Fic: The Storyeller
Title: The Storyteller
Author: bleedforyou1
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Rating: PG
Beta: None
Summary: Merlin travelled, telling his story to anyone who would listen.
Word count: 232
Contains (highlight to read): Off-screen Character Death, reincarnation, angst
“For, while the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, it always must be heard. There isn’t any other tale to tell, it’s the only light we’ve got in all this darkness.”
--James Baldwin in “Sonny’s Blues”
Merlin traveled, telling his story to anyone who would listen. The stories of the best man he had ever had the blessed fortune to meet. He would tell the whole world about the light that Arthur was, the love and power he had shared with Merlin and the rest of his kingdom. How he had united the world, and how Merlin would never lose faith in him, no matter what had happened in the end.
The sorcerer was selfish. He didn’t tell the stories for the people, to show them how kindness did exist still in Kings or to spread hope or faith. Merlin did his storytelling to remember. He never wanted to stop thinking about Arthur. To stop reminiscing of his touch, his smile, his bravery and selflessness. He wanted to forever keep his King alive by never allowing the world (or himself) to forget him.
Centuries later, the stories that Merlin had originally told had changed so much, Merlin found it almost… funny. He’s stopped worrying about it, choosing instead to focus on reading through his own journals, looking for more memories in his head, dreaming about the time Arthur would return.
And return he would, because not only was he the once and future King, he was Merlin’s, and Merlin needed him to return. So he would, because Arthur would do anything for Merlin, just as he always had.