Merlins heart raced. His breath sprinted. His feet pounded. He ached all over. He had a burning stitch in his side. He didn't stop.
He would never stop.
Far far down below him Gwaine and Leon pulled up. Their yells were carried up on the wind. Merlin didn't slow. All he could think have was how he had died everyday waiting for Arthur. How he had loved him for over a thousand years. Never stopping. He couldn't stop running for that love.
Not now.
He was too close. He was so close he could smell him again. The old musty warm Smell of the Clotpole king. An old forgotten smell Merlin longed to remember. Now he was so close.
So close.
So damn close.
All this time he had believe he would find Arthur again. He had to find Arthur again. It was destiny. It had to be. It had to be. This must have been his destiny! Everyone had said they were two sides of a coin! How can there be two sides of a coin that only has one side?
One sentence whirled in his mind. One sentence danced on the wind. One sentence pounded in his ears. One sentence scorched a path. One sentence spurred him on. One sentence was the temptation. One sentence kept him running. One sentence was everything. One sentence was the only thing Merlin focussed on.
One step closer.
One step closer.
One step closer.
One step closer.
One. Step. Closer.
Until there were no more steps. Until he was right at the top. Then he froze. He froze as time stood still. As his heart plummeted in despair. There was no one here.
The beating rain mixed with tears on Merlins cheek. Now was today's time to die. Just like every other day he had died waiting for his king to come home.
"No man is worth your tears!" A familiar and forgotten voice said from behind him.
Merlins heart skipped a beat.