Merlin

Episode 4.03: The Wicked Day Rewrite

The Spirits' Secrets

Chapter 3: When Fathers leave Their Sons…

Arthur was walking rather drowsily down the corridors, seemingly stumbling on air. And he called Merlin clumsy.

The entertainment for the night's banquet was, undeniably, the best. Arthur sighed sadly as he thought about how Merlin would have enjoyed the show. And yet, Arthur wasn't sad. Or at least not as much as before.

Up until today, most of the nobles and people of Camelot – hell, even Arthur, himself – thought that King Uther was falling ill and that he would soon be breathing his last. Arthur had hoped, sincerely, that was not true. And tonight, at the feast, Uther had proven himself to be more than capable and mentally stable to join Arthur in his birthday celebrations. Seeing Uther laugh and enjoy the show had been more than enough to lift Arthur's spirits back up.

And yet, near the end of the show, the smile had vanished. Arthur suddenly felt a slight chill rise up his back. Was his father alright? Arthur turned away from his chambers and made his way to Uther's chambers, again, stumbling more than he normally would. And he didn't have more than a goblet of wine…

Arthur entered the King's chambers, completely forgetting to knock before entering. He yawned drowsily. Why was he so sleepy? It must have been those restless nights catching up to him.

He stopped suddenly. In the chair nearest to the fire place, Uther Pendragon slept peacefully, his chin tucked slightly onto his chest and a goblet of wine clutched in his hands. Arthur smiled softly and made his way to his father. Slowly, he pried the goblet out and placed it on the table, mindful of not waking his father, before falling into the chair next to him.

It had been years since Arthur saw his father resting so peacefully. His father – a term he come to associate more and more with Uther than he had ever before. His eyes fluttered as Arthur tried to keep himself awake.


"Merlin!" The cry was of simple and pure joy, and Will leapt towards his friend, clutching him tightly. Merlin, for his part, returned the hug, holding onto his first friend as if he would never let go. Balinor smiled as he watched the boys.

It was a long while later that the boys separated. "Will, I'm – " Merlin started, but was promptly interrupted.

"If you're going to be apologizing for my death, then don't even think about seeing me ever again," Will said, feigning anger.

Merlin eyes fell to the floor. "Your deaths could have been avoided." Merlin looked up at both his father and Will. "If I had been just a little braver, if I had admitted my Magic to Arthur, many lives would have been spared."

"And your life would have been taken," Will countered. "Your father and I – even the countless others that died for you – we are proud to have been some help in our last moments, Merlin."

Merlin looked at Will curiously. "My life would not have been in any danger." His azure eyes glinted with pride. "You asked me if I could ever trust my secret with Arthur. Well, Arthur knows of my magic now. And he even accepted me." There was childish tint to his voice as Merlin straightened, sticking his chest out slightly. "I am a knight of Camelot!"

Will smiled smugly at his friend as he shook his head. "Let me guess, you never told him yourself, did you?"

"No," Merlin admitted, his smile fading. "But I never told you either. You found out too, just like him."

"Yes, well, if you weren't such a wimp and didn't have to be bullied by the other kids – "

"What!" Balinor exclaimed, interrupting the pair. "Who bullied Merlin?" Both eyes fell upon the flustered dragonlord.

"It wasn't much, father. Just a little trouble." Merlin said quickly, attempting to reassure his father.

"They made fun of him, sir," Will told Balinor. "Kept calling him bastard."

"How dare they?!" Balinor exclaimed. "Who are they?"

Will laughed, "It's alright. Merlin couldn't keep his mouth shut most of time, anyways. He'd always say something smart back and that earned him plenty of hits."

That statement didn't seem to placate Balinor and he continued to gaze indignantly at his son, as if it was his fault for not telling his father this sooner. Merlin just shrugged.

"Will would usually take care of them. So the kids wouldn't normally mess with us. But one day, they decided to take things a little too far…" Merlin's voice drifted off.

"Yeah. And they laid a trap for you son. It didn't end well, when I accidently walked into it… and then Merlin's magic lashed out protectively. He pretty much hit all five of 'em without so much as glance at them."

