The Butcher of Camelot | Criminal Minds Xover | Merlin/Arthur | NC17
Title: The Butcher of Camelot
Author: Lady Angel
Fandom: Merlin (BBC) & Criminal Minds
Genre: Crossover, Slash, a tiny bit of Het, Action/Mystery
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur, Hotchner/Reid
Rating: NC17
“Merlin, you have to stop him!” Morgana begged, beautiful face pale with determination and fear.
“Stop who, my lady?” Voice pitched low and soothing, Merlin was taking her far more seriously than warranted by just a night terror.
“The murderer. The one taking the hands.” Her voice was hushed with terror, eyes wide and pleading.
Arthur nearly scoffed. What the hell could a skinny, untrained servant do that he and his knights couldn’t? They had searched everywhere, questioned everyone, in Camelot. Not a trace of the murderer could be found. Merlin said as much, wincing when Morgana sank her nails into his lily white skin. He jumped as he heard his name.
“Arthur--” Morgana broke off, gasping as if in pain. “He will kill Arthur.”
Dreadful stillness enveloped the room. Arthur wanted to laugh at that impossibility but Morgana’s haunted eyes, the brutality of the murders, the sheer number of strong men slaughtered stayed his tongue.
“He will kill Arthur.” Morgana’s voice was ghastly soft, eyes far away. “Uther will die from anguish and heartache. The lords will war; the most brutal will rule Camelot.” She reached out to take one of Gwen’s hands, gaze filled with sorrow, apology. She turned those terrible, pale blue eyes back to Gaius and Merlin. “Gaius will be murdered in his sleep. Gwen will be called to the new king’s bed.”
Gaius sat heavily, his old frame crumpling in as if he believed every word from Morgana’s mouth. Gwen paled beneath her chocolate skin. Tears ran down Morgana’s cheeks.
“After he is done with her, she will take her own life, rather than be raped again.”
Gwen bit her own hand, horrified by her lady’s words. Arthur clenched his fists. Why the hell was Morgana saying such hideous things? His father’s death. The kingdom falling. Gaius’ murder. Gwen’s death and assault. He wanted her to stop this very instant.
Morgana was far from done.
“The people will wither and die. The kingdom will be fractured.” She laughed mercilessly. “And I . . . I will receive the new king’s generous offer of marriage.” Her eyes disconnected from them all, far away, a place with horrors seen only by her eyes. “When I decline, when I resist, he will throw me to his favored lords and knights to do as they will.” The room stank of revulsion and denial even as Morgana shuddered back into her own body. Her stare turned back to Merlin. “Please,” she begged, “please.”
Merlin nodded as if he knew that these terrors would come to be.
Arthur could not stay silent anymore. “Morgana,” he drawled lazily, voice far from the tension infusing his body, “what do you expect Merlin to do about your nightmares that Gaius can’t?” He was gratified to see all of them jump. All except Merlin, that is. His manservant merely turned. Arthur nearly flinched from the foreboding in those deep blue eyes.
“Arthur!”
“Sire!”
“Your highness--”
Arthur ignored them all, focusing his attention on his father’s ward, surprised at Merlin’s silence.
Morgana jumped to her feet, anger finally giving her color, more like the pseudo-sister he had always known. Chin lifted, noble bearing, and womanly outrage highlighted her magnificent beauty. “They are not nightmares,” she hissed. “They are visions.” Her chin lifted even higher, daring him. “I’m a seer. These horrors will come to pass, Arthur.”
“My lady--” Gaius’ warning tone alerted Arthur to the older man’s fear. Fear for Morgana’s life as she admitted to being a magic user in a kingdom where magic meant death by the hand of the crown.
Arthur narrowed his eyes, hand resting on the pommel of his sword. “Are you confessing to using magic?”
Her laughter was bitter to his ears. “Use? Arthur, I don’t know how to use magic! It uses me. Visions as nightmares, nightmares as truth.” Her eyes were wild now, flashing with terrible truth. “I was born to be driven mad by magic.”
Hoped you enjoyed this little preview and that it whets your appetite for the whole story. Check out the archive with all of its wonderful fic and fabulous artwork when it goes live on August 5th!