For the Ones We Love (Merlin Fan Fiction)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I ran down the halls quickly, quietly, my footsteps echoing softly. Though Merlin had been excused from the meeting, it was still going on. Because of this, I had an idea of where Gracian may be. Down corridors and stairs, I ran to the place Gracian last took me. The place above the courtroom.

                When I reached it, I found him standing in the spot I’d left him two years previous.

                He heard me coming and turned his head, a look of surprise and guilt on his face until he realized to it was. “They’re talking about you,” he whispered. “I think they’re going to force you into exile.”

                “Oh what means?” I asked.

                “You’re discomforting the populace,” he answered.

                “I see.” I peered down into the courtroom. As last time, it looked official and as last time, they discussed something directly correlating with my fate.

                Gracian looked up at me. “You can’t leave. Not again.”

                “Gracian,” I whispered. “I am leaving.”

                “Why?”

                “My brother’s in trouble,” I told him. “His life is at risk and it’s up to me to save it.”

                Gracian stared up at me. “Don’t lie to me,” he spat, sneer pulling up his lips.

                I put my hands on the young boy’s shoulders and looked him directly in the eye. “I’m not lying to you,” I told him. “Do you remember how I told you he was prone to getting in trouble?”

                The boy nodded.

                “Well, he’s in trouble again and I have to go get him out of it.”

                Gracian searched my eyes for a long time. “I believe you,” he said finally. “Will you be back?”

                I put my hands to my neck and pulled off the necklace around it. “Last time I promised you I’d be back, I wasn’t back for a long, long time, but this time I promise I won’t be gone too long.” I put it in his hand. “I’m giving this to you so you know for sure. I’ll come back for that.”

                “I’ll miss you.”

                I smiled. “I’ll miss you too.” I wrapped my arms around him. “Take care of everyone, okay?”

                He nodded. “I’ll make sure they don’t exile you.”

                “Thanks.” I laughed. “I’ll see you later.” I turned and ran back the way I’d come. This time I traveled up corridors and down stairs in search of William. When I found him he’s just sitting in a vacant feed shed. “Are you waiting for someone?” I asked him.

                He was obviously startled by my voice. “No,” he told me after turning to see who had barged in on him. “I just like to come here to think.”

                “I hear the smell of oats really stimulates the mind.”

                William chuckled. “Do you need something.”

                “I came to say goodbye.”

                William’s brow furrowed. “What?”