A/N:
Still off work and with nothing to do – I give you the next chapter!
Neither Merlin or Arthur belong to me, but Kora is mine
CHARACTERS: Just Court Warlock!Merlin and Arthur (because of bromance, that's why) and a bad ass female OC
RATED: I'm just going to go ahead and make this an M.
GENRE: Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Spiritual, Horror and possibly romance
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 5
The weeks passed slowly and Merlin's condition was beginning to deteriorate. After determining this ailment would not just simply go away, Arthur had his closest friend moved to an adjacent chamber where Kora was able to set up a secondary hospital solely for the purpose of treating Merlin. As the magician in the Physician/Apprentice duo, she was charged with dealing with magical afflictions and injuries – and as Merlin was currently her own patient, she had requested a temporary cot be installed in the room so she could keep an eye on him at all times.
The most startling concern, apart from the increased intensity of his seizures; was the fact that he was becoming increasingly malnourished. His already prominent cheekbones jutted unhealthily from pale features and his ribs where visible in a way that shouldn't be possible. It tore Kora's heart to pieces; because in the short time she had come to know this sweet, compassionate and utterly selfless man, she was pretty sure she was falling in love...
It was early on the twentieth morning since her arrival to Camelot and her discussions with Merlin about his visions and precognitive dreams where just not enough to help in her search for the sorcerer who had done this. She had been awake all night (again) with the aid of her magic, but she knew her energy would soon wane – when she turned the page of the magical tome she was reading and paused. Written in gold ink on the top of the page were the words "DREAM DIVING".
Her eyes skimmed the paragraph quickly, soaking in the ingredients required and the words she would have to use. She may or may not have been bothered to read the warning at the bottom of the page;
Please Note: The UTMOST caution must be taken in this activity as it holds a danger to both participants. If injury occurs within the dream-scape, the damage may transpose onto the physical body.
Throwing the book aside, she scrambled to her feet – first checking Merlin's fever, before she hastened around the room in search of the ingredients.
'Kora? Why are you up so early?' Merlin rasped as his eyes fluttered open; his slumber disturbed by the clinking of jars and rustling of herbs. The young witch started and ceased her movements to turn and give the young man a beaming smile.
'I just found something I can try, just rest a moment – you will have to drink something,' she babbled, wringing her hands nervously.
'Kora, have you not given up? There's no use; I'm a dead man...' He said with a sad smile.
She stiffened, her chest heaving as she tried to control her emotions. Her hand squeezed the jar of Basilisk ante venom she had just picked up. This may not have happened had she slept in the past three nights, but she was wary and her mind frayed.
'NO!' Kora shrieked causing Merlin to jump as she slammed her hand onto the work bench and shattering the jar. She chose to ignore the shards of glass imbedded in her hand and the hot blood that accompanied it. 'I am not going to give up Merlin!'
Tears spilled from her emerald eyes as she turned to berate him. 'You are Emrys! Fight it! Don't give in – not when everyone else still fights for you! Arthur and the Knights still search the surrounding forests for anything that could help you!'
Merlin used what little strength he had to prop himself up against the head board, watching Kora with narrowed eyes as she continued her tirade.
Her was thrown back in a messy horse-tail and her clothes were wrinkled, but what startled Merlin the most was the sheen of sweat that had formed upon her brow and the dark bruises beneath her eyes. As she stormed closer, he noticed her hand dripping with blood.
'Are you even listening to me, you ungrateful toad? I have done so much for you since I arrived here! Don't you dare give up! I will not –' her breath hitched and there were no more words. She just slumped onto the floor resignedly and openly sobbed, her shoulders trembling.
The young Warlock swallowed thickly and swiped the moisture that had begun to form at his own eyes. Despite feeling weaker than a newborn babe, he swung his legs from the bed and slowly slid down next to her. She turned, her lips trembling. It was clear at that moment that Kora had not allowed herself to sleep – for at least three days, judging by her level of anxiety and the intensity of her tremors.
'W-what are you doing out of bed you dimwit?' She asked thickly, pressing the back of her hand to his brow for the second time that morning.
Merlin held her gaze with a stern look in his cobalt irises. 'What are you doing not going to bed?' He growled in response, gripping her chin firmly.
'Trying to save your life,' she hissed, her features morphing into annoyance. 'I have kept myself awake with a spell and there have been no adverse effects!'
Merlin cocked an eyebrow and dragged two fingers beneath her nose, which for the second time in his presence, had begun to bleed.
