Drabble: First and Last

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

Author: archaeologist_d
Title: First and last
Rating: G
Pairing/s: none
Character/s: Arthur, Merlin
Summary: Merlin remembers the first and last time he saw Arthur's face.
Warnings: Major character death
Word Count: 200
Prompt: 165 - Writer's Choice – first and last
Author's Notes: I started something else but when it looked like it was going to run 1500-2000 words and that I wouldn't be able to finish in time, I gave up.
Disclaimer: I do not own the BBC version of Merlin; It and Shine do. I am very respectfully borrowing them with no intent to profit. No money has changed hands. No copyright infringement is intended.

o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o/o

The first time he saw Arthur, he wanted to punch him in his arrogant face. Acting like the prat he was, mocking those around him, as entitled and cocky as any bully with power over others. Merlin had seen it often enough; the weaker ones would pay the price for a fist backed with steel. He wanted to take the supercilious arse down a peg or two, make the clotpoll pay for raw conceit. Merlin had magic enough of his own to do it but he'd ended up as powerless as those Arthur mocked. A dungeon stay was his reward.

The last time Merlin saw Arthur, he wanted to kiss the pain away. His king, the bully long gone, still smug at times but so very much loved, asking Merlin to hold him; he would have done anything, everything to save him but his magic was useless. All he could do was beg Arthur to stay, plead with him to hang on just a while longer. In the end, one final breath and then only silence.  Devotion, love, a thousand sacrifices, it had all been for nothing. His reward - an eternity of knowing that he had failed his beloved king.

Comments

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

You did a good job describing the bookends of their times together. in that first meeting, there was no way Arthur could imagine how important the arrogant bully would become to him and it breaks my heart that he feels that all his sacrifices were for nothing in the end.

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much. It was so sad that the end and the beginning were very similar in the show. I wanted to show that a bit. Glad you liked it.

[digthewriter]

This is super powerful in such little words. Absolutely brilliant. Thanks for sharing! ♥

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much. I like to balance things. Glad you liked it.

[gilli-ann.livejournal.com]

Augh! You capture their first and last so well.... And it's so sad!

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much. Most of Merlin is incredibly sad, especially how it ended. :(

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Ah, so sad. And nicely done - what a journey they both followed as they grew up together. That last line is a killer.

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

Merlin was supposed to be this joyous thing but ended up breaking my heart. :( Thanks for reading.

[aeris444.livejournal.com]

I like that idea of describing the start and the end of their common story! And you did it really well!

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

Thanks again. I wanted the two scenes to be bookends of Merlin's life with Arthur. Glad you liked it.