What eyes can't see

That the heart understand

You try to find the truth that holds

Maybe today

—

When Arthur finally reached his rooms, he locked the door and collapsed on the floor. He tried to breathe, but the only thing he could do was let out a desperate scream. It echoed through the empty champers making him finally cry.

Otherside the door stood Sir Leon, dismissing the guards near the king's rooms. This night was reserved to mourn their friend. Leon had heard everything from Percival. The whole castle was in shock. When he had run fast through the castle trying to catch Arthur, he could hear shocked whispers and quiet crying. Merlin was well beloved in Camelot. Loyal to the fault.

"Damn it Merlin." Leon sighed when he placed himself to wait until morning.

–

Lancelot was sitting with Gaius. Gwaine had left to find Percival. Elyan was keeping company to his sister.

"I have to write to his mother," Gaius sighed when he stared the cold fireplace. He had hoped, oh he had hoped so much, that he would see Merlin finally taking his place in Camelot. He had feared this day, knowing that Merlin would do anything to keep Arthur safe. Now he had to write to his sister to tell that he had failed to keep Merlin safe. Gaius lowered his empty cup on the table and rose. Lancelot watched over how the old physician walked slowly toward Merlin's room, stopped at the door, his hand shaking at the handle. It took sometime before Gaius disappeared to Merlin's room, closing the door behind him. Lancelot knew that he wouldn't be out before morning.

Gaius sat on the bed, looking at the disaster what was Merlin's room. He saw the tiny wooden dragon figure near the window and came to think what would happen to the dragons now. What would Kilgarrah do now? What would happen to the destiny, of the prophecy? There was no Emrys anymore.

No more Emrys.

Once and Future King without Emrys.

Gaius frowned. He was forgetting something. Something important.

In the distance, he could hear the thunder.

–

The next morning was like heaven itself had cried. After the heavy summer heat there was the summer storm. Equally heavy and oppressive. The thunder raged over the city when Arthur stood in front of his throne delivering the news of Merlin's death. He stood there, watching how most of the knights, even some nobles along with the castlestaff had come and bowed their heads to respect the dead.

There was no body to bury.

Loyal.

Brave.

Kind.

Wise and idiot.

Worst servant ever.

Friend.

My love, Arthur wanted to say, but couldn't. Not yet. Merlin's magic had sent turmoil over his mind.

I love you.

Words that Arthur had wanted to say. But he was afraid. Afraid of the same things as Merlin. And now it was too late.

He couldn't see Gaius in the crowd. He needed to talk with him. And Lancelot. He wanted to know more. After he had received a long hug from Guinevere, he found Gaius already waiting for him.

From there, everyday he would just listen.

Over the next month Arthur heard a story that made him more angry and sad than ever before. But what was worse, it made him love Merlin even more. Now Arthur knew the truth. About magic, about his birth, about his father. His mood was so sour that everyone tried to avoid him. Those days the knight training was brutal when the king was participating, and Lancelot was on the line of the king's wrath. Leon was one to finally stop Arthur before anything severe could happen. It was lucky that Lancelot was one of the best with swords.

It was one of those training days when everything changed. The summer was still holding the land with heavy grip.

Gaius was tending one of the knights who had taken a nasty hit in the head from Percival, who was standing with them looking apologetic.

Arthur was taking a break, just watching alone from the side of the field. There was something moving at the edge of his view and he turned to see who it was.

Arthur saw it coming, knew in a flash that he couldn't do anything, there was no time to react.

But before the tagger could reach Arthur, it stopped midair and the air around them sparked with a golden hum. The tagger dropped on the ground.

There was yelling, caused both with the platand show of magic, the running assassin and the knights running around. Only thing where Arthur could focus was a golden shield two feet from him. He walked over to it and touched the golden sparkles that formed the shield and separated him from the assassin. It send him a warm feeling, the feeling of a cool breath from the ocean. It was like he could taste the saltines.

"Oh," Gaius breathed when he too came forward. They stared at it with wonder.

"It looks the same when… when Merlin died," Arthur muttered and watched as the golden shield disappeared. He turned to look at Gaius who in his surprise was actually smiling.

"Gaius. What is going on?"

—

Emrys.

I think that it's time to wake up before it's too late for you.