Man of Ice

. . . Emrys . . .

. . . Emrys . . .

. . . EMRYS! . . .

Merlin stirs with a pained jolt, staring out into a dark nothingness. He stands quickly, eyes searching this way and that, as he turns, seeking any shape in the vast darkness. As far as the eye can see is inky black, dark as pitch. Merlin can feel his heart quickening in his chest, breath coming in short gasps as he tries to gain his bearings, but that proves difficult with the stabbing pain in his head. "Leoht," he whispers, hand outstretched in front of him. Merlin stares at his hand, horror growing in his chest when no light appears. "Leoht!" Tears prick his eyes as each attempt is met with the same, inky darkness, creeping in closer and closer, the pounding in his head growing worse with each failed attempt, nearly bringing him to his knees.

"Emrys!" A chorus of voices call his name, desperate in their cry.

"Who," he starts turning to try and pinpoint their direction, face contorting at the pain the action brings, "Where are you?"

"We are near Emrys," a woman's voice replies, soothing as a summer's brook, "We heard your pleas for help."

Merlin tries to calm his breathing as he stares out into the dark. "What's happened," he questions, rubbing his temples as tears threaten to choke him, "I can't ... I can't use my magic!" The woman's voice hums softly, closer now. Merlin can feel a presence nearing him, a welcoming warmth closing in from behind. He turns with effort, heart in his throat, only to be met with that same darkness. "Why can't I see?" His voice is barely above a whisper, but he knows they've heard him, can feel the warm presence growing, overtaking him, engulfing him in a serene peace.

"You were injured," she speaks, soothing voice lulling his growing panic. "For a moment, you left this world, we felt your presence vanish, your power sever. It brought us all to our knees." Merlin flinches, gasping as warm hands cup his face. For a moment, the contact eases the excruciating ache in his head. "Your prince brought you back." His breath hitches in his chest, heart speeding at her words. "Your spirit has been pleading, screaming, for help, but we've finally found you now."

"Where is Arthur?"

Merlin can feel her smile, the warmth of the multitude of druids presence all around him growing. "He watches over you Emrys," the multitude whispers, "he protects your body, cares for it."

"Where am I?"

"Your body is being carried by the young Pendragon on his hastening journey back to Camelot. He currently shields you from the harsh cold within his own cloak, but you weren't asking about that, were you?"

Merlin shakes his head, flushing at her words. "You are asleep, in a sense, here in this darkness. Your mind," she pauses for a moment, the darkness around him seeming to shift with the pounding in his head, "Your mind ... needs immediate remedy. The young Pendragon has attempted to care for you, but this is beyond any physical medicine." Merlin opens his mouth to reply, but she halts him, stopping him dead in his tracks. "Even for Gaius' expertise ... Without intervention, you will be unable to fulfil your destiny."

Merlin feels the threatening tears finally give way, heart wrenching as she wipes them from his cheeks.The multitudes serene presence surrounds him again, warming him from within. " Take heart , young Emrys, for we can see you now. Your Prince has just stumbled upon our search party."