Ta-dan! I know some of you already guessed who Merlin's guest is! So let's see who it really is..! (let me know in the comments if you guessed right! ;D)
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! 3 and to everyone who read, followed and 'favorited'! I love you all! ^^
Warnings are the same as the first chapter :)
CHAPTER 2
"I was lost, but you rekindled my hope"
"What are you doing here?"
The pleasantries were all but forgotten by both of them.
"Do you really not know Merlin?"
He had seen her hopeful gaze clearly when she had opened the window, hiding it right after seeing him.
"Could I please come in? We need to talk and it would be quite uncomfortable to do it like this"
She just nodded and moved aside to let him fly right in. He entered her lab, turning to her, waiting for her to close the window, and when she was facing him again he all but dropped the bomb without much warning.
"I felt it Merlin, I can feel its presence even now"
She stilled completely, her eyes open wide, shock was written all over her face, she wasn't even sure to be still breathing.
"...are you really sure Mael?"
The Archangel scoffed at her question, crossing his arms across his chest, arching a brow at her.
"Do you really have to ask me something like that?"
Yes, yes she had to, she knew it was an almost stupid question, but she had to nonetheless, her heart wouldn't take lightly another false hope.
Her silence had him sighing, and relaxing his posture again.
"Instead, haven't you felt anything?"
His words made her heart speed up a little, almost unconsciously reaching and caressing the marks on her face.
He didn't need more confirmation than that.
"I thought so."
She was still shocked and unsure, she feared beginning to hope again, so she rein her emotions in, trying to call forth all of her logical and rational side, to aid her.
"What did you feel?"
He asked her.
She tightened her fists, taking a calming breath, before looking the Archangel in the eyes.
"My marks started burning, they burned like the first time, but it lasted only a few seconds, and now they feel warmer than before, and they are pulsing quietly"
She described all of it, in as neutral a tone as possible, her gaze never weavering from his.
"Mh, I see."
Mael seemed thoughtful for a second.
"Sunshine warned me, in a rather strong way, that part of it was accessible again"
She narrowed her eyes at that.
If that was all, then it could be possible that that part of Sunshine had just inhabited another person, it was still possible that it would have nothing to do with him.
"Judging just from my signals it could be someone else"
He confirmed her concerns, and she sighed, dejectedly, feeling her hope retreating again in the deepest part of her.
"Although, if you too felt all that, I think there is a highly probability that it will be him, or his soul at least"
Her heart began beating faster, the hope resurfacing immediately.
She had already studied this case, and tried all that she could think of, to find a solution, or something, to have him back, and failed every time, no matter how logic or probable her theories had been, no matter how she had hoped every single time to have found the right solution.
Back then she had even contacted Mael, asking him to explain, in his opinion, what had happened: given that he had lived with Sunshine for most of his life, probably the grace and the Sin had had a high compatibility, and when he had used his life force as the engine to keep Sunshine going even stronger than before, it reacted by tying part of itself to his soul; the Archangel was pretty sure of it because when he had recovered Sunshine, after that, he had felt part of it missing, but he couldn't find it anywhere.
"You are a better judge of this instead of me, or your marks are, because you took them in the moment when Sunshine and his life force were tied up together, while I recovered my grace in a second moment, so you would be the more attuned to the specific mix."
Merlin was trying hard not to shiver, or cry, or shout, or hope, tightening her fists even more.
"I'm going to investigate, what are you going to do?"
He knew it was almost useless to ask her that question, everyone knew how she would be answering.
The Mage was almost taken aback by his question, wasn't it obvious?
"I need to talk to Arthur and prepare a few things"
He nodded.
"Is it okay if I wait for you? As I said, you're the more attuned one, it wouldn't do me any good to go search alone."
She nodded distractedly, already thinking about what she would need to bring with her for this journey. The Archangel just watched her walking around gathering things, shaking his head in amusement.
After some time she had everything she deemed worth taking with her, and had magically put everything in a satchel. Quickly she changed her clothes with a snap of her fingers, putting on an ensemble similar to that of their first encounter: a little dress that ended at mid tight and a vest that ended at her shin, adding the kerchief around her neck, lifting it up over her lower face; Mael raised a brow at that, but said nothing, it wasn't his business.
