"Young Merlin! I wondered when I would see you again." The dragon landed on the rock in front of the smooth rock platform and settled himself, the chain that held him jingling and clanking, and echoing in the vast Cavern. Arthur stood in awe of the great creature, struggling to stop his jaw from dropping off in amazement. The dragon swung his head and peered at the prince, and smiled. "And you brought the young prince Arthur with you! How I never thought this day would come."
"We, I, need your help. What you said, what does it mean?" Merlin spoke up.
"Ah, the answer to that question rests on the answer to this one" the dragon paused, "does the prince know of your magic?" The dragon looked down at Arthur with his golden orb like eyes.
Arthur opened his mouth, but for a few moments he couldn't make a sound. He just resorted to nodding. "Yes, I do." He managed to get out with a squeak that made Merlin laugh.
"Awestruck are we?" The dragon chuckled. "I didn't think I'd have that affect, I can assure you." He shifted his position. "So, there is another greater question, and the true answer only Arthur knows, it rests within his heart. Does he accept your magic?"
"Yes, I do. I accept magic. I am not like my father." Arthur answered almost immediately, and his stomach twisted nervously.
"No, I didn't think you would be. You, Arthur, are the key to Merlin's return. You alone can bring him back."
"Wait. How can I be brought back? You know in order for a life to be given, a life has to be taken in return!" Merlin spoke up, the confusion and worry building up inside him, and he was starting to regret bringing Arthur down.
"I know that, young warlock. I am a creature of the Old Religion, as is magic itself. You must not be so quick to judgements." The dragon spoke in a low voice, but every word spoke of power and wisdom, and it filled Arthur with awe and wonder and curiosity. He had heard of the old religion, but only in stories and legends and in folklore, and here it was, standing in front of him, a living breathing creature from that time.
"So, do I have to swap with Merlin?" Arthur looked at his manservant's spirit form and a shudder rippled through him.
The dragon chuckled. "Interesting interpretation, but no. You must harness Merlin's power and use it at the highest level to return life to him. No other life has to be compromised, because you, Merlin, are still essentially living, kept in this world by Arthur."
Arthur looked at Merlin. "You mean I, because I'm still alive, am keeping him alive?"
"Essentially, yes."
"Right, so how am I supposed to 'harness' his powers?"
"So many questions, young prince, so many that I alone cannot answer." The dragon took a deep breath and breathed smoke over Arthur, making him cough and splutter. With that, he gave a low chuckle, unfurled his wings and launched himself into the air. Arthur watched as the huge creature disappeared into the higher recesses of the cavern.
When he had disappeared, he turned to Merlin. "Does he always talk like that?"
"Yes" the dragon's voice echoed around the cavern, followed by a laugh.
Merlin smiled and drifted back towards the staircase. Arthur followed, now convinced he was dreaming.
Arthur woke with a start. Light was pouring into the room from the open shutters, filling it with a bright, warm light. Blinking back the brightness, he sat up and ran a hand through his hair. His thoughts drifted back to those of the previous night. He stopped and sat up straight, was that real? He distinctly remembered the deep, wise voice of the dragon, stirring the instinct that had lain dormant within him for so long. He sighed, rolled over and fell back into a light sleep.
Merlin laughed, Thomas was floating just above the floor opposite him, legs crossed and face wide in a hearty laugh. "…And I went 'ooooooooh!' in the way people think ghosts do, and he ran off shouting for his mummy! A full grown Camelot knight! Funniest thing I've ever seen!"
Merlin laughed some more, and he felt happy, and it was a warm feeling. He took in a stuttering gasp and managed to calm himself. "So, how long have you been…dead?"
"Me? Oh a good three, four years. It started out hard but I got used to it, learnt how to project myself and then the fun started!" Thomas smiled, but then was sincere. "Why are you so desperate to be alive again?"
Merlin looked up. "Wouldn't you want to be?"
Thomas sat back and thought for a while. "I suppose it would be good, but I've got used to this, and you know how the townsfolk are; I'd be treated like an outcast. Plus my body's probably half rotted away by now, eaten by the worms and such. Not pretty!"
Merlin sighed "Yeah, I suppose it's different for you. I…I'm not finished here."
"Nor am I, that's the reason we're trapped here. Not quite gone but not quite there either. We're in limbo."
"I know" Merlin paused. "It's just; I had a destiny, a big one. I have to be returned. I wasn't supposed to die now, Arthur, he is part of something big. But only I can make him that key part. Here I'm about as useful as a fart in a hurricane."
