Hey everyone! Sorry the chapters are taking a little longer, I do have school and its a bit taxing at the moment. I'm trying to get a chapter up once a week, so be happy! :D Anywho, I don't own Merlin, please review, I love reviews! Thanks for reading!
Merlin bit his lip and answered uncertainly, "To be honest, I'm not sure. They may try to take you back, or they may try to….destroy you." Gwen frowned worriedly and turned to Morgana and said,
"Are you sure you want to do this? I've only just gotten you back, Morgana, and you're my best friend." Morgana smiled sadly at her.
"I have to, I think," Morgana answered, "And if it will save the rest of you it may be the best thing for me to do...I owe you a lot."
"Isn't there another way?" Gwen asked Merlin. He shrugged.
"Not unless you know another sword forged in the dragon's breath," he replied simply. Gwen glared at him, which made Merlin flinch, since he almost never held a reproachful gaze from kindly Gwen. Morgana interrupted their silent messages and said firmly,
"I'd like to go now." Gwen tore her gaze away from Merlin and looked at her.
"But you can't! Morgana, you don't have to do this, we'll find another way-"
"The longer we wait, the stronger Mordred and the lake spirits get and none of you can afford that kind of time," she said quietly, "And besides, I deserve it. For everything I've done, so many people I've killed and manipulated and changed, I deserve it." She looked incredibly guilty. Merlin looked at her seriously, and told her,
"No, I don't think you deserve it. Not quite. I'm sure the universe has paid you its due, Morgana." He tilted her chin up, "We started fresh. No one here deserves to die." She gave him a weak smile and stood up a little straighter.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Merlin asked her, "Once you answer yes, there's no going back. Understand?"
Morgana nodded. "I do. If it will save you all, I will." Gwen looked close to tears.
"I'm sorry, Morgana," she apologized, "I'm sorry for what happened to you. And I'm sorry we couldn't reverse it." Morgana hugged her tightly and touched the back of her neck with a finger, her eyes glowing gold for a minute. Gwen collapsed in her arms.
"What did you do?" Merlin asked anxiously, immediately on alert.
"Don't look at me like that, haven't I proved myself enough already?" Morgana snapped, "I'm just putting her to sleep so she doesn't have to come. I don't want this to be harder than it already is, for any of us." Merlin pursed his lips and nodded. He scooped Gwen up in his arms and they found some of the knights in a matter of minutes. Gwaine, Percival, and Leon were the knights, and they were in the only bar in town. Surprise, surprise.
Merlin explained to them a story about Gwen fainting from the sun reflecting off the snow in the village and into her eyes for too long, and giving her some reaction that he had made up. It wasn't a real diagnosis, but it would suffice to get them to carry her home so that Morgana and Merlin could go to the lake without her. The knights quickly agreed, but Gwaine eyed Merlin warily.
"Merlin, what are you up to?" he asked.
"Me? Nothing! Why would you think I was up to something?" Merlin's ears turned red as he crossed his arms defensively.
"You're a horrible liar," Gwaine said, his words slurring slightly, "Seriously." Leon and Percival's eyes went to Gwaine and then to Merlin and back again like they were watching a tennis match.
"And you're an idiot."
"Thanks. So what are you doing?"
"Nothing, I have to take Morgana to the store to get her another….uh, thing, like girl stuff, so you can't come."
"You're not a girl, Merlin."
"You call me one all the time. "
"You're almost there, but you're not. Can't Morgana shop for herself?"
Merlin rolled his eyes and leaned in like he was telling them a secret. "She doesn't know how to get the right bra, she needs help." Morgana heard and smacked him across the back of the head with her hand. "Ow…." he moaned. Gwaine was laughing at both of them, and Percival and Leon looked a bit disturbed.
"Go on, Merlin," Gwaine laughed them out the door, "We'll look after Gwen. Happy bra shopping!" Merlin and Morgana scowled on the way out and Morgana turned to him when they left and hissed,
"Bras? Really? I think I know how to pick out a bra better than you do and you've been here longer than I have! Couldn't you have come up with something better than that?"
Merlin shrugged, smirking at her, "Sorry. I told them once when Arthur and I were sneaking out of the castle that I was teaching him poetry." Morgana's scowl curled up into a smirk matching Merlin's.
"What were you and Arthur sneaking out of the castle for?" Merlin playfully scowled at her.
