How It Happened, A Merlin Fan Fic
Hiya! I don't own Merlin. If I did, Freya and Lancelot would still be alive and Merlin's magic would probably have already been revealed. This is my first Merlin fic, because I'm obsessed. It was supposed to be a one-shot, but it might need another chapter. I don't know. This is how I HOPE, not how I predict, that Merlin will reveal his magic. Set post-season 4. Canon relationships and friendship only, thank you very much. Enjoy!
"So, what are my duties today, Merlin?" Arthur asked with a yawn as he pulled his shirt over his head, doing his best not to disturb the still-sleeping Gwen in the bed next to him.
"Speech to the Knights, council with Bayard, and then a trial . . ." Merlin trailed off, consulting his scroll.
"What kind of trial?" Arthur asked. "Because if it doesn't last too long, I was thinking . . . I dunno, maybe Guinevere and you and I could do something together . . ."
"It's a criminal trial," Merlin informed him. "A young man called Jonathan, charged with . . ." Merlin seemed to hesitate, squinting his eyes at the scroll in his hand. "Charged with sorcery," he finished. "He was caught using a magic light show to entertain his girlfriend."
Arthur almost laughed. "To entertain his girlfriend?" he repeated. "God have mercy on him, but he's not too bright is he? Can you imagine taking that risk for such a frivolous reason?"
He looked up to Merlin, who for some reason was wearing a faraway expression, and he was about to tease him for spacing out when Gwen spoke.
"Who's not too bright?" Gwen asked blearily, her eyes fluttering open. "Surely you're not already bullying Merlin at this hour?"
"Of course not," Arthur grinned, leaning down toward his wife and kissing her forehead. "We're talking about a sorcerer."
"Mm," Gwen said, shutting her yes again. "What did he do that wasn't bright?"
"Accidentally revealed his magic just because he wanted to use pretty lights to impress a girl," Arthur informed him. "Can you imagine?"
Gwen nodded. "Don't be too harsh on him, Arthur," she advised. "After all, Merlin was right when he said love does make you do strange things."
As Gwen lapse back into unconsciousness (they had had a hard day and she needed a break), Arthur frowned. This was the first sorcerer that had been caught for a long while who had not been trying to kill someone. He looked up at Merlin, who was silent and pale and gazing at the window wearing a strangely sad expression. "What do you think, Merlin?" Arthur asked.
"I think he seems harmless, Sire," Merlin replied immediately.
"So did Morgana," Arthur returned darkly, "before she knew of her magic." He sighed. "We'll deal with it when I come to it," he said finally. "First it was a speech to the Knights, wasn't it?"
Jonathan the sorcerer was around fifteen years old. He had pale skin with dark hair and dark eyes, and a boyish face and haircut. His appeal to the king was nothing short of pathetic. He began crying and pleading before he even spoke, and Arthur could not help but pity him.
He'd been brought in by a pensive-looking Leon and Percival, and followed by his accuser, a snobbish-looking merchant, his parents, and his blonde-haired, blue-eyed barmaid girlfriend.
"Please!" she pleaded to the King, after Jonathan himself had dissolved in tears and could say no more. "Have mercy on him! He would never use his powers to harm anyone! He is gentle soul! He can't help what he was born with, and the thing is, it can be quite beautiful!"
"Sire, if you let one sorcerer escape justice, there will be no end to it!" the accusing merchant countered. "Your father would never –"
"My father is no longer king," Arthur told him. He was so sick of wondering what his father would think, and having himself constantly reminded and compared to him. After all, he had wed Guinevere despite what his father would have wished, and he knew that had been the right path.
The eyes of Jonathan, his parents, and his girlfriend lit with hope. "But it is true that magic is still a crime in this kingdom. The law cannot be fair if it ignores one incident. So either the law changes . . ." Merlin, standing behind him, had started shaking; Arthur continued: "or I'm afraid Jonathan must be punished."
They all dissolved in tears again. "Have mercy, have mercy on our son!" pleaded the parents.
Arthur shook his head. "Leave me while I make my decision," he said, and Leon and Percival began to escort everyone out. He looked at Merlin, whose eyes were sad, and who looked like he wanted to hug Jonathan.
The moment the room was cleared except he and Merlin, he buried his face in his hand and heaved a sigh.
