*several months later--things have settled down, Arthur's death has been mourned and now everyone has settled back into the usual routine*
I shoved myself away from the pillow, my forhead was slick sweat yet I was freezing. Gasping, I looked around quickly, trying to make sure I was not still in the forest.
I wasn't, it was just another nightmare.
I had been waiting for a sign from Arthur. The dragon had said he would rise again but I was almost sure that I would receive some sort of sign to this effect.
I stood and dragged my feet over to the window, it looked about the time I needed to wake at so I pulled on my day clothes.
Quietly I made my way out the door and down the hall, today I was to help serve a feast for a visiting kingdom.
The maids and Servents walked happily throughout the castle, today was warm and spring-y. I looked at their amiable faces and continued on to the kitchen where I was handed several plates of food. When I just stood there the angry cook lady said that I was to set them in the usual dining hall then declared that I was dull as a tack without a point or whatever.
This was a daily occurrence, I've lost track of what insults she uses when.
I carried the heavy trays into the dining room where I was met by Sir Leon. "I see you're making preparations for the feast" he noted.
"Good observing skills," I replied sarcastically and spun away from him to set the dishes on the table. He stood quietly behind me. This was awkward.
I turned to him after the plates had been set and raised a quizzical eyebrow. "Do you need something?"
"I need to talk to you, but not here, too many people" he said just loud enough so only I heard. Crap. This was never good. Whenever someone wanted to "talk" with me in private it meant they had seen me do something 'odd' (magical usually but I always passed it off as something else) or someone was dead. Hopefully this occasion was the former.
I followed him out of the dining hall to the court yard where he suddenly turned around and said almost urgently "Merlin what's up?"
I was taken aback by the concern in his voice. Nothing was up. I had shown little emotion for Arthur or anything for that matter since the day of the funeral. I had just floated about the castle doing my usual duties and such as I always had done.
"Nothing?" I offered
"No. Don't give me that."
What the hell was up with him?
"Um the sky, the ceiling, clouds,"
"Merlin I'm asking what's up with /you/"
"yeah I got that far..."
"So?"
"Literally nothing. I'm the same as I was and I ever will be."
"No you're not."
"What do you mean I'm not"
"Because you're not happy anymore! You don't smile, you never laugh, you don't leave the castle for days unless someone tells you too, and not once have I seen you have an actual conversation with someone."
"Leon I'm really fine."
"Stop lying Merlin, either you're lying to me or you're lying to yourself but either way it isn't healthy... Look, I know you were affected by Arthur more than the rest of us but you can't let it rule your life you have too-"
"SIR LEON! There you are!" The other knights had entered the court yard. "we need you to come and greet the visiting king with us and Queen Guinevere." Perceval said. Sir Leon gave me a meaningful look then took off to join the others leaving me to stand there in shock.
Barely processing what just happened I headed back for the castle and continued making preparations for the feast.
___________________________
I stood patiently in the corner with the rest of the hands, ready to pour drinks or carry plates or whatever else they needed. A dull headache had appeared in the back of my head and was slowly burning its way toward the front if my attention. I did not like it.
Suddenly the headache became unbearably intense and pulsed through my entire head, my stomach dropped. Suddenly I felt queasy. The lights were too bright and the room was too hot and loud.
I tried to keep my face nuetral and not draw attention to myself but the headache was too painful to ignore. My stomach was doing little flips. Not able to bear it anymore I leaned over to the man beside me and whispered "I have to go" then before he could say anything set my tray on the floor and ran from the room. I knew that later I would be chastised for leaving without being dismissed but at this point I didn't care.
I hurried through the hallway as fast as I could. Suddenly the walls around seemed to tilt about 75 degrees to the left. I lurched to a stop and leaned into a wall as the room spun.
A hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around.
It was one if the knights.
He was asking if I was ok.
I was nodding.
I felt a shiver go down my spine yet I was drenched in sweat.
I shuddered.
He grabbed my arm.
I fell.
___________________________
"MERLIN! I knew you'd come!" oh my goodness that was Arthur. I opened my eyes to a hazy world where all I could see was light gentle greenish shade of mist. Was I dead? Suddenly Arthur stepped out of the mist and smirked at my face.
Yes. I was most certainly dead.
"Arthur..." I had barely let the whisper fall from my lips when he ran and wrapped his arms around me. I stood for a moment then squeezed him back, never wanting to let go. "I missed you," I said into his hair. I felt him mumble a response in his deep voice.
Finally he pulled away and smiled at me. I smiled back but then said "Not to spoil the moment or anything but... Where are we?"
Arthur looked around the replied "this is the veil. The place between the living world and the beyond."
My heart leapt."Does.... does this mean I'm... that Im dead?"
He laughed. "No you idiot, you're just unconscious. I've brought you here to talk to you. I know how you can bring me back." I gaped at him.
"Just go to the place that we went when the veil was first opened, there you will find further instruction understand?" he didn't sound like Arthur my boyfriend anymore he sound like Arthur my king. I nodded quickly.
"Good. Go Merlin as soon as possible. Hopefully see you soon."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi guys sorry I don't update very often it takes forever to write a chapter but it gets done so whatever. ANYWAY this story is still young and new in the making so expect lots of twists and turns.
Thanks for reading!
-F
