And here is the next chapter! It's basically just Arthur being worried for Merlin, oh, and a surprise visit from an old friend at the end!
For over two years now Arthur had often wondered about what had really happened when Morgana had tortured Merlin. To his credit, Merlin had kept firm and hadn't told him anything about it. However this had been rather frustrating for the young king. He had felt he needed to know what had happened to his friend, that way he might have been able to help him. But no, Merlin preferred to do things on his own.
Arthur hadn't questioned him about it for months; after getting no straight answers he had finally given up and forgotten about it. But then Morgana had returned, and his fear had reawakened. She had tried to kill Merlin last time they had seen her, what if she still wanted to?
She claimed to regret everything she had ever done, but in his opinion it would be almost impossible for someone to redeem themselves after descending that deep into evil, so why should she have?
For all he knew, this could be some sort of plot to get close enough to Merlin to make another attempt on his life. Maybe he should have someone watch the manservant. But that was ridiculous; Merlin would protest against the idea and would then tease him for a year and a day about it. No, instead he should just keep a heavy guard on Morgana, and on her sister too for that matter. He didn't quite trust Elaine. At first sight she seemed friendly and humorous and just a bit odd, but she was Morgause's twin, that certainly must have had some effect on her.
This brought him back to the most pressing matter on his mind at that moment. The question that had haunted him ever since he had woken to see Gwaine saving Merlin from being stabbed: why had Morgana tried to kill Merlin?
He tried to think of all the reasons someone would want to kill another:
Out of hate; but Morgana had plenty of hate for all of them, why focus just on Merlin?
Because they could be dangerous to you; that was preposterous. Merlin was hardly the most dangerous threat that had been facing her; she had been caught and held captive by Arthur and four highly trained knights, so there was no reason that she would first try to kill the scrawny servant.
Because they held information that could be dangerous to you; that was more likely, and the two had been alone together for two weeks, perhaps at some point Morgana had let something slip or maybe Merlin had seen something he shouldn't have. But then why wouldn't Merlin tell Arthur? Maybe she had threatened him into keeping quiet. It didn't sound like him to give in to a bit of blackmailing, what exactly had she done to him? Did the knife she used on him have more side-effects they couldn't see?
Once again, Arthur was thrown into concern for his friend. He'd seemed alright for the past few years, he'd acted quite happy, if a little distant at times. But he hadn't seemed overly concerned that Morgana had returned. In fact, Arthur thought he had caught him smiling at her at one point.
This made him think about what had happened at Morgana's 'execution', when she had asked Merlin for forgiveness. It had been an act, he was sure of it. But what he didn't understand was why Merlin hadn't realised that.
He always seemed to know what was happening every time something odd happened in Camelot. He had known about Agravaine long before he helped Morgana sneak into Camelot and he suspected that he might have known about Morgana's betrayal before the rest of them did as well. He hadn't acted at all surprised when she had shown her true colours, but in Arthur's grief he hadn't noticed until later. So why hadn't he realised that she was lying? It couldn't be true. Perhaps he was just being the fool of a manservant he was. It would make more sense than her words being the truth.
Arthur decided that he needed to speak to Merlin about this once more, just to see if he could invoke a different response than the last dozen times.
He sat in a chair by the table and watched him preparing his bed for the night. The manservant seemed quite happy, and was humming to himself while he worked. It was rather annoying actually.
"Merlin," Arthur started. "Morgana's back."
The manservant smirked.
"Yeah, I noticed," he said, folding back the sheets properly.
"Right … and she's asking for forgiveness."
"Well spotted."
He ignored this remark and continued, "Do you think she's telling the truth?"
"Why? Don't you?" he asked, straightening up.
Arthur made a noncommittal noise. Merlin took this to mean "no".
"That can't be true, otherwise you wouldn't have let her stay here," he said.
He had a point there.
Ignoring the last comment, Arthur said, "You didn't answer my question. Do you think she's lying?"
Merlin paused for a few moments.
"No," he said, very hesitantly.
"Why's that?"
"Because … I can tell she's changed."
"And how do you know that?"
"I can sense it?"
Arthur stared at him dubiously.
"Sense isn't a word I'd normally associate with you," he said.
"Maybe just this once you will?" he suggested hopefully.
"Seeing as you feel completely comfortable being around a sorceress that has previously tortured you, I don't think so."
Merlin looked stonily at him.
"You just had to bring that up," he muttered.
"And why shouldn't I? You hated her three years ago, why the sudden change?" he asked.
"It wasn't me who changed, it was Morgana," he protested.
Arthur paused for a second.
"You really believe that she's different don't you?" he asked.
"I thought we'd already established that," he retorted.
"Merlin, what if she isn't? What if this is some kind of plot to try to kill you?" he suggested.
"Why would she try and kill me?"
"I don't know, why did she the last time?"
They were silent, Merlin glaring at Arthur, Arthur glaring back.
"It was a misunderstanding," Merlin said.
"I'm just concerned for you. She could be plotting your death as we speak," Arthur softened his tone slightly.
"She's not," he retaliated.
"But she could be."
"But she wouldn't."
"Theoretically –"
"Theoretically, she wouldn't kill anyone. She's had enough of killing," Merlin said, cutting him off.
Arthur processed these words slowly.
"You're talking as though you've been speaking to her," he said.