"Get your head out of the gutter, Morgana," he teased. She chuckled, having understood the joke after Gwen explained it to her when Merlin said it to Gwaine a couple of times.
((()))
Morgana and Merlin found themselves on the island soon enough, having walked across the lake magically. The lake practically hissed under their feet. Merlin stood at the edge of the island when they got there and called out,
"Spirits of the lake, come forward! I have a trade to offer!" At first nothing happened, but the familiar mounting shape of water formed the figure of Agravaine. Morgana hissed in dissatisfaction.
"My Lady," he said coldly, no respect in his voice, "And Merlin. What have you to offer? You know what we want?" Merlin stood straighter and replied,
"In return for the sword, Excalibur, we will give you the lady, Morgana." Morgana swallowed nervously behind him. Agravaine chuckled.
"You believe we would give you the weapon for our downfall for the priestess?" he asked, sounding amused.
"Yes," Merlin said, semi-confidently, "Imagine how much more powerful you would be with her. She could control Mordred much more efficiently, and make him stronger. He may even be resistant to the sword."
"And why would I believe you would give us an advantage?" Merlin turned to Morgana and winked almost imperceptibly. She caught it, but showed no sign that she did. Merlin would have to hope that she did understand what he had to say now.
"Because we need to get rid of her," he said, with a disgusted look on her face, "She hurt all of us beyond repair and she's caused nothing but trouble. And I'm tired. I want this over and done with." Agravaine raised an eyebrow. He was starting to believe him, but wasn't quite there yet.
"So what do you need with the sword?"
"Personally, I'd like to make sure no one can use it again," Merlin lied, "Arthur's still an arrogant pighead, I can't let him or anyone use it! But what if they were to figure out how to get it out of the lake successfully? They'd go on a rampage."
"So why not just bring us Arthur?"
"Because I can't yet," he struggled to find an answer, "And it can't be me. It has to look like an accident, or that it wasn't me, it was Mordred."
Agravaine raised both his eyebrows now. "I don't believe you."
"Well then I'll just kill Morgana here and now and no one can have her. I'd like to get rid of everyone else as soon as possible though, I don't know about you, and she's the most efficient person to do it." He shrugged. "But do what you like." He turned to Morgana, hands outstretched as if he was about to blast her, and Agravaine shouted,
"Wait!" Merlin turned back to him and saw his figure was changing. Morgause quickly took his place. Morgana decided to make this a bit more believable to and rushed to her sister.
"Morgause!" she exclaimed, hugging the watery figure, "Please take me back, I don't want to die for nothing!" she begged. Morgause glared at Merlin.
"He would kill you without batting an eyelash," she spat, "He's done it before." Merlin felt guilt weigh in his heart as he remembered poisoning his friend so long ago, but for good reason. He still regretted that and always would. It wasn't a pleasant memory.
"All you have to give me is the sword," Merlin said slowly, grabbing Morgana by the arm gently to take her away from Morgause, "And then you can have her back."
"It won't do you any good," she hissed, "Once Morgana is in control of Mordred, there's no way you can stop him."
"That's not why I want it, weren't you listening?" Merlin lied, "I'm tired, I want to get rid of my burdens of friends and die already. I need to destroy the sword." He crossed his arms, "So if its no good to me anyway, why can't I have it?"
Morgause frowned and put a hand on Morgana's arm. "Give her to me."
"Give me the sword."
"Morgana!" she said loudly, "Get rid of him!" Morgana tugged her arm out of both of their grips and raised her hands at Merlin so that her back was to Morgause. She mouthed 'Sorry' and looked incredibly guilty as she blasted him with her magic. His world went dark in a matter of seconds and the last thing he saw was the water swallowing Morgana.
((()))
"What happened?" Arthur asked when Gwaine walked in with an unconscious Gwen.
"She passed out from the snow or something," Leon explained. Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"Who told you that?"
"Merlin."
"That's bullshit, then, he was hiding something. Who was he with?"
"Morgana. He was taking her bra shopping or something…" Gwaine laughed. When Gwaine set Gwen down, Arthur took Gwaine by the shoulders and shook him.
"That was total garbage, Gwaine! Couldn't you tell he was hiding something?"
"Well kind of, but I'd had a few drinks…."
"Leon? Percival? None of you noticed something was wrong?" Arthur demanded. Freya came up next to him and asked,
"What's wrong?"
