Merlin One Shots

Lancelot Du Luc

"It is not often we have visitors." The Cailleach greets us coldly. We stand in a huge courtyard. Arthur, Merlin, and Gwaine stand in front of me. The veil gapes open, bursting with lightning and dark clouds.

Arthur squares his shoulders. "Put an end to this. I demand you heal the tear between the two worlds."

"It was not I who created this horror."

The Cailleach answers innocently. "Why should it be I that stops it?"

Merlin takes an angry step forward. "Because innocent people are dying." he accuses, barely controlled rage lacing his voice.

She smiles. "Indeed." The Cailleach throws back her head and laughs evilly.

That is all Gwaine can take. He growls and charges at The Cailleach. She sends him flying back through the air with a flick of her wrist.

"Is this the best you can do?" she mocks us.

"I know what you want!" Arthur yells as The Cailleach begins to walk toward us.

"Do you?" she asks, "And are you willing to let me have it?"

Arthur swallows and I can see him preparing to leave this world. "I'm prepared to pay whatever price is necessary."

The Cailleach beckons to Arthur and he begins to walk toward her. He only gets a few steps before he is thrown back. Arthur hits the hard stones similarly to Gwaine, unconscious.

"So, Emrys," The Cailleach begins. She seems pleased by this turn of events. "you choose to challenge me after all. Will you give yourself to the spirits to save your prince?" she asks him.

But I don't need to hear his response to know the answer to that question. I can see it in his eyes, in the way he holds his shoulders. OH, GOD I think, HE'S REALLY GOING TO DO IT.

I CAN'T LOSE HIM.

I am suddenly filled with a sureness that surpasses anything I have ever felt before and I understand what Merlin meant when he told me he could sacrifice himself for Arthur. I believe in Merlin and what he will bring. And he must not die.

I remember all that I did in my time away from Camelot all of that time ago. All the fights that I took part in. It is finally time to put my skills to an honorable cause.

"It is my destiny." I hear Merlin say as my edge my way to the veil.

The Cailleach looks over Merlin's shoulder at me and I know she sees me, but she doesn't say anything. "Perhaps." she answers Merlin. "But your time among men is not yet over, Emrys, even if you want it to be."

By now I am at the tear. She motions behind Merlin and he turns to see me standing there.

"No!!!! No! NOOO!!!!!" he yells at me but it is too late. I smile at my friend and take the last step foreword into the veil.

The rip snaps closed behind me.

At first I am blinded by a burst of light but my eyes adjust almost immediately. I am able to look at the light without squinting.

I am standing at what seems to be the peak of a large mountain. I feel sunlight streaming down and bathing my shoulders in its light. I lift my face to the sky and enjoy both the sunlight and the light from before that is somehow different. Purer.

I gentle wind tugs at my clothes, begging me to dance with it.

A warm and welcoming voice greets me. It seems to come from the earth itself. "Ah, Lancelot. The bravest and most noble of them all." I am suddenly reminded of the Great Dragon's words upon our first meeting. "Welcome, friend."

"Where am I?" I ask the sky.

"This," I feel a hand on my shoulder. When I turn I am greeted by an old man. He has a long beard and the skin of his face resembles worn leather. "this, is The Valley of the Night." he answers my next question before I can even ask it. "You are here because of your sacrifice. All heroes come here, Lancelot."

"I am no hero." I answer.

"Yes, Lancelot, you are. Not everyone would sacrifice what you did."

"Merlin was willing. I am no nobler than he." I argue.

"But you did so he wouldn't have to." he answers my debate. "This is your home now. Come with me."

I follow him to the she of the cliff and look over the edge. "This is the line between our world and the world of the living." he explains to me. "Here you can watch the events of their lives." He puts a hand on my shoulder once more and then he is gone.

I sit on the edge and search below me. I find Merlin, Arthur, and Gwen. They stand before a pyre and Arthur is speaking.

"I want to pay tribute to Sir Lancelot. We owe him a great debt. But it is not just his deed that we will never forget. It is his courage, his compassion, his unselfish heart. He was the most noble knight I will ever know. He gave his life for all of us."

I go to the cliff every day. Every day I remember the heroes I sacrificed myself to save. And I wait for the day when we will meet again.