Chapter Text
Merilin Pov:
Merlin flung open the blinds in Arthur’s room and shouted “Up and at ‘em lazy daisy”
Arthur moaned and flung one of his pillows at his servant who skillfully dogged the assault with ease earned from years of practice.
“Arthur you need to wake up, you have a meeting with your father and if you're late I’m going to be the one punished for it so move your sorry behind.”
“I could have you in the stocks for speaking to me like that!” Arthur mumbled indignantly as he slowly began to rise from his bed.
Merlin flitted about the prince's chamber picking up dirty clothing the royal prat had gracelessly discarded on the floor. Merlin began to mumble under his breath about useless royal prats and their tendencies to be clotpoles as Arthur stood up and walked to the table to pick at the generous selection of breakfast foods.
“Merlin do shut up,” the prince said around a strawberry. Merlin just rolled his eyes as he laid out the prince's clothing. After Arthur ate his breakfast minus a few sausages Merlin managed to steal, Merlin began to dress him while contemplating how a man got past the age of seven without learning how to properly dress themselves. Arthur should be embarrassed truly.
As if hearing Merlin's thoughts Arthur began listing off an impossible list of tasks for Merlin to complete.
“Merlin I need you to clean out the stables, walk my dogs, clean my room and of course I expect all of my armor to be shined and fixed before I make it to training after my meeting with my father.”
Merlin internally withered at the thought of doing all the tasks in the impossible amount of time given but bit back a snarky retort out of concern that Arthur would add even more things to his list.
After dressing Arthur Merlin set out to do his chores starting with the stables while the prince met with the king in a private meeting. He planned to finish up his chores by shining Arthur's armor and cleaning his room right before lunch, and hopefully, Arthur's meeting with Uther would last long enough that he could get away with speeding things along with magic.
Arthur Pov:
After leaving his chambers Arthur walked to the throne room to meet with his father. Arthur was already in a bad mood when he entered the throne room. Private meetings with his father rarely went well. Arthur was well aware of the topic his father wanted to discuss. His father had gotten a tip a few weeks ago that there was a secret sorcerer hiding in his court. Naturally, Uther immediately summoned his son and demanded he ferreted out the traitor as soon as possible. Every day his father grew more unpredictable as he raged at Arthur for not having found the traitor yet. Arthur had become increasingly worried that if he did not find the supposed sorcerer soon Uther would take matters into his own hands and begin executing anyone who he even suspected might have magic, which knowing Uther was anyone who breathed.
“Hello, father.” Arthur greeted the king with a slight bow. His father did not even bother to return the greeting before getting right to the reason he summed his son.
“Have you found any leads yet son? It is of the utmost importance that we discover the traitor at once.”
“I am sorry sire, but I have not yet found any leads. But I assure you I am acting with the utmost diligence, I am sure I will discover them soon.”
“That is what you have been telling me for weeks. I am starting to think I must take things into my own hands. I was a fool to trust something as important as this to you. You are nothing but a disappointment!”
Arthur winced internally at his father's scathing words. His father's words were nothing new but they still hurt to hear. All Arthur had ever wanted was for his father to be proud of him and yet nothing he ever did was good enough for the King.
“Father please give me another chance. I am sure I will find the sorcerer by the end of the week!”
Uther looked down at his son in barely masked disgust as he mulled over his words.
“Fine, you have four days to find this sorcerer. If you fail to do so I will need to resort to tried and true methods of getting answers. Now get out of my face. I do not want to speak to you until you have done your job.”
Arthur openly flinched at his father's threat. He knew the tried and true methods Uther spoke of were simply just torture. The man was mad enough to kill half of Camelot just to find one measly sorcerer who may not even exist. For the safety of every person in Camelot, he could not fail. He could not allow innocent people to suffer for a crime they did not commit.
Arthur left the throne room in an even worse mood than he had entered it, meetings with Uther truly never went well. On the bright side Arthur's meeting ended well before lunch as he had previously thought, it was unlikely Merlin was done with his chores yet, but he decided to go to his chambers to see if he could find his wayward servant. Being around Merlin always managed to fix the prince's mood, even if he refused to acknowledge it. His presence and cheeky remarks were like a balm to his soul, but if you asked Arthur he would deny any change in mood relating to his servant, except perhaps an increase in annoyance.
Lost in thought, as he imagined just what kind of teasing remarks he would bother Merlin with, Arthur opened the door to his room and froze seeing a mop move around his room on its own. His blood ran cold at the clear display of magic, he wildly looked around his chambers till they landed on Merlin who stared back frozen like a frightened deer. A strangled squeak escaped the servant's lips as the mop crashed to the floor. The noise spurred Arthur into action. He slammed the door to his chambers shut and unsheathed his sword holding it out as he marched up to his trembling manservant.
“You’re a sorcerer.” was all Arthur managed to choke out as he held the tip of his blade to his best friend's the traitor's throat.
