The Storm

by Cordelia Rose

This storm is just like any other, except that everything Merlin touches becomes infected with a lilac dust, invisible to everyone in this dimension. For obvious reasons, nobody notices this dust, but they notice that the storm has been going for an unusually long time, and Merlin starts to realise that he feels...well...odd.

9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Warning/s: Last chapter :(

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

A/N: It's the last chapter already! Thank you to everyone who's posted reviews, followed and favourited - it really does mean the world. I really hope you enjoy this story as a whole, and that the ending isn't rubbish.

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On his journey back to the mortal realm, Merlin realised that he didn't ask how much time had passed since he had been gone. Had it been mere seconds, and he would be back in the early morning hours? Or could it have been the opposite, and days, even weeks had passed? And what had been happening to his corporeal form in that time?

He got his answers within seconds. He was jolted back into reality, and at once realised that he was lying down on a bed, with his eyes closed. Hesitant to what he would see, he opened them slowly, and was more relieved than he would admit to see the familiar ceiling of his bedroom.

"Merlin!" cried a joyous voice to his right, and he suddenly found himself engulfed in a hug.

"Arthur?" Merlin said, half pleased and half shocked. Pleased because he was back, and, well, it wasn't like Arthur displayed his love for Merlin every day of the week, and shocked because it wasn't like Arthur displayed his love for Merlin every day of the week.

"You idiot," the King breathed, sitting back in a chair that was placed close to Merlin's bed. "You've been in a coma for two weeks!"

"Oh," was all Merlin could think of to say. "Sorry."

"Don't do it again," Arthur warned. "Gwen was worried, and Gwaine wouldn't stop talking all through training for the past fortnight."

"You didn't care, then?"

"Course I didn't." Arthur sniffed. "Not at all."

"Next time I have to go help another world, I'll make sure to take less time," Merlin grumbled, then froze in shock. He meant to say that in his head, not out loud. Oh Gods, Arthur was sitting right there. What if this meant he would have to reveal everything now? What would –

"Gaius said you might have had some weird dreams," Arthur said dismissively. "Saving another world though? You're far too scrawny for that."

Merlin laughed, but in his head – and he made sure not to say it out loud this time – he thought to himself, If only you knew.