A/N:

Back again for some writing therapy. It's been another stressful day.

Hope you guys enjoy part 2!

Neither Merlin or Arthur belong to me...if they did, I probably wouldn't be as stressed...

CHARACTERS: Just Court Warlock!Merlin and Arthur (because of bromance, that's why)

RATED: I'm just going to go ahead and make this an M.

GENRE: Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Spiritual, Horror

WARNINGS: M

Merlin begins to have intense precognitive visions during the day, whilst at night he dreams of an old, decrepit castle that chills his blood.

THE ADVENTURES OF MERLIN

Second Sight – Part 2

Lightning lanced across the sky, brightening the rain-swept countryside for a fraction of a second, before it plunged once more into premature darkness.

Wind lashed his raven mop as he continued onward, body bowed as he fought against the strength of the gale.

In the distance, silhouetted against the ominous sky; stood a crumbling castle – older, possibly, than any structure in the kingdom – and the sight of it...the feel of it, sent his stomach roiling.

Merlin looked away, for a moment; in an attempt to locate the King, and when he turned back he found himself standing at the worn oak door as though he had been transported instantaneously by magic.

Swallowing the lump of dread that had formed in his throat, he limped forward, feeling the chill of a thousand deaths drip down his spine like ice.

'Arthur?' He called uncertainly, eyes sweeping the quiet hall as he was swallowed by shadows. A clap of thunder reverberated through the ancient stone and Merlin jumped, feeling his heart rate increase at the fright. There was still no answer from his friend, and he couldn't see where he was going, so with a muttered spell – a blue ball of light appeared before him, hovering at nose height, revealing to him a horror that would keep him awake for many weeks to come.

He had found his King, his comrade – bound and emaciated, festering wounds covering almost every inch of his body, but the worst were his eyes; open but unseeing, clouded by the opaque film of death.

Merlin fell to his knees and screamed...

'MERLIN!'

The young man snapped into consciousness, gripping his stinging cheek and scanning his surroundings in bewilderment. The night was dark, and the candles flickered - casting their fiery light upon the walls.

A pair of strong hands gripped his trembling shoulders, grounding him as he was turned slowly to meet the King's cerulean gaze.

His eyes were sad, and it took Merlin a few seconds to figure out why.

'Gaius...' the youth murmured softly, sitting up in a familiar bed that he only recognised because he had been making it every morning for five years.

An almost imperceptible shake of the King's head confirmed that he hadn't been dreaming about the man who had become like a father to him.

Merlin hung his head and took in a shaky breath.

'How...how did he...' he couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.

The hands on his shoulder gave a light squeeze.

'I don't know yet...I have sent for another...Physician to determine the cause.' Arthur replied, his voice cracking.

The Warlock peered at his friend imploringly as tears welled in his eyes.

'What am I supposed to do now?'

The King sat on the edge of the bed, by Merlin's side – his shoulders slumped as he contemplated his words. After a moment of silence, he spoke. 'You say something amazing...to honour him. At the funeral, you speak to the people and you tell them how much he meant to you.'

A broken sob escaped the young man's pursed lips and the tears ran afresh.

'I d-don't know what to say...' he admitted thickly, clenching Arthur's proffered hand like a lifeline. The King didn't let go.

'You tell them that you never got a chance to know your father, but you are glad that fate gave you the chance to know what it was like to have a father in Gaius.'

Merlin nodded, his hand shaking as he withdrew it from Arthur's grip.

'What I want to know...is how I was able to see it. I can't...' He cleared his throat before continuing. 'I can't ask Gaius anymore...I don't know who to turn too...'

The King sighed. 'I won't pretend to know anything about your magic...but I know what it is to lose a father and at least I can be of some use there. How about I get us something to eat?' He offered with a small smile.

'I'm not hungry,'

Arthur rolled his eyes. 'Of course you are, Merlin. You're skin and bone.'

The youth fixed him with a glare, but it softened upon seeing the compassion in his friend's eyes.

'Can we get drunk?' Merlin asked, the corner of his mouth twitching.

The King grinned widely. 'I think I can arrange that.'

*~*M*~*

It took three day's for the Physician to arrive from an outlying village and several more hours to determine that Gaius died of a massive heart attack.

This news sent Merlin into another downward spiral that left Arthur, once again, nursing his unconscious Court Sorcerer.

When the boy awoke, Arthur advised him that the funeral had been scheduled for the following afternoon before forcing him to eat something and requesting a sleeping tonic from the newly appointed Physician.

'I don't need a sleeping draught,' Merlin argued as the King handed him the vial.

'Yes, you do Merlin. You've barely been sleeping and when you do, you wake up screaming my name. You can hide the contents of your nightmares from me if you must, but you can't hide the fact that you're having them. So drink up cabbage – head,'

The warlock rolled his eyes and downed the potion in one go.

