Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
I give in! Here's a second chapter for every single one of you who have begged for this to be continued!
I really don't know where this story is going, so general suggestions would be appreciated. Obviously, it is my story, so I'm going to add the details and plot that I feel works best, but I need to know where I'm going to end up. Is Morgana going to attack and have to be fought? Is another kingdom going to attack Camelot? Is Arthur just going to find Merlin and bring him back so they can convince Uther to restore magic? I can take the story somewhere if I'm given a place to go.
"Merlin!" Arthur called as he entered the physician's chambers.
Gaius looked up from his workbench calmly. "May I help you, Your Highness?" the healer asked. He raised an eyebrow in a clear sign of disapproval that Arthur had simply barged in.
Arthur was beyond caring at the moment, though. He wanted answers, and he wanted them now. "Where is he, Gaius?" the prince demanded. It was then that he noticed Gaius was packing a small bag.
"I'm here, Arthur." Merlin had just come out of his room. The raven-haired man had a larger bag on his shoulder, and he wore a grim expression. Arthur felt a chill of dread creep over him.
"What just happened, Merlin?" the prince finally asked when no one made a move.
Merlin set his bag near the door before turning back to face Arthur. "What did you father tell you?" He seemed rather detached in his tone of voice.
Arthur sighed loudly. "Nothing! Merlin, nothing. He hasn't said a word, to me or to Morgana. My father, the king, somewhat randomly picks a fight with my servant who," he glared sharply, "seems to be on the same page!" Arthur knew that he was almost shouting, but he couldn't seem to stop. "And you don't know your father!"
"It was the truth when I said that to you. I didn't know who my father was for most of my life," Merlin said quietly. He seemed to be sad more than anything. "Arthur, your father is going to kill me once he recovers from the shock. I'm leaving Camelot."
Arthur blinked at the news. Nothing made sense anymore. He only knew that he had to help his friend. "Wasn't there a reason that he shouldn't kill you?"
Merlin rolled his eyes. "Your father is just a bit too stubborn to see reason. My words might make him think twice, but he's too set in his ways."
"He seemed horrified when you walked out."
"Excuse me, Your Highness," Leon interrupted as he slowly entered the room. "I've been given explicit instructions to arrest Merlin and to treat him as a highly dangerous prisoner?" The last part almost came out as a question, and the knight seemed rather bemused by the whole ordeal. Arthur heard the jingle of other knights waiting just outside.
"Merlin isn't going anywhere until I get some answers," Arthur protested as Leon stepped forward.
Leon looked uncomfortable. "I must obey my king."
Arthur shook his head and sighed. "Of course, Sir Leon. I will continue my conversation with Merlin in the dungeons." Then he would get to the bottom of what was going on and have his servant released.
Leon looked relieved. Merlin sighed and walked out with Leon willingly. The latter didn't show any desire to restrain his friend.
The prince followed an impressive amount of twelve knights down to the dungeons with Merlin where the servant was locked up securely. "I would like a moment alone with the prisoner," Arthur commanded the guards.
Leon hesitated before nodding and following the guards out of the immediate chamber. The other knights had already left to resume normal duties.
"Merlin, explain," Arthur ordered.
The other man shifted positions nervously as he settled on the bench in the cell. Arthur leaned against the bars. "You should first know that my loyalties have always been and will always be to you and to Camelot," Merlin stated.
"I already know this." Arthur knew very well just how loyal his stubborn, idiotic servant could truly be.
Merlin sighed. "You should also know that Kilgarrah is the name of the Great Dragon, and that dragonlord abilities are passed down from father to son."
Arthur frowned at the seemingly random information before the name Kilgarrah triggered a memory from less than an hour ago. He slowly fit the pieces together as he remembered just what Merlin had said to the king. "No," he breathed.
"I would have told you, but I wanted to avoid this exact scenario." Merlin sighed again.
Arthur was focused on something else, though. "No man is worth your tears," he repeated his words from so long ago.
Merlin rolled his eyes, and Arthur couldn't fathom how he could be so lighthearted about the whole thing. "You aren't exactly the most sensitive person at the best of times. You did the best with the information you had, and I cannot blame you for a few inconsiderate words."
Arthur's eyes widened as the rest of their issues finally sank in. "Merlin, my father is going to have you killed. Dragon or not."
Merlin nodded. "Why do you think I was leaving? I'm actually shocked that you're still talking to me."
Arthur frowned. Merlin should have known better. "I was once willing to work with your father. I don't consider the powers of a dragonlord equivalent to the evils of magic. You know this."
Merlin looked sad, and a chill ran up Arthur's spine. "That's the thing, though, Arthur. The king is probably having my room searched as we speak."
"What will he find?" Arthur finally asked.
"Proof, at least in his mind, that I'm an evil demon that must be burned. I ask one thing of you, Arthur. Believe what you are about to see, and also remember that you do know who I am, it is simply what I can do that has been kept from you. I will not apologize, but I will ask forgiveness."
Arthur stood frozen as his friend's eyes began to glow with a golden light, and a wind picked up from out of nowhere. The air began to crack as if with lightning. Then, with a flash, Merlin vanished.
Please review and/or let me know where you want this story to go.
