The snow was deep, but not as deep as it should have been. For some reason it did not accumulate much more than over the top of a man's anklebone – while wearing boots, of course. Just one more unnatural aspect. Leon, Elyan, and Gwaine led Arthur and Merlin out to the clearning of freshness and spring. It was a known fact that evil could imprint the earth. Evil people when buried would have barren graves, where not even weeds would grow. Evil deeds scorched the earth, defiling it – making it barren. It was unheard of that a place like this could exist. It was almost a spiritual experience to venture into the lush green area, where life was abundant in an almost grotesque quantity. Animals of the forest, confused by the storm had congregated in this area which seemed to extend over an entire square mile. Arthur could hear the wind and the thunder, but he could not feel it. lightning lit up the sky, but no creature here crouched in fear. There were no signs of predation even though there were predators amongst the animal refugees. It was bizarre.
Merlin leaned against a tree as Arthur and the knights investigated the place. He slid down onto his bottom, arms wrapped around himself – his pained expression had been noted, but Arthur thought that he had been afraid of the forces that had created such a place. The young Pendragon commented as much, delighting as his manservant squirmed. He chided the boy. This place was more holy than hellbent, he claimed. He even stated he wasn't sure if it had been magic. Even if he was wrong about magic, he wasn't wrong about Merlin's fear. Merlin was very much afraid, but not of magic. He was afraid of the meaning of the magic – for it was his magic that had done this.
Three sausages and two boiled eggs. A bit of cheese helped on colder mornings to keep Arthur happier for longer peroids of time.
How long ago was it that he had purged his power for the sake of being able to be vulnerable? How much power had he purged just to be able to think emotionally and venture down a human pathway of feelings safely just for a few hours? Was this really the spot? It was, he knew it was. He could feel it. He did not want to know this. He did not want this to be true. It had been selfish and foolish to let an undirected, unrestrained amount of power out into the world and this was the result. He could feel his magic around him. It pulsed through every blade of grass, every leaf, and every flower. It was comforting, but it was terrifying. It was like seeing his own heart beating after it had been torn out.
Cleaned the leech tank six months ago, it could use another maintenance scrub soon.
It was so hard to wait for them. It was just a matter of time before they discovered his magic and when they did – would they even think of this? What was it that they called a sign of magic? Unnatural? A warlock is unnatural, an oath breaker to the laws of nature? A.. creature of magic. Merlin's heart began to flutter wildly as his thoughts churned. He tried to capture his worries. It wouldn't do him any good to continue. The boots were polished. Armor was polished. Did he bother with the furniture or did he use magic due to the lack of time? He couldn't remember. He bit his lip. His own magic surrounded him, he could smell it. It didn't smell bad. It didn't smell human at all. It was fresh like a spring day. Gwaine was laughing. He shouldn't be laughing. It was his smell, Merlin's smell. Merlin didn't smell funny. Arthur's jackets smelled like spoiled foods.
Bought three jars of pickled eggs for Gaius and a side of salted cured meat.
He had purged his magic before, but he'd never gone back to look. What if.. what if he had been leaving a trail? What if Arthur recognized some of those spots? How many times had it been just the two of them? If the gods would only help, but they weren't about to intervene. Merlin had.. no.. was magic. Bile rose in the boy's throat and his vision clouded with hot tears.
What if he moved his mother here just so that she could see him executed? Was his time soon?
Bought mother three jars of honey and a barrel of barley for her new place.
They were leaving and that was good. Merlin stood and scrambled to walk beside Arthur. Hunched against the cold, he shivered every time lightning struck. He gasped with every boom of thunder. The knights weren't that much more bold about being out in a magical storm. Arthur, as always, had his chest puffed out and his hand on the hilt of his sword. That bravado really didn't translate to threats of magic, but Merlin wasn't about to point that out right now. He wasn't going to discuss the finer points. Arthur might still consider them close enough to discuss his father's transgressions and crimes, but Merlin kept his own secrets close. It would never be the right time to tell Arthur that he had magic. Even if Arthur did somehow understand that it wasn't evil, how could he ever just turn around and plainly admit that he had been brazenly breaking the law all these years?
Tears dripped down his nose as he hung his head to avoid the wind.
The druids were waiting and Merlin wasn't sure if they wanted to talk to Arthur or if they wanted Emrys to overhear what they had to say. He wanted to be done with all of this, right now. He didn't want to hear anything more. He wanted to go to Gaius and tell him about this green place. He wanted to complain. He wanted to reverse it. He wanted to erase all evidence of the tantrum that followed. Only he would have to pre-plan being emotional.
