(A/N)- Hi... I'm back...
There's a reason why I don't tend to respond to reviews personally... the reason why?
Despite what the majority might think, I'm extremely grateful for every single one of them, so I try to show that by thanking you guys with a position in the Author's notes! Please don't get annoyed, it's just how I roll!
Reviews!
BooksAreMedicine- Thanks! I really loved writing that bit. Percival meeting Freira first... Hmm...
Evanline101- I'm so sorry! It's fixed now!
Shadowdragon1317- Glad you like the choice of names! The one-shot might not be a one-shot for too long, so keep your eyes peeled! :)
Lya200- Probably because I thought of it? I dunno, but I can always imagine Lancelot doing this, the noble guy! :D
Moni Hasnone- At last! Someone who found what they were looking for! I wanted to read a Merlin-merlin fic, but I couldn't find one ANYWHERE! So I just ended up doing this instead. Hope you enjoy reading with all of us! :P
NC- Ah... You wonderful person! Messenger Freira? That's a new idea... I'll keep it in mind! Percival was interesting to write, as I can sometimes relate to him. As for the mischief and the bird behaviour info, THANK GOD YOU MENTIONED THAT! I forgot about how birds always mess things up! Thank you, SO MUCH!
light bulb- Like I said in the last chapter, back at it again with those comical reviews! Love 'em to bits! Although I really don't advise inebriating yourself using tree sap... it's not safe... I think... (Heads up to Seedsiz for coming up with that!)
MagicWarriorDragon- Welcome to the crew! So glad that you're liking this so far and the idea of Merlin getting a merlin! Hope to see you in this chapter too!
Jupitere- I'm sorry that this update took a little longer! Nice meeting you too, fellow Alagaësia fan! And no, the name Freira is not the same as Freya, I tried to make them as different as possible!
MsPercy- Yay! A Percival fan! There won't be much of Percival in this chapter, though. Sorry!
I've been asked by MagicWarriorDragon whether this is a reveal fic, and unfortunately, it's not. However, this is the first book in a series called Merlin's Destiny. For more answers go to my profile!
This chapter is dedicated to a few guests and one fierce dragon who was there with me from the start! NC, the guest who told me to keep going, WolfGirl and Shadowdragon1317!
"He asked me to look after you."
Those words continued to whirl around in Merlin's head as he half-walked, half-ran through the castle, uncaring about where he was headed. Finally stumbling into an empty corridor, he leant against the wall for support as all the guilt came crashing down.
Far off, he could feel Freira pushing at him, trying to talk to him. He pushed her away. No, not now.
Even after so many months, the grief was still there, the guilt still fresh in his mind.
So was the memory.
Three figures stood at the edge of a dark courtyard in ruins. The cold wind and the darkness only made to unsettle them further, but that wasn't what they were worried about. In the very centre of the courtyard, in front of a stone altar, stood the veil. The ghostly screams of the undead only adding to the unsettling atmosphere. For a moment, Arthur, Merlin and Lancelot watched the veil, their faces set in grim lines.
One moment, the darkened courtyard was empty, save for the veil. Then the Cailleach was simply there.
"I know what you want!"
"Do you?" the Cailleach asked, amused and mocking, "And are you willing to let me have it?"
Her tone alone made Merlin's blood boil.
Face grim as stone, Arthur answered. "I'm prepared to pay whatever price is necessary."
Raising one pale hand, the woman gestured with her finger for the prince to step forwards. With slow steps Arthur began to walk, determination radiating from every line in his body.
But then Merlin raised his own hand. No, Arthur wouldn't be the one to die here, even if it was the last thing he'd ever do.
At the flash of his eyes, Arthur was bodily flung backwards, head colliding with the cold, unforgiving stone of the courtyard. Merlin felt a slight twinge of guilt before dismissing it. Arthur would have a hell of a headache later on, yes, but at least he'd still be alive.
Merlin stepped forwards. The Cailleach did the same.
