Work Text:
Originally posted on Tumblr here
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One night, Merlin dreamed a dream. He was walking along a well-worn forest path, breathing in the scent of lush green forest growth. Everything here was so full of life. Betwixt the trunks of slender elm, beams of faint morning light fell upon the muddy earth – and Merlin noticed two sets of footprints upon the ground; one belonging to him and the other to an old friend, Arthur Pendragon.
Viridescent leaves fell from the trees. Each one reminded Emrys of scenes from his over-long life. They fell and they faded into hues of orange and burnished red, curling at last into withered brown. As the last scene of Merlin’s life fell before him, the warlock looked back at the footprints upon the ground.
And it bothered him that there was only one set of footprints for many, many miles along the forest path. He came to realise these many miles were symbolising the lowest and saddest times of his life. The times of his life when he walked without his friend. It bothered him and in his grief; Emrys called upon the Spirits of the Forest – asking them why they had seen fit to curse him to an existence without the Once & Future King by his side.
“I was told he was my Destiny! I wished never to be parted from him! We were meant to walk side by side and talk together, all the way! But I see now. During the loneliest period of my life there is only one set of footprints. I do not understand why, when I needed Arthur the most, he was taken from me.”
And the forest trembled to hear it. The birds silenced their song. But then, under the glow of the dawn, did the green leaves whisper softly.
“Merlin… be at peace. I love you and have never left you, never, ever, during all your years of hardship and solitude. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
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~ adapted from: footprints in the sand