The Golden Age Universe
At Deaths Door – Chapter 2
~Fran Gipani
Disclaimer- So I obviously don't own Merlin no matter how much I'd love to :'( but I do own my OC Brooke
Note from the Author- Thanks to all the people who have reviewed, followed and favourited this story, you are really awesome! :) Enjoy!
Arthur stood at his window, staring out over his kingdom. It was too quiet; if Merlin had been there he would have had his friend's inane chatter to keep him company. So as he got ready for his wedding anniversary, he couldn't help but miss Merlin and the company he would bring.
When he was finally ready he walked down to the room that Brooke and some other servants had set up. The nerves he felt would have been calmed by Merlin's presence but without him there, unconsciously he began to pace. He could hear Merlin's voice in his head saying 'Calm down Arthur! There is no need to worry everything will go perfectly fine.'
Somehow Merlin's voice calmed him and his pacing came to a stop just as Gwen and Brooke came round the corner. Gwen looked amazing; the purple dress she wore was his favourite of the dresses his wife owned. The way that Brooke had fixed Gwen's hair was beautifully delicate and it seemed to Arthur that where his Guinevere was concerned there could be nothing wrong. He took her hand tenderly and kissed it before leading her through the door. The smiles on their faces lighting up the whole room.
~O~O~O~
"You know m'lady," Brooke said as she tied her mistresses long black hair into a long braid and then wound it around her head in a bun, "I really think the purple dress would be a better choice for your wedding anniversary tonight. The colour really does suit you, if I may say so."
Gwen smiled at her reflection, admiring her maid's handiwork in the mirror. "You know what Brooke, I think you may be right. This looks beautiful by the way, you really do have an amazing way with hair." Gwen paused for a second as if in thought, "Maybe use the purple hair pins around the bun as well?" She suggested with a warm smile.
Brooke took the purple jeweled hair pins and slipped them snugly into Gwen's thick black hair, "There you go m'lady. You look beautiful! Arthur really is lucky to have you," Brooke fiddled a little with her own blonde braid, "I just wish Merlin were here to see this day through. It's not the same for Arthur without him."
"I know Merlin's absence is really hard for all of us. For Arthur, but for you especially I think. You haven't known him for as long as us but you really do love him don't you Brooke?"
"I do." Brooke replied simply, her pain and longing for Merlin to be well again evident in her eyes.
"I'm sorry. Sorry that at the moment we can't do more, but for now we wait." Gwen paused looking into her friends reflection in the mirror, "Merlin wouldn't have wanted us to come to a complete stand still because of him. That's what happened last time, we can't have a repeat of that and Arthur knows it. Gaius is working on a solution and I have every confidence in him."
"I know and I am sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up." Brooke resumed fiddling with her braid, looking slightly flustered. This had been happening a lot when every the subject of Merlin cam up, Brooke knew that at the moment there was nothing, even her Magic couldn't help in Merlin's situation. It worried her. "Here I will find you the dress," Brooke turned and walked lightly over to the wardrobe and pulled out the light purple dress. It had gold trimming and a gold waist band which was extremely flattering. Brooke handed Gwen the dress once she was behind the changing screen and then waited until she came out so she could tighten the ties at the back of the dress.
Gwen spun in a circle once out from behind the screen, "What do you think?" She smiled at Brooke warmly as her maid looked her up and down.
"You look stunning m'lady! One moment..." She reached up to Gwen's face and pulled out some strands of hair at the front of her face, so that they framed her face making her look even more beautiful, "...now you're ready." Brooke walked with Gwen down to the room the two had chosen to eat but as they reached the door Arthur was all ready waiting so she said, "Is there anything else I can do for you m'lady?"
"No Brooke, thank you, there is nothing else tonight. You are free to do what you like."
"Thank you m'lady, have a good night." Brooke curtsied and then started walking down the corridor but then paused as she heard Gwen speak behind her.
"Oh and Brooke! Please call me Gwen."
"Thank you Gwen." Brooke replied and then walked down the corridor towards the steps leading to the tallest tower. She needed to think. As she reached the last step up to the small tower room the skies had turned from the light blue of the day to the warm pinks and oranges of the sunset. She watched the sun crawl below the horizon wishing that Merlin was there with her to watch it too. The night sky turned slowly from orange to the navy blue of the night. The dotted stars and the moon shining for what little hope she had.
What can I do? Brooke thought, we have tried everything. My magic won't even work but there has to be a way to get Merlin back. This is usually where Merlin would think of something then save us all. It has been a week since Merlin fell from the tower and he has shown just about as many life signs as a rock. He is ice cold and nothing seems to warm him up. I need a way to talk to him. Is that even possible?
I miss him so much.
Brooke sighed, took one last look at the sky, then turned and walked down the stairs to Gaius's chambers which was where she was staying until she found a place of her own. When Brooke finally got to Gaius's chambers she walked quietly passed Gaius who tended to wake early and needed his sleep. Once in Merlin's old room she slipped into her nightgown and sunk into the bed. As soon as her blonde haired head hit she pillow she was asleep.
~O~O~O~
It had been a week since Merlin had been pulled into no man's land and he was nearly going insane with loneliness and the fact that in the real world he didn't really exist. It was so strange though being able to see his body coping with the conditions his predicament had left him in. He was glad to see that everyone was coping okay without him and that Camelot was building itself back up.
It was the night of Arthur and Gwen's wedding anniversary and he had sat in the corner of Arthur's chambers as the prince got himself ready (Arthur had refused to hire another servant as there was only one man who did the job well enough.) For Merlin he would have loved to have been able to be there with Arthur for this special occasion as all friends should.
Alas Merlin was stuck in the divide between the worlds and there was nothing he could do to change it right that moment. As Arthur left the room Merlin pulled himself to his feet and followed him out the door. He wasn't intending to be there for the dinner but he would walk with Arthur to the door of the room his two friends were to eat. When Arthur arrived the king began to pace slowly inside the door. Calm down Arthur! Merlin thought, there is no need to worry everything will go perfectly fine.
As if Arthur had heard him the king stopped pacing and leant casually against the door frame, a nervous smile plastered on his face. When Gwen finally arrived though Arthur stood away from the door, took Gwen's smaller hand in his own and kissed it, a wide smile on his face.
Merlin smiled in adoration of his two friends before turning and leaving to follow Brooke who had turned to walk up the corridor in the direction of the tallest tower. From what Merlin had gathered Brooke walked to the top of that tower quite a lot, most nights actually no matter the weather. Merlin had walked up with her some nights as he had always hoped that there was a way that they may communicate. Also somehow when Brooke was there, even though she didn't acknowledge him she was more company than most of the others. She seemed to look more beautiful tonight, he didn't know what it was but there was something so enchanting about her. He just wished he could tell her.
When the sun sank below the horizon and the sky turned from the warm colours of sunset to the cool navy blue of the night Brooke stood from where she had been eating her head on her arms and walked slowly down the steps towards Gaius's chambers. Merlin let her go; he would sit up here for the remainder of the night. For some reason he seemed to not need any sleep and to sleep meant he would need to slip back into the darkness. That feeling of being completely and utterly alone. He did not like that at all.
Note from the Author- I know not much really happened in this chapter at all but I was trying to get a sort of 'life goes on when Merlin isn't there' feel so I hope I achieved it :) we will see some more of trying to figure out what to do in the next chapter. This story shouldn't be too long but I will make sure I don't rush it. Thanks for reading! :) Review at will :)
~Fran