Disclaimer: I own neither Merlin nor this song! All rights go to their respective owners!

(btw guys because of the song, Arthur will have a female voice and Gwen a male's. Sorry about that!)

Previously:

The light vanished in his eyes once more and did not return in his eyes. Gwaine and Percival watched in defeat as Merlin walked away, making it clear that he wasn't going back to Camalot. They were heartbroken but not as broken as the man they had once known. Merlin had died on the day of his banishment and was replaced with a sad shell of a man.

"Merlin," Gwaine whispered. Merlin turned to him with his dead eyes as Gwaine quietly asked, "What happened to you?"

Present:

Gwaine was on the verge of collapsing in tears. He was already quivering, and if it weren't for Percival's strong hand on his shoulder, he'd be weeping on the stone ground already.

"You were so filled with light, so filled with hope. Merls, what happened ?"

Merlin's shell turned towards Gwaine and marched up to him until their faces were mere centimeters apart. Percival's grip tightened on Gwaine, but all Gwaine could see was the pure anguish that circled in Merlin's eyes.

"You want to know what happened to me, Gwaine? I'll tell you!" And with that, he marched back into the shadow of the cave.

Merlin:

"Another day, another week

Another month, another year

Another day, another night

Until it's day again!

The sun has fled, I go to bed

And scratch a line on the wall

Another day, where nothing changes at all

And everyday shuffles by like the day before

On its way to the blackest of skies

And every day a little death comes and paces the floor

And a little bit more of me dies

Merlin turned back around to face the two knights. Behind him, Percival and Gwaine could see hundreds of lines etched onto the wall behind him. His eyes darkened, and he spoke with a voice that was laced with even more hatred and sorrow then just before.

Another day, another week

Another month, another year

Another night, I spend alone

Until it's day again

Our little star has moved away

And all the world is a blur

I only see I, am not me,

Without him

Every day a little death, for every day, I die

Every day a little death, and still, I know, not why"

When Merlin had finished, he locked eyes with Gwaine. "After all that has been done, do you truly think I could go back? Back to....him?" When Gwaine didn't speak, he took it as his answer and walked back over to them.

Right when Merlin was about to say something, his eyes had shifted past him and widened. 

"LOOK OUT" he screamed as he pushed Gwaine and Percival. An arrow lodged into his chest and he hit the ground with a painful gasp. Gwaine screamed and charged towards the unnamed attacker while Percival gently lifted Merlin off the ground. Gwaine came back with a bloody sword that was soon forgotten as he tossed it to the side and sat next to a quickly dying Merlin.

Gwaine started babbling nonsense as he tried hopelessly to help Merlin. "Merlin, please stay with me. You can beat this, you've always managed to get out sticky situations!"

All it took was a shaky hand to be raised for Gwaine to shut up. As he cried next to Percival, they saw the shell of Merlin to peel away and reveal their lost friend. Though it was too late, for they were going to lose all of Merlin.

"Please, i-it is my time. I-I'm sorry th-that I was lost."

Gwaine only shook his head in denial and continued crying.

"H-hey, don't cry. I'll vi-" Merlin was interrupted by the blood that forced his way out of his mouth in fits of coughing. Percival held him still as the coughing slowly passed. Merlin, who was at death's door now, looked them both in the eyes. 

"Thi-this is n-not the end. I-I'll visit y-you guys in-in a dream so far away...." and with that, the light died in his eyes once more as he closed them for the final time. Before they were consumed by grief, they watched in defeated awe as a beautiful unicorn approached them. It paused as it looked at the two crying knights for a moment, and then it walked over to Merlin's body. It knelt before him and lightly touched his chest with its horn. Suddenly, Merlin's body started to disintegrate into golden flecks that flew into the sky. As they were leaving the cave, the knights could've sworn that his golden ashes took the form of a mighty dragon before disappearing. The unicorn then turned to the knights and bowed. The baby dragon's from earlier flew onto the back of the unicorn and almost looked to be weeping as it turned to leave. As soon as the unicorn and baby dragons disappeared from their sights, Gwaine stood up.

"Come on Percy. There's a certain king we need to talk to..."

_____________

Arthur was looking out at his kingdom below through a high tower window. Nobody knew this tower even existed except for a special few, including him, Guinevere, and Merlin. In fact, Merlin was the one who revealed the place to him. Apparently Uther had hidden it from the castle's people, and it was eventually forgotten to time. Something you see out of the corner of your eye and dismiss easily.

He glanced his eye over to the door but then turned his eyes back to the view as it was Gwen who had approached. He continued to stare out as he wrapped his hands around her waist and her head rested on his shoulder. They were simply staring out at their people below for some time before Guinevere finally spoke.

"Do you truly think he'll come back this time?"

Arthur looked her in the eyes. There was so much hope, so much confidence that it brought tears to her eyes.

Arthur:

He will come back

Gwen:

Perhaps but still...

Arthur:

He will return to me

Another prayer

Gwen:

Has got to live for today

Arthur:

I will live when we're together again

Every day I will pray until then, Amen

And every day, another prayer will bring him close to me

And every night, our little star we will shine

The one day when I open my eyes

He will be standing right over there...one day

Days later, Percival's and Gwaine's horses could be seen sprinting towards Camalot. When they entered the King's court, everyone had their breath held. It was true that there was no Merlin with them, but the way they entered the grounds and demanded the immediate attention of the King made people anxious about their news.

"Well? What is your urgent news? Something must have happened for you guys to barge into Camalot like this." Arthur said with an authoritative voice, but you could hear the hidden fear laced in them. Percival seemed to be muttering a few things, but it was Gwaine who bore the news to all who was there.

Percival:

Another day

Gwaine:

There's something I must say

I wanted to protect him

 Percival:

Another year

Gwaine:

I wish there was a way I could make it untrue

Percival:

Another day

Gwaine:

I spread the news today

I fear the worst has happened

Percival:

Another year

Gwaine:

An accident occurred, Merlin Emrys is dead

Percival:

Another year

Gwaine:

Dead and gone

Rest in peace may flights of angels, sing him to his rest

Percival:

Let me hold and help to heal you

Gwaine:

Every day a little death

Arthur:

Every day a little death

Gwen:

Every day a little death

Percival:

Every day a little death

Everyone:

Every day a little death

Gwaine looked into the King's tear-filled eyes with such hatred it made Arthur flinch.

"Let it be known that the kindest, bravest, and most loyal," Gwaine added the extra sneer for the King, "warlock in the lands has perished because a certain king doesn't know how to distinguish brother from foe." And with that, Gwaine stormed out of the court while Percival followed in hopes of calming the usually drunken knight down.

Arthur had practically run to the secret tower as soon as he dismissed the council. The tears started to flow, and they couldn't stop. He stayed there, crying alone for hours, hating himself forever banishing Merlin. As he looked through the window with his teary eyes, he thought he saw something that almost resembled golden ashed go by. He dismissed it as blurry vision, but he thought he saw a dragon in those ashes that bowed to him and flew away.

"Oh Merlin..." he whispered, "where are you now?"

To be continued...