The Endless Watch

**This is just a little blip I had to put onto paper. It fits very close to the very end of my fic, Shuffing Destiny's Cards. Merlin has died and Arthur is following the body of his best friend as they move towards the pyre.**

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Night fell and the time came for Arthur to oversee a small group of servants as they carefully took Merlin's body from the castle to the place of the pyre. As he walked behind these men, Arthur's throat closed with grief.

He was filled to the brim with it.

Choking on it.

Having lost Merlin was akin to standing an endless watch on a frozen bluff. At first there had been almost a nobility, a strange dignity in bearing it. Just bearing the shocking cold, sharp sting, blinding darkness. Buffeting winds. But after the initial blow of it, that's when, he realized, the sharp cold moved to take possession of his every nook. A deep, killing, ache. Endless days on an ice-covered cliff. Time had passed and with time came the realization that this anguish would be quite literally unending. It grow heavier and heavier. He must bear the agony—without a moment's reprieve—forever. For always.

That is what drove Arthur to his knees.

He vaguely registered a kind face and warm hands, someone helping him to his clumsy feet. Tears streaked the stranger's face.

The watch of grief would be eternal, but mayhap he would not always have to hold it alone.

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On his feet again he followed the winking torches. There were many people there, awaiting Merlin. Many were likely awaiting him as well.

The prince.

His knights stood together. They were kitted out and looked solemnly magnificent. Regal. But truly fucking wretched.

Gwen and Morgana, in their finest, wretched as well.

He wondered if he looked so awful also and decided that he probably did.

Gaius stood stooped and alone at the head of the pyre, reserved for family. There was no way Merlin's mother would have been able to arrive so soon. She probably hadn't even heard yet. Gods.

With confidence he didn't feel, Arthur worked his way through the surprised onlookers to stand beside Gaius—to share the old man's endless watch.

Family indeed.

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Thank you, as always, for reading! Reviews feed my angsty soul.