The following day.
The young warlock was back in Gaius' chambers. Guinevere said that he could go back there if he wished. He hadn't slept well. The events from twenty-four hours just before flashed back to him.
He could see it all vividly still, the scene fresh in his mind.
Gaius dying and Merlin couldn't do anything. Never had he felt more useless since his powers wouldn't help.
He held Gaius' trembling hand. His voice was faltering and he was even more frail and worn out than ever before. His screams of pain were agonising not only for Gaius but for everyone in the room to hear for they felt useless not being able to do anything.
No one could do anything but wait. The painful, torturous wait.
Guinevere was present, as were Sir Percival and Sir Leon.
The chamber was silent.
'Guinevere.' Gaius' voice quavered, 'I just need to tell you this. I knew that you'd grow into a fine Queen that you are now. As your physician, I want you to know that I am proud of you.' Guinevere was choking back a few tears, gulping, 'Oh, Gaius.'
'Now don't you start.' Gaius continued. 'I can't thank you all enough, including you both, Percival and Leon. I, as your physician, have healed everyone in this Kingdom and seen all of you grow into fine adults. You have proved to be the most valuable of friends and I cannot think of anything better to have as company during the last minutes that I have left.'
He turned to Merlin.
'Merlin' Gaius trembled. 'Before I go, I just want you to know that I will always be grateful for what you have done for me. I will never forget that. I have and will always love you as if you were my own son, Merlin.'
'Gai-'
'No, listen to me. When I'm gone, you will not have lost everything. You'll still have Guinevere and the knights. You still have Hunith back in Ealdor.' he tried to smile but he couldn't manage it. He squeezed Merlin's hand. 'You won't be alone.' Gaius had tears in his eyes now. Seeing Merlin's scared expression feared him. Feared him because he didn't want Merlin to lose hope and faith in himself.
Suddenly, he felt senseless.
His heart rate was diminishing.
His breathing was getting shorter. Heavier.
Weird sensations.
His brain felt all fuzzy.
Everything was fading around him.
His strength was leaving him.
Gaius' hand suddenly slipped out of Merlin's. He lay still. Quiet.
End of an era.
'No' Merlin whispered. 'No, no, please. NO. GAIUS.'
Guinevere, who had sat on the edge of the bed, closed Gaius' eyelids.
They all stood in silence for a few moments.
'This cannot be.' Merlin said. The colour of his cheeks faded. He had a white, slight grey complexion. He felt sick in the pit of his stomach.
Part of him wanted to stay there, by Gaius' side. He knew it was impossible that it was a horrific dream, but he wanted a glimmer of hope. The other part wanted to leave the room, he couldn't bare seeing an unreadable, dead expression on the physician's face.
Guinevere looked up with a sad expression. 'Merlin, I am so sorry.' She too didn't quite know what to do. She went over by Merlin and put her hand on his arm. Tears began to form in her eyes.
Sir Percival and Sir Leon exchanged looks, bowed, said, "We'll leave you alone." for they felt they would get in the way.
Guinevere had watched as they left the room before saying, "I'll leave you alone, too. Anything you need. Ask." with a squeeze of his arm, final look at the bed where Gaius' corpse lay, she bowed her head slightly with eyes closed then turned and left the room.
Merlin snapped out of the memory of the week before. He shook his head, whispering 'no' repeatedly. He couldn't go back and think of it. It pained him. The loss.
A loud knock reverberated from the chamber door.
'Yes?'
The door opened. It was Sir Leon. 'Merlin, we wondered if you wanted to join the fellow knights and myself on the patrol. We'd hate the idea of you not having anything to do here during the day.'
'I'm touched, Leon, really bu-'
'No.' Leon spoke with certainty. 'I insist.'
So it was decided.
Merlin joined the knights to go on Camelot patrol through the Darkling Woods and Forest of Brechffa.
There was something odd about the knights that Merlin couldn't quite put his finger on. Something was missing. Someone was missing.
As they were readying the horses, with Merlin helping to strap saddles and bags on them, the knights were gathering items they needed for the patrol.
They set off, six knights and horses, and had just reached the edge of the wood when suddenly Merlin figured out what was missing.
'Where's Gwaine?'