A/N: Thank you guys for the reviews! You are all amazing! I loved them! Well, now here's the second part (That took waaaay longer than expected, I'm truly sorry about that.)
But with no more delays, happy reading!
The Sound of Silence
PART 2
"Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is nothing at all." –Mandy Hale
That day the sunset of Camelot was outshined by the gray and thick clouds looming on the horizon and the gentle but cold breeze that announced the coming of a storm. And yet Owen grimly thought that the sky fitted perfectly with the mood around Camelot and the castle.
The news of three dead knights traveled fast, shaking the city. Hearing about guards and knights dying was not unheard of; after all, attacks during patrols were very common around the kingdom. Now, holding a symbolic funeral? That was definitely most unheard of. No bodies, just three burning pyres with three borrowed red capes.
That was it.
Empty pyres burning and yet the atmosphere felt heavy and filled with sentiment. Owen himself was trying hard to keep a straight face. Bryan, his best friend, a brother to him, had died. Never to be seen again. Both of them along with James had joined the ranks together, it had been their dream since they had been kids, and now it felt incredibly empty to be standing there without him. There's was Rowan too, Marissa's boyfriend, too young to had died on her. He cringed at the mental suffering her sister would have to go through. And Malcolm, who was one of the most experienced knights, a mentor to them. He couldn't believe it.
He glanced at Elyan from the corner of his eye, the only one that made it back alive, but 'alive' maybe was not the most accurate word to describe him because his friend looked like a ghost himself staring at the fire.
By the entrance of the courtyard, a mass of people had congregated to witness and say their goodbyes, at the front; families, friends, and sons cried their loss. Owen's heart clenched when he saw Marissa at her knees crying in silence. At the other side of the Pyre were the knights, watching the flames dance with stoic faces and heavy souls. Even though all the warriors were standing straight, looking to the front, hands behind their backs, the toll of the deaths weighed on them.
Their brothers' death was a crude reminder of what being a knight represented.
You kill too early, you die too young.
Owen shakily took a deep breath and looked at his feet. He was not at good at funerals.
Uther, standing right in the front, facing the crowd from across the pyres, was saying some words that Owen silenced by rather focusing on the sound of the bursting fire, beside him Elyan shifted his weight anxiously. Both of them along with Gwaine had the 'privilege' to stand in the front row according to Uther it was an honor.
Honor be damned if you asked him. As a knight, you are not allowed to cry in front of the people you are supposed to protect. It showed weakness. But now, standing there with his red cape, Owen does not feel like he belongs on the knight's ranks, but more on the other side, with his sister. He felt like he should be able to mourn on his own terms, cry if he wanted, after all, he had lost a brother today, but alas, that was of the things you don't get to do once you join the knights of Camelot. Once a knight, always a knight. It was not a job but a way of living, and you learn that too late.
He felt Elyan move again. Owen couldn't even begin to understand how Elyan was able to just stoically stand there. Probably remembering all the horrible things and tortures he and the rest suffered at the hands of Morgana.
Owen only realized Uther had finished his speech when he turned away from the crowd and walked inside the castle, dismissing the funeral as over, however, not a knight moved. Owen relaxed visibly and began searching for Marissa on the crowd.
"Elyan, mate you alright?" Gwaine whispered from his other side, that's when Owen noticed that Elyan wasn't staring at the pyres anymore, but to the entrance of the castle were Uther had disappeared.
"I don't understand," Elyan said bluntly, confusion all over his face as his eyes stayed glued to the doors. "Isn't Arthur going to come out and say some words? Wasn't Malcolm, and the rest important enough for him?"
"There must be a good reason for him to not be here," Gwaine managed to say as he shared a glance with Owen. Elyan had yet to hear about Arthur being away in Annora, they feared how Elyan would react once he comes to realize a search party had never been sent after them. Things like that break trust faster than a knife across skin.
Owen looked around, it was painfully obvious that most citizens had been expecting the prince's presence and speech, and even the knights who knew he was away had been waiting for his return by now.
Elyan and Gwaine turned his stares back at the fire again just when Owen felt the first drop of rain fall on his skin.
Amid the reunited crowd the silent question echoed.
Where on earth was Arthur?
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Lancelot was watching the flames from the first floor of the castle, he had already been at the funeral but when Uther entered the castle he faithfully followed him along with a few other knights. Now more than ever he needed to keep an eye on the king. Uther was now in a secret meeting with the council, Leon one the knights allowed inside, probably discussing what must be done with the information Elyan had delivered in the morning.
Lancelot wondered about the traitor, after Merlin departure he had been extra careful with the mail that entered and left the castle to either Uther or Gaius. However, no other letters looked to be have been intercepted and Lancelot began thinking that after all the traitor must have stopped but no one is ever sure.