He held his hand up for her to see the crimson stain against his elegant digits.
'Thank you Kora, for not giving up on me...but I don't want to be saved if it means you kill yourself in the process! You need to sleep and I will allow no more experiments until you do!'
Kora held his gaze for a moment, but suddenly her eyes widened in horror. 'Merl...' she murmured before turning her head and covering the floor in bile.
She clearly hadn't been eating either. In her desperation to save this beautiful man, she had skipped many meals. Merlin winced sympathetically and rubbed her back slowly.
'Idiot,' he muttered fondly, now knowing how Arthur felt about his stubbornness when it came to saving a life. He knew of that fear far too well and found he couldn't fault her efforts, despite being absolutely shattered about the state she was in.
It was at that point, Arthur made his return.
The King entered quietly and froze, seeing the pair of them propped up against the bed – Kora sobbing and Merlin quietly hushing her regardless of his own weakened state.
'What happened?' He demanded, dodging the puddle of sick and crouching by the young woman's side.
'Stubbornness,' Merlin responded faintly, pulling her closer to his malnourished body and kissing her crown.
'H-he can't die, sire...I won't allow it!' She panted, her lids fluttering in exhaustion.
'Nor will I Kora,' Arthur replied, his eyes meeting Merlin's worriedly as the woman continued to tremble in the Warlocks arms.
'I can't lose you...'
She let out a shaky breath before succumbing to exhaustion; her form going completely limp against Merlin. He was worried for her, without a doubt – this woman had changed him and the fear for her health was just about overwhelming.
'Arthur, could you get me a basin of water and some rags please?' Merlin asked, his eyes flicking down the her injured hand, which was curled into the rough material of his tunic.
'I can take care of that Merlin, you need to rest...' Arthur replied.
The warlock shook his head defiantly. 'No. I will do it...please Arthur,'
The King sighed; he was neither blind nor stupid. He could see the utter devotion in Merlin's blue eyes as he watched her sleep, his nimble fingers brushing a crimson lock from her damp brow and he prayed to the heavens that they would both get their chance of happiness.
Arthur did as he was requested, setting the basin down by Merlin as he plucked the glass from her palm carefully.
'She cares a lot for you,' The King said as he watched his friend's tender ministrations.
Merlin offered him a smile. 'And I for her,' he replied honestly, wrapping her hand gently. 'I only hope I live long enough to tell her just how much she means to me.'
Arthur crouched down and gathered the woman in his arms, walking towards her cot before Merlin stopped him.
'She can use my bed...I will take the cot,' he offered, but the King shook his head.
'You are ill, Merlin – but the bed is big enough for two. Just wait and I will help get your lazy arse up in a moment,'
They both chuckled as Arthur set the slumbering woman onto the bed. It took a bit longer to get Merlin situated because he had weakened himself further by getting out of bed.
'Sleep, Merlin – I will keep watch on you both,' He said, smiling softly as Kora shifted her body closer to Merlin's in her sleep.
The young man closed his eyes and smiled contentedly. If he survived this ordeal – she would be the One he wanted at his side until death took them both.
*~*M*~*
Kora came to her senses slowly, feeling far more refreshed than she had before. She allowed herself to float in the soft warmth for a while more before she detected arms, wrapped protectively around her frame. Her eyes opened slowly and she turned, coming face-to-face with Merlin, peering at her through heavily lidded eyes.
'Hey there – welcome back,' he rasped weakly, wincing as though he hadn't spoken in some time.
Kora blinked, confusion furrowing her brow. 'What the hell happened?' She asked, propping herself up on her elbows and shifting to face the young man lying next to her.
He reached out and brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers. 'You passed out; sleep deprivation can do that to a person...and it better not happen again,' he said, the softness in his blue eyes belying his stern words.
The woman blushed and looked away from his intense gaze, both ashamed of her actions as a physician and aroused by Merlin's close proximity.
'I...just want to keep you alive...' she said softly, allowing him to draw her closer.
'And I don't to lose you in the process,' Merlin admitted, causing her blush to deepen.
Hesitantly, Kora curled her arms around the man's waist and sighed. 'I have to do something before you waste away, Merlin.'
The young man coughed and with her ear against his chest, she could hear his lungs crackle. Kora sniffed and disentangled herself from Merlin's arms, shocked to see crimson splashed across his plump lips and down his chin. He blinked owlishly at her, his eyes sad as she wiped the blood away.
'I'm sorry Kora...' he whispered, his breath stuttering.
