Wants and Needs: Chapter 1
Title: Wants and Needs
Pairing: Arthur/OC, Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17 (for later chapters)
Genre: Angst
Word Count: ~1000
Disclaimer: I don’t own them, I just take them out to play every now and again. No copyright infringement intended
Summary: Arthur discovers Merlin’s Magic. Things don’t go well
Warnings:
Wants and Needs
Chapter 1: What the King Discovers
Neither could move nor say anything. Shocked silence weighed between them like a stone.
The golden light quickly faded from Merlin’s eyes as he whispered “Arthur. Please, just wait, please. I can explain!” The sound of Merlin’s voice broke across Arthur provoking a tidal wave of rage.
“NO!!! You ??? MAGIC ? You, all this time? NO!!” Arthur’s scream of pain and confusion tore at Merlin.
Merlin has seen Arthur move before. He has seen him move on the training field and in battle, but Merlin had never seen Arthur move quite so fast as he charged across the room, grabbed Merlin, and shoved him against the nearest wall, pinning Merlin across his neck with his forearm.
“Please” Merlin managed to gasp out as Arthur bore all of his considerable strength against his neck while Merlin’s toes scrabbled across the floor.
“SORCERER!!!” Arthur screamed into his face. Merlin could feel the spittle across his cheek.
Suddenly, Merlin did something he swore he’d never do. He used his magic against Arthur. He couldn’t breathe, or think, as his mind turned grey from lack of air, so his magic just pushed. It pushed Arthur away and sent him hurtling across the room. As Arthur crashed into the table next to the fireplace, all of the dishes come tumbling down, shattering against the cold stone floor. The noise alerted the guards outside the door, and they began to call for their King. Again, acting on instinct alone, his throat still burning, Merlin locked the door with a quick gesture. His only thought was to talk to Arthur, to try to explain. Arthur’s body coiled as he prepared to spring into action, but this time Merlin was ready, and his magic forced Arthur back to the floor. It held Arthur down as he struggled against the invisible bonds. Arthur felt like a puppet whose strings have been cut. He had never felt this powerless in his entire life.
“I never meant to use my magic like this. I never wanted … Please, you need to listen to me. I’d never hurt you, I just … I know magic frightens you, but you have to believe that magic isn’t evil. I’m not evil. Just because I’m powerful, it doesn’t mean I’d ever use it to hurt you. Can’t you see that?” Merlin pleaded.
Arthur couldn’t bring himself to even look at Merlin with those golden eyes full of magic. Those eyes represented all of Arthur’s hatred and fear. Now they glowed from the eyes of a man he had thought was his friend.
“By pinning me to the floor, you mean? Defenseless against your magic,” Arthur spat.
“No! Yes, well … You forced me to. I thought you were going to kill me, and I need to explain. You need to understand, I would never hurt you Arthur. Never. I never want to … I only tried to protect you. It’s my destiny to serve you and protect you, please understand!”
By now the pounding on the door had become a series of booming crashes as the guards tried to force their way through, but the enchanted door held firm.
“Oh, I understand. You used me. You waited, playing the idiot manservant until I became King. You used magic for everything, like a spider spinning its lies. You needed a puppet King, and you bided your time, weaving your poison until I trusted you. I trusted you and you've been lying to me since the moment we met. Oh yes, I understand everything now.” Arthur spat out as he finally raised his face to look Merlin in the eyes.
The hate pouring from Arthurs eyes almost killed Merlin as he stood there, still trying to gain control of himself and his magic. In that moment, as Merlin stared into Arthur’s eyes, that Merlin realized Arthur would never trust him again. Merlin lost everything he ever dreamed of. He needed to explain, but any words he could think of felt hollow. Merlin realized Arthur that would never listen to him again. With a sigh, he lowered his hands and felt his magic drain from the room and his body.
Suddenly, the door came crashing in and the guards came tumbling through, weapons drawn. They looked at the King crumpled by the fireplace and then at Merlin standing by the edge of the window, and they came to a halt, not knowing what to do. Arthur, realizing that magic no longer held him to the floor, sprang to his feet and immediately took control.
“Seize him you idiots. Seize him. He is a sorcerer! Bring into the dungeon. Use the iron shackles my father had made to bind him.” Arthur commanded.
Although the guards looked shocked and afraid, their training kicked in, and they sprang into action, grabbing Merlin by the scruff of his neck and dragging him off. Merlin offered no resistance. Arthur leaned against the fireplace trying to stop the pounding in his chest. The names of everyone who betrayed him kept swirling in his head: Morgana - his sister, Agravaine - his uncle, Gwen - no! Not Gwen, I need Gwen, she loves me, not Gwen too, but Lancelot yes - the man he knighted, he betrayed me. - - MERLIN.
Arthur lunged toward the bucket at the foot of his bed, and what little food and bile he had in his stomach rose through his throat and out of his mouth, as tears streamed down his cheeks. His entire body was shuddering as though he had been caught in a violent winter storm unprotected. He couldn't seem to get control of his body, remembering the helpless feeling as Merlin held him immobile, against his will. He wondered just how powerful Merlin, his friend, no -- that sorcerer -- really was.
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