Happy New Year everyone! I managed to find time to write this chapter today so I hope you enjoy it. I know it drags on but it's just how it plays out in my head.
"Why did I let him go off alone?" Percival whispered, his head in his hands.
"Percival, it's not your fault," Leon replied.
Leon and Percival were down in the Armory cleaning their armor and shields as most of their chainmail was badly damaged and their over-tunics ripped from the battle that took place in Camlann. Most of the shields were either split or splitting and their swords blunt, although that was a job for the blacksmith.
"It is my fault. All I had to do was look out for him and I couldn't even do that." Percival looked helpless. Leon had never seen his friend so vulnerable and confused, the knight looked as close to tears as Leon had ever seen, and no matter what anyone said, Percival still believed that it was his fault Gwaine was injured.
The final words he spoke were 'I've failed'. He thinks that he has failed Arthur." Percival explained. "What if he dies, Leon? What if he dies thinking that?"
Leon was speechless. He understood why Percival felt this way, but he hated seeing his friend so beaten down. It wasn't his fault, he wasn't to blame, it was Morgana. It was her fault.
"Percival, it is not your fault. It is Morgana's. She will pay for this; she will pay for all of her wrong. Do not think this way brother for it is not your fault." Leon said, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder in reassurance.
Percival managed a weak smile but Leon knew that he was being crushed by guilt that he should not suffer.
"So how do you feel?" Merlin asked Arthur, who was slumped against a log that sat by the fire. The servant had prepared Arthur's breakfast, rabbit and berries, in hopes to keep his strength up for the return journey to Camelot.
Arthur groaned, "I'm a bit bruised here and there but on the plus side, I'm not dying, so that's good."
Merlin chuckled, "Well, that is a positive."
Another silence. "Merlin, how did you do it? How did you save me?" Arthur asked, genuine curiosity playing in his voice.
Merlin shrugged nervously, "This time, it wasn't me. I didn't save you."
"Then…"
"It was Kilgharrah." Merlin answered the unasked question.
Arthur thought for a second, "I know that name. I've heard it before."
Merlin nodded, "You may also know him as the great dragon that attacked Camelot…"
The king rubbed his head in confusion and realization. "I was saved by the dragon that tried to kill me? Why, and how?"
"When he attacked Camelot, he was controlled by anger and evil that no longer clouds his heart. He was locked below the castle for twenty years, can you blame him?" Merlin explained, pulling on his jacket and boots which lay drying by the ongoing fire.
"That still doesn't tell me why he saved me this time."
The warlock sighed, "The truth is, Arthur, I brought him here. I couldn't let you die, and he saved you."
"How can you summon a dragon?" Arthur asked, almost shouting, not in anger, but in confusion. He was entering a world he barely understood and a place where nothing made sense to him.
The wizard groaned, "I have SO much to explain!"
Merlin helped Arthur up off of the ground and steadied him before the two began a slow, shaky journey home. With an injured king, no horses and bandits running around like wild animals, Merlin would count himself lucky if he got back to Camelot unscathed. Although Arthur was quickly recovering and could now walk steadily on his own, Merlin knew that if they came up against any enemies, it would be all up to his magic.
"How long have you, you know, used magic properly?" Arthur asked Merlin sheepishly.
They had been walking along a small path for about an hour at this point, the sun was now securely in the sky above them and the air around them seemed alive, like the whole world had revived with Arthur.
Merlin shrugged, he knew this conversation was going to be brought up, however it didn't make it any less awkward, "I'm not sure. I was born with magic, so I guess I started learning when I first understood what it was. It was only when I moved to Camelot did I realize how powerful it was."
Arthur considered this for a moment before moving onto the next question, because, they both knew that for a while, it would be Arthur asking the questions. "Weren't you scared?"
"In case I was discovered? To start with, yeah, I guess I was. You get used to it though. It becomes a normal secret after that. Well almost, a little bit bigger than a 'normal secret'," Merlin explained.
Arthur looked at Merlin with curiosity, "How on Earth did you manage to keep a secret that big for all these years?"
Merlin laughed, "Well, it wasn't easy. I don't even know myself." He could feel the awkwardness seeping back into their conversation and he became determined to keep it out of that zone, "It wasn't that the secret was hard to hide, it was more of the fact that I wanted to tell you all, but I couldn't."
Arthur was quiet, as if he was thinking things over in his head.
"I wanted to tell you Arthur. I really did. But I couldn't put you through that. I knew you'd feel betrayed and angry and that's not something I wanted you do deal with."
After a moment, Arthur smiled at Merlin, to the relief and confusion of the servant, "Merlin, I think understand. There is no need to apologize." The king placed his hand on Merlin's shoulder, "I now see who you are, and what I will become. I may not know what magic truly is, but I know you, Merlin, and I trust you."
"Thank you, Arthur."
"But remember Merlin, don't ever change. I want you to stay Merlin. I want you to stay by me just like you have always done."
Merlin nodded happily, "I won't change Arthur. If it makes you feel better, I'll still be the worst servant in the history of Camelot."
"You still want to be my servant?" Merlin nodded, "Good because when we get back this armour will need a lot of attention!"
Sorry if that was cringe worthy, I'm not too good at scenes like this one. Thanks again for all the support, I appreciate all of it! :D