If no one ever hears it how we gonna learn your song?
So come on come on, come on come on.
"Merlin?" the voice he knew by heart, and which became such an important thing in his life, sounded out from behind him.
The warlock was torn away from the thoughts circling inside his head and his shoulders automatically stiffened. The memories of the denial and mistrust of his king were still fresh and Merlin, despite sitting in front of a merrily crackling fire, felt cold.
"Merlin?" now even more hesitation and also a slight tone of, was that insecurity he heard, coloured the voice and made it almost unrecognizable. Merlin heard the soft footfall of his king on the earthen floor of the hut.
A calloused hand grabbed his shoulder and tried to turn him towards the speaker.
"Merlin, please answer me." The voice was now smaller, begging. He felt fear from Arthur. Not fear of him, but for him and it was in a curious sense comforting for Merlin to hear it. His king, his friend didn't abandon him. Not jet! The warlock buried the thought quickly and with all his might into the deepest recesses of his mind.
He didn't turn his head to Arthur nor did he acknowledge the hand gripping his shoulder tightly, instead he actually turned his head further away. After a nearly eternal moment of heavy silence said hand shifted slightly on the fabric covering the manservant's shoulder.
Merlin heard a sigh escaping the lips of the blond king as he slowly sat down besides his friend, on the wooden trunk of a tree cut in half to make a makeshift bench, he still seemed to favour his right side.
"Tell me what's wrong…. please?" the soft coaxing voice of Arthur once again cut into the silence between the two men. Merlin found it almost laughable how tender the voice of his friend and king sounded… almost, but he was also grateful for it.
Merlin slightly shrugged his shoulder to get rid of the hand lying on it. He did not want to have this conversation with Arthur, not jet, but he knew that the blond would be curios and that Eadgar and the others hadn't told Arthur anything.
"Why won't you speak to me Merlin? I know you've helped me….. I…. if you used your….gifts", here he spoke the word carefully almost as if not to anger the warlock sitting by his side. "You should know that I won't complain…..eer have anything against you using… ma-magic, as long as you don't surprise me with it…if…."
The king stopped slightly embarrassed and Merlin wouldn't even need to look to know that he, the king Arthur, had his face scrunched up about his awkward and undiplomatic way of addressing the dragon in the room.
The servant still hadn't turned to face the king and just sat there brooding with his back hunched and unaccustomed long hair falling into his face. He slightly sighted when he felt the tension in the body sitting next to him intensified even more.
"What do you want to hear from me?" the voice came out slightly croaked and Merlin let out a small cough to correct it.
"I, I just want to know what happened while I was unconscious… and you know dying….?"
"Everything? Do you really want that?" even though he was still calm the voice held a certain harshness in it, Merlin didn't meant to sound like it but a small bout of anger had built up inside him since Arthur spoke. The look of hurt and betrayal when he revealed his magic still haunted him and this new Arthur wanting to know about his gift didn't seem to fit. He buried his hands into the folds of his garment to hide the fists they had become.
"Well….." the king sighted quite heavily and Merlin felt a shoulder touch his. "Not everything…. just….I would like you to tell me everything which could help me understand my… our… situation? ...Please, Merlin."
What diplomatic an answer he gave, he even said please….how nice of him that he sees me as a human…for once.
The warlock was shortly tempted to let the blond simmer just a little bit more, but decided against it, he had a right to know what happened…. even though he must not know everything.
"What is the last thing you remember?" the question sounded sharp and almost cold into the room.
Merlin heard the fire crackling and a piece of wood shifting a little when Arthur began to speak.
"Well…. I remember you helping me going to the lake….. and green, lots of it…. We were in a forest?" he sounded unsure of himself. "I… I remember saying 'thank you' and remembering all the things you must have done for me… I… I can't even begin to describe what I've felt… and then… then there was only…. black and…. silence."
