I'm so sorry this got delayed. I started to rethink the whole story and just couldn't write anything because of it.
I hope you still enjoy it.
Defeat this depressing heat, defeat the darkest night
There is given justice and work for everyone
I can't carry your part, not a breathe
I can only help
I stay with you
I'm not stronger than you
Even I don't know how we go forward
But I know, when you wake up, I'm still here
And with that new dawn we can hope
Bring wealth, worry, bring whole new day
I will walk with you, that I promise
–
Emrys.
I think that it's time to wake up before it's too late for you.
How long is he going to sleep?
I don't know.
So, did you figured it out yet?
Yes.
But we have to wait for him. He is our kind.
Great, absolutely great.
Voices. Two of them. Younger and a bit older.
Merlin turned his head, everything felt so heavy.
"Wha..?"
"Oh, great, you're awake. WILL!"
Merlin flinched.
"Tiera, shut up. You're so loud."
"Sorry, no sorry."
Merlin could swear that the man called Tiera was grinning.
"Hey, Merlin, can you open your eyes? For a moment, please." Gentle younger voice asked.
It took some moments, but finally he could open his eyes. It was dim, he could see two figure before him, other standing, other beside his bed.
"What happened?"
"I'm not sure, but something that took a lot of your powers and send you here with us."
"Magic."
"Yeah, magic. And your magic took also me and our new friend here. Don't know how or why. But, I think we can figure that out. Oh, drink this. You're been sleeping for almost whole week." Will offered the cup of water and helped Merlin to drink it.
"Slowly. Tiera, our friend here, made some good soup this morning. When you are up and going, you can have that."
Merlin felt that the water was enough right now. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Your accent is odd. I'm sorry, I try to understand. Who are you?"
"Right, I'm Will, this is Tiera. I'm originally near Camelot, but, uh, I travel a lot. Tiera, though, is far from the north."
"Not from here, yeah, I don't think that you have heard of the place," Tiera grinned.
"I have heard," Will said and TIera laughed. "Oh, my friend, that I believe. When you travel you hear and see things."
"You both have magic?" Merlin asked and his new companions nodded.
"Merlin, what happened to you?" WIll asked.
"There was a spell, I stopped it, but it hit with my magic, and I felt… I felt like dying," Merlin frowned and suddenly he remembered Arthur and spring to sit.
"Arthur. Oh gods, I was protecting Arthur and there was an attack and the spell hit me…"
"And you died. Yeah, that's it." Will nodded looking thoughtful.
Merlin looked at the young man with round face and brown hair and nodded.
"I died."
"And you came back," Tiera muttered and scowled. He was blond and he had fierce blue eyes and was maybe taller than Percival.
"But, you are missing a part of you," Will sighed.
"What?"
"Whatever that spell was, it seems that it did kill you but also separate part of your magic, moved it somewhere, and without it, you're going to die."
"Again?"
"Permanently. Merlin, you, like we, are immortal."
Merlin stared at Will some time, trying to think.
"That… Actually that kind of explains some things in my life."
"Sure it does. Happened before?" Tiera asked.
"Now that I think of it… But, you two also…"
"Immortals, yes, same circle as you. Happy to meet. Met some of us through the years, but, well, you my friend, are the greatest of us." Tiera grinned. He seemed to be happy to be guy.
"I really don't understand," Merlin's voice merely whisper when he stared the two.
"I think that Tiera is speaking too much too soon. It is a lot to take and not your problem right now. Just know that it seems that we were sent here to help you through this." Will send a glare toward Tiera who just shrugged.
"Where are we?"
"Well, I think I figured that out. Somewhere in Ireland.
"Ireland?"
"Right, what it was called…"
"HIbernia."
"Eire."
Merlin shut his eyes.
"RIght. Why are we here? This is very far away from Camelot where I came from."
"Or I, " Tiera muttered looking first time unhappy about the situation.
Will looked around them.
"Well, maybe the reason is this cave and the markings on the walls. This is one of the sanctuaries for our kind."
Merlin opened his eyes again and looked around them for the first time. It was a round big cave. There was a fireplace middle of it and some beds and chests.
"It feels… safe," Merlin muttered, feeling around them.
"Yeah. It's a great hiding place. Maybe as old as this island is." TIera said looking kind of proud. Merlin suddenly noticed a burning mark on Tiera's bare arm. Then the same in Will's arm. Round with a cross. And realized that the same mark was across the room in the wall. WIll followed his gaze.
"Sign of the Light. Or Sun mark." Will looked at his burning. "This was an accident. But, I don't mind."
"Mine too. I was a Seeker at the time."
Will's eyebrows rose, "So was I."
"And what you're now Will?" Tiera tilted his head.
"I'm the Guardian of the Future."
"And I'm the Guardian of Death. Well, that explains some why we two are here. You Will, are our youngest and oldest left. Right?"
"Yes." And suddenly the young WIll was Old when he straightened and sighed. Old like the ocean and wind and rock.
"I truly don't understand," Merlin said, looking at the two, trying hard to think straight.
"You will understand, and you will earn your title too. I think it is your time to be the Seeker. But, sleep now. You'll need all your strength come tomorrow."
And like that Merlin fell back to the bed and slept a bit more.
—-
The piece of song at the beginning of each chapter has been the inspiration for the story.
They are rough translations of Finnish songs.
Chapter 1: Joku jonka vuoksi kuolla ( someone to die for) - Kaija Koo
Chapter 2: Sun särkyä anna mä en ( I don't let you broke) - Johanna Kurkela
Chapter 3: MItä silmät ei nää (What eyes can't see) - Juha Tapio
Chapter 4: Uusi aamunkoi (New dawn ) - Suvi Teräsniska
(but I love to listen duet Jukka Poika feat. Juha Tapio)