Merthur - Love in the Time of War

Chapter 19 - Relief

Arthur's POV

"Are you alright Merlin?" I ask, my brows knit together in worry, "you suddenly stopped."

Merlin turns and flashes me a smile but I can tell something's wrong. The gesture lacks its usual joy. I can see the strain in his eyes to keep the smile plastered to his face. "Sorry, just a slip of the tongue. I'll get it right next time," Merlin reassures me.

He turns back to the book in his hands. I can see the slight tremble as he grips the edges. His knuckles turn white from his ever tightening hold. I lean down and stare into his blue irises. The pupils are blown wide. I can tell he's contemplating a decision in his head. His expression keeps changing with every thought that passes through his head.

I gently reach a hand up to clasp his shoulder. I feel him jump under me at the sudden contact. He turns to stare at me. A weary expression on his face. "If you don't want to go through with this I can always find somebody else," I say, though I highly doubt any other sorcerer would even consider doing this. Merlin is my only hope but I don't tell him that. I can't force him to do this.

He shakes his head. "No, I can do it. I just need some time."

I, reluctantly, remove my hand from his shoulder. I take a step back in order to give him some space. I hear him take a deep breath before his gaze hardens. I see the determined set of his jaw. Whatever decision he was contemplating, it seems he's made his choice.

He lifts a hand again, letting it hover over my fathers wound. He fixes his gaze down onto the words in the book and begins to chant. The foreign words fill the air, circling around and around the vast emptiness, filling the room with its power. Despite never having encountered magic much in my lifetime I can tell Merlin is powerful. With each utter of a word I can feel power thrum to life around me. A shiver runs through my spine as I feel a gentle brush of magic against my skin. The room hums with energy.

Soon, the words disappear, leaving the room in an empty silence. Merlin's eyes shine gold. A brilliant colour when it's not in the eyes of my enemies. As fast as the colour had appeared, it fades away. My fathers breathing seems to even out. His face, that had been contorted in pain through the whole process, has seemed to finally settle

Merlin drops his hand down to his side and turns to face me with a smile. "The King should wake in a few days time. Come find me if he still isn't awake by the end of the week," he explains.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Tears start to prickle in the back of my eyes but I force them back. Relief floods through me like a tidal wave at the sight of the steady rise and fall of my fathers chest. I can feel a large weight being lifted off my shoulders. My father is alive. He is alive and well. I'm tempted to throw myself on Merlin and give him a long kiss but decide this is probably not the place. Instead, I give Merlin a wide smile, hoping that he can see the genuine happiness starting to make its way into my system. "Thank you Merlin," I say, "thank you, on behalf of all of Camelot."

"It was my pleasure."

"Are you going to stay for the night?"

"No, I need to head back. I don't wish to worry my parents again, especially after disappearing just two days ago."

I furrow my brows with worry. "Are you sure you should be heading out into the forest at night though? You could get hurt."

"I'll be fine Arthur. Really."

"I doubt you'll make it home before it gets dark. Can't you," I wave my hand in the air, "magic a message to your parents or something?"

Merlin glances out the window. The sun has all but disappeared on the horizon, being replaced by the white sphere of the moon instead. A purple glow bathes the sky as the last bit of light leaves the world till tomorrow. I hear him sigh before turning back to face me. "I guess you're right. I'll send them a message then get a room at an inn in the lower town for the night."