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“The water... it's gone,” Gwen concluded, running her hand through the sand tap and watching as it dripped over her fingers.
“What do you mean?! It can’t be all gone!? It can’t be! Surely!” Merlin gasped.
“But it is… look at it. It’s gone,” Gaius added, looking at the grains, full of fear and sorrow. “Camelot will fall without water. We need to somehow get it back.”
Arthur frowned. “What’s causing it? Magic?”
Gaius nodded, placing his hands behind his back. “I suspect so, sire.”
Arthur groaned. Can’t the kingdom have just one day of peace every once in a while?
Merlin kept glancing nervously at the sand, Gaius quickly joining him in the worry.
“What’s wrong?” Gwen asked. “Other than this water… problem.”
Merlin bit his lip, considering what to say. “We need to find who has cursed Camelot, and in order to do so, we'll put ourselves in danger.”
Arthur laughed and waved his hand casually. “Not an issue! We will bring this sorcerer down easily!”
Arthur kept to himself the fact he had a reasonable guess about what had actually happened. He recalled the unicorn that he killed. Maybe he was the one who had caused the fall of his land…
“That’s an issue for later,” Gwen interrupted, changing the subject. Arthur shook himself from his thoughts. “We need to deal with the water scarcity. With no food, we will have no water to grow our crops.”
Arthur rubbed his head. “That is… too much logic. Gaius, search for who is behind this. Gwen, if you find any water sources or supplies, share them with the people. Merlin, you’re coming with me.”
Merlin was grumbling all the way back to the castle, protesting that he wanted to go with Gaius.
“Would you shut up, Merlin?!”
Merlin smiled sadly. “What about ‘no’?”
Arthur huffed, irritated, but decided to remain silent. To his annoyance, Merlin continued muttering under his breath.
They finally reached the horse stables. Merlin raised an eyebrow, utterly confused.
“What are we doing here?” Merlin asked, gesturing at the horses and muck. “Is this your new home?”
Arthur rolled his eyes and, instead of walking into the pens, went around the area. He was careful to avoid any poop as he made his way around the back.
There it was. A secret well.
Behind him, he heard Merlin gasp in shock.
“Welcome to my private water supply,” Arthur announced proudly. Merlin rushed over and popped his head over the side. He squinted, trying to see down.
Merlin glanced worriedly at Arthur. “Are you sure there is water down here? It looks… empty.”
Arthur sprinted to Merlin, slightly panicking. No…surely Merlin is pulling my leg…
He was right. At the bottom of the well, sand was piling up, with no liquid or even anything wet in it. Arthur shook his head like a maniac.
“No, no, no! What’s going on?!” Arthur complained.
Then he hesitated. The unicorn.
Merlin spotted the pause and the quick intake of breath. “Do you know something, Arthur?”
Arthur bit his lip nervously. “Yes…”
“Then what is it? Who’s causing this?!” Merlin demanded.
Arthur looked at the dirty ground. “Do you remember the unicorn I killed? I—I think it’s cursing us.”
Merlin thought about it, then grinned. “I told you so.”
“Merlin! More pressing matters at hand here!” Arthur grumbled. “We need to find what that sorcerer did to Camelot!”
Merlin shrugged. “Gaius is onto it.”
Arthur stomped his foot like a demanding child. “No! We have to do something about it! Not Gaius!”
Merlin stared at him. “Fine! What are we going to do?”
Fuck. Arthur didn’t have a clue on where to start.
The silence told Merlin everything. “See!” Merlin stated. “We don’t have a plan. Until something else happens, Gaius will solve it.”
Arthur felt an ominous tingle creep up his spine. Something felt wrong. But he didn’t know it yet.
For two days, nothing had happened except for the fact everyone was thirsty. Arthur had tried getting Merlin to drink, but he refused, saying to give it to those who needed it.
This concerned Arthur. Hour by hour, he could see Merlin’s eyes becoming bloodshot and his skin starting to pale. Arthur himself had gladly welcomed any chance at lessening his thirst, and he grew jealous of Merlin’s ability to always think of himself before others. The pain of his own dried throat was getting to him.
On the morning of the third day, Merlin didn’t wake up.
Arthur had called for his manservant early in the morning, but he never arrived. Getting increasingly worried for his friend, he stomped down to Gaius’ study.
“Is Merlin here?” Arthur slammed the door open.
Gaius jumped from where he was standing, treating a new patient. Arthur gasped when he saw who it was.
Merlin.
He was lying down on a bed of quilts and blankets, his sickly face resting against the pillow. His lips were peeling with dry skin, and his eyes were sunken and closed. He was struggling to inhale air, his breaths quick and fast.
What did I not notice? Why did he get this bad? And when?
Then Arthur remembered. Merlin stumbling through the halls. Him falling asleep on the desk. Him refusing to eat and drink. Merlin handed his flask to a young child when he thought Arthur wasn’t watching.
Guilt flooded him and rose up with tears that fell down his cheeks, dripping onto Merlin’s face.
“Oh… Merlin…” he whimpered softly.
Little drizzles of tears rained down his face as he grabbed Merlin’s lifeless hand. It was frail and small, and its bones were sticking through.
He collapsed by Merlin’s side, and Gaius moved away to let Arthur have this moment.
He grasped Merlin’s wrist, searching for even a single pulse of his heartbeat, but it was slowly decreasing and disappearing. Arthur held Merlin’s hand until no vibrations came.
Gaius held his breath, waiting for Arthur to tell him Merlin’s fate. Arthur turned around, his face revealing everything.
Merlin was gone.