Her dry wrinkled hand rested in his palm. Her grip was relaxed, her fingers curled slightly inwards. He traced the creases in her palm with a finger of his opposite hand, his eyes transfixed on the hills and valley's.

"Merlin," the whisper was barely audible. Reluctantly, Merlin lifted his gaze from her palm and looked into Gwen's chocolate brown eyes. "Merlin, don't be sad. I'm old, it's time I joined Arthur,"

Merlin could feel the tears threatening and fought to keep them back. His bottom lip trembled and he turned his face away quickly to rub his eyes. "I don't want you to leave me," he managed to choke out.

"Oh, Merlin," Gwen's hand reached out and touched his face briefly before dropping back on the quilt, too weak to even manage that. She lay on her and Arthur's bed, the blankets pulled up over her chest and her head resting on the plush pillows. Merlin sat on the edge of the bed, his hand in her's. His shoulders were tense but had relaxed slightly when she had touched his face. Taking a deep breath he looked back into her eyes. They were dull and tried. Wrinkles covered her face and her hair hanging around her shoulders was an amazing grey colour streaked with white.

Merlin put his free hand up to his smooth face and felt a pang in his heart. He had hardly aged since Arthur died. He couldn't help thinking that he should join his friend aswell. His magic had kept him young, to wait for the day Arthur returned to this world. Merlin hoped it wouldn't be too long.

"You shouldn't worry, Merlin," Gwen's voice brought him out of his thoughts and he refocused on her face. Her lips were turned up at the corners but her eyes were sad. Merlin took a minute before he realised she was sad for him. Then her words sank in and he chuckled.

"I shouldn't worry about living forever?" Then his smile vanished and he said, "Forever is... well, forever," His eyes widened at the prospect.

Gwen frowned, "I thought you said...?" then her frown cleared as she saw the slight smile on Merlin's lips. "Merlin," she complained in a teasing tone. She tightened her grip slightly in Merlin's hand and he responded with a squeeze. She sighed quietly and her eyelids drooped. "I'm so tired,"

Merlin watched her for a minute before saying, "You get some rest,"

She flicked her eyes open and gazed into Merlin eyes, "You're like a brother to me, Merlin, I love you like one too,"

"And I love you like a sister," Gwen's eyes brightened then and she squeezed his hand back. Her eyelids slowly drooped again before closing completely. Her breath slowed and deepened as she dropped into sleep.

Merlin stayed at her side, watching her face and tracing circles in her palm. His thoughts wandered, stretching back over the years to the day he returned after sending Arthur's body into the Lake of Avalon.

His horse trotted into the courtyard, another horse - Arthur's - trotted behind, pulled along with it reins tied tightly on Merlin's saddle. The courtyard itself was quiet. Eye's peered out of corners and bodies stood silently under arches. Merlin could feel every gaze on him and the unoccupied horse. Somehow he managed to hold back his tears and slide off his horse. He gave the reins to a stable boy, who locked eye's with Merlin's for a second before he turned away, leading the horse's and wiping a tear from the corner's of his eyes.

Merlin turned and made his way to the stone steps. His spine crawled, he could almost feel the eyes on him. Just as he reached the bottom step, the grand wooden doors burst open and a figure ran out. The figure had long curly hair that whirled about her head and wide eye's that locked with Merlin's. She stopped as she saw him and the last sliver of hope that refused to leave, vanished immediately. Arthur had not come home.

Gwen clamped her hand on her mouth and her eye's brimmed with tears. Merlin ran up the steps to her but stopped just below the top. He felt his own eye's fill again and struggled to keep it back. "Gwen," he began, "I'm so sorry. I tried -"

He was cut short as she threw her arms around his shoulders. Sobbing openingly now, she mumbled into his neck, telling him it was alright and not to blame himself. Almost against his will, Merlin tightened his arms around her waist and hugged her back. His own tears flowed silently down his cheeks.

Behind them the courtyard shifted as people began to move again. Men and women - guards, servants and civilians all began to shout in shock and grief as the news sank in. They didn't need to be told, they knew the King was dead.

Merlin listened to Gwen's breathing. It was shallow now, more difficult. As a physician, Merlin knew that it wouldn't be long now. He stilled the hand that was tracing the circles and lay it flat over her palm. She was the last of his friends to die. All the Knights, Gaius and his Mother had died long ago.

She stopped breathing.

Merlin had to fight back his panic as she breathed her last. He was alone.

Later on, Merlin wandered the empty halls and corridors of the citadel. His young face was streaked with tears and his chest felt heavy, yet empty.

He found himself in the physician chambers without remembering how he got there. He brushed his fingers along the wooden benches and shifted the bottles of liquids around the room. Picking them up and putting them down in random places. Finally he stopped at a book shelf. Scrolls of parchment were bunched together in a corner of the shelf. Many were blank, waiting for the words that would cover their surface. He reached out and took one, sliding it out gently yet he still managed to drop half of them on the floor.

Sighing, Merlin stared at the parchment, wondering if he should pick them up. Finally he decided not to and walked towards the desk. Sitting down, he lit a candle with a flash of gold and pulled the ink and quill towards him. He dipped the quill in the ink and let his hand hover over the parchment.

Then slowly, he began to write.

AN: Hello!

This is my prequel to The End of Ages. If you're looking at this, you will probably be interested in the sequel! :) I will like to thank you in advance for this interest - Thanks!

Although this is a completed story, I still love reading reviews on it! So any reviews will be greatly appreciated. :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, just this plot!