From his advantage point by the window, he saw as Gaius appeared on his line of vision, walking around the lines of knights. He furrowed his brows, he could have swear Gaius would be in the meeting and that made Lancelot even more anxious because that meant that whatever was going on inside the room Arthur would not know about.
He watched as the old physician finally caught the attention of Gwaine, Lancelot furrowed his brows when Gwaine seemed to hesitate before walking up to him, exchanging some quick words. His friend then looked back at the lines of knights for a minute before nodded his head. After one final interaction, Gaius returned to the castle and Gwaine to his spot among the knights in the front.
What had that been about?
A moment later the door behind him opened and he turned to see the council behind dismissed. Leon walked up to him and stared down at the funeral, both of them dutifully waiting for Uther to be done with his talk with the last man in the room.
"How did the reunion go?" Lancelot asked knowing fully well he was not meant to ask. There was silence for a long moment. Long enough to make Lancelot worry, thinking he had broken some kind of rule he turned to his friend to apologize; however, Lancelot realized Leon was barely paying attention to him. His green eyes lost in the flames below them.
"I sent a patrol an hour ago with instructions of bringing Arthur back," Leon bluntly announced as he turned slightly towards Lancelot. "And right now, in the meeting, when I told Uther this…he asked why I did so, he—he said I had 'spared good warriors on a meaningless act' He even accused me of disobeying direct orders."
For the love of God, Lancelot thought as he visibly paled. Unlikely of him, he felt like shaking Leon where he stood. A patrol to Annora? Now it was only a matter of time before the knights came back and announced not only that Arthur was not in Annora, but that he had never been there to start with. There will be chaos in the court once Uther dismisses this information as irrelevant, or worse, Uther could claim that Arthur was working with Morgana. He could only picture what could happen then.
Leon shook his head, turning to face Leon. "I'm not even sure he was aware that Arthur was away."
"He has just found out that his other daughter is planning a war behind his back, Leon, it's understandable, maybe he wants Arthur away to protect him."
"Lancelot, have you… not been thinking that the king is acting weird as of late?"
"No," Lancelot replied too quickly. Leon narrowed his eyes at Lancelot, "Not at all, why?"
"…Maybe I'm thinking too much," Leon said vaguely as his eyes wandered up and down the hall, "After all Arthur can take care of himself and apparently the meetings he's attending are important enough for Uther to think he can be spared."
But by the way Leon was guiltily and suspiciously watching Uther from afar, Lancelot knew Leon was just too loyal to say what he was really thinking. Lancelot feared Leon's loyalty as much as he admired it. Uther shook the hand of the last councilwoman before signaling them to follow him to yet another meeting. Lancelot took one last sharp breath in order to keep his emotions in check and looked back at the courtyard. A soft drizzle had begun and he apprehensively noticed that Gwaine along with Owen were missing from the knight's rows, leaving Elyan alone at the front.
He furrowed his brows, where were they? Where was Gaius? He needed to know this, they needed to stop the patrol from coming to Annora, who had Leon assigned this task to? Too many things to do in so little time.
"Lancelot? Are you alright?"
He closed his eyes for a moment, sending a silent prayer for Merlin before walking to meet Leon down the hall.
Merlin needed to break the spell and quick, Lancelot thought, feeling incredibly useless once again, somehow when it comes down to help Merlin, he could only watch and wait.
He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, clutching it so hard his knuckles went white.
Merlin…come home. Camelot needs you, both of you. You need to break the spell and come home.
You ought to.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
The sun was slowly but surely beginning to sink in the horizon and Merlin, after spending his whole day trying to figure out the vase was, for the first time in his life, incredibly frustrated with his magic and himself. He had tried everything, every spell, every curse. He had read books upon books in Camelot and nothing had worked, then he had made the trip to Ealdor with the only goal to be able to perform magic freely in order to destroy the vase, and yet the vase looked untouchable. Nothing had worked and nothing had actually backfired. If anything the magic on the vase seemed unmovable.
That is what unnerves him.
It does not shift, it does not respond, it does not react to his magic. The magic of the vase was simply unaffected by his.
Why?
Why was this vase more powerful than his magic?!
Incredibly annoyed he threw the vase a reproachful glare before placing his pounding head in his hands. He felt exhausted even though he had spent the whole day seated, his hangover had died hours ago and yet he felt drained of energy. Unlike other days where he had thrown little spells to the vase to see the different reactions, the spells he used this time around required bigger amounts of energy and magic, confident that this time one of the spells would break the curse. So far he had only managed to drain himself from energy and magic while the vase stayed unscratched.
