Memories of a Stranger

Chapter 3

Okay, so I decided that this isn't going to be Merthur. (Just to answer that question.)

Also, I have a lot of summer schoolwork to do as well as writing a lot of original stories. That being said, I don't know how often this will be updated. I will still keep updating, though, and I'll try not to take more than a week per chapter.

XXX

There's fire everywhere. I can see burning light. I can feel the blazing heat radiating from it. And… I can hear the shrieks of those who weren't able to escape the inferno. I turn away from the fire, only to see the charred remains of a child. It takes all my willpower to not throw up. Why do I feel so guilty? Is this my fault? Am I the cause of the inferno, the screams, and the bodies? As a roar bellows down from the sky, a tear rolls down my cheek.

"KILGARRAH!" Merlin screamed.

Merlin felt the familiar sensation of not being able to breathe, which made him think of those who were trapped in the fire, choking on the smoke. He started to shake.

"Was that fire really my fault…? Did I do that…? " Merlin asked himself.

Real tears flowed from Merlin's eyes as he grabbed his knife. He positioned the knife for the first cut.

A few hours later, Merlin walked into the school. He didn't want to be there when the blonde man could find him, but he couldn't skip school forever. So, he carefully made his way to his first class. When he was almost there, he felt a light tap on the shoulder. He turned and saw the woman, Guinevere.

"Hey, Merlin… Would you mind talking to me for a little bit?" she asked.

"Alright," he agreed.

Guinevere then led him to a somewhat more private location before she spoke.

"I know that you don't really remember me, but I need to apologize. I wasn't able to stop Arthur when he… you know… Merlin, you were a great friend to me, and when that happened… I just couldn't believe what was happening. I'm not sure if you know this, but you and Arthur… were pretty much best friends. I can't believe he killed you just because you had magic, without even explaining yourself! I'm sorry, Merlin!" Guinevere told him as she gave him a hug.

"It wasn't your fault…," Merlin replied softly. "You're not the person who killed me…"

"Still, I could have done more to stop him…," Guinevere retorted. "You didn't deserve to be killed like that, Merlin."

After that, the pair split up to go to their classes. Merlin sat down at his seat. When class started, however, he was unable to focus on the teacher's lesson.

"That blonde man and I… were best friends…? And he still killed me…? Why… ?" he thought.

Merlin contemplated this new information over and over until lunch. Then, he sat down next to Gwaine.

"Hey, Merlin," Gwaine greeted. "You okay, mate?"

"I talked with Guinevere this morning… She said that Arthur and I… were best friends…," Merlin replied.

"Oh," said Gwaine. "You were. You two were almost always together. Sure, you had to be around each other because of your job, but it was more than necessary for that. You two were so close…"

"What do you mean? What job?" Merlin asked.

"You were his manservant. His father gave you the job for saving Arthur's life. Which, according to Gaius, you did a lot more than we ever knew," Gwaine explained.

At this point, Gwaine was openly glaring.

"You saved his life countless times, and he repaid you by murdering you in cold blood," Gwaine continued.

Merlin looked down at the table. Merlin and Gwaine spent the rest of lunch in silence.

After school had ended, Merlin was walking home. He had briefly seen Arthur in his afternoon classes, but he managed to keep himself calm. Gwaine had kept Arthur away from him, so he hadn't been forced to talk with his murderer. However, he felt someone grip his shoulder, and judging by the size of the hand, it wasn't Guinevere again.

"I swear, I'm not going to hurt you," said Arthur.

Merlin turned around swiftly to face the man, afraid.

"Wh-What do y-you w-want?" Merlin stammered out, his panic rising.

"Merlin, I meant it when I apologized," Arthur said. "I know that it doesn't make up for what I did, but I really am sorry."

"Th-The o-others told m-me that we w-were fr-friends…," Merlin stuttered. "A-And you k-killed me a-anyway…"

Arthur's eyes widened. Merlin, unable to contain his fear any longer, yelled out a spell. Suddenly, he had disappeared, leaving Arthur alone on the sidewalk. Merlin found himself in front of his house, and he quickly went inside. He ran up to his room and locked the door. After he curled up beneath the blankets on his bed, he began to cry.

XXX

Well, that's the chapter. Sorry it took so long to update, but like I already said, I have a lot of stuff to do. I hope you liked this chapter!