A/N: I own nothing.
A/N: I'm sorry it took so long to update. It was a very emotional time for me, but things are getting back on track. Also, regarding this story - there are a few changes being planned and I'd like to hear your opinion.
1. The story won't be as much stuck to the original script, although the original script will still stand for as long as I figure out the ending.
2. What would you like to see in the story? Since I'm probably going to deviate at least a bit, give me your fandoms! Give me anything you can think of. Every idea/fandom used will also receive a credit to the giver in an author's note at the beginning of the chapter.
11. A man in love
Merlin could not fall asleep. Everything was a mess. People were dying and it felt awfully like her fault. Of course, were you to ask from her why she thought that, she would not have been able to give an answer.
"Maybe I accidentally did something?" she questioned herself, walking in her messy chamber. "I mean, I can't exactly control this enormous power." She tried to recall when was the last time she'd been to the well. "Maybe I cursed the well and that's why people are getting ill?" She bit her lip in worry. Gwen's father had caught the disease. Gaius had forbidden her to help anyone with magic, but she couldn't do that to her new best friend.
Merlin took a deep breath and sat down on her bed. The court physician was probably fast asleep by now. She knew the consequences would be dire, should she be caught. But it was unlikely, she reasoned. At home, she had mastered the skills of sneaking into the kitchen for food in the middle of the night with only a smartphone giving her the light. Now, she didn't have the tech device, but she had something even better: magic.
"Okay, this is how it is," she said rather loudly. "Bilbo went on an adventure that had a dragon. I have a dragon too, therefore I must have an adventure." She stood up and decided to do it. If she could not save all of them, then she must save at least one. That's what Hermione would do. This was a rule worth breaking.
However, she was not as good at sneaking as she had assumed herself to be. She nearly woke Gaius, got caught by the guards and by the time she got to Gwen's house, she was sweating profusely because of the growing fear. She was glad to leave soon and once she'd made it back to her room, she was so glad she decided to reward herself with some reading by the candlelight.
Harry Potter books had never proved to be that comforting before. Her face pale and covered with cold sweat, she looked eerily bewitching in the dim light. "Thank god for hardcovers," she whispered, pressing her face against the book. It was by breathing in the scent of the pages that she finally fell asleep that night. Not for a single moment did she stop to consider the consequences of her reckless act.
Guinevere's arrest the next day shook her world. Her thoughts centered around it and she felt bad, sick to her stomach. For a moment, she thought that maybe she had caught the illness and was doomed to die too. But of course, life is never that easy. She stayed up that night, reading and reading and reading. She looked at her Slytherin blanket, at her precious 21st century clothes and the damned coin that brought her to this dreadful situation. It didn't take long to make up her mind. However, it took a while to prepare herself, to be brave enough. For a moment, she envied Gryffindorks, like she affectionately referred to the opposing house members of Slytherin.
She burst through the doors, yelling. "It was me! It was me who used magic to cure Gwen's father!" She had run through the castle in order to not lose her newfound bravery and had intended to stop by the doors, but the dramatic entrance seemed a lot more convincing in her mind.
"Gwen is not the sorcerer. I am!" She took a deep breath to calm her erratic heart before saying it. Hearing her words made Gaius stand up and look at her, as if she was the stupidest thing to ever walk this earth. Well, maybe she was.
"Merlin! Are you mad?" His words made her doubt her sanity.
"I cannot let her die for me," she said with a shaky voice. She was glad her voice didn't break. She was being far too brave for this adventure. She turned her face towards the king. "I place myself at your mercy."
"He doesn't know what he's talking about." Gaius was intent on convincing Uther that she was lying. On one hand, she understood him. She was 'destined to be' the protector of Albion. On the other, she knew for sure from the legends that Gwen had even greater of a destiny – she was going to be the one to marry the royal ass. That's why, when she said "I do", her voice was firm and confident, one that didn't like disagreeing with it.
"Then arrest him." It seemed enough for Uther. However, when Merlin closed her eyes to prepare for the roughness of the guards, a voice stopped everyone.
"Father, please! I can't allow this! This is madness! There's no way Merlin is a sorcerer." Arthur. The girl bit her lip trying to hold back her laughter. It was madness that he didn't let him be arrested. Between the two of them, they had had so many arguments already that she was ready to die to be saved from the sweet torture.
"Did you not hear him?" Now, like Gaius had looked at her, Uther had the look of disbelief when he saw his son standing up for a mere servant.
"Yes," Arthur agreed.
"He admitted it." Merlin wondered if Arthur felt stupid at the sound of hearing these words.
"He saved my life, remember."
"Why should he fabricate such a story?" This was something Merlin deeply agreed with. She had no motive. Of course, Gwen was her best friend, but that was not enough to put her life on the line just yet. Gwen was brave, braver than any other girl she had known. If anyone, Gwen would be the one willing to sacrifice her life for her. That's why Merlin had to do it. No one should die for another.
Arthur's next words made her want to punch him. "As Gaius said, he's got a... grave mental disease," he said, trying to hide a smile. The girl shot him a glare.
"Really?" Uther didn't sound convinced.
"He's in love," the prince said quickly. Far too quickly for Merlin to believe he had told the truth.
"What?" she almost spat out.
"With Gwen," he added, shooting a warning glance at his stupid manservant. She wanted to disagree, although a blush was starting to color her cheeks. However, this seemed to entertain the king, who grinned.
"I am not," Merlin disagreed weakly, only to be childishly shot down by Arthur saying that she really was.
"No way," she started, but Arthur broke her off again: "I saw yesterday with that flower she'd given you."
"I'm not in love with her." It was pointless to fight back. It seemed that when the members of the royal family got an idea, they stuck to it like dragons keep to gold. Arthur placed his hand around her and she bit back an insult. He was too close. She could feel her heart race up – not because she was in love like they claimed to be, but because he was way too deep in her comfort zone. All eyes were on her.
"It's alright. You can admit it." He sounded reassuring but Merlin was growing angry. How dare he invade her personal bubble!
"I don't even think of her like that!" She shrieked, uncomfortable with the disgusting smell of his sweat. Not that she herself smelled any better, but at least she tried not to smell like she had just come from football practice. (That didn't mean that she had ever been to one, but her best friend's brother had.)
"Perhaps she cast a spell on you." The way Arthur's head turned towards his father surprised Merlin. The king was snickering and soon, the council joined. A small smile washed over the prince's face, but Merlin knew it was still not good.
"Merlin is a wonder, but the wonder is that he's such an idiot," He ruffled her hair before giving a flick against her forehead. Merlin yelped. "There's no way he's a sorcerer."
"Don't waste my time again. Let him go." The king said with humor in his voice, as he turned back to the tedious tasks at hand. Arthur guided him out, a tight grip on his shoulders. Merlin knew that once the doors closed behind them, he would lash out on her, just like Gaius would later, for her disastrous ideas.
However, before he could even open his mouth to reprimand her for her reckless acts, she was already at his neck. "Maybe you're the one in love," she hissed with strange passion burning in her eyes. "Maybe you should consider that."
Arthur didn't laugh, although he wanted to. Merlin's face was completely red and when she stomped her foot like a stubborn child before she turned to rush off, it was ridiculous and cute at the same time. As if she was from another world – a world where magic wasn't forbidden and dragons chained under castles.
He walked off, ignoring the fact the council and his father were waiting for his return. Maybe he was in love too, he considered. In love with a world beyond his imagination.