If he was being honest this was getting on his nerves, this wasn't an issue about knowledge anymore, there was something wrong with the vase, he had known this for a while now, however, he had been confident in his magic, after all, he was Emrys, the greatest sorcerer to have ever lived. He has never failed before but Merlin was starting to think this might be it. He had even started to think that Uther forgetting about Arthur was meant to happen.
He was starting to think that maybe this was the start of Albion.
In sadness, he shook his head and looked up at the vase that was merrily shining a step away. He couldn't think like that. This was the king, Arthur's father…. and yet, Merlin felt like a failure. He could master spells in hours, find solutions to the most incredibly defying problems in days but the vase? It has been exactly ten days since Merlin found the vase in Uther's room and yet Merlin felt like he might as well had just found it a minute ago for all the good and improvement he had done. Yesterday, when Arthur had asked him how things were going with the vase Merlin had lied. The truth was he didn't know what to do anymore.
There was no path to follow, to book to guide him, no sorcerer that could help. He was alone and for the first time at a loss of what to do. Sighing he looked towards the prince who was dutifully reading under the shade of a tree.
Even Arthur had stayed quiet today, if he sensed that the situation was grim or not, Merlin didn't know but he was glad for it. Arthur had actually stayed out of his way, he trained for a few hours with his sword—alone because Merlin didn't have magic to spare to enchant a sword to give Arthur a worthy opponent—then he had taken a few books and besides the occasional question about unicorns (yes, unicorns, maybe haven just read about them in a book) he had kept silent.
Merlin gave a long suffering sigh as he controlled his breathing. He nodded. Alright, just one more time.
The sorcerer turned his stare to the vase again. His eyes shined gold for a moment before he closed them, placing his hands on the sides of the vase. He felt his magic surrounding him, a warm tickling feeling that annulled all his other senses. Then he directed it to float around the vase, tugging at the invisible magical strings.
One more try.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Arthur looked up at the sky as he brushed his sweat out of his forehead, the sun was already out of sight, leaving a pink and orange pattern in the firmament that indicated that night was soon to follow. He closed the book he was reading. He thought about Camelot. He loved the sunsets there, he wondered if Lancelot and Gaius were managing without his help and he thought about his father. Would he in some state of mind miss him? Maybe he had asked around for him, maybe he had gotten used to seeing his face around the halls? Arthur pressed his hands against his eyelids.
It was incredibly unsettling how much he missed a person that had no idea of who he was. He prayed that Merlin could just fix the vase, even if the curse would lift for a few minutes Arthur just wanted to hear his father say his name like no other person could. He was his father. And as much as Merlin probably hated Uther, Arthur would die for his father any day. He trusted Merlin with his life and he knew his friend would do anything in his power to help him… and yet Arthur had barely been able to concentrate on his self-assigned lesson of magic.
What if Agravaine had been right? What if… there was no cure. Yesterday, when Arthur had told Merlin they still had time… he was lying. Arthur had not lost hope yet on Merlin but he had begun thinking that maybe just a week wouldn't be enough and sooner rather than later, vase fixed or not they needed to go back to Camelot and face the consequences. Whatever tha may entail.
Realizing that thinking was doing nothing to improve his mood Arthur started to practice the magic paces Merlin and him and discovered the first day of training. Air, water, fire, earth and lighting. Each of them started with different positions of hands and legs and for an hour Arthur was immersed in the repetition of the movements, he had just begun pondering on taking a break when a grand, booming sound startled him, making him jump two feet in the air.
In a second Arthur had crouched behind a boulder with his sword raised to mid-chest.What on the five kingdoms had been that? It took him a second to see the reason of the commotion; it was Merlin, but this was no the Merlin he had come to know.
Merlin was merciless throwing spells at the vase making it fly several meters away each time he attacked. With his eyes shining gold and the earth basically vibrating under his feet, Arthur almost felt scared of his friend, he would've probably bolted back to Ealdor had not been for the pure agony that was reflected on his friend's face.
"Merlin!" Arthur gasped from his spot, barely audible over the ruckus. "Merlin, stop!"
Arthur could almost feel Merlin's magic permeating the air.
"Why—don't—you—break?!" Merlin screamed in frustration and with every word another attack was delivered, making the vase fly farther and farther back. Merlin's eyes were angry and his movements erratic, so his spells began to miss their objective, making holes in the ground, turning boulders into dust, Merlin even managed to crack a tree.
Arthur was in shock where he kneeled, this was the same man that lighted up his candles in his room at nights, the same that healed his leg in a minute, and the same that made leafs freeze in the air just for his amusement.
