Don't own it, wish I did.
See Things My Way – Part 3
Merlin gaped at her, a hand at his cheek. He had a lot of nerve. It only fueled her anger more. Arthur was doing his best to restrain a laugh, but was failing miserably. She was seeing red, she was so angry.
"Don't you dare laugh, Arthur Pendragon or you'll be next," she warned him, taking a step toward him.
Arthur held up his hands in defense, an innocent expression filling his features.
"Morgana," Merlin asked, soothing but with trepidation. "What have I done to upset you?"
"Oh, that's right. Don't tell poor Morgana, she couldn't handle it," she snapped. She was overcome with the urge to slap him again. "I thought you of all people would have the decency to let me know you're going off to war."
"What?" Merlin and Arthur exclaimed simultaneously.
"Don't you protect him," Morgana said, waving a finger in Arthur's face. "I heard you in the hallway, the both of you, Uther and Gaius. You're afraid Bayard's advancing. You're attacking before he can reach Camelot's borders. You know what else I heard?" This time she moved to shove her face into Merlin's. "'Please don't tell, Morgana. I don't want to worry her,'" she mimicked in a ridiculous version of Merlin's voice.
The anger built up again. How could he leave to do battle and not tell her? He knew how much her father's death had affected her. She raised her hand to slap him again, outraged at his insensitivity. Arthur caught her hand and held her back gently.
"Morgana, I'm not sure what you heard, but I assure you we are not declaring war on Bayard's kingdom," Arthur said evenly. "Bayard is coming to Camelot, but he will be here for peace talks. He is not advancing with an army. Merlin has been with me this whole morning. I've been doing tax distribution and he's been grinning like an idiot."
"Better to look like an idiot than to be one," Merlin quipped. He reached a hand out to Morgana. "I swear I'm not riding out to battle."
"You should know better, Morgana. Have you see Merlin with a sword? He looks absolutely ridiculous," Arthur said with a grin.
Tentatively, Morgana took his hand and allowed him to draw her close. He kissed her forehead and ran his hand soothingly down her hair. Her anger drained out of her and she gripped him tightly as the fear had not quite fled.
"Hey, you two don't get too comfortable. I have to sleep in this room and I don't want to have nightmares," Arthur said, returning to his stack of papers.
"Nightmare?" Merlin repeated, giving Morgana a point look.
She shook her head. "I was sure I heard your voice. I was awake, wondering where Gwen was. She never did come to wake me. I was worried. I was going to try and find her, but then I heard you outside, I listened through the door." She closed her eyes and sighed. "It could have been a dream."
Merlin cupped her head between his long fingered hands. "Are you feeling better now?"
"I'm sorry I slapped you," she said.
A knock at the door sounded before Merlin could answer.
"Come," Arthur called.
A servant stumbled into the room and bowed. "Sires, Gaius requests your presence in the King's chambers."
MERLIN – ARTHUR – GUINEVERE – MORGANA
"Arthur, Merlin, thank goodness," Gaius breathed as they entered their father's chambers. "Maybe you can calm him down."
"What's going on, Gaius?" Arthur asked, blue eyes searching for their father.
"I'm not quite sure, sire," Gaius answered. "The King is insisting that he is using magic."
"What?" Merlin gasped. "Father?"
"Over here," the King replied weakly.
Arthur and Merlin exchanged looks then hurried to their father's side. Arthur froze in his step as he found his father crouched in the corner of his room, his eyes shut tightly. Merlin knelt down and put a hand on Uther's shoulder. "Father?"
"No. Don't touch me. Get away," Uther pleaded. "It can't be, but it is true. I must be executed."
"This is impossible. Father, you do not have magic," Arthur snapped. "Now open your eyes and I can prove it."
For a moment, he thought Uther would refuse, but he eventually pried them open. Merlin grabbed one arm and motioned for Arthur to take the other. With one fluid motion, they pulled Uther to his feet and lead him to his bed. Once he was arranged and comfortable, Arthur planted his hands on his hips.
"Now, what is this about you having magic?" he demanded.
The king grasped Arthur's forearm. "It's true," he said with wide eyes. "I saw my eyes, they turned gold and it wouldn't go away. When I sent Stephan away, I made all the papers on my desk burst into flames. Look if you don't believe me."
Together, Arthur and Merlin faced the desk. Not a piece of parchment was out of place. "Father, it is fine. You are fine. Everything is perfectly the way it should be. I think all you need is a good day's rest. Don't you agree, Merlin?"
"Yes, Father, you work too hard. I'll arrange everything. Gaius, can I speak with you?"
"Of course, sire," Gaius said with a meaningful look at Merlin.
Arthur frowned at this, wondering about their silent communication as they left the King's chambers. Sometimes he was sure he would never understand his brother. One day about as cheerful as a storm cloud, the next grinning like a fool, now he was having secret talks with their physician. Perhaps Hunith had dropped him during those early days of his babyhood.
Shaking his head, he brought his attention back on his father. "Now, I want you to rest today so you'll be ready for the council meeting I really don't want to attend tomorrow. That way, I can go hunting and drag my dimwit brother behind me."
Uther gave him a half smile that quickly morphed into a smirk. "At least he has half a brain," his father said. "Which is more than I can say for you."
"Father?" Arthur gasped, taken aback by the sudden derision in Uther's tone.
