Hey, I'm so sorry this has taken longer than usual, school was pretty evil this week.
But hey, weekend = chapter :D
Sorry I havent replied to reviews, but thank you so much to unicorndiva, MagicByMerlin, Ethurill, Emmmaaarr, TheMinxySix, archeress of silverbow, PancakesYum, goodythreeshoes, melon3, Ohtar Vicky, JisbonFriend and CrayonsPink!!! You guys are all amazingly awesome :D
And thanks to all the guys who've added me to story alert :)
Anyway, you all deserve this for being extra patient with me :) Enjoy...
It was cold, damp and dark.
The jagged stone was unforgiving and crushing. The wind moaned outside, as if in pain. It echoed throughout the cave, as if there were lost souls trapped inside. The air was so icy it hurt to breathe.
In the cave, there were three figures.
One was dead, a sword in his chest. Another was fatally wounded, nearing death.
And the third one sat, cradling the one near death.
Desperate cries for help reverberated off the cave walls, fighting the wail of the wind.
"Listen to me. You… you're going to be all right…" A tear slipped down his cheek as he ignored the blood that was quickly soaking his shirt.
Why? Why did he do it?
The body in his arms was fast growing cold. Breaths were getting shallower.
Time was running out.
No, this couldn't be happening. His friend wasn't dying in his arms. It was all some sick image. A nightmare.
It had to be.
Stories brainwash you. When you're told a tale of someone's death, you imagine the cool way the blood slowly trickles down the shirt, and they always have just enough time to deliver their last lines, usually a message for the woman or man they love, or a message for the whole of mankind.
The way he went down was nothing like that.
First there was the force of the blood, then urination, and then the very violent convulsions.
The only sound was the desperate gasping for breath, as his body struggled to hold onto life.
And then all of a sudden, Arthur gave up.
There was a moment of silence, his back arched, his body stiffened, and then he took his last breath.
It was nothing like a story.
"No," he wept as he lowered his head to his friend's still chest, "no…don't leave me. Please…come back…"
He cradled the still form in his arms, desperately feeling for a pulse. There was none. So he did the only thing he was capable of doing, rocking the body and pleading. Begging for his friend back.
His ears picked up the pounding of hooves on soil.
He smiled; they were saved.
Merlin scrambled to the entrance of the cave, dragging Arthur with him, still clutching the prince in his arms.
The horses and riders soon came into view and halted before the two friends, swiftly moving to help. They took the still body from his desperate grasp.
Merlin allowed them to; they could save his friend. He watched as Gaius examined him.
The physician bowed his head, a deep anguish written on his face.
"Help him, please help him," Merlin begged him desperately. "Please!"
Gaius stepped forward and solemnly placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm…I'm sorry, Merlin…but he is gone. There's…there's nothing more we can do."
The warlock started shaking his head in disbelief. Slowly at first, but then more vigorously as the meaning of his guardian's words sank in. Gaius was lying, he could help Arthur. He just needed to be brought back to Camelot…
Gaius gripped both his shoulders tightly.
"I am so sorry, Merlin…he's gone…"
"No!" Merlin yelled. "NO! ARTHUR!"
Merlin jerked upright.
A thin sheen of sweat coated his body and his chest heaved as he panted for air. He looked around frantically, wildly; his mind still struggling to comprehend that it was only a nightmare.
Taking deep breaths, Merlin began to calm himself down.
It was then he realised he was in a forest. Surrounded by trees and alone, Merlin was confused. He didn't understand how he'd gotten here. Casting his mind back Merlin thought about what had happened the night before…
"Arthur…" Merlin whispered, realisation dawning on him. He had no idea why he was in this forest, but he knew he had to get back to Camelot. Now.
For Arthur.
Merlin looked around for any signs that might tell him where he was.
Sighing when he found none, Merlin stood up, ready to try a random direction in the hope he would find his way.
But he never took a step.
Instead he collapsed to the ground.
Blood started to drip from his head.
"Gaius?" Gwen called, knocking on the door to Merlin's room before entering.
The physician woke, taking a moment before he was fully aware. "Gwen? What is it?"
The events of last night hit the physician hard. "Is it Arthur? Is he all right?"
Gwen looked confused. "What? Arthur?"
Gaius was past Gwen and out of Merlin's room as fast as he was capable of.
And then suddenly stopped at the top of the stairs.
Descending them slowly, he frowned.
The room was empty.
The bed Arthur had been resting on was overturned, blankets everywhere. The stools Merlin and Trystan had been sitting on had been knocked to the ground.
"They're gone…" Gaius uttered, disbelievingly.
"Who's gone?" asked Gwen worriedly. "What happened?"
Gaius moved to examine the place the three figures had last been. "Arthur was gravely ill last night. I did all I could for him, and eventually retired for the night, leaving Merlin and Trystan to watch over him."
Gaius bowed his head as he caught a small, red stain on the floor.
"But what happened?" he wondered.
It was cold, damp and dark.
He opened his eyes.
Lying on the ground, the jagged stone dug into his back and loomed overhead. The wind was howling, echoing around him. The air was so cold it burned his throat.
Arthur sat up, no idea where he was.
Then the pain struck.
His head exploded, his vision blackening around the edges while bright lights consumed everything else. He gasped, gritting his teeth and clutching his head, willing his head to stop spinning. The prince leaned back against the cave wall.
Then he heard something.
As he started to regain his composure, Arthur scanned his surroundings.
He was not alone.
Though his eyesight was unclear, the prince could make out a figure in the dim light, watching him from where it sat.
"Who's there?" Arthur demanded, still upholding his demeanour when injured.
No reply.
The silence unnerved him.
Arthur shuffled forward a bit, hoping he would be able to get a better look at the person.
The prince's eyes widened in surprise.
"Merlin?"
Still no reply.
His manservant remained expressionless, staring right through Arthur.
"Are you all right?" asked the prince, who was starting to get worried now. "Merlin, say something."
Just as Arthur was ready to shake the life out of his friend, he heard steps from behind him.
"He won't answer you, prince."
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Haliii xxx