Merlin One-Shots

Mysterious Illness

MERLIN'S POV:
I ran through the forest, William almost on my heels. I ran under a branch and as Will ran behind me, the branch fell down onto his head.
"Hey, no fair!" he yelled out to me, rubbing his forehead where it was already bruising.
"You never said no magic!"
"Still not fair!"
I laughed at him and continued running. He slowly caught up to me, he always was the faster runner, and pushed me to the ground. I tried to scramble up, but Will put one foot lightly on my chest, signifying victory!
"Ha, I won! And I didn't cheat like you, Merlin!"
"It wasn't cheating! The rules didn't say I couldn't use magic!"
We continued on like this, arguing and chasing each other through the forest, until the sun started to disappear.
"We should be getting back, Will!" I shouted, panting. He'd ran ahead and I was out of breath.
"Come on, one more race? Please, Merls?"
"Sure, first to my house!" I started running back, having the advantage by being closer to town. Will stormed his way back, desperate to beat me. We ran for a few minutes before I fell down on my knees, struggling for air. Will stopped and went straight to my side.
"Are you alright, Merlin? I'm sorry if..."
"No, I'm... fine... just out of... breath," I manage to say back.
"It's too dark, and I think we're lost... I'll try to make a fire."
"Will, I can..."
"What? You need to rest, Merlin, not use magic!"
"At least... let me send s-something, so our parents know we're safe?"
"Fine, but that's it!"
I thought for a second whilst Will got up to collect firewood. I decided on two little butterflies, bright blue. I conjured them and sent them to Ealdor, whichever way it was. I noted they flew to the west, toward where the sun was sinking fast. Will came back after a few minutes and set up the fire. Even with the added warmth, the night was cold, and we ended up snuggled together under the stars.

HUNITH'S POV:
I was starting to get worried, Merlin and William haven't arrived back and it was sunset. Merlin had promise they'd be back now. I'm about to go ask about them when I see two blue lights coming out of the forest. I rush outside, hoping it's a sign from them. Turns out I was right. As I walked closer, I recognise the butterflies that usually surround me. I take hold of them, treasuring them like I would the boys. But, does this mean that they're alright? Just two ten-year-old kids, lost in a forest. I hear footsteps behind me, and see Matthew strolling down to meet me.
"Are you alright, Hunith?" he asks me, worry clear in his voice.
"It's just, Will and Merlin haven't arrived back... and I'm pretty sure Merlin sent these," I explain, showing him the butterflies cupped in my hands.
"Do you think something is wrong? Should we send out a few people for a search party?"
"No, who would even want to search for them! Apart from that, Will is a strong boy, and Merlin can protect them. He'd send something else if any harm came to them, I'm sure."
"Well, I'll be heading to bed, if you don't mind..."
"Yes, goodnight Matthew."
"Night, Hunith."
Matthew walks back to the village, bidding the others goodnight as he walks past. After a while, I decide I should be getting some rest too.
I lay down on the straw bedding, next to where Merlin would be. I eventually fall into a restless sleep, hoping my little bird is alright.

WILLIAM'S POV:
Merlin's been sleeping for a while now, I've been up since sunrise. I want to wake him, get going, but I don't want to disturb him. Honestly, I'm not even sure he's alright! I'm scared, for Merlin. I'm still lying next to him, the morning chill keeping me from moving, as well as Merlin's body curled onto mine. I decide to get up, trying not to move too suddenly. It goes alright, Merlin's known for being a deep sleeper! We still have no idea where we are, I hope the message Merlin sent arrived to Ealdor... Since it'll probably be a while before Merlin awakes, I climb a tree near us to gather our surroundings. The trip up the trunk gave me time to think. What happens if we can't find our way back home? What will my father do? Hunith? But one thought wouldn't seize, what happens if we becomes I? At about two-thirds up, I realise that I can't find any more handholds. I look out to what I can see, and I spot a few distant houses to the west, houses I recognise all too well. Before I can see any more, I hear something crack. It turns out it was the branch I was on. I cry out, then fall... and fall... I hadn't noticed how far I'd actually gone up. I close my eyes, waiting for the impact.

