Emrys: The Love And War Of Men And Their Gods:

Chapter 7: Understanding:

Arthur is standing atop of the balcony, his father and a few guards at his side, which overlooks the main courtyard within Camelot. The courtyard that holds all the public executions. Arthur had seen many of these; he can remember the deaths, the screams, and the smell of fear even from the very youngest of age, as it had been drummed into his system early on in life by his father. He can remember his father telling him over and over "All magic is evil and thus all who possess it should be eliminated, no matter what." Arthur when he became older, able to think his own opinions disagreed with his father that all magic was evil. He believed it could be used for good and when the gangly youth from Ealdor had arrived it had proven Arthur's theory. Not all magic was evil.

And now as the morning sun settles in the sky, the condemned witch Elaide is walked out by Camelot guards. Her weapons and armour taken from her, hands chained behind her back. She looks around, making eye contact with the Prince. Arthur immediately turns away. Fear of her reaching out to him, trying to get inside his mind again and control him and his thoughts.

The people of Camelot surround the courtyard waiting to watch yet another execution of a magic wielder. Arthur notices that amongst the guarded crowd linger two servants that know him all too well.

Merlin and Gwen are awaiting the death of this traitor, a captain of an army determined to bring down her King and kingdom. Arthur lets his mind wonder to what Elaide's plan could have been. Did she wish to control Arthur to get Camelot on her side to bring down Wessex, to bring down more then one kingdom, or just for the sheer fun of messing with someone's head.

The Prince is torn from his thoughts as he hears shouts and gasps coming from the ground below. Looking out to the courtyard he can see guards and knights trying to capture Elaide who had broken free from a guards grasp. She was moving like the wind. Even weaponless and arms bound behind her back she glided through the unorganised riot of armed soldiers, ducking and diving. His men were missing every opportune moment to bring her down. She jumped and kicked with force; spinning out of the grasps of many of Camelot's finest.

Arthur could now see the path she was making for herself. She was heading towards where Merlin and Gwen were stood amongst the crowd of people. He leaped from where he stood; ready to turn himself round, bring the guards he had with him to join the fight on the ground. Arthur however was stopped by his fathers grip on his shoulder.

"Father, let me help!"

"And risk her getting a hold of you. I think not" Uther ordered.

Arthur gritted his teeth and remained, looking back out onto the courtyard below. Elaide was still weaving herself towards where Merlin was stood. No doubt she was using her magic to read his men's minds to outwit their every move.

She was inches away from Merlin when she suddenly stumbled onto the stone floor. Arthur prayed that no one had seen Merlin use magic, for that could be the only reason why Elaide had faltered. Merlin had used his magic to protect himself, at a boy Merlin.

Guards and Knights had surrounded her, bringing her to her feet, swords at the ready. However she just stared up to the royal balcony.

"You must wake up Arthur!" she shouts, trying to hide the desperation in her voice as she had done the other night down in the dungeons.

"Your mind games no longer work on me any more witch" Arthur shouts back fiercely, his father smiling proudly out of the corner of his eye. Uther brings his arm up ready to let it fall to signal the knights to kill her there and then.

"You must wake up, you must beat this. If you cannot defeat him, no one can" she speaks within Arthur's mind as Uther brings his arm down she disappears from sight.


Arthur couldn't take it any longer. He had been cooped up within the castle walls for three days now ever since the sudden disappearance of Elaide that had caused such a shock and cause of panic. Though he couldn't' blame the people or his father being worried for his safety. The strong link she seemed to have with Arthur's mind was something to fear. The thought that she could make Arthur think anything was something that worried the blonde but not enough that he should have to be stuck within his father's castle. Elaide did not want to cause him any physical harm, something he used when trying to persuade the knights with in letting him join them on the practise fields, but not even the trouble seeking Gwaine had wavered in allowing him to leave the safety of the castle.

Walking through the corridors minding his own business, Arthur was suddenly pulled into a smaller conjoining corridor where his manservant stood with some tatty clothes and an old cloak that looked to big for his slim boned figure.

"Merlin what are you doing?"

"Getting you out of here, now put these on" he threw the tatty garments into his Prince's arms "I'm sneaking you out of here" he says with a smile, pride gleaming from him at his fine idea and plan.

Arthur rolled his eyes, and removed his clean and comfortable tunic off before throwing on the tatty one Merlin had given him, then the dusty cloak "this isn't going to work Merlin."

"Will you just trust me for once" it is now Merlin's turn to role his equally blue eyes at his friend.

"I always trust you Merlin" Arthur says softly, and only after realising how meaningful he sounded. Going from the expression on Merlin's face it was very meaningful "Well come on then you idiot, no time like the present" Arthur changed the mood with his general insult only to be earned with a petty 'prat' from behind him as he and his manservant glided unseen along the halls of the castle.

Somehow they had managed to avoid all possible threats of being caught, even walking casually past his father. Arthur was confident in that it had something to do with Merlin and his magic. Arthur smiled at the oblivious actions of his manservant as they had made their way to the stables, taking two horses and slowly trotting down and out of the city of Camelot.

Whilst riding through Camelot forest Arthur thought about the world Elaide had placed him in. He was somewhat thankful for her in that through that imaginary world he was able to find out about Merlin's magic in real life, along with the knowledge that their might be more, something much deeper within his and Merlin's friendship.

Arthur halted his horse when he came to face a lake. There were many lakes within Camelot forest, this one in particular being rather quaint, isolated with no open space around it, no open space that came with most of the lakes within his father's forest.

