Chapter 2

"Morgana, I can't believe I'm even listening to you right now! You of all people should know; Avalon isn't just paradise, it's where blokes get punished for doing stupid shit too!" Morgana turned to the dark haired ex-knight. "Oh come on Gwaine! You never pass up a chance to get totally pissed!"

"Well yeah, when my life and my little after-life aren't hanging in the balance! Do you know what Merlin did to me last time I got totally piss-drunk and died in a car wreck?"

"Oh come on Gwaine! It couldn't have been all that bad; I mean, its Merlin we're talking about here. Besides, if you just die for a little bit you would have ample time to figure out what happened with Arthur."

"Fuck off Morgana! I'm not going off to do some suicidal shit so you can get off on knowing you were right about whatever you think happened to Arthur."

He turned his back to the raven-haired witch and grasped his hair in his fists. He closed his eyes and tried to anchor himself with the pain in his scalp.

"Oh come off it Gwaine! Stop being such a little girl about this and just-I don't know; suck it up or something."

He spun on her then and glared into her cool gaze, he allowed the tears to poor down his face as he broke down. "He MADE me watch Morgana! He made me watch that family bury their kid; the kid I fucking killed! He made me watch them cry and go about their days like the living dead!" He could hear Gwen gasp and move to stop him, but he plowed on. "And when I finally thought it was over, when I finally thought they had moved on from their pain; he made me watch as his brother committed suicide!"

Gwaine's eyes began to glaze over with the pain those memories brought. "I watched as he bled all over the floor, the pictures, everything! I felt all his pain Morgana! I can't fucking do that again!" Gwen pulled Gwaine into a comforting embrace and began rocking the sobbing man back and forth. "Shhh, Gwaine. It's alright now." "No. No. No. it's not all right Gwen. I-I-it will n-n-never be a-alright" he sobbed.

Gwen glared up at her girlfriend. "Why would you bring something like this up Morgana?"

Morgana looked away from Gwen's disapproving gaze, "I, I didn't know Gwen. I mean, its Merlin, I-I never would have thought-" Gwen dismissed her excuses with a wave of her hand. "I don't care Morgana, just help me calm Gwaine down," Guinevere bit out.

Fearing another outburst from her partner, Morgana moved to Gwaine's other side and pulled him into her own embrace. What the hell has been happening lately? "Perhaps Arthur's absence from Merlin's life has been affecting him more then he's let on." She mused out loud. Seeing Gwen's glare burn into her once more, she clamped her jaw down closed and resumed trying to comfort the sobbing man in their arms.

Merlin felt guilty for disappearing from his flat like that, but as soon as Morgana mentioned his name, he wanted to be anywhere but there. His magic had responded. He wasn't sure where his magic had taken him though. He looked around and huffed in embarrassment. "Of course! Leave it to me; Merlin, the almighty last Warlock and freakin' God of Life and Death to get BLOODY LOST without even trying!" He screamed to the dense woods surrounding him.

Letting out that burst of emotion felt like a relief to the warlock and he slumped against the nearest tree. Here, surrounded by nothing but trees he felt like he could actually relax and be at peace for a short time. "Honestly I don't know why I don't just vanish off to deserted areas more often," he laughed to himself. Closing his eyes and letting out a deep breath, Merlin dropped his head back with a thump. He laughed as he felt the magic of the woods reach out and ruffle his hair with a breeze.

All too soon, the moment was over; "My Lord," Merlin lazily turned his head towards his oldest Fate. "What is it Ælta? Can't you see I'm enjoying the empty?" he gestured lazily with a hand. When Ælta did not chuckle at his joke, Merlin turned to appraise his servant. Ælta bowed before turning his grave expression towards his master. "My Lord, he calls for you."

Merlin's face fell; "You know I can't face him." Ælta's face turned apologetic, "I'm sorry Lord Merlin, I swore." With a sigh, Merlin nodded. "Alright. Help me up will you? I may not be aging physically, but bloody well feel like it." At this Ælta did chuckle as he offered a hand to his master and placed a cloak over Merlin's shoulders. "Shall we go see to him then?"

Rising to his feet, Merlin took a moment to steady himself and straighten the cloak; raising his head and staring into the sky as if the clouds could disclose all the answers. Closing his eyes, and taking a deep breath, Merlin nodded. "Yes, let us go see what his Royal Prat-ness wants now."

Speeding down the corridor, cloak flapping in the breeze of his passing and boots clicking upon the marbled flooring, Merlin allowed himself to panic. He had not dared show his face to Arthur, or even allow himself to be in the man's presence since he had failed him so many years ago.

Sensing his Commander, King and Master's panic, Ælta grabbed Merlin' hand and slowed their pace to a walk. "My Lord, we must make sure you are presentable," he tutted. Merlin chuckled at this and rolled his eyes; panic slightly eased. "Leave it to you to care about appearance at a time like this Ælta." Ælta smirked and bowed, "I live to serve my Lord."

"Alright since your gonna fret over how I look, I just want to make sure he can't see my face. Do whatever else you want with my clothes." Nodding in understanding Ælta got to work as they approached Arthur's rooms.

With all of the screaming and broken object flying through the air as they approached, one would thing some wild animal had been captured within the palace walls. Alas, the only wild creature that adorned these halls with his presence was far more terrifying and was currently attempting to sack the castle from within his bedchamber.

Finally coming to stand before the door, Merlin gaped at what his eyes beheld. Fates scattered around a golden Figure as his hair flashed in the sunlight streaming through the windows. His movements were so quick and sudden, if Merlin had not stopped to examine his hair he would have never been able to expect Arthur's actions.

Before the hand could reach down and lift the Hunith's prize vase and hurl it towards himself and Ælta, Merlin reached out with his magic and pulled it to his chest. Grasping it as if it were his lifeline he steeled himself to reprimand a man he had not dared lay eyes on in over a hundred years.

"My Lord, I would you suggest you not try to destroy the Master's prized possessions. You are a guest here and you should act as one," Ælta admonished.

Honestly, Merlin found himself relieved his servant had jumped to defend him. He knew Merlin wanted to refrain from telling Arthur who he was for as long as possible.

"And just who, is this Lord, King or God Ive been hearing so much about and what does he want with me," The infuriated man demanded. "I have been stuck here for-for..." he stopped to ponder just how long exactly? before he shook the thoughts from his head. "I want out!"

Merlin straightened his back and took a menacing step towards Arthur. Maybe if I can play up the God of Death thing, he will be terrified and it will no longer be necessary to reveal myself. Thinking it might work, Merlin raised his hooded face slightly towards Arthur. here goes nothing!