Uther gave a guttural sigh. "How I despise that word coming out of your mouth. You can't begin to understand how grating your voice can be. Don't just stand there boy. My kingdom is going to crumble. How can I entrust the kingdom to you once I'm gone, if you can hardly know what to do today"
"Father, I'm sorry," Arthur stuttered. "I'll do better, I promise. You won't have to worry about a thing."
"If only I had a son I could rely on."
MERLIN – ARTHUR – GUINEVERE – MORGANA
"What is it, Merlin?" Gaius asked as soon as they were out in the corridor.
"Something's not right," Merlin said. "Father thinks he has magic and just before we came here, Morgana was certain I was marching for battle."
Gaius cocked an eyebrow. "Are you sure, Merlin? These incidents could only be coincidence."
"I'm not sure," Merlin admitted. "But my father and Morgana believing something that isn't true on the same day, it's too much to ignore. See what you can find out in your books, Gaius. If it's nothing more than stress, this will all go away, but I'd rather not have my father on the hunt for a sorcerer."
The spell hadn't worked, Merlin decided. It was supposed to make his loved ones see things his way. Instead, his father's hatred of magic was the same as ever. Gaius kept telling him how unique he was, but he couldn't get one spell right. He was sure to be the worst sorcerer of all time.
"Of course, sire," Gaius said and Merlin winced. "But, Merlin you must be careful."
"I will," Merlin assured him.
Merlin was about to make sure that Morgana was fine, when the doors to his father's chambers pulled open. Hopefully, Gwen had arrived to ease her mind. It wasn't like the other woman to be late. Now he was worried about Guinevere.
Arthur stepped into the corridor, his gaze far away. He looked at Merlin and for a moment the warlock thought he was looking at a ghost. "Arthur?"
"I've just been disowned," Arthur mumbled.
"Sire?" Gaius asked.
"Father…he just disowned me. I've been stripped of my title and Merlin is to be the crown prince."
Merlin gave a laugh in disbelief. "Funny, Arthur."
His brother's eyes suddenly flamed with anger. He tried to loom over Merlin threateningly. "Do I look amused? Do you find this amusing, Merlin?"
"Arthur, not five minutes ago, he was claiming he had magic. He must be ill," he tried to sooth.
But his brother gave a decisive shake of his head. "No. He was quite lucid. Go in there and confirm it with him if you do not believe me." With that he marched away, his back held straight and firm, but Merlin thought he had never looked more defeated.
He exchanged another look with Gaius and together they pried Uther's doors open again. His father was deeply asleep, buried in pillows and the heavy blanket. It was possible the confrontation with Arthur had been so traumatic that their father had all but passed out. Or Arthur was being affected by the same sort of hallucinations that Morgana and Uther had.
"What is going on?" Merlin muttered.
Gaius said next to his shoulder. "That's what we need to find out."
MERLIN – ARTHUR – GUINEVERE – MORGANA
Morgana felt shaken, despite the reassurance from Merlin and Arthur. Her dreams could be vivid and so real that when she woke up it seemed as though the real world was surreal. If it weren't for Gwen, her constant companion, sometimes she was sure she'd get lost in her dreams. But eventually, they did clear.
So if hearing Merlin speak with his brother and father had been a dream, then why hadn't she realized it. Maybe not at first, but soon enough to stave off the wave of anger that had hit her in those few simple words. It hadn't. Everything had been real and as bland as every day of her existence her in Camelot. Merlin made it bright and the very thought of possibly losing him and filled her with fear.
She jumped when the door to her chambers was thrown open and it bounced against the adjacent wall. Gwen squeaked and chased after it. "Oh, my lady, I beg your pardon."
Morgana frowned at the tears in Gwen's voice. "Gwen? Are you all right?"
A smile ticked on the maid's face, but it was forced and fleeting. "It's nothing, my lady."
Morgana frowned. "Gwen, you've been crying."
The other girl tried dunked her head, as if to hide the shameful tear tracks. "I…I'm sorry I'm late, my lady."
"Gwen, I don't care about that," Morgana insisted, putting a hand to Gwen's chin. "Now tell me. What's troubling you?"
Totally out of character, Gwen flung herself into Morgana's arms and sobbed. "Oh, it's horrible. I fear I'm losing my mind. I keep seeing her. She's there all the time, mocking me. But it can't be her. She's dead."
Morgana shushed her, uncomfortable with their reversed roles. Usually, Gwen was the one who was calming her down. Yet, Gwen was her friend, her very first friend. If she needed a shoulder to cry on, then Morgana would give it to her.
Once she quieted, Guinevere pulled away. "Forgive me, my lady."
"It isn't as though you have not done the same for me," Morgana said kindly. "It is what friend's do, Gwen."
That brought an honest smile on the other girl's face. "Thank you, my lady."
"Now who has been mocking you? I'll have them dealt with," Morgan said imperiously.
Gwen shivered. "It can't be possible, my lady. I don't know how it could be possible. But it's my mother."
MERLIN – ARTHUR – GUINEVERE – MORGANA
Merlin was searching for Arthur, when he rounded a corner down a corridor to their quarters and came face to face with himself. The other him was dressed in black, his eyes not a deep blue, but tinged with red and yellow. The smile on his face had nothing to do with happiness, the curve of it was wrong, sinister.
"Hello, Merlin."
