Here's the next chappie Enjoy.
A Little Bit Of Hope!
Merlin's chest moved, in and out, faintly, very faintly, but that little bit of hope, that little sign that Merlin was alive and he might live sent a bolt of relief through Arthur. He quickly lowered his ear to Merlin's mouth and listened intently, almost giggling when he felt Merlin's cold breath on his ear, tickling him.
"Leon, Ride forth and tell Gaius what state Merlin is in and tell him to prepare" Arthur ordered "I will mount Merlin onto my horse and I will ride back to Camelot as quick as I can, Now Go" Arthur's voice was very stern and Leon knew better to argue with the Prince when he was in rescue mode, so he did as his Prince ordered.
Once Leon was out of earshot Arthur let the tears, he had been holding back, fall. "Oh Merlin, Please, Please don't leave me, don't die, please" Arthur pleaded. It was stupid, he knew it was, Merlin couldn't hear him but it still gave him comfort in talking to Merlin even if he was telling Merlin to live and not die.
Merlin's fingers twitched which made Arthur jump back in surprise, and if the Prince let out a very girly squawk at that moment nobody heard. 'He's Alive, Merlin's alive and he can hear me!' Arthur screamed in his head. He hurried over to Merlin again and swiftly but very carefully lifted him up and placed him; so that he was laying on Layla's back then he mounted on after him. Securing Merlin was as comfortable and safe as possible the Prince set off at a gallop for Camelot and Merlin's only chance of living again, Gaius.
The prince's skill at riding a horse got him and Merlin to Camelot in record time. Moving quickly but carefully through the market streets, Arthur finally arrived at the castle entrance where he was met by Leon and Gaius.
Gaius hurried over to his ward, the worry and fear he saw in the Princes eyes made Gaius' heart beat faster, the Prince could usually mask his feeling's, but Gaius saw Arthur's emotions as clear as day which meant nothing good for Merlin. He led the way as Leon and Arthur carefully carried Merlin to his chambers.
Upon entering Gaius pointed to the bed in the corner, on which Leon and Arthur laid Merlin, then he hurriedly search for bandages and Arthur sent Leon to get some water and a rag, to clean Merlin's wounds.
"Is he going to be alright Gaius?" Arthur's shaky voice asked.
"I don't know Sire" Was Gaius' unsure reply.
At that moment Leon hurried in with a bowl of water and an old red rag and passed it to Gaius.
Gaius calmly walked over to Merlin as Arthur dismissed Leon and walked over to help Gaius remove Merlin's clothing. Gaius removed Merlin's shoes first; his feet were covered in bruises' and small cuts, he then removed Merlin's tunic to reveal every inch of Merlin's torso, apart from the deep, bloody gash, was covered in purple bruising that looked outstandingly horrible, much different to the usually pale and untouched skin that was there before.
Merlin had lost a lot of blood, and squirmed when Gaius attempted to clean his cuts and bruising to show the true extent of the damage done by whomever did this to his Merlin. Arthur's blood boiled at the thought of someone, touching and hurting the frail, innocent being that now lie beaten and broken in front of him.
Once Merlin was clean, the purple bruising tainted Merlin's skin even more, and Arthur had to look away, tears pushing their way to the surface, with a hiss. He fought back the tears when a firm hand landed comfortingly on his shoulder.
"I need you to hold Merlin still while I stitch his wounds, and place on some ointment to stop the course of infection" Gaius' professional voice spoke quietly.
Arthur did as the physician asked, putting little weight on Merlin's frail but un-bruised shoulders. While Gaius threaded and sterilised the needle Arthur looked down into Merlin face, he looked at the shallow cut that placed itself, unwelcomed, on Merlin high cheek bone, sure to leave a scar. Eyes drifting down to his lips, chapped and cut from worrying teeth, as he was beaten. Then back up to his closed lidded eyes, dark lashes casting shadows over his angel like face; that was no more, angel like. His cuts and bruises, those a knight would receive in battle, made him look as though he had fallen from the heavens with broken wings.
Soft skin being pushed up into his hands brought him from his trance as Gaius started to stitch up Merlin's wounds; he applied a little more pressure.
When Gaius had finished applying the last of the ointment to Merlin's face, his eyes blinked open to reveal the beautiful Sapphire- blue orbs i so missed. When he saw me he tried to move away, instead hissing in pain his eyes went wide as he remembered the events of the forest and how he now came to be lying on the physician's bed with bruises covering his body.
"Stay still and i will get you something to ease the pain" Gaius' voice sounded from Merlin's right, and he did as he was asked not wanting to hurt himself anymore whilst looking at anything but Arthur.
Gaius returned with two small glass bottles of horrid looking potions.
"This" he said holding up a sickly green liquid "will help ease the pain" he then handed it to Merlin who downed it in one loud gulp and scrunched up his face at the foul taste.
"And this" Gaius said again this time holding up a murky brown coloured liquid "Will help you sleep, you're looking quite pale, from all the blood you've lost so sleep will do you a world of good" He said and handed the potion Merlin who took it reluctantly.
As the potion was just about to touch Merlin's lips Arthur spoke. "Who did this to you Merlin?" was Arthur simple question.
"I don't know i didn't see them" and with that he downed the potion, it took effect immediately, his lids fell heavily and his body became relaxed as he fell asleep without worry.
