Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Merlin characters.
AN: (Any and all mistakes are completely my own.)
One of those Days
Chapter 9
And then he coughed softly.
Merlin coughed.
-o-o-
A thousand lights surrounded him. For a moment, Merlin thought that he was standing underneath a too bright sky in the middle of the night. And only then did he remember where he was... inside the Light. That horrible Light that was slowly killing him.
He was dying. Again and again and again. The moment never ended and Merlin couldn't make it end, no matter how hard he tried or how long he wished for it to stop. When the pain was growing more intense, Merlin sucked in a deep breath, preparing himself for the next part.
For a second, just one second, everything went dark. No pain, no thoughts, no emotions. And then it all restarted and Merlin, again, needed a moment to remember where he was.
Inside the Light.
Again.
It never ended.
And then it did.
As he breathed in deep, the air filling his lungs was more fresh than he remembered it to be. It was cold as well and a sting inside his chest rose. He coughed. He actually coughed! He didn't even know he still able to do so.
As the feeling in his arms and legs slowly returned, Merlin started to hear noises. Voices. What was happening? He wanted to open his eyes, but it seemed he simply felt too tired to even do so. Sighing, he let himself slip back into the darkness and he realized that this time, it would last. The darkness would swallow him and he would finally be able to rest.
Merlin drifted off into a deep sleep, not fully aware of what had just happened.
-o-o-
"What did you do?" Arthur demanded to know. He felt a gush of cold air pass him, suddenly seeing Gwen rush by him. He would have taken her arm, he would have pulled her back and away from the Dragon, but she was too fast.
She kneeled down next to Merlin an took his head into her hands, having it resting in her lap. She gazed up to meet the Dragon's gaze and smiled softly. "Thank you."
Arthur turned his head to see that Lancelot came to stand next to him, unsure of what he was supposed to do now. The Prince could see that he wanted to join Gwen, but he was untrusting of the Dragon. Arthur couldn't blame him. This Dragon could not be trusted after all as he had nearly destroyed Camelot once.
Arthur swallowed heavily. Merlin had told him that he had killed the Dragon, but now it was all a lie. Was there anything that was true about his servant?
"You brought him back," Lancelot spoke, his voice rough, "why not all the others that have died?"
Arthur gazed from Lancelot to the Dragon and back. His thoughts immediately went to his father. Perhaps the Dragon could bring back the King? Perhaps Arthur still had some hope at getting his father back.
The Dragon's eyes closed for a moment, his breath coming out in long and warm exhales. When he opened his eyes again, Arthur could have sworn they were filled with sadness.
"A lot of people have lost their lives," he spoke, "and I can not bring them back."
"But Merlin-"
"Is the last Dragonlord," the Dragon spoke, interrupting Arthur, "only that bond between us allowed me to bring him back."
Arthur swallowed heavily. The last Dragonlord? Was there anything Arthur truly knew about him? Memories came floating back to him, memories that were all starting to make sense now. This explained why Merlin had been upset when Balinor had died or why Arthur had seen his servant around the entrance of the cave underneath the castle so many times.
The Dragon crouched down and pushed himself up, lifting up from the ground. After only a short moment, he appeared to be nothing more than a large bird in the sky. Arthur wanted to have more answers, he wanted to know what exactly was happening to Merlin, if he truly would be okay now, but the Dragon was gone.
Arthur and Lancelot rushed to Gwen's side. Looking down at Merlin, Arthur couldn't believe that his friend was truly back. His skin still looked gray-like and dark circles underneath his eyes betrayed how tired he was.
"We have to get him to Gaius," Gwen said, pushing back some the black hair of the young sorcerer, "he has a fever."
Arthur only nodded. It was Lancelot who helped Gwen stand up while Arthur hoisted his servant up into his arms. Merlin might not look like it, but he was still very heavy. It didn't matter, though, all that mattered was that he was back.
-o-o-
Gaius had just been placing his books in order when he first heard the footsteps. They were heavy and rushed and heading towards him. The old physician turned towards the door, expecting a sick citizen to enter, needing help and medicine.
But what he saw made his heart skip a beat. Arthur entered first, Merlin in his arms. Sweat had collected itself on the forehead of the Prince and he was breathing heavily. As he lay down Merlin on the small bed in the corner of the chamber, he gazed at Gaius.
"Help him," he almost begged.
Gaius was too stunned to move. As Gwen and Lancelot entered as well, Gaius squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them again, he wished for all of them to be gone. He wanted to be alone again, have this daydream ended where he was about to get Merlin back.
They were still there, though, and Merlin was still laying motionless on the bed. Could it really be that he was back? That he was alive again?
"Gaius," Gwen said softly, coming to stand before him, "he's truly alive."
Her warm smile convinced Gaius that this was real. He wasn't going to wake up from this dream to find Merlin still gone. Rushing to the side of his young ward, he started checking his pulse and temperature.
