The mood was sombre and heavy the next morning, but Arthur hadn't expected anything else. It had been bad enough when they had been pulling Merlin unconscious from Morgana's hut, but upon realising quite the lengths that he would go to in order to try and keep Arthur from harm had been a shock to each of them. It was one thing for Merlin to be killed in a fight, he was a servant surrounded by knights, after all. But for him to actually be thinking of taking his own life just in case he did something to hurt his master… It made Arthur realise just how dangerously loyal Merlin was to him. But it also meant that he knew it wasn't just him that Morgana was trying to hurt with this spell. Merlin would never be able to forgive himself if he actually succeeded in the one thought that took over his mind.
Arthur wasn't sure how much sleep the rest of the knights got, for they looked as exhausted as he felt. Merlin had seemed to have dozed off despite his awkward position, but Arthur winced when he saw the red marks around his wrists. It was clear that Merlin had been trying to free himself, or just working on the ropes subconsciously in his distress. Arthur sighed even as he gently nudged Merlin awake.
"It's time to go home," he said gently, not being entirely sure how he should be treating his servant. It was almost as if Merlin was some sort of skittish foal that Arthur needed to calm down so he didn't bolt. If it had been any other occasion, Merlin would have been glaring at him for treating him like he was weak. But this time, Merlin just allowed himself to be helped to his feet and stood there somewhat helplessly. There wasn't a lot he could do with his hands bound and Arthur found that he had to turn away. Merlin was normally racing around the camp getting things sorted in the morning, snapping at Arthur for being lazy, not just standing there like a ghost.
Arthur collected the few pieces of bedding and equipment they had between them, once again being reminded of just how many days it had been since he was last in his own bed. Just as he was fiddling with the straps, Percival gave a call of alarm and Arthur turned just in time to see Merlin running towards him. Arthur groaned. There was the deadly look back on his face and he knew that only cursed Merlin would be able to run like that without falling over. At the last moment, he stepped aside, grabbing Merlin's shoulder to stop him from running smack into the horse and held him at arm's length.
He wasn't sure it was even worth talking to Merlin since the man only succeeded in hurting him every time he opened his mouth when he was under the influence of the spell. Arthur simply held him back with ease and glanced towards Leon.
"Do you have a spare length of rope?" He asked quietly and Merlin seemed to realise what he was going to do.
"You are not going to tie me to the back of the horse like an animal, Arthur Pendragon," he spat, fighting against Arthur's hold.
"Then what do you suggest that I do, for I'm pretty sure that you are going to try and kill me by pushing me off my horse or something if I let you ride, and I don't trust you with any of the knights to have you ride with them either."
"No wonder they want you dead if this is how you treat people! You're a hypocrite and a liar, just like your father. You deserve to die! And I'm going to be the one to mmp…." Merlin's voice trailed off from where Gwaine had come up behind him and simply put his hand over Merlin's mouth. With both knights holding onto him in one way or another, there wasn't a lot Merlin could do and he eventually fell still, glaring at Arthur. Leon approached with the rope and slipped it through the bindings already around Merlin's wrists, unable to look him in the eye as he did so.
"I'm sorry," the knight murmured and Merlin simply scoffed. He somehow managed to twist his head away from Gwaine's hand, but judging by the look on the man's face, Arthur had a feeling that Merlin had just bitten him.
"No, you're not. You're not sorry for anything you have to do in Arthur's name because you think everything about him is so glorious!"
"Enough, Merlin." Arthur snapped. It was one thing for him to insult his king, Arthur was the one he was enchanted to kill, after all. But he couldn't just stand there and listen to him insult and hurt the men that he knew he normally considered as friends. He held out his hand and took the end of the rope, swinging himself up into the saddle as he did so and making sure that Merlin had some slack so he wasn't literally dragging him along. It did feel wrong treating him like this and Arthur could only imagine what sort of message it would send out. Hopefully he would just be able to pass it off as Merlin being his usual annoying self and overstepping the line or something along those lines. Everyone seemed to know how their relationship worked, it wouldn't be that much of a stretch of the imagination.
"Be careful, Sire," Leon cautioned as he moved past Arthur to mount his own horse. "He might still try and pull you off."
Arthur had to admit that was a good point. If the fall didn't kill him, he would be defenceless enough for Merlin to do some damage before the others realised what was going on. He changed his grip on the rope so that he could bind it to the saddle rather than holding onto it himself and Leon nodded approvingly. Arthur gave the signal and the group slowly began to move back to Camelot, the mood far more sombre than when they had set out.
