Forced Out
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Agravaine, (mention of Gwen and Lancelot)
Summary: This is set during the Lancleot du Lac episode in series 4. This is based at a time where Merlin's influence with Arthur is being rapidly undermined by the devious Agravaine. Merlin is really having to fight, so we actually see some maturity from him. There will be quite a few of these from series 4 as it's among my favourite series.
Merlin had never felt so powerless, as he stood there listening to Agravaine wipe the floor with his friends. He could feel his anger on the surface, a number of occasion almost intervening. Only a tiny semblance of common sense stopped him from doing so. He hated the fact that he could do nothing at this moment.
As he watched Arthur under the assult of Agravaine's words, he could only guess what was going through his mind. For the first time, Merlin felt his influence with his friend being slowly but surely undermined. Agravaine by now strutted around like a peacock. He knew Arthur would listen to him, he knew exactly how to get to Arthur's weakness and turn it.
By now Merlin knew that Agravaine was not what he claimed to be, he was no friend of Arthurs. But he knew better then to suggest it, without real proof all he could do was stand in frustration while Arthur continued to heed his every advice.
He had watched helplessly over the last few months, as Arthur followed virtually everything his uncle had suggested. Merlin could sense that Agravaine wanted to weaken Arthur's rule. Not that Arthur realised it and Merlin shuddered to think what was going through the young King's head at the moment in time.
Meanwhile Merlin struggled to retain any influence over Arthur at all. Indeed the last few weeks he had been snapped at and treated with comtempt. Arthur had even allowed Agravaine to weave a story about Gaius being a traitor to Camelot. The thought of it made Merlin's anger begin to increase even more, as Agravaine's tirade contiuned.
So far he'd wanted Gwen executed and Lancelot to die a slow and painful death. Merlin folded his arms in frustration, but all he could do was glare at Agravaine, and pray that Arthur would see sense and make his own mind up.
He feared just how isolated he would become in Camelot, as he continued to lose his friends. Worse than that he didn't understand why it had happened. Gaius and he knew this Lancelot was a shade, he suspected that was Morgana's doing, but it still didn't make any sense that Gwen would react the way she did. She was due to marry Arthur the next day. Merlin knew that Gwen loved Arthur, and wanted to be Queen.
It that wasn't bad enough, Lancelot's character was being destroyed. That left Merlin feeling both angry and resentful. This was his best friend, a man who had known Merlin's secret and kept it safe and now everyone would think badly of him, when Merlin knew the real Lancleot had died a hero's death and stopped the Dorocha, a few months back. The unfairness of it all, stung his eyes.
In the end he knew he would have to trust in his friend, and just hope that he made the right decision himself. He had done everything he could, as he walked out of Arthur's chambers he just hoped his friend's true character and fairness would shine through, and for once block out Agravaine's hate.