S1E1

What the hell was that, Arthur wondered. Had he just imagined things or had Merlin's eyes just glowed?

"Do you give up," Merlin demanded as he swung the mace around.

The moron didn't even know how to hold it properly, Arthur mused. Merlin's attention was diverted for a moment and Arthur took his chance to knock him to the ground with a broom. He was angry and couldn't help but land a decent blow to Merlin's back and then make a mock show of sweeping the floor of him.

Guards rushed in to carry Merlin no doubt back to the dungeon. Arthur stopped them. "Let him go." The guards obeyed and released him. Arthur faced Merlin. "You might be an idiot, but you're a brave one." What was it about this stranger? "There's something about you Merlin, I can't quite put my finger on."

Merlin was fed up. He was tempted to enlighten Arthur. Why not? "I have magic," he said softly for Arthur's ears only. Merlin hadn't actually intended on saying that, but there it was. He held his breath.

Arthur gave a loud laugh. "You?!"

Merlin hadn't noticed when Gaius had ambled over to them. "Sire, do not listen to him. He has a terrible sense of humor."

"Oh I don't know Gaius, he made me laugh."

"Is he free to go then sire?"

Arthur waved them off with his hand.

Gaius was quick to comply. He shoved Merlin along.

Arthur couldn't shake an uneasy feeling. He was sure he had seen Merlin's eyes seem to glow earlier. Could it be possible that he did have magic? "Wait!" Arthur called out. "I have changed my mind. Guards! Take him to the dungeon."

Gaius was aghast.

"I'm sorry Gaius," Merlin managed out before he was jostled away.

Merlin got deposited back into the same cell that he had slept the previous night.

"I need a private moment," Arthur told the guards. Once they had left he walked into the cell to face Merlin. "Do you know why you are here," Arthur asked.

"Because you're a prat."

Arthur gritted his teeth. He lowered his voice. "No, because you claimed to have magic."

Merlin raised an eyebrow at this. "So why are you talking to me instead of your father?"

"Because I don't want a man condemned to death just because he foolishly falsely accused himself. And if my father got word that is just what would happen."

"The only foolishness is that magic is viewed as evil. It's neither good nor bad. Only men are. The same applies for knights and even kings! I was born the way I am. I have had to hide my whole life. When I finally confided in my best friend and my mother found out she made me leave the only home I had ever known. She sent me here to be safe."

"To Camelot?" Arthur asked incredulously.

"We didn't know about the ban on magic. I found out the day I arrived when I saw a man beheaded for it."

Arthur was unaware that he had started to believe Merlin. "Why didn't you just leave then?"

Merlin shrugged. "I had nowhere to go. I liked it here. I didn't think anyone would find out."

"Then you shouldn't go using it in fights against the crown prince!"

Merlin glared at him. "As if it was a fair fight otherwise. I had never wielded a weapon before." In his anger he moved suddenly and winced at where his back had been struck with the broom.

Arthur felt a pang of guilt. "Look, I know I will probably regret this but I am going to let you go free. I'm not even sure why." He stared at Merlin as if he could find the answers there. "But if what you said is true then you have to cool it with the magic."

Merlin couldn't feel gratitude through his self-pity. "Without magic what good am I?! If I can't use magic I might as well be dead."

Arthur gave him a disgusted look. "You really are an idiot aren't you? Now get out of here before I change my mind!" He moved aside from the doorway.

Merlin slowly walked towards the cell door. He paused to ask, "So you don't think I'm a monster?"

Arthur would normally toss out another insult but Merlin looked so dejected that he held his tongue to that. "I have always been taught that magic is evil." What else could he say?

Merlin nodded and left the cell.

"But," Arthur added, "You don't seem like a monster to me. Just an imbecile."

o

That night Merlin awoke in bed to his name being called, as had happened the two previous nights since arriving in Camelot. He decided it was high time to investigate the source.