"I think Merlin's gone off with Morgana to the lake. I think she...I think she…crap…." Arthur muttered, putting a hand on his forehead. He had put together the story quickly and Freya widened her eyes.
"Why is he going to the lake?"
"Long story, I can't...I gotta go. Idiot's gonna get himself killed," he cursed. Arthur grabbed his grey hoodie with a black dragon in the middle and threw it on, heading towards the door. Freya caught his arm.
"I'm coming with you."
"No you're not. It's-"
"Too dangerous? Arthur Pendragon, you know me better than that!" she fumed, "I'm probably in better shape to go than you are, and I have magic, and you don't. You're going to need my help if Merlin's in magical trouble, which he probably is." The knights looked at Arthur, expecting a reply. The only ones not present were Gwen and Gaius.
Arthur hesitated before breathing out slowly and then replying with dissatisfaction, "Fine. But we're going right now."
"Okay, I'm ready when you are," she chirped.
"What about us?" Gwaine interrupted, "Merlin's our friend, too!" Arthur glared at Gwaine.
"You lot," he said, gesturing to the men, "Need to keep Gaius and Gwen safe and watch Mordred. If he breaks out, its up to you all to make sure he doesn't cause any trouble." Gwaine opened his mouth as if to protest, but then Percival put his hand over Gwaine's big mouth.
"We'll keep them safe, Arthur," he told his friend, "You may not be king anymore, but we will still follow you." As he said this, he looked pointedly at Gwaine and steered him away, Bear following in their footsteps, his tail wagging stupidly. The rest of the knights piled out, but Leon put a hand on Arthur's shoulder.
"Good luck, Arthur," he said, "And take this, just in case." He slid a dagger into Arthur's hand. It wouldn't be much protection, but it was better than nothing and wouldn't draw as much attention as a sword was. Arthur nodded and thanked him, slipping the dagger into his leather boots. Normally, he would be wearing his Converse, but he had slipped on the more practical shoes as they were all talking. Leon nodded at him and went to join the others.
"Let's go," Arthur said as soon as he'd left, steering Freya out the door.
((()))
Merlin was in darkness. He did not dream. He barely had thoughts. He could not see or move or open his eyes. He felt a sharp something by his hand, cutting into it slightly, but he couldn't move to see what it was or stop it from giving him tiny cuts as it moved back and forth as if with the tide.
He stayed like this for a while, or so he thought. It could have been hours or just a few minutes, but he had no idea. But suddenly he was being shaken awake. Someone far away was saying his name. Two someones, in fact. Or was it more? He wasn't sure.
"Merlin!" one called, "Merlin, come on!"
"Don't do this to us, Merlin!" another called to him. This went on for a few minutes before finally he heard something that was enough to wake him.
"MERLIN!" It was followed by a particularly hard shake with strong hands and Merlin's eyes were forced open.
Arthur's face was prominent out of the two, having been the one to be holding his shoulders to shake him awake. As Merlin's eyes focused, he saw Freya was behind him, peering over to see if he was okay.
"Oh thank God…" Arthur breathed. He pulled Merlin up and hugged him tightly. At first he was surprised and a little disoriented, but soon his arms wrapped tightly around his best friend.
"Oh hi," Merlin finally said. Freya looked like she'd been crying and her hands were covering her mouth. Arthur didn't let go for another two minutes before holding Merlin out at arm's length. He looked angry and relieved at the same time.
"Don't-don't do that to me!" he complained loudly, "We thought you were dead!"
Merlin rolled his eyes playfully. "Fifteen hundred years hasn't killed me, did you really think I couldn't live through another day?" Arthur smacked him weakly and then released him to let Freya have her way with him. Freya hugged him tightly too, her thin arms around Merlin's neck and her voice shaking. She buried her head in his shoulder and he stroked her hair slowly, trying to coax her into calming down. Merlin glanced up at Arthur and saw him not looking at him, but rather at something next to him. They all stood eventually, brushing the dust off their pants (a skirt in Freya's case), and Arthur leaned down and picked up the hilt of a familiar sword.
"How did you get them to give it to us?" he asked quietly, "Did Morgana really-?"
"Yes. She did and I think she must have convinced Morgause to give it to us. They think it's no use to us and that I have no interest in killing Mordred, but-" Merlin's lips curled up into a smirk, "I lied." Arthur grinned, examining his old sword.