No one spoke and Arthur felt like it was the longest ride of his life. It shouldn't have taken them more than an hour to get back if everyone was riding, but with Merlin walking, they had to keep stopping. Eventually, Percival had the idea of tying the spare horse to Arthur's and then lashing the servant's hands to the reins. At least that way, not only could they pick up the pace but it wasn't quite so obvious heading back into Camelot that Merlin was bound. After they had done so – Arthur's heart sinking when he saw that Merlin still looked murderous despite it having been hours since the curse had taken over his mind – they managed to make quicker progress.
Arthur found his mind wondering as they moved. Was Merlin still under the grip of the curse because he hadn't actually made an attempt on Arthur's life? Would they be able to get "their" Merlin back if they let him go for the king? Arthur was convinced that there was nothing Merlin could do to actually hurt him, not looking at him slumped over in his saddle and glaring at anyone who rode too close. But despite the knights being Merlin's friends, Arthur knew they still took their duty seriously, even Gwaine. Until they didn't have a choice, they wouldn't knowingly endanger their king just to stop Merlin scowling at them. In a way, Arthur didn't know which he preferred – the devastated Merlin or the murderous one. Neither were anything like the man who was normally at his side and had been for years.
Finally, however, Camelot came into view and Arthur knew he was not the only one who breathed a sigh of relief at seeing it. They sped up just a little bit more, handing over the horses to the stable boys as they untied Merlin from the saddle. Arthur coiled the rope around his hand to keep Merlin close and he could feel that the knights were pressed in around them. Not only would it keep Arthur safe, but it would again stop anyone in the corridors from seeing that one of their own was tied up. Arthur swiftly led the way towards Gaius' chamber, letting Elyan knock. They waited until the old man had bid them to enter – Arthur didn't want to shock him any more than necessary. When he did so and Percival pushed open the door, Arthur stepped forward, letting the tension go from the rope. He was still holding the end but Merlin once again had some slack as he was tugged into the room. Gaius had his back to the door but he turned as they entered. Arthur didn't think he had seen anyone pale so fast.
"Wha-?" he only seemed capable of gasping as he stared at the rope around his ward's hands.
"Magic," Arthur muttered, handing the rope over to Percival as he went to sit down. The largest of the knights also sat himself down and Arthur had to note with a smile that he made sure there was a chair close enough that Merlin could get to if he wanted. The servant totally ignored the gesture, however, looking as if he was about to fold his arms across his chest and then realised that he couldn't. So instead, he simply turned his back on them, shoulders rigid with tension. Arthur turned back to Gaius and felt his eyebrows lift in astonishment. Gaius looked nothing short of terrified, yet they hadn't even told him what had happened.
"Magic, Sire? Are you sure... I mean, no doubt he had a reason…"
"For wanting to kill me? Not to mention we heard the spell! I… Gaius? Are you alright? Maybe you should sit down?" Arthur gestured to Leon, who helped the old man sit down as they all watched on in concern, even Merlin turned slightly although he just rolled his eyes, scoffed and turned back again.
"I think…" Gaius began, somewhat faintly. "That you need to start at the beginning."
Despite being a king, Gaius was one of the few people left in Camelot that could still tell Arthur what to do. Knowing that he didn't really have a choice, the king began talking, explaining what had happened in the forest and how they had found Merlin just in time for him to pass out after Morgana's curse and how she had just left them there. It was only when Merlin had come round in the forest did they realise that they were too late to have stopped it from taking hold and her reasoning for letting them walk out of the hut alive became obvious the first time that Merlin had gone for his king. When Arthur explained how Merlin was behaving and the things he had said, the man in question simply chuckled darkly again, shooting Arthur a look so full of loathing that Arthur faltered for a moment.
"So let me get this straight. He's tried to stab you and strangle you, possibly more than once if you hadn't stopped him?" Arthur nodded glumly, but to his astonishment, Gaius sagged back, looking almost relieved. His eyes were fixed on Merlin, who slowly turned around as if he was aware of the stare. His hatred was softening and Arthur was hoping that he was beginning to regain control for a while. This hating Merlin was beginning to give him a headache.
"Percival, do you think you can escort Merlin to his room please? Untie him, the lock on the door should be enough to hold him for now." Arthur nodded that Percival should do as Gaius said, trying not to think about what the physician might mean by "for now." They all watched in silence as Merlin was bundled up the stairs, Elyan jumping up to help when Merlin made one last attempt to get to Arthur. It was only when the lock on the door clicked shut and they knew Merlin was safe – even from himself – for a while did Arthur dare speak again.
