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Chapter 11-Deep Violet

As Arthur trained with the knights, Merlin stood by with Gwen and they laughed together as they watched. Though he'd never admit it, Arthur was immensely pleased to hear Merlin cheering him on occasionally and truth be told the prince was showing off a little bit.

A short way from Merlin and Gwen was Morgana and Aradia both watching the knight's training intently. During a small break, Arthur moved over to Merlin who held out a flagon of water to him. With a nod of thanks Arthur gulped the cool liquid down before handing the flagon back to his manservant and jogging over to the two ladies.

"Morgana." He greeted. "Lady Aradia."

"Arthur." They acknowledged in unison.

"Working hard I see." Morgana said. "That certainly makes a change."

"How have things been in my absence?" Arthur asked.

"Much more enjoyable without you." Morgana jeered.

"I missed you too." Arthur replied sarcastically.

"Things have been pleasant." Aradia told him with a warm smile. "Your father has been most generous."

"I'm glad to hear you're finding your stay in Camelot enjoyable." Arthur said. "How long is it you intend to stay?"

Aradia and Morgana both flashed Arthur an identical smirk but gave no verbal answer. He looