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Cradling a dying Arthur in his arms, tears rolled down Merlin’s cheeks as he sobbed. Listening to every word Arthur said, he treasured them as if they were gold. Quiet enough that not even Merlin could hear it over the ringing in his ears, he whispered his apologies and his goodbyes. Even more so, he whispered his love for Arthur. As the King’s eyes closed with his last breath, and a scream ripped through Merlin’s chest. A part of himself had died also.
As if a heavy wind swirled around them, Merlin’s magic flowed out. The whole world went still. Silent. Eerily so. Everywhere Merlin touched Arthur’s skin, it glowed, as did his tears. As if the whole universe had stopped for Merlin’s pain, for Merlin’s command. An indescribable power seeped from the world around him. Merlin’s whole body seized, a magical intensity of something never quite seen before following through him and into Arthur.
With eyes glowing bright enough to light up the night sky, there was no more Merlin. Only Emrys existed as he undid Arthur’s last breath. Suddenly, the world returned to normal as Merlin collapsed. In the same instance, Arthur breathed again, Merlin’s lifeless body lying in the grass. Sacrificing everything, Merlin had given Arthur himself, so that Arthur might have a chance to be whole. For Merlin could not go on as just a half, missing its other piece.