A Master of Two Servants: Morgana uses the fomorroh to manipulate Arthur into hunting down and killing Emrys. Little do they know the man they are both searching for is much closer than they think … AU of 4x06, 'A Servant of Two Masters'.
Warnings: gore and violence. Spoilers up to and for 4x06, 'A Servant of Two Masters'.
Disclaimer: Merlin is not mine. It belongs to the BBC and Shine.
A Master of Two Servants
Chapter Ten
Merlin spent most of the next few days sitting by the fire, wrapped in blankets and slumped in the most comfortable chair he'd ever had the pleasure of sitting in (most probably because it belonged to Arthur, who'd been strangely nice to him since the mercenary incident). And despite being bundled in nearly all the King's blankets, and having incinerated far more wood than they were usually leased, he was feeling cold and ill and incredibly sorry for himself. The fever lingered, stubborn and unrelenting. Gaius said it should have broken by now, but the physician wasn't too worried about it, as it wasn't high enough to cause concern.
Despite Arthur's spontaneous gift-bearing and Gaius' many concoctions, Merlin felt as though he was getting worse rather than better. There was something very wrong. Merlin felt increasingly restless, but it went beyond the realms of the boredom that came with being mostly bedridden. Powerful magic was at work within the kingdom. There was a poisonous taint to it that made him sure not only that Morgana was alive, but that she was plotting something while Camelot celebrated her death. Gaius thought this magical stirring in the earth had awakened his own magic, which was subtly trying to unravel what was happening, leaving his body weak and venerable. It certainly explained why his fever continued even later into the week.
At least Gwaine was around, occasionally trying to pry the truth out of Merlin and looking akin to a scolded puppy when he didn't get the desired result, but mostly telling tales about woman and taverns and everything else, after realizing that he was not going to get a confession from the servant just yet. The knight's brief, daily visits did help with the boredom, and even under strict orders not to leave the physician's quarters he still knew what was going on in the outside world.
Gwaine didn't mention Arthur in his daily reports about the happenings of Camelot (though Merlin knew the King was just about coping without him because he turned up every now and then, bearing blankets and food and sometimes furniture, fully dressed and complaining about his temporary manservant; and when he was too busy to stop by, Gwen would visit and fill him in), but he did talk about the hunt for Emrys. Apparently, they'd heard from Leon's patrol, who were staying in the northern village of Oldridge. They had been informed that Emrys lived within the magic-inducing caves of Ysbaddaden's Mount, and had gone to investigate.
"Will they find him there?" Gwaine had asked.
Merlin shook his head in reply. "No."
"Because he's in Camelot?"
"Who knows?"
The knight grinned at him. "You."
"So how is Mary?" Merlin quickly sidetracked.
Gwaine laughed shortly, hurt glistening in his eyes, and told him about the pretty barmaid anyway.
When Arthur had come by, he'd seemed pleased, but not overly so. For some reason, it was as though he knew as well as Merlin that they wouldn't find Emrys in the caves – although there was a strange look in his eyes that gave away that they would find something. It put Merlin on edge.
"Are you all right, Arthur?" he'd asked.
"Of course." The King finished adding wood to the fire and settled in the chair next to Merlin's (which was also from his personal collection). "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You just seem…" Merlin shook his head. "No, never mind."
"Merlin," Arthur growled. "Tell me."
"What do you think the knights will find in the caves?"
The odd look was back. "Emrys, I hope."
"Why have you suddenly started searching for him?" Merlin knew it was dangerous, to be asking these questions, but he had to know.
For a while, Arthur said nothing. Then, finally, "He is a threat to my kingdom."
"You want revenge," Merlin stated. It wasn't a question.
Arthur's gaze was cold, angry. "And if I do?"
"Perhaps he didn't mean to kill your father," Merlin murmured, even when a voice in his head screamed for him to stop, to be quiet. "Perhaps he made a mistake."
"You sound as though you know him, Merlin."
"I don't," the servant lied, heart hammering. "But you never gave him a chance. You never–"
"It is not your place to question me," Arthur said, voice dangerous and low.
Merlin looked submissively down at the frayed edges of his blanket and mumbled, "I'm sorry." Even through the apology meant nothing, even though Arthur knew it wasn't an apology at all.