The room was silent once again. Merlin didn't know what to say at first, this took everything to a whole new emotional level Arthur rarely let others see. Heck the only time Merlin could compare it to was the situation where the king had mourned for his father's death. Since when does he get so emotional? It was still a small mystery to the light-haired man.
"After…." Merlin started but then stopped. "Arthur, do not ask me any questions or disrupt me while I speak…. It wasn't easy for me either and… I will answer questions after I've talked so… please." He sat a little bit straighter the shoulder of his king still touching his. Without much further ado he began recounting again.
"After you fainted, I called Kilgharrah, he helped me with carrying you to the lake you know, but before he arrived I let my magic," he felt a small twitch," fulfil my will to make you survive I've… I can't really fully comprehend myself what I did then, but if I had to describe it I would say that I slowed your heart…." The warlock once again was confronted with the feeling of loss and grief.
"After we arrived at the lake, I found a boat and we crossed over it, and landed on the shores of Avalon were we were welcomed by…. by the Lady of the Lake, she helped us getting to The Sanctuary.
There I've met Eadgar and his fellows…. They are of the Seelie court even though they do not consider themselves part of it…. its' complicated…. Well they helped me with the healing you…."
"We must remove all of his armour and tunic first…. It would be best if he had as little clothing on his body as possible it would be in the way otherwise…. Please take over that part if you'd like. Me and my fellows will prepare the rest?" The cloaked figure slightly tilted his head.
Merlin nodded and made his way towards the still king on the rock. Practiced hands began removing the boots, after unbuckling the greaves, and socks. Merlin decided to let his king have the linen trousers he wore underneath to maintain his dignity.
The real struggle came when he tried to unbuckle the straps of the breastplate and pauldron. He had the body in a careful embrace and was currently thinking about, how the heck he could manoeuvre around the unconscious, heavy blond, without accidentally letting him fall off from the hewn stone.
The predicament was solved when a lithe pair of hands moved into his field of vision and slowly but surely unfastened the leather straps. Merlin saw Frey and only nodded in thanks, though his cheeks began to take on an interesting shade of pink.
Warlock and Lady helped each other as they freed the limp body from its burden. After retrieving amour, gambeson, and thin tunic, which urgently had to be washed, Merlin slowly laid Arthurs body back again and rested the arms and hands on the, curiously, warm stone. The armour and garments he laid in a basket brought over by another hooded figure and made way to lift it of the ground.
'Emrys, are you finished with your task?' A sonorous voice sounded in his head.' I am… what am I to do now? Where should I take this basket?' the dark haired man unsurely looked around the brightly lit clearing.
Some of the people had carved a circular array of symbols into the ground. Others held different kinds of herbs in their hands, Merlin noticed that everyone only held one of a kind, and some held stone bowls with different substances.
'Please do not concern yourself with it. We have to prepare the body of the Once and Future King and the altar for the ceremony, but some of us have to touch the body of the king for it…. Are you willing to allow them? They will do no magic.'
Merlin didn't trust his voice neither spoken nor thought and only showed his acceptance by nodding and stepping away. In the meantime, someone had taken the basket from his hands and disappeared with it.
Four individuals came forward, two held bowls and the others a knife and a stone. The warlock mutely stood by and watched them completing the preparations.
The first two painted swirling patterns on the king's body, after shortening the trousers to just above his knees. It was hypnotizing in a way as the warlock followed spiral after spiral as the pattern became more and more complete. Even the soles of the feet were marked, but interestingly enough no mark found its way onto the face.
After the markings were finished another stepped forward and placed the colourless stone, a crystal Merlin now realized, and laid it on in the middle of the blond's torso where the breastbone ended.
Feeling a cool hand lightly touching his shoulder the warlock looked towards Freya. His eyes fell towards her hands where she held something made out of green cloth.
'I know it sounds strange, but you have to wash your feet and remain barefoot after this, and please exchange your clothing for this,' she held the bundle out to him.
Merlin stared down at the green cloth and slowly reached out to take it from his love. 'Where can I wash myself? I don't see a bucket or something similar?'
