Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin


Repay

Merlin huddled against the rocks inside their hide out, present from the Fischer King clutched to his chest. He'd long given up trying to find the secret behind it. What he needed now was sleep.

Running on only short naps that he was lucky enough to grab in between watches and other duties, the lack of sleep was finally catching up to him. There was a bit of a commotion outside, but Merlin's slightly sleep deprived mind ignored it and slipped deeper into unconsciousness.

He didn't truly dream, but in his sleep there were snippets of past experiences, most of them from the past few days. The Fischer King was also present, giving him the vial of water. The weight of it in his hand matching the figurative weight on his shoulders.

Then he woke up.


Merlin held his breath as the water began to pool in a dip in the rock. Nearly every fiber of his being was telling him to do something, to scoop up the water and try and save it, but there was little part in the back of the servant's mind that was saying to let things happen without interference. The water was shining, as if rays of sunlight were bouncing off it. But there was no light in the cave strong enough to make the water seem as if pure silver was woven through it.

The pool of water was growing deeper as more water found its way there, and suddenly a girl appeared.

Merlin couldn't move, couldn't think. I barely dared to breathe as he looked down at the image of his beloved Freya. At least he thought it was. In all his experiences with magic, seeing deceased loved ones was never a good thing.

"Freya…" He managed to say, his voice barely audible.

"I've missed you."

"No, you're…" Merlin managed to gasp out. A drop of water landed on his hand and the servant rubbed it away angrily before wiping his cheeks, doing a bad job of drying them.

"Merlin, we don't have long."

"Is it really you?"

"I swore that one day I would repay you, now is the moment." There was a brief pause whilst Merlin tried to understand. Normally it would have taken him half the time, but his mind was addled by emotions and old grief that he'd never dealt with before.

"I don't understand…"

"There is but one weapon that can slay something which is already dead."

"A blade forged in the dragon's breath."

"That weapon lies at the bottom of the lake of Avalon. Where you hid it."

"But Morgana's army are not dead, they're very much alive."

"Anyone who toys with the cup pays a terrible price. The moment they entered their pact with Morgause they became the living dead. You must come to the lake." Freya voice was urgent and sincere.

"And you will give me the sword."

"In your hands it has the power to save Albion."

"Thank you."

"No, it's given me the chance to see you again." Freya smiled at Merlin and the warlock felt the corners of his mouth lift up despite the circumstances. Behind him, Gwaine groaned and sat back down hard on the cold stone floor of the cave.

"Aaaaahhh that's better." Merlin turned to look at him. "You alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I'm fine. Really." There was a smile and a huff of laughter before Merlin turned back to the small pool of water.

"Freya…"


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