I can't tell you guys how strange it is to talk to anyone about writing. I usually keep it hidden away, as if I don't write stories.
Tell me, do most writers not like their work to be shared among people they know?
Anyways, I'm thinking this story has two, maybe three chapters left?
Here it is:
"He isn't just a sorcerer Arthur!" Gaius snapped, looking at him with disapproving eyes. "He is magic itself, magic in human form. He was born with it, and always has been living in fear of being found out. He didn't know the damnedest thing about sorcery when he came to Camelot, all he knew was that he had powers, and not once has he used them to defy Camelot or it's King. Arthur, he even protected your father at times."
"How does he know so much now compared to before he came to Camelot?" Arthur asked, looking at Gaius in suspicion.
"Someone had to teach him something." Gaius stated, not sparing Arthur another glance as he went to take a look at some herbs.
"I didn't think you ever practised sorcery-" Arthur shook his head in disbelief.
"Your Father kept me around only because I renounced myself as a sorcerer and swore never to use it." Gaius said. "I still haven't, well, not really. I've used it on Merlin a few times when I didn't think he'd make it through the night without dying."
"Why'd you teach him sorcery?" Arthur asked. "Does the law mean nothing to you?!"
"I taught the boy sorcery because he needed to learn how to control his powers, Arthur." Gaius said, turning to the King.
"He could have just trusted me, Gaius. You should have told me."
"It wasn't my secret to share." Gaius snapped, "He has come home several times since he's been in Camelot, Arthur, and every single time he was pretty much dying."
"If he was in such bad shape, wouldn't someone have told me?" Arthur asked, "I know Merlin, and he never once complained about being injured, or in pain."
"Of course he wouldn't." Gaius sighed, sitting down. "Now, Arthur, can you leave an old man to rest? I have no intentions at all to continue this with you until you act calmly and not so rashly."
"Gaius, you're leaving me no choice. If you don't comply with me, I'll have no choice but to lock you away too." Arthur said, almost wincing underneath the old man's sharp gaze.
"Do as you wish Sire." Gaius snapped, "Anything to get some quiet and peace." Arthur winced, hearing the words clearly, even though the man had mumbled them. "I did nothing wrong, but show a young warlock how to control his powers so he couldn't harm anyone."
Arthur sighed in irritation, running a hand through his hair as Gwaine stormed into the room. The two looked up at the knight who had slammed the door open and closed in a fury, his jaw clenched and his fists balled up. Gaius gave him a dead pan look that both the boys flinched under.
"Not in here, now both of you, out." Gaius snapped, "I am going to bed, and in the morning I am going to tend to Merlin's injuries, for he is a patient of mine and that's final."
"Can't he just heal his own damn wounds?!" Arthur yelled. Gaius smirked in annoyance, looking at Arthur as if he was an idiot.
"He's horrible at healing sire. If he was any good he'd have healed you those several times you were injured." Gaius said, "If he were to dare try healing I daresay he may make it worse. Now, leave an old man alone." The two boys hightailed it out of the chambers, the two tensed, and ready for the other to speak up.
Arthur couldn't bring himself to look at the knight, hardly able to stand being himself at the moment. Merlin had to have been struggling more on the inside than he was, and he had no idea what for. He wasn't the one who was betrayed and lied to for years on end. The knight, to Arthur's surprise didn't speak up, either too mad or too irritated at his King. The tension stayed in between the two as they found themselves walking to the courtyard.
"Will you tell me something?" Gwaine finally asked, his voice oddly calm. It was as if he was trying to see the situation clearly, which was very rare for the knight.
"Sure." Arthur said, his hands clenched into fists.
"What would you do if I were to tell you Merlin disappeared before the guards could even finish locking him up?" Gwaine asked. Arthur's head jerked up in shock.
"He escaped?! Why didn't the bells go off?" He asked. Gwaine frowned.
"The guards were knocked out, and I just happened to see it all happen." Gwaine stated. "What did you do to him? When- when I saw his face, his expression-" the knight paused, stumbling for words, "Arthur, he lacked emotion- his eyes didn't shine. It was almost as if he had died on the inside."
"We had an argument, and I sent him to the dungeons." Arthur said, "He actually went willingly, so why would he-"
"Escape?" Gwaine scowled, looking at Arthur. "He escaped because those two guards were here just after the time of the great purge, that they knew he was arrested for treason, and that he is a sorcerer. Where would you take someone like that?"
"I thought that the cell was long destroyed." Arthur said, sounding shocked.
"That cage, those chains you were going to put him in," Gwiane spat, "The low life sorcerer's your father put into there were weakened enough, just imagine someone with the power to take on your sister, and how much that would affect him."
"I didn't wish for that, surely Merlin knew that- or at least assume-"
"I don't think he did Arthur." Gwaine said, "All I know is that we might have just lost him."
At this time I realised that this is the last chapter I have actually written out and chapter eleven is being written out, and it's not going so well... So I will be taking requests as to what you guys want to happen next, so please, let me know.
Hope you enjoyed it!