Disclaimer I own nothing
Sorry for the long wait real life has sucked me in. To seek your forgiveness this is a long chapter and as
per votes the story is going to be dramatic not angst
Anywho here we go
Onwards
The moonlit clearing was still as mother and son stood face to face surrounded by their friends they had
their goodbye last night unknown to the rest of the group so something had to be said.
"Hello mother you look well."
"Oh my baby I missed your eyes."
"ummmmm what?"
"The first time you opened your eyes I was bewitched I had never seen such multicolored blue like yours.
They shifted to every spectrum of light from almost clear to dark and stormy depending on your mood. I
always could tell what you were thinking or feeling just by looking at your eyes. The foggy misty light
blue that they are now is what I always thought as mine. Whenever you looked at me like I was the only
person in the universe your eyes would be just like they are now, misty blue, mine. Ease a mothers worry,
please tell me that wherever you are now that your happy that is all I have ever wished for you."
"Yes mum I am happy and at peace I don't have to hide anymore its very peaceful, I'm always watching
over you we will see each other again, I love you mother. Well? Are you all just going to sit there you
lazy sods I assumed you all missed me."
Snapped out of the daze that fell over the group they all looked at each other to determine who was next.
By some unspoken agreement Gwen stood up and walked into the center of the dome replacing Hunith
standing a few inches from her best friend. He looked just as she remembered right down to the cheeky
grin that lit up every room he ever entered but at the same time transparent he gave her a low bow.
"Good evening my queen."
"No. Don't you dare do that, not you. I never noticed before but your mothers right your eyes do change
with your mood
"Well I never noticed so that makes two of us. Gwen I want to apologize I did not ever want to burden
you with my death, for years I've tried my hardest to protect you from things like that. You need to know
that our friendship was very dear to me. I will forever cherish our days of being servants for the royal
household together, running through the halls, competing to see who could finish their chores first."
"And I always won."
"Hey, thats only because the prat gave me double the amount then everyone else but look at us now, your
queen."
"And your dead."
"Don't think about it like that, its more like my life is complete I did everything that was required of me
and now I can rest. As much as I didn't want to leave you all it needed to happen If I had to do it over I
would gladly, our prat will always be worth it."
"I know you would, you wouldn't be you if you didn't I just miss you so much."
"You can miss me all you want but please all I want is you happy. You need to let me go, remember me
and our friendship hold it close to your heart but move on with your life there is so much more awating
you."
"I'll try my best, Merlin I love you and always will.
"And I you but behave, I can hear the prat frowning from over here for that comment. Oh, I know! You
should tell him about our kiss"
"Merlin! You are the utter limit, goodbye my friend."
"Goodbye Gwen."
As she retreated back to her spot on the ground a large long figure filled the void. Percival just stood
there looking at him like he could no comprehend what his eyes were telling him.
"It's okay Percy, I know its strange but its all real, I am real it is good to see you."
"Merlin...I am so sorry I let you down I broke my word I never deserved your friendship or your
forgiveness I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you I will not fail you again."
"Oh Percival you in no way failed you were a wonderful friend and sounding board our late night
conversations on watches helped me more then you will ever know. In you I found someone truly willing
to listen without judgements or unwanted advice, I could always count on you how can you think you
failed dear knight?"
"But I swore to Lancelot that I would protect you in his stead, that I would do my best to be the friend he
was and watch out for you. He told me stories when we traveled together about you and how special and
wonderful you were. He told me you needed to be looked after because you were always too busy looking
after others and when he died I tried my best to do just that but your dead, he is dead, and I'm useless."
"You are in no way useless! You are a knight of Camelot, one of the most elite fighting forces in the
world but more then that your a hero, you have saved countless lives and are one of the kindest, gentlest
humans I have ever known. Yes you have lost people everyone here has lost someone but you don't let
the dead define you, instead honor their lives, their memories, by living your life to the fullest. Lance
would be proud of you and I promise he in no way thinks you failed, all around you are chances for
happiness you just have to open your heart and mind to them. You are surrounded by people who love
you each in their own way that alone is worth living for."
Taking a step forward into the knights personal space Merlin lowered his voice and spoke softly into his
ear.
"But if you feel the need to protect someone I have a task for you. Do you think I never noticed the way
your eyes follow him? Or the small frown that you make when he drinks too much. You love him
Percival and if death has taught me anything its life is too short for fear. He is broken and needs someone
to love him for him and not make him change, you need to protect him from his sorrow. You want to
repay me someway? This is how. Love him, mend his heart, his preferences are not as he pretends if the
many propositions I received indicated anything, goodbye, be safe and happy."
