Queen of the Wild Magic—Chapter 2
"We should go." Arthur said, pulling at Merlin's arm forcing him to stand. "This fog won't keep people away for long, and we won't find Addy if we're stuck trying to explain what happened."
Merlin allowed himself to dragged along by Arthur. He couldn't think of anything except that final, pleading look in Addy's eyes. Barely aware that they were coming out of the abandoned lot, he tripped on a chunk of concrete and fell to his knees.
Arthur stopped and checked on his friend. "Are you alright?"
Merlin looked up, the watery midnight blue of his eyes telling him that answer. No, he was not alright.
"Look, I have no idea where I'm going. We need to find shelter and food. Any ideas?" Arthur asked. He knew the best course of action right now would be to keep Merlin occupied and focused on the task at hand. Worrying over his girlfriend wouldn't bring her back any faster.
Merlin mumbled an incoherent response.
Arthur grabbed his shoulders and forced Merlin to look at him. "Merlin, you need to forget that she's been kidnapped for now. Right now, we need to find someplace safe. And I can't do it on my own. We will get her back. I promise you. We will find a way!" These sort of speeches usually worked on his knights, he could only hope it would work on Merlin as well.
It did. Merlin straightened and color returned to his face. "You're right. Even though you were a bit harsh about it." He smiled weakly.
"Yeah, well, can't have you being all mopey and girlish, now can I?" Arthur looked around the largely empty street. "Where to?"
"I guess we need to find a hotel."
"Should I even ask what that is?" Arthur snuffed.
Merlin's smile widened a fraction. "Don't worry, it's just a type of inn."
"Oh! Why didn't you just say so? Honestly, you make everything so difficult sometimes." He began walking down the street, taking the lead. Stopping at the corner, he realized what he had done. "Come on, cabbage head. Lead the way."
"Always." Merlin responded.
-(0)—(0)-(0)-
Waking early after only a few fitful hours of sleep, Merlin wasn't sure which was worse; the pain in his heart over Addy, or the pain in his head listening to Arthur's snoring. He flipped over and stuffed the hotel pillow around his ears. He wished his mind would stop replaying the events of the day. He kept seeing the awful face of the Afanc hovering over him, feeling the way the claws sliced through his skin, the slowing of his breath, the inability to fight off death as it overtook him. He couldn't remember what happened to him after that. It was only darkness in his memory. But he did remember hearing Addy calling to him in the dark, telling him that he couldn't die. He remembered latching on to her voice like a drowning man and letting her pull him back to life. When he did wake, he knew it was because Addy had brought him back with magic. He could feel it coursing through him; very powerful, but strange. But what kind of magic could bring the dead back to life like that? And how did she not know about it? The fairies that took her had called her their queen. Why would they do that? Was she of fairy blood? There were just too many questions with no answers.
He flopped over again, and still Arthur was snoring loud enough to wake the entire hotel. He sat up in the bed, knowing he would never get back to sleep. He threw the pillow at Arthur's head. He didn't wake, but he did mumble something like, "Gwen, stop that, my father's watching," and continued to snore even louder. Shaking his head in disgust, he decided that a hot shower would be the best way to calm his nerves.
Of all the inventions over the last millennium, nothing seemed as fantastic to Merlin as the invention of hot water, straight from a tap. He felt this was due to the fact that he had carried buckets of hot water up from the kitchen to Arthur's bed chambers on a near daily basis. Two pails at time, heavy with hot, sploshy water. Carry them up the stairs, down the hallway, pour in the tub without getting a massive burn, and repeat about twenty times. Yes, a nice, hot shower was definitely mankind's greatest achievement.
As the water spilled over him, he remembered getting a bath for Addy, the first day they had met. It was eons ago, yet the memory was so clear in his mind. Her eyes, scared yet vulnerable. How she had seemed so clearly crazy yet so strong-willed. Laughing, he recalled how she had shown up with her hair a tangled nest of leaves and dirt, her face smudged, and her clothes ripped. The Addy he had gotten to know over the last weeks was always so careful about her appearance. She must have been so embarrassed!
His happiness soured as he began to realize he might never find a way to bring her back. He knew nothing of the sídhe people and how to get to their world. And if they had harmed her in any way...
Suddenly, the water exploded from the pipes, showering him in frigid ice. He jumped out the way just in time, and quickly magicked the water off. Where had that come from? It had been so long since he had lost control of his powers like that. The experience left him shaking and uncertain. He dried himself and quickly dressed.
On the way back to the bed, Merlin tripped on something soft thrown upon the floor. He summoned light to the tips of his fingers, and knelt down. It was Arthur's robe, torn, stained, and caked with black Afanc blood. He picked it up, thinking how some things never change. He's going to need something else to wear before people start to notice. Maybe I should get him a nice clown outfit, Merlin thought, tossing the robe onto a chair. Something fell from the pocket as it hit, making a slight chiming noise. Merlin summoned a little more light and peered at the floor. On the ground was small, golden object.
Where had that come from? He wondered, as he stooped to pick it up. It was a coin, with two heads. And then, the memory thudded hard against him. Addy had given it to Arthur. "Just something that odd little doctor at the hospital gave me." He looked closer at the coin and his breath caught. On one side, there was a silhouette of Arthur, and on the other was himself. Fireworks were going off in his brain. How could he have been so blind! So stupid!
"Arthur!" He yelled, jumping on top of the sleeping man and shaking him frantically.
"Gah!" Arthur screamed and flailed his arms to beat off his attacker. Then he realized who it was. "GET OFF!" He seethed. He pushed aside his eager-faced servant and pulled the covers back over his head.
"Wake up! Get up!" He began tossing Arthur's clothes at him.
Muffled under the covers and a mounting pile of clothing, Arthur asked gruffly, "What on earth do you think you're doing?" As an answer, his shoe hit him squarely in the stomach.
"We have to go back," Merlin cried, frantically trying to grab anything else they had left lying around.
"Go back where, Merlin? Can't you let me get some sleep in?" Arthur took his shirt and covered his eyes.
Ripping the shirt away, Merlin hovered inches from his face and declared, "You have been asleep far too long! Centuries, in fact. Now, we have to go and get Addy back. We must see the doctor."
"You are making absolutely no sense. Which, I suppose, is pretty normal for you." Arthur rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You figured out how to get her back?"
Merlin ceased his pacing and sat down on the bed. "Not sure. But, I think I know where to start at least." He handed over the coin. "Here, remember this?"
Arthur reluctantly slipped the shirt on over his head, and looked at the coin. It was embossed with his own image, and that of Merlin. "I don't understand."
"Addy gave this to you."
"Yeah?" He said unaffectedly and pulled on his pants.
"Don't you find that odd?" Merlin asked, handing over the socks he was now looking for.
Arthur shrugged. Everything was pretty damned odd right now. What was the big deal about a coin?
"Remember how she said she got it? She said the doctor had given it to her. Your doctor, from the hospital."
"That little guy?" Arthur asked, becoming more interested. "Why would he have something like that?"
"Because," said Merlin, shoving the robe at him with zealous glee, "He's not really a doctor. He's a warlock."
Arthur snapped his fingers. "I knew it! That place was full of sorcerers!"
Author's note-
Well, i hope you are enjoying! Writing Merlin/Arthur dialogue is sooo much fun.
Some questions for the next chapters:
-Can the doctor help Merlin find Addy?
-What is happening to the world, and how will it affect our trio?
-Will Arthur be forced to wear a clown outfit after all?
Ponder upon these, whilst I finish up the next chapter, chippies. :)