Fingernails scraping along the ground, tearing up the grass as a piercing scream filled the air. Merlin was dazed and disoriented, everything was dark, but she could catch glimpses of things. People, faces, and places. But only for the briefest moment. The darkness seemed to be closing in around her, suffocating her. Another scream rang through the air, and chills went down her spine. But there was a light making it's way towards her, before fading away.

"Merlin." A voice called out. " Merlin!" It was Arthur's voice, so panicked and scared.

"Arthur?!" Shouting back to him she whipped around trying to find him. " Where are you?!"

" Merlin?!" He sounded closer now, close enough that if she put her arm out she could touch him. But still she couldn't see him.

Something cold was creeping up her legs, freezing her in place. It made her feel so cold and empty, like death. She had felt this way before, but only after being touched by the Dorocha. The cold chill, started to to feel like hands, grabbing and pulling at her. Trying to tear her in two. She clawed at them, at her skin trying to pull them off. But every time she did it just got worse. Terror shaken through her body, and another scream pierced her. Only this time, she realized it was her scream.

Something soft brushed against her cheek, and she noticed a beautiful face. A light in the darkness. Blue eyes stared into hers, and tossed blonde hair framed sharp cheekbones. Arthur, he had found her.

"Merlin?" He questioned. His voice seemed distorted. " Are you okay?" It slowed down dragging into a sound that wasn't human. She watched as his face twisted and contorted into some foul beast, worms falling out the eye sockets that once held such beautiful blue eyes. His skin turned into rotting leather, and cold boney hands brushed through her hair. He held the now skeletal fingers out and there was a small seed, pressing that hand against her stomach she gasped as it felt like it soaked through her.

- -

"Merlin!" Arthur's voice boomed outside of the Physicians quarters. " Merlin I know you're in there!" Not bothering to knock Arthur stormed angrily inside.

Gaius was used to this behaviour and simply greeted him with a friendly smile.

"Good morning Sire."

"Gaius where's Merlin? She was supposed to be helping with practices today." He let out an annoyed sigh.

"I'm afraid she's still asleep Sire. I asked too much of her last night with a patient and she didn't rest till late." He apologized bowing his head.

"Sleeping? How incompetent is she?" He was about to continue when a scream ripped through the air. "What was that?" He drew his sword aiming it in the direction it had come from. Merlins room.

"That sounded like Merlin!" Gaius started to rush to her door, but Arthur beat him too it.

Another scream rang out and Arthur threw open the door to her room, surprised not to find an intruder. Merlin was tossing and turning, her thin worn blankets tossed across the room, and tangled her small ran down her cheeks and she looked so in pain, small whimpers escaping her mouth. Her nails were clawing at her skin, leaving blood stains on the sheets and her night gown. Her back arched up and another scream escaped from her red lips.

Arthur tossed his sword down and ran to her, pulling her body against his chest, capturing her wrists in one of his large hands preventing her from hurting herself further. He struggled as she squirmed in his grip.

"Merlin, wake up!" He shook her slightly, but it didn't seem to help. " Gaius, can you do something?"

" Oh yes hold on." He rushed from the room.

Arthur remained there struggling with Merlin, trying to calm and sooth her. She kept muttering 'no' and 'stop'.

"Arthur." She whispered faintly, fear in her voice.

He was in her dream, the dream she was so scared of. Hugging her as close as he could he pressed a kiss to her forehead. Gaius rushed back in an tilted her head up pouring in a brown thick liquid. Once she swallowed it, Merlin gasped her eyes flying open. She was confused and dazed. At the sight of Arthurs perfect, and alive face she hugged him tightly. Her body stung from the fresh cuts but she didn't care. Whimpers escaped her lips, and tears fell down her cheeks.

"Shh Merlin, it's okay. It was just a dream." He whispered not even daring to let her go. Gaius gave him a knowing look, and stepped out of the room. " Nothings going to hurt you."

"S-so real." She choked the words out, trying to regain her composure.

"It wasn't real, you're safe." He kissed her forehead again. " Come on, Gaius should check your cuts."

"Cuts?" Looking at her arms she frowned, her skin was torn in places, and bloody." Yeah." She let him help her to her feet, and stumbled her way out into the den. Gaius was waiting for her, and let her sit on the bench as he washed the cuts and applied a cooling agent.

"This must have been one bad dream." He muttered while he started to bandage her arm. He studied her, a concerned look on his face.

"It was, but I'm fine now."She gave him a reassuring smile. " It was just a really vivid dream."

"Alright, but these cuts will take a few days to heal. Try not to get them infected." Gaius gathered the left over bandages, and headed across the room.

"Maybe you should take the day off." Arthur insisted.

Shock passed through her, for years she had been asking for a day off. But now he was just offering her one?

"A day off? Arthur you can't handle a day without me." She raised her eyebrows. A scent filled her nose and she wanted to gag, Gaius was brewing something across the room.

