So terribly sorry I haven't updated this story! It has been FOREVER! I know, I know, I'm terrible. And what do I do? I come back with a short, not very well done chapter. Apologies.
But here I am nonetheless. I've just had so many different writing projects and I've been working with another fanfiction writers so that doesn't help. Oh and we mustn't forget school! Excuses, excuses though... I need to finish some of my own fics! Gahhh! I am such a slacker -_-
Annnnywaaaays!
Please review - constructive criticism is always welcome! I don't have any clue as to when I will update again (hopefully soon), but I will. I shall not be abandoning any stories!
Thanks for all the support so far, not only with this story, but with all my others as well. It means the world and I'm seeing myself slowly improving as a writer so that's a plus!
I'll see you next time! Read and enjoy! Bye!
The cool, crisp fall air was what woke Fawn. The cloudy windows still had rays of sunlight shining through them, the clouds in the sky not stopping the large yellow globe of warmth from illuminating the many streets of Camelot. Summer's time, however, was over, and the heat which was once present and felt by the various people who lived within the cities walls, was no more. The chilly breeze of the morning rattled the leaves of the forests and the colors of orange, red, and yellow began to spread across the greenery of the trees. Harvests were collected and stores of food were being made, Camelot's people already preparing for the winter season.
Fawn pulled the thin blankets closer to her chin. The wind brushing the window's glass seeping through the cracks and into the room made it fairly cold. Then the girls eyes snapped opened with a start, her mind scrambling to pick up the pieces of past events. Someone was hurt, someone that she cared for…
Merlin.
Suddenly Fawn didn't care about the cold air or the shock that hit her when her warm feet touched the chilled floor boards. The only thing she worried about was her brother's wellbeing. She remembered Arthur's comforting arms and how, even through the darkness, she felt him carry her to bed.
Fawn burst through the door, into the main chambers, and all but ran down the steps looking around frantically for her brother. Gaius was sitting by the fire warming his old and wrinkled hands while Gwen was seen sitting by the patients bed, adjusting the blankets around Merlin's slim frame, as to make the warlock more comfortable.
"Ah – My dear girl, I was beginning to worry." Gaius said whilst straightening out his back.
"How long have I been asleep?" Fawn asked looking back and forth from Gaius to Gwen for an answer.
"Nearly thirteen hours… The stress as of late as not been kind to you, my dear." The physician sighed as a sign that he too was under stress.
Fawn then brought her attention to Merlin, "How – how is he? Is he alright?" She stuttered.
"The wound doesn't show signs of infection – that's good news. The small fever he did have broke late last night as well. He is well on the road to recovery." Gaius explained.
Fawn walked to her brother and pulled up another stool to sit on the opposite side of the bed as Gwen. She placed her pale hand on his and rubbed her thumb across his soft skin.
"Thank you for helping…" Fawn told Guinevere softly.
"It is the least I can do. Merlin is my best friend and would do the same for me. He has helped me many a time." Gwen responded kindly before quickly reaching up to brush away some of Merlin's dark locks from his eyes.
"This situation seems familiar though, does it not, Gwen? Merlin on this very same cot, and you at his bedside." Gaius said bringing up an old memory.
"What do you mean?" Fawn asked.
"Oh, well, during Merlin's first year in Camelot he protected Arthur by drinking poison that was meant for the prince… well now he's king… but he wasn't king at the time, obviously…" Gwen stammered. Her cheeks turned a deep red at her rambling.
"He drank poison?!" Fawn gripped her brother's hand a bit tighter as if to reassure herself he was still there.
"Yes, but fortunately Arthur was able to get the antidote, and just in the nick of time too…" Gwen's smile faltered.
"Then why do you suddenly look so distraught?" The warlock's sister questioned, noticing Gaius also had a saddened look. The thought that her brother could have died and she never would have seen him again frightened her.
"We were almost too late. His heart stopped momentarily and we thought Merlin was gone. It was the most pleasant surprise when he suddenly woke up." Gwen chuckled lightly.
"Yes, that was quite some kiss." Gaius said and smirked, remembering the way the maidservant practically attacked the boy when he woke up.
If she was blushing before, Guinevere blushed even more uncontrollably at that point.
"I thought he had just died, I was simply overwhelmed!"
Fawn laughed, "I'm sure you were, but weren't you just telling me the other day that you had a small crush on Merlin when he first arrived?"
"Yes, but it has been a long while since I've thought of him in that way, he's like a second brother to me." Gwen confessed.
"So if I wake up now you won't abruptly kiss me out of pure joy?" Asked a raspy voice. They suddenly turned their gaze to Merlin whose eyes were cracked open and a small grin plastered on his face.
"Merlin!" Just to make fun Gwen bent down and pecked him on the cheek.
"Hello, Gwen… Fawn… Gaius..." Merlin looked at all of them through hazy eyes.
"What have I told you about getting into trouble, Merlin. I seem to be by your bedside whilst you're sick or injured much too often for my liking." Gwen shook her head disapprovingly but still smiled.
"And you had me worried sick!" Fawn lightly hit Merlin's arm playfully.
"Quite literally too," Gaius added from the side-lines.
