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Merlin couldn't speak. What was going on? Arthur was hugging him. But he must know that Merlin was a sorcerer by now, so why was he acting like this?
Arthur suddenly seemed to realize what he was doing so he stepped backwards and said, "Idiot…I missed you."
Merlin's eyes went wide. He opened his mouth to speak but couldn't make anything come out.
There was a click from behind Merlin of the lock being opened. He turned around to watch the door pushed open and the guards rush into the room. Merlin threw up a barrier blocking the guards from Arthur and himself. He would let himself be captured, but not before he told Arthur about the coming assault.
Arthur looked at the golden barrier in surprise for a moment-it was the first time he had seen Merlin use magic for himself- then said to the guards, "You may go. Everything is under control."
Merlin and the two guards all looked at him like he had completely lost his mind. "But sire, he is a sorcerer." One of the guards squeaked.
"I am well aware. Now go!"
After another moment of hesitation the two guards left the room, shutting the door behind them. Merlin dropped the barrier.
"I should never have given them a key to my chambers," Arthur muttered, clearly annoyed.
"Why didn't you let them take me?" Merlin asked.
"You wanted to be taken to the dungeons?" Arthur asked, confused.
"Well, no…but…" Merlin sputtered.
"I'm glad you're back, Merlin."
Merlin couldn't have been more shocked had Gaius run him through with a sword. With a shock he remembered why he was there and his confusion about Arthur's reaction was pushed to the back of his mind. "Arthur, we need to talk."
Arthur's eyes widened a degree. "Okay," he said and waved for Merlin to sit.
Merlin remained standing. "Morgana is going to attack the city."
Arthur took the news with an impressive grace brought on by years of training and stress. "Okay, when?"
"Sunset."
At this news Arthur sat down heavily on the edge of his bed. "How many?" Arthur asked, his voice barely above a whisper. They didn't have nearly enough time to prepare. How had the scouts not found this force?
"Around fifty."
Arthur's brow creased in confusion. "A force so small would hardly pose a threat."
Merlin looked down at his feet. "Arthur, they are sorcerers, every one of them."
The blood drained from Arthur's face. "What are we to do?"
"Sound the warning bell. Close the gates and get all the townspeople inside and under cover. Prepare all the knights, soldiers, and guards for battle." Merlin said sensibly.
Arthur nodded and stood up. "Come with me. I will gather the knights and inform them of what must be done. I suppose we should be glad we received any warning at all."
They headed out of Arthur's chambers and sent the guards to ring the warning bell. As they past servants they sent them to collect the other knights. Arthur led Merlin to a room with a large table where they waited for the others to arrive.
They were silent for several minutes when a thought suddenly hit Merlin. "How will the others react when they see me?"
Arthur smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand. "Stupid, why didn't I think of that?" Arthur looked Merlin up and down for a minute then said, "I don't think most of them would recognize you at the moment, and besides, Gwaine, Elyan, and Gwen are the only ones we need to bring around."
Merlin noticed that he didn't count Leon among this number, but decided not to comment.
"Elyan will come round as soon as Gwen does. I have been trying to get through to her these last weeks and I think I am getting close. Gwaine on the other hand you will have to deal with yourself. No matter what I have said, he still thinks you attacked him."
Merlin nodded slowly in understanding. It was then that Gwen chose the most convenient time possible to walk into the room.
"Arthur, what is going on?" she asked then she froze, spotting Merlin. "Merlin." She gasped.
Merlin chuckled and turned to look at the prince. "She figured out it was me quite a bit faster than you did, sire."
"Shut up Merlin."
"Dollophead."
"A…Arthur, what is he doing here?" Gwen asked, her voice shaking.
Arthur realized just how scared she was and hugged her close.
"I'm not like Morgana, Gwen." Merlin said, his voice pleading. "Please, you know me."
Gwen met his eyes and her words spilled out in a gush. "Yes Merlin, I know you. What I don't know is what you will become. Having magic changed Morgana. It made her cruel. Ever since you have learned magic it has probably grown inside you too and I don't want to watch you change like she did."
It was completely inappropriate, but Merlin had been alone for three weeks so perhaps his reaction can be excused. He laughed.
Gwen looked even more terrified and Arthur glared at him, however there was an edge of uncertainty even in his eyes as if he might share some of Gwen's fears.
Once Merlin had gotten a hold on himself he explained. "Gwen, I was born with magic. If magic was going to turn me evil, it would have happened long ago." Merlin became even more serious and gained a hard glint in his eyes. "Magic isn't good or evil; it depends completely upon the person wielding it."
Tears began to run down Gwen's face and Arthur pulled her closer. "People aren't born with magic though…" Arthur said in confusion.
"I was. What can I say?" Merlin shot them a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I must be a freak, a monster…" Before Merlin could continue Gwen burst out of Arthur's embrace and hugged Merlin.
"Don't even think that Merlin. You are a good and kind person." Gwen said.
"You called me an evil sorcerer." Merlin said in confusion.
"I didn't think you were evil. I was scared you were going to be just like Morgana, that you would become evil and betray us all," Gwen said, wiping away her tears with the back of one hand. "And now I know you aren't like her. You are the same person I have known these past years."
Merlin couldn't help but smile at her quick turn around. This time the smile reached his eyes and Arthur, seeing this, sighed in relief. That was two people taken care of, but that still left Gwaine to sort out.
Thinking of Gwaine shocked the prince back to reality. "The others will be here any minute so you two might want to pretend you have never met each other before. We will just have to hope Gwaine doesn't recognize you right away, Merlin."
The two nodded in understanding and separated. Arthur and Merlin took their positions standing by the table. Arthur gestured to the map. "Where did you last see Morgana's forces?" Merlin was pointing out the location when the knights entered the room.