"No I haven't," he said too quickly, confirming his suspicions.
"How did you get past the guards?"
"I didn't. I didn't go."
"Don't lie."
"I'm not."
"Look me in the eye and say it again."
Merlin looked him in the eye, "I'm not lying."
Arthur didn't believe him. He was concerned for the safety of his friend, and worried about where his foolishness would put him. There was a part of him that wanted Morgana to be good again; however he couldn't quite believe it. And if she wasn't good, there was every possibility that she would bring harm to Merlin.
"You are not to talk to her or be alone with her. I'd try to stay away if I were you," he warned him.
"Why should I?" Merlin said, stubbornly.
"Because I am your king and I order you to stay away from her," he put all the authority he could into that sentence, determined to keep Merlin safe.
He didn't quite manage it though, and his worried tone was obvious to hear. Merlin grinned, catching on to the concern in his master's voice.
"I can take care of myself you know," he said.
"Merlin, do as I say," Arthur lowered his voice dangerously, his eyes darkening.
He was the king and Merlin would have to do as he said, or else he would make him.
"You are not to see her."
The manservant stared at him.
For that one moment they were not equals. It was King Arthur Pendragon and standing before him, his manservant, just a nobody, someone to order around.
While he drew himself up to his full height, Merlin seemed to shrink, becoming smaller in stature. For a moment he saw him for what he was, a servant. Arthur had never looked at him in that way before.
Then the moment was past, and Arthur saw only Merlin again. He was more than a servant, much more. However, Merlin had felt his attitude change towards him. He had seen the cold look in his eyes and knew what it meant. His own eyes showed hurt and disappointment, and before Arthur could say anything he had turned away.
He was only concerned for his friend's safety, and if that meant acting the king and placing Merlin beneath him, then so be it.
Merlin lay on his side, thinking about what had happened with Arthur earlier. He knew that he was only concerned for his safety, Morgana had tried to kill him after all, but it had still hurt to see Arthur look at him like that. Like he was nothing, like he was no one.
He knew Arthur didn't believe this. At the Round Table he said that he believed in equality, and he acted like he believed this too. He had knighted peasants, wed a serving girl, and continued to let his own manservant talk back to him, yet for a moment back there Arthur hadn't been his friend at all. He had been the king and nothing else, meaning that Merlin had been a servant to him and nothing else.
He knew it wasn't true; they were friends, despite their statuses. Arthur was only looking out for him.
Yet it hurt.
He rolled onto his back, the wooden bed frame creaking as he did so. The moonlight was filtering in through his window, shining across his feet.
Merlin.
Noise erupted in his mind. A single voice filled his head, a very familiar voice, one he hadn't heard for a long time.
Merlin.
The voice sounded urgent and impatient, like its owner had something very important to share with him.
Merlin!
He wished he could ignore him, but he knew he couldn't. Kilgarrah in Camelot couldn't mean anything good.
He got up out of his bed and hurriedly pulled his boots on. Grabbing his jacket as he left the room, he checked to see if Gaius was asleep. The old physician was snoring slightly, so Merlin crept across the room unseen and through the door.
Kilgarrah was waiting for him in the large meadow he always landed in when he came to Camelot. He was swishing his tail from side to side agitatedly, while waiting for Merlin to appear.
When the warlock came out from under the cover of the trees he stopped and leaned forwards towards him.
"Young warlock," he said in a way of greeting.
"What is it you want? Is something wrong?" Merlin asked him.
"Something is very wrong indeed," the dragon began. "I sensed that the witch Morgana has returned to Camelot."
"Yes," he replied. "She's redeemed herself."
"Do not believe her lies, Merlin!" his voice rose angrily. "You of all people know what she has done to Camelot. Do not be fooled!"
"I'm not fooled. She regrets everything she's ever done –"
Kilgarrah roared loudly.
"Lies!" he cried. "Do not trust the witch, she will bring you only pain!"
"What do you mean?" Merlin's own voice rose in anger. "She's good, I know it!"
"What makes you think this?" the dragon asked, quietening and studying the warlock intensely.
"She asked me for forgiveness, and –" he raised his voice again before Kilgarrah could interrupt. "– she has another sister, Elaine."
This made him eye Merlin with interest.
"Elaine too has come to Camelot?" he asked.
"Yes," he replied. "She says that Morgana has repented, you don't think that she's plotting against Camelot do you?"
"No. The Lady Elaine has good intentions and always will, but she is mistaken. Morgana has not repented. She will wait in Camelot until the time is right and then betray you all a second time."
"No, she wouldn't. She's good, I know it!"
Merlin refused to believe that she would betray them again. She had changed, he could feel it. Kilgarrah had to be mistaken.
"You're wrong!" he shouted to him. "She's changed!"
"Beware the witch, Merlin. Her only gifts are that of pain and betrayal," he spread his wings wide, preparing to take off. "If you are wise you will kill her now!"
He pounded his wings downwards and rose steadily into the air. Looking down at Merlin he cried, "The witch must die!"
Then he was gone, flying away over the forest, heading for the distant mountains.
Merlin stood alone for a while, breathing heavily.
Kill Morgana … He couldn't do it, he wouldn't do it. She was his friend and she would never betray them again. So in return he wouldn't betray her.
What could Kilgarrah mean? *evil giggle* I like keeping you all in suspense.
