Part Six
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Three days passed. Each night Merlin was plagued with bad dreams. But still there was no picture, just the voice of the sorcerer echoing in his head hauntingly. Gaius gave Merlin sleeping draughts but none of them seemed to help. He woke up with a start, usually with Gaius by his bed.
"You can still hear him?" Gaius asked trying to sooth his young ward.
"I can't get his voice out of my head." Merlin said miserably. "I just want it to stop!" He begged looking up at the old physician.
"I know." Gaius said sadly. He didn't like seeing Merlin like this. But Merlin explained everything to him when he returned three days ago, Gaius gave him no other choice.
So Merlin explained everything. How he found the place he was held and that he remembered what had happened there and how he was in captured. Merlin still could only hear the voices of his friends when he would dream about being possessed.
Sometimes he woke and he could feel the burning and the aches and the pounding like the day he woke after everything happened. But Merlin kept that part to himself he didn't want to worry the other's, it was bad enough that Gaius was worried about him and spent have the night at his bedside making sure he was okay.
But this time the dream was different. This time it wasn't the same. He was use to the voices and the familiar things repeating in his head. Like a loop, over and over. The same thing but not this night. This night Merlin felt like the sorcerer was there again.
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It was that wicked laugh, it always caused Merlin to shiver in fright. It usually sounded so far away and distant, echoing in his dreams blindly. But it sounded so close, like he could feel the sorcerers breath on him.
Merlin wanted to wake up, he knew it was just a dream. It couldn't hurt him the sorcerer was dead Kigharrah took care of that. The dragon wouldn't lie to him, he couldn't. So, why was this different?
"You can't get rid of me." The sorcerer hissed. Merlin just wanted to wake up, why couldn't he wake up? "I'm still in your head. They say madness is a slow and painful disease. We shall see."
/
Merlin woke breathing hard, clamping his hand over his mouth to stop the scream that threaten to escape. He was happy to see that Gaius was no longer sitting beside his bed.
Merlin took a deep breath to calm his shaking body. It took a bit of time, but he finally got himself to calm down and he dressed. Making his way quietly to the door, so not to wake Gaius. Merlin felt guilty for keeping the older man up these last few days.
It was early, Arthur was likely still asleep. Merlin decided to get a head start on the chores before he had to get the Kings breakfast and Gwen would meet him in the kitchen, a habit she got into.
Merlin wasted time sharpening and cleaning Arthur's swords, then he moved to the armor which needed a good polishing. He washed and mended Arthur's clothes and then headed to the kitchen.
When he entered, Merlin saw Gwen chatting with the cooks. The moment they saw him the greeted him with smiles, thought Gwen looked concerned.
"Merlin you look tired." Gwen pointed out. Merlin rubbed the back of his neck and took a small plate, the one of the kitchen staff gave to him to eat. Picking at the fruit Merlin shrugged.
"Figured I get an early start on the chores today," Merlin answered. "Can't be a lazy servant all the time, have to surprise Arthur somehow." He said flashing Gwen a smile.
"You may surprise him with heart failure." Gwen joked. "But you are alright? You look a bit peaky." She pointed out.
"I'm fine." Merlin answered.
"Will you be dinning with the King, Milady?" One of the servant's asked as she handed Merlin the tray. Gwen shook her head.
"No, thank you." Gwen said with a smile. "I'm going to take the Lady Saoirse around Camelot a bit. She seems to get bored quite easily." She turned to Merlin and placed her hand over his. "Please take it easy." She said with a smile.
"Of course." Merlin said with a nod. He took the tray and headed for the Kings chambers. When Merlin walked in Arthur noticed him he seemed almost surprised. "You're up early." Merlin stated.
"I could say the same to you." He replied. Merlin began to clean up the room while Arthur ate and looked over some papers. Merlin looked over Arthur's shoulder and saw he was looking at a large map, marking out a trail.
"Are you going hunting again?" Merlin asked confused.
"Um, no, actually kind of." The King said stumbling over his words. Merlin looked at Arthur suspiciously.
"What do you mean, 'kind of'?" Merlin questioned.
"Nothing for you to worry about." He answered quickly.
"Arthur." Merlin scolded looking at him sternly. Arthur sighed.
"We're going on a search for the sorcerer," Arthur started. "I let him get away once." Merlin shook his head.
"I don't think we have to worry about him much." Merlin said under his breath, but Arthur heard it anyway.
"Why would you say that?" Arthur questioned. Merlin thought quickly.
"When you stabbed me…" Merlin started but saw a flinch and flash of sadness in the young Kings face. "When you stabbed the sorcerer," Merlin rephrased. "He was wounded as well, I believe he didn't make it."
"I trust you," Arthur stated. "But to ease my own mind I will keep looking for a bit longer." The King said Merlin nodded not arguing. "While we're gone you can polish my armor, clean and sharpen my swords…"
"Done." Merlin said with a smile.
"Wash and mend my clothes…"
"Done." Merlin stated again.
"Fine! While we're gone, you can muck out the stable." Arthur said with a smile.
"You've got to be kidding me." Merlin stated annoyed.
"I'm not."
/
A few hours later Merlin finished quicker then he thought. He cleaned himself up and headed into his room. Arthur would be gone most of the afternoon so he curled up on his bed and grabbed his magic book. Flipping through and doing a few small spells to clean his own room.
