a/n i'm not sorry for this at all :)
Lancelot stood behind Merlin, watching as his friend bargained with the witch. Around them, their friends lay unconscious, a handy little spell of Merlin's, knocking them out instantly.
Before him, though, stood the real danger.
The veil whispered and shuddered, and even without magic, Lancelot felt chills run down his spine.
There was something unnatural about the tear, its shreds looking like cloth in the wind, except there was no wind.
Lancelot looked back over to Merlin, but it was like he was underwater, the voices drowned out by the voices beckoning him from beyond the veil.
They scared him, but part of him knew what he had to do. Part of him also knew that he couldn't do it.
What would become of Merlin?
Yes, Gaius knew of his ward's magic, but that was not the same. Lancelot liked to think that his presence the last year had helped Merlin, had supported the man in ways Gaius couldn't. Lancelot pushed where Gaius shied away. Lancelot wanted to learn of Merlin's magic, wanted to help Merlin to explore it, Gaius had only seemed to want to impress on them the importance of keeping it a secret.
How many times had Lancelot and Merlin secreted themselves away in the forest on their days off, Lancelot half keeping watch for passersby, half watching his friend perform small tricks, little feats of wonder.
And the wonder on Merlin's face was always worth it, the happiness which shone through when he was truly alone and allowed to be free. A look which slowly disappeared as they returned back to Camelot.
If Lancelot were to go, were to sacrifice himself for his friend, would Merlin lose that? Would he lose that support which Lancelot was so happy to give?
Would Merlin spend his days listening to Gaius, squandering his happiness for a future which may not come to fruition?
And yet, if Lancelot let Merlin sacrifice himself now how friend would never get to see that day. Would never get to perform his magic, to use it openly and freely, without fear or judgement from others.
Merlin would never get to share with their friends, with Arthur all that he had done for them and more.
His friend deserved that chance.
Merlin deserved that chance to live freely, to live with happiness in his heart.
So, Lancelot stepped forward, stepped towards that unnatural thing which both repulsed and pulled at him.
He turned to smile at Merlin one more time, his eyes meeting his friend's blue ones, and he thought back to that day, almost a year ago to another boy with blue eyes, one he couldn't save.
Lancelot would save this one though.
He would save Merlin.
Lancelot stepped through the veil.