Magic

Chapter 6

Merlin was afraid, this was the first time he truly was afraid of himself. He had always believed he had control over his body, that he wasn't going to harm anyone. How wrong could he be? Merlin was afraid and he didn't know how not to be.

His memory was like a blur, but he knew he did something bad. He knows for sure he was not himself when he went to wake up Arthur early that morning, it was like someone else was controlling him and he was just following its every move like a puppet and that he disliked.

He hadn't had nightmares, didn't see the red, glowing eyes in the dark and the darkness surrounding him like a pool of water. He didn't dream of long nails piercing his nails, nor deep, guttural voice making fun of him and taunting him to no end. He was glad, that meant the black magic who was after he had disappeared to never return. But something feels off, Merlin caught himself thinking.

Since he met Arthur, a year had passed since he had nightmares with the red, glowing eyes that haunted him in the dark every night, and the long, sharp nails harming his body were no longer there either. He was relieved, he wasn't suffering anymore psychologically, but something in his conscience was bugging him like it was still there, lurking in the dark and preparing itself to attack at any chance. It was just waiting for Merlin to get off guard and weak to make its move, Merlin could feel it. He didn't comment on it or brought it up to her mother again who was always looking at him with worried eyes since the moment he woke up sweaty and screaming like he was about to die. Although he wasn't far from dying, he would never tell his mother about it. He never went into detail about his nightmares with her.

Merlin didn't want to worry his mother more than she already was.

However, that changed when he met Arthur, he didn't feel the "thing" lurking in the darkness and feel heavy every time he thought about it. He was scared, but when Arthur showed up all cocky and with airs of being the best he stopped experiencing those feelings. He was grateful and thought Arthur had a charmed to it that made the "thing" disappeared.

Or so he thought.

Just as he believed everything was fine, he started feeling weird, and then Arthur was being attacked by something. He doesn't remember what exactly happened, but when he came to it, Arthur was in his arms passed out and bleeding from his neck. The blood was coming from two holes on his neck and tiny slots surrounding the swollen area. It was bruising and he knew if he didn't do something fast, Arthur would die.

And as a good wizard, Merlin healed the wound on Arthur's neck.

Merlin changed Arthur's clothes into his pajamas again and tugged him in bed, Merlin was going to leave the chambers and if Arthur asked what had happened, he would have to elaborate a believable story to hide his secret. Merlin was about to leave when Arthur started shaking and grunting in pain, Merlin hurriedly put his hand on his forehead to feels his temperature. Arthur was burning up, his face was getting red and sweaty, Merlin startled was petrified to see Arthur in so much pain, he didn't know what to do, his magic wasn't going to do anything with it or maybe he could. He didn't know, he didn't want anyone to come in and witness him using magic and tell the king all about it.

He wasn't ready to die yet.

Merlin is worry something bad would happen to Arthur if he doesn't do anything in this instant. Merlin still confused from all of it, got a cloth he sometimes used to clean the sweat from Arthur's brow when he was training with his sword to get it when he saw a bucket filled with water. What was doing a bucket full of water in his room, he didn't know but he was glad it was there and wasn't going to question it any second more. Arthur needed his help now.

Arthur, the poor guy, was shriveling by now and chanting "no" so many times the word started to lose meaning to Merlin who didn't know a simple word will lose any sense if saying it so many times. With his heart in his hand, Merlin started to pass the wet clothe around his face, arms, and legs to ease up the feverish skin. Merlin was shocked to feel the cool clothe getting warm whenever he passed it around Arthur's body. He was hot. In so many ways, Merlin's mind provided. Merlin shakes his head to get rid of impure thoughts and concentrate more in the task he was doing right now.