Fic: Eighty Five Seconds Until the World Stood Still
Title: Eighty Five Seconds Until the World Stood Still
Author: ne_rien
Rating: PG14-ish
Word count: This ficlet/drabble runs at about 1,000 words give or take
Characters/Pairings: Arthur/Gwen, Merlin, Uther, Ygraine, Morgana, Leon
Spoilers/Warnings: This is an A/U future fic which features character death. Reader beware, &etc.
Disclaimer: I do not own the show Merlin or the characters. Woe is me.
Summary: This was inspired by Death Cab For Cutie’s song “I Will Follow You Into the Dark”.
Author’s notes: I struggled with this big time as it's much "angstier" than I typically write, but I decided to go for it anyway. Don’t hate me for I am but a slave to my muse’s whims. Comments=♥♥
Eighty Five Seconds Until the World Stood Still
85.
He knows the instant it happens that this is not something Merlin can fix. The blade that pierces his armor slides easily between his ribs and nicks a major artery. His executioner, a boy of scarcely 24 looks surprised, though whether that’s because he’s finally managed to bring down the great unifier of Albion or because Arthur’s sword has pierced through his heart and is now protruding through his back is anyone’s guess. It doesn’t matter now anyway. Mordred is dead before he hits the ground, eyes fixed to the sky.
75.
Arthur envied him this as he fell to his knees, adrenaline spent. The war is now over as is his reign and the life he had with his son Lohot and beloved Guinevere. It’s all over and while there is a part of him that yearns to grieve the unfairness of it all, the man and great king he’s grown up to be knows that life is seldom fair.
“Arthur!”
68.
He’s on his back now, chest heaving as he struggles to breathe. The voice he hears calling his name must surely be the work of his imagination. A dying man’s hallucination he thinks, wishing he could laugh. But then he smells lavender, a scent he forever associated with his wife, feels her lips on his brow and her hand seek out his own. “Guinevere,” he mumbles, marveling at how real this hallucination felt.
60.
There’s a muffled sob and he forces his eyes open to see his wife clad in battle armor, hair pulled back from her face which is streaked with mud and what he hopes is other people’s blood, with bits of grass clinging to her. He knows then that this is no hallucination. “Gwen,” he sighs, eyes drifting shut. She shouldn’t be here, he thinks. She should never have had to see the ugliness of war.
54.
On the other hand, he’s glad he will not be alone when he draws his last.
52.
There’s the sound of Gwen scrambling to take off her armor-most likely in some attempt to save him-but he stops her. It’s no use. “Don’t,” he says, quietly, but sharply. Breathing’s become a chore by now and he’s never been so cold.
43.
She bursts into tears and he has never been so sorry to be the cause of them. “Arthur, I am so sorry. I-I thought I could protect you but I was too late,” she weeps clutching his hand tightly as if she could anchor him to life in this way. If only that were true.
32.
‘It’s not your fault’ he wants to say but can’t. That would require far more strength than he has left at this point. He manages to open his eyes so he can see one last time the woman behind so many of his triumphs as king. Guinevere had believed in him every step of the way. Now he had to believe she could continue to rule in his stead.
26.
Her eyes meet his and he can read her every emotion: fear, grief, anger, and love so strong he has to blink back unexpected moisture in his eyes. He wants to tell her so much but there’s no time.
22.
He estimates it can’t be later than three in the afternoon, but the world’s gone dark and all he can see is Guinevere. He manages to squeeze her hand before his eyes drift closed one last time.
13.
“I know,” Gwen says suddenly, her voice soft but strong and determined. “I know you love me and Lohot and I swear to you I shall endeavor to be a queen you would be proud of. I shall love and miss you every second of every day until I can finally be with you again Arthur Pendragon. Wait for me, my love.”
Always, is his last though before he dies.
0.
The world stands still for an instant...and then he’s free of all pain. He’s whole again without the gaping wound that brought him from one world to the next. Arthur steps through a gate and sees a familiar figure waiting for him. A beautiful blonde woman holds her arms out to him, tears in her eyes. “At last, we are together again, my son.”
** ** **
Mere days pass in this new place-the equivalent of 25 years in the world where his heart, his Guinevere remains-and he sees many familiar faces: Gaius, Hunith, as well as quite a few of his men including Leon (none of which harbor any ill will toward him) but he sees no sign of his father.
Ygraine’s smile dims considerably when he asks her where she thinks he could be.”Uther has spilled the blood of too many innocents. The crimes he’s committed do not allow him entrance to this place.”
Arthur sees no sign of either Morgana or Merlin, but he’s sure this is because they’re far too skilled with magic to succumb to death like he had.
He spends most of his time searching and waiting, until one day Ygraine comes to him, a smile on her face.”Go Arthur. You must go to your Guinevere.”
He finds her easily enough, standing at the gate between the two worlds, looking confused as to how she got there and every bit as beautiful as he remembered. He says her name softly and her expression softens to the adoring look he knew and had so missed.
“Arthur,” she breathed, walking toward him-leaving behind in the other world the body that had only betrayed her in the last two years, her son, and a room full of loyal subjects weeping at her bedside. “We are together again, my lord.”
His arms tighten their hold around her and he rests his chin in the crook of her shoulder, his eyes closed in contentment.”And nothing now can ever keep us apart.”
**FIN**
Author’s Notes Again: NGL, I added the bit of happy in the end out of srs guilt. I still can't quite believe my muse made me kill our bbs :/ Anyway! Let me know what you thought! <33