"Why did you look relieved?"
"Hmm?"
"You looked as if you feared something much worse when I told you how he had tried to kill me." Gaius looked at him steadily, but Arthur was convinced that he could see the pulse jump in the old man's throat. Whatever expression had flickered across his face a few moments ago, Gaius had clearly not been expecting anyone to have seen it. He sighed and eventually glanced wistfully towards Merlin's door.
"He has been living and studying under me for many years now, Arthur. Merlin knows more about the human body than you realise, and I'm sure if he was thinking straight, he would be able to find a great many number of other ways to end your life. The fact that he has just gone for physical approaches means that he isn't thinking straight."
Arthur frowned. Gaius' words weren't exactly reassuring, but then again Arthur hadn't expected them to be. The physician was always truthful with him, he always had been. But while what he was saying made sense – Arthur didn't want to consider how many different ways there were to poison someone just in this room alone – the king was sure the old man was still hiding something. Gaius was lying, and Arthur had a feeling he knew why.
"Leave us," he ordered the rest of the knights. He knew that they would protest, but Arthur eventually managed to get them out of the room and the door closed until it was just him and Gaius. Arthur hadn't even noticed that he had stood up until he was slowly turning to face the physician.
"What is it, Arthur?" The king should have known. Ever since he was a little boy, Gaius had been able to tell when something was on his mind. That was why Arthur knew he had to say something, that he couldn't just keep it to himself.
"When we were alone in the forest and he was coming for me… He got me on the ground, Gaius…"
"Well, he…"
"There is no way Merlin would have normally been able to get me down in that manner. I thought…" Arthur took a deep breath, not knowing how Gaius was going to handle this. "I thought his eyes turned gold for a moment."
"You mean to say…"
"I think he was using magic, Gaius. How else would he have done that? It doesn't make any sense! I told myself it was just a trick of the light, that I was somehow seeing things, but it's been playing through my mind and I don't think it was, was it? He somehow used magic against me."
"Arthur, I need you to sit down." Just as he didn't realise he had stood up, Arthur hadn't noticed that he had started to pace, one hand combing through his hair in frustration as he turned towards Merlin's door, wondering if it was Merlin in there right now or the cold hearted killer.
"He used magic, didn't he? Merlin used magic?"
"Arthur, sit." There was a hand on his shoulder and force being put behind it as Arthur was pushed down onto a stool. He looked up helpless at Gaius to see the old man standing over him, a sympathetic yet stern expression on his face. It was clear that he wasn't letting Arthur leave this room until he knew the king wasn't about to do something else.
"It's possible that he did."
"Possible? Gaius, I saw him!"
"You aren't understanding me, Arthur. We don't know what that curse did to him. I believe that Morgana somehow equipped him with the tools that he needed in order to complete his task. She would have known that he didn't stand a chance against you, especially not if she knew that you would get there in time to overhear her."
"So what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that he forced you to the ground because Morgana gave him the ability to. I'm saying that his eyes glowed because it was the spell increasing his strength in order to help him accomplish the thought that was consuming his mind. From how you described the spell and the wording she used, I don't think he is capable of any other thought when it takes over."
"What do we do?" Arthur whispered, feeling slightly helpless and yet totally out of his depth. Gaius' words had calmed him though. It was a lot easier to think of Merlin channelling Morgana's magic than the other solution that had been running through Arthur's head. After all, it was Merlin they were talking about. How could he possibly have magic of his own and have spent the last few years almost constantly in Arthur's presence? Gaius gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"We wait for him to calm down again, then I need to talk to him, examine him if I can. I need to find out more about this spell to know how she is controlling him before we can think about breaking it."
"What do I do?" Arthur muttered, hating the way that everything was going to depend on Gaius. It was Arthur Merlin was trying to kill, the cursed man was his servant. Arthur didn't just want to sit on the side lines. Luckily, Gaius seemed to read that in his expression and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze.
"I can tell that you have had very little sleep for the last few nights. Go and get some rest while he is locked up, Arthur. I'm going to need you to hold him down if he won't let me examine him, and I would rather that neither of you were hurt because you are half asleep. Go on with you, I'll have someone fetch you if there is any change."
Arthur knew he was being dismissed. But despite being the King of Camelot, he still found that he was climbing to his feet and heading towards the door, doing exactly what Gaius was telling him to.
