Right, cliched. I know there's a lot of fics like this out there, but I just wanted to try it.
Merlin fics aren't my forte.
When Merlin is led away, he does not resist. He knows it would only make the situation worse. He doesn't look sad, doesn't look surprised. Doesn't look scared. It's like he knows that this would always be the outcome. The guards drag him to the dungeons and the only thing he sees before being lead away from the plaza are Arthur's eyes. He forces the prince to break the steely gaze that he is holding and Arthur does.
The cells are dirty and damp. He's been there before and he's always wished that he would never have to return. But fate is cruel.
The next day, on the day of Merlin's execution, a guard descends to the dungeons. The cell is empty and an all-out search of the city is made. Every last place and crack is searched. Arthur denies having anything to do with it.
Years later, Uther Pendragon passes and Arthur is made king. It's the night of his coronation. Selected knights attend, along with the courtiers. Guinevere, for once, does not stand around and cater to other people's needs. Her place is next to Arthur, as the future queen.
The hall is lively and warm. People talk and laugh, trying to remedy the loss of the old king and glorify the coming of a new one. Suddenly, a woman lets out a shriek. The hall instantly quiets. Everyone turns and whirls, scanning for whatever danger there could be. Then, as Arthur turns around, he sees a dagger rush towards him. Frozen in shock, he just stares at the blade quickly slices towards him.
"Siste!"
The word rings loud and clear through the room. The dagger stops inches from Arthur's head and clatters to the ground. The king watches as metal hits stone and then looks up, searching for the owner of the word.
Just like that, the sea of people parts and at the end of the hall he sees that daft old face with the flop of black hair. A hand is outstretched, keeping a burly man with a bushy beard in an invisible prison. "Sire," he acknowledges. Then a smile creeps in. "Or should I say prat?"
"Hey," Arthur retorts, gesturing his goblet. "You'd be dead if it weren't for me."
"I would have managed."
Arthur snorts and motions. "Guards," he calls. They move in to grab at the raven-haired boy. "Not him," Arthur quickly said with a small laugh in his voice. The guards led the burly man away from the festival.
Arthur walks up to him, handing the raven-haired boy a goblet. "A toast!" the new king declares. "They say to learn from mistakes and although my father was great, he had made many like all of us, because we cannot change who we are. But today marks the day to rectify that mistake. Today, is a new era with a new king and a new Camelot. Today is that day, magic will return to Camelot."
The crowd seemed tentative at first but Gwen raised her goblet. "For Camelot!" she cried.
"For Camelot," Arthur agreed.
A couple of people joined in as well until the entire hall was ringing with cries. "Nice speech," Merlin complimented under the shouts.
"I've had practice," Arthur shrugged.
"Really, without me? How'd you manage?"
"Shut up you idiot."
"Likewise prat."
"I could have you executed."
"You just repealed your father's law and I just saved your life… again. Don't think that's going to happen."
Arthur rolled his eyes and clinked glasses with Merlin.
It was the dawn of a new age.
Siste = imperative for stop in Latin.
Thought about using forms of "congelo" aka "freeze" but it really means "freeze" as in cold freeze