Merlin chuckled sheepishly at Balinor's surprised glance. "Luckily they all hit the trees hard enough to forget. Well, my magic might've played a role. I thought Will would be angry and turn me in or something… I was five…"

"You were five when this happened?" Balinor asked. Both boys nodded.

"I never told mum that Will knew…"

"And, oh, the pranks we played on the villagers." Will looked up dreamily. "That was so much fun."

"We played one on mother. We didn't think she'd notice, but she did." Merlin looked at Will angrily. "Mother freaked. And then she sent me to Camelot. Said something about me learning to control my magic."

"You both kept this from Hunith for 13 years?" Will and Merlin nodded in confirmation. "What prank did you play?"

They shared a glance, before turning back to Balinor. "You'd rather not know, sir," Will said, instead.

Balinor laughed. "Perhaps you are right. Anyways, I am running low on time." Balinor gazed down at his body, and Merlin followed his gaze, instantly noticing the pulsating glow.

Merlin smile faded once again and he gazed longingly at his father. "Are you going to move on? To the Land of No Return?"

The dragonlord shook his head. "No. I still have to wait for your mother." He smiled. "Hopefully, she'll be in no rush to get here, unlike a certain someone I know." Merlin squirmed slightly under his glare.

"I'll be waiting too, won't I?" Merlin asked, his thoughts running back to who he might wait for. Definitely Arthur, Hunith and Gaius. Probably the Knights of the Round Table. And definitely not Uther.

A pained expression flashed through Balinor's face, but Will – Oh, Will looked overjoyed. "Nope, my friend. No waiting for you."

"What?" Merlin asked confused.

Balinor looked at his son, gauging his reaction carefully as he began to talk. "Merlin, you aren't going to be waiting for anyone because you're not dead."

"What?" This one was faint, as if Merlin already knew what his father would say even before he did.

"Merlin, you're immortal." Balinor smiled sadly, as he started to fade, leaving a very baffled warlock with his best friend.


Seibara was still humming the songs played by the minstrels during the feast. What an extravagant life, she thought as she bit into the apple. Never before had she been invited to the birthday celebration of a Prince. A Prince who had introduced her to the council merely days ago.

Arthur had told the council that Seibara was a druid he had met, who unselfishly aided them on their quest to seal the tear. Most of the council was willing and happy to take her in. But some had their own views. The very same nobles, she learned, that had opposed to commoners being knighted. They hadn't stopped Prince Arthur, and she knew that they would definitely not stop King Arthur from fulfilling his promise to her and his manservant.

Merlin. The unselfish, most powerful warlock who willingly sacrificed his life to save his prince and Camelot. Really, Seibara felt guilty. It was supposed to be her walking through the veil. That was what she was supposed to give in return for the clemency granted to her clan by the King. It was a twisted sort of guilt, but she felt it was right. It was wrong for another man to take her place, and definitely wrong for Emrys to leave Camelot unprotected.

Despite it sounding ridiculous and despite knowing that her powers were literally nothing compared to Emrys's magic, Seibara decided to stay only to help protect the otherwise magically defenseless Kingdom.

Yes, this was probably as bad of an idea as stepping foot in Camelot in the first place. But it felt right. And so Seibara stayed.

"Why are you still here?" A voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned around to face Lancelot.

"Ah! The noble Knight! Isn't that what they call you," Seibara teased.

Lancelot blushed slightly, but did not break the eye contact. "Why are you still here? Especially when you lost your boyfriend here."

Seibara tugged on her new cotton dress. "Lady Guinevere is very kind to me. See my new dress. I don't get anything like this in the forest." Lancelot didn't say anything, and Seibara squirmed slightly under his gaze. She turned away as she softly whispered back. "I don't think it's fair."

"What's not fair?" Lancelot asked.

"That my clan gets off easy and I don't pay anything back in return. That if I were powerful enough your friend needn't have died and leave this place vulnerable." Seibara glanced at the Knight. "I've decided to stay here and help you protect. If Merlin really isn't dead, like Gaius says, then I will stay here till he returns," Seibara proclaimed. "And if he never returns, then I guess you'll have to bear me forever."

