Lost

By:

Eressie

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Chapter 2 – In the dark

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Merlin did not know how long he sat there, cold and so utterly alone. His body has never felt so heavy before, just lifting his arms took such an effort.
He had tried again and again to cast spells, but not even the simple ones could he make happen.
He struggled to breathe and he tried to hug himself for warmth. Trying to get up on his feet again was out of the question, his legs would not hold his weight.

Darkness surrounded him and it was making him claustrophobic. Trying to deal with the thick blackness around him; he kept his eyes firmly closed.

Creaking and snapping sounds from twigs being stepped on could be heard all around him, as well as strange voices that made Merlin a bit anxious. He never really could make out any words and he knew not if it was even human voices or not. He hoped it was just his imagination. But as one of the voices could be heard anew a little too close for comfort; he had a hard time trying to keep calm. He kept twitching at every sound he heard and he opened his eyes to try to see anything in the compact darkness. Here and there he thought he saw something in the corner of his eyes; a flickering of light, but whenever he focused on the spot it would be gone.

After what seemed like hours, he could feel something draw close. A strange, cold presence to his left and he sat frozen, barely breathing. He could feel something; someone's breath touching the side of his face. And he gagged at the rotten smell.
If he could, he would draw back and start to run away, but he had just enough strength to remain sitting up.

"Please…don't." he managed to croak out.

And if the creature by his side could laugh or not, he did not know but Merlin was quite sure that it did laugh right then. Judging by its strange crackles it pressed out through its mouth.

Cold, sharp fingers caressed his face and Merlin tried to press himself further back against the tree behind him.
He glanced to his right and was met with two piercing, white eyes that seemed to glow in the dark. He gasped, and the white eyes narrowed as he made the sound.
It felt like the eyes were burrowing into his very soul and Merlin could not hold its gaze for long. He closed his eyes tightly and wished that the thing beside him would go away.

And to his relief, it did. As soon as he felt the creature depart, he let out the breath he was holding and opened his eyes to look around.
He really wished then that he had kept them closed.
All around him he could see white, glowing eyes in the forest; observing him. Some stood still, some were moving around. Most of them kept their distance but some were closer. Too close.
Merlin felt frightened. He could not defend himself if these things attacked, whatever they were! And he could not run away.

He dared not to move, in case the creatures around him would find the movement threatening. What scared him most though, was that these creatures could see him very clearly but he could see nothing but their hallow eyes. He felt so exposed and vulnerable.

They kept watching him and he continued to be on guard. He would die here. He knew it. These things would finish him off; as soon as they were done terrifying him and taunting him by moving in close to poke their nasty, sharp fingers into his ribs and face.
He wished somewhat that they would just kill him already. It was torture to just wait for what he knew was coming.

All of the sudden, the creature closest to him shrieked so loudly that Merlin thought his eardrums would explode. He covered is ears quickly with his hands and soon the other beasts started shrieking as well.
They attacked! Merlin screamed and clenched his eyes shut.
And then… nothing happened.

Everything was still; he could not hear anything anymore except for the ringing in his ears from the creature's sharp voices and the pounding of his heart in his chest.
He opened his eyes in surprise and he thought that he would see the same darkness as before but no; something glowed in the distance. And of the creatures he saw no trace.
His eyes hurt from the sudden bright light, but he could not make himself look away.
He kept staring at it until a new voice could be heard, almost like a whisper.

"Merlin."

He jerked in surprise, he knew that voice! He looked around but saw no one; he hoped with all his might that he had not imagined it.

He gulped. "A-Arthur?" he asked uncertainly as he kept looking around trying to find the king that he heard. He saw no one. He felt the small hope, that had appeared in is chest, slowly weaken.

But the warm voice could be heard again, stronger this time. "Merlin."

Merlin started to cry, it was real, and he was here! "A-Arthur where are you, I cannot see you."

"It's all right, Merlin." Arthur's voice said gently.

Merlin shook his head. "No it's not, I-I can't get up. I am too weak."

"Yes, you can." Arthur said softly.

Merlin shook his head again, but Arthur was having none of it. "I know you can." the king said and Merlin took a deep breath.

He might not believe in his own powers anymore, but here was Arthur and he believed in him. That was enough.
His hands shook more than ever as he leaned forward and put them on the muddy ground. Sweat ran down his face as he slowly managed to put his feet on the ground and pull himself up, pushing himself upward with his arms and with some help from the tree behind him.
He stood panting with a small smile on his face, quite proud of his achievement.

"Arthur," he said, pausing to let himself take a couple of deep breaths, "what are you doing here?" he asked, not really sure if the king was actually there or not, but he did not care.

A smile could be heard in Arthur's voice as he answered. "Fetching you of course."

Merlin smiled a sad smile. "I- I did not think anyone would come." he said with a trembling voice.

"Don't be stupid, Merlin." Arthur's voice chuckled. "I will always come and find you if you lost your way."

Merlin chuckled, feeling much lighter at heart. "That's because you don't know what to do with yourself when I'm absent." he said jokingly and shook his head with a sigh. "I should have known that I could not get away from you that easily."

Arthur chuckled. "Now," he said, "come on."

Merlin frowned. "Where to? Which way?"

"Walk towards my voice, Merlin, focus on the light and follow that."

Doubt filled Merlin again as he tried to steady his shaking legs. "I don't know if I can…"

"Please," Arthur pleaded, "clotpole." he added with a desperate snigger.

"Still my word." muttered Merlin and decided that he might as well give it a try. The arrogant king even said please! He concentrated and tried to brace himself.

He barely knew how he did it, but he managed a few wobbly steps forward and then he grabbed hold on a tree for support. He smiled but his smile faltered as he looked up at the light there far ahead. Could he really make it that far? He had just gone a few tiny steps and already he felt drained.

"Merlin." Arthur said firm but gently.

Merlin nodded, yes he would make it. He had to, Arthur was waiting. What would the clotpole do without him? Camelot would fall. Quite literally, he imagined.
After a moment to catch his breath, he continued to take a few more wobbly steps but this time he seemed more in control of his feet.

He may not be there in the flesh, but Merlin felt like Arthur was somehow was holding him up.

He tried to push away the thought that he actually might be going slightly mad. Talking and listening to his friend like this who he could not see? Most people would call that mad. But then again, much has happened in his life and nothing really surprised him anymore. He had learned not to question magic too much, because sometimes it did not have to make sense.

He figured that perhaps Arthur had come across a spell, with the help from Gaius, to guide him back to Camelot. Wait… what? Arthur doing magic? Oh dear, I might be going insane after all…

But he was determined now and he held his head high as he concentrated on the light ahead. Behind him he could hear angry muttering and disappointed moaning from the creatures with the glowing eyes.
Merlin ignored them. He slowly but certainly made his way forward and he did not look back.

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Looking better is it? Well, he is not saved yet…

Also this whole story was actually a one shot from the start, but it got too long so I chopped it in three parts! So that means, the next chapter will be the last. ;)

Liking it? Want some more? Review please :)

/Eressie