Fic: The Coming of Arthur: An Interlude (5/6), for lolryne ♥
Title: The Coming of Arthur: An Interlude (5/6)
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur, established relationship, but Arthur knows nothing of Merlin's magic
Summary: What happens after the last scene of 3.12.
Warnings: violence, angst, spoilers for Merlin 3.12
Disclaimer: I disclaim.
Author's Notes: This gift for lolryne is supposed to ease her waiting for episode 3.13! It is my take on what could possibly happen between 3.12 and 3.13, and will be posted in six parts, one part on each day that we spent waiting. Unbeta'd, so all mistakes are mine. Also, apologies for the lame title. It was late (hey, lame excuses go with lame titles, right? ;))
Previous Chapters:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4
“Gaius”, Arthur says the physican's name again, clinging to the last person he can trust. “Gaius. What is he doing? What spell is he working?”
He does not recognise his own voice. It is so desperate, so incredulous, yet he knows that he is right.
“I don't know what you mean, Sire”, the old man answers, eyes intently focused on Merlin's face.
“How can you not see it?!”, Arthur cries, anger suddenly boiling up inside him. “There is no wound, Gaius, no wound that could have done this to him, no wound that would have become infected this quickly, how could you possibly not know-!”
He stops himself short. Of course Gaius knows. He must have realised the moment that he saw Merlin lying on the ground in the woods - unlike Arthur.
“What spell?”, he repeats, reigning in his temper with difficulty.
“Sire-”
“What spell?!”
Gaius looks at him then. Arthur can see the moment he realises that it is futile to keep lying. If he had wanted to hide it, he should have given Merlin a real wound. Should have infected it himself, with dirt, with his own hands.
But Gaius could never have done that to Merlin.
“I do not know, Sire. He is … protecting us.”
“How?”
“I am not quite sure myself. It seems they cannot reach us, whatever they do.”
“But how?! Does he kill them when they get near? Do they walk into a trap?”
Gaius only shakes his head. “No, that is highly unlikely. His aim is not to destroy, it is to preserve. This is older, deeper magic than you or I could understand. I assume that the land itself will be protecting us. Shadows will hide us, the wind will bar their passge, the trees will make them stumble and fall. Immortal our enemies may be, but not unstoppable.”
No. Arthur cannot process what he is hearing. It is ludicrous. Unfathomable. They are talking about Merlin. His Merlin! Who could not even hold a sword properly if his life depended on it, much less stop an entire army of soldiers. Still, he knows that Gaius is speaking the truth. And now the he knows that, now that the secret is out, he appears to have lost all other knowledge of the world. Nothing seems certain anymore.
“So this cabin is protected?”
“It is not that simple, Sire. He is not protecting a certain place, he is protecting those he loves. I should think that Ealdor is benefiting from this too, as well as Guinevere.”
“But … But … How could Merlin possibly bend the land to his will?”
“He cannot. If the legends are to be believed, Merlin is the land.”
Arthur has trouble breathing. “Then why the seizures?”
Gaius's lips quiver. “Because the magic of the Cup of Life is unbelievably strong, Sire. Merlin is fighting it, and it is taking its toll. If he does not cease his protection, he will die.”
Arthur squeezes his fingers together tightly, only realising then that he is still holding Merlin's hand. “Can we not break the spell? Wake him … Wake him up?”
“I have tried everything, Sire. I cannot. I can do nothing to save him.”
Arthur does not want to hear the tremble in Gaius's voice. The last question leaves his lips as nothing more than a mere breath: “How do you know all this? How do you know all this if you've just found out yourself?”
When the physican does not reply, Arthur stumbles backwards, onto his feet, abruptly letting go of Merlin's hand. Oh, Arthur, you fool!
Gaius has known all along. All these years. The king's most trusted advisor, Uther's confidant and friend, has harboured a sorcerer.
Arthur loses it.
He has reached for his discarded sword before he knows what he is doing. Morgana's face flashes in front of his eyes. She is mocking him because she has won yet another horse race against him. It is a sunny day, the warm light making her dark hair shine like silk. Her laughter is carefree - she shows no sign of betrayal. She triumphantly pulls Guinevere into an embrace, Gwen, who smiles at Arthur and blushes, stammering some unnecessary apology. Her skin is flushed, her brown eyes loyal - she is not in mortal danger, abandoned by all her friends. Gaius is standing at the side of the paddock, shaking his head, although his eyebrows do not seem as highly arched as usual - he hides no secrets. And next to him, Merlin sits on the wooden fence, gleefully rejoicing in his friend's failure before he jumps off and presses his lips to Arthur's in a sweet kiss, promising that he will make him forget all about this when they are back in his chambers, back in his bed - he tells no lies.
He does not know whether it has ever happened like this or whether it is merely a childish fantasy. Still, Arthur raises the sword. He does not aim it at Gaius, an old man, nor at Merlin, his only.
No. Arthur aims the weapon at himself.
A/N: Seriously ... tell me if I've gone over the top with the last bit. I'm not afraid of criticsm! If you think it's too much, that Arthur's no longer IC, let me know!