"I'm probably rusty by now...I'm going to have to get some training sessions in when we get back. Shouldn't take me too long to get back into the habit now." He thrust it forward away from them several times and looked incredibly happy to be holding it again.
Freya was quiet, but asked, "Did they believe you?"
"Not quite, I don't think. They may have wanted to believe me, but to be honest, I think they wanted Morgana back more than they were letting on," Merlin said thoughtfully. Freya nodded and smiled at him again. He smiled back and then turned back to Arthur, who lunged at him with Excalibur.
"Woah there, friend," Merlin warned, putting his finger gently on the top of the blade, "Don't run me through, now." Arthur smirked, suddenly remembering something.
"Do I know you?" Merlin grinned in remembrance of the same moment.
"My name's Merlin."
"So I don't know you?"
"No."
"And yet you call me friend?"
"You're right. I could never have a friend who's such an ass."
"Tell me, Merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees?" Merlin's grin got wider as he backed away from Arthur walking towards him. "Would you like to learn how? "
"I really wouldn't do that if I were you," Merlin said quietly.
"Why not? I could take you apart in one blow," Arthur replied, his lips twitching into a smirk.
"I could take you apart in less than that." Freya made a disapproving noise behind them, but she looked amused.
"Oh yeah? Try me," Arthur said, his face now very close to Merlin's. Merlin backed up slightly and fake aimed a punch at him and Arthur grabbed his arm and twisted it around his back. He growled in his ear,
"I could have you arrested for that."
"Who do you think you are, the king?"
"No, I'm his son, Arthur." Merlin was about to make a snarky reply when Freya threw her hands up in mock exasperation.
"Oh stop with the flirting, it's making me sick!" she laughed. Arthur smiled mischievously and released Merlin, who had a wide grin on his face from amusement. His face suddenly cleared and turned dark as he turned to Arthur.
"Hang on. Arthur, Freya, why are you here?" They both looked confused.
"We came to save you…." Arthur said quietly.
"This is the worst possible place for you to be, you idiot!" Merlin reprimanded. Arthur flinched as if he'd been hit.
"Not if I'm with you and Freya-"
"Do you realize how much more danger you've put yourselves in? They want you back in the lake and I just threw them Morgana to prevent that!" He turned to Freya, "Why did you let him come?" Her eyes widened as she stammered,
"I didn't...I just…he was coming to get you and I volunteered to come with him….and so did everyone else but he only let me come….and there was absolutely nothing anyone could do to stop him, I promise…"
"Okay, we have to get you back, now," Merlin demanded. He grabbed them both by the arm and ran with them across the water. The lake hissed around the time they were halfway across the lake and seemed to notice they were there. It started to send water shooting up and soon that water turned into long ribbons, all aimed at grabbing Arthur. Merlin pulled him closer to himself and held on to him like his life depended on it. Arthur's did depend on it, at any rate. They almost reached the shore when a water ribbon caught Arthur around the ankle and tripped him. He yelped in surprise and the lake seemed to get more excited. Merlin fell with him, but got back up quickly. The ribbon around Arthur's ankle did not let go and was trying to pull him under.
See, the mechanics of the whole "soul-catching" idea, was that the water would pull down their target under the water and drown them, and when they died, they would catch the soul before it could escape. Freya used to be able to regulate this type of crime and keep the spirits doing this suppressed, but now that she was not a part of the lake anymore, she was unable to aid them this way. The spirits were able to do this with no consequences now.
Another ribbon twirled up and tried to snag Arthur from the top, but Merlin quickly blocked it with his magic. What he failed to block was a thicker ribbon behind it that came straight for Arthur's torso. Merlin put his hand out to block it, but he heard a shriek of 'No!' and Freya launched her small body at the ribbon. It caught her instead of Arthur and the minute it touched her skin, it caught on fire. She went limp almost instantly and the ribbon dragged her under the water faster than Merlin could react.
"Freya!" he wailed. Arthur, at this point, had recovered, once Merlin had blasted the ribbon off his ankle, and so he stood up and grabbed Merlin by the arm. Merlin stayed where he was, staring at where Freya had disappeared.
"Merlin, come on!" Arthur shouted. When Merlin still didn't move, his eyes glittering with tears, Arthur grabbed him around the waist and slung him over his shoulder.
