AN: Nope, still not mine.
0.0 wow. Thank you all for the reviews/favs/follows after only the first chapter! You guys are awesome.
Now, when I started writing this, I had my own ideas of what Arthur and Merlin's worst fears would be. I'm sure many of you can think up other things they are more afraid of, but I chose these specific ones for the purpose of this fic.
Also, in the visions, the POV for this one is Merlin seeing it from Arthur's POV, but Arthur can also see it (hope I didn't just confuse you too much). The next chapter, in which they see Merlin's fear, is Arthur seeing it from Merlin's POV.
Anyway, enjoy!
Merlin closed his eyes nervously as Farah began the incantation. He suddenly had the strange sensation of being sucked through a dark tunnel. Feeling slightly disoriented, he blinked his eyes open.
He was in the throne room. A sword was at his throat and he was being forced to kneel. Looking up, his stomach churned. Morgana was sitting on the throne, a triumphant look on her face. A little ways away, Gwen, Merlin, Gaius and the knights were also being held at swordpoint.
"Morgana..." his voice was different than he was used to. "Please. Do whatever you wish with me, but let them go."
She smirked. "Why, Arthur, they were never in any danger from me."
He felt immensely relieved. At least until she spoke again and his world shattered.
"After all, why would I harm them if they were helping me?"
All the rest were released, and they pointedly ignored the king as they walked forward towards Morgana, not showing the slightest sign of fear.
Again. It was happening again. With all of them. Had he even ever had real friends at all?
"Guinevere?" he said, his voice cracking.
She turned her beautiful face to him, and there was no sympathy in it.
"Oh dear," chuckled Morgana. "It seems he's still under the impression you love him."
Gwen snorted, and Arthur felt the shards of what had once been his heart crack again.
"Gaius?"
The old man shrugged. "What can I say, Arthur, I'd rather Morgana was queen." His indifference to Arthur's pain was so clear. The cracked shards splintered.
"Leon? Elyan? Gwaine? Percival?" They were knights of Camelot, surely they would see sense?
But they shook their heads. "We will not serve a king who cannot protect his own kingdom," Leon said coldly. "We serve the Lady Morgana now." The splintered shards were reduced to tinier pieces.
Finally, trembling uncontrollably now, he turned towards Merlin. Merlin, the one person he trusted the most. He wouldn't believe it. Merlin and his insanely strong loyalty would never betray him...right?
"Merlin?" He was aware the whisper was pleading, but he was beyond caring.
Merlin, of course, being the girl he was, was the only one who looked sympathetic. Sympathetic, but not sorry.
"Sorry, Arthur. Looks like you're on your own on this one."
The shards were reduced to ash.
On his own. Yes, that's what he was. Because he had no one left. They had all betrayed him. He had trusted so foolishly...
And now, all he would get for his trust, his friendship, was the rest of his life in his own dungeons.
Alone.
Merlin jerked away from the rush of emotions from the dream. He suddenly realized his cheeks were wet. He took a steadying breath and shook his head as though trying free it from the onslaught of pain.
He looked at Arthur, who hadn't moved. He had clearly seen the vision too, for he was standing, apparently frozen in his spot, his eyes wide and staring as though he could still see all his friends bowing to Morgana, horror radiating from him. Merlin understood his fear instantly. Arthur had already been betrayed by two of the people closest to him, and he couldn't help fearing that others would betray him as well.
"Arthur."
The king didn't react.
"Arthur."
The royal blinked, finally focusing on his servant. And Merlin suddenly realized that there was uncertainty in his gaze. The vision had affected him so much, he was actually wondering if Merlin was secretly betraying him now. Merlin hadn't realized just how badly past betrayals ha affected his friend.
"Arthur, it was just a vision. It's not real, remember? None of us would ever do that. We're not all Agravaine or Morgana."
Some of the tension left his master, but he still looked deeply troubled.
"Arthur. It's me, Merlin. I promise, that dream you just had will never become reality."
Arthur just closed his eyes and nodded jerkily, but Merlin saw that his words were sinking away and driving away some of the uncertainty.
Farah had stepped back to give them a moment, but now she came forward again.
"Let's do Merlin's now, shall we?"
