even aware of his confession that he found out that Merlin was a sorcerer.
"Love is blind and lovers cannot see the pretty follies they themselves commit." Gaius quoted to himself with a sigh. Honestly? If things were under better circumstances right now, he could almost smile at the Arthur's actions. But now he had to put all his knowledge and concentration in caring for Merlin.
"Sire, I assure you I would do everything in my power to make sure Merlin is okay. Right now all I can see are bruises so I'll try to work on those as quickly as I can. Meanwhile, I suggest you go back to your chambers and rest." He replied to the prince.
"Nonsense! I'll stay here… and help out, help you! And to… look after him, or something." Arthur said with a stutter, obviously trying (and failing) to come up with a compelling reason for Gaius to let him stay there.
"I'm sure you would like to be certain that Merlin will be fine. But you will be no good to either me or Merlin when you are very exhausted. So I suggest you take some rest and I promise to call for you when I have some news." Gaius spoke as he gently ushered the prince out of his chambers.
Arthur sighed as a sign of defeat. With a nod, he thanked Gaius and bid him a good night (or good, er, early morning, I guess?) and made his way back to his chambers. He reached his chambers without even being aware of it. He was merely relying on his bodily functions as his mental and emotional functions were focused elsewhere. As he closed his door and slowly made his way to his bed, the reality of everything that has happened started crashing down on him like an avalanche of harsh, cold, and unforgiving snow. Recollections of his journey to the Isle of the Blessed, to the conversation between Merlin and the sorceress, Nimueh, and the epic battle between them all came back to Arthur. His head shot up as he remembered, "Bloody hell! MERLIN IS A SORCERER!" Now the truth hit him like a brick that catapulted right into his head, again and again. His Merlin, his innocent, idiotic, brave, and beautiful Merlin was in fact a sorcerer. He clenched his jaw as he closed his eyes and ran his hand through his blond locks, still damp from sweat and rain. What now? What should he do now?
It didn't take him long before a smile slowly made its way to his lips. It felt so good. He hasn't smiled like that in what felt like an eternity. Suddenly he felt as though the weight that he had on his shoulders has slowly been lifted just because of one great epiphany.
Merlin is a sorcerer.
He loves Merlin.
And he will love all of Merlin, sorcerer or not.
A slight bark of laughter escaped his lips as he dwelled on his new found love. Well, he knows that he had loved Merlin for a long time but he never thought that it would be strong enough to even see through the fact that Merlin practiced magic, something he was taught to loathe even in his childhood. With that, Arthur suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to protect Merlin from all those who might know of his secret and try to do him harm. He thought about his father and his notorious hatred for magic. Arthur never had, and probably never will, understand why his father hated magic so much. But should his father ever find out of Merlin's magic and make him choose between either Camelot or Merlin, well, there just isn't any choice, is there?
Before Arthur could even dwell longer on his thoughts, a knock was heard coming from his door. A knock so loud and heavy, Arthur could have sworn it reverberated in the walls of his room. Without even waiting for a reply, the person knocking opened the door and rushed inside.
"Arthur, where on the bloody lands of Camelot have you been? You better have some decent explanation for your actions, my son!" Uther's voice was booming as he spoke to Arthur, while obviously trying to hold back from lashing out at his now consistently disobedient son.
"Merlin was in trouble, father. I had to-"
"Merlin? The servant boy? Why on earth do you not desist from helping that boy? He is but a servant!"
"He saved my life! Like he has done so many times before!" Arthur sneered as he started raising his voice at his father.
"And I've told you many times that he will not be the only one risking his life, and eventually dying for you! You are the Prince of Camelot. It is his duty to serve you! You can't go running to help and save each and everyone that has helped you. That would be the same as getting yourself killed!" Uther yelled back, his face now flushed from uncontained rage.
"No, father, I will not…" Arthur said as he slowly calmed down. But with a cold and deadly serious voice he said, "But if it is Merlin, and only if it is Merlin, I will gladly die a thousand deaths trying to save him. Nothing you say or threaten to do will ever change that, father." He confessed without even batting an eye. "If you have nothing more to say, I would be glad if you leave. I would like to rest for the night now."
Uther stared back at his son with his mouth still gaping from his son's confession. He was so surprised; he didn't know what to do next. Should he be angry? Disgusted? Or feel as though he's been betrayed? He blinked his eyes a few times before answering, "I'm sure you don't mean that. We will talk again tomorrow, when you are more rational with your words and actions. I'm certain you're exhaustion just caught up on you, son. Rest now and I will see you again for breakfast." He said before he stepped out of Arthur's room.
Arthur merely shrugged his shoulders as his father walked out of the room. He knew for certain that tomorrow's discussion would be no different from the one they had tonight. Because his love for Merlin could never be deterred by fear of what his father will do to him or to Merlin. If Merlin were to be banished? He would simply leave Camelot and follow Merlin wherever he goes. If he were to be disowned? He would gladly give up the crown and stay on Merlin's side as he knows Merlin would do as well. Even if both circumstances meant he would lose everything he has: royalty, wealth, and everything else, he would gladly give it up for Merlin. As he pondered about this, he couldn't help but feel afraid of how strongly he feels for his manservant. Is it actually possible for someone to fall deeply in love with another that they would be willing to sacrifice all that they have ever known for something completely strange and new? Again, he knew the answer to that without even thinking much of it.
That night, Arthur slept contentedly for the first time in years. All his worries were gone as his dreams were consumed by nothing and no one else but a certain pale-skinned, sorcerer.
TBC…
End of Chapter Notes:
Tell me, was the Shakespearean note kind of out of place? I was thinking about that but it just fit the moment so I could not desist from writing it! My hungry troll stomach is craving for your reviews. Thank you!