"Cover me!" he called to Merlin and as soon as they started moving again, Merlin closed his mouth and put his hand out behind them, blasting any ribbon that came close. Arthur put him down the minute he realized he was moving again, and took him by the hand to run him to the end of the lake. They collapsed about a hundred yards from the edge, just to be safe and they both collapsed on the grass, coughing and getting their breath back. Merlin was lying on his back staring at the sky and Arthur was lying on his stomach, heaving up water he'd inhaled onto the grass.
"I can't believe we lost her…" Merlin said dreamily, "She knew that ribbon would kill you….she knew….so why…." Once Arthur had recovered, he turned over onto his back next to Merlin.
"She was doing what she thought was right," Arthur said quietly, "And she saved my life."
"She knows I….she knows we're close. But she was also jealous….she still saved your life," Merlin replied.
Arthur glanced at him. "She was jealous?"
"You didn't notice?"
"No."
"You're clueless."
"Jealous of you?"
"No, you arrogant ass, jealous of you. Jealous of my feelings for you."
"….Were you guys like...a couple?"
"Kind of….but that was a long time ago." Arthur looked concerned.
"Did I get in the way of something?"
"Arthur, I love Freya, but not as more than a friend anymore."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. You're fine." Arthur looked troubled.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"No, I mean about losing her."
"Oh. Yeah. Um."
"Really, though. I didn't know her very well before, but I think I could call her a good friend now. And now she's gone because of me."
"Arthur, don't do that to yourself," Merlin started, sitting up to look down at his friend. Arthur closed his eyes.
"But it is my fault. You were right, I shouldn't have been there. I only slowed you down." He fidgeted with the sword next to him, his fingers tracing the smooth edge of the sword.
"You were making sure I was okay. You were trying to save me, Arthur, there's nothing wrong with that," Merlin said quietly. He put his hand on Arthur's and squeezed it reassuringly, giving him a weak smile. Arthur turned his hand over to hold his as well and he sat up and leaned sideways on Merlin's shoulder, having an insane desire to nuzzle his head into the sorcerer's chest and breathe in his familiarity. He did not, but he closed his eyes as he sat there quietly, both still recovering from the shock. Merlin leaned his head on Arthur's and held his hand, rubbing his thumb on the back of his hand.
Suddenly a thought came to Arthur. He sat up suddenly, bumping heads with Merlin and said sharply, "We have to go. I left the knights alone with Mordred and I don't know how they are." Merlin perked up also, but still rubbing his head, and he replied,
"Right. Okay." He glanced at Arthur and asked, "Were we cuddling?"
"Men don't cuddle, Merlin." Merlin grinned sideways at him.
"I don't think men typically like each other either."
"Shut up, Merlin," Arthur said, but Merlin saw the tips of his lips twitching upwards, as if suppressing a smile.
((()))
Hoping they wouldn't come around the corner to see the cottage on fire or something equally bad, Merlin pulled Arthur around the corner by the wrist. He gave a small sigh with relief when it wasn't evident that something was wrong. Arthur was gripping the handle of Excalibur tightly, as if afraid it would suddenly disappear. They made their way quickly into the enlarged cottage and into the room where Mordred was.
Most of the knights with the exception of Lancelot and Elion were stationed in a circle around Mordred, who was no longer in his cage. He wasn't moving, but he just looked at them all curiously. Gwaine and Percival were scowling with their swords out, and Bear growling next to them. Leon walked up to them with a tired expression on his face. Merlin quickly made a temporary cage around Mordred for safekeeping while they focused on Leon.
"Mordred broke out," Leon said quietly, looking at both Arthur and Merlin, "His magical bracelets are gone. He burned Elion pretty badly and he….he killed Lancelot." Arthur's eyes widened and Merlin scowled.
"Lancelot…what happened?" Arthur asked. Leon shook his head.
"Mordred started with a blast and only Lancelot and Elion were guarding at the time. Elion was at a farther part of the room sitting down and Lancelot was standing very closely to Mordred where he was supposed to be. Elion feels horrible….Lancelot got the brunt of the blast and he was gone. We heard the blast and Elion was out cold, and we managed to contain Mordred again, but he didn't put up much of a fight. It was like…..he didn't really care at all. He wasn't trying to escape, just trying to do damage I suppose. And he certainly did." Arthur swallowed and nodded. Once again, Lancelot had died for something he believed in, and for Arthur's sake.