"So, Emrys," she remarked, "You choose to challenge me after all."
He said nothing, merely continuing to watch those sad, dark eyes.
By unspoken consent, they began to circle one another around the stone altar.
"Will you give yourself to the spirits to save your prince?" They stopped circling at that, now facing one another perpendicular to the veil.
Would he? The answer to that had been so easy mere days ago. After all, why wouldn't he? He was, after all saving Arthur's life by risking his own every day. And yet… even if he was prepared to die for Arthur time and time again, that didn't mean he didn't want to be a part of the future Arthur would one day build. He would sacrifice himself in Arthur's place, there had never been any doubt and Merlin uttered the next words, his heart heavy.
"It is my destiny," the warlock replied in a low voice, his eyes never once leaving the face in front of him. Only it wasn't the Cailleach he was seeing, but the ones he would leave behind and the ones he would save by doing this. He hadn't wanted Arthur to die but in his mind's eye he could see them all; his mother, Gaius, Gwen, the Knights, the countless innocents. Even Uther. And the girl that had pleaded with them, the one that had lost everyone. Merlin didn't want someone to ever feel like that again. He knew what a bitter curse loneliness was.
She dipped her chin slightly, acknowledging his words. "Perhaps..." But then her head jerked back up. She looked him in the eye as if challenging him.
"But your time among men is not yet over, Emrys. Even if you want it to be." She looked towards the veil.
Confused, Merlin followed her gaze. What he saw, was something he would never be able to forget.
Lancelot was walking towards the veil. He glanced back to look at Merlin, a sad smile gracing his features. A scream made him look back into the black abyss beyond, his smile fading, before returning again and Lancelot walked the last few steps, arms thrown wide open. Embracing what was to come, he faded away.
"No... NO!" Merlin's desperate cry was too little, too late.
The veil flickered...
"NO!"
And disappeared.
"... no..."
He was gone.
Lancelot was gone.
Gone.
Gone forever.
Merlin slid down the wall until he was seated on the floor, hugging his knees to his chest.
Not only did he sacrifice himself for all of them, but he even asked Percival to keep an eye out for him when he was gone. Kilgharrah had been correct when he had told them that Lancelot was 'the noblest of them all.'
It was so like him, to do something like that. It hurt.
Merlin wanted to stay there, right where he was, but with an enormous effort he got up anyway.
After all, he still had a prat to serve.
(A/N)- I think you guys deserve an explanation. Not for the story but for me.
I'm really, really sorry about the long waiting period for this update, but there's a lot going on. I'm in senior school, and homework is one issue, and my personal demons are another.
When people are little, everyone wishes that they could have anything they want, and when they get older, they wish that they were a millionaire. Skip another few years, and then they wish for a good career or job. For a long time, that's what I wanted too. But now... things have changed. I wish that people would just accept me for who I am!
Long story short, I have no legitimate friends, and if I were to describe life for me since the last time I published...
Crazy. Fucking. Shit.
I've also been sucked into the Marvel Spider-Man universe, and that's not helping this story whatsoever, but I am making an effort! :|
Honestly, I will promise this: The next update will NOT take this long! Not will it be nearly as short!
Seedsiz, you wonderful person! She made a drabble for this a couple of weeks back! It's actually really funny, so go check it out at her profile! It's chapter 25 of Seriously!
She's also my official beta for this story!
Edit- The scary thing is... I wasn't exaggerating when I said that life at the time was 'Crazy. Fucking. Shit.' either. I'm sorry that I haven't updated for so long, but...
When I've heard and read people say things about having writer's block, or that hard times can affect your ability to keep churning out chapters, I always thought 'They can't be serious, it's not hard to just sit down and type, or pick up a pen and write words down.
But now, since I've gone through them, I regret every single time I ever thought that, seeing as I can now better understand and come to grips with what they were going through, what they were trying to say...
I will be updating this story soon! After reading and going through this, my inspiration and passion for this fic has begun to return!
See you guys... Hopefully in the next chapter!