FIC: A King's Ransom (10/12) Merlin: Merlin/Arthur, PG-13
TITLE: A King's Ransom (10/12)
AUTHOR: Demon Faith
SERIES: Love and Loyalty
CATEGORY: Hurt/Comfort, Drama
PAIRING: Merlin/Arthur
SPOILERS: For Season 1 (AU after 1x5: Lancelot)
RATING: PG-13
WORDS: 1,127
SUMMARY: Camelot is burning. A Dragon's call, a Seer's voice and discord between lovers do battle in the fight for a kingdom - but can anyone truly emerge victorious?
DISCLAIMER: I own not the boys, nor the show. Thankfully, they’re doing just fine.
NOTES: Sequel to Fealty. Previous parts here
I really wasn't going to do this, but this savage little bunny latched on to my leg and wouldn't let go.
This is dedicated to The Coven and the Dragon. He knows why.
Merlin had insisted on being at the arena.
Dressed in the innkeeper's old travelling cloak and leaning on a branch for support, he'd slowly made his way to a seat in the first row, determined to see everything. He didn't know what he could do for Arthur, but it was important that he be there.
Arthur was losing.
He couldn't move fast enough, couldn't land a blow - and when he did, it wasn't enough. Caradoc had severely weakened him with torture, because he knew that was the only way to defeat him.
When Caradoc knocked off Arthur's helm, Merlin moved.
His magic was still weak and he'd need every scrap, so he ran under a cloud of dust - simple, elemental magic. His broken leg screamed at him but he held on, ignoring the jeers from the crowd and the knights starting towards the strange sight. He could get there. He could defend Arthur.
His prince was on his knees. Caradoc's sword was above his head. Merlin planted his staff between them and reached up, left hand pushing against the blade. "Enough!"
All his fear, all his anger, all his love for Arthur welled up in him like a storm from the sea - light streamed around them, as Caradoc flew backwards and landed in the dirt, helmet rolling away like a toy. Merlin felt Arthur clutch at his robes and he reached behind him, taking his prince's hand.
"You can do this," he whispered. "I have faith in you."
But Arthur was looking above his head, mouth agape. "Merlin...the shadow..."
Merlin looked up.
A giant eagle swooped over them and plucked one of Caradoc's knights out of the arena, carrying him away. And then another followed the first, and another, until ten eagles were tearing into Caradoc's men. Merlin had never seen anything like them - magnificent creatures, four times the size of a horse and intelligence in their eyes.
And the Dragon followed after.
Without thought, Merlin hauled Arthur to his feet, touching his face with a bandaged hand. "It has to be you. You have to show him, show them all who you are." He wanted so much to kiss him, to tell him how sorry he was and how he wished he could make it right with magic, how he was so ashamed of his weakness.
Arthur nodded and picked up his shield, his eyes shimmering in the fading light. They said: I know. I forgive you. I love you. "He was...right, you know. About magic and metal. About...us."
Merlin didn't have time to answer before Arthur was already striding towards Caradoc, swinging his sword as if he had already won. "Will you not face me, worm?"
Caradoc was watching the slaughter of his men in horror, but he hefted his sword in his hand. "You will pay for this, Pendragon. I will see you die." He charged towards Arthur; Merlin closed his eyes and concentrated.
My strength is your strength. My heart is your heart.
He opened his eyes to blue, flowing from his fingers towards Arthur, giving him everything he had. He could make Arthur strong again; he could give him what he needed to defeat Caradoc.
Sinking to his knees, he watched his Arthur move like lightening, the eagles wreaking destruction on the invaders, and the Dragon aim fire at Caradoc's flag upon the ramparts.
Camelot was burning. And it was beautiful.
~
Magic had returned to Camelot, and it was fighting on the side of the king.
Arthur tried to shut out the chaos around him, eyes focussed on Caradoc. A new warmth invigorated his limbs, driving back the pain and the fatigue; he could be in the village right now, just woken from sleep, receiving a kiss from his lover and ready for the day.
He moved like quicksilver, slicing Caradoc's wrist as he twisted away, knocking the sword aside with his shield. His body remembered the lessons of his youth, the days in the sun, committing every slight variation to memory.
Striking Caradoc's thigh, Arthur forced a cry from his opponent's lips, and he smiled. "You should not have come here."
Caradoc roared, meeting Arthur in a flurry of blows that should have exhausted them both, but Arthur remained standing, feeling as if the sun was just dawning, as if he another ten or twenty fights in his arm.
His sword caught his eye, the blue sheen causing it to glow, and he glanced back. Merlin was collapsed in a pile of robes, hand outstretched, thin threads of light connecting them. Their strength. Their heart. Their victory.
Arthur turned back and ducked Caradoc's blow, meeting him with strength. "This is for my father." He carved a line in Caradoc's cheek, earning a scream.
"This is for Camelot." A savage slice to Caradoc's sword arm, and the metal fell from his lifeless fingers. Arthur held out his sword, breathing hard.
"And this...this is for Merlin." With all his might, he swung the sword and it connected with Caradoc's neck, cleaving his head from his shoulders. And it was done, the triumph of magic and metal: a united Camelot.
The crowd cheered, unafraid of the monsters in the sky, all eyes on their prince. Arthur saluted them with his sword and started towards his sorcerer, but the blue lights faded and he stumbled, sinking to the ground. Merlin lay prone on the earth, unmoving, and Arthur couldn't summon the energy to reach him.
At what price victory?
~
The Eagles had the situation well in hand. There was another matter to attend to.
He glided over Camelot, drawing the eye of the city denizens and revelling in their shocked gasps. It was good to fly again.
And there they were, standing in the street, idly setting fires and laughing amongst themselves. He landed on a nearby roof and they looked up, a mixture of awe and fear on their faces. Good.
"You are a disgrace," the Dragon said coldly. The woman called Nerys sneered.
"And who are you to judge us? You eat people, monster!"
He spread his wings wide and watched them step back as one, some preparing themselves for battle. "The young Pendragon will unite Albion, and the boy Emrys will stand at his side. You know well this Destiny and still you would harm them. I will not allow you to live."
Nerys laughed. "And what are you-"
In a rush of flames, they were consumed. The Dragon took flight, soaring towards the arena, his mind at ease. They were unworthy to carry the name sorcerer.
Landing in the centre of the arena, the Dragon gazed mournfully at his two fallen charges and gently spread his wings over them. "Do not fear, young ones. Camelot is won. Rest now."