Her Crime, His Punishment
Arthur looked at Hermione, beautiful Hermione and sighed. His whole vision of her as the perfect girl for him faded before his eyes. Hermione was a witch,there was no denying it, he had just seen her produce 4 creatures of of a stick ,which he presumed to be a wand. And if that wasn't enough , she was huddled in the corner her face inches away from Merlin's who looked as shocked and in awe, as he was sure he looked.
Merlin held out his hand an smiling Hermione took it and closed her eyes. Merlin leant in even closer, too close for Arthurs opinion and whispered.
"What were those things?" he said looking at Hermione's serenely beautiful face with a hint of a smile on it. She looked over at him and leaned towards him.
Arthur was hurt. "You know I should be asking you the same thing" he whispered just loud enough to for them to hear. Hermione and Merlin jumped apart and visibly paled when they saw him. Hermione's breath caught in her throat.
"Arthur?" she whispered. Arthur looked at her now sick to the bone at the sight of her and shook his head.
"You will be punished for this" he muttered turning on his heel ,fighting away the tears that were threatening to run down his face and ignoring Hermione's pleading screams from the top of the staircase. He heard footsteps behind him and broke into a run, he didn't want to see her. She grabbed at his shirt.
"Arthur, please" she begged, tears running down her face. He batted her away and she ended up on the floor, crawling- with a sneer Arthur muttered where you belong. Without saying anything he turned away fro her and ran out into the corridor and all the way back to his room, pausing only to ensure the guards that he was fine as they were obviously distressed to see their prince, running away from something with tears in his eyes. He reached his chambers and flung himself against the door barring any one from entering.
He placed his face in his hands and sighed. Why was he reacting like this? His father was the one who hated magic, not him and Hermione hadn't done anything wrong maybe she used her magic for good - No as his father would say, any magic is bad magic. Give them once chance and they will turn on you. Urgh! Why was he reacting like this? You love her a voice taunted at the back of his head.
"I do not" he muttered to himself. Great now he was talking to himself- but then he thought the moment he met her he had been immediately attracted to her and he'd only known her for a day and yet he loved her. A sickening thought went through his mind, had she placed a love spell on him. No impossible, Hermione was good, who would never do anything like that.
"All magic is bad magic" the voice in his head echoed. "Turn her in , let her get her just rewards, the only good witch or warlock is a dead warlock". He clasped his hands to his head and groaned. Looking up he took a deep breath and stood up bracing himself he opened the door and came face to face with Merlin. Drawing his sword he pointed it directly at Merlin's chest.
"Merlin" he hissed "What right do you have to be here-" Merlin interrupted with an ear splitting yell
"Look we can argue about this later, Arthur. Right now we have bigger problems" he shouted taking the prince off guard.
"What's happened" Arthur inquired. Merlin took a deep breath and answered.
"Hermione's gone. She's gone to confess… to your father"
Hermione howled as Arthur walked out of the door.
"Arthur!" she screamed. Merlin ran down the last few stairs and saw Hermione lying on the floor.
"Hermione" he whispered as he wrapped his arms around her. Hermione screamed and pushed him away.
"Get off me" she shrieked , her eyes dripping tears. She turned to face him , her eyes were steely and ferocious. She pulled her wand out of her pocket and pointed it directly at Merlin's chest.
"Don't push me" she hissed at him. Deep red sparks , flew out of the end off her wand, threatening to set Merlin's shirt on fire. He stood up and took one step backwards, hands raised in surrender.
"Ok. Hermione, please calm down" he said carefully. Hermione turned and looked at him and Gaius who was standing at the back off the room. She took a deep breath.
"You'll be punished too, won't you?" she asked Gaius, totally ignoring Merlin as she was unable to meet his eye. Gaius paused for a moment and then sighed and nodded. Merlin turned and looked between them.
"What… what do you mean Hermione?" he stammered. Hermione looked down and looked up to meet his eye's that were boring into hers.
"Merlin" she started standing up and walking towards him. "I did History Of Magic at school, I know about the Utherian witch trials, thousands upon thousands of people were killed, but not for being witches or wizards but for harbouring them." She looked down at her feet , them back into his eyes.
"Merlin, Gaius I cant let that happen to you. If Arthur goes and tells Uther, you will be executed." Merlin sank too the floor and put his head in his hands. Hermione walked over to him and gently placed her hand on his arm. Merlin looked away from her and towards Gaius.
"Is there nothing we can do?" he sighed looking over at Gaius. Gaius shook his head and bent down next to Merlin.
"There's only one thing we can do Merlin. Hermione will have to leave and…"
" No" Hermione interrupted. "Even if I leave, you will still be viable to be found guilty off harbouring an witch and helping me escape. There's only one thing we can do - or what I can do"
Gaius understoof immediately. "No Hermione, I wont let you." He turned to Merlin "She's going to confess to Uther, claim we knew nothing about it."