What was it that Arthur was saying? Find the person responsible? Oh keep wishing. There's no way anyone's going to be claiming that as theirs. No sane person, even before the purge would claim making that. Explaining the creation of such a place – no. No one would be proud of that. Not even the high priestesses would put their names on it. Power like that, wasn't human. Merlin knew that deep down. He could admit to Gaius what was inherently wrong with his magic, but no one else. Well, maybe Kilgharrah.
Kilgharrah. Where was HE when he was needed? There's been no sign or scent of the dragon anywhere. Merlin had told him to make himself scarce but this was ridiculous. It wasn't right to gain his freedom and then just leave without showing some sort of support for the person who showed him mercy. Merlin didn't necessarily mean that Kilgharrah couldn't go where he wanted now, but if they were kin. If deep down that dragon was his brother on the soul level, then when the hell was he going to start acting like family and give him a little support that he did not have to beg for? It would be nice.
Arthur's new brown jacket has seven buttons... it wasn't working. Power surged in Merlin's chest. He could feel the flow of it from his heart to his fingers and back again. His entire being felt electric and alive. The hair on his body was standing up straight.
Arthur was shouting and everyone was running, but Merlin couldn't move. He was thinking in dragon tongue now and trying to understand what was being shouted. Something was wrong if there was so much noise, but was that actually noise? Merlin was confused. He watched as his four friend's dashed towards the castle, but he just stood there. Arthur turned his head towards him. His eyes were full of horror, he turned to run back towards Merlin. He was shouting. His hand was outstretched. Leon tackled him.
The snow and wind increased or had it? No. The lightning was striking the ground and his friends were running for cover. That made sense. It wouldn't do to be struck by lightning. Merlin smiled, he finally understood something.
Merlin barely had time to think about what was happening. He forced himself to take a step. Gwaine had now stopped and turned. Elyan grabbed him by the shoulders and Gwaine was being pulled towards the gates. Leon was similarly handling Arthur dragging him backwards even though the royal was trying to break free.
I'm on my way, thought Merlin.
Leon's beard was icy with tears.
Merlin took another step and then his whole world flashed in a blinding, brilliant, and gorgeous gold.
He should have left Merlin behind. He had been sick for a while and now he'd been drug to that strange place in the woods, but Merlin had made that comment. He'd complained about how much he was paid. He didn't have any special talents. (Guinevere at least was a seamstress, while she worked for Mogranna she was paid more than Merlin simply because she had a skill.) If Arthur had listened to his gut and had left Merlin behind, this would not have happened. Merlin had been nervous, he looked really shaky. He even looked emotional and Arthur didn't really blame him. Even though it was green and calm, it was eerie. A calm haven in the midst of insanity. The magical storm had raged on, but there were no land strikes of the lightning. There was no vast amounts of snow. If this was a siege, it was actually quite weak. Only the wind and the temperature were troublesome, but winter was around the corner anyway. It wasn't as if the storm was interrupting anything important. However, Merlin was ill and he never did want to talk about magic even if he did voice occasional outrage at how Uther enforced his laws, You mean like executing anyone who even passes a sorcerer on the street?
Oh, Merlin.
The only explanation was that he was so bothered by being in the green haven, that he wasn't paying attention on the walk back. The sudden build up of that fuzzy, prickly electrical feeling that happens when wool is rubbed and then metal is touched. It usually happens in the wintertime. That sensation was unpleasant in the rawest sense and it sent Arthur and the knights into a run. Arthur called out to run even before he realized that the words were escaping his mouth. Overwhelmed with a primal fear that no amount of training could have squelched, his body lurched forward into a run.
Oh why hadn't he run?
He was almost at the gates when he realized that Merlin wasn't with him. Merlin had been on his left and there was silence where there should have been snow crunching footfalls, a heavy breath, or any other sound of effort from a person running! He turned to see Merlin standing. He hadn't even run. He wasn't even walking. He was standing there like a pale statue. The wind blowing back his short dark hair – skin pink, still Merlin. Looking childishly lost in the snow as if he didn't understand why his friends were running away. Arthur twisted his body and his feet slipped a little. He reached towards Merlin as his weight finally found it's center, but Leon had grabbed him from behind. He pulled against his motion. He pulled him away from Merlin.
Merlin watched and tilted his head as if trying to understand.
Arthur called out to Gwaine, but he was being restrained as well. Gwaine was cursing and threatening Elyan, but he also was not being released. Arthur knew this had all taken place in mere seconds, but it felt like an eternity. They were wasting time. He had to get back to Merlin and make him move. Merlin took one small step and then another. They could feel the charge in the air strengthening. Merlin's eyes widened and he – smiled.
