Merlins father dies. Merlin is overwhelmed and hides to cry. Arthur finds him and comforts him.
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They had just gotten back to the castle and Arthur was worried for merlin. After Balindor died merlin was quiet.
Quieter then Arthur had ever seen the boy so he was worried when he continued to not say anything all the way back to the kingdom.
Arthur's worries only got worse as merlin immediately leaves once they get back. Arthur tried to follow him right away but he had to check in with his men first.
When he finally does manage to get time it's been a good few hours so Arthur assumed he would be in his room
However when he is on the way he hears crying from a closet. He opened it to find his servent in a ball with his knees to his chest crying into his hand
"No man is worth your tears merlin you know that" Arthur says reaching his hand out.
Arthur hadn't thought before he had pulled the man out and into his arms carrying him bride style to Arthur's room
Here they speak about all that happened and after Arthur can't help but feel guilty for his own words that haunted his brain now
No man is worth your tears...
But this man had deserved it or at least merlin deserved to feel like this. He held merlin tighter to his chest.
"I have magic and now I'm the last dragon lord, nobody to teach me" he said and Arthur nodded
"I know" he said and gulped because he had known
Known for a long time that merlin was different. That he had some sort of secret to hide. A reason to fear for his life and if he was honest with himself he knew he had magic all along.
"You used it our first time meeting when I tried to kill you" he said laughing when merlin laughed.
"I will keep you safe and I know you'll do the same for me" he said softly into his hair not sure if he wanted him to hear
He was greatful when he nodded and hugged tighter. They both had lost their parents or at least one of them. Arthur had never known his mother but seeing her ghost and then losing it was hard on him so he can barely imagine what it was like for merlin to finally meet his father only to lose him not even a day later.
Later that day they would make a proper grave for the man where he had planted flowers and merlin makes them grow
After that he helps him write a letter to his mother to tell her the news which merlin cried much more when doing.
Arthur has to write the last of it as merlin couldn't do it anymore. He sent it out with leon telling him to bring some flowers with him for the women.
He spent the rest of the day taking care of the poor merlin who was sad. He talked to merlin about his magic and different things that barely connected to the next thing but it was better than being sad about the situation.
