I'll Love You For A Thousand Years

Chapter 1

Playlist for this chapter: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4oqRgHZ9JDvhdafGtovqaB?si=557409ec541841d7

"I defeated the Saxons," Merlin started. Arthur looked at him, pain and confusion clear in his face as Merlin continued, "the dragon, and yet-" he shook his head gently, "and yet I knew it was Mordred that I must stop," Merlin's breath hitched. Arthur blinked and chuckled. He knew exactly where this was going, yet he wanted- no, needed Merlin to say it for himself. 

"The person who defeated them was the sorcerer," he said weakly. Tears started running down Merlin's cheek as he cried. He held Arthur's hand on his shoulder. 

"It was me," Merlin said. His breath wavered as he cried and sobbed.

"Don't be ridiculous, Merlin," Merlin stayed silent but still sobbing. "This is stupid wh-" he stopped. "Why would you say that?" Arthur still pretended. He needed Merlin to say the words. 

"I'm-" Merlin started as he sniffed. Arthur looked at him encouraging him to continue.

"I'm a sorcerer." Arthur's eyes widened. "I have magic." Arthur looked at him in silence. 

"And I use it for you, Arthur. Only for you"

"I know," Arthur smiled softly. Merlin stared in shock and sniffled. "Wh- what?"

"I've known for a while now," he continued. "What- How?"

"Well, you aren't exactly the best at keeping secrets Merlin," Merlin stared at him in shock.

"And you're not...mad?" Merlin asked sniffling slightly.

"I am mad Merlin, you kept that secret from me for so long. Did you not trust me enough?" Arthur said weakly. 

"I do trust you, it's just... I was about to tell you and then your father died and you hated magic because of it and I didn't want you to hate me." Arthur looked at him. 

"I would never hate you, Merlin. You're my best friend," Merlin started crying harder and hugged Arthur gently to not hurt him. Arthur hugged back. 

Arthur then fell asleep as Merlin sat beside him awake. He needed to keep watch since Morgana was still out there. 

The next day Gaius arrived. He told them the only way Arthur could be healed was with the Sidhe's help. They usually live on the lake of Avalon and that was at least a 3 days journey on a horse. 

"Well, I do know another way we can get there faster, but you're not gonna like it," he looked at Arthur and grimaced. Arthur sighed. "What is it?"

"Well- there's one more thing you don't know..." Merlin trailed off. The ground suddenly seems very interesting to him. 

"Just say it, Merlin," Merlin took a deep breath. "My father was a Dragonlord and he passed it on to me," he said in one breath. 

"That- was not what I was expecting," Arthur said in slight shock.

"So... Balinor was?" Arthur said expectantly. "Yes," 

"Ok, so how does that help?" Arthur said. "I can ask Kilgharrah- The Great Dragon to lift us there?" he said smiling nervously. 

Arthur contemplated his life decisions before agreeing. They soon found an empty dry land, big enough to summon the dragon. Merlin called the dragon and a huge, scaly, winged creature came flying down. 

"Kilgharrah, I would not have summoned you if there was any other choice," Merlin said. 

Minutes later they arrived at the lake. Merlin summoned the sidhe with the instructions the dragon gave him before Kilgharrah flew away. Arthur started to feel weak and fainted. Merlin panicked. 

"We cannot save your king," they said. Merlin scrunched his eyebrows.

"Why?!? I know you can!" tears threatened to fall from his now glossy eyes. "You have to,"

"Some are destined to fall, and we cannot change that, you of all people should know destinies can't be changed," They explained. Merlin broke down in tears. 

"What am I supposed to do?" he cried. "I can't lose him! He's my friend!" he sobbed. 

"Fear not, for Arthur is not just a king, he is the once and future king. When Albion's need is at its greatest, Arthur will rise again,"

Arthur slowly opened his eyes. He woke up at night to find Merlin sitting beside him near a fire.

"Merlin," he managed to croak out. Merlin snapped his head and held Arthur gently as he sat up. 

"Can they save me?" Arthur said. He was hopeful at least. Merlin looked at him and gave a sad smile. His expression explained everything. It took a few seconds before Arthur was holding a sobbing Merlin in his arms. 

"I want to spend my last days here," Merlin looked at him. "With my best friend," he said before reaching into his pocket. He handed Merlin a golden band with the Camelot crest carved on it. It was identical to the one Arthur was wearing on his right middle finger.

"I want you to keep this as a memory of me, so you will always have a piece of me with you wherever you go," Merlin cried harder as Arthur took his hand and slid the ring on his right middle finger, matching his. 

"Think of it as, a promise ring. One day Merlin, one day I will come back to you," Arthur said, tears falling down his cheeks. 

Arthur spent his last moments watching Merlin create butterflies, fireflies, flowers and many beautiful things with his magic. And yet he knew, his time has come. 

"Merlin, just hold me, please," he said in a sad tone. "I can't lose you, Arthur! You're my friend!" Merlin cried. 

"Merlin, I'm going to say something I've never said to you before," Arthur felt his eyes getting heavy. Merlin nodded slowly holding Arthur in his arms. Arthur reached weakly to cup Merlin's cheek and Merlin leaned to the touch. 

"I love you Merlin, and thank you," Arthur said before pulling Merlin close for a kiss. Merlin didn't get a chance to kiss back before Arthur drew his last breath. He died in Merlin's arms. And there was no place he would rather be. 

"I love you too Arthur, and I will wait. I will wait for as long as it takes for you to come back to me," Merlin kissed his now cold forehead and cried. 

Merlin put Arthur on a boat and pushed it away. He doesn't have the heart to burn it, as his body sailed on the Lake of Avalon, never to be found again. 

But he doesn't have to worry. Arthur is the once and future king. He just has to wait.

~~~

Merlin smiled softly at the memory. He sniffled softly as he looked at the lake. He saw buses and cars through his peripheral vision. 

"I have waited Arthur, and I have loved you for a thousand years. I will love you for a thousand more. However long it would take, for you to come back to me," Merlin wiped his tears.

"I have died every day waiting for you. Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years, I'll love you for a thousand more"

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1112 words

Merlin (BBC) will always have a place in my heart. It will never go away. But the fandom is dying nonetheless and I feel myself slipping away into another fandom. I will always love Merlin, but I am saying goodbye.

Thank you, for you have brought me into my current life. My life wouldn't be as it is now if it wasn't for you. 

Sincerely,

Sylfrx