Merlin couldn't help thinking that Uther was enjoying this. He couldn't just have Merlin's head chopped off, instead he wanted to see Merlin burn. In the end, Merlin knew that he'd die. He could easily have let that witch kill Arthur, he could easily have broken out of his prison cell, he could easily escape this bonfire, he could easily extinguish the flames, but all of that would be proving Uther's point. Even if Merlin died he wanted to prove Uther wrong, just this once.
Prince Arthur of Camelot was trying to keep himself from shaking. Arthur didn't know if he was shaking out of anger, fear, or helplessness. He was angry that Merlin had lied to him. He was afraid to see Merlin die. He was helpless to save the man that he owed his life to, more so than he realized. He settled for staring ahead with a face void of emotion, with the face of a prince.
Morgana was seething. She had tried desperately to change Uther's mind. If there was one thing she knew, it was that Merlin wasn't evil. She'd petitioned Arthur to free Merlin, but Merlin's treachery had hurt Arthur to deeply. Morgana's only solace was with the dream she had had the night before. Another nightmare. Another glimpse. In that moment it was a dangling hope. Morgana prayed that this would end well. It had to. She'd never been wrong before.
Gwen and Gaius hadn't wanted to attend this display, but it was a display Uther wanted all his subjects to see. Gwen kept her eyes closed as the fire was lit, holding onto Gaius like a lost child. Gaius was holding back tears for the boy that was as close to him as a son. Both did their best to tune out Uther's words. "This is what happens to those that dare practice sorcery in my kingdom."
Uther would see this boy burn. Merlin had dared to practice sorcery in his very castle. In front of his very eyes. Merlin wormed his way into his trust, into the very heart of Camelot. Only to try to murder Arthur. This boy—this scum—this sorcerer would die slowly. He wanted Merlin to know that he could not be defied. Uther's word was law. This would remind them.
The Great Dragon awoke to a feeling of unrest. Something was shifting. Something was wrong. Something unheard of was awakening. The future was in pieces, and there could only be one reason for it. Only if the boy died. Emrys. The young warlock was in danger, and he would do nothing about it. The Great Dragon cursed at the boys stupidity. This would ruin every plan he had. Arthur would die. Magic would never return to Camelot. He would be trapped under this castle until the day he died. "MERLIN!"
Merlin hated the way The Great Dragon could yell at him, but Merlin was incapable of responding. He tilted his head to the Kings balcony. Uther was the picture of hatred, Morgana seemed to fidget calmly, and Arthur looked like the walking dead. The flames licked at Merlin's feet, and he knew that pain would not be far behind. The first burn was situated on the right side of his calf. Merlin screamed out in agony and ill restrained power. Merlin could feel his magic in the pit of his stomach. It yearned to lash out, to stop the pain, to cause the same pain to his tormentors. Merlin screwed his eyes shut and bound his power. He had to hold it in, he couldn't let his magic run free. That would accomplish nothing.
Merlin's scream tore through Arthur at inhuman speeds. He couldn't stand it, but he had to. It was his fathers will.
The Great Dragon felt Merlin's internal fight. He couldn't believe his stupidity. He could let go of his magic and be saved. Why didn't he save himself? How could the future of magic be held on the shoulders of a boy that refused to save his own life? The Great Dragon flew up to the ceiling of his prison and slammed his body into it. "MERLIN!"
The ground shook as Merlin's screams ripped through the morning air. Uther's eyes flashed with panic. "Fan the flames," he ordered his knights, "Don't think you can escape your fate sorcerer." Merlin was concentrating solely on keeping his magic under his control. He felt the ground shake in time with the roars of the Great Dragon. The people in the square were afraid. The ground itself protested this death, and Merlin's scream were that of a madman.
Morgana didn't look away from Merlin. The look on his face was not one of pain but of determination. She knew everything was happening as it should. She hadn't been wrong. Merlin would live. Gaius held Gwen up as the earth quaked. Gwen feared that this was Merlin's doing, that perhaps he really was evil. Gaius knew that the earth quaked by the force of the Great Dragon. He could hear it screaming Merlin's name.
The Great Dragon refused to stop his onslaught. He would continue until the boy broke. He would let that power save Emrys. If he survived than one day the Great Dragon could be free. "LET IT GO MERLIN!"
The bonfire was breaking apart, but it was already to late for Merlin. The fire was strong, the fuel plentiful, the pain unbearable. The ground cracked, and the people heard the screaming plea, "LET IT GO MERLIN!"
The fire swam and spun into a tornado with Merlin at the center. Merlin's eyes snapped open, flashing with gold and madness. This couldn't happen. The burns littering Merlin's skin healed in smoke, but his scream was the worst by far. "NO!" It was a plea, a declaration, a wish, a command, it was a scream that made even the Great Dragon flinch.
Uther didn't know what to do. The scum had turned his executioner into his weapon. There was nothing his knights could do. No one could go near him, not with that column of fire surrounding him. This was everything Uther had ever feared wrapped into one singular hell.
Arthur thought he was going mad. Merlin's screams left him in shreds, but the greatest pain came from his chest. Dare he say it came from his heart. It felt like his very soul was being smothered. It felt like Arthur was the one being burned alive, but the it paled when an untold of pain took hold within his mind. Memories and dreams flashed through his mind, seeing the world as Merlin did and watching all the things Merlin had done for his sake. For Arthur's sake. Arthur dropped to his knees, desperately trying to rid his mind of the pain.
Morgana was calm. Everything was fine. All would end well.
Merlin fell to the ground, slamming his fists to the stone. He was aware of it all. He knew what was happening to Arthur's mind, he saw Uther's fear, he felt the panic in the crowd. Merlin used everything he had left to pull his power back in. His eyes flashed a haunting blood-red, before the fire slammed into his body and the memories ran from Arthur's mind. It was back, it was over. Merlin lay in the middle of a circle singed into the courtyard. A scar etched it's way from the corner of Merlin's right eye to the nape of his neck. It was the only proof of the pain he had just endured.
The crowd stood in awe watching the boy from a distance. Gaius was speechless, he had never expected to see that kind of power from Merlin. Never before had he seen a creature of magic restrain their own power. Merlin really was like no other.
Uther regained his composure in seconds, "Kill him."
Merlin didn't know what to do. His instincts took a more feral turn. He had to run. Merlin didn't know where he was going, he didn't care to, he just needed to get away from the knights. His eyes flashed unceremoniously, and black shadows enveloped him. His world went black before he reached his escape.
Arthur saw Merlin mimic the spell of that woman so long ago. He knew Merlin was gone, but despite that something told him that Merlin was still close by.