******************************birthright******************************************
Arthur observed the projection of his friend as he interacted with everyone softly shaking his head in
amazement as Gaius took his turn. The use of half truths and hidden meanings were impressive to watch
they gave nothing away as they said their fake goodbye in front of a watching audience but he realized
they both had the last 10 years as practice. Looking back over that past decade he could only recall a few
times he had caught Merlin in a lie. The man always destracted him or danced around the truth and the
old man was no better, using his years and knowledge as a shield to hid behind never giving his father a
direct answer. Were all magic users this sneeky? 'Oh course they are you prat they have to be or they die!'
responded the little voice in his head that echoed his soulmate. He knew that but now magic was legal
and they were still doing it. Emrys, Gaius, Hunith and bloody hell even himself are hiding behind half
truths about Merlins death. Then it hit him like a stampede of horses and the last of his anger fled, Merlin
never lied to decieve or even to hide for the most part, all his half truths were to protect him just like
Emrys was doing now to protect his friends from broken hearts and regrets. The king smiled and relaxed
onto the large rock he was leaning on, everything finally made sense.
*************************************birthright***********************************
He turned his back on his uncle and walked towards Leon where he hovered around his body like a wolf
around his mate. How could Merlin have been so blind not to see the love practicality bursting out of the
soulful brown eyes? All those years being so focused on the prat and Morgana and Freya he never once
stopped and looked at the man who was always there. He was just happy they had their second chance
now Merlin steeled himself for the conversation.
Hello Leon your looking well.
The taller man let go of Emrys' hand and stood face to face with his unrequited love his eyes took in
every inch as if trying to commit it to memory. Merlin was just as beautiful as he remembered so strong
and confident in his own skin, so powerful and completly in control. Leon ached to reach out and cup the
elven face but knew he could grasp only smoke.
"Merlin...I..."
"Shhhh Leon its alright I know now and I am so sorry I never noticed. I was an obsessed fool so focused
on keeping Arthur safe that I was blind to everyone else, out of everyone you would have been the one
who understood my zeal. You should know that if I had lived I would have been honored with your love
but alas time and fate had other plans. I do care for you Leon, deeply, and I'm sure had we been given the
chance love would have followed but none of that matters anymore you have found someone and I
couldn't be happier for you both, I approve even if she is my older sister. All I ask is you love her with
everything you have she deserves someone who understands her and will protect her from herself and I
can think of no one better for the task then you."
"No! It's not right! she isn't you! I'm sorry, so sorry Merlin I tried I really did. I love her but its wrong!
When I first saw her do you know what I thought? I thought it was you playing a trick but then she spoke
and gave her name and I looked into her dark eyes and my heart dropped she wasn't you. When I found
out she was your sister I was torn, sure I was attracted to her but was being related to you the reason I
love her? You and her are so similar you have the same power the same goals the same way of viewing
the world and I find myself wondering if its fair loving her just because she is a replacement for you."
"Leon your wrong, you do love her I can see it in everything you do. It might have started out as my
replacement but as much as were similar we are also very very different and the differences between us
you love. She is a very powerful, independent strong woman and yet around you she can be weak, needy
and submissive. She loves you and I will bet she knows about your feelings for me and even better she
accepted those feelings. You have a second chance Leon, don't toss it away out of guilt the love you have
for me...give it to her and the love you have for her... let it grow and when the time comes those will
merge."
"I can't! I miss you so much. I wake up at night crying, staring at my hands I can still see the blood, your
blood, your death haunts me Merlin. I remember every moment I held you in my arms limp and bleeding
as I carried you to the tower your cold skin, your blue lips, the wrinkles of pain surrounding your sky
blue eyes, every moment is forged into my soul Merlin. Make it go away everytime I close my eyes its all
I see and I can't..I just.."
"Oh Leon, I might have a way to help but its going to be risky."
"Please Merlin please I can't move on, I can't have my only memory of holding you haunt me like this."
"Very well, could you come over here please
"Merlin my boy whats going on?"
"Gaius I need you to look after Emrys for me, keep her upright and facing the fire or the link will be
broken."
" I will what are you planing?"
Without an answer he reached out and touched his vessel magic zinged at the reconnecting and tried to
pull him back into his body he shut his incorporeal eyes and drew his magic out of his body and into his
soul.
*********************************birthright***************************************
Panic filled the night as Merlin actually touched Emrys and the effect it had. Her shoulders slumped and
turned inwards, dark circles formed around her eyes standing out sharply on her whiter by the moment skin.
She started shivering and her mouth turned down into a frown as if she was in pain it looked like she was
ageing rapidly or dieing quickly unsurprisingly Arthur was the first to attempt to intervene.