'I don't think I'll ever get used to this,' he muttered, eyeing the vial suspiciously.

'What?'

A small smile graced Merlin's lips as he lay back against the pillows on his new bed.

'The new Physician...makes his draughts taste alright,'

Arthur chuckled and handed him a goblet of water.

'Do you remember when you released your father from the spirit realm and he wreaked havoc on upon the castle?'

The King shot him a scathing look. 'How could I forget?'

'Gaius made us that potion that enabled us to see him and you made me drink it first in case it had any adverse effects.'

Snorting, Arthur placed the jug of water back on the table and folded his arms across his chest.

'I remember you got back at me by pretending it wasn't that bad. I thought I was going to die for sure!'

Merlin's grin widened. 'You did hit me with a spoon...'

The young King rolled his eyes and headed for the door, with the intent of leaving Merlin to rest, when he noticed that the smiled had dropped from the man's face and he was staring, once again, without moving.

'Not again...' Arthur murmured, grabbing a cloth just as the first tendril of crimson appeared at Merlin's nostril.

Then something happened, that had not accompanied the youth's previous episode...he drew in a ragged breath, his brow furrowing in pain before his head snapped back and his back arched off the mattress, rigid and trembling.

The King dropped the cloth in shock and watched as the youth writhed, hands gripping the quilt beneath him in a death grip.

As the blood flow from Merlin's nose increased, Arthur snapped out of his fearful trance and rushed forward, his hands hovering above the boy as he thrashed.

'...Nghhh...'thur...' the youth managed from barely parted lips as his eyes rolled back; lids fluttering.

'Merlin...' he whispered. 'Tell me what to do...I don't know what to do!'

Arthur was in a state of panic as Merlin gasped and his eyes flew open, the usual intense cobalt of his irises completely shrouded in brilliant gold.

The young Warlock screamed in pain, and the grand window that overlooked the courtyard shattered inwards, showering both men in glass.

A flurry of gold mist appeared from Merlin's lips as he panted heavily, and as the seizure subsided he turned his fearful gaze upon his friend.

Arthur swallowed thickly and rested a calloused hand upon Merlin's brow, noting the intense heat he was exuding.

'Well that was frightening...' Arthur muttered, absent-mindedly stroking the boy's sweat sodden mop.

Merlin just blinked, his eyes mostly back to their usual blue save for the intermittent gold sparks that flashed through irises like golden lightning.

As the King moved his hand to cup Merlin's cheek, the youth grabbed his wrist and held on for dear life.

'Arthur...' he began, his voice shaking in fear. 'My magic...it's...'

'Your magic is what?' Arthur asked, afraid that he may already know the answer.

'It's sick...'

'What does that mean, Merlin?'

Merlin coughed harshly, his brow furrowed as he clutched his chest in pain.

'My magic is a part of me...it runs through my veins...Arthur...I can already feel it. I just saw it...'

'Merlin, stop being so cryptic and answer me.' Arthur growled in frustration.

'I just saw myself die, Arthur...and it was so painful, I-' the youth stopped and drew in a breath of air like he had been drowning. He looked at the King once again before his eyes rolled back beneath fluttering lids and took him from his pain.

Arthur lifted the boy to his chest, wrapping his arms around him and burying his face into Merlin's dishevelled raven mane and allowed the emotions take over.

Quietly, he sobbed until he couldn't breathe, only vaguely registering the fact that someone was pulling him gently away.

'Come on princess,' came Gwaine's voice – soft and tender, his eyes sad with understanding. 'You'll be no help to the poor lad if you end up sick from exhaustion,'

'You d-don't understand,' Arthur said wetly, gripping Gwaine's tunic like a child. 'I can't leave him. What if he goes where I can't follow? He's sick, Gwaine...he's dying...'

The scruffy Knight paled and he frowned, looking at the youth who lay unconscious in his bed. It certainly wasn't looking positive.

Gwaine held back tears of his own and gripped Arthur's shoulder. 'How about I bring a cot in here for you and you can rest. I will keep watch and wake you if anything happens.'

The King nodded hesitantly and sighed as the Knight left.

Gwaine returned not twenty minutes later and found the King, looking so young and fragile – curled up fast asleep next to his friend. The Knight allowed a small smile to quirk his lips before settling down in front of the fire with a book.

Arthur could say what he wanted about the clumsy Warlock that had stumbled into their lives with an inane smile and cheeky attitude, but the King loved the boy with all of his heart and would continue to protect him until his last breath.

Because what else is family for?

End Part 2

Hope this was a bit longer than the last! Now we kind of know what is going on – Merlin's magic is playing up and that does not bode well for our favourite Warlock! Part 3 coming soon!