chapter11

Arthur had pushed his horse to the limit. When he had jumped off of the horse, the stallion neighed and shook it's main. The blond prince uickly ran and made it to the entrance of the lake.

He froze on the spot.

Merlin was laying on the grass. Eyes closed and unmoving.

"No." The blond prince breathed. He quickly made his way over and got down on his knees. He gently brought his hand under Merlin and lifted the younger princes head.

Arthur brought his other hand to Merlins face, which made the dark hair prince open his eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Arthur asked worriedly.

Merlin gulped deep. "Pain." He shut his eyes and took a few deep breaths.

Arthur shook his head. "This is my fault."

Merlin shook his head. "He tricked you. You didn't know." He stared up at Arthur for a moment, then brought his own hand to the blonds cheek. "You can't do anything." He shut his eyes again and hissed.

Arthur shook his head again. "I can try."

Merlin smiled. "Thats what I always loved about you. You're were always stubburn. You don't know when to quit."

"I'll find him. I'll make him make you better." Arthur made to get up, but Merlin grabbed his arm.

"It's no use. If you leave now, i'll be dead by the time you get back." Merlin shut his eyes once more and took more deep breaths. When he opened them, he stared straight at Arthur. "Kiss me."

Arthurs eyes began to water. He shook his head. "No. No. You can't leave."

Merlin shut his again when pain hit his chest. He gulped in air the reopened his eyes. "Please do it."

Arthur brought his forehead to Merlins. "Don't do this." Arthur whispered. "You made me who I am today." He kissed Merlins forehead. Then brought their heads back together and sniffled. "You know all those years ago, when I said I hated you? It was a lie."

Merlin stared up at Arthur as he spoke.

Arthur nodded. "I just said that hoping I could get the feelings away. But... you never left my head. I always saw you when I slept. I thought about you when I woke." Arthur gulped. "Thats why I came back for you."

Merlin blinked. "For me?"

Arthur nodded. "My family seal." He stated. "It was going to be my proposal."

Merlins brows slightly narrowed. "Then why didn't you propose when I was leaving? You gave my the seal. All you had to do was ask."

Arthur forced a smile. "You were mad at me. I didn't know how'd you take it."

Merlins shut his eyes again and took a deep breath, then stared back at Arthur. "I'm glad you told me. At least I can die happy." He rasped then sniffled. "Please? Just... one last kiss."

Arthur stared at Merlins eyes. They seemed foggy. Arthur grabbed onto Merlins cheek and brought their lips together in a soft and gentle kiss. Arthurs eyes shot open when he heard Merlin take one deep breath.

The blond prince leaned back and stared wide eyed at Merlin. His eyes were shut and he looked like he was sleeping peacefully. Arthur brought his ear to Merlins heart. he he felt nothing, no breath, no heart beat, Arthur dug his fingers into Merlins shirt then brought his head to the boys.

"I will always love you." He whispered.

"How sweet."

Arthur jumped to his feet. His brows narrowed at seen Cenred. Arthur pulled out his sword. "I'm going to say this once and once only. Bring him back."

Cenred chuckled. "I don't have to obey you. I have the power, not you."

Arthur pointed his sword towards Cenred. "You will make him better."

"Says who?"

"My sword." Arthur hissed.

Cenred smiled wide. "Ah. You want a duel." Cenred slowly walked up to Merlins body. "Such a pity. It really is a waste." The dark man exhaled. "Ok. heres the deal. Lets play a game." He started walking to Arthur.

Arthurs brows narrowed. "A game?"

Cenred smiled darkly. "Yes. A game. It is called Truth or Lies. I ask you three questions. answer them truthfully and Merlin mmay live. But, if you answer in lies, and I will know, Merlin will stay as he is. Deal?"

Arthur glared at Cenred.

Cenred pointed down at the lifelss body on the grass.

Arthur glanced over to Merlin for a moment before turning back to Cenred. The blond prince nodded. "Deal."

Cenred brought his fingers together. "Ok. Question number one. If you had to chose between Merlin and marrying a bride for the sake of your kingdom, which would you chose?"