After a long and tedious stretch of silence, Arthur asked, "You were the one who lead me to him."
"Yes," Merlin replied, trying not to show his unease.
"Do you know where he is now?"
"No."
"Merlin, if I find you're keeping this information from me–"
"I don't know where he is."
"Perhaps Gaius will then." There was something threatening in Arthur's voice, an unspoken challenge. "He knew the sorcerer, did he not?"
"No, he didn't. He knew of him," Merlin stammered.
"If I questioned him–"
"No, you don't–" Merlin steadied himself with a deep breath.
"Whatever you're hiding, whoever you're protecting, it's–"
Merlin looked at him indignantly, forcing his frustration forward and his panic down. It wasn't fair; he was sick and injured and a little too sorry for himself, and Arthur, knowing all of this, was taking advantage of it. "I'm not hiding anything!"
"Then why–?"
"Because he made a mistake, Arthur! Emrys is not your enemy!"
Arthur was silent for a moment. His expression was both cold and calculating, but beyond the icy exterior Merlin thought he saw remorse in the King's eyes and, worst of all, betrayal. "So you do know him."
"No," Merlin said confidently, ignoring his fear. "I knew of him, but I'd never met him before he tried to save your father."
"I never saw you with him," Arthur murmured. "I was never aware that you met."
Merlin swallowed, scrambling desperately for a reply to that, but Arthur spoke before he could, "Did you speak to him, when he was in Camelot?"
Unsure of just what to do, and guilt still sitting heavily in his stomach after the lies he had told Gwaine, Merlin found himself nodding.
"Did you let him escape?"
"No, Arthur. Of course not."
Arthur looked unsure. "I won't punish you, if you did."
Merlin remained silent.
"Where is he, Merlin?" Arthur asked, quiet, solemn.
"I don't know."
"If I have to search every village, every house," Arthur said dangerously. "If I have to scourer Camelot, and every kingdom beyond, I will. I will find him, Merlin."
Merlin, despite his fear, could not help but feel angry. Betrayed, even. Why would Arthur do this? With each day he spent huddled up buy the fire with only Gwaine and his lies to keep him company, the pain of just what Arthur had planned for him, for Emrys, deepened, until it was almost unbearable. And so he looked Arthur straight in the eye, despite his pain, despite his fear, and told him stubbornly, "Then scourer every kingdom."
The sound of the door slamming echoed through Merlin's mind until Gwaine returned to keep him company.
That night, in the depths of his dreams, Merlin saw Arthur tearing apart every village in Albion in search of Emrys. He burnt houses, destroyed crops, threatened anyone who stood in his way – he was unstoppable. It was the second Great Purge.
When morning came, he couldn't help but wonder if Uther had won all along. If magic would never be free while a Pendragon claimed the throne.
He knew he had a decision to make. Was now the right time to tell Arthur about his magic?
Gauis served him breakfast (apparently sent from the kitchens by Arthur, who despite yesterday's argument still seemed intent on providing Merlin with nearly every comfort in Camelot, perhaps because he felt guilty or responsible for what had happened in the forest – or, Merlin feared, so that he would feel so ungrateful for all these rather unnecessary gifts that he would outright admit to the King that he knew who Emrys was and where, exactly, the sorcerer was hiding) while telling him merrily that his fever had broken. Merlin forced a smile, but he was still caught somewhere between his nightmares and the thoughts of Arthur's possible plan of persuading him into confessing through such shallow means as giving him chairs and food, and while it was good news he could find much of a reason to be pleased.
Arthur's words rung clearly through his mind. If I have to search every village, every house; if I have to scourer Camelot, and every kingdom beyond, I will. I will find him, Merlin. The King was ready to tear apart the entire kingdom in search of Emrys. He would put innocent lives at risk for one man – one man he would not find. Not if he thought Emrys was outside of Camelot. Not if he thought Emrys was anywhere but by his side.
And yet Merlin sensed he would search everywhere, would do anything, for one sorcerer. For revenge, perhaps, or out of hatred, he was not so sure. But whatever his reasons were, there was going to be casualties because of it – consequences none of them wanted to face. And it would be Merlin's fault, if he let it happen.
