All the Light I Cannot See

Eight

A man and a woman, young and sorrowful, stood before Arthur. He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a woman stepping through him.

What the fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkk just happened?

"Nimueh," said the man, his still-youthful face lined with scars and pain. "You must help."

That voice was familiar, but Arthur couldn't place it. And there was something about the man's features, something that seemed so obvious, but so elusive at the same time.

The woman who had approached shook her head, worrying her draping sleeve with anxious hands. "You don't know what you're asking, Uther Pendragon."

Again, Arthur was whisked away, his mind reeling, running at the speed of light.

--

This next vision was just a flash, a boat adrift at sea, a hail of flaming arrows streaking after it like the meteor shower up above, illuminating the silhouette of a broken man, holding a carefully wrapped bundle in his arms like it was the only thing left worth anything.

--

A smile this time, an arrogant one that gleamed at him through a silver-plated mirror, making the chain-link armour clinging to him shine. He felt the tightening of straps against his body, and, turning his head, saw a shock of brown hair paired with brilliant blue eyes. Noticing Arthur's gaze, the manservant grinned and pulled the straps tighter.

"I really do need to add a hole to that belt, don't I?"

And, for some reason, Arthur laughed, even though he wasn't sure he understood the joke.

--

It was so cold. 

It seeped into his bones, bringing with it a bitter peace.

"All your magic, Merlin, can't save my life." 

The words tripped off his tongue easily, because Arthur knew it was true. They were close, but not close enough. They would never make it to the fountain without the horses.

"I can," Merlin said, his eyes steely and determined as he tried to lift Arthur to his feet. "I'm not going to lose you."

There was a jolt deep within him, and Arthur cried out in pain, feeling the burning metal tear through his body. He fell back to the ground, pulling Merlin down with him. As the servant went to grab him again, Arthur clasped his shaking hands.

"Just, just hold me. Please," he said, feeling the hot prickling behind his eyes threaten to overwhelm him. "There's something I want to say."

Merlin looked him deep in the eyes, tears beginning to form. Keeping his voice as even as he could, he said, "You're not going to say goodbye."

But even he knew that this was a goodbye.

"No, Merlin," Arthur said, everything in the world disappearing except for Merlin, his arms securely around Arthur, keeping his grounded. "Everything you've done. I know now. For me, for Camelot. For the kingdom you helped me build..."

A slight laugh, without humour and full of regret and sorrow. "You'd have done it without me." 

"Maybe. I want to say...something I've never said to you before."

I love you.

"Thank you," Arthur said simply, feeling the darkness encircle around about them and the air grow electric. Instinctually, he knew it was frustrated waves of magic radiating from Merlin as the two of them shed tears, holding each other for as long as they had strength.

Everything went black.

--

Reality crashed back into Arthur like a douse of ice water, bringing him, spluttering, into the present, with Merlin's hand on his forehead and the glow in his eyes just starting to fade.

"Arthur--" he started, seeing the look in his eyes, but Arthur broke away.

"I need to go."