"Gaius stop him! What's going on?"
"Sire please, don't touch either of them just everyone step back and I will explain. Merlin is taking energy
from Emrys temporary but its dangerous because she hasn't much energy to spare. I'll explain it this way,
think of Emrys as a large candle now casting the dome lit the candle, summoning Merlin lit the candle at
the other end so she is being drained 2 ways at once. Now normally she can handle that but now Merlin is
also using her energy in a third way and it like holding the double lit candle above a fire pit."
"So she is using too much power at once, is it killing her?"
"Its possable but Metlin should be able to finish before it gets to the point where she has to borrow from
the weave. Merlin did that once before to save Arthur and in return the weave demanded his death."
" Stop them for gods sake!"
As Percival moved to pull on Merlins hand he released her arm and took a step back eyes still closed
glowing faintly he opened his eyes and immediately found Gaius.
How is she? Did I take too much?"
"Her pulse is weak and thredy and breathing is slow but shes holding on, thst was a very big risk you
took."
"I know but she can handle it, they need this."
Merlin took two steps towards Leon, pulled him into his arms and kissed him with all the focus he could
they broke apart a few minutes later, foreheads pressed together breathing the same air.
"That...but...your alive?"
"No Leon I'm not I just made myself whole for a few minutes so I could give you one last memory to
wash away the old one of my death, it's time to move on my friend your future is very bright indeed how
do you feel now?"
"I'm...I guess im happy I will keep this moment with me always but I must confess as much as I enjoyed that..."
"It wasn't right, it wasn't her. You see my friend you may have once loved me but your heart belongs to
her now. You should go sit with her and take over for Gaius hes too old to be holding someone up."
"I heard that you cheeky bugger."
"You know I love you ya old goat, well I guess now that im physical I should really do this."
***********************************birthright*************************************
A hug would have been nice, a arm tossed around his shoulders welcome, but looking up from the ground
bleeding from the nose from the surprize punch was the last thing he was expecting.
"Merrrrlin what the hell was that for?"
"That you prat, was a long time coming. I always wanted to do that for years but if you need a resent
reason I have one word for you 'banquet'."
Arthur dropped his eyes as he remembered the night he almost raped his best friends sister... oh god! Who
is really Merlin! he almost raped Merlin!"
"I...I"
"Your just lucky I'm a very understanding person you prat, you are not your father and if you ever
become him in any way I will haunt you ass do we understand each other?"
"Yes yes I understand im sorry it won't happen again."
"It better not, now go see my mother I think I might have broken you nose."
"You think? just take care of yourself alright idiot?."
"I will prat, take care of my mother I already know Emrys will look after you."
With only one goodbye left he turned around to find his strength. Gwaine was sitting crossed legged,
head down, his long brown hair hiding his face. Undaunted Merlin walked over and crouched down
beside his friend then drew him into a hug.
"Your not real, I'm drunk and your a figment of my mind, your not real, your not real."
"Wrong old friend im really here, you would see that if you stopped hiding behind your hair."
"But your dead, I saw you die, I buried your body, your dead, your not really here."
"Magic is a wonderful thing my dear strength, now you must stop this its been months."
"Stop?! by the gods man your dead! You just up and left me, you gave me purpose your my very best
friend and you expect me to stop missing you?"
"No Gwaine I don't expect that, you can and should miss me but your stuck in a rut its time for you to
move on maybe even settle down."
"How can I? without you I'm just a drunken slut."
"No your not remember Gertti? You are the physical embodiment of strength, you have a purpose your
devotion to the coin, the third edge that kept everything together. Courage still needs you your task is not
yet done. Your surrounded by friends you just have to let them in I know that idea scares you but your
safe now. You don't need to hide anymore just trust them as you trusted me and everything will work out.
I know you better then you know yoursrlf my friend and im telling you your strong enough to do
this, happiness its closer then you think."
His form wavered and the glow started to flicker
"I guess that means Emrys it at her limit goodbye everyone remember me."
With those words his from shimmered and vanished and moments later Emrys gasped and fell
unconscious into Leons arms.
*************************birthright*******************************************
Unseen by everyone he could only watch from outside the dome as the kings inner circle preformed the
summoning. He had followed the group seeing his chance for revenge but was once again denied by the
girl that took his job, no matter there will be other chances. The watching shadow slinked away and made
his was back into the city unnoticed by bending moonlight around himself.
Done sorry again for the lateness my updates will be slower but I will never abandoned this I hope the
length made up for it more plot next.
Thanks for reading
Stay tooned