Disclaimer: The BBC owns Merlin, but I would be their BFF if they gave me one of Morgana's cloaks!
This is just a little something I cooked up fairly late at night after watching 3x01 for the second time and loving that end scene.
Why does a lowly servant continue to risk everything for Arthur and Camelot?
Why indeed, Merlin asked himself as he struggled against the chains. He tried every incantation he could think of, but the metal links just grew tighter.
Because he believed in a fair and just land; a land that Arthur had the potential to create? That was the answer he had given Morgause and he used to truly believe it. He also believed it was his destiny to help Arthur, to protect him, to stand with him: two sides of the same coin.
All this so one day you can be a serving boy to the king?
Merlin froze as clicks and scrabbling noises echoed faintly around him, glints of reflected sunlight showing between the trees. He struggled harder against the chains, before giving up and bowing his head, breathing hard.
Morgause's words echoed around his head. Was that all he would ever be? Arthur's treated-like-rubbish-but-secretly-saves-his-life-using-magic-all-the-time manservant, forever having to hide who he was. At the moment that seemed very likely. Arthur had been treating him just as badly as ever, even tipping a bucket of water over his head only a couple of days ago, for goodness sake! And, despite moments of doubt, the Prince still hated magic as much as his father, even though Merlin had been trying to change that for the last three years!
The noises increased around him, and he stared in shock as hundreds of giant, gleaming scorpions emerged from the trees. The pincers snapped their way ever closer towards him and he shouted spells in desperation, throwing a few back and making the others more cautious, buying him some time.
He thought frantically, coming up with a dozen different plans and discarding them just as quickly. He knew he was going to die, even more certain than when he was poisoned or when he gave up his life for Arthur's. And even more certainly, he knew that his earlier thoughts were untrue.
He believed in Arthur, in the Once and Future King. Through the insults and the arrogance, he had seen the goodness, the loyalty, the bravery, the devotion to his people. Arthur had everything needed to make him the ruler of all Albion, and Merlin knew it was his destiny to bring it out.
And so he screamed, a wordless primal scream, defying anyone who might stand between him and his prince. A wave of magic rolled out with the cry, blowing back all the insects surrounding him. Well, almost all of them.
Merlin drew in his breath for another scream, but it was let out as a gasp as a sharp, agonising pain stabbed into his back and burnt through his veins. But the boy felt a keener pain in his heart as he realised his failure. He had failed to fulfil his destiny and now Arthur would die.
His feelings built up and up: his bitter anger, sadness, helplessness, frustration determination and a million other nameless emotions roiling around until, as the paralysis began to set in, he threw back his head and let out one last cry.
Ar...THUR!
Of it's own volition the scream deepened into a roar, and Merlin found himself crying out in the language of the dragons. Depleted, he bent down until his head touched the ground before collapsing sideways as his limbs went limp. His eyes peeked open to see the scorpions bearing down on him again, and then closed again.
Suddenly there was a roar from above and a wave of heat washed over the warlock. He rolled onto his back and tried opening his eyes again, only to catch a glimpse of golden eyes and bronze scales before the darkness rolled over him and he knew no more.
Please read & review, I love to know I'm bringing a little more happiness into the world!