'If you follow this path, there is a small natural pond… I can watch Arthur for you in the meantime. I will also tell you when the preparations are done.'
Merlin felt slightly torn, on one hand he didn't want to leave, not because he distrusted Freya and the hooded figures but because he wanted to watch the preparations, never before having attended a ceremony of this kind. On the other hand he didn't want them to think he was mistrusting them.
His shoulders slumped a bit and then, with a last look at the one carving symbols in the ground by the altar the warlock turned and followed the path.
The pond was small, Merlin wasn't even sure if one could really call it a pond rather than a natural cowl. He quickly unfolded the bundle and was surprised. In it was a natural white pair of trousers as well as a tunic. The green cloth turned out to be a long, hooded robe. He felt the texture and found that it was made of fine cloth, not the rough spun fabrics he often wore.
Even though it was of finer quality it wasn't as if it was made out of silk or velvet, Merlin couldn't place it, it even had small embroidery along the seams of all pieces. He nearly didn't want to put these clothes on.
Besides the articles of clothing he also found another piece of rough cloth to wash up with. He sat down by the water's edge and removed his boots. After that he got out of his jacket and pulled his red tunic over his black hair. Next were his trousers and shoes.
The young man then decided to wash not only his torso, arms, legs and face, but his hair too. After a quick look around, mostly out of habit, he let himself dry quickly, the magical way, and began to clothe himself.
'Merlin have you finished? We are ready to begin with the ceremony. And don't worry about your clothes someone else will take care of it.' The warlock just finished putting the robe on when Freya reached out to him.
'I'll be there shortly.' He decided against pulling the hood up.
Going back and feeling the soft grass underneath his feet the dark haired man was shortly reminded of his childhood in Ealdor. He often ran around barefoot, enjoying the feeling of nature under his feet's soles.
When Merlin reached the clearing again, his breath caught in his throat. He hadn't really noticed the passing of time and that the sun must be nearing the horizon already.
Strategically placed candles lit the whole surroundings and a small fire had been lit not far away from the foot end of the altar and the smell of different herbs wafted through the air.
The hooded folk waited inside the boundaries of a massive circle drawn into the earth. Merlin was just a step from crossing the curved lines and yet did not really dare to overstep them. Not jet, his feeling said to him.
"Emrys, I welcome you into our circle, may you bring peace and love with you. And may your heart be calmed." He nearly flinched at the loud spoken words, but then composed himself and stepped into the boundaries where he was led along the curved outer line to the point facing the right side of the altar.
At the beckoning gesture of one of the hooded people he held out his hands and a swirling pattern resembling vines was painted on with a fine brush and dark pigmented liquid, akin to the paints he often saw Geoffrey use to illustrate his books, onto the back of his hands and along his fingers. On the palms a triskelion was painted as well as dots on all fingertips.
After the person finished, they gave a small bow and he was led to the opposite point of the circle boundary. There to Merlin's slight astonishment, the figure got to its knees. He didn't first understood why he was bowed to but then a tug at the hem of his robes let him realize that the figure also had a bowl of paint besides them.
Reminded of Arthurs painted foots he careful lifted the green cloth away and allowed his feet to be painted too.
A familiar scent let the warlock reminiscent about all the time he spent with Gaius, because at the third point, the one facing the foot end of the altar, there was a small bundle of tightly bound and smouldering Salvia.
He had to stand still as one of the hooded folk circled around him three times praying in the old tongue to the Maid, the Mother and the Crone and asked them to give hope, love and wisdom to Merlin.
The dark haired man was getting slightly nervous as he was unfamiliar standing there, with all the attention being aimed at him, and only at him.
He was then led to the last point at the outer circle, now facing the head of the altar. Here jet another figure waited with a bowl and a fine brush. His face was painted, starting from between his eyebrows and reaching out above them, as well as part of the middle of the forehead, and towards the temples.
He still found the sensation of the markings getting applied a strange one.
