It had been a wedding present from someone. Heavy iron statue which presented a woman sitting on a rock. Guinevere had high-handedly placed it in Arthur's study and Merlin was refused to remove it. Arthur was more than once seen Merlin staring it the sad expression on his face. Arthur had never asked what Merlin saw. He couldn't. Now that same statue was lying bloodied on the floor right next to Merlin's head.

"Merlin?"

The voice seemed to come from someone else. Arthur stepped forward hesitantly.

"Merlin?" He repeated, but his friend didn't moved. Blood dyed the floor slowly and shakily Arthur knelt.

"Merlin, say something."

Merlin's eyes were open. He seemed to look accusingly at Arthur, but the expression didn't chanced. Slowly and very carefully Arthur touched Merlin. Why he was so cold? Why he didn't answered to him.

"Sire, is everything alright?" Some distant voice asked. Arthur shook Merlin. He was so heavy. "Merlin, wake up."

"Sire?"

"Merlin ..." Arthur whispered and looked at his hands. Blood. He turned to look when the door was opened. He saw Leon and a few others. "I can't get Merlin awake."

"Arthur ..." Leon tried to help Arthur up, but he resisted.

"No, Merlin, I have to get him awake. Help me get him awake."

Someone screamed.

Someone leaned over Merlin.

"Why he not wake up?" Arthur was baffled.

Someone stepped before him and touched his forehead.

"Sleep Arthur."

And Arthur fell asleep.

#

When Arthur woke up it was night time and Guinevere was sitting beside of their bed. Arthur watched her. She had cried.

"Guinevere?"

His wife turned to see him, but she didn't said anything.

"What happened?" Arthur asked and tried to touch her, but she flinched back. Why she was so sad?

"Can't you remember?" Guinevere asked quietly and rose and moved away from him. Arthur sat up.

"What?"

Guinevere avoided his gaze. "Merlin came back. You two talked. Leon and Delwyn heard something and… And they found you. You, and Merlin…" Guinevere tried to explain but her voice broke.

And then all returned to Arthur's mind and he stood up.

"I was angry… I… I threw the statue… I didn't meant it to hit… How Merlin is? Is he alright?" His hand sough Guinevere to bull her closer.

This time Guinevere turned to face him and Arthur stopped when he saw her face.

So much sorrow.

"Merlin is dead Arthur."

Arthur stared her not believing his own ears.

"Merlin… is dead?" He repeated. Guinevere hiccupped and tried to get her voice back.

"You… You… killed him."

Arthur's offered hand dropped. He turned away and fumbled to sit.

"I'm sorry, Arthur. I can't ..." Guinevere broke out in tears. Arthur closed his eyes. He felt sick. He didn't hear how Guinevere fled from the room, leaving him alone.

"I… killed him?" Arthur looked his hands.

Blood.

Blood everywhere.

He had killed Merlin.

#

"If I die…"

"You are not going to die." Gwaine laughed. Merlin looked him seriously. "I'm serving Arthur, I can be killed someday."

"We protect you and Arthur. That's our job." Gwaine said and Merlin nodded.

"I know, but I want to say this so listen." And reluctantly Gwaine listened.

"If I die... Don't make that face Gwaine, just listen. Bring me here."

They watched the lake.

"Here. Here? Why here?" Gwaine asked. It was beautiful place but Gwaine couldn't get it. Merlin just smiled sadly.

"Take a boat and sent me to the lake."

"Just, sent you, there? And where did I find a boat?" Gwaine pointed the lake. Was Merlin lost his mind?

"It will be here. Simple, isn't it? Do that before anyone else do anything. I don't want them grieving over my body. I don't want to be buried or burned. I want to be here, because, she is here. She will take care of me." Merlin whispered.

"She? Who?" Gwaine turned to look Merlin, but in his place stood Lancelot.

"Bring him to us." He said.

"Lancelot?"

"You promised, bring him here." Lancelot said but Gwaine shook his head.

"Where? And why? Lancelot? Lancelot!"

Gwaine woke up yelling. For a moment he tried to understand where he was. Wall under his back was cold. Torches' fires casted long shadows. He was in the catacombs. He had wanted to stay on guard overnight. Before him in the slab lay Merlin. That's right. Merlin. He had to take Merlin to the lake. He had promised and he would keep it.

Gwaine got up and watched his friend.

"I would never have guessed it to be Arthur. I'm not quite sure if I can never forgive this to him. I don't think that I come back after I get you on that boat." Gwaine wrapped the cloak around the body and raised Merlin on his shoulder. "Fortunately, you showed the way out of here." He sighed, took one of the torches and set off.

He walked through the forest and he was sure that there were some druids watching over him, but they didn't stopped him. Gwaine was glad for that, because, seriously, he has just kidnapped Merlin's body and he didn't want to answer for any questions. So he walked, until the morning he was in the lake.

The mist surrounded everything inside of it.

And he saw the boat waiting.

He set Merlin on that.

"Goodbye Merlin. It was good to know you. I will miss you." Gwaine whispered and then he looked the lake.

"Lancelot, if you are here, take care of him, please."

And so he pushed the boat on the lake. There wasn't any wind or waves, but the boat was drifting easily forward and the mist swallowed it.

"Goodbye my friend."