"MERLIN!" Arthur screamed. If this keeps up even people in Ealdor will be able to hear the commotion. With one last yell, Merlin sent the vase flying several yards away, making it collide against a rock with a hollow, metal sound. After that one last blow of magic, Merlin was left standing alone in the middle of the clear, particles of dust floating around him. His arms falling to his sides trying to catch his breath.
The silence that followed ringed in the air heavily after the loud outburst of magic.
None of them said anything for a while, nor did they move. After a moment, Merlin grunted before he finally collapsed to his knees, turning his head to the sky. He mumbled something that Arthur could not catch but before he could do anything Merlin finally went to rest on his back. Arms spread wide at his sides, unmovable.
Arthur watched for a few minutes in silence, astonished and in shock and if we are being honest afraid. He has never in his life seen Merlin this angry and it was a sight he didn't want to see again. Arthur felt like in these past days he had come to known all the sides of Merlin; the witty, happy, stubborn and loyal ones he already knew. But the smart, thinker, planner and responsible he came to know here. And yet he realized that as much as he admired Merlin for always being so strong… Arthur realized that Merlin was also just human and sadly even people like him failed.
He was not stupid, nor blind. With each day he had seen how frustrated Merlin was becoming with the vase, but unlike Arthur, who gets rid of his anger by destroying practice dummies, Merlin needs to, apparently, destroy a whole field.
"Merlin?" Arthur asked worriedly, finally stepping away from the rock. "Are you all right?"
Merlin heard his voice but didn't answer; instead, he bit his lip and closed his eyes. No, he wasn't alright, and in a few moments neither would Arthur. How was he supposed to tell Arthur that he had no idea how to break the spell? That his father's life—a life he sworn to protect—was in peril. He didn't know what to do and he didn't want to see Arthur's face when finally Merlin tells him the news. He felt Arthur approaching and sure enough a moment later Arthur swatted his arm with his foot.
Merlin opened his eyes with a dejected look and Arthur sighed, relieved to be staring at the blue eyes of his friend instead of golden ones. They stared at each other for a moment, both of them lost in their own gloomy thoughts.
Merlin finally sighed before sitting up cross-legged on the floor, rather interested in the intrinsic pattern of his shirt. They watched the sky turn from pale blue to dark pink and orange before Arthur found his voice.
"So… is this how sorcerers get rid of hangovers?" Arthur tried but Merlin just sighed and placed his head on top of his knees. Right. Time for an emotional talk. Again. "Alright, Merlin, care to explain the sudden… outburst?" Arthur finally asked looking around the destroyed field.
"I don't… I don't really know what came over me," Merlin confessed glaring in the general direction of the vase. "It's just… I lost it."
"I can see that." Arthur deadpanned, looking down at him.
"Sorry if I scared you," Merlin said after a while, voice muffled, not daring to raise his head. "I really didn't mean it."
Arthur laughed, however, both of them could hear the almost hysteric note in his voice. "Merlin, the day you scare me will be the day." However, he became painfully aware that he was still clutching the sword on his hand. With a stubborn movement, he jabbed it on the ground. "You didn't scare me, I was only prepared in case we were under attack or something."
Merlin smiled inwardly; at least the prat was trying to act like his sudden outburst didn't scare the hell out of him. He finally raised his head a little to look at Arthur who was dutifully analyzing the patterns in the sky, Merlin followed his stare and for a few moments, everything was peaceful.
"Mom said that the most beautiful sunsets are seen here, in Ealdor."
Arthur hummed, that was because Merlin has never seen a sunset from his spot in his tower, after a moment Arthur was startled when he saw something glinting from afar, he was about to take his sword when he anxiously realized that it was the vase, that was floating silently to where they were. He looked down towards Merlin whose eyes were glinting gold once again. A moment later he watched as the vase flew easily into the sorcerers' hands.
They both stared at the vase for a long second.
Arthur sighed before placing a hand on Merlin's shoulder, he could see how his friend was almost drowning in guilt. "Merlin… you can always try again tomorrow."
"I don't get it." Merlin finally said as turned the vase softly into his hands. Not even a scratch. "Why? Why is the vase not obeying my magic? It just doesn't make sense. All magical things are related, all magical artifacts have a counter spell to disable them and yet… the vase defies this."
Arthur crunched to be at the same level as Merlin.
"I know that I've been asking a lot from you lately, with the vase and everything that has been going on…. I don't want you to feel like it's your responsibility to fix this."
"But it is, isn't it?" And for the first time, Arthur saw the calm, collected, almost cold man that Merlin could be. Arthur tends to forget that Merlin actually does have a list of all the times Merlin had managed to save Arthur from death, evil sorcerers, and Morgana herself. Let's not even start with the decisions he makes on a daily basis.
