A/N: My muse seems to be wounded so I've started this little collection of themed shorts as therapy of a kind. Hope you enjoy :)


The thing about coins is they have two faces but never see eye to eye.


"Can you at least try to be reasonable about this, Arthur?"

"I am being reasonable Merlin- and I hardly think it's your place to question that."

The man had clearly been working magic on his neighbor's crops.
His own field had been prospering while the rest of the village was suffering from what appeared to be a blight of some kind.
He had claimed that he was only trying to help, but either way magic was against the law.
The man had had a fair trial during which he had confessed to working magic and Arthur had upheld the law, condemning the man to death.

"Not only was he seen working magic, but he also confessed! You know the law, Merlin, there's nothing more to discuss."

"But what if he could make the crops fertile again- what if he has? I heard that they improved after he was seen."

Clearly Merlin did not know the meaning of the phrase 'nothing more to discuss'.
Arthur was losing his patience.
"And did it occur to you that the fields may have improved because he was caught and could no longer curse them, hm?"

Normally the servant would be more willing to trust in his king's good judgment, willing to be patient and gently prod him in the right direction; but lately he'd been seeing less of the Once and Future King and more of Arthur Pendragon, son of Uther the magic-hater.
Had all his efforts been for nothing? Was he making no progress at all?

Not looking up from the papers on his desk, the royal took the silence as acquiescence and continued in a condescending tone.
"Glad to see you've gained some small amount of sense. You know, you really should listen to me more, Merlin, I am your King."

Lips pressed together and face growing white with fury Merlin turned abruptly and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Arthur looked up at the sound, brow furrowed in confusion and disapproval.
"Merlin?"