'I will ask someone later what the purpose for all this is. I won't complain as long as it helps me to heal Arthur'. He made a mental note to himself.
Merlin automatically let his eyes roam to the still form of his king lying on the altar. Now even his chin got a small, fine pattern painted on to it.
After the hooded folk gave a last small bow and retreated to the outer line, Merlin noticed that everyone except Freya who stood next to the altar, were standing at the edge of the circle, outside of its lines.
They began chanting in the old tongue as soon as he reached the middle of the circle. 'What do I have to do now?' he asked Freya, being unsure and feeling slightly miffed about not being informed about his function at the beginning.
The Lady beckoned him to step closer. 'You have to lay your right hand onto the root of the tree and your left you hold out above the stone on Arthur's torso, then connect with your magic and nature, the heart will help you.' The warlock straightened up and did as he was told. Trying to calm his mind and to blend out the chorus of voices he closed his eyes.
'Don't be afraid Merlin, I'll help you. You can do it.'
Deep, deep down into the earth he guided his magic, letting it flow along the roots of the plants which were seeking power and life for themselves. He opened up his mind and also let the magic, empowering the air around him, rush into his body.
It was daunting him, calling out and demanding to be part of him, of his own magic. He felt everything more clearly. His body felt bloated with so much magic filling it and the warlock was sure that he would burst, he suddenly felt so small and restricted. Yet he felt alive!
The warlock nearly forgot why he was even there and what his task was, when in one single moment he stopped taking in magic, and knew exactly what he had to do.
Opening his shining eyes, they almost resembled to be burning with molten gold of dragon's fire, his mouth began moving before he even registered that he spoke.
"Ic i biddan of duguð gyden, blîðian h'ælan mîn gûðweard! Ic i frâsian gecynd, onlêon me êower mægenspêd! Ond ic i bebod drýlic, helpean me! Right the wrong, and revive fate once more for the soul lying before you! His time has not yet come and he has not yet fulfilled what he was foretold to do!"
He felt the magic pouring out and into the crystal on the king. He knew he had to give even his last bit of power, to change fate and to heal the mortal wound. The warlock draining more and more of the power within him, magical and natural alike began to feel the sword piece move and the wounded flesh knit together once more.
It made his whole head ache, his teeth were clenched painfully together, his eyes began to throb and his sight became blurry. 'Not yet, not yet! I'm almost there just a little bit more and it is done, not yet!'
It was then when he heard the tell-tale clink of metal on rock, that the warlock let the steady stream of power he held on slowly subside. Merlin felt spent, never before had he done something strenuous than that and it used all of his concentration and willpower.
'You've done well my love! Rest now, we will take care of the rest!'
It was the last thing he heard, and the warlock swayed and fell into an exhausted sleep.
Merlin fell silent once more. He heard the blond beside him letting out a deep, and it as a really deep and long, breath.
"Well that's a lot to take in…." Arthur mused.
"You can't even imagine how it felt like to be the conductor of so much raw power." The warlock grumbled and wrung his hand nervously in his lap.
"But at least I know now why you have those markings on your hands." Merlin stiffened, surprised by the statement.
"So, they are still there?" he more or less asked himself.
"How do you not know this, they are there as clear as day, though the colour changed, see?" a calloused hand touched his.
Merlin finally turned his head towards his king. "I can't Arthur, "a mournful voice reached the kings ears.
"I can't." White orbs gazed unseeing towards him.
Ic i biddan of duguð gyden, blîðian h'ælan mîn gûðweard! Ic i frâsian gecynd, onlêon me êower mægenspêd! Ond ic i bebod drýlic, helpean me!
(I beg of the goddess, please heal my king! I ask the nature, to lend me your power! And I command the magic, help me!)
I used an old english translator for this, authenticity not guaranteed ;). /OldEnglishTranslator
Hello everybody. I hope the new year has been kind too you untli now. Did anybody noticed that I've did not use one word at the beginnig assosiated with seeing?
firewings27
Released:12.02.2023