MERLIN - CONTACT

AN: Hey everyone. I said I'd update within the Christmas month and here it is. Things have been hectic lately. But lets just start with point one.

MERLIN'S ENDING THIS SERIES, PEOPLE! To know this is the last we see of our favourite king and sorcerer in a few short weeks is heartbreaking, I can't cope! But that will never stop our fanfiction writing will it? We'll continue long after the last wonderful sad episode is aired :) So this will possibly be the last update I will do beforehand, I will be back next year. Yaaaaaaay!

Okay next point: my great nan passed away just last week, 7 months after her son, my granddad ... so sorry if my update will take some time, but depression has that effect on you really. But I will do my best though, I promise.

Thank you so so so so so much to every one of you wonderful people who favourited and are following my fic. I can't believe how many have done this during the last month so thank you :) Please remember to review as well please, even if it's criticism, if it's constructive I would love to hear it all the same. And your opinion on the latest Merlin episode just on this Saturday if you want, I love discussing it :) And I still have the booths wide open to any ideas you have as to what present Arthur feels he should give Merlin as an apology gift, even though Merlin says the matter is over.

Sorry that this chapter isn't very long, and I apologise also if I have made any mistakes with spelling and/or grammar.

So anyway, on with the story. Enjoy :)

...~~C~~...

Another half a day's ride from where they slept and they were finally at Ealdor. Arthur knew he was taking a great risk coming. Since Cendred's death, and with no sons to ascend to the throne, a mighty warlord named Lot took over, supposedly being some distant relative of the late king. And he like Cendred did not take Pendragon presence in his kingdom too kindly, even without the threat of armed men accompanying him. But whenever Essetirian patrol passed by, Arthur would just have to duck into a nearby house or behind a bush to avoid being seen. It was where Merlin used to live after all, she couldn't help being born in such dominating difficult land.

Ealdor appeared as it always did. Happy and surviving. Men were working in the fields, woman were hanging up their washing and bunting, while their children played nearby. A village that seemed like nothing had ever happened there.

Arthur looked to his right at Merlin to see the girl also gazing around at the place she once called home. He could see a mix of emotions in her face that read she was so happy to be here again and see her mother and neighbours. On the other hand, her smile was sad and conflicted. Like she was wondering why she was here.

The servant looked to him when she felt his eyes on her. She smiled reassuringly at him, "let's go then," and lead the way down the steep verge as best she could with the horse.

...~~C~~...

Hunith was out, but there was an unspoken rule that people abided by in the village about not going into empty houses without the owner's permission. That said, Merlin was obviously recognised in the village so going into her own mother's hut with her friend as if she lived there was excepted. Since she used to live there anyway. They had left the horses to the rearers and Arthur helped his servant carry her bags in, as well as his own.

"Mother won't be long, I don't think," Merlin said distractedly as she began pottering around in the cupboards. "Everything's so casual here. People out there are setting up decorations and not rushing around like headless chickens like everyone did in Camelot at the time of your father's marriage to your troll stepmother."

Arthur (who just stood near the hearth in the middle of the room, watching Merlin since he didn't know what else to do) could sense the tease had returned to his maidservant's behaviour. "Well, it's not every day you see a royal wedding, Merlin. Everything has to be perfect. I'm sure it will be exactly the same when it comes to my own, which will not be for a while yet."

Merlin paused in gathering pots together from the shelves and turned round to face the prince. "I thought- I thought word had it you were in courtship with the Lady Arabella of Dreahmont?"

"Where did you hear that?"

"It had been rumoured, I mean, word does travel fast in the castle. Whether it be true or not. But... it was heard coming from the King's very lips so..." Merlin trailed off. Well, what else was there to say?

Arthur stared at her, giving nothing away expect the feeling of... sad.

When Merlin was about to return to what she was doing, Arthur spoke up. "Then what you heard was true." Merlin looked back at him nonplussed.

"I mean, It's not official. Like many nobles, a number of potential candidates of marriage are introduced to you throughout childhood. Only when you grow up you realise what it all means. I was never allowed to socialise with the children I wanted to be friends with, only the ones that were the offspring of my father's friends and allies, that he threw at me. Many of them were girls. Not to insult your good nature or anything, but when you're a small boy, girls who are more interested in picking flowers and braiding hair than sword fighting or kicking pig-skin are hardly going to make you want to get to know them as adults, and certainly not as a possible wife.

"Arabella is one such woman. Two months younger. Has a... challenging personality. One of the only girls I haven't out spoken my dislike of her to my father, and also is in one of the only royal families that still has a strong going alliance with my father. With my father's health going up and down, he has found himself in the position where he feels the only way he will rest easily after his reign ends is if I already have a wife he approves of before his time does come.

"It is mere whispers at the moment, but if my tetherment to this Lady does become public, there might not be any going back. I have fought against my father on the matter for too long. I know I can't win. I can't have the wife of my choice because my father won't approve no matter what. And I know I can't love whoever he wants me to marry because if a lifetime of this has taught me anything, it's that all woman that suit the role are arrogant, pampered and selfish princesses who can't be tamed and want nothing more than the publicity or the luxuries of Camelot."

During this explanation turned rant by Arthur, the prince had subconsciously began pacing the room anxiously, and when he finally ran out of breathe, he paused and looked up to Merlin, imagining what a madman he must look to her.

But if anything, she didn't look scared, or anxious. More like she had hung on every word he had gushed out. Understanding. Nodding slowly. A small sad smile appeared.

"I can't possibly conceive how much pressure must be on you, even for something that should be so care-free and happy as marriage. You know what I think. That marriage should be for love, no matter who you are and how it may or may not benefit the kingdom. And it would seem the only one that your marriage would make happy is Uther, and that shouldn't be. But... " Merlin sighed, "if things are how you say, you have a limited amount of time left to either accept it, or make it right for yourself. The most your father will do is never forgive you, but in the end he must respect your reasons for disagreement. Your good reign will be driven by how much you are given in return, and it certainly won't be from a woman who doesn't love you.

"Your father married your mother... was that a forced marriage that happened to have a happy development? Doesn't Uther want you to be happy as he was once?"

Arthur opened his mouth and closed it several times. He didn't honestly know the answer because his father refused to speak of his mother, even of the happier times with her. Too painful he supposed, more painful than remembering the sad memories. All he knew was the information he had drawn together from other people. That his mother Ygraine was a wonderful woman, beloved by all, and was a perfect match for Uther who had not long conquered Camelot. Whether it was his father's choice to marry her or not, there was love. Love strong enough to continue trying to have children.

"I'm sorry if I've touched a sensitive patch," he heard his servant's voice jolted his thoughts. The ringing of the hands was back. She thought he was angry with her. He stepped closer.

"No it's okay- " Before more could be said, the sound of the door creaking open disturbed their conversation.

A dark haired woman with bright blue eyes walked in humming, and just after the door shut again, she looked up and saw who was standing in her house.

"Merlin! You're here!" She exclaimed in glee, ran forward and threw her arms around Merlin. "I've missed you so much!"

The prince stood back and watched them. As touching and as warming as it was seeing mother and daughter greeting eachother with a hug that seemed more like they were squeezing the air out of eachother, the distorted facts and holes yet to fill still remained. This was Hunith. Yet... was she?

Technically, a ghost had just entered the room.

...~~C~~...

AN: Hoped you liked it. Please review and I hope to see you in the new year. We WILL have a 2013, people, no matter what these Mayans say :-P Just... Merlin won't be in it :'( I'll say goodbye to it now for good measure. Good night. God bless. And Merry Christmas 2012 :)