When Merlin awoke he heard distant voices, the room was a blur and his eyes took quite a while to adjust to the darkness that had fallen around him. As he full awakened the voices became clearer to the extent that he could work out that it was Gaius' and Arthur's voices he could hear. He was about to get out of bed when he heard his name being mentioned
"What has happened between you and Merlin?" Gaius' curios voice asked.
"I don't know?"
"Gaius what i'm about to tell you, you cannot tell any other living soul, understood?" Arthurs nervous tones replied
"Understood"
"Well, I erm"
Gaius could see that whatever the Prince had to tell him was important so he didn't rush him.
"Gaius, I, I think I might be In Love with Merlin" Arthur finally spluttered out, fear noticeable in his sky blue eyes.
"Well, that is not at all what i expected, exactly how did this happen?" Gaius asked calmly, the shock still slightly noticeable in his voice.
"I don't know, Gaius, I've been thinking a lot more about him since he drank the poison for me that time, and my feelings sort of grew from that, then i couldn't stop thinking about his beautiful eyes and his luscious, pink lips, and adorable pointy ears" the Prince wandered off into a fantasy world of his own, no doubt about the quality's and feature of his Manservant; his face captured in a dreamy expression.
Merlin couldn't actually believe it; Arthur had just confessed his love for him to Gaius, his Mentor.
Long after Arthur had left, Merlin was still in shock, Arthur the future King of Camelot, was in love with Him a lowly Manservant. Merlin felt giddy and was determined to show Arthur how he felt. At that moment Merlin felt extremely tired and decided he could show Arthur in the morning, for now he would rest and regain his strength.
Arthur awoke quite early that morning; he got out of his warm bed, pulled on some breechers and leaned against his window to watch the sun rise. He always loved sun rise, the beautiful orange and red colours lit up the sky and the birds sung their heavenly melody everything was perfect, he could forget his worries, forget his pain and just focus on the beauty of nature.
Arthur's peaceful quiet was abruptly disturbed when someone pushed open his door and slammed it behind them, as he turned round he was met by determined, blue eyes, before he could utter a word, soft, full, pink lips was on his, and he melted, like ice in summer, he melted into, he had no doubt, Merlin.
When Arthur pulled away, Merlin's eyes were still tightly shut, his lashes creating shadows on his cheek bones. He reached up and cupped Merlin's face.
"I Love You Merlin" he uttered quietly.
"I Love You Too Arthur" Merlin Replied.
Nobody knew how long they stood there, foreheads resting against one another's and finger's entwined but they didn't care, they had each other.
Far away in a dark cave Nimueh watched, and her blood boiled, she had to break Merlin's heart, Core, cause with Merlin out of the picture she could destroy Arthur; which would alternately bring down Uther and destroy Camelot.
***********Weeks Later***********
Merlin loved Arthur and Arthur loved Merlin, but Merlin was keeping a secret from Arthur, a very big secret.
Merlin sat in his gloomy, moonlit room, cleaning Arthurs armour, he didn't mind so much but he couldn't suppress the feeling of guilt he got whenever he was with Arthur. Merlin knew all of Arthur's secrets all his feelings, all his doubt and yet he was keeping something from him, His Magic. He had to tell him, he wouldn't, couldn't, keep it from Arthur anymore.
He finished cleaning his lovers armour and headed to his chamber's determination burning like fire through his veins. He knocked on big oak doors then entered swiftly. As soon as the doors shut behind him he was pushed up against them by a lustful Arthur.
"Arth- hmmm, Arthur" Merlin tried to speak but every time he uttered a word Arthur's mouth would claim his once again, hot and sweet. He pushed him back gently, and Arthur stopped kissing him, instead stared, pupils wide, at him.
"Arthur i need to tell you something" He said breathless and a little nervously.
"What is it my love" was Arthur's reply.
"Promise me you will listen to what i have to say before you do something rash" Merlin whispered.
"I promise, now tell me, what has you all nervous" Arthur said, curios.
"I,I,I can do Magic" He said going pale " I'm a sorcerer"
Arthur burst out in hysterics "Come on Merlin, Enough with the jokes and tell me what is un-nerving you"
"No, really i am a sorcerer" Merlin said slightly annoyed "look"
Merlin uttered some foreign language, his eyes flashed gold, and the jug on the table began pouring wine into a goblet. When it was full it rested back on the table. Arthur looked on with wide, unbelieving eyes.
"YOUR A SORCERER" he screamed and Merlin winced.
"I can't believe you lied to me, and pretended to love me, just so you could take over the kingdom" He accused
"No, I would never lie to you Arthur, I Love You, and don't want to take your kingdom i just want to protect you and love you" Merlin replied desperately.
"Well you did lie to me Merlin, You lied to me about everything, Get out, leave Camelot and never return, or i will kill you" Arthur said red faced with anger.
"B-But you said you loved me, and i love you, i can't just leave you" Merlin cried.
"Then i will have you killed, i don't love you Merlin, i HATE you, now get out of my sight" Arthur screamed, eyes brimming with tears of hurt and pain.
Merlin ran, and ran and ran till he couldn't run no more. 'I don't love you Merlin, I HATE you' is all that went through his head and his heart and core broke and he collapsed to the ground in the court yard.
Oh no is Merlin dead? Find out in the next chapter. Thanks for reading and sorry it took so long to post, been busy with my music work atm, performing a 2 minute song for the first time in front of a brand new class is quite nerve racking and takes some practice, anyway hope you enjoyed. Please Review. Thank You XD