Arthur's Grief
A/N: Apparently this is what happens after my exams are all over and they give me time off of work. Unfortunately, I just got around to writing it now. It definitely turned out differently than I had originally planned (isn't it funny how that goes?) But I hope you enjoy!
Denial
I have known Merlin for years. Thirteen in fact (although it seems like a lifetime to me. A lifetime of bad service, of cold meals, of late wake up calls, of never being there, of annoying chatter, of lies, and goofing off, and bad hunting trips, and cold baths, and, well, you get the point).
Nevertheless, there were thirteen years of Merlin being clumsy and stupid, and late, and lazy and a dollophead.
And saving my life.
But I am not mentioning that. Not now. Not here. And not in the traitors' presence.
Merlin had been loyal. And kind. And good. He couldn't be a sorcerer. Magic was evil, and Merlin was, well, decidedly not.
Merlin also couldn't lie to save his life. He couldn't. Really.
How could someone so Merlin (so Merlin that he actually was, indeed, Merlin) manage to fool him so completely? Nope, not a sorcerer.
Really.
The point is, there is no way Merlin could be a sorcerer. I'm most definitely not that dense (no matter what Merlin (and Sir Gwaine) says).