Arthur looked at the vase for a moment.
Impossible to break….
Morgana already won….
Stupid nephew…
"Merlin…." Arthur chose his words carefully before speaking, "are you sure every spell can be lifted?—Are you certain?"
"What do you mean?" Merlin blinked.
"I mean what if… what if there's a spell that can't be broken?"
Merlin saw the vague empty look that settled on the prince's eyes as they followed the glint of the vase and Merlin narrowed his eyes. It wasn't the first time Arthur looked at the vase like that. He had noticed that but he wondered for the first time if Arthur did know something he didn't.
"No," Merlin said resolutely. "All spells can be broken."
Arthur hummed again, the temperature dropping slowly as the pink sky began turning dark blue, slowly but surely Merlin's birthday was coming to its end.
"If there's a way," Arthur mumbled looking at his hands, "Even if you don't manage to fix the vase before having to come back I'm sure we will find a way around this, at least for a while. I'll think of something and delay the test. Make Uther leave Camelot on a trip. I… also think that maybe we should focus on magic training tomorrow. Morgana's battle is getting nearer, Merlin, and I want to be certain that when we finally go to face her we will be ready."
Merlin stared at Arthur for a moment, mouth dry. Arthur was talking like if they were not going to find a solution to his father's illness, he was talking like if they had already lost. Merlin didn't like the idea that Arthur knew something he didn't. 'Giving up' was not a concept the prince of Camelot was aquatinted with, "Arthur… I'll fix this."
Arthur managed a smile, however, it didn't reach his eyes. "I know you will."
"You know, there used to be a time where I believed that," Merlin said sadly before he pushed Arthur with his shoulder. "Just spit it out."
Arthur sighed as he finally sat in front of his friend.
"Merlin, you have been looking for a cure for ten days now, maybe longer, don't get too stressed, it pains me? Sure, do I want this to be solved quick? Damn right, but as you said, magic times time." Arthur managed to lie. "Maybe you are blocking yourself, maybe a good training tomorrow will help you think clearer. Then you might give it another shot on our last day before leaving."
Merlin blinked before he narrowed his eyes, looking around before placing a hand on Arthur's forehead. "I'm sure I didn't hit you with any kind of spell, and Gwen's not around, so why are you being so… nice?"
Arthur scoffed as he swatted Merlin's hand away.
"Stop it, you idiot! You didn't hit me, I'm a nice person by nature!"
"U—uh, so is this because it's my birthday or because I scared you?"
Arthur grunted before getting to his feet. "Get up. Enough for a day. Let's head home, I'm starving. Hunith said that the market closes a bit after sunset so maybe he will be able to buy some goods before heading home if we are lucky."
Merlin stood up slowly, watching Arthur carefully.
"Maybe we could buy some chocolate?" Merlin tried as Arthur shrugged, sheathing his sword.
"Sure, why not." Arthur sighed.
"… Will this nice attitude go away tomorrow or—oi!" Merlin said evading a rock thrown his way.
"Does that answer your question?"
"Strangely, it does."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
It was late at night when Elyan woke up in his room, in his house— his father's house. Elyan blinked. It was unusual for him to stay here, mostly because he, being a knight of Camelot, had a room on the knights quarters back in the castle, however, just for tonight, this will come conveniently for him. He listened carefully for a moment; by the sounds from outside, he could tell that the night's rain had died, leaving just a soft rain behind. Good.
He sat on his bed and turned around in silence, Gwen was easy to spot, she was resting beside his bed, sitting uncomfortably on a chair, she had demanded his presence after the funeral and then she had barely let go of him, forcing him to eat dinner with her and then sleeping at their house. In other times he would've rolled his eyes at her sight, so stubborn and selfless, so like her. Seeing that his sister was passed out cold from exhaustion—after all, she had spent the whole night before awake looking after him, it was highly unlikely that she woke up—Elyan stood up from his bed and took his chances.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"Happy Birthday!" His mom sang as Merlin walked inside the little hut, Hunith engulfed him in a hug so fast Merlin didn't see her coming. "I'm glad you came earlier today."
Arthur closed the door behind him with a soft sad smile as he watched the scene. His birthdays' were always filled with people; it was a royal event, people from all around the kingdom came to the ball his father organized for him each year. He is congratulated everywhere he goes and he receives more presents than he can open. And yet he had never smiled as bright as Merlin in that moment when he saw his strawberry cake neatly placed in the middle of the table. At least his money had paid off.
"Thank you, Mom!" Merlin said happily as he eyed his cake, "Gods, I don't remember the last time we ate cake together. Where did you get this?"
