Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Merlin characters.

AN: (Any and all mistakes are completely my own.)

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Blindsided

Chapter 8

For what seemed to be hours, Merlin was alone in his chamber. He had watched the sun set over the white landscape and almost immediately, a cold had settled into the room. He didn't mind, however. It was as if he could not feel the cold. Or he refused to feel it.

Two soft knocks on his door.

"Enter," Merlin said.

It was Morgana who entered and she carefully closed the door behind her. She folded her hands carefully before her, her gaze serious as she looked Merlin's into his eyes.

"I came to see how you are," she said, "I was worried."

"Really?" Merlin found it strange to hear her say those words. Why would she be worried.

"It can't be easy for you, Merlin," she explained, "finding yourself in this situation."

"And what makes you think that?" Merlin asked.

He turned his back towards Morgana, gazing out of his window again. It might be dark outside, but he could still she the contours of the trees, the moon and the stars. It seemed so peaceful out there and Merlin longed for a moment where he could feel like that.

"Because it is freezing in here," Morgana said, "are you trying to punish yourself?"

Merlin turned back to her. He lifted his hand towards the fire place and spoke a few words in the ancient language. "Drai incendia." A fire came alive out of nowhere, filling the room with instant warmth.

"Arthur still refuses to say where the entrance is," Morgana said, noticing she wouldn't get Merlin to talk about anything else. "He laughed in our faces."

"What else did you expect?" Merlin said. He leaned against the wall, his arms loosely next to his body. "Arthur isn't just going to break," he said, "he is trained to endure torture."

"That's why I'm here," Morgana said, "I have come to ask for your help."

Merlin laughed without humor. He had not thought this moment would come so soon. The sisters would never come to ask for his help unless they were getting desperate.

"Ask Arthur where the entrance is," Morgana said, "show him you are truly on our side. He still believes there is hope for you. We need to crush it."

Merlin looked Morgana in the eyes. He knew there was more to this. The sisters might want to know where the entrance is, they also wanted to see where Merlin's loyalty lay. How could he show them his loyalty when he didn't even know yet where that loyalty lay.

-o-o-

Merlin took in a deep breath. He stood in the center of a large and long chamber. It was only early in the morning and Merlin felt tired. He had not slept at all last night as Morgana's words had kept repeating themselves in his head.

They wanted Merlin to crush all hope Arthur still had, but could the sorcerer truly do so? The thought of Gaius returned to his mind. Arthur claimed not to have killed the physician and yet, weeks ago, he had told Merlin this himself.

What game was the Prince playing? Did he honestly believe he could still control Merlin?

Merlin sighed. He gazed up at the large windows that were at either side of him. They allowed sunlight to enter the chamber, casting everything into an orange glow. It wouldn't be long now and so he waited another few seconds.

The doors opened, two guards entered. They each held an arm of Arthur as they dragged him forward. They came to a halt when they were a few yards away from him. Kicking the back of the Prince's leg, they forced him to kneel down. Only now did Merlin see Morgana stood behind Arthur. She smiled when seeing Merlin.

The young sorcerer gazed up then, knowing Morgause was close as well. Watching the little balcony in the far corner, he caught a glimpse of her blue robe. He ignored her presence, however, focusing on Arthur.

Th Prince looked furious, his face red with anger.

"Look at you," Arthur hissed, "all great and powerful."

"Leave us," Merlin ordered the guards. They looked at Morgana for conformation and when she nodded, they left, closing the doors behind them.

Merlin gazed into the Prince's eyes, refusing to look away first. He knew hat he was doing and he would doubt himself or his decisions. Here he was respected, he was acknowledged for who he was. What did Arthur truly know about him?

"You know why you are here," Merlin said. He was surprised by the strength of his own voice. It actually felt good to feel like this, to not care he was talking to a Prince. "Where is the entrance of the passageway?"

"What, Merlin?" Arthur asked, still on his knees, "don't tell me you are going to be the one to murder my father? I never considered you could be a killer."

"I could be many things," Merlin said, "for example, did you ever think I could be a traitor?"

Arthur pressed his lips together.

"Of course not," Merlin continued to speak, "you only considered me to be your servant."

"You know that's not true," Arthur sighed.

