8. Years Go By
Two weeks had passed since Merlin had arrived in Ealdor. Like he had guessed his mother was more than happy to have him back, but of course she was also sorry for Merlin since this was not what he had wanted. Merlin was spending his time helping Hunith, but also the other villagers with everything he only could. Since he could use magic and in Ealdor everyone had knew about it since he had been a little kid, he was quite much help in many things. One job he had done only yesterday for example, was lifting heavy logs for men who were building a new house, a job that would've taken forever by hands, but which was easy and quick with the help of Merlin's magic.
Although Merlin spent hours a day telling everything about Camelot and his adventures with their King Arthur Pendragon while serving him, to the people in Ealdor who wanted to know everything about his past life, he still felt himself lonely. He loved talking with his mother too, but still that disturbing feeling of loneliness haunted him. Since his best friend Will had died some years ago in a battle while defending the village, Merlin was left with mostly quite much younger kids of the village than himself. Although he loved playing with them, he still longed someone his own age to talk to, but there were none in the small village of Ealdor. So Merlin often withdrew himself of the stir of the village to spend some time alone by a nearby lake. There he would be sitting for hours under a shadow of a tree, thinking about Arthur and what he was doing right now, thinking would he be missing him like he missed him, thinking would they ever see each other again.
This was one of those moments and frustrated as he was about his situation, he tossed some stones in the water just to have something to do. Alongside missing the prat King of Camelot, he also missed Gaius and Gwen, also the knights like Gwaine and Percival. They were his friends even though they liked to do many pranks for him, but it was all in a good spirit and just for the laughs. Merlin stood up and left the quiet lake again to go help his mother make dinner, the sun was already setting and he knew Hunith missed him already.
They had just eaten their roasted chicken and vegetables when there was a knock on the door. They glanced at each other questioningly, and when Merlin just shrugged Hunith went to open the door of their little hut.
"Good day, ma'am. I am here to deliver a letter for mister Merlin from the King of Camelot Arthur Pendragon. I was told he could be found here?" A man in armor bowed and gave a letter to Hunith.
"Yes indeed he is here." She answered slightly taken aback and turned her gaze from the letter to Merlin who dropped his fork and dived to get the letter.
"Thank you!" He shouted out while already going in to his little room to read the letter in peace and quiet.
"Sir! I was also informed to wait in case you are willing to write back to the King?"
"Yes, of course. Mom, could you give him something to drink? I'll just… Be reading this, just a moment please." And then Merlin was gone in his room and Hunith was left with the messenger who bowed low again.
To Merlin,
I have no idea why I am writing this to you right now, but I guess it has something to do with the fact that I might care about you, despite the resent events.
I would just like to know how are you? How is your arm? How is your mom? Please say my greetings to her, she's such a lovely woman and has raised her son well.
And talking about her son… I have to say that I am missing you, Merlin. I would've never thought I'd say this aloud, but yes it's true.
But I also hope you understand that I had no other choice for what I did and that's why I guess I'm writing this now. Because I never wanted you to go away, but I can't change the law in one night without a proper reason, the people of Camelot would protest, they wouldn't understand the sudden change of my opinion.
But I do care about you, Merlin, and I hope you're allright there. And if you want to write me back the messenger will wait, although I totally understand if you do not wish to contact me ever again.
I also wanted to tell you something I just found out myself few days ago. The bandits that attacked us were actually no bandits at all, but spies of another Kingdom that we now fear is planning an attack against Camelot. So you didn't just save me with your magic back in the woods, but the future of Camelot since the Kingdom still has a leader… Thank you, Merlin, for everything you've done. Don't think I don't appreciate the things you've done for me, because I do.
-Arthur Pendragon
Merlin's hands were shaking, Arthur had just confessed missing him and caring about him! His heart was racing and he reached at the drawer beside his bed and took out a quill and an old parchment. He calmed down for few minutes and started to write when his hands stopped shaking.
To the prat King of Camelot, Arthur Pendragon,
nice to hear you are missing me and you appreciate the things I've done, it really means a lot to me. Does the appreciation also mean my cleaning and polishing and all the other work I've done for you? Or is this only about the life saving matters? Because right now I'm serving someone who does appreciate the things I do. Yes, my mom. And I can tell you it feels really nice for a change to hear some compliments about the things you do… Also, people here know about my magic and they appreciate it, I can do lots of good things with it, because I would never use it to anything bad, I hope you know that.
And I'm feeling quite well, thanks for asking. A bit lonely though, but otherwise just fine. My arm is almost totally healed by now, I'm going to have quite a nice scar there. Hunith is fine too, she's very glad having me here.
I do hope there is no attack towards Camelot, I still feel it's my home after all… But if there is, be prepared well and I know there is no problem defending it with you as the leader. Please take care of Gaius and tell him I miss him. Thank you for writing me, it certainly lightened up my day.
Yours, Merlin.
With still shaky hands Merlin took the letter for the messenger who was just sipping some tea by the table. For the rest of the evening Merlin was all smile and that made Hunith smile as well, she knew just how much Arthur and Merlin cared about each other even though they hardly said that aloud.
Years Go By by Stratovarius
youtu. be/nlca1DbvIsU
Look around do you see
So many things have changed
And you should know by now
I never meant to hurt you at all
All my life I have been an outcast
But now I've been reborn
And I see things so clear
Open your eyes and realize
Hard times are over if you want
Open your mind
Reach for the stars
Answer is there for us to find
Years go by
Never know when it's too late
Years go by
Yourself you seal your fate
Don't look the answer from horizon
It's closer than you think
Years go by, oh how they go by
Years go by
Never know when it's too late
Years go by
Yourself you seal your fate
Don't look the answer from horizon
It's closer than you think
Years go by