Lancelot smiled. "You called me noble and brave. And yet I see those qualities in you." Seibara turned a deep shade of red as she watched the Knight leave her alone in the corridors.


The torches were the only light source in the empty corridors at night. The guards would normally notice shadows flickering, but never cared to pay any attention – it must have been a trick of light, they would tell themselves.

All of the assassins who knew how to sneak by the guards would end up facing the next barrier that separated them from their prince: Merlin. And no assassin, magical or otherwise, ever lived to explain how Arthur was still alive. Their contractor was left confused at their mysterious disappearance. But Merlin no longer stood as the Prince's secret body guard.

So, when the Gleeman snuck past most of the guards, only to be caught by Uther's chamber guards, he simply knocked them out, getting past the only barrier between him and the Royal family. He unsheathed one of the guard's sword, and slowly walked in. He held the sword as he walked softly towards the chair where Arthur sat.

Arthur's head lolled to one side as he blinked blearily, fighting the sedative that the Gleeman had snuck into the wine. There was a flash, and his eyes focused on the wine jug in front of him. A man was coming at him, a sword held in position to behead the seemingly oblivious prince…

Arthur rose to his feet instantly, unsheathing his sword and blocking the blow. He felt the force push him back, and still his eyes refused to remain open… Arthur felt a chill run down his back. He had been sedated. One of the entertainers must have spiked his goblet. Arthur felt himself move towards his attacker.

"Guards!" Arthur's voice sounded weak, even to himself. "Guards!"

The Gleeman swung his sword in frustration, successfully disarming the downed Prince. The sword skidded to a stop next to the chair just as Arthur crumpled down to his knees, his back facing the assassin. He looked up at the man towering over him, his sword held above his head and ready to bear down on the defenseless Prince.

"Goodbye, Arthur Pendragon." The statement was soft, and Arthur felt the coldness in his voice reach him. The sword slashed through the air, bearing down on the powerless man. Arthur closed his eyes involuntarily.

The sword clanged against another sword, and Arthur opened his eyes. Both the Gleeman and Arthur turn around to gaze at King Uther, standing protectively next to his son.

"It will take more than a coward like you to kill my son," Uther hissed towards the assassin. He swung his blade, effectively leading the Gleeman away from his son. Arthur watched proudly (and still somewhat drowsily) as his father fought, despite being rusty with the sword.

Arthur tried to stand, even as he watched his father exchange blows. His father was still too weak and he was still too drowsy. And suddenly he watched his father fall as the Gleeman kicked the King.

Uther gasped as he lay tangled in the curtains. The Gleeman smirked, and made his way to the still struggling Prince. "Have you anything to say to your son before I kill him?" the man taunted. Uther gazed at his son, a desperate look in his eyes. And suddenly something snapped, and in a fit of rage, the king stood up.

The Gleeman lifted his sword once again when he heard the sound of metal swish through the air. Instinctively, he dodged and turned around to see the King standing with renewed strength. The King swung his sword with as much power as he could muster, pushing the attacker away from his son again. He blocked another hit and then twisted his sword, disarming the man and tripping him.

Uther stood towering above the Gleeman, anger evident in his eyes. How dare this foul creature threaten his son's life? He rose his sword and brought it down just as he felt a dagger slide into him. His eyes widened in surprise as he glanced down at the now dead man at his feet.

"Father?" Arthur's voice was faint and tinged with concern. The sword in Uther's hand clanged on the stone floor and Uther felt himself dropping into his son's hands. "Father!"

Arthur held his father, cradling him in his arms. His hands felt something sticky and Arthur looked down, surprised to see the white shirt stained red with blood. "No…" He whispered before turning towards the doors. "Guards!" When no one responded, he turned back to Uther. "I'll go get help…"

"Stay with me…" The plea came out in short gasps.

"I'm here father," Arthur told the King. Again turning towards the chamber doors, he bellowed, "Guards! Someone! We need help!" Arthur swore he heard hurried footsteps down the corridors.

"It is my time…" Uther whispered, relaxing himself into his son's arms.

