What if Morgana had noticed Merlin move in the throne room in The Sword in the Stone Part 2 – 4x13
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Wow! The response I have received from this is amazing. I can't actually believe my eyes. The first morning after I posted, I woke up to 30 emails! Thank you so much to everyone that has reviewed, you have really spurred me on to write this next chapter.
Thanks to Shadowdragon1317 for her help. She is amazing every time.
Sadly, I missed Colin at The Tempest, he was ill. The show still went on however, and it was absolutely fantastic. Gutted I never got to meet him though.
Not even Emrys can save you now – Chapter 2
"YOU!"
"Merlin!" shouted Arthur again as he ran quickly to his servant. He looked at Morgana from where he knelt on the floor. "What did you do to him?" he demanded, putting a hand on Merlin's shoulder. Merlin was panting in pain and gritting his teeth. He felt as if his body was searing with writhing flames. Neither his smile, nor the lightness of his features was burned away. His face warped into a mask of terror, spasming in the heat that flooded through his skinny frame.
Morgana ignored Arthur completely and spoke to the pained Merlin with venom dripping in her voice. "You." she spat as she pointed her finger towards the manservant writhing upon the floor. Her eyes flooded with rage, but inwardly fear fluttered to her icy heart. "What have you done to my magic?" The sorceress was practically shaking with seething hatred as the emotion bubbled in her small body.
She thought back to when she had seen Emrys in the castle. He must have been here for a reason. He was the one who had obstructed her magic and who had tried to intimidate her. The witch came to the only conclusion she could fathom. Merlin was in league with Emrys by torturing her for him. Not that it should surprise me. He did poison me. "Oh, I see." she teased with a sneer and a slight laugh. Watching him writhe at her feet was absolutely pleasurable. "You're working with Emrys, aren't you?"
Merlin could feel her anger. The magic he was blocking was pushing against his own, fuelled by the hatred Morgana was feeling. The power behind it was immense. He tried again to lift himself off of the floor again but failed. The imaginary fire had abated, but her burst of power from earlier had weakened him. Yet he still was surprised at Morgana's power. It nearly matched his own.
"Who the hell is Emrys?" yelled Arthur from his servant's side, interrupting Merlin's thoughts. Why had Morgana said that this 'Emrys' wasn't here to save him now and how was Merlin involved? The king didn't care who replied, he just wanted answers. He wanted to know what was going on. And why his half-sister's black magic only affected his manservant.
Morgana was first to answer Arthur, yet she still kept eye contact with Merlin and refused to let him out of her sight. "Emrys," she paused, appearing to swallow back her terror of him "is the sorcerer; the only thorn in my side that beyond any reason I can comprehend, decides to protect you, Arthur Pendragon."
Arthur was now extremely confused. A sorcerer? Protecting the son of a man determined to eradicate the entire species of magical creatures? Impossible, he would've said. Unthinkable even. But with the recent years of the sorcerers, creatures, and bandits, Arthur seemed to notice something. A tree branch falling at random, a bench flinging at two bandits, a sword flying from a false knights' hand. The memories spread out in different periods of his life. They repeated and stopped whenever something magical apparently happened. The future king berated himself. How could he be so blind? The evidence was before his eyes! He was just too ignorant to see it clearly! But the young prince realized with a shock that a sorcerer must have been protecting him. No normal man could perform those monumental fetes.
"Tell me Merlin," she continued, her green eyes reflecting a merciless glare "Why is it that this sorcerer risks everything to save the very person, that if they found out who and what they were, would be burnt at the stake for simply existing?" The traitor paused a moment and when none spoke up, she laughed at his silence.
"Come now, you must know the answer. You are helping him after all."
Merlin was fully aware of the other people surrounding him at this moment. Gwen, Tristan, Isolde and Helios, were all keeping clear of the exchange, but they were also standing on guard, ready to be called upon if needed. The fighting would still be continuing outside and in the state he was in, he saw no choice but to answer, even if that meant revealing some of the truth.
"Emrys," Merlin began in a serious voice Arthur hadn't even known existed. It sounded so strong and so 'un-Merlin'. "Protects the once and future king because he is destined to unite the lands of Albion. Together, they will bring peace and magic back to the land."
Arthur stood and took a step back from Merlin. "Merlin, I don't understand?" he said, "You're admitting to conspiring with a sorcerer? How could you betray me like this?"
The manservant wouldn't look the king in the eye. A silent tear trickled down his face and fell onto the marble with a distinguished plop.
"Oh, Arthur" Morgana cut in, "Betrayed by your own servant. How devastating that must be! How pitiful as well!" The pure glee was evident in her voice, which sickened those listening. The former ward to the king smirked and sat back upon her stolen throne ready to watch the show. Helios joined her at her side, slightly entertained at Arthur's pain.
Merlin turned stiffly from his position on the floor to look at Arthur. "I would never betray you. Arthur, you are the once and future king. It is your destiny to unite the lands of Albion with Emrys by your side. Please listen to me!" he begged his friend to forgive him for all of the secrets and lies. To listen to what Merlin had to say.
Arthur shook his head and run his hand through his hair. "Magic is evil…." Emrys winced at the three little words that changed fate itself. That slaughtered hundreds and ruined lives. The one phrase that brought hatred to those who had a gift. And a gift like magic didn't deserve to die at a noose or to burn in a pyre.
"Magic is a tool." Merlin tried to reply calmly. "It's like a sword. It can be used for both good and evil; it is how you use it."
"How do you know this sorcerer isn't evil, Merlin?" Arthur questioned harshly "It could all be a trick."
"I know" he replied quietly and honestly.
"HOW, Merlin? HOW?" exasperated Arthur. He was getting more frustrated. How could a sorcerer be good? All his father had ever taught him is how magic should be feared. It's dangerous. Why was this 'Emrys' protecting him?
Merlin stayed silent, unsure of how to respond. Was this it? Was this the right time for the truth to be revealed? He took a quick glance at Morgana. All hell was going to break loose. All because of a prophecy that influenced his decisions. And of his former friend's newly tainted heart.
At least I won't take this cursed information to my grave. Arthur will at least know who I really am. Not the lies spread by his father, but the truth. From me at last.
Merlin sighed, bringing the attention of the group back to him. The tension in the room was almost suffocating. Yet he remained vigilant and spoke four words that would change cruel fate yet again.
"Because I am Emrys."
I hope you all liked the chapter! Again, please review! :)