"What should I do?" he asked Merlin.
"Have mercy on him," Merlin replied immediately. "He meant no harm."
"But then I would have to change the whole law," Arthur said, "or otherwise it wouldn't be fair. He is a sorcerer . . ."
"Let the law be changed, then!" Merlin advised him. He had gone even paler, and seemed suddenly giddy and breathless. "Arthur, choose the path of mercy. You already promised to no longer hunt the druids. Why not extend it to all sorcerers? That boy – he couldn't help what he was, Arthur. Few sorcerers can. You are a merciful king."
"I lost both of my parents to magic, Merlin," Arthur countered. "And you saw what it did to Morgana! This boy may seem harmless now, but what will his magic do to him? What about when he grows resentful and decides to use it to get a better place in the world?"
"Then take away the reason to be resentful," Merlin told him, his eyes intense, his hands trembling. "Give him the respect he would like, show him a world where his gifts can be used for good!"
Arthur studied his manservant. He was panting and trembling and his eyes were twitching. "Merlin, are you all right?" he asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You haven't got a fever or anything?"
Merlin shook his head. "I just feel . . . strongly about this," he said. He took a deep breath, gazed straight into Arthur's eyes. "Arthur," he said, "be the better man. Show them mercy!"
"My father –" Arthur began lamely.
"Your father is no longer king! You can be a better kind than your father, Arthur. You are destined to be the greatest king Camelot has ever known, and this is the perfect opportunity to prove it!"
Arthur sighed. He had had these thoughts for some time; a notion that he could be a better king than his father. It contrasted harshly with his admiration and reverence to his father, but once again, he knew in his heart that Uther Pendragon had not been right about everything. Was it time to take this final step to separate himself from the old ways of his father?
"The thing is, Merlin," Arthur said, "every sorcerer I've encountered has wanted to kill me or my father. Every sorcerer I've ever known has been plotting against Camelot in some way. And don't even try to tell me that magic didn't corrupt Morgana . . . Now, if you could just show me one sorcerer, Merlin – one sorcerer who always used their powers for good. Someone I really trusted, whom I knew had a pure heart – if I knew there was one sorcerer who didn't have it in for the kingdom of Camelot, and I'd lift the law in a snap!"
He glanced over at Merlin again. He was now looking at him more intensely than ever; he looked nearly tearful. His chest was heaving like a bellows and his entire body had begun shaking.
"Merlin, are you sure you're all right?"
"I n—" began Merlin. "I n—I know such a sorcerer," Merlin eventually choked out.
He couldn't believe he had actually said it. After all these years, had the moment finally come? He felt himself shaking with fear and excitement and his heart hammer against his ribs. He hoped he could keep his voice steady; his throat felt as dry as week-old bread. But this opportunity could not be missed. A boy's life hung in the balance. If he could finally stop being a coward – and if Arthur was the sort of man Merlin hoped he was, that he had be to fulfill his destiny –
"You do?" Arthur asked confusedly, his brow furrowed. "Who?"
Merlin took a deep, steadying breath. It was time to say it. It was time to say it at last. He closed his eyes, felt his magic swirl soothingly through him, warming his blood, ready to show itself at last. "It's –" he began, and found his throat obstructed. He swallowed and tried again. "It's – no, I can't!"
He backed up against the wall, his mind in a panic. He couldn't say. He couldn't risk it. He just couldn't. His nerve was failing him. He wanted to run to Gaius and ask his advice. He couldn't go through with this! His secret must hold! He could feel tears stinging at his eyes and turned his face away from Arthur.
"Merlin," Arthur said, taking a step closer to him and placing that reassuring hand on his shoulder again. "Don't worry about incriminating them. I won't hurt them, I swear."
"But you said if you let anyone off, it would make a mockery of the law," Merlin choked out.
"If you show me this person, the law will no longer exist, Merlin."
Merlin steeled himself again and looked back into Arthur's face. "Alright," he said, knowing now there was no other option. The moment had come to reveal his destiny, and discover if he truly shared it with Arthur. "It's me."
So guess what I love! Reviews! Especially if you liked it, and MOST especially if you would like me to write another chapter. Otherwise it's unlikely I will have the motivation. Thanks for reading and supporting my work. :) Love to all!