Hello!

So, this is the first time I publish a story un-beta'd, because since I went to London I've decided to test if I'm able to write in English on my own. The updates will be sporadic and I'm actually not sure about where this retort is going, but I've had this idea in my head since March, and I might as well write it down.

My second multi-chaptered fic, but it's actually my fifteenth Merlin story and my writing has really improved since I've started writing, so I will hopefully be able to finish this soon.

Summary, information and warnings: It's an AU, set after 5x08, so Gwen is bad at the beginning. Rated T because it's dark-ish and will have lots of blood, wounds and maybe even out-of-body experiences. Oh, and lots of whump and character deaths. Focused on Arthur/Merlin friendship and, since I love it but it's quite unexplored, Merlin/Gwen friendship as well.

Pairings: it will surely feature Arthur/Gwen, and most likely have a bit of Merlin/Freya.

So, here it comes, the prologue of "Stand By Me" (title from the homonym song by the Oasis and the ons by John Lennon)

DISCLAIMER: BBC Merlin doesn't belong to me and probably never will, or it would be called MildeAmasoj's Merlin or, simply, Let's Whump Merlin! It belongs to BBC Network. I only own my ideas and my demented brain.

When the night has come

And the land is dark

And the moon is the only light we'll see

No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid

Just as long as you stand, stand by me

-"Stand By Me", John Lennon

Merlin Emrys, the greatest sorcerer to ever walk on earth and the last dragonlord alive, had died.

Well, at least he thought he had. Maybe it was just an illusion or a stupid nightmare. It seemed quite real to him, though.

When he had woken up, that day in Camelot, he had thought it would be good day, despite the various menaces lurking in the shadows. Even the queen - who had betrayed her kingdom and was on Morgana's side, probably against her will - was a danger right now.

That morning he had been woken up by the birds chirping merrily and the sounds of the people of the lower town beginning to work. The sun was shining brightly and it was warm, but there was a refreshing breeze that made it the perfect weather.

He had left his chambers to do his chores with a sprint in his step, despite the pain shooting through his wounded shin every time the stitches pulled. The poison still running through his veins had left his body slightly weaker than the usual, and he had to stop from time to time to regain his breath as he worked. He still felt confident about managing to resolve the problem with Gwen, as he had always done in the past.

Just as the sun began to vanish in the distant horizon, leaving space for the moon to rise high in the dark blue sky, Merlin's thoughts about it being a good day melted away, like water evaporating when exposed to excessive heat.

He decided it would be a bad day in the moment he saw Arthur screaming desperately, his knees in a pool of blood that would stain the marble stones of the castle's floor forever, shaking someone who looked pale, limp and dead. Beside the king was his wife; Guinevere seemed to be in a state of shock. The blonde was screaming as loudly as he could something resembling 'Gaius' and 'help'. Or was it 'hell'?

Frankly, he couldn't care less. For if the queen was shocked, what was he supposed to think? When you're staring at your own body lying in a pool of your blood... Well, that could be a rather... Striking experience.

And while Gaius was hastily crouching beside his lifeless body, he already knew it would be too late.

Yes, definitely a bad day.

There was flash of golden light, and then a bloodied dagger fell to the ground.

A desperate scream broke through the air, mingling with the darkness, and with the fear and pain of the owner of the voice.

A dark-skinned woman broke down into tears, crying her eyes out, her hands covered in blood that wasn't hers.

A drop of red hit the ground, scarlet staining the white marble like ink on parchment.

A pale young man fell to the ground, as gently as a leaf in autumn, almost without making a sound.

An inhuman creature roared, angered by something that was so utterly wrong and unpredictable that it could not have been foreseen.

A blonde man punched the wall with all the strength he possessed, growling in rage, silent tears streaming slowly down his face.

A flash of golden light overshadowed everything else, hiding the world from the watcher's eyes.

A pale woman with sweet chocolate eyes nodded sadly, a tear sliding down her cheek, before vanishing and becoming one with the water she was standing in.

A lake surrounded by mountains appeared, and it was the most beautiful place in the world, rarely seen by human eyes during life.

An old man had his head in his hands, his shoulders slumped in defeat as they shook with heart-wrenching sobs.

Darkness surrounded everything.

A little white dragon wailed pitifully like a child in need of its mother's embrace, its blue eyes bright with the equivalent of human tears.

A flash of golden light once again.

A woman with long and wavy black hair smirked, her parched lips curled up into that twisted and full of satisfaction smile, making her sunken cheeks appear even more hollow, while her eyes glinted with something akin to joy.

Darkness ruled over the world.

Morgana Pendragon whipped up in her uncomfortable bed and a dark smile slowly found its way on her face. She hadn't had any visions in a long time, but that one supplied for every one she had missed.

Everything she had to do was wait, hiding in the shadows, until her brother fell. She would finally gain her rightful place on the throne.

Camelot would be hers, and no one would be able to stop her this time.

(07/23/2013)