They were still looking into each other's eyes. It had almost become a staring contest.

"Of course," Merlin admitted, "I thought you were my friend as well for a while. That was until you murdered Gaius."

"I didn't murder him," Arthur said, closing his eyes. It seemed he was slowly giving in, growing tired of all this.

"No, no," Merlin chuckled without humor, "Gaius just mysteriously died when you were with him. That does make a lot of sense."

"You know nothing," Arthur said, his voice hard and loud, "you are here, thinking you are aware of everything while you don't even know the truth!"

"What truth?" Merlin demanded to know, his voice loud as well. He cared little for the fact that Morgana and Morgause were present as well and could hear every word that was spoken.

"He killed himself!" Arthur yelled.

Merlin pressed his lips together. He looked at Morgana who stood perfectly still behind Arthur. It was clear that she wanted to give the young sorcerer the space and time to handle this situation. It seemed she trusted in Merlin to get what they needed.

"I am not an idiot," Merlin said, softer now, "despite what you might think. I do not believe you."

"I call what you are doing right now quiet idiotic," Arthur sneered.

"Where is the entrance," Merlin demanded to know, "tell me." He refused to believe a word the Prince was telling him about Gaius and he refused to listen to another lie about him. Why would Gaius even want to kill himself when Merlin had promised him he would find him a cure?

"No," Arthur simply said.

"Tell me this, Arthur," Merlin said, biting down on his lower lip, "do you think I am weak?"

Arthur seemed taken aback by that question.

"I'll take that as a yes," Merlin said.

"No," Arthur quickly said. "I don't think you are weak!"

"Then tell me," Merlin took a step closer to the Prince, "do you think I am stupid."

"You know I don't," the Prince answered. "You want to know what I think? I think you're looking for excuses. You want to be here, you want to give in to all your hate and anger and you're using me as your excuse. You're not weak, not stupid, only sad."

Merlin felt his breathing quicken. His hands balled into fists. He looked at Morgana again, watching her grin. This was what she wanted: tension. Merlin did not hate her for it. If anything, he was grateful to her for allowing him this chance to talk to Arthur and show him what he truly wanted.

He wanted him to know...everything. He only needed a reason.

"Sad," he repeated, "perhaps. Angry and hateful, enraged, annoyed, resentful. I could go on like this for a while, but all those things, I feel them because of you."

"What do you want me to say?" Arthur asked. "It won't make anything better, will it?"

"You could try," Merlin said. He took another step closer towards Arthur. Morgana moved to stand by his side, smiling now, content with how everything was going. She gazed down at the Prince, pleased by the position he was in.

"I won't beg for my life," Arthur told them, "and I won't tell you where the entrance is. I would rather die."

"You'll get your wish," Morgana spoke. She looked at Merlin to see ho he would react to her statement, but he only gazed at Arthur.

"What are you without her," Arthur suddenly asked, looking Merlin in the eyes, "if you didn't have Morgana, where would you be?"

"She understood me," Merlin explained, looking at the youngest sister, "she helped me in more ways than you can imagine."

Everything was becoming clear now and Merlin understood where his loyalty lay now. He looked Morgana in the eyes before returning to look at Arthur.

"I was wrong, Merlin," Arthur said, anger in his eyes, "you are weak."

"Johma capri belghoth," Merlin yelled. His eyes flashed golden and Arthur flew backwards. Landing back on the floor near the end of the chamber, he remained motionless. Morgana slowly stepped forward towards her half brother and kneeled down next to him.

Merlin remained absolutely motionless. His breathing slowed down again and a strange sense of harmony filled him. His worries seemed to disappear. He had chosen where his loyalty lay and he refused to second guess himself. He was with Morgana, with Morgause, and against Arthur who finally would know the complete truth about him.

"He'll live," Morgana stated as she stood up again. She looked over her shoulder towards Merlin. "That was impressive," Morgana smiled.

Merlin returned the smile.

AN: I'm sorry, I just had to do this. I always had this scene in my thoughts and it was this that caused me to write this entire story. I wanted Merlin angry and against Arthur and I think I succeeded, didn't I?

Bu what are you thoughts? Do you think I went over the top with the whole scene?