"Is Gwen with Lancelot?" he asked after a while. Merlin glanced at him with concern.
"Yes. And Gaius and Elion are there, too. Gwen's very upset, especially with Merlin, I may not go in there if I were-"
"I need to be there, Leon, now or not at all," Arthur said almost defiantly. Leon nodded and muttered,
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
((()))
When Arthur and Merlin walked to Gaius's room to check on Elion and Gwen, they were immediately met by the latter, who glared at both of them. Gwen raised her hand as if to slap Merlin, but then an energy in her seemed to release and she put her head in her hands and sobbed. Arthur raised his eyebrows in concern and pulled her close to him. She buried her head into his chest and cried and Merlin just watched awkwardly. He stepped around them after a moment and went over to Elion.
"How are you?" he asked the drowsy knight. Elion tried to focus on him, but his eyes kept wandering.
"Gaius drugged me up to help with the pain," he chuckled slightly, but then his face turned solemn, "Lancelot wasn't as lucky as I was." Merlin sighed and put his hand on Elion's shoulder.
"There's nothing you could have done, Elion, this isn't your fault." Elion frowned at him and asked tersely,
"Has something like this ever happened to you? You're the hero, Merlin, you always save everyone. I'm just one of the knights, not Elion, just one of the knights."
Merlin was silent for a minute before answering. "We lost Freya out on the lake. I feel like it was my fault even though consciously I know there was nothing I could do. She sacrificed herself to save Arthur and she died doing it." Elion's face relaxed, but he bowed his head slightly.
"I'm sorry, Merlin, I know how much she meant to you." Merlin nodded, but replied weakly,
"Hey look on the bright side, right? You all came back from the dead, so who's to say they're gone for good, eh?" Elion gave him a small smile, thanking him silently for his optimism. "You should sleep now, Elion," Merlin told him. Elion nodded and closed his eyes. Merlin put a hand on his forehead to make the sleep come faster, and a small spell to help with the pain and lessen the drugs' influence on him.
As Merlin stood up, he stumbled and nearly fell back onto his knees. He suddenly felt very weary and he felt his face change to that of an old man's for another second. He was getting weaker by holding this up. He couldn't do this much longer. He had managed it for an impossible feat of time, one that no other could hold, let alone doing other magic while he did it. When he stood back up, he looked around for Gaius, but couldn't see him anywhere. His mentor was probably tending to someone else. That was okay. He would manage. He always managed.
Gwen was still sobbing into Arthur's shoulder and he was still murmuring comforting words to her. Lancelot's body was laid under a sheet now, and Merlin did not dare go near it, for fear of breaking completely. When he looked forward to leave the room, he saw something he had seen thousands of times before, but never had it hurt him more than it did now.
Arthur and Gwen were kissing, gently and sweetly, but her arms were locked around his neck and his arms were locked around her waist, pulling her closer. What was Arthur doing? He and Gwen had split on that last Christmas because of Merlin? It wasn't that he was angry, but more extremely disappointed and felt almost betrayed. He thought Arthur was his now.
Come now, Merlin, you're being selfish said the snarky voice in his head It's always been Arthur and Gwen, what made you think that he loved you more?
But he broke it off with her! his heart yelled back He kissed me, and I thought he was mine….I thought he always was….
Not wanting Arthur to notice that he'd seen, Merlin wiped away angry tears and stormed out, his fists clenched by his sides. How could Arthur do that to him? His whole world was imploding. The logical part of him said that Arthur and Gwen are still technically married and have rights to be in love and kiss. The emotional side of him said that Arthur was wrong and was betraying him. He didn't know who to listen to. As he rounded the corner, he saw the knights still guarding Mordred. Everything happened at once.
Destiny. Arthur. Love. Camelot. Knights. Magic. Lake. Destiny. Dragon. Time. Time. Magic. Arthur. Gwen. Mordred. Morgana. Dead. Lancelot. Freya. Love. Arthur. Christmas. Mistletoe. No. Not real. Old. Young. Fifteen hundred years. Not real. Real. Not real. Real.
Gwaine looked over and saw Merlin swaying on the spot, his eyes glistening with tears and his hands clenched by his sides. Without warning, Merlin dropped to the floor right in front of him, a small squeak emitting from his mouth as he did so. Gwaine yelped and caught his friend just before he hit the ground.
"Merlin?"