Date: July

POV: Merlin

Stimulus word: Running

Dedication: Becky, who introduced me to the rather fabulous band who inspired this :)

AN: This is based on The Script's song 'Rusty Halo'. Enjoy :)

Everyone, Merlin reflected, is running from something.

Everyone.

Look at Arthur, for example; he runs from himself. Perpetually petrified at the thought of – for one second – revealing who he his; a terrified boy on a horse with a stick, in love with a servant girl and best friends with his manservant. Horrified. Frightened. Paranoid.

Then there's Morgana, who runs from what lies hidden beneath her perfect face, buried deep – but not deep enough – into her shuddering, sleepless core. Secret. Magic. Even the word makes her feel sick. Disgusted. Helpless. Restless.

And Gwen. Gwen, the poor, powerless servant girl, hopelessly in love with the man who will one day rule her world – and is so desperately in denial that she refuses to admit that he does anyway. Why should he need that crown when he already governs her heart? Not, of course, that she governs his. Hopeless. Angry. Nervous.

And, of course, there's Uther; he runs from the past. His encounter with the sorcerer Nimueh has left him half the man he was – or, rather, it had stripped him bear… and new, unpleasant skin had been slapped on the top, violently misleading and hatefully scornful. Powerful. Terrifying. Confused.

And they all keep running and running and running…