"I had a little bit of help," She accepted as she smiled knowingly at Arthur, who coughed in embarrassment and looked the other way. "I was just looking for a candle when you came. Sit, sit, both of you. The hot chocolate is almost ready."
Arthur glanced at the chocolate goods he bought and shrugged. Well, more to gift Gwen when he comes back.
Merlin blushed annoyed, "I'm not ten anymore, Mom."
"C'mon, just do it," Arthur said hiding his excitement as he pushed Merlin on a seat. That was Arthur's favorite birthday part; blowing the candle, make a wish, and if he was lucky, he would have some awesome friend that would not be afraid of his father's ire and push his head into the cake. And yet at twelve his father had stopped placing candles on his cakes. That had been incredibly disappointing.
Merlin rolled his eyes as Hunith found one and lighted it in the fire. Carefully she placed it on top of the cake and Merlin magically blew it out without even opening his mouth.
"Ow, c'mon, Merlin!" Arthur swatted him on the head and then, embarrassed that he had hit Merlin in front of Hunith—who was more amused than anything—jerkily patted Merlin's shoulder. "Do it for the gold old times?"
Merlin turned slightly to glare at him. "Alright, fine, but go to the other side of the table."
"Oh shut up, I'm not going to do anything!"
"Somehow that is not very reassuring,"
Arthur rolled his eyes and dejectedly walked to the other side along with Hunith; he threw Merlin a face "Happy now?" Idiot.
Merlin hummed indifferently and after seeing the waiting face of his mother he sighed resignedly. The candle burst to life once more.
"Ready? Make a wish, Merlin" Hunith clapped her hands once.
"I wish Gwaine could be here to see this," Arthur joked, "He would not let it die."
"Shut up."
"Boys…" Hunith protested and both of them settled.
"How come when Arthur starts you don't say anything?" Merlin complained.
"What are you, five? Just make a wish so we can eat, Merlin."
Merlin looked at the candle, closed his eyes and made his wish. He blew it out.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
In the end, Merlin had not been able to escape Arthur, and when Hunith had pressed Merlin to give the cake a small bite Arthur had leaned over the table. Merlin had grumbled for whole ten minutes even after he had cleaned his face. At least the cake was delicious, even if he could still somewhat taste—or smell—some of it in his nose. He had thought that that had been the worse, but then he had to endure a talk between Hunith and Arthur, as they exchanged stories about Merlin's birthdays from his times in Camelot and here. Much to Merlin's dismay.
Merlin smiled softly at the laughs of his mother, Arthur's stubborn attitude could make anyone laugh—that is if you are not afraid of him—soon Merlin's eyelids were dropping but he refused to go to sleep yet, he was drained but this was the end of his birthday and he had a very grim feeling that maybe it would be a long time since he could have one with both Hunith and Arthur in the same place.
"And your birthdays, Arthur?" Hunith smiled as she served them the last of the now cold chocolate, as a third of the cake still remained. "I'm intrigued, a two-year-old in a ball? You can't even remember them."
Arthur shrugged. "They don't really change much year from year." Arthur made a mental note to invite Hunith to his birthday next time, definitely, he will even give Merlin the week off so he could show Hunith around.
"I can only imagine your birthdays," Merlin said sleepily with a smirk. "A child going around yelling orders… you are right, not much changes from year to year."
"Merlin!"
"What?"
Hunith gave him one last look before turning to Arthur, Merlin rolled his eyes; apparently, his mother had gotten attached to the prince too. "And do you organize them? Somehow I don't see that happening, maybe Gwen? Lovely girl, haven't seen her in a while."
"Morgana used to plan them…" Arthur said quietly with a faint smile, looking at the bottom of his cup, he remembered her now, with her lovely gowns running around the castle, always trying to make his birthday party the second-best party of the year—below hers but still, she had cared enough back then— he placed his cup down. "She excelled at making parties." He blinked as he looked to the side. "The fire is dying," He noticed. "I'll go and fetch some logs, it's going to be a cold night."
"You don't need to," Hunith tried to stop him while Merlin nodded encouragingly, did his mother not know how many times Arthur actually offered to do something? Apparently not.
"It's fine, it's the least I can do," Arthur said before leaving the house. After all, Merlin with all his power couldn't conjure wood out of thin air. As they waited for him to come back, Merlin and Hunith cleaned up the table. While Merlin magically took care of the dirty dishes, washing them in a bucket of water.
"You look tired," Hunith noticed worriedly as Merlin yawned, noticing his tense shoulders, "did something happen today?"
Merlin blinked at his mom before a plate went flying to his mother's hand for her to dry. "How do you always know everything?"
"That's the magic about moms. Still had not figured out the vase?"