She called Aldan, searching for Arthur, and without warning, teleported both of them to him.
Luckily the young king was in his study, alone, and was so used to her appearing suddenly from nowhere, that he didn't even jump when they arrived in front of him, but was very surprised by the other guest.
"Mister Mael! What surprise to have you here!"
He couldn't say anything else because his mentor walked quickly forward.
"Arthur, I need to go"
For a moment the young man was perplexed, but looking between both of them, noticing the gaze that she was sporting, and feeling the urgence in her voice, he came to only one conclusion, standing up from his chair, quickly, in enthusiasm.
"Have you found him?!"
She tightened the grip on her satchel, trying to maintain her own excitement under control.
"We are not certain yet, but we need to go and investigate"
"Of course you have to! I absolutely agree!"
She almost smiled, Arthur knew how important this was for her, and she was grateful to have his comprehension and support.
"But wouldn't you also want the others to come with you?"
The young king asked curiously.
Merlin stopped at that, it wasn't that she didn't want the other to know or to help, just…
"It would take time to round them all up."
Now that she had a trace, she had hope, he could be out there somewhere, she didn't want to wait a second more than what was necessary, she was impatient.
"Well, it could be helpful to have more people to search around, and I bet that they would want to take part in this"
Mael interjected, sensing her nerves, it wouldn't do anyone any good if she couldn't concentrate, and he really needed someone to help him manage the Mage, he was sure he wasn't prepared for it, and didn't even want to!
The raven haired woman tried hard not to pout, throwing an annoyed glance at the Archangel, crossing her arms over her chest. The poor winged-man shivered slightly at that glance, surer than ever to have the others in on this job.
"Fine!"
She relented finally, Mael sighing relieved.
"But I won't wait forever. We'll go there, tell them, and teleport on to the next one. If they can't come now we can always stay in contact with a trinket I made, and then they can join us at a later time. You're okay with this plan, right?"
She was looking at the Archangel as if daring him non to be okay with it, he nodded quickly, raising his hands in a placating manner; that woman was scary!
Arthur laughed lightly at the scene, smiling affectionately while looking at his mentor, it had been a very long time since he saw that sparkle in her eyes, and her face so expressive, he hoped with all his being that this time it wouldn't be a failure, that she would be able to have him back for real, it seemed that the only one able to make her smile again would be him.
So, after some other minutes of planning and making sure that Arthur would be alright without her, she and Mael departed immediately, going to the first stop of their journey: Liones.
They teleported right outside the castle's entrance, the guards jumped at the unexpected arrival, and went quickly on alert, until they recognized the two visitors.
"We have business with the king and queen"
Merlin didn't lose time.
"Of course! We'll announce you two immediately!"
"I think there will be no need"
Mael interjected, spying the royals coming towards them from inside the palace, their powers level had announced them plenty enough.
"Merlin! And Mael! What an unexpected surprise!"
Elizabeth's happiness was shining brightly when she welcomed them, giving a big hug to the Mage, who stiffened only for a moment, before melting into the other woman's arms.
"Hi Big Sis Sis"
The princess, now queen, moved back to look the other woman in the eyes.
"It has been too long! You never visit!"
It was true that she had never come back here in person, but she had always maintained contacts with her Sis through magic means, she was one of the few people who knew of her losing her color-sight.
Meliodas was watching the kerchief she had on, frowning.
The last time they had seen each other she had been adamant to not cover the marks on her face.
At her raised brow he just shrugged, and welcomed both of them, while his wife greeted Mael, who had visited them before, on various occasions.
"How come you two are here together?"
Elizabeth asked finally, and at that Merlin's expression steeled.
"Can we talk in a more private environment?"
The two royals looked at each other perplexed, but then nodded and took them in a private room in the castle.
"Where's your son?
Asked the Mage while walking.
"Oh! He's with the nurses! Ah! This could be the perfect occasion for you to finally meet him!"
The two continued talking, while Meliodas and Mael just walked behind them, chatting only briefly.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Merlin lowered her kerchief and turned, without even waiting for them to sit.
