Her hands are shaking, lips trembling but she forces herself to keep moving. She doesn't want to be caught wandering around the castle in the middle of the night, especially after what she's just seen.
Merlin has magic.
The sentence keeps repeating itself in her head, until she grasps it firmly, her fingers threading through her hair, closing her eyes, trying to undo the image her mind is processing.
Merlin, his eyes flashing gold.
Her first thought is confrontation. She always lashes out when she's feeling hurt or angry and this time is no different. He could have told her. Before sending her away to the Druids. Before they were all placed in danger and Agalin along with so many others were killed.
Her feet stop suddenly and direct her to Arthur's chambers. She can only imagine Arthur's reaction, him shaking his head, chuckling at her. No matter how much he deny's it, Merlin is his closet friend and he would automatically come to his defense. It certainly doesn't help that Merlin is a clumsy, babbling idiot most of the time. Hardly the first suspect in anyone's mind.
Her hand clenches into a fist, intent on rousing the slumbering prince but pauses before it touches the door. Her inability to think her plans through has lost her more battles than she cares to admit. Maybe there is another way. She shouldn't involve Arthur. Not yet. Merlin is her friend, no matter what and Arthur can be as rash as his father. Her feet change direction. She needs a plan that forces him to confess, without endangering anyone.
She reaches her chambers, closing the door quietly behind her and lays down on the bed. Her mind flashes once more to the incident that seems to have changed everything.
All she wants is some fresh air. She's been standing near the window for almost a minute when she hears footsteps, and quickly moves away from the open window into a shadowed alcove. That last thing she needs is Uther constantly at her shoulder, repeatedly asking if she's feeling well.
The footsteps move closer, and she squeezes herself closer to the wall. Her body automatically relaxes when she realises its Merlin, his hands full, and she slowly moves out of the shadows meaning to approach him.
She see's him glance around, still not catching sign of her, and suddenly he's muttering under his breath and his eyes are flashing gold and she cant seem to breath. It takes all her will power to take a few steps backward, back into the alcove. Her eyes fill with tears and she puts a hand on her mouth, forcing herself to stay quiet. Merlin stands there for a few seconds more, his magic having closed the window, then continues down the stairs, carrying his load of clothes.
Merlin has magic...Merlin has magic...Merlin has magic...
Her eyes fill up again, and she angrily sweeps the tears away. She forces herself to get comfortable and prays for a dreamless sleep.