'No,' she said firmly, rolling out of bed and ignoring the dizziness that accompanied the sudden change in altitude. 'I will fix this...I will change what you saw.'
Over the next hour, she busied herself in mixing the potions that would allow her to enter Merlin's dreams. He stayed awake only as per her request, but it was difficult and he was extremely grateful when she declared the completion of the elixirs. She drew the heavy curtains and lit the candles in the room, their golden light making Merlin look hollower than she would have liked.
After swallowing her potion, she helped Merlin swallow his before lying next to him once more. She could already feel the pull of sleep – she had to say the incantation before it was too late.
'Getíđian mín sáwol æt ádelfan þes mannes swefnaþ,' she murmured, feeling her power bubble to the surface before she succumbed to the magical sleep.
Lightning lashed the blackened sky as she became aware of her surroundings. In the distance stood a crumbling stronghold, the darkness permeating from its mortar was enough to make her sick.
In the distance she saw...herself, lying spread-eagle in the wet grass, smoke curling up from her prone form. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she tore her gaze away.
'YOU WILL PAY FOR HARMING HER!' Kora heard a magnificent roar from beyond the grassy knoll she stood upon and it spurred her into action. Merlin stood before five people, none of which she recognised but feared instantly.
One of the figures laughed contemptuously and sent a fireball his way, which he only just managed to shield himself from.
'You are weak Emrys – close to death. You are no threat to us!' A blonde woman cried.
The wind whipped Merlin's raven mop and his face was red with fury.
'You underestimate my strength, Morgause – you also seem to forget that I am the last Dragonlord!' He threw his head back into the sky and the strength and power of the words he cried sent her stumbling back.
' O drakon, e male so ftengometta tesd'hup'anankes!'
Kora caught a flash of movement as one of the brunettes approached Merlin, her sword drawn and her face pulled into a scowl.
'Merlin!' she shrieked, and he turned to her – his eyes widening. 'WAKE UP!' Kora cried, chanting quickly as the ragged woman got closer. In a flurry of grey mist, she disappeared for a moment before reconstituting herself before Merlin.
The sword entered her swiftly and she gasped as blood splattered her lips. The pain was intense – worse than anything she had ever felt before. Merlin swallowed heavily and holding her arms lowered her to the grass.
'How...you were unconscious...'
Kora whimpered as Merlin pressed his hand to the hole in her belly. In the background, dragon fire engulfed the five magicians.
'That...Kora is the figment of your dream...I am here, I lie next to you in your bed – sharing your visions.' She gasped, feeling the spell wane.
Tears spilled from Merlin's eyes as she continued. 'I had to take the sword...you are too weak, you would surely die,'
'What do you mean, this is just a dream! Nothing can happen in a dream!' He cried, cradling her against him.
'This is an enchantment that connects our dream-selves to our physical bodies...what happens in the dream happens to us, which is why I panicked...'
'I need to wake up, Kora...you need to stay with me ok? I can't lose you – you...gods above...' his breath hitched and he buried his face into her crimson and raven locks.
'I'm so mad at you right now,' Merlin sobbed into her hair.
Kora chuckled and entwined their fingers, revelling in the warmth he blanketed her in.
'You can be mad all you want Emrys, but at least you'll be alive to be angry,' she rasped, her eyes slipping shut. Fingers tapped her face frantically. 'Kora? Come on – open your eyes.'
She did reluctantly.
'I'm not alive without you, Kora,' he whispered.
The dark dreamscape began to dissolve – the rain eased and Kora smiled despite the burning agony in her gut. 'The spell is wearing off...it's time to wake up...'
Merlin's eyes snapped open, his heart racing in fear – hoping that it was just a horrible nightmare or his mind playing tricks on him, but he turned to the woman lying next to him and his eyes widened in horror. Blood was seeping from the hole in her belly at an alarming rate and she was peering at him through pain glazed eyes. She gave him a tremulous smile before the mask slipped and her face contorted in pain. Merlin scrambled to his hands and knees, scrunching up the blanket and pressing it against the wound.
'ARTHUR!' he hollered frantically. Her eyes slipped shut and her breath stuttered.
The door slammed open and seeing the bloody scene before him, he rushed to the bed.
'Stay calm Merlin!' Arthur soothed, his lips pursed as he pressed his hand over Merlin's.
'I have to heal her...' he muttered thickly.
'Do you have the strength?'
He didn't care if it killed him, he would save her.
Because he loved her.
'Licsar ge staðol nu!'
And that's where I leave it for now – stay tuned :P