Here you are, part number 2!! A HUGE thanks to all my reviewers, I'm so glad you liked it!
Happy reading!
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Arthur stopped, his legs and lungs on fire. He bent on his knees and carefully placed Merlin's motionless body down. He methodically checked on him, looking out for visible injuries, but he found none. He pressed his ear on Merlin's chest, and let out a relieved sigh when he heard his heartbeat, feeble, yes, but present and working.
The lady's riddling last words still echoed in his ears: you can save him if you lace up the strings between the two halves.
Snorting, the prince touched Merlin's hands; they were freezing, so he took off his jacket and wrapped it around the boy's upper body.
He looked at him. His face was still very pale, his body stiff, except for his hands that trembled and sometimes darted up to his chest. His expression was distressed, his breathing shallow.
Arthur really didn't know how to bring Merlin back to his senses, nor did he know what to do with his own very confused feelings. He sprung up, unable to cope calmly with all the complicated emotions that were rushing through him, and started pacing up and down, much like a wild wounded beast.
Merlin was a sorcerer, a powerful one according to that lady. He had been a sorcerer all his life, and that meant that he had been using magic from the very moment he had stepped into Camelot, right under his father's nose; perhaps even in Arthur's presence. Maybe...maybe it was thanks to his powers that Merlin was so prone to save Arthur's life. Memories of the occasions in which his servant had been his saviour filled his mind: Lady Helen throwing a dagger towards his heart, Merlin arriving by his side at an impossible speed dragging him away from danger; a glowing sphere leading him out of a dark cave...and...and who knows how many other episodes had involved Merlin's magic ensuring Arthur's safety. It was an unbearable thought. Why Merlin had to be a sorcerer? Why, despite knowing the laws of Camelot, had he chosen to live there? And, the worst thing in all that mess, why, why had Merlin kept this secret from him?
"DAMN YOU MERLIN, why the hell did you betray me?" he exploded.
At Arthur's outburst Merlin's expression changed, his features more pained and tense than ever. He started muttering through his teeth, tossing his head as if he were having a nightmare.
The prince rushed at his side, placing his ear an inch from Merlin's mouth, eager to catch his words. "Arthur...Arthur...Arthur..." the boy was repeating his name over and over, his voice hoarse and broken.
His rage not at all subsided, Arthur grabbed Merlin's shoulders, and yelled "STOP CHANTING, MERLIN, AND WAKE UP NOW!".
The warlock did not wake up, instead he began hyperventilating again, shaking violently.
Finally understanding that his angry yells were the source of Merlin's distress, the prince breathed deeply once, twice, calming himself down. Then he grabbed the unconscious boy by the waist and settled the two of them in a sitting position against the trunk of a tree nearby. Merlin was practically resting on his lap: after witnessing what his anger was causing Arthur didn't have the heart to let his helpless servant by himself, and instead he began rocking him, like he were a child, shushing him, talking nonsense in order to calm him down: "Shhh, Merlin, it's all right, calm down, you're safe now. I'm not angry anymore, how could I with you acting like a damsel in distress? You have to wake up, though, I need you to wake up so I can tell you how stupid it was to keep your magic hidden from me. How could you, Merlin? I thought we were friends, I thought you trusted me". Arthur sighed, feeling a bit like a fool for talking to someone who clearly could not hear him. He brushed away some dark locks from Merlin's sweaty brow, then said "Come on, Merlin, you can't stay like this forever, you have to wake up! Use your magic if you have to! Just come back, please!".
He knew he was merely ranting, so he was astounded when Merlin started stirring, making little waking noises.
Arthur disentangled himself from the other boy, carefully propping him against the trunk, and knelt before him, reaching out to wipe his damp cheeks and brow.
"Merlin? Merlin, come on! Can you hear me?".
The warlock's eyes jerked open all of a sudden, startling Arthur because they were burning gold. However, Merlin didn't utter a word, if anything he appeared to be on a trance: he took both of Arthur's hands in his and he raised his eyes, topazes locking on sapphires.
Arthur's heart was beating fast, but he didn't feel scared. He was intrigued, he was being irresistibly drawn towards Merlin's eyes, until gold clouded his vision completely.
Blurred figures started appearing out of nowhere, slowly coming into focus: he saw Merlin slowing time down and throwing himself at Arthur, saving him from a flying dagger; Lancelot's spear slaughtering the gryphon thanks to the blue flames created by Merlin; his father lying unconscious on his bed, Merlin's hands on his ears, then the king living again; a fierce battle between Merlin and Nimueh, then Merlin collecting some water, then Arthur, wounded and deathly pale, drinking that water and recovering.
He saw many other scenes like these, until all the figures faded, and after a while others appeared: Merlin showing his magic at Arthur, Arthur horror-struck arresting him and throwing him into the dungeons, then flames, high hot flames and a desperate scream; Merlin again, publicly doing magic in order to save Arthur's life, and then Uther ordering his son to kill the traitorous warlock: he clearly saw himself torn, struggling, because choosing between loyalty towards his father and his friend was too much, it was unbearable, it was unthinkable...the horror of this vision startled the prince, who let go of Merlin's hands with a scream and fell backwards, flat on his back.
Arthur was in shock, his breaths sharp and very quick. The experience he had just been through had felt...amazing. Utterly terrifying, but amazing nonetheless. Was it possible that Merlin had just shared with him his deepest secrets? Was it possible that the boy had just showed him the reasons why he had kept his magic a secret from him?
Arthur raised himself up on his elbows, staring at the motionless figure in front of him. Merlin's eyes had closed, and apart from the regular rise and fall of his chest, he wasn't showing any sign of consciousness. Again.
Although Arthur no longer doubted Merlin's magical abilities - enormously powerful abilities – he thought that at the moment the boy did not seem a powerful wizard at all. He appeared so exhausted and fragile...how could Arthur fear him?
A pale ray of light peeped through the thick foliage above them, enlightening them both. Arthur gasped: Merlin's cheeks were shining, tears pouring profusely from his closed eyelids. An annoyingly familiar feeling – guilt – overwhelmed him while he approached the crying boy; he cupped his face with his hands, brushing away the tears with his thumbs. Slowly, Merlin stopped crying.
Arthur shook his shoulders gently, whispering "Merlin...are you all right? Wake up".
The warlock stirred, blinking several times, and he woke up at last. He saw Arthur's face inches from his and jerked away, surprised.
"Calm down, Merlin, it's me..." said Arthur, his expression calm and tense at the same time.
"W-what happened?" asked Merlin, dishevelled and utterly dumbfounded.
"Wha-You don't remember anything?" replied the prince in disbelief.
Merlin shook his head. "I just...remember that old lady in the clearing...wait a moment...did I...did you..." Merlin's eyes were wide in horror.
"I made you walk into the forest and it graciously let me know that you're a wizard, yes" finished Arthur.
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