"Will he be okay?" Arthur asked. He kept his distance from Gaius, wanting him to have all the room he needed.
Gaius didn't say anything for a long moment until he straightened his back and turned to gaze at the three young friends. The corners of his lips turned up into a small smile. "He will be," he answered, "he needs a lot of rest, but he'll live."
"That's all I wanted to hear," Gwen sighed in relief.
-o-o-
Arthur gazed at the wooden doors before him. They were still closed, but the Prince knew that they would soon open. He had hated leaving behind his friend, but he still had duties. As he would become King in a few days, a lot of people wanted to speak to him.
Taking in a deep breath, he waited patiently until two loud knocks filled the chamber. Arthur rose from his seat and called out. "Enter!"
The doors opened and two guards walked in. Between them, a man stood. He was older looking, his hair between gray and brown. His dark blue eyes spoke only kindness and a warm smiled filled his face. His robe was long, but just not long enough to be touching the floor as he walked forward.
Arthur swallowed heavily. His father would have had the head of this man immediately or he would at least have him arrested instantly. Arthur felt that he needed to suppress those urge as well.
"My Lord," the man bowed deeply as he spoke.
"You must be Ghalen," Arthur said. He was surprised to find his own voice this distant.
"Yes," Ghalen simply answered, "thank you for offering me this chance to talk to you."
Arthur remained silent. It had only been a day since he had considered magic to be allowed to return in the lands of Camelot again. This decision wasn't formal yet, but immediately, Arthur had received a request to meet with this man.
"I am sorry for your losses," Ghalen spoke softly, "these have been difficult times."
"Don't tell me you regret the death of my father," Arthur said, "he has killed so many of your kind."
Ghalen simply nodded. "We have indeed lost many lives," he sighed, "but so have you."
Arthur frowned. He shouldn't be looking into the words of this man, but he had the strange sensation that Ghalen knew something he did not.
"You have no reason to hate the Druids," Ghalen continued speaking, "we have never done anything to harm you."
"But magic has tried many times," Arthur countered. He remembered all the times when he had been facing death because of it.
"It protected you," Ghalen smiled, "more than you know."
"I do not understand," Arthur said as he took a step forward. He gazed into the man's eyes, trying to see if he was telling the truth or not.
"You have lost him as well," Ghalen sighed, his smile having disappeared. Arthur swallowed heavily.
"Merlin?" he asked carefully.
The Druid only nodded. "He protected us all, did he not?" Ghalen crossed his hands before him.
"You know about Merlin?" Arthur wanted answers, he had wanted them ever since his servant jumped into that Light, and this man seemed able to give them.
"I did not know him as Merlin," Ghalen said, "his name among the Druids was Emerys."
Arthur was lost for words. What else had Merlin not told him about his life? What else had he hidden or...forgot to mention? Arthur sighed with frustration
"He's not dead," the Prince said, casting his gaze down, "he's alive." Looking back up to meet Ghalen's eyes, he saw the Druid smile.
"I'm pleased to hear that," he said, "but I don't understand."
"It's a long story," Arthur simply said. It was indeed a very long story, but he certainly didn't want to share it with this man who he barely knew. That and he was a still a Druid.
"Then it is true," Ghalen spoke, still smiling.
"What is?" Arthur's eyes were nothing more than two thin lines. He was starting to believe that all those that possessed magic spoke in riddles, that it wasn't just something Merlin did.
"That he is very powerful," Ghalen said, "you are very lucky to have him as your friend."
"Have you ever met Merlin?" Arthur asked, feeling as if this Ghalen knew Merlin better than him.
Arthur was starting to believe that he didn't know Merlin at all.
"No," Ghalen answered him, "but I have heard a lot of stories."
"I am sure that he is not the reason that you're here, though,"Arthur moved to sit down again.
"That's true," Ghalen admitted, "I am here to show you that the Druids mean you or no one else any harm."
"That is what you wanted to tell me?"
"Yes," Ghalen took a step towards the Prince, "because you'll be King soon and you can actually make some changes."
Arthur swallowed heavily. The thought of having to deal with this made him feel strangely nauseous. He had only just lost his father and now this whole magic-thing was simply too much.
Ghalen seemed to sense that Arthur was not up for this yet.
"I should not take up more of your time," Ghalen bowed his head deeply.
Arthur wanted to protest, he wanted to ask more questions about Merlin, but he could only watch Ghalen leave him in silence. The young Prince sighed. Was there truly no ordinary day in Camelot?
AN: another chapter is done. I know you guys had to wait a long, long time for this one. I'm sorry for that. I hope this was a good chapter... It seems Arthur is learning a lot of Merlin's secrets, but how will that effect his relationship with the young warlock?
You'll find out soon... :)
