the once and future two

fall then rise

ARTHUR'S P.O.V

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I've been sitting by Merlin's side for 3 days and he hasn't gotten better. if anything, he's gotten worse.

 "you have to go to a meeting sire" I heard Gaius say, "i cant leave Merlin" I say never looking away from his fragile frame. "i know you love him Arthur, but I don't think Merlin would want you to stop being in charge" I froze once he said he knows I love him. I turn to look at him, "you know?" I asked, my voice a whisper. Gaius simply nods, "and I accept you for it, but you must leave his side for a minute" he says, helping me from my chair and leading me out.

"right, but tell me if anything happens, al right?'' I say, the old man nods again, then closes the door.

I walk to the throne room to see everybody's faces where white with fear. "what's the matter?" I ask trying to regain my posture. "the dragons in the courtyard,'' sir Gwain says pointing to the window. I walk to the window and see that the dragon was just sitting there.

 I grab my sword and run out to the courtyard. "please do not hurt me Arthur pendragon"  I stop in my tracks, "why shouldn't I?" I ask, he looked sad -for a dragon- "i wish only to tell you something of great importance" he said, I nod slightly telling him to continue.

"Merlin, he has not survive his injuries for he has only taken his last breath very recently.'' my breath hitched in my throat. "what?" I managed to say ''the young warlock is dead.'' i shake my head not being able to comprehend what he just said. "but, Merlin will rise once again, but only when you need him most"

I stared up at the dragon. "what does that mean?" I ask with tears in my eyes, "i think you know exactly what I mean young king" he said, he sounded sad now. "why are you so sad?" I asked him, letting some of my tears fall. "because, the young warlock is my friend" he said before  flying away.

soon after the dragon left, i ran to my Merlin, hoping the dragon was wrong. I slammed the door open and ran over to where Gaius was hunched over.

"Merlin?" i asked, Gaius looked up at me, he had tears streaming down his face. ".........no......." i say, my voice a hoarse whisper. i walk to the other side of Merlin. that's when i let all my tears fall. i broke down right in front of Gaius. i was to sad that i didn't even notice the knights who came in.

"no, merlin" that's when i looked up to see Lancelot, Gwain, Percival, Elyan and Leon standing there. they all looked incredibly sad. especially Lancelot and Gwain, i guess Merlin was there best friend.

i stood up, not bothering to dry my tears, "we need to give him a proper funeral" i said, looking at them with a straight face. they all nodded, "but the knights wont like you having a funeral for a servant" sir Leon said, "then they don't have to come" i said, "invite the people who want to go," they all nodded and went about there business delivering the news of the funeral. i wouldn't make it happen until a few days have past.

"im sorry Gaius, i know how much he meant to you" i said, going back to my place beside Merlin. all Gaius could do was nod. "i hope you will attend the funeral" i said, walking away. i needed the walk. "wouldn't miss it for the world" he said, not taking his eyes off Merlin. i guess Merlin was the closet thing to a son Gaius ever had.

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i sat at the top of a cliff, looking out at the lake underneath me. this was the place i let all my tears and feelings out. i couldn't hold it in anymore, it was too hard. i sobbed until i my tears wouldn't fall. but i stayed at that cliff for a long time.

"Arthur?" i heard a voice say, i didn't turn around, i didn't care if i were to die, i would be with Merlin. the man sat down beside me, and i soon learnt that that man was Lancelot. he seemed broken, he had a tear stained face as well. i knew they were close friends, i just didn't know how close.

 "are you alright?" i asked him before he could ask me. "no, im not, Merlin wasn't just my friend, he was like a brother to me" he said staring at the lake. "ya, he was loved by many" i said, it was nice talking to someone who was as close to Merlin as anyone.

"i hope people come to the funeral" he said finally looking away from the lake. "im sure people will come," i said taking time to stare at his broken face. i would have liked to never see the day when i had to make a funeral for Merlin.

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DAY OF THE FUNERAL

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I walked down the throne room to my seat, but i did not sit down. Merlin's body was on a slab in front of me. it took all my strength to not cry at the sight of him. his body was paler then usual, and his bright happy eyes were now closed, he had no smile on his face, but a small frown placed in the same spot his mile should be.

i looked up at all the faces. all faces were sad and broken. lots of people have shown up to morn over Merlin. this just proves how many lives he has touched.

"today, we are here to talk of Merlin" i said, my voice loud in the room. "to many, Merlin was just a servant. but to many others, he was a friend, brother and savior.'' my words caused few people to cry silently.

"most of us never gave him the credit he deserved, he has saved the life of many of us, yet we still treated him like dirt" i was talking of the ways i treated him. some knights nodded when i said that.

"but as much as we called him a coward, he was the bravest person i-and many others- have ever met. and i would've like to say im sorry to him, but i was to late. the way he died was one of the most bravest ways a man can die." i said, it was true, i was told Emrys was the one to save us.

"he died by torture at Morgana's hands. he died protecting information, that if he had said a loud, we would all be dead. so we owe him our life's. but now it is too late, so we shall all say our words if one would like" i said, staring at the crowd of people, most had tears coming down there faces.

"i would like to say a few words" Lancelot said stepping forward. i nodded and took a step to the side. "Merlin was the most honest and loyal friend i have ever had" he said looking at the crowd. "in fact, he was like a little brother to me, and i would've protected him with my life, as would many of other knights" that's when he looked at Gwain. he nodded.

"he has saved my life more times then i can count. and i owe him everything" Lancelot said walking back towards Gwain. "thank you sir Lancelot" i said, walking back to my spot. "now, we shall take Merlin's body to the lake of Avalon, and there we shall sail him into the water, and if you would like to come, you can." i said. everybody in the room walked out, except the knights who would help me with merlin.

we carried his lifeless body to the lake. once there we put him in the boat. the boat was filled with lilacs, his favorite flower. Percival pushed Merlin's boat into the water, and an archer place an arrow straight into the boat. the boat caught fire. and that's when i knew he was really gone, and he was never coming back.

and that's when i died on the inside.

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A/N: Well that was that. the idea of Merlin dyeing just came to me when i was watching the episode with the deroka. but i hope you enjoyed that one, i promise that the next chapters will be............nicer............maybe.

see ya in the next chapter, -alison