"How did you know that, I—"
"Arthur told me yesterday," Hunith confessed.
Merlin sighed as he finally kneeled to wash the dishes by hand, feeling the need to do something with his body and too tired to try and fake that he wasn't incredibly exhausted to even be using magic. The training was taking a toll on him. "Sorry I didn't tell you before, it's just that…Arthur has so little decisions left in his life right now, that taking one for him felt wrong."
Hunith dried the next plate. "That is wise, you are a good friend to him Merlin, and I'm sure whatever is wrong with this vase that is affecting his father you will figure it out."
"I don't know about that," Merlin said passing her the last plate before sitting on the floor, looking up at her mother, "Sometimes I wish you had magic too."
"What for? Can you imagine?" Hunith smiled as she placed the dried plates on a table. "I would be incredibly lazy, like you and where would that leave us?"
Merlin chuckled softly, "It would be easier to ask for advice… now more than ever."
"Maybe you should ask Gaius, he has helped you all these years." Hunith said as she patted him on the shoulder, "C'mon, get up and let's get you to bed."
Merlin shook his head, yawning, "It's beyond him."
Hunith helped Merlin to his spot on the floor, and Merlin gracefully accepted the fact that he needed to rest.
"So look for help," Hunith advised as she sat beside him, caressing his hair like when he was a child, "There's always help if you are willing to ask for it."
Merlin hummed, not truly believing that, besides who could he ask? The sorcerers he didn't know yet for they were hidden in Camelot in the never-ending fear of being discovered? Right. "The vase unsettles me, alright, but what unsettles me more is Arthur, Mom. If I were him, I honestly would have gone crazy, I can't even phantom what would it feel to lose you, and yet he looks so collected, even today… after I basically told him I didn't know what to do he just swiftly moved on to the next plan. I don't know how he does that, how can he not …care? It's his Father..."
"Merlin, don't ever say that. I'm sure he cares."
"But still…." Merlin yawned stubbornly. "I need to fix this. I will. I will bring his father back and tell him I told you so"
"And you will, I'm sure, right now just go to sleep, Son, I'll see you in the morning."
Merlin was asleep before she finished talking.
Hunith began to get worried when a few minutes later Arthur had yet to come back, she didn't want to wake up Merlin to go and find him but she was starting to think that maybe he had gotten lost, it was incredibly dark outside, no moon today so after one last glance at Merlin she left the hut to go and find him along with the last burning candle.
It was incredibly chilly outside, she wrapped her cloak tightly around her trying to decide which way to the woods Arthur probably took.
Surprisingly, she found him in less than twenty seconds.
He was actually just a few steps behind the house, a pile of wood beside him. Hunith's heart clenched when she heard the soft sobs of the prince piercing the chilly air. Maybe Merlin didn't understand Arthur's point of view. For Merlin losing her like Arthur had lost his father would be pretty simple; he would focus on healing her, make her better. End of story. But Arthur? Arthur had not only his father to worry about— one that happened to be a King— but also a whole kingdom, thousands of souls and citizens and people he knew and loved and had to protect.
Merlin had to protect one person while Arthur had to protect a realm.
And he had to do all this without being able to do anything but wait. It must be confusing, unsettling and frustrating. And just to make things worse Morgana has done this. His sister. Merlin could not understand, not when Arthur had never turned his back on him, she was glad that Merlin had never known that kind of rejection. He still had her and Arthur. But now Arthur was practically an orphan. No mother, no sister and no father. Left alone with a kingdom he was too young to rule. And Merlin, her son, whose faith in Arthur was so big had blinded him from this painful truth.
She saw as Arthur shivered and covered his head with his arms, as he kept on crying, shoulders shaking. It was heartbreaking. When was the last time Arthur was even held and hugged when he cried? With a father like Uther, Hunith realized that Arthur had been on his own for maybe longer than this problem.
Hunith cursed Morgana in her head. How dare she do this to him of all people? To a boy she loved as a son?
Hunith felt torn between making herself known or not.
Finally, knowing how Arthur would react, she chose to silently blow her candle out and return to her house silently. She waited for over an hour at the table, patiently waiting for him to show up.
Arthur was startled to find her there when he came back to the hut, placidly sitting reading a book in the light of a dying candle, he almost dropped the logs from his arms. He had not expected her to be awake. She placed the book down when she saw him enter.
"I-I'm sorry, it was too d-dark and I wasn't able to find woods near the house, I—you didn't... what are you doing awake? You must be tired," Arthur whispered not wanting to wake up the idiot of his friend. Honestly, he had thought that both Merlin and Hunith would have been fast asleep by now and he had hoped to just quietly light a fire and go to sleep. He was sure his eyes were still rimmed red and he felt embarrassed that he had to break here in Ealdor of all places.
