Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
A/N: A look at the parallels of Arthur's relationship with Merlin and Morgana's relationship with Gwen. All notes on characterization are welcome with open arms as this is my first Merlin fic.
More Than a Servant
I.
"I did nothing," she whispers, reaching through the bars in a sad attempt to hold me closer, to have something real within her grasp.
"I know," I reply, rubbing her shoulder as best I can. I shush her and calm her sobs, carefully hiding my own fear and rage, letting it simmer for my next meeting with Uther. I will not stand for this; I will do all I can to prove Gwen's innocence. She is a kind-hearted servant girl, not a vengeful sorceress.
"I must go now," I tell her, watching the guards out of the corner of my eye. She holds me tighter when I try to pull away.
"Don't leave," she pleads. Her voice is so choked with tears that it tears at me and I must roughly push her hands away and get away.
She must not see me cry.
"I'll get you out," I say, before hurrying away.
II.
Don't be a fool, Merlin, I think even as he speaks. The boy is a wonderful servant, he gets his work done quickly and efficiently, and he's finally learned how to put my armour on correctly, but, quite obviously, he's not very bright.
A servant accusing our honoured guest of treachery? It's unheard of. I try to put a stop to all of this, but it's already too late and the chalice is at his lips…and he's fine.
I let out a breath I hadn't known I'd been holding, but the relief is short lived as first I remember the conditions: should Merlin be wrong, he would be put to death; and then whatever poison Merlin had thought was there proved its existence, and he fell.
My cup.
I'm at his side in a moment.
Mine. It should have been me.
Merlin!
He was willing to die for me.
"Merlin!"
III.
Uther is infuriating. He's pacing before me, no doubt not listening to anything I'm saying. He never hears me. To him I'm just a foolish woman, his ward. He's not yet realized there is more to me than my beauty, but if he keeps this up, he'll soon find out.
"She is innocent, Uther," I say, keeping my voice level and controlled. "She's only a simple servant girl-"
"Her father is the only survivor, I cannot sit idle, Morgana."
"You cannot kill an innocent girl, either."
"She's only a servant." It's all I can do not to slap him. I clench my fists and glare at him, catching his eye for a brief moment before he returns to pacing.
"She's my servant."
"We'll find you a new one," he says, waving his hand dismissively, and I know that, for him, it's settled.
But for me it's only just begun, because Gwen is more than a servant. She is my friend.
IV.
He's so insistent, my father is. Telling me I can't ride out, imprisoning me for disobedience. His word is law, since he is king, and he wants to make damn sure we all know it, even me. After all, if his son disobeys him, what's to stop everyone else? He'd have a rebellion on his hands if they knew he couldn't keep me in line.
And I understand that, but he needs to understand me. Merlin risked his life for me, and that means something. I owe him this, if nothing else. Is it too much to ask that I at least try to save him? Reward him for his service in a way less morbid?
But, no, to my father, Merlin is nothing more than a servant; and watching that flower fall to the ground is one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do, helpless in the presence of my father to help my manservant.
No. Not my manservant. Merlin is more than that, he is my friend.