MERLIN'S POV:
I wake to the sound of a scream. I jolt up, ignoring the pain in my head. I look everywhere I can, left, right, then up. I see a figure falling down, so instinctively my eyes flash gold, burning like a fire. The figure stops falling just before they hit the ground. I see Will's scared face, eyes closed in fear. I let him drift down onto the dirt. He opens his eyes, slowly, and instantly sees me. He smiles from ear to ear and I give out a slight laugh.
"Morning, Will!"
"How are you feeling?" he cares more about me than himself! But that's when I realise how much my head is pounding.
"Not so good, now..." Will scrambles up and joins me. He puts my arm around his shoulders and supports me as we start our trek west to Ealdor. My headache doesn't stop, it gets worse. A few minutes walking, my vision starts to blur.
"Will..."
"What is it, Merlin? Merlin!" He keeps yelling, but his voice fades out.

WILLIAM'S POV:
I feel Merlin's weight fall onto me, and he murmurs my name.
"What is it, Merlin?" I ask him, worried that something bad is going on. He doesn't reply, so I keep trying to reach him. "Merlin!" He collapses and I catch him. I shake his shoulders, desperate for him to shove me away or tell me to stop. Even if he used magic to fling me away, just, anything. I can feel his ragged breath on my face, as I look into where his icy blue irises would be staring back. "Merlin, please..." No response. I'm the stronger one of us, Father wants me to become a knight like him one day, so I pick Merlin up. He seems so much frailer than I remember, and lighter. My mind clouds with ideas of why, but I push them away. I can ask him later, he knows he can trust me. I walk through the forest, Merlin limp in my arms, back to Ealdor.

MATTHEW'S POV:
They are just two children! How does Hunith think they'd be fine out here! I'd gone against her wishes, leaving at first light, alone, to search for the boys. So far, I've seen nothing, not even a broken branch, which is very peculiar. Merlin and William have never tried to sneak around in the forest before... unless I went the wrong way! I swear they headed out this way, I'm sure of it! They would've definitely come back by now, unless something is wrong! I hear a rustle coming from my distant left.
"Hello?" I call out, and I don't get a reply. I walk close towards where the sound was, and see what I hoped I wouldn't. Merlin was bundled up in Will's arms, sweating and, I think, unconscious.
"Matthew! Help, please!"
"What happened?"
"He collapsed, last night as well. I don't know why..."
"Hey, William, it's going to be alright. We're not too far from Ealdor." I take Merlin from the exhausted Will and we start our trek back home.

"Matthew! Will!" Hunith runs up to us from her home. Her gaze then goes straight to her son cradled in my arms. She tried to hide it, but tears were pricking her eyes.
"I don't know what happened..." William mumbled as we rushed into Hunith's house. She cleared the table and got straight to work. She searched through the bottles and herbs on the shelves, I don't know what she chose out. She made a potion of some sort, and beckoned for me to help her. I tilted Merlin's head back and tried to get him to swallow. The mixture went down his throat, and then it was silent.
"Will he be alright?" William asked, and from the sound, he was holding back tears.
"That's all I can do for him right now. Come here, Will..." She pulled him into a tight embrace. I stood there, just next to the unconscious boy. I could sense from the others that I wasn't wanted there, so I bid them goodbye.

HUNITH'S POV:
Matthew leaves us, the door closing in the corner of my eye. I pull away from William, and bend down to wipe the tears from his eyes.
"Hey, it's going to be alright. We'll find out what happened, and he'll be fine." Honestly, I'm trying to convince myself, not only Will.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hey everyone! I've sorta neglected this book, but I will post more soon. If you want this continued, please vote or comment on this chapter and I'll try to give you guys a part 2. Sorry I've been so slow, but I'll make it up to you, promise.
xo