"I know, I'm sorry – I'm sorry!" Merlin motioned his hands up in surrender before hissing in pain from the movement. Gwen helped him lower his arms back down and applied the cool cloth again.
Not even two minutes later Gwaine burst through the door with Arthur right behind him. The two were bickering about something and a few words such as 'tavern', 'trouble', and 'mead' could be heard more than once. Then it all came to a halt as they noticed Merlin awake and smiling.
"He's back to the land of the living!" The drunkard knight exclaimed.
"Hello Gwaine." Merlin said tiredly before Fawn held a cup of water to his mouth which he swallowed greedily.
"You had us worried, mate. When trouble is taking a break from princess, you're its next target!" Gwaine joked before sitting down next to fawn and putting an arm around her shoulders.
"Oi! Get your hands off her; she's way too young for you!" Merlin's face – being overly dramatic – morphed into one of disgust. Gwaine backed off quickly knowing not to get on the bad side of the most powerful magic user to ever exist.
"Don't worry about Gwaine, Merlin. The stable boy – Eric, I believe his name is – he's been all over your baby sister," Arthur lied. Then the king laughed as his friends facial expression once again changed, but this time into one of horror.
"He has not! We've only been talking!" Fawn argued.
"Better be, I don't want to have to be executed for the death of this Eric…" Merlin teased lightly.
"You'll have to get better before you go off killing people. Speaking of which, how are you feeling, mate?" Gwaine asks.
"I've been better, but I have also been far worse." Merlin shrugs.
Arthur, Gwaine, and Gwen's eyes all clouded over for a short moment at his attempt to lighten the mood. Shortly after they had discovered his magic they had him tell them of everything he had been through. The three friends knew more than anyone that Merlin had indeed been in far worse situations, both mentally and physically. It had taken a toll on them to learn that he had struggled so much and they had no idea. Even after they learned of Merlin's gifts he had found himself in tights spots that resulted in injury or a complete mental breakdown on his part. Arthur's memory quickly went to a time only a few months ago when Merlin tried to save a young boy and his magic wasn't quick enough, resulting in the child's death. The warlock had been utterly distraught afterwards and fell apart, muttering that he couldn't save anyone and that he had let everyone down. Will, Freya, Balinor – all of them gone because he let them down. The three of them did all they could just to pull him from his thoughts and it took two weeks before he was back to his regular, happy self. They knew all too well that he had been worse off than this in the past.
All of them were pulled from their thoughts as the physician hobbled across the chambers and cleared his throat as to gain attention.
"Forgive my interruption but it would be much appreciated if you were all to depart momentarily as I need to tend to my patient." Gaius said while gathering some fresh bandages. "That means you too, Fawn."
"Why? Surely I can stay and help. It's not as if you're performing an intense surgery." Fawn argued.
"Sorry, I just need to speak with Merlin privately." Gaius told them.
Although they wanted to stay and be with Merlin, the group shot the physician a confused look and then stepped out of the chambers. Fawn gave her brother a quick smile before shutting the door and followed the others towards the courtyard.
"What's wrong, Gaius?" Merlin asked while the physician helped the warlock take off his shirt.
"My boy… you are a complete mystery…" Gaius muttered.
He removed the old blood stained bandages and was examining Merlin's wound.
"Whatever do you mean by that?" The warlock questioned trying to turn and face the older man but stopped abruptly when a bolt of pain hit his shoulder. Gaius had begun to apply an ointment that would help the healing process and it had skipped his mind to warn his ward about the slight sting it caused.
"Sorry, Merlin… Now, as I was saying, you are a mystery because I very much believe you should have died."
"Oh… Sorry?"
"No, my boy, I only mean to say that I didn't think I could save you. The wound was serious! The arrow was deep and you lost quite a lot of blood. For these reasons and more, you should very well be dead."
Gaius began re-bandaging the wound, not looking at his wards face as he continued on.
"You are not dead, and I'm very happy for such a miracle. I'm just not so sure it was a miracle. You've already healed far faster than what is normal and you have done so similarly in the past with other wounds… I am not certain as to what to think about this. It could very well be your magic, for there is no other like you Merlin nor will there ever be. However, there is something about this that unsettles me, something that we have questioned in the past but never fully brought to our attention…" Gaius' voice trailed off and he began filling another cup of water for his ward.
Merlin, with a shaky hand, accepted the drink as it was offered to him.
"Are you suggesting… You know… The meaning behind the name Emrys?" Merlin asked hesitantly.
"I'm afraid I am, my boy." Gaius said solemnly.
Merlin let out a sigh, his breath hitching slightly. He understood the implications of Gaius' words, but full heartedly wish he did not.
"So it's true then?" Merlin asked, staring at the cup in his hands like it would answer all his questions. "I'm – I'm immortal?"
"There is nothing to suggest otherwise."
"But there must be a way to change it, to make me not immortal…?"
"If there is, I wouldn't know what, my boy." Gaius said sadly.
"I don't want it, Gaius. I don't want to have to watch as all the people I care about grow old and die without me! I'll be forced to live for who knows how long all alone!" Merlin spoke heatedly as his hands began to shake more furiously.
"I know, Merlin. I know." Gaius tried to comfort the warlock by placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezing it gently.
"I don't want to be alone…" Merlin murmured.