Destiny - a Merthur fic

Chapter XI

Merlin's POV

After the man left, I was sitting there pondering why and how this had happened to me. I didn’t want to be in the future – what was in the future wasn’t my business and I didn’t want to meddle in it. I wanted to go back to my own comfortable time in Camelot.

Did Camelot even still exist? After looking out the window I had the sinking feeling that it didn’t.

I put my head in my hands. All of my friends, what had happened to them? What about my mother?

I knew that everybody was destined to die someday, but yet the thought of me being alive in a time that they weren’t didn’t feel right. It felt very wrong.

And I still didn’t know where Arthur was.

I jumped up and ran to the door and jiggled the doorknob.

I jiggled it again. And again.

“Hey!” I shouted, banging my fists against the door. “Hey! Hey! Let me out of here! Arthur! Arthur!” I slammed my whole body against the door. I needed to get out. I needed to know Arthur was safe. I needed to kiss him again. “Arthur! I’ll find you! I’ll – I’ll find you!” I slid down the door. My voice was beginning to shake with the sobs that I hadn’t let out yet. Tears clouded my vision.

I was sitting with my back leaning against the door now. I banged my head back and hit it on the door. Again. And again. “Arthur,” I called out again, my voice hoarse now from sobbing.

I pushed myself around using only my arms so I was facing the door. I held out my hands and willed them to wield magic and unlock the door. It didn’t work, of course. I felt so helpless. I gave up and slammed my hands against the door again in despair and let out a groan.

“That’s very unlike you, Merlin.” I spun my head around, and saw Arthur standing there with his hands on his hips. He smiled at me and with a laugh, extended a hand to help me up. Relieved, I took it – but as soon as I touched his hand Arthur flickered and fizzled out of sight.

I let out another hiccupping sob and rocked back and forth, holding my knees to my chest like a child. My eyes darted around the room suspiciously. If another image like that appeared I wanted to be prepared.

The door behind me opened and the strange man from earlier stepped in. I scrambled to my feet and backed up until I hit the wall, stumbling a little. I wiped my tear-striped face.

I held up my hand in a feeble attempt to look tough. “Don’t come any closer. I know what you are.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Really.”

“You’re a hallucination,” I said breathlessly. “This is all a dream. You’re not real. None of this is real.” He was walking closer to me. “Stop!” I ordered him. “This is in my head. I can control you.” He continued walking towards me. “Stop it!”

He reached out an arm and placed his hand on my shoulder. I flinched, but he didn’t disappear like Arthur had. “I’m very real,” he whispered. He then walked backwards. “Get yourself together. I’m taking you out to show you the real world.”