Hunith stood up from her chair and went to help him. Arthur almost dropped the logs again.
"Didn't I tell you before? A mother always waits for her sons to come home to be able to sleep." She placed a hand on his arm as she guided him to light a fire, "And now that you have arrived, I can."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
A lone figure was making his way down the narrow hallways of Camelot, after living here almost half his life knowing the ins and outs of Camelot were second nature to him, but even in the worst case scenario just one look at his face and whoever wanted to stop him would think twice, no one will ever doubt him, not now. Probably not ever.
With his rank and his story no one would second guess him anymore, however, thanks to the soft rain, no one was outside so that wasn't necessary. Soon he successfully made his way to the skirts of Camelot without being seen, entering the deep woods without much trouble. For a man who had been recently injured in the woods entering a place like this, in the middle of the night, alone, and without weapons should have imposed a certain feeling of fear within him.
But certainly not to this man.
He made his way quick and silent, going west as much as he could tell and finally, after a few minutes of walking around the woods, he saw it; the fading but clear green lighting path in front of him, in the darkness the contrast of his red shining eyes would have put anyone on edge, but since he was alone no one was there to witness his smile as he dutifully followed the narrow magical green path further inside the woods.
Finally, he reached a little clear and the green lighted path disappeared along with the redness in his eyes, he blinked around confused, had he somehow misunderstood the path? Had he gotten lost? Before he could think any further he spotted the person he had come to see. He instantly put one knee on the floor, one hand on his knee and his head bowed to the ground.
"My lady."
There were soft muddy steps as the woman approached, only the sound of the rain surrounding them. A thunder was heard above them and then, a few seconds later, he felt a short pat on his shoulder indicating him to stand up. He did. There in front of him stood Morgana Pendragon, a wicked smile on her face as she assessed him with a cold stare as cold and sharp as the rain. A task that only a woman like her could do.
"It took you long enough to come and meet me, Elyan," Morgana said as Elyan bowed once again in silent surrender.
"I apologize I couldn't come sooner. I was retained in the castle. Funerals were held for the dead knights." Elyan said with a straight-stoic face.
Well, Morgana thought, it was to be expected after all, with Uther's mandatory interrogation and whatnot she had foreseen this. She paced around the clear before sitting royally on a nearby log. So elegant that it looked like if the log was unworthy of her presence. Then, with a smirk and eyes that could turn water into ice, she spoke, breaking the imperative silence that had reigned until that moment.
"Now, tell me, my knight, how is my beloved father taking my news so far? Is he scared? Does he think he has a chance? How is Merlin, the sorcerer, trying to fix the unfixable? And most importantly, how is my dear brother faring with the inevitable?" Morgana's smile grew wider as her eyes turned gold. "They remind me of you Elyan, trying to escape the impossible. Humans, so stupid. They always think they have a chance, don't they?"
A/N: I have to accept that damn, this chapter was hard to write, I made like 5 different versions and this was definitely the best one. I hope you like it. This chapter is especially dedicated to a certain whiny (according to her! But she wasn't!) Guest that pushed me to finish this chapter. This chapter was for you because after reading that review (I have been having a bit of writer block) I decided I was going to finish the chapter for once and for all.
I haven't finished a single sheet of my 20 worksheet that I'm due to deliver tomorrow, I'm probably not going to sleep all night doing it but it was worth it! I'm so happy with it! I just feel bubbling with ideas and damn now I really have to work! My mom yelled at me because I didn't help her to make dinner or clean around. When I immerse myself in writing the world be damned.
I'll try to answer your reviews during the week, work is killing me. I don't want the adult life, I don't want it anymore, where can I sell it? Give me magic and then maybe I'll consider.
On other news, we've got ourselves a beta reader! But she has yet to send me corrections on the past chapter to see if we can work together and like… yeah, I'm not waiting anymore for this one. So sorry about that guys. (But I guess you would rather read it like this?)
Next chapter (Drums!): Killgarrah! Wuju (FINALLY!)
YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME I LOVE YOU! Hope to hear from you!
-Juliet'lovestory-
A/N2: I'm sending you a piece of Merlin's birthday cake since he forgot to invite us all. Idiot.
A/N3: DID YOU SEE ELYAN COMING OR NOT? To the SMART person who asked me if Elyan bursting out of the woods was a premonition(NerdGirlAlert) IT WAS! And if you are wondering beautiful, awesome reader, no, he wasn't evil before Morgana. Morgana turned him to the dark side. The one who was spying on Merlin before has yet to reveal himself. And if you noticed the weird part of his story Im glad you did, that means you pay attention to the little things (: