The news

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Really sad, Merlin suffers in this chapter. Don't read if you only want good things to happen.

Last week, Merlin had lost one of the two people that knew about his magic. A person who was family. Someone he would never forget. This person had helped Merlin many times. Gaius.

This week had been hard without him. Going through all of Gaius' stuff, another healer had come to take Gaius' place, and teaching things Gaius had taught Merlin to the new healer.

The new healer and him were friends, and got along fairly well, but he would have a lot of questions if Merlin ever got hurt. Where did all these scars come from? He would ask. How are you still alive Merlin? He'd honestly have to tell him "I don't know."

Charlie was a clever man. So he probably wouldn't believed his measly "I don't know." Now Merlin's only hope was to befriend him, and see his views on magic.

As much as Merlin would have liked to take a week off and get to know the man, while grieving, it simply wasn't possible. Arthur still needed him. So Merlin spent the majority of his time with Arthur. Like usual.

There was a major difference for Arthur. He couldn't find the normal Merlin anywhere. Instead he found the man he knew right before he fought the Dragon, and when he'd killed that creature. What was it called again? Oh yeah the Bastet. Arthur thought to himself. Not once had Merlin smiled or cracked a joke for a week.

By now Arthur was seriously worried. So he went down to their chambers to make sure Charlie was treating him well. When he listened through the door, he heard Merlin cracking a joke.
Not with his usual sass, but a more modest tone. When Arthur entered he found a fake smile on his face.

The same fake smile he made right after Arthur told him no man was worth his tears. "Well you're certainly not!" Merlin had replied while showing that very grin.

After he'd noticed Arthur come in, that smile had fallen, and Merlin had asked if he needed anything. Well his armour did need polishing, so Merlin got a few chores.

Today Merlin had been muttering about having a bad feeling about today. All throughout chores, training, and a bit of their time in the throne room.

Merlin was standing to the side as Arthur usually asked of him. Still muttering about his bad feeling, a man came in.

The man had dark shadows under his eyes, his hair tangled and full of leaves. He trudged on towards the king looking in front of his feet. Soon he kneeled in front of Arthur.

"Please stand." His command made the short, brown haired man stumble up.

"What business have you here?" Arthur demanded.

"My Lord, I have news for your servant."

"Merlin?"
A nod came from the man.
"Alright, Merlin please come forward."

Merlin shifted forward, his anticipation of the bad news growing.

"It is news of your mother," he paused. "Last week she passed away. Now all that your mother had is to go to you. Someone sold the house for you, and sent the cash with me to give to you. I've also brought a few of her possessions that you may wish to have." He then dropped the bag, bowed and stalked off.

Merlin of course had broken down to tears when he learned his mother had died. She was gone. The woman who had raised him. The woman who had worried over him on numerous occasions, whether it was about a scratch, a bully or his magic. Someone he could confidence in. He'd just lost the last person he felt he could truly trust. Now Merlin had no one. Well if you counted Arthur, then he had one oblivious dallop head who was a friend.

More memories had just turned sad. His mother's soft voice singing lullabies when Merlin had nightmares. Softly telling how brave Merlin was for facing the bullies without magic as she tended a few shallow gashes. Teaching Merlin to read. Joking while cleaning the dishes together. Gaining muscle as he helped his mother farm. So many.

Never would he see his mother's face again. She would not help organize his wedding. No longer would she be his shoulder to cry on. Because she was gone. Everlastingly, unceasingly, permanently gone.

By now Merlin was curled up in a ball sobbing. He'd lost enough. Yet it seemed fate didn't think so.

Gwaine his best friend had never seen him in tears before. It seemed Arthur was the only one to ever see him with a few tears on his cheeks. How he cried for Balinor was nothing compared to this. Gut wrenching sobbs emitting from Merlin's frail frame.

After a while, Arthur sent everyone except Gwaine, Leon, and himself away.

Once the door had thudded shut, Gwaine had his arms wrapped around his best bud. Merlin shaking both of them as Leon held his hand on the small of Merlin's back while whispering kind words to his ear. Arthur allowed Merlin to lean on his shoulder as they sat side by side.

This really gave Merlin a chance to get rid of his many unshed tears.

A few tears, were shed due to the kindness Arthur, Leon and Gwaine were giving him. Looks like he wasn't completely alone. Merlin still had friends that cared for him.

Sorry, I feel like this is a totally crappy chapter, but I didn't have many ideas, so I thought I'd just write a bit and hope for better ideas while writing this. (Btw it worked.)


.

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net