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur, established relationship, but Arthur knows nothing of Merlin's magic
Summary: What happens after the last scene of 3.12.
Warnings: violence, angst, spoilers for Merlin 3.12
Disclaimer: I disclaim.
Author's Notes: This gift for lolryne is supposed to ease her waiting for episode 3.13! It is my take on what could possibly happen between 3.12 and 3.13, and will be posted in six parts, one part on each day that we spent waiting. Unbeta'd, so all mistakes are mine. Also, apologies for the lame title. It was late (hey, lame excuses go with lame titles, right? ;))
Previous Chapters:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4
“Gaius”, Arthur says the physican's name again, clinging to the last person he can trust. “Gaius. What is he doing? What spell is he working?”
He does not recognise his own voice. It is so desperate, so incredulous, yet he knows that he is right.
“I don't know what you mean, Sire”, the old man answers, eyes intently focused on Merlin's face.
“How can you not see it?!”, Arthur cries, anger suddenly boiling up inside him. “There is no wound, Gaius, no wound that could have done this to him, no wound that would have become infected this quickly, how could you possibly not know-!”
He stops himself short. Of course Gaius knows. He must have realised the moment that he saw Merlin lying on the ground in the woods - unlike Arthur.
“What spell?”, he repeats, reigning in his temper with difficulty.
“Sire-”
“What spell?!”
Gaius looks at him then. Arthur can see the moment he realises that it is futile to keep lying. If he had wanted to hide it, he should have given Merlin a real wound. Should have infected it himself, with dirt, with his own hands.
But Gaius could never have done that to Merlin.
“I do not know, Sire. He is … protecting us.”
“How?”
“I am not quite sure myself. It seems they cannot reach us, whatever they do.”
“But how?! Does he kill them when they get near? Do they walk into a trap?”
Gaius only shakes his head. “No, that is highly unlikely. His aim is not to destroy, it is to preserve. This is older, deeper magic than you or I could understand. I assume that the land itself will be protecting us. Shadows will hide us, the wind will bar their passge, the trees will make them stumble and fall. Immortal our enemies may be, but not unstoppable.”
No. Arthur cannot process what he is hearing. It is ludicrous. Unfathomable. They are talking about Merlin. His Merlin! Who could not even hold a sword properly if his life depended on it, much less stop an entire army of soldiers. Still, he knows that Gaius is speaking the truth. And now the he knows that, now that the secret is out, he appears to have lost all other knowledge of the world. Nothing seems certain anymore.
“So this cabin is protected?”
“It is not that simple, Sire. He is not protecting a certain place, he is protecting those he loves. I should think that Ealdor is benefiting from this too, as well as Guinevere.”
“But … But … How could Merlin possibly bend the land to his will?”
“He cannot. If the legends are to be believed, Merlin is the land.”
Arthur has trouble breathing. “Then why the seizures?”
Gaius's lips quiver. “Because the magic of the Cup of Life is unbelievably strong, Sire. Merlin is fighting it, and it is taking its toll. If he does not cease his protection, he will die.”
Arthur squeezes his fingers together tightly, only realising then that he is still holding Merlin's hand. “Can we not break the spell? Wake him … Wake him up?”
“I have tried everything, Sire. I cannot. I can do nothing to save him.”
Arthur does not want to hear the tremble in Gaius's voice. The last question leaves his lips as nothing more than a mere breath: “How do you know all this? How do you know all this if you've just found out yourself?”
When the physican does not reply, Arthur stumbles backwards, onto his feet, abruptly letting go of Merlin's hand. Oh, Arthur, you fool!
Gaius has known all along. All these years. The king's most trusted advisor, Uther's confidant and friend, has harboured a sorcerer.
Arthur loses it.
He has reached for his discarded sword before he knows what he is doing. Morgana's face flashes in front of his eyes. She is mocking him because she has won yet another horse race against him. It is a sunny day, the warm light making her dark hair shine like silk. Her laughter is carefree - she shows no sign of betrayal. She triumphantly pulls Guinevere into an embrace, Gwen, who smiles at Arthur and blushes, stammering some unnecessary apology. Her skin is flushed, her brown eyes loyal - she is not in mortal danger, abandoned by all her friends. Gaius is standing at the side of the paddock, shaking his head, although his eyebrows do not seem as highly arched as usual - he hides no secrets. And next to him, Merlin sits on the wooden fence, gleefully rejoicing in his friend's failure before he jumps off and presses his lips to Arthur's in a sweet kiss, promising that he will make him forget all about this when they are back in his chambers, back in his bed - he tells no lies.
He does not know whether it has ever happened like this or whether it is merely a childish fantasy. Still, Arthur raises the sword. He does not aim it at Gaius, an old man, nor at Merlin, his only.
No. Arthur aims the weapon at himself.
A/N: Seriously ... tell me if I've gone over the top with the last bit. I'm not afraid of criticsm! If you think it's too much, that Arthur's no longer IC, let me know!