"Well you're hurt, and you're still in shock. It might be for the best." He nodded, and gave her a small smile. " Plus, I can go a day without an annoying, obnoxious servant."

"No you couldn't, you'd miss me." She teased.

"Miss you? No." He laughed. " Just stay in bed today? Tomorrow you can polish my armour, do my laundry and muck out the stables."

"Oh I look forward to it." She muttered dryly.

A groan escaped Merlin's lips as she tried to squeeze her way into her dress. She didn't get it, she fit into it only a month ago, and now it was so tight on her. It was the one Arthur brought her to make up for the one he destroyed. It was nicer than anything she owned.

"Gaius, I am I fat?" She called walking out in the obviously too tight dress. The look he gave her was something of concern, but at the same time like something had clicked together in his head.

"Merlin can we talk?" He questioned walking over to a bench.

"Talk about me getting fat?"

"No, no. Not about that, well it ties in. I think you might have a condition." He patted the space beside him. Hesitantly Merlin made her way over to him.

"Condition?"

"Yes, I need to check things first hold on." He opened one of the books on the table, and flipped to a page, angling it right so she couldn't see.

"What are you checking Gaius?" Trying to peek over at the book he just gave her an annoyed glance.

"You've been puking in the mornings right?"

"Yes?"

"You're hungrier than normal as well right?" His eyes grazed over the page then at Merlin.

"Yes."

"Your dreams are more vivid I know that one. No Merlin have you been engaging in...sexual activities with anyone?"

"What?!" She flushed bright pink at the question. " What does that have to do with anything?"

"I'll take that as a yes. When was your last menstruation Merlin?"

"Gaius, what are you trying to get at? Two months maybe, I'm late but it's nothing to be worried about."

"Merlin, I think you're pregnant."
At those words Merlin broke into a coughing fit, having trouble getting oxygen to her lungs through her shock.

"Pregnant?" She had thought of that, but she pushed it down not wanting it to be true.

"I'm afraid so Merlin. I've been sensing that there was another heart beat in you. But I assumed it was your magic. But now It all makes sense." He sighed. "Who is the father?"

"I-I, no one. Gaius are you sure. You have to be sure." She was panicking now. Her whole world felt like it was crushing her. She couldn't be pregnant, what would people think if they found out she as having a baby? An unmarried woman? She'd be called a whore, and the fact that it was Arthurs would make things worse for him.

"I'm certain of it Merlin." He gave her a worrying look.

" I-I have to go. I can't stay here if I-I'm." Shaking her head she stood up running to her room.

"Merlin!" Gaius called after her. He walked towards her room, to find her shoving her belongings into bags. " You shouldn't leave."

"I can't stay will people think?" There were tears on her cheeks. She had to leave here, to save Arthurs reputation.

"The father." Gaius whispered. " It's Arthur isn't it?"

Merlin just looked at him, her lower lip quivering, nodding slightly.

"Please don't tell him! You can't tell him. I have to leave so people don't know." She started on a new bag.

"He loves you Merlin, he'll understand."

" Just like he'd understanding me having magic? No, he's a prince. If I told him, he might feel entitled to look after it. He needs to marry a Princess, and unite kingdoms. He won't have to worry about me. Whatever I had with him Can't last. Please Gaius you can't tell Arthur. Do me this favour."

"Merlin, I don't think you're making the right choice. But I respect it enough and I understand. I will not tell the Prince."

"Thank you Gaius." She whispered as she shoved the last of her things into her bag.

"Where do you plan on going?"
"Home, to Ealdor. Mum will understand." Her voice was growing small. " I need to write a letter, to Arthur, will you deliver it?"

"Of course."

- - -

A confused look crossed Arthurs face as Gaius handed him a note. Merlin should have been here already.

"Merlin asked me to deliver this Sire." He bowed his head and left the room, before he opened the parchment.

Arthur glanced down at the paper, and slowly unfolded it.

Arthur.

I'm sorry this is so short notice, I really wish I had more time. But I had to leave, I wish I could tell you why but I can't I hope you understand. I would have stayed, but it's better this way. You're a Prince, the future king. I know you'll be an amazing king, and I'm sorry I won't be there to save your arse. So just be careful okay? I could never forgive myself if anything happened to you. I know you might not forgive me for leaving like this. But we'll see eachother again, I promise. But in the meantime, I want you to be happy. Marry a princess, become the king you're destined to be. I'm proud of you Arthur, and being your Servant wasn't a total bore.

Merlin.

Arthur looked up from the note, and didn't know what to feel. He felt so empty now. Just yesterday he had been holding her close to him, and now she was gone? It didn't make sense? What went wrong? They had been doing everything right, it all felt so good. But something must have went wrong. It was his fault, he knew it. He probably scared her off. And she expected him to be happy? He loved her, and he never got to tell her that.

For the first time in a long time. Arthur felt totally, and completely empty.

I feel like there is probably a bunch of mistakes in this chapter and for that I apologize before hand.