AN: Merlin has yet to be mine.
Chapter 3: 5x05, The Disir. Set after Arthur asks Merlin whether or not he should allow magic back into Camelot.
Arthur sat staring into the fire while Merlin was off collecting firewood. He was taking advantage of his servant's absence to think.
Only a few minutes ago, he'd asked Merlin for his thoughts as to whether or not he should allow magic back into Camelot. Knowing Merlin's kind nature, he'd expected the man to suggest they give magic a chance. But instead, he'd said that magic should not be allowed.
At least, that's what his voice had said. But his eyes had been screaming something completely different.
Arthur had known Merlin for years now, and he could tell when something was upsetting his servant. Looking at his face, the king had been sure that Merlin had wanted to say yes, magic should be legalized, but instead he'd said the opposite.
He hadn't even given a reason! Merlin almost always gave reasons when he expressed his opinion - which he did a lot. No explanation or justification, just one sentence: "There can be no place for magic in Camelot."
Arthur thought back to some of his past experiences. There was Will, Merlin's friend from Ealdor. He'd saved Arthur's life, and the king knew that Merlin would never befriend a cruel or cold hearted person. And when the sorcerer had killed his father, Merlin had suggested that maybe he'd made a mistake, that he hadn't meant to kill Uther. Merlin was more forgiving than most people.
So the question remained as to why Merlin had said what he'd said. Most of the time, Merlin was keen on giving his opinions, but this time when Arthur had asked for his, he'd tried to avoid answering. And then he'd said what he clearly didn't want to. Why? With any other person, Arthur might have thought that they were afraid that Arthur would be angry with them if they even considered the possibility of magic being legalized. But Arthur had seen Merlin tell him off many times, daring to say things no one else would. Merlin was never afraid to give Arthur a piece of his mind.
Maybe he thought magic should be legalized, but he thought Arthur would still be biased? That he would never give them a fair trial, or be quick to blame sorcerers? Somehow Arthur didn't think so. It would still be better, in Merlin's eyes, than being executed no matter what, and it would be a step forward to accepting magic.
Then came a third, unpleasant possibility. Was someone threatening Merlin? Or perhaps Arthur? Maybe there was someone who really didn't want sorcery to return to Camelot, and was willing to kill to keep it from doing so?
Anger rose in Arthur as he thought about someone threatening his friend. Well, he would not play along. Merlin had clearly wanted to tell Arthur he should allow sorcery. So that was what Arthur was going to do. And after he gave the Disir his decision, he would demand that Merlin tell him if he was being threatened.
0o0
When morning came, the king and the servant trudged back to the cave where the Disir were waiting.
"Well?" came the cool voice of one of them. "What is your decision, Arthur Pendragon?"
Arthur took a deep breath. "I will allow sorcery back into Camelot."
"What?!"
Merlin's exclamation, louder than he'd intended, echoed around the cave walls. Arthur ignored him and looked straight at the Disir.
"I have made my decision," he said firmly.
The Disir were quiet a moment. "Very well," said the middle one. "The boy will die."
"What?!" Arthur shouted angrily. "The deal was my acceptance of sorcery for Mordred's life!"
"Yes, that was what you thought. However, we have seen the prophecies. Mordred was destined to be your death. Had you rejected magic, our punishment would have been to let the boy live."
Arthur had no response to that. Mordred was destined to kill him? Mordred was almost as bad as Merlin, the way he followed Arthur around like a loyal puppy! Why would he kill him?
Arthur was about to voice his doubts, but they died in his throat. The Disir had just chanted a spell, and a scene appeared on the wall behind them.
It was a battle. Dead soldiers littered the ground. Only two people stood standing, Arthur and Mordred. As they watched, Mordred ran his sword through Arthur.
The image faded. "That was the old prophecy," the nearest of the Disir said. "But with Mordred's death, a new destiny is emerging."
The scene faded back - except that it was a different scene. Arthur was standing on the balcony, standing next to Gwen, who was holding a baby. Both of them looked alight with happiness as Arthur announced the birth of their child to the joyful crowd. Merlin was there as well, standing next to Arthur in robes he'd never seen before, looking happy as well.
Then the image faded once more.
"Return to Camelot, young king, and do as you promised."
Arthur nodded. "I will. And...thank you."
He turned to leave. "Come on, Merlin."
He didn't notice Merlin's near-ecstatic grin, nor his dizzying relief.