Merlin, unable to stay quiet any longer, let his stoop fall into his almost empty bowl and nervously picked at the loose pieces of thread on the sling that bound his right arm and shoulder. Gaius looked at him expectantly.
"Do you think I should tell Arthur?" Merlin asked quietly.
Gauis put his own spoon down, a conflicted look crossing his aged face, before answering with a gentle and rather tired, "No, Merlin."
"If I lead him to the charcoal hut," Merlin reasoned. "I could change into Emrys and–"
"And what, Merlin? Allow Arthur to arrest you, to execute you?" Gaius demanded.
"It's better then letting him harm innocent people!"
Gaius raised an eyebrow at him. "Do you believe that he will?"
"I don't know what he'll do," Merlin said. "He won't listen to me."
"Arthur is a good and merciful King. You must trust him to make the right decision."
"And if he doesn't? I could stop this all."
"Merlin, you are far from recovered," Gaius snapped. "You cannot go gallivanting about the forest with Arthur in search of yourself."
"Why not?" Merlin huffed.
Gaius let out a frustrated sigh. "The ageing spell alone would do nothing to improve your condition. And I doubt that you will be able to ride a horse for at least a month."
"Then I'll walk."
"What will you do if Arthur arrests you?"
"If I can convince him that he's succeeded in executing me, then he will end his search," Merlin explained. "There must be a spell – something that would allow me to fake my death, at least for a short while."
"Arthur fully intends to use the restraints I am supposedly researching," Gaius said. "I have witnessed firsthand their affects, Merlin. You would barely be able to function while bound by them, let alone cast a spell of such power."
"Then tell Arthur they don't exist. Tell him you know where Emrys is and you know that he is willing to give himself up." Merlin got to his feet, thrown off-balance by the sudden movement because of the lingering affects of his blood loss and fever, but managing to regain his footing quite quickly, and made for the door. "I have to do this, Gaius."
"Merlin–"
Before the old physician could convince the boy otherwise, he was out the door and heading for the King's chambers.
Many people in the castle had heard of his condition and, upon seeing him wondering about the palace still too pale and thin, bandaged and bruised, earned him a few concerned look from the knights and servants alike. Some stopped him to wish him well, whereas others questioned skeptically whether he should be up and about so soon after what had happened (to which he assured them he was perfectly all right). It took him much longer than he anticipated to reach Arthur's chambers.
This part of the palace was the most familiar to him. He spent nearly all of his time in Arthur's chambers or walking these corridors that he barely had to think about where he was going, but when he finally arrived at the door he hesitated, and stood staring at the wood. What would he say to Arthur? That he had been lying, that he did know Emrys, the man he believed to have killed his father? And what if Arthur refused to be lead to Emrys and instead demanded that, if he was so willing to give himself up, he came to Camelot?
He would have to tell Arthur the truth. That would be the simplest way. It would end it all in an instant. But Merlin knew Arthur was not himself, that he was acting out in revenge. He had always imaged the moment he would finally tell the King everything would be quiet, peaceful, in one of the rare moments of calm they got between saving and running the kingdom. And, while Arthur might be hurt and confused, their friendship would be strong enough to survive the truth. Because they were friends, and friends accepted one another for everything that they were. And Merlin was magic.
But Arthur was angry and hurt, and Merlin wasn't sure now was the right time. What if the King acted out in fury and did have him executed? What if there was no spell to save him from the flames? The horrific scenarios, each one worst than the last, played over in his mind.
He thought of the Great Purge, of his nightmares. What if history was set to repeat itself? What if this was Destiny's true plan all along? There were too many questions and too little answers, and the only thing he was sure of was that, somehow, Arthur needed to be stopped.
And if that meant revealing the truth, then so be it.
With a deep breath, he pushed open the doors.
A/N: I know, I'm mean. Don't update in ages, and then leave you waiting for the (possible) reveal. I'm sorry, really. (Though I have an excuse! I wrote a post 5x13 one-shot, so if you want to check it out, it's on my profile! :D )
But the good news is, I know exactly where this fic is going, so I should hopefully no longer be so stuck when it comes writing the chapters. However, I can't promise faster chapters, but I will try to have them up as soon as possible, all being well. If any of you are confused as to what, exactly, is going on, it will all be explained soon enough ;)
Feed back is much appreciated :)