"We felt him"
The married couple looked confused, and then shocked, at her.
If both of them were here, that meant only one thing.
"What? How...when?"
The Mage explained briefly and concisely what had happened, while Mael intervened only to add some more details.
"Well? Do you want to come with us? We are currently searching for the others to ask the same thing to everybody"
Elizabeth and Meliodas looked at each other, thinking about it.
"I don't know if I will be able to come, I have the kingdom to rule and Tristan to look after, but Meliodas should come!"
The goddess smiled at her husband, before turning towards Merlin.
"And if I should ever need him back I could always contact you, right?"
The raven haired woman smiled, nodding, she had given one of her in-contact trinkets to her from the beginning, it was how they talked to each other sometimes.
"Well, if that is already decided, why don't you stay here today?"
Meliodas proposed, smiling as always.
"I'm sorry, but it is imperative that we find the others and begin our true search as soon as possible"
She had tried to play down her impatient, but those two knew her better than everyone, and could easily see through her words.
"Ok! Then how about you meet Tristan while I finish up some things and prepare for our new journey?"
The Mage nodded her consent, and Mael was more than happy to go see the young prince.
They followed Elizabeth to Tristan's room, the baby was only one year old, but everyone could already see that he would grow up handsomely and happy.
Merlin was fascinated by the young child, who didn't seem to mind her marks, and was taken aback by how comfortable Mael was with him.
They stayed there only for a couple of hours, but Elizabeth could see Merlin becoming more restless with the minute's passing.
She wanted to go find him already!
Finally Meliodas arrived, played and talked a little with his child, and then gave his farewells to him and his wife.
The trio vanished soon after.
They appeared outside the Fairy King's Forest, where they should be able to find the other three Sins, and without hesitance, entered the Fairy, and Giant, domain.
They were soon greeted by some inhabitants, who led them to their monarchs.
The reunion was very chaotic, Ban didn't wait to get into a greeting fight with the Captain, Diane was happy and loud as always, and even King seemed at ease and happy to see them.
Soon Merlin requested the attention of everyone, asking them to talk in private, and retelling her story again, with support from Mael.
The Sins were shocked and excited at the prospect that their 7th member could be back somewhere, but had to talk about joining the expedition.
Ban didn't really want to leave Elaine and their child, Lancelot, and if he stayed behind then King and Diane could join the others without a problem, at least until they found him, then they would inform Ban, and he would happily reach them there, teleported by the Mage.
The other thing to talk about was their meaning of transportation, some could fly, but not everyone, and it would just be exhausting to walk or fly all day long.
King suggested to use Chaestifold, in defensive version, to carry them for part of the way, he didn't have to use much power for that, and then they could switch to another method between all of them, Diane offer to build them a place to stay for the night, she didn't have to do much, she would just have to use the rocks and earth that were around them at that moment.
With those details out of the way, they had to just find Gowther, and they could begin their main search.
"I already contacted him, he will catch up with us as soon as possible"
Merlin deadpanned, as if that had been obvious.
"When did you contact him?"
Mael asked, perplexed, he had been with the Mage almost constantly since they departed from Camelot, and hadn't noticed anything that would suggest something like that.
She looked at him in annoyance, with a raised brow, and the Archangel flinched slightly, almost involuntarily.
"Before we departed from Camelot, I sent him a message, I kept in contact with him, and I will let him know of our progresses"
She answered matter of factly, the others were hiding their amused grins, at the nervous Archangel.
"Good! Now that this is all settled then, we can rest here for the night, and begin our search tomorrow morning!"
Everyone agreed with the Captain, a frowning Merlin was about to snap at them that they had already lost very precious time, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her, she turned and saw Mael shocking slightly his head, then dropping his hand.
"Don't be hasty, let's rest and revive your friendship, everyone will be needed in their top forms to be of help, particularly you, you'll be our compass to him, even more than me"
She sighed, her shoulders slumped in defeat, he wasn't wrong, she knew that, but she just wanted to see him again so badly.
Nodding her head, she then joined the others with the Archangel, trying to let them distract her, just for a few hours, even if that wasn't really possible.