Merlin grabbed Hermione who had been heading towards the door. "Please Hermione don't, They'll kill you." He grabbed her arm and sunk to his knees. "Please don't do it."
Hermione turned and looked at him. She sank perched down on one knee and looked into his eyes.
"Merlin… I have to do this. Your destined for great things Merlin, its my time…" Tears sprung into Merlin's eyes. Hermione bit her lip and gently leaned forwards placing a gentle kiss on his head and moved down placing another on his lips. She looked at him and wiped away his tears.
"There will be someone else Merlin… trust me I know your story. " She laughed sadly
"People will be talking about your for years, there will be films about you, plays, songs, books… you are destined for great things Merlin" she repeated. She got up from her knee's and pulled her arm away from his.
"Goodbye" she whispered. She headed towards the door. Merlin stood up and grabbed her arm one more.
" I won't let you go" he snarled. "I wont let you."
Hermione sighed.
"I really didn't want to do this Merlin" she drew her wand and pointed it at Merlin.
"Petrificous Totalus" she gasped. A blinding, white light flew out of her wand and hit Merlin , he felt his whole body go rigid and he slumped over backwards rigid. Gaius ran over and took Merlin's pulse.
"What have you done!" he shouted at Hermione. Hermione smiled and put her wand back up the sleeve of her dress.
"Don't worry" she smiled. "He's only frozen , he should come round in about 5-10 minutes. He'll be fine… look you can see his eyes moving." she stated pointing towards Merlin, whose eyes were flickering around, he was looking pleadingly at Hermione silently begging her not to go.
"Goodbye" she whispered once more and swept out off the door.
Gaius bent down next to Merlin and gave a gentle chuckle.
"You know Merlin, you're very lucky that you have someone who cares enough for you to do that ". He bent down towards Merlin and poured a silvery liquid into his mouth. Merlin coughed and spluttered and shot upwards.
He gave Gaius a confused look. Gaius looked at him and sighed
"You care about her too, don't you?" Gaius said a smile playing on his face. Merlin frowned and opened his mouth to speak but closed it and nodded.
Gaius walked over and places a hand on his shoulder.
"Go and find Arthur, Merlin…" Merlin nodded and ran out off the room.
Hermione looked up at the deep wooden door and gulped. This was it it was time to confess, save Merlin , Gaius and join her friends.
She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Come in." Uther voice rang out through the door. Hermione gulped and turned the heavy golden handle. It creaked open as she pushed the door and poked her head around the corner.
"Hermione… a pleasure to see you again." Uther called out, Hermione entered the room and curtsied. Looking up she froze. The room was packed with advisors from all the states of Camelot.
"Christ" she muttered under her breath. Her hand tightened around her wand that was concealed behind her back.
"Your, looking much better my dear" Uther smiled and patted the chair next to his. Hermione took a deep breath and approached the king.
She reached the chair, gently bowed her head and took the seat.
"Sire there is something that I must talk to you about" she whispered in his ear. Uther turned and looked at her and nodded.
"In private sire" she whispered. Uther looked at her confused.
"Anything you can say in front off me you can say in front off my advisors, Hermione" his voice was colder , he obviously suspected something.
"Ok, sire." she took another deep breath.
"I don't know if Arthur has found you and told you yet sire but-"
The doors flung open and Arthur rushed in flanked by Merlin and stood on the other side off his father.
"Father, there is something I must talk to you about." Hermione looked at him her eyes wide in panic.
"No Arthur please" she begged, shaking her head.
Arthur looked at her and gulped. She looked so beautiful at this moment, she took his breath away.
" Father" he began again, "there is something I must tell you about Hermione" he walked around to the back off Hermione's chair and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
Hermione turned and looked at him. Her eyes got even wider.
"Please Arthur, I was just about to tell him. Please allow me to tell him". Uther shook his head and stood up from his throne.
"Will someone please just tell me whats going on! Uther bellowed making everyone in the room jump.
"Hermione and I are engaged" a voice from behind finished. Hermione span on the spot, making sure to keep her wand out of Uther's sight. Arthur looked at her a smile on his face. . He took the hand that contained the wand and pulled Hermione out of her seat carefully pushed the wand up her sleeve as he did so and holding her wrist so it would not fall out.
He looked up at his father. He had a confused but happy smile on his face.
"Hermione and I would like to get married." Arthur concluded. A huge smile broke across Uther's face.
"So be it!" he cried ,he began to clap, the advisors followed suit, standing up , bowing and clapping some of the hand servants in the corners began to cry. Hermione stood dumbstrucked and confused, faking a smile. Her eyes seeked out Merlin, who met them from a across the hall. He was clapping along with the rest off them , but Hermione could not miss the small, sad smile and the tears glistening in his eyes.
Authors Note: For any off you who have voted by review or on the poll on my profile for Merlin, do not fret it this is not the end off the story! On a similar note - If you have voted by review would it be possible for you to vote again on the poll as it makes it a lot easier to count... thats about it please review if you enjoyed it I really enjoyed writing this chapter
