Authors Note: I am always happy for requests for a oneshot in the reviews! Please only nice comments. And please no SOPA crap, either. No one wants to here that. This story is just a collection of one shots, non of them are related.
Summery: When Merlin gets stabbed in the back with a poisoned knife, the results are not good.
Poison
A tear fell down Merlin's pale face. He felt the thin scar on his spine absentmindedly. The angry red slash still cause him pain though it had been a week. A pain slowly coursing through his body, so painfully that he'd gone to ask his Uncle. Merlin looked at Giaus, trying to memorize the face that was like a father to him these past years.
"How long do I have?" The young man couldn't keep the tremble from his voice. The physician looked at him sadly. "It's gone so long undetected. Maybe a day or two. The weeks end at most. I'm so sorry Merlin. It's protected by enchantment. Not even your magic could stop it."
It was all the warlock could do to nod his head as his eyes stared ahead, unfocused, trying not to think of it all. His destiny was to protect Arthur. To be the best warlock to ever walk the Earth. What was the point of his power if he let himself be stabbed by a knife, and be unable to save himself from the poison it was laced with?
"I've got to get the King's breakfast." Merlin couldn't meet Giaus's eyes as he walked out the door. After a while, while Merlin was putting on Arthur's armor, the king decided to confront his manservant about how strange he'd been acting all morning.
"Merlin," Arthur inquired. "Are you alright?" "Yes, you prat, I'm fine." It didn't fail to catch Arthur's eye that his best friend seemed more irritable than usual and that he wouldn't meet his eyes. The man pressed on. "Merlin are you sure you're-"
Merlin whirled around to face Arthur, his face red. "I'm fine just leave me alone!" After screaming, Merlin stormed out and slammed the door, eyes glossy. How could he tell his best friend he was dying and nothing could be done? Arthur, despite the recent outburst, went to go out and search for Merlin. Something was obviously very wrong.
Not five minutes after his departure Arthur heard a strangled sound, something between a son and a shout, and ran in the direction. Merlin sat at the bottom of a staircase, with his head in his hands. It was obvious he had fallen. Arthur ran to his friend's side. "Merlin are you alright? What happened?"
Merlin looked up at the blonde. "I fell, clotpole." Arthur wondered if Merlin had always been this irritable. "Come on, Merlin. Let's take you to Giaus, see if you are alright." He pulled at the raven haired boy's hand, but Merlin didn't move.
"Well come on, Merlin. We haven't got all day to sit around." The fear was evident in Merlin's blue eyes. "Arthur," he said shakily. "I can't… I can't move my legs." Arthur tried to ignore his own fear and panic, and picked up the lanky man, running to the court physician.
When he got there, the old man made Arthur leave at once when Merlin was settled, saying the servant didn't want his friend to know. As soon as the king was gone, Giaus walked over to the paralyzed boy and held him in a tight embrace. "My boy…" Merlin sniffled.
For two more days, more than expected, Merlin laid in his bed looking out his window at the beautiful scenery of Camelot, while getting many visits from the Knights and Gwen, Gwain and Arthur most of all. On the third day, it was obvious it would be his last, and Arthur and all Merlin's friends were summoned and were spoken to one by one.
Arthur went to Merlin's room as Gwain walked out, wiping his eyes. Merlin had his back to him and his shirt had ridden up enough to show the red welt on his back, the veins surrounding it purple. Arthur took a sharp gasp as he realized it was poison taking his friend's life and Merlin rolled back over at the sound.
"Merlin…" Arthur couldn't help the tears in his eyes. Merlin's breath was labored. "I don't have long Arthur, but I just want to say… thank you. For being a great friend and such a good King. You must keep being so great, for everyone. Unite Albion. Marry Gwen. Live to be the legend you can be. Arthur… be great." Arthur couldn't stop the tears as he held Merlin's hand as the life fled his body.