She had had very few contacts with the others, Elizabeth and Gowther excluded, also because they were another reminder of what it had and hadn't been, she couldn't let herself be lost in the memories of him more than she already had been; now it was different, now she had a real chance to see him again, now she had hope, and had a chance to make things right for him, for her, for them.
So she stayed with the others listening to their stories, about what they had been up to since the last time they saw each other, and even told something about how things had been in Camelot.
She was looking forward to a true reunion with everyone soon.
The morning after, they set off early, Merlin almost pulled everyone along, until they were finally on their way.
The first two days they just wandered around, she and Mael were trying to understand the sensations they were feeling, and how to interpret and follow them.
Once they had a grip on it, they began following a path towards the North.
Days passed by, and the more they traveled, the more Merlin's marks pulsed, she could feel them growing hotter, but never overly so, even Mael's sensations were growing stronger, the both of them believing that that meant they were nearing him, so they continued their journey with the others Sins, they had been traveling together in search for their companions before, it was a familiar and almost welcomed situation, they had missed these kind of travels with each others.
One day, about eight days into their journey, they were nearing a village, and were almost passing it, when suddenly all sensations left both their compasses. The Archangel made them stop, trying to figure out what that could mean, but turning toward the Mage he found they had a bigger problem on their hands: she was on the verge of panicking, he could see it in her eyes, open wide and full of fear.
This...what was this?...why couldn't she feel anything from him anymore? Why had it stopped so suddenly? Was he hurt? Did he need her? Could it have been another false hope? Could have he disappeared again before she could see him? Where was he?!
She was hyperventilating, her thoughts were in a jumble, and was trying her best not to scream in frustration and fear for him.
Suddenly one hand on her shoulder and one on her back, made her come back to the present.
"Come on, come on, deep breaths"
Meliodas was trying to calm her, passing his hand on her back in a circle, while Mael tried to anchor her to the present, squeezing lightly her shoulder, King and Diane were watching her, concerned.
Gradually she recomposed herself, breathing normally again.
"We'll make camp here, we can use some resting time"
The Captain announced, the others nodding, agreeing, even if it was only early afternoon, and went to prepare their camping site. The Archangel followed the two Sins after a few moments, leaving Meliodas to take care of the Mage.
"Are you okay?"
He had watched her throughout their journey, making sure that she was holding herself together, and had noticed many things that weren't okay with the Mage, like her anxiety.
"I'm fine"
It was her standard response to everything, and he didn't know if she was trying to convince them or herself, in any case, she wasn't doing a good enough job of that.
"Why don't you rest a bit? Then we can discuss our next move. Don't think about anything and just rest."
It was almost an order, but Merlin wouldn't have put up a fight anyway, she was really, really, tired, and felt a great emptiness inside, so she simply nodded, dejectedly, and went towards their camp, where Diane had already prepared their "tents".
She laid out on her bed, willing herself to succumb to slumber, and after many tries she finally dozed off.
It wasn't a peaceful slumber, she turned and twisted around, dreaming:
She didn't know where she was, it was dark, and couldn't make out even the slightest shape.
She began walking, not knowing what else she could do, and after some time she could see, in front of her, something gradually lightening the dark around her, a sudden flash made her close her eyes, putting her arms in front of her face, until the bright light dimmed, and she could open her eyes again.
Her breath caught in her throat, in front of her, brightening all his surroundings, there was him, she couldn't make out his face completely, but she knew it was him!
She smiled, almost began crying, and took a few shaky steps towards him.
When she was just a couple of steps away from him, suddenly the darkness began latching onto him, restraining him, and taking him away from her, she was frozen on the spot, she couldn't move a single muscle, she could only watch, powerless to do anything if not scream, but even her voice couldn't make it past the darkness, and that was when she realized that the same darkness that had restrained him, was doing the same with her. She tried fighting against it, trying to free herself, but it was useless, she was being covered in it, and could do nothing to stop this darkness from overcoming her...
She woke up with a start, breathing hard, her feelings all over the place, gripping her covers tight in her fists, trying to calm herself down, but she couldn't stop the tears from slipping down her cheeks.
