For the Ones We Love (Merlin Fan Fiction)

Chapter Thirty

The sun fell slowly that night. I had no more visitors and I never touched the food Gracian had brought me. I sat on the bed next to mouse Stella and I did not move.

I wondered how many hours I had. I knew it would happen at dawn. It always did. For a second I wondered why no one had officially come to tell me I would be executed. Then I realized either Merlin had been sent to do the job or it was just not a privilege prisoners had.

The moon was high in the sky when I saw the light of flame proceeding down the corridor. I heard footsteps, but they were soft. A few seconds later, Merlin emerged.

I looked at him as he pulled out a key and unlocked and opened the iron door.

“Aren’t you coming?” he whispered.

“Is this a trap?” I asked, my voice at a regular volume.

Merlin put a finger to his lips “Shh!” he hissed. “Do you not trust me?”

I looked at him for a second longer before standing. Unlike myself apparently, Merlin had given me every reason to trust him. I picked up Stella and followed closely behind him, staying as quiet as possible. 

When we’d walked far, far down the dungeon corridor, we came do a door that looked like it led to the sewers.

“What are we doing?” I finally asked.

Merlin looked at me. “What do you think we’re doing?” he retorted. “We’re getting you out of Camelot.”

“Why?” I asked. “I thought you believed I deserved to die.”

Merlin looked at me but did not respond.

I wished he would say something. I wished he would stop looking at me as if I had changed. What had happened was not my fault.

“Come on,” he said, we have to hurry before they realize you’re gone. He opened the door and led me down into a dark tunnel. The only light was that of the torch.

“Did you change your mind?” I asked.

He didn’t answer.

“Why are you doing this?”

Finally, he turned to face me. “I believe it is not up to us to decide who does or does not die for their crimes. I believe that if you leave now, you will never return and never cause us more harm. I believe we do not need to end another life to achieve piece.” With that, he continued walking.

“Talon was there,” I said. “William killed him. I assume the fire destroyed his body, so there’s no evidence, but he was there.”

Merlin nodded. “They found his sword and assumed it was yours.”

“How do you know Talon didn’t kill William?” I asked.

Merlin turned once more, still walking. “Did he?” he asked. He looked at me with an intensity I was familiar with. He knew the answer. He knew I knew he knew the answer.

I looked down.

At the end of the tunnel was a small grate from which moonlight shone into the tunnel. When we reached it, Merlin muttered a spell and the bolts came undone. Together, we pushed it out.

“Don’t come back,” he said, without looking at me. “Do you understand?

I said nothing.

“Goodbye, Cleo.”

Again I said nothing.

“You should get going.”

“I’m sorry I brought so much heartache to everyone.” I forced myself to look at Merlin and I saw in his

eyes a deep sorrow, a sorrow I had seen in them once before but only in his own memory. When that Freya girl had died, he had looked like this.

Without another word, I mounted Stella’s horse-shaped body and fled. I rode until I could barely see Merlin anymore and then I stopped.

Goodbye, Emrys, I thought.

I love you, he replied.

And I you.

Stella and I rode all night and most of the morning. We had to get as far away from Camelot as possible. For all I knew they would sent out search parties to retrieve me.

We traveled three days until we reached the Druid camp. When we did, I was weak and malnourished. I had not eaten since before the night William died.

Men, women, and children gathered as Stella carried me to the center of camp. Iseldir exited his tent and seemed unsurprised to see me.

I looked around, hoping to see the dark-haired, blue-eyed boy I left behind.

“Where’s Mordred?” I asked, breathing with difficulty, when I did not see him.

The old Druid’s eyes were calm, betraying next to nothing. I could tell, though, that something was wrong. Mordred was no longer with them.

“What happened to him?”

“He ran away two days after you left. He did not trust you to keep your promise.”  

I tried not to let the sorrow I felt show on my face. Is this all that comes from loving? Pain? 

I let myself grieve for no more than I heartbeat. When I was done, I sat up strait and looked Iseldir in the eye. Here with him—with the druids—I, along with the ones I allowed myself to love, was safe.