"Merlin!" Gaius called out. "You have a visitor." He said. Merlin quickly hid his book under his covers and ran to the door. Stepping down the few stairs he looked up to see Saoirse in a dark blue dress. Her hair and make-up was done up very nicely and she didn't even look like the same girl who saved him in the woods, except for her blue eyes. In her hands she held a think, leather bound book.
"Wow, look at you!" Merlin said with a smirk. Saoirse smiled and tossed her blonde hair back.
"I know how to be royal when need be." She teased.
"The last time I saw you, Princess Saoirse, you were only up to my waist." Gaius said with a smile and Saoirse laughed.
"Arthur pushed me into the lake, I almost froze to death." She laughed. "But of course you helped me." She said looking kindly as Gaius. Looking down at her hands Gaius looked at her sternly.
"Why would you bring a magic book here?" He questioned her. Saoirse eyes grew wide looking at Merlin quickly but back at the older man.
"I don't know what you're talking about," She said quickly covering the book with her hands. "It's a cookbook!" She stated with a smile. Merlin couldn't help but laugh. He knew Gaius was just messing with the young girl in a way.
"Merlin, what did you do!" Gaius scolded turning to the boy who threw his hands up quickly
"Why do you think I did something wrong?" Merlin questioned in return. Gaius gave him a hard look.
"It's me!" Saoirse said quickly. "It's mine, the book…"
"It's alright, Saoirse." Merlin said looking to Gaius. "She has magic too." He stated.
"So you know about him?" Saoirse asked and Gaius nodded.
"Yes, but I never would've guessed you." Saoirse smiled.
"I've never been able to tell anyone before," She said quietly. "It's quite nice." She said and Gaius placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Just be careful." He said. "Both of you! I don't want to see either of you doing something stupid and getting killed for it." Grabbing his bag. "There's some things I need to tend to in the lower castle, so I'll be back late." Gaius said heading to the door he stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Don't blow anything up." He said then left.
Merlin and Saoirse looked at each other and smiled.
"I wanted to give this to you." She said handing the book to him.
"I couldn't," Merlin said. "Your mother gave it to you."
"I have these memorized." She smiled. Merlin took the book, it was the same one he looked at many nights ago. "I hope you have a good place to hide it." Merlin nodded.
"Thank you." Merlin flipped through some of the paged, he couldn't wait to look through it later. "I've seen you with Gwaine quite a bit." Merlin started looking up with a smirk. "You two seem really nice together."
"He's nice," She said blushing. "He makes me laugh. What more could a girl ask for." Saoirse smiled.
"Maybe you should just stay here." He stated.
"I wish I could," Saoirse started. "But it's not my home." Merlin closed the book and nodded. "I was wondering if you wanted to take a walk with me?" Saoirse asked. "I figured that Arthur was away maybe I could steal you. I've barely seen you these last few days."
"Did you miss me?" Merlin asked in a teasing voice.
"Immensely." Saoirse said seriously. Merlin smiled and nodded. He put the books away and joined Saoirse.
/
Saoirse and Merlin walked among the people of Camelot. They talked quietly among themselves as they walked, laughing and silently talking about magic once in a while when they were out of view of other people.
Saoirse walked close with Merlin. Saoirse arm laced with Merlin's and their hands together at their sides. Saoirse looked around confused and became very quiet.
"Why are they all looking at us?" She questioned. Merlin smirked.
"Royalty doesn't hold hands with their servants." He stated bringing their hands to show his point.
"But you are no servant to me, Merlin." Saoirse said loud enough for the others around them to hear. "You are my friend and I walk with you the way I walk with my sister." She said proudly.
"You like to give people something to talk about don't you?" Merlin asked and she laughed.
"Main reason my father never look to me to take the thrown. My older sister and her husband will rule someday." She stated. "My father looked up to Uther immensely, when he got word of his death he wept for him. He never shed a tear when my mother died." She stated. "He shared Uther's beliefs in magic. The kingdoms ruled very sternly."
"Is that why you left without an escort?" Merlin asked as the reached the end of Camelot and headed into the green pasture.
"I'll have to tell you another time of that." Saoirse stated. "Gwen said you looked tired this morning," She said looking over at him. "She was wrong you look absolutely exhausted. Have you not slept?" She asked. Merlin took a deep breath and shook his head no. "Maybe ask Gaius for a sleeping drought?"
"I did," Merlin said. "Every night I take one but it doesn't help." He stated.
"What do you dream?" She asked. Merlin hesitated and Saoirse stopped and smiled at him. "Come now, surly you can tell me. Maybe I can help." Merlin sighed heavily and explained briefly the event that haunted him.
"But last night wasn't the same," Merlin said. "He spoke words I never heard him say before." You can't get rid of me. I'm still in your head. The voice echoed in his head sending a shiver down his spine. Saoirse must have felt it and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Maybe it's something you just started to remember…" Merlin shook his head.
"No, everything plays out the same. It never changed, like a never ending loop." He explained.
"Perhaps he's still alive." Again Merlin shook his head.
"No, I know who killed him, maybe they can help me." Merlin said grabbing Saoirse hand he began to run into the thick forest. The dragon's chant on the end of his tongue.
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AN: Hope you like, thanks for all the Favorites, Alerts and Reviews again! 3333