After some long moments she decided she needed some fresh air, and went out, finding Meliodas there, sitting in front of the fire, who looked up at her as she left her tent.
"Couldn't really sleep much, uh?"
Looking around she could make out the low sun, it was almost sunset.
Without a word she went sitting near the fire, she was feeling cold inside from her nightmare.
"Elizabeth is worried about you"
He continued, without looking at her, she just sat there, in silence, lost in the flames in front of her.
"I know about your colorless sight, she told me."
At that the Mage looked at the Demon, frowning slightly, disapprovingly, but sighed right after, she wasn't really surprised.
"I don't want the others to worry about that, it is nothing."
She tried to play it down as usual, but her voice lacked the usual strength, the nightmare still very clear and unsettling.
"She's worried exactly about that, that you don't talk with others, I'm worried too."
He was, Elizabeth had asked him to watch out for Merlin before their departure, they were both concerned, and they knew they weren't the only ones, but the Mage was a difficult person to try helping.
Merlin stayed silent at that, she didn't want to have them worried over her, over something no one could do anything about, and this was her problem, her pain, she had to work it out herself.
Suddenly she lifted up from her spot, turning towards the setting sun.
"I am going for a walk"
Without waiting for an answer from him, she began walking away from the camp.
Meliodas watched her go, sighing, he would give her some time alone and then would go retrieve her, he didn't think it was good for her to stay alone for too long, especially in her conditions, he had heard her moaning and moving around in her tent, it was obvious she had had a restless sleep, and she wasn't okay.
Merlin was walking, not knowing where she was going, she was just too lost in her thoughts.
That dream had left her with an unpleasant sensation, that she couldn't shake off of her.
Unconsciously she hugged herself, trying to find some comfort, looking around her she could just see grays, it wasn't at all a comforting color.
Up ahead she noticed a little hill, with some trees and bushes covering it, it seemed a quiet place from where looking at the setting sun, even if she couldn't appreciate the beautiful colors that were lighting up the sky now for sure.
Climbing it she could make out the village beside it, it was a normal one of medium size, it seemed really peaceful, she could see the smoke rising from the chimneys of almost every house, it was dinner time already.
She looked again forward, almost at the top of the hill, there were only a few bushes and trees separating her from the top.
Right beyond the last tree she could make out the brighter light of the sun, but the figure that she spotted there stopped her progress. There was already someone else here it seemed, oh well, it had to be someone from the village, maybe she could ask them some questions, maybe she could learn something useful that could help her understand why she couldn't sense him anymore. It would almost certainly be useless, but she was hopeless and desperate, so she lifted up her kerchief, hiding her lower face, and resumed walking.
Coming closer behind the person, she began noticing that it was a man, and focusing on him better, had her stop again, frozen.
She knew that back, she would recognize it everywhere, those shoulders and that posture too.
At first she thought to be seeing things, maybe some flashes of her nightmare, so she passed a hand on her eyes, closing them tightly, but when she reopened them he was still there, and it was HIM.
She didn't need for him to turn around to know that it was him, she knew it, she was sure, everything in her screamed it!
Her heart stopped for a moment only to pick up again right after, beating harder and faster than before, her chest was slowly filling up with hope.
As if in a trance, she took a few, slow steps, towards him, but she had to have made some noise, because suddenly the man was turning around, facing her.
She stopped, gasping, her breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide and incredulous.
He was silhouetted against the setting sun, she could see the brighter light, that only accentuated him and his features.
It was HIM! He was younger, without his handsome mustache yet, but it was him! She had finally found him! He was right here in front of her!
She could almost make out his hair and eyes' color.
"Escanor"
She could just breath his name, her voice full of emotions.
The man's eyes widened, and slowly opened his mouth to reply to her.
"Who are you?"
Dan-dan-daaaaan!
Yep, never a happy moment for Merlin, poor her :'(
I hate doing this, but it is all for a greater purpose, I swear! +.+
(I know some parts may seem rushed...but It is really boring, for me, to write non-Escalin parts :S "^^ but I'm trying to do my best anyway!)
Let me know what you think about this story so far! ^^
