Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters
This is a sequel to "The End?" and, like most sequels, probably rubbish.
Arthur was drunk for the fourth night in a row. Merlin had enlisted Gwen to help drag the semi-conscious prince up to his bed.
"Thanks a lot Gwen. I swear he gets heavier the more he drinks." Merlin said as he pulled Arthur's boots off. They left him as comfortable as they could, before retiring to their own beds. As soon as the door closed behind them the prince sat up, as sober as when he woke up that morning. He got out of bed and went to stir up the fire. Once the flames were dancing merrily he sat back in his chair and stared blankly at the wall: thinking.
Why didn't I choose to forget?
When Merlin had come up with his plan he had offered them all a choice: remember or forget? They all took a day to think it through. Arthur had thought it would be better if he remembered but now he was regretting it.
How can I trust him anymore?
Arthur had trusted Merlin with his life but Merlin had kept this deadly secret from him. Uther had always taught him that magic corrupts. So what would happen if Merlin turned bad? With these thoughts swirling around his head, his eyes closed and he dropped off.
Merlin entered the room the next morning to find Arthur fast asleep in his chair...again. Arthur seemed to be training harder, and then getting more drunk than usual since "the incident" as Merlin privately dubbed it. He placed the prince's breakfast on the table and shook his master's shoulder. Arthur groaned, opened his eyes and wordlessly took the hangover cure that the warlock was holding out. Merlin helped him dress for training in silence. Arthur left and Merlin took his laundry to the washerwomen before heading back to his small room with a chainmail shirt to clean. As he rubbed oil into the links, the repetitive task allowed his mind to wander.
I thought he needed me.
This thought occupied all of the warlock's waking hours and kept him awake at night. Merlin had come back because Arthur needed him. But ever since "the incident" Arthur had hardly said a word to him. Any of the usual banter between them was for show and it was obvious to anyone who knew them well that there was a tension in the air whenever the two of them were in the same room.
After a week both boys were beginning to show the strain. The prince was used to hiding any emotions or weaknesses, so the only signs were faint bags under his eyes and a distant air. Merlin, however, was showing it much more. He still wasn't fully recovered from his wounds and his preoccupation was preventing him from sleeping and eating properly. As a result he was losing weight, and starting to look haggard. But the worse effect was that the warlock's magic was weakening. Spells the boy had used routinely to complete his chores became incredibly difficult and Merlin had just about given up using his magic at all.
Many leagues away someone was watching, and planning.
Please read and review. More chapters coming soon.