Arthur dismounted from the horse he was on and tied her reigns to the nearest tree. Merlin followed suit and soon was standing next to the blonde by the waterside.

"It's lovely" Merlin breaks the silence.

Arthur hums his response. He then undoes his cloak, letting it fall to the ground behind him before pulling of the worn tunic "Let's go for a swim"

Merlin just looks at him, dumbfounded "not on your life"

"Come on Merlin, don't be such a spoilsport" the blonde grinned, laughter trailing after as he grapples to remove Merlin's tunic.

Merlin hardly fights back with enough strength as Arthur grabs hold of the fabric and pulls it of over Merlin's head, causing his manservant to bend and stumble and land in the very shallow waters.

Arthur bellows a laugh at was he sees before him. Merlin is propped up on his elbows, completely soaked from the splash from his fall. Though soon the Prince's laugh settles before he is just staring, a surge of arousal suddenly shooting through him as the actual picture becomes clear in his mind. Merlin's jet black hair is damp and clinging to his pale angular face. There are water droplets falling from his chin and running down his lean chest with the slightest hint of dark hair before continuing to run down to the flat of his stomach. And suddenly Arthur feels something very different from amusement.

"I hate you" Merlin's voice breaks Arthur's train of thought, though there is no malicious tone to Merlin's declaration.

"No you don't" Arthur smiled down at his friend, offering him his hand. Merlin returned the blondes smile and accepted the help up from out of the water.

Merlin now stood in front of him, still dripping with lake water. The Prince looks at the fading dark patch of skin surrounding Merlins eye and a strike of guilt enters his heart.

Arthur was still holding the warlocks hand, unconsciously stroking Merlin's damp skin with the pad of his thumb. The blonde stepped forward automatically, still running his thumb in a circular motion.

"Arthur" Merlin breathed in a whisper that sent chills running down the Prince's back, the sudden intensity and closeness of the situation taking hold.

"Merlin" the blonde sighed, his breath lingering with Merlin's. The only thing separating him and Merlin now was his arm. His hand that continued to lightly hold Merlin's as the Prince leant his face ever slowly forward nearing his friend's pale face. With every thought Arthur leans further in, unsure at the sudden want and wonder of what it would be like to connect his lips with those of Merlin's. To kiss . . .

Merlin pulled away in a sudden jerk "we should go" before turning abruptly and striding towards his horse, picking up his dry shirt along the way.

"Yeah" Arthur answered, running his hand through his blonde hair. He was in shock at what he was just about to do and the sudden burst of embarrassment of being rejected, but even more the sadness that came from Merlin pulling away.


On the ride back into Camelot no words were exchanged between the two friends, no looks shared, just Merlin riding in front of him. Arthur was conflicted with his emotions. Ever since we had woken up from the dream world Elaide had placed him in, his feelings had changed, and for once in his life he felt alive. This sudden new rush and desire for his manservant was completely new and yet so familiar. It felt nothing like what he had felt for Gwen. With Gwen there was no intensity, no real spark. With Merlin he was able to be completely himself and then it hit him. I think I'm in love with Merlin.

Back in Camelot, night was settling in within the city. The sun was setting causing a beautiful array of reds, oranges and pinks to dance along the horizon.

"Arthur?"

The sound of Merlin's voice turned his attention away from the beautiful sunset to the heartbreaking expression on his friend's face.

"I'll tend to the horses Merlin, you go see Gaius. Get dried and dressed." He put on a fake smile, something that Merlin seemed to notice. Merlin knew him to well for any false look to work.

"Very well sire" Merlin nodded before slowly walking towards one of the side entrances of the castle.

He called me sire. Arthur knew that Merlin only referred to him as Sire when surrounded by other nobles, and even then that was rare. The only other time was when there was a giant wedge in their friendship. And at that moment in time it was a giant wedge of Arthur's doing, of going in for a kiss. Unnerving and no doubt freaking the hell out of Merlin.

The Prince pinched the bridge of his nose as always when in anger before leading the two horses into the stables, placing them each in their pens.

Arthur stifled an un-princely like sob.

"Are you alright" a feminine voice came from behind him; he instantly recognised it as Gwen's.

"I'm fine" he turned round, seeing a slight look of shock appear on her face when seeing that it was him. She is holding a sewing set. No doubt having been repairing a saddle or something.

"Arthur I know when you're lying. Now tell me what the matter is. Is it because of me and Lancelot?" Guilt became evident in her voice.

"Of course not. I'm generally happy for you both; I couldn't honestly think of two people better suited for each other" Me and Merlin.

"I am sorry for the suddenness of it all. But while you were in your coma, something just happened between us that just felt so right." She looked down, ashamed of her quick and sudden actions of her and Lancelot's engagement.

He walked up to her then, lifting her chin to get a better look of her "You have nothing to be ashamed of. You followed your heart. You and Lancelot are meant to be." He replies with a genuine smile.

"I did love you Arthur, but with Lancelot, I-"

"It's true, pure. It's something that runs more than skin deep, deep within your soul, the earth itself even."

Gwen nods with a small smile.

"I know the feeling" Arthur mimics her expression.

Her face changes into confusion and without thinking Arthur speaks what's on his mind "Lately I've been feeling the same, for someone that's always been there but I just never thought about, it never even crossed my mind." He stumbles for words but Gwen seems to understand where he's coming from.

Her smile had turned brighter at the knowledge that there was someone new in Arthur's life, hopefully someone who could love him and take care of him.

She nods her goodbye before leaving the stables and a confused; possibly love stricken Prince behind her.