Cold as Death - Chapter Seven

When Arthur goes to visit him, he's on his way to being numb.

He sees him on the cot, a stationary form with a sheet drawn across it. At first, he's reluctant to pull it back, because if he keeps the body hidden, it could be anyone. It could be a knight, or a sickly peasant, or even a noble – anyone but Merlin.

But he does, eventually – for his friend. Because he hadn't been able to say goodbye. Because he respects Merlin more than that. Because he wants to see him one last time.

He regrets it.

When he pulls the sheet back, Merlin's cold, motionless face hits him like a storm, his lips blue, his eyelids sunken; Arthur is aware of pressing a hand to his mouth as he realises that Merlin is dead. He looks more dead than Arthur has ever seen anyone, and it makes him feel sick to his stomach.

He must have started shaking at some point because Gaius is guiding him into a chair, his own withered gaze coming to meet the prince's. Arthur stares back, shell-shocked. Merlin, his bumbling, omnipresent manservant, has been torn away from him by magic.

No. By Morgana Pendragon.

Never before has he wanted so much to see his sister dead.

"Sire," Gaius begins, possibly about to say something comforting, but soon he himself is lost for words. Shaking his head, he moves over to Merlin's room, retreating into the dark depths and returning with a letter in hand. "Arthur." He tries again, coming to stand by the blonde's side. "Merlin, he wanted you to have this, if he ever… if he ever couldn't tell you himself."

Arthur takes the letter in his hand, staring and the scrawling loop of his manservant's handwriting on the front. Prince Prat, it reads, and Arthur can't supress a smile.

He takes the letter back to his room, clasped tightly in between his fingers, and doesn't dare open it until he is ready. He removes his boots; he lights his fire; he chew emptily on a piece of bread from the kitchens. He quietly completes all of Merlin's jobs. Then, in a chair by the fire, he slices the letter open with only his thumb.

The writing is neat, revised, but still written with vigour. He touches the curls of his letters, silent.

Arthur,

If you are reading this, it means I am no longer by your side. I am sorry for this, but you must know everything I ever did was to protect you, clotpole or no. You must know this, before you read on.

I'm going to tell you a story, about a little boy born in Ealdor. His father had left his mother with child a long time ago, on the run from a king with a grudge against him. She gave birth to him in a small hut, on the dirt of the floor. Her name was Hunith, and she named him Merlin.

Soon it became apparent that Merlin was different. His mother would be busying herself, and then things would be flying across the room, dancing in the air. And whenever she looked down into her baby's cot, his eyes were shining gold.

Yes Arthur. I was born with magic.

I was unlike other magic users. I could use it without speaking any words. It frightened my mother, because she knew the people of Ealdor would be frightened of me. She kept it hidden from everyone. Yet one day, my best friend Will found out – I hope you remember Will, because not only did he die for you, but he died for me. He covered for me that day in Ealdor, so that I could continue serving you.

Nevertheless, when my mother found out, she sent me to Camelot – to Gaius, an old friend of hers. She hoped he would help me control my magic. However, within several days, I found myself before the Great Dragon, who spoke of a destiny I had to fulfil – the destiny of The Once and Future King, and The Greatest Warlock to Ever Live.

That's you Arthur. And, that's me.

It is my destiny to serve and protect you, to help you become the great king you are destined to be. You and I are meant to unite Albion and bring magic back to the land. And I have protected ever since that day with Lady Helen, do you remember? The king assigned me your manservant. God, I was horrified. You were such a prat.

So I want you to know this. Even without the destiny, even without the magic, I would still protect you. Because you're a great man Arthur, and you will be a great king. And I consider you my friend.

I hope you won't hate me Arthur, for lying to you. I'm sorry. I won't say I had to, despite the death sentence that comes with magic, but I hope you can understand. This does not mean I didn't trust you. I suppose in a way, it was another way to protect you.

I suppose you're now thinking about all the times a branch suspiciously fell, or a sword hilt burnt a bandit's hand, or perhaps a rock fall crushed many soldiers. Yes, that was me. All those mysterious monsters and mythical creatures that attacked Camelot and then died – yep. And, as much as I hate to say it, I knew about Morgana long before anyone else. I couldn't tell you, because you'd have had my head. I shielded her from you in secret.

No, I'm not asking for credit. I just know you'd be fuming if I didn't tell you how many times I've saved your royal behind.

Also, I just had to get you back for all those times you called me an idiot/useless/clumsy. You cabbage-head.

There is one more thing I think you must know. Do you remember the Great Dragon that attacked Camelot? His name is Kilgarrah, and no, he is not dead. The man who ran from Ealdor, while my mother was with child – his name was Balinor. My father was the last dragonlord, and upon his death, I inherited his power. I sent the dragon from Camelot, only ever to return at my command. I couldn't kill him Arthur, I didn't have it in me. I'm sorry for all the lies.

I obviously don't know how I died, but I hope I have not caused you too much trouble. I hope you can forgive me for everything. And I hope that now you can see that magic can be used for good – it is not magic that is evil, only the hearts of men.

I hope that with my death I have fulfilled my destiny. I hope that you will live to a ripe old kingly age, and that peace can now fall over Albion.

I have said it once and I will say it again: I'm happy to be your servant, until the day I die.

And now that day has come.

Goodbye Arthur. If your friendship is anything to go by, you will be a well-loved king.

Merlin.

Arthur stares at the words. He lays the letter in his lap. And he cries.


It's months later when King Uther falls. Arthur sheds only some tears, and then he steps up to the throne, kneels down onto the marble, and lets the crown be set on his head.

All the knights remember Gwaine. The speak of him like a legend; reminisce over all his drunken nights and hung-over days. When Arthur sets up the round table, he leaves a chair empty. But what almost every warrior notices, is that he pours his own wine. He ties his own boots. He sharpens his own sword. He has a servant, yes, but he is ordered to do the bare minimum. Arthur couldn't face waking up to someone other than Merlin.

One the second week of his reign, the king gathers the nobles in the court. He makes eye contact with Gwen, with Leon, and then with Gaius. He clears his throat, straightens his papers, and addresses the room with a large voice.

"We lost a brave man recently, an honourable man." Several men bow their heads, remembering Sir Gwaine. "He wasn't a knight, and he wasn't a noble." Gaius' head snaps up. "He was a servant. And not only was he a servant, but he was a sorcerer."

There's collected murmuring, and Gwen closes her eyes, fists clenched. Arthur had told her everything, but that didn't make this any easier. She had lost Merlin, her best friend. Nothing would make this easier.

"In fact, he was a powerful sorcerer. One of the most powerful. A warlock. And yet, he was nothing but loyal – he did not have a single traitorous bone in his body. He protected and served the kingdom until the day he died.

"Merlin spent his life protecting me so that I could become a great king and unite the lands of Albion. I intend to fulfil his dream. And to do this, I need to make some changes. And in honor of Merlin, this will be the first.

"Today, I bring peace back to Camelot. Today, I lift the ban on magic."

FIN


A/N I hope you liked the ending, and I'm sorry for the feels. I must be getting to bed, so I'm sorry for not replying to reviews, but I promise I will! I'll update it again tomorrow with answers to all.

This is also unedited. Thank you for reading.

-tapeandblades