Merlin One shots

Those who have fallen, shall rise again

So I got this idea while eating chocolate and yeah.

First, two horses went missing. It wasn't that big of a deal, most people just assumed they got spooked and broke out. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary so it was ignored. Nobody was really affected by it, anyway. Well, Merlin had to walk more during hunts but, he's just a servant so who cares.

Next, some of the marketplace vendors moved to a different town. Some people got angry as those who moved had usual low prices that most could afford, Merlin being among those people.

Later on, all of the taverns closed, the owners all claiming to have a better offer elsewhere. Many knights were upset and so were Merlin and Gaius, their main cover for Merlin's magical exploits lost to them.

Soon after, almost half of the royal staff quit, most talking about better opportunities elsewhere. With most of the staff gone, instead of rehiring people, Uther simply made larger workload distributed 'fairly' among the remaining staff. Merlin getting almost three times his usual workload.

Finally, about half of Gaius's herbs went missing, forcing the wise mentor to leave to go collect them all, leaving Merlin as the performing physician. Merlin rarely got an hour of sleep but as a bonus, he no longer had to participate in hunts and patrols as he was far too busy. George instead was happy to replace him, glad he could ' proudly serve the honorable knights and prince on their dangerous quests and provide them with proper food and rest'. Honestly, everyone hated George but Gwaine strangely got a kick out of him.

Merlin's eyes had gotten heavier then an elephant's and the bags under them were almost darker then the night sky. His skin looked almost grey from exhaustion, and the workload was a struggle.

Arthur had noticed. Anyone with eyes could see the toll Merlin's work was taking on him. Arthur tried lessening his workload but Merlin did everything even though Arthur told him not to. Finally, Arthur had enough.

"Merlin, you idiot! Are you trying to work yourself to death?" Arthur exclaimed, having enough of Merlin's apparent hatred of himself.

"What do you mean, Sire?" Merlin asked, baffled at what Arthur could mean.

"When was the last time you had some decent food?! Or more then an hour's rest?! You need to take care of yourself Merlin or you'll kill yourself!" Arthur yelled at the idiotic servant. He wasn't about to watch his friend waste away in front of him.

Merlin mumbled his response, realizing Arthur's point and was genuinely trying to remember the last time he ate more then an apple or had even at least an hour's sleep. He couldn't remember.

"I-I don't know. I mean, i-I've just been so busy. I have-haven't had time to even think about necessities..." Merlin stammered quietly, unlike his usual speech skills.

"That's what I'm saying, Merlin.You are going to a royal guest room and when we get there you are going to lay down and rest. I've talked to father and after listing your daily duties he agreed to let you have a week of paid vacation, He was especially on board when I pointed out that having tired and overworked servants won't benefit us in a battle, as we never seem to know when one comes up. When you wake up, there'll be some food waiting for you. George will be helping me this week, Gwen and Emily agreed to be partnering  physicians, and Fred, Phillip, Anne, Katherine and William agreed to spilt all of your duties among themselves. You can rest without worrying, okay?" Arthur explained and slowly took Merlin to the room since Merlin was basically falling asleep on his feet.

The next day, Merlin simply rested and had no idea what was happening outside of his room. At the worst possible time, Morgana finally attacked and killed everyone, including Gaius and Arthur and all the knights, but she lost almost all of her army as well. Once she had her goal achieved, she realized she needed to do one more thing; find Merlin. Find him and make him pay for his crime against her.

The High Preistess sent what was left of her men to search the castle while she waited on the throne. Her goons managed to find the sickly Merlin and threw him in front of her.

"Hello again, Merlin," she smiled, the gesture empty and hollow, "Your friends are dead. I hope you know that. I've finally got what I wanted. So I ask you: how are you going to try and take that away from me this time?" Morgana asked Merlin who, despite his ill health, looked at her with such hatred and pity it twisted her insides.

"I am sorry for what you have become, Morgana. You are so blinded by your hatred you can't see that Camelot is still not yours." Merlin spat viscously then fell into a violent coughing fit, blood spattering the floor.

Even Morgana tried not to gag at the sight.

"Albionis soilders cecidit sors est huius temporis ad tollendum magicam de terra nostra. Surge et ferte simul pro patria"  Merlin chanted, his eyes bright gold with power.

Surges of magic went through the room. They were so...pure. Pure was the only true word to describe it. It was so powerful it struck fear into the hearts of the invaders.

After Merlin finished chanting, all of sudden, the ground shook. Tapestries fell off the walls, candles fell over, windows shattered, soliders ran in fear.

In moments of time that felt like ages, Arthur and the knights of the round table stood before Morgana, their swords pointed at her and their bodies emitting a white glow. Gaius, Gwen, Freya and Balinor stood next to Merlin's bleeding form, still giving off the magical force.

Morgana watched in fear as Arthur's sword flew into her abdomen before she could even blink. The witch gasped for breath, and in her last moments of life, she cast a curse.

"beatitudine mea nunquam hostes obvios potestas super terram et erit perpetuo condemended avertet illud."

With her curse in place, the high preistess took her final breath and her eyes closed before falling to the floor. Her peaceful expression was marred only by the remnants of a smirk still etched into her features, her final act still unknown.

Gaius looked at Merlin, a son to him, a friend to Gwen, a brother to Arthur and everything to Freya. They had won the battle but had lost the war.