Merlin Pov:
Merlin finished cleaning the stables and walking Arthur's dogs in record time. He managed to return to Arthur's chambers much earlier than he thought he would. Knowing that Arthur's meeting with the king would likely end at lunch Merlin decided he could get away with speeding things along with magic. After all, he had three candle marks before lunch, and even if Arthur’s meeting ended early there was no way it would end this early. Merlin set to repairing and shining Arthur's armor while carefully weaving protection spells into the metal. At the same time, he used his magic to fold the fresh laundry and mop the floors. Completely absorbed in his tasks Merlin had forgotten to place his usual wards that would warn him should anyone attempt to enter Arthur's chambers. That’s why when he looked up to see a furious and startled Arthur he froze.
Merlin let out a strangled squeak as he looked into the eyes of his master and saw nothing but contempt and hurt. All at once, his magic stopped and the only thought Merlin had in his mind was that he was about to die. Those thoughts were confirmed when Arthur's blade touched the sensitive skin on his neck.
“You’re a sorcerer” Arthur spat out with so much venom Merlin could taste it. He could not stop trembling as he stared up at his friend's face. This wasn’t how Arthur was supposed to find out, Merlin lamented, but it was too late for that. All he could do now was grovel and beg for mercy and hope that Arthur would be content with running him through rather than forcing him to burn on the pyre.
“Arthur I swear I was born with it, I use it for you only for you I would never hurt you or anyone of Camelot! I swear you need to believe me!” Merlin wailed while clutching the prince's pants as he collapsed to the floor. Tears stung behind his eyes as Arthur's sword tracked his movement, never leaving its target. Panic had fully gripped Merlin now as he continued to babble his promises and explanations to no avail. Arthur's face remained stony and unforgiving.
“You lied to me all this time,” Arthur breathed out, “YOU BETRAYED ME THIS WHOLE TIME!”
Arthur's blade dug further into Merlin's flesh and a thin stream of crimson began to leak out. Merlin whimpered acknowledging now that there was no way he would get out of this alive.
“Please sire, I used it only for you, if you decide I must die then all I ask is that you do it with your blade, please don’t send me to the pyre. I don’t want to burn, anything but that.” Merlin looked up at the man he once called his best friend, the man he was hopelessly in love with as tears streamed freely down his face.
“Why would you come here? You knew that if you used magic here you would be killed, why would you stay?” Arthur whispered his face now contorting to one filled with sorrow. His emotions battled clearly across his face.
“For you Arthur, I stayed for you, I- I had to protect you.”
“Was it worth it? Is your life worth it?” Arthur asked as he regained control of his face and forced it into a neutral expression.
“Yes,” Merlin breathed as he hung his head in acceptance of his fate.
Arthur turned on his heel and opened the door to his chambers and told the guard posted outside his room to let his father know he found the traitor and Merlin winced. It was unlikely he would be avoiding the pyre after all.
Arthur closed the door and walked over to where Merlin remained kneeling and hauled him up and dragged him to the dungeons himself.
Arthur POV:
Merlin, his Merlin, was a sorcerer. He had been lying to him this whole time. Merlin, the man he trusted with everything, his one true friend, the man he cared about above all others, had betrayed him. Arthur could only see red, Merlin's cries fell on deaf ears. All Arthur could think of is why on earth would Merlin come here. Why would he stay in Camelot?
Arthur didn't even remember asking Merlin any questions or what his answers were. He only felt a disjointed numbness, as if he was witnessing everything transpire while not being in control of his own actions or movements. He faintly registered blood trailing down Merlin’s long neck. There shouldn't be blood on his neck he distantly thought. The next thing he knew he was watching himself tell the guards to inform his father that he had found the traitor. Arthur wanted to scream at himself to stop, if he told his father there would be no saving Merlin, but then again did he deserve to be saved? Merlin was a sorcerer and his father had made it clear that he wanted blood. If he didn’t give up Merlin and chose instead to protect his secret then all of Camelot would suffer his father's wrath. Could he be that selfish? Could Arthur knowingly hide the sorcerer his father searched for as he tortured innocents just because he considered Merlin a friend? Could he even consider Merlin a friend? After all, the man was a sorcerer and had lied to him about it for years. He had betrayed him there was no way he could be a friend.
Arthur knew magic corrupted, perhaps at one point Merlin was his friend but now that he was practicing magic his soul had already been tainted. Despite how painful it would be Arthur knew he had to condemn Merlin to death, even if he wanted to change things there was no way to undo his actions now. His father would find out soon enough.
He grabbed Merlin by the arm and began the death march to the dungeons while a small part of him screamed and begged to release Merlin and to let him escape. However, the part of himself that was raised by Uther remained strong and howled with blood lust demanding to watch the traitor burn for his crimes.