He had smiled.
Arthur swore his heart had stopped, but he hadn't been hit. The flash had erased the world from his vision for a few moments. He wasn't sure if he closed his eyes or not. He could feel the heat and he and his knights were thrown back, but not from the strike.
Merlin lay in the snow.
Arthur finally managed to wrench himself free from Leon. He didn't stop to look at his friend. He picked him up and slung the light weight over his shoulder and ran for the castle. Leon, Elyan and Gwaine ceased to exist as Arthur's legs propelled him forward towards the castle. It surprised him that he even knew where to go, but Gaius was someone who was also engrained into his knowledge. The injured went to Gaius. Must quickly immediately go to Gaius. Gaius would know what to do. Gaius would fix Merlin.
Oh gods, Merlin.
Some servant was in the way, but Arthur did not slow down or notice. If he was yelling like a wounded beast as he ran up the stairs - he was yelling for Merlin, who obviously could not do much of anything on his own. His burden barely weighed a thing as adrenaline powered his muscles forward, faster, and more sure than wet boots on polished stone had ever achieved in the history of wounded friends. To hell with decorum. To hell with the rules. To hell with nobility and honor. He didn't know if anyone was running with him. He didn't care. He just thought of Merlin, his precious and most sincere friend.
He kicked the door to the physician's chambers open startling the occupant within.
Arthur blanched for a moment due to the look on Gaius's face. It was a look that he hated. The kind of look that peasants get when they blame you for hurting someone they love. The look that flashes when the fires are lit or the gallows are erected. That blaming, it's your fault it happened anyway...type of look. As quickly as it appeared it faded. Arthur wasn't sure if it was there or not. As instructed, he deposited Merlin on a cot and quickly got shoved away as Gaius descended on his patient. Again, he did not look at his manservant. He couldn't. He had to keep his wits about him. He couldn't look. Gaius was issuing commands. Leon was there. He pulled at Arthur's shoulder, the bad one. The shoulder the great dragon had once ravaged with it's mighty claws. He didn't resist. Gwaine dashed down the stairs with two buckets. Elyan stood frightened like a small child, out of breath. Tears streaking down his face in an unmanly fashion.
Gaius barked at them one last time and turned his back. He bent over his ward.
Elyan and Leon grabbed Arthur under his elbows and escorted him out. Leon was speaking, but what ever gibberish was coming out of his mouth – Arthur had no idea. He didn't want to leave Merlin and he didn't want to see Merlin. He did not fight his knights. He allowed them to walk – half drag him back towards his chambers. Leon issued orders to some one along the way. Servants were dashing down corridors. One pretty little maid with a basket of flowers bowed and then ran from sight. Arthur wondered for a moment where she would have gotten them with the snow on the ground, but that thought was chased away as George caught up with them. He was annoyingly verbal. Several other servants joined them.
As soon as he was in his chambers, George and two other servants started stripping him of his armor. He swatted a few times at their hands, but the more he did the more George kept talking. Arthur looked for Leon and Elyan, but they were already gone. Good. The bath was being set up. Two servants were running for water. Arthur sat naked on a chair as George scrubbed at his upper body with a harsh soap. He flung the used wash rags into a spare bucket and issued commands at the other servants who ran to do his bidding.
Merlin could never pull that off. Merlin...
Finally Arthur was pulled, pushed, and shoved unceremoniously into the bath which wasn't at the ideal temperature. George poured something into the water and then went back to scrubbing him down as if he were a small child back from making mud pies.
Arthur's shoulder hurt.
George sniffed and then sniffed again. The stand-in manservant's eyes were red rimmed and overly bright.
More servants came into the room and scooped up Arthur's clothing and armor. The door didn't slam, but it certainly wasn't the typical exit from his chambers. There was no bowing. No backing out of the room respectfully. It was as if Merlin had infected them all. George was holding a towel and beckoning Arthur to get out of the water – so he did.
Soon Arthur was toweled off and redressed in his most casual and comfortable clothes. He sat quietly staring at the empty chair that was near his at the hearth. The chair that just a bit ago that Merlin had sat in while they talked about his father, Merlin's mother, and Merlin's pay. Merlin's honesty. Merlin's loyalty. Merlin's interference. Yes, Merlin had pulled off that half of the conversation in that chair.
Arthur stared at it as if … oh gods what was that smell?
It was the smell of blood, burnt flesh and burnt hair. It was sweat, urine, and feces. It was the smell of the pyre without the wood. It was... Merlin.