"No… You can't die…" Arthur was begging now. Just a couple of moments, he chanted in his head as tears began to prick the edges of his eyes. Someone must be coming. Just a couple more seconds. He was still fighting to stay conscious, although he felt the sedative wear off.

"I know you will make me proud, as you always have. You will be a great King…" Oh, how Arthur had longed to hear those words from his father. And yet, as he sat cradling his father, he wished he never had if it meant he had to hear it while his father bleed to death in his arms.

Arthur shook his head. "I'm not ready…" Arthur felt a tear slip out.

"You – you've been ready for some time, Arthur…" There was that pride again in the dying King's voice.

"No. I need you," Arthur was crying now, the wet tears streaking his face. Both men were fighting to stay conscious.

Uther gasped and he grasped Arthur's forearm. "I know I've not been a… a good father. I put my duty to Camelot first. I'm sorry," Uther whispered through the labored pants.

"Don't say that -" Arthur shook his head, and attempted to stand up.

"But know one thing," he interrupted. "I always loved you." Uther's eyes closed as he blissfully fell unconscious.

"No… Father!" Arthur shook the King slightly. No, please not him too. Not after Merlin.

The footsteps hurried closer. "The guards are unconscious," a female voice yelled. There was a pause, as if the woman outside was contemplating on what to do. Moments later, Seibara and Lancelot burst through the doors, halting as soon as they saw Arthur bent over the limp body of the King. Seibara's eyes widened as Lancelot bowed his head respectfully. And for a while, the three remained still until Seibara ran out to call Gaius. Lancelot made his way to his Prince and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder as Arthur's muffled sobs echoed across the silent chambers.

The sun rose over the Camelot, the vibrant colors marking the start of a new day.

When fathers leave their children…

They leave them knowing they are safe and armed with something no one can hope to defeat: Their Love.

A/N: Well, now that was super angsty. Not really. I'm sorry about the last scene. It went by far too quickly and I obviously didn't do a great job with the fight scene – but really there is no difference between the original scene and the scene I tried to write (or at least there wasn't supposed to be). So… if you think my version is horrible (which, really, I won't blame you for), just watch that scene on YouTube. :D

As for Merlin being immortal… come on, you definitely saw that coming. I implied it at the end of Story 2 . :D Love Will by the way. I don't know if he was in character or not, though. I modeled him mostly after what I figured a good friend or a best friend should be. What did you guys think? Decent job?

And the thing about fathers, Balinor or Uther, whatever wrongs they may have done or may not have done, one thing about them is certain. They have unconditional love towards their child – willing to go so far as to lay down their own life to keep their children safe. It's what makes a father. Basic characteristic. So, when you have time, just return the gesture. Just 'cause.

Enough with the sentimental talk. :D

I think this is one of my favorite chapters. This chapter, the prologue for Story 3, Chapter 7 of Story 2, Chapter 1 of story 2, and Chapter 2 and 5 of Story 1, all of them are my favorites. They didn't exactly come out like I wanted them too, but they did a far better job than the rest of the chapters. (Did anyone actually read this paragraph? Again, I'm surprised):D

THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT REVIEWED FOR THE LAST CHAPTER! You guys are seriously the BEST! I only asked for five reviews, but you guys gave me 12! I love you all! Officially! (I mean, I loved you all before too, it's just now, it's official!)

Seriously, thank you so much!

Don't forget to review for this chapter! Again, I appreciate all the reviews I get! So please please please review! Just five more would definitely make my day!


!Coming Soon to fanfiction . net near You!

Due to an overwhelming amount of people requesting to read 'The Curse of the Fallen Kings' - the last of the four ideas presented in Chapter 15 of 'Before the Dawn' - I have taken up writing that story!

Title: The Curse of the Fallen Kings

Genres: Attempted Horror and Attempted Humor

Rating: K+/T

Summary: The Valley of the Fallen Kings was abandoned and feared for a reason. When Merlin unwittingly sets the ghosts of the fallen kings free, Camelot has another whole new humorously horrific adventure ahead of them…

Release Date: Wednesday, August 20th 2014 (hopefully)

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