They shuffled quietly to the dungeons and Arthur unceremoniously tossed Merlin in. He crashed onto the floor with a thud. He could faintly hear the smaller man sob as he reached for the cold iron manacles and cuffed Merlin before locking the door. Arthur felt sick as he turned to leave the dungeons not turning back, knowing his resolve would weaken if he did. Arthur knew that if he were to turn and look at the man he once considered a friend now he would fling open the cell and allow him to escape, but it was too late, he had already chosen the path he would go on. Even if he were to try and free Merlin now, Arthur had already ruined his life. His father would stop at nothing till he found and killed him, but Merlin had no one to blame but himself. After all he was the one who choose to turn to magic despite knowing what it did to those who practiced it.
Arthur aimlessly wandered the halls of the castle not sure what to do with himself. All he could think of was Merlin’s face as he realized he was going to die. The look of pure acceptance and sorrow on his face even as he did nothing to fight it. Merlin was a sorcerer he could have fought back, he could have easily escaped Arthur thought bitterly as he clenched and unclenched his fists. Why didn't he just escape or fight back Arthur thought as he punched a wall in anger. If he had, perhaps he would not feel as confused as he did. He raised his hand in surprise as he felt something hot and wet fall down his face. In the empty hallway, Arthur felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. The feeling of betrayal stung as Arthur kept replaying the sight of his manservant practicing magic.
Perhaps he should have waited and listened to Merlin instead of immediately sealing his fate. No, if he had it would have only given Merlin a chance to enchant him, he had done the right thing. Arthur had simply followed the law and protected others from his father's wrath. With a shaky breath, Arthur picked himself up and stood tall. He had to report to his father first, then he would deal with his wild emotions.
Arthur marched into the throne room for the second time that day and was greeted by a jovial Uther.
Uther rose and opened his arms to his son, “Is it true? Did you find the sorcerer?”
Arthur merely nodded numbly. Uther showered his son with accolades for finding the traitorous sorcerer.
“So who was the traitor? I truly am impressed, son.” Uther asked warmly still smiling down at his son. Arthur faltered at his father’s praise. It was something he had craved for so long but now it just felt wrong, tainted somehow.
“It was my manservant, I found him using magic to do his chores when I returned to my chambers,” Arthur choked out.
He struggled to breathe at the thought that he had sent his best friend to death for merely using magic to do his chores. ‘No he was doing magic, he was corrupted like all sorcerers are, he betrayed you he deserves to burn. Even if his use of magic was innocent now he would have used it for evil as all sorcerers do eventually’ the small voice in his head reasoned seductively. How Arthur wanted to believe that small voice, he clung to its logic as a lifeline.
Uther scowled at the information, “To think I was the one who placed a sorcerer so close to you, my son. But soon enough the traitor will burn and we shall be able to put this behind us. I am sorry I do know you were fond of the boy, but sorcery corrupts the soul he can not be allowed to live.” Uther had placed a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. Arthur merely returned his father's gesture with a solum nod.
“I admit it was a difficult blow, with your leave I would like to retire to my bed chamber sire.”
“Why of course son, we will discuss the execution of the sorcerer tomorrow after you have had some time to think. I am proud of you son.”
Arthur nods in thanks as he turns to leave. Arthur finds himself once again walking around the castle aimlessly. Just this morning Merlin was stealing sausages off his plate and now he was in the dungeons expecting execution. Arthur was pulled from his thoughts as he found himself in front of Gaius’s chambers. He felt dread pool in his stomach. Gaius, someone would have to tell Gaius that the boy he loved like a son was going to be executed and that it was all his fault. No, Arthur admonished, he was simply following the law! Merlin was the one who did something wrong not him. Arthur could not help but wonder if Gaius knew that his nephew was practicing magic in Camelot. Perhaps Gaius was also guilty. Arthur felt rage at the idea of the two conspiring against the crown all the while Arthur blindly trusted them. Bile rose in his throat and he turned and ran from the familiar door. He could not face Gaius, not while his emotions were so volatile.
Arthur stopped running panting as he felt the familiar wet heat on his face as the tears returned. Arthur knew he shouldn’t feel this way. He shouldn’t feel guilty, this wasn’t his fault! It was Merlin’s fault, Arthur was just following the law, Merlin was the one who decided to use sorcery in Camelot. He was the one who betrayed him! Merlin had lied to him for years! He was the one in the wrong!
“For you Arthur. I- I stayed for you, I had to protect you” his mind supplied, reminding him of Merlin’s words back in his chambers. Words Arthur had refused to hear at the time.
Arthur knew he couldn't be alone right now, if he was, he was sure he would fall apart and drive himself mad. He needed someone to tell him that what he did was right, someone to tell him that he has no reason to feel guilty. Yet despite knowing what he needed to hear Arthur found himself in front of Morgana’s chambers. Arthur was no fool, he knew that Morgana disagreed with their father’s stance on magic. He also knew that Morgana was quite fond of Merlin. If anyone were to tell Arthur he did the right thing it would not be her.