Arthurs brows narrowed. "What kind of stupid question is that?"

"Answer the question young Pendragon." Cenred said hesitated.

Arthur stared at Merlins lifeless body. "I would chose Merlin over any kingdom."

Cenred smiled darkly. "So it seems. Ok. My next question. While you were in your own kingdom," Cenreds smile faded. "Have you fallen in love with anybody else?"

Arthur stared, mouth slightly open. "I-I." In inhaled deep. "Yes."

Cenred tsked. "Then how why you tell Merlin that he was the only one?"

Arthur stared at the body on the ground. "He deserves to feel loved by someone."

Cenred looked around the air. He raised an eyebrow, before both narrowed. "My, my. This is surprising indeed." He turned back to Arthur. "I would have thought you would say because you didn't want him to know."

Arthur glared again. "I'm not lying."

Cenred smiled darkly. "I know. But I have watched you through the years young Arthur. And I have to say, you were never one to think unself fishly."
Cenred chuckled darkly.

"Well, lets see. Will you tell Merlin you fell in love with someone else?"

"I-" Arthurs brows narrowed. "You already asked your three questions."

"Answer the question." Cenred hissed.

Arthur gulped. He stared down at Merlin. Then slowly shook his head. "I could never hurt him that way. If he finds out I lied..."

Cenred smirked. "So you would not come clean for the sake of you love."

Arthur shook his head again. "No. For his love."

Cenreds eyes widen. "No! No! He is a lier!"

Arthur shook his head. "I'm not lying!"

Cenred shook his head. "You have to be. You are selffish and cruel since childhood! I've watched you."

Arthurs brows narrowed as he watched Cenred drop to his knees and grab onto his head.

"Give me more time! I'll find someone more selffish than I! No! NOOOO!"

Arthurs eyes widen as he saw Cenred scream in pain. The dark man began to glow gold. Arthur Glanced over to Merlin who was right next to the man. Arthur quickly ran over and picked the boy up without struggle.

Arthur ran back to where he was standing. When he turned back around, he shut his eyes and brought his head down to Merlins as Cenred exploded into bits and pieces.

When Arthur was sure there was no more pieces flying he lifted his head from Merlins. Arthur took a step back when he saw a woman in a white dress and long dark hair standing where Cenred had just exploded.

"Do not fear me." Her voice was gentle and soothing.

Arthur blinked at the woman.

"I am here to help."

Arthur held his breath as the woman walked over. Only it seemed like she wasn't walking. Her body moved as if she walked through air.
The woman brought out her hand above Merlins forehead then slid it down to the boys chest. The woman spoke some words and her eyes turned gold.

Arthur looked down at Merlin. His mouth opened when he saw Merlin gulp in a deep breath, then shivered. The blond prince stared back up at the woman.

"Who are you?"

The woman smiled sweetly. "I am Violet."

Arthurs brows lightly narrowed. "A what?"

The woman smiled still. "I search for those who are selffish and need punishment and for those unselffish and are in need."

Arthur blinked again.

The woman stared down at Merlin. "Cenred was very selffish in taking a boy in love in order to get a kingdom. He is now in the underworld." Then she looked to Arthur. "He tried to make you take his place. It was a deal he had made. If he could find someone more selffish then he was, they would take his place. He failed."

She smiled at Arthur still. "He failed deeply. You are a young man in love. And with true love comes unselffish-ness. In return for your unselffish-ness, i've granted your hearts true desire."

She brushed back Merlins hair. "He will live."

Arthur smiled. "Thank you."

The woman lightly bowed. "You and the young Merlin have a great destiny ahead. You will open the eyes of many with your love."

Arthur stared down at Merlin. "I wouldn't be able to do it with anyone else."

The Violet smiled. She reached out her hands to Arthurs head. "Make him proud."

The blond prince flinched back when he felt a slight burn in his head. He shut his eyes and felt like his world was spinning for a few seconds. When the spinning stopped, Arthur reopened his eyes.

He looked around confused as he found himself in front of the castle. His horse right next to him.

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