Thomas shifted his position. "Hmm…well I see what you mean. I'm here for you, kid. I'm your friend now, right?" Thomas offered his hand and Merlin took it.
"Yeah, we're friends" he smiled.
Arthur stood by the table, staring at the newly polished armour. Eventually he had agreed to let a servant polish it, and he put a hand on the cold metal, and it painfully reminded him of Merlin, lying cold and motionless and alone in the crypt. He had watched as Gaius and Hunith took it in the afternoon, followed by a few servants from the castle, Gwen, Morgana and Uther. Leon was there too, and the peasants that they passed stopped and bowed their heads to pay their respects. He hadn't joined them; he didn't feel up to it. Gwen had said Hunith and Gaius understood. He sighed and put it on, alone.
"Hey! Come on!" Leon walked beside Arthur on the way to the training grounds. It had just rained, and in the chilly evening an eerie mist had risen from the damp ground. It hung in the air and danced in swirling, tangled wisps around their feet. "Look, I'm so sorry about Merlin; I know how you feel-"
"No you don't know how I feel! He died in my arms! In my arms! He died because of me." Arthur stopped and looked at the floor, and sat down abruptly.
Leon, not caring about the damp, sat beside him. "Hey, it's alright, it wasn't your fault."
"It was" Arthur sniffled into his hands. "I was supposed to be killed, not him."
"Look, lets get you up" Leon snaked his arm across Arthur's back and gently supported him as he got to his feet. "There we go. Come on, let's get some training done, it will take your mind off it, yeah?"
Arthur only nodded and together they walked to the training ground in silence.
Merlin drifted towards Gaius' chambers, and felt a sense of dread building around him as he neared the door. He stopped outside and took a deep breath, and then drifted through the door and into the room.
Gaius and Hunith sat at the bench, deep in conversation. Hunith was eating a bowl of food and Gaius was just staring at the flame of the candle in the centre of the table as it flickered and wavered, sending it's muted, dancing light flickering around the room.
"…and the tree came down! It missed Old Man Simmons by a few inches! He was nearly flattened! Merlin couldn't look at him for a week! I think he still holds a grudge!" Hunith smiled and laughed at the memory.
"When he first came here he got himself into all sorts of trouble! He was in the stocks on his first day!" Gaius laughed, "I had to plead with Uther to get him off on such a light punishment, and he did try to punch Arthur!"
"Sounds like Merlin!" Hunith sighed and took a mouthful of food. "My Merlin, my little sorcerer." Hunith's voice wavered and she wiped away a tear.
Merlin couldn't bear it any longer. With an immense push of energy, he felt the ripple dance through him that signified he was visible. "Mum…" He said it in a half whisper.
Hunith looked up, and her face drained of colour. "Merlin?"
Merlin drifted forward, hands op and palm forwards, to show he wasn't going to hurt or touch anyone. "Mum, Gaius, please, listen to me. Then send me away if you want to."
"Oh, Merlin…I would never send you away, you know that." Tears were streaming down Hunith's face, and Gaius slid his hand into hers, and gave it a reassuring squeeze, all the while keeping his eyes on Merlin's apparition.
"Mum it's so hard…I saw…this morning. I'm sorry."
"What have you got to be sorry for you wally?" Hunith forced a smile.
Merlin smiled back. "I need help. I don't know what to do! Gaius, please, help me."
Gaius spoke up, his voice wobbling. "How can I? What do you want me to help you with?"
"I…I found out that I can come back. But Arthur is involved, and magic, and things I don't understand. My destiny…this wasn't-isn't it. I need you, Gaius, more than ever."
"Merlin…whatever, you need, anything, I will help. And…and I'm sorry, for running from you, and making you go."
"It's okay, I know how you are with ghosts. It's hard, for both of us I suppose. How…how is Gwen faring, and Morgana?"
"They're the same as us I suppose, trying, finding it hard to get by, accept it, live I suppose."
"I did this, I caused you all pain. And now I'm making it worse. I'll go, I'm sorry." Merlin turned to drift back through the wall.
"No, Merlin, wait!" Hunith got to her feet. "I'll help you, with Gaius, I promise."
Merlin nodded, and felt the ripples start to dance through his body, he was starting to disappear. "Mum, I never got to say it….I love you." With that, he completely disappeared, and stood for a minute, watching as both Hunith and Gaius watched the spot he had been in. Then Hunith sat down, put her head in her hands and began to sob. Merlin shook his head, regretting what he had done, and drifted away towards the dungeons, to find support, to find a friend, to find help.