Chapter 26

Warning/s: None.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

A/N: Sixth form is so much work omg I have twenty-seven items on my to do list right now

Prompt: Elise.v – "Merlin exidently [accidentally] hurts Freya with his magic, (not even much) but he is so shocked about it that he won't use his magic anymore, so he can never hurt her again. (With really bad consequenses for his health) I would be most pleased when merlin only JUST makes it!"

Day 1:

"I cut myself on a thorn," Freya called out as she came into hers and Merlin's chambers. "Could you heal it for me?"

"Of course, love," came her husband's distant voice. "Is it bleeding at all?"

"Not anymore," she called back, sucking on the cut. It was on her first finger, right underneath the nail. Within a few seconds, Merlin was coming down the stairs that led up to their workrooms and library.

Freya held her finger out to Merlin, pouting. "Fix it."

Merlin kissed the cut and then muttered something under his breath quickly. Instead of the warm sensation she had expected, there was a sharp, stinging feeling. She gasped in pain and pulled her hand back automatically, clutching it to her chest.

Merlin swore loudly. "Oh Gods, I did the wrong spell! Freya, I'm so sorry!" He stepped towards her and opened his arms in a hesitant hug. Freya accepted it gladly, not really in pain. It had more been the shock that had made her react that way.

"It's okay," she whispered, her voice muffled by his chest. "Everybody makes mistakes, Merlin, and this was only a tiny one."

"I hurt you," Merlin whispered in a disbelieving voice.

Freya spent the rest of the evening trying to persuade Merlin that he wasn't a terrible person.

Day 2:

Freya got up at her usual time, early in the morning, and was surprised when Merlin stayed in bed. "Are you feeling okay?" she asked, concerned, and received a nod. She was surprised at his silence and that he seemed to be down and tired, but regardless she got herself dressed and prepared breakfast.

When the smell of bacon and eggs couldn't rouse Merlin, Freya started to worry. She served the food onto two plates, grabbed cutlery and headed back to their bedroom. She frowned when she saw that Merlin had not even moved from his spot.

"I have breakfast," she said softly.

"I'm not hungry," Merlin replied. His voice sounded wrecked, like was holding back tears.

Freya sighed and placed his plate on the table next to their bed, and moved round to sit on her own side to eat. "You can't beat yourself up because you accidentally hurt me, Merlin," she said gently, taking a bite of egg. "Greater wizards than you have made greater mistakes, Merlin, and so have lesser wizards. Besides, you managed to heal it anyone, so please just eat for my sake. I don't want you getting ill."

"I'm not hungry," Merlin repeated.

Day 3:

"I'm worried about him," Freya said as soon as she stepped into Arthur's chambers. She had grown desperate and gone to Arthur and Gwen for help and support. "He accidentally used the wrong spell and hurt me a little, and now he won't use magic at all. I think it's making him ill."

"That would make sense," Arthur said thoughtfully. "He told me once that if he doesn't use at least one spell a day, he gets all worked up."

"How can I make him use magic?" Freya asked desperately. "He's not eating, he only sleeps when I join him, and I wish I could stay with him but I so badly need to get help."

"We'll help," Gwen said quickly. "Let's go to see him now, see if he opens up any more."

"I don't think that would be a good idea," Freya said sadly. "He doesn't talk much; he seems to just want his own company."

Gwen bustled over in her full, wide-skirted dress and wrapped Freya in a warm hug. "Merlin will pull through," she murmured.

"Definitely," Arthur agreed. "He comes through everything."

"I hope so," Freya said tearfully. "Has this ever happened before?"

"Never," Gwen said softly. "But I am sure he will pull through."

Day 4:

Merlin's brow was warm to the touch, and it was worrying Freya greatly. "Please eat," she begged. "You have a fever."

"I'm not hungry, Freya."

"Merlin, please," she begged, tears forming in her eyes. "I couldn't bear to lose you."

"You will not lose me," Merlin reassured her. He made the first movement that he had since he had hurt her and stroked her hair. "I will survive this."

"No, you won't," Freya argued. "You are magic, Merlin, you don't just have it. It is damaging you to not use it."

"Do not fuss over me," Merlin coughed. "Please. I can't bear to use my magic again, not when I harmed you with it."

Freya began to sob, and laid down next to her husband. "Don't cry," she heard Merlin say weakly, but that didn't stop her as she buried her face into her husband's chest.

Day 5:

"Freya!" Merlin cried out, in the early hours of the morning. "Don't!"

Freya woke up with a start and looked over at her husband. "I'm right here, Merlin."

Merlin was wide awake, or so it seemed, but his eyes were starting right up at the ceiling, unseeing, and they were filmed over with a ghostly gold. "Don't die, Freya!" he cried. "You can't die!"

"I'm right here," Freya cried in confusion, leaning over her husband. She had no effect on him; she still kept calling out to her, pleading with her to stay with him. Freya slipped out of bed quickly and ran out of the door, heading down the many winding corridors to Arthur and Gwen's chambers.

She knocked on the door, hurting her knuckles, ignoring the wide-eyed stares of the guards. "Gwen! Arthur!" she yelled, bursting into tears. Gwen shot out of the room, wearing just her nightgown, and gathered Freya into her arms.

"What's wrong?" Arthur shouted, holding his sword and looking incredibly sleep-deprived.

"Merlin!" Freya sobbed. "He's seeing things! Please, help! Please!"

Arthur didn't even reply, but ran down the corridor straight away. Gwen was slightly gentler in her actions, ushering Freya after the king at a slower pace, with her arm supportively around Freya's shoulders and muttering comforts.

Once they reached their chambers, Gwen helped Freya into a chair and sat down next to her friend, glancing over worriedly at Merlin. He was struggling in Arthur's grip; the king had grabbed the Court Sorcerer, and sat him up, holding him against the headboard while he talked to him calmly but firmly, trying to snap him out of it.

"Gwen, he's refusing to do magic because he's scared that I'll get hurt," Freya whispered, terrified. "I'm making him this ill."

"Don't think that for a second," Gwen comforted, over Arthur saying, "Merlin, Freya is fine. Come back into the room." She glanced over, not able to conceal the worry in her gaze, and continued, "He's scared that you're in danger right now, that's his worst nightmare. He loves you so much."

It took until four in the afternoon to calm Merlin down, at which point Freya was nearly dehydrated from tears and had gladly fallen into her husband's arms.

Day 6:

Freya had gone to sleep in her usual position, with her head resting on Merlin's chest and her arms around his waist. When she woke up, she was unpleasantly shocked to hear that his heartbeat was almost twice what it usually was. She shook Merlin awake hurriedly, tears already streaming down her face.

"Just do magic!" she begged. "You're going to die, Merlin!" She was probably going to wake half of the castle with how loud her shrieks were, but she didn't care.

"I can't risk it," Merlin rasped. "I hurt you and I can't do that again."

"Merlin, it was a tiny cut that you accidentally opened a bit, and now your life is in danger!" Freya yelled. "Just do something! Turn a book into a plant, just do something!"

"I can't, love," Merlin croaked. "I can't because hurting you killed me inside, however small or accidental it was. And I can't go through that internal pain again." His breathing was far too fast and raspy; Freya sighed in desperation and did the only thing she could think of to possibly make his heart rate go down. She used her magic to cast him into a light sleep, and was relieved when his breathing slowed down, even if his heart didn't.

Day 7:

Merlin was at Death's doors.

Freya was in despair.

So she did something drastic.

She grabbed the silver knife from the table and walked back over to their shared bed. "Merlin, look at me," she insisted. Even though he was fading in and out of consciousness, he seemed to make a special effort to look at her.

"If you're dying, I cannot live," she announced. She showed him the knife and then plunged it into her stomach. She shouted out with the pain – far greater than she could have ever imagined – but bore it as best she could.

As far as she was concerned, she had come up with a fool-proof plan. If Merlin died, she would too; but if Merlin healed her, neither of them would die. Either way, she would remain with Merlin for eternity.

"Freya, no!" Merlin cried out. Automatically, he threw his hands onto the stab wound and muttered something slowly, as if it was taking all of his strength just to talk. There was a pulsating, blue glow around her stomach and the pain subsided as the wound began to heal.

A golden dust flowed from Merlin's body, and he breathed slower and slower. "Yes, keep going," Freya urged, holding his palms up to let it out quicker. It was entrancing, seeing the golden particles flying through the air, and Freya was almost disappointed when they were gone.

"You're better," Freya whispered, throwing herself onto Merlin. She looked back up at him, her eyes shining with tears. "Don't you dare ever do that again!"

"Don't stab yourself ever again," Merlin retaliated, prodding her stomach softly to see if the wound was fully healed.

"You idiot," Freya giggled through her tears. "I did that so you would heal me – because I was almost certain you would – and that would heal you!"

"Oh," Merlin said. "You're sneaky. And sly. But clever."

"All of the above," Freya agreed, and leant in to kiss her husband softly, savouring the fact that he was alive.

A/N: For once I actually like my ending!

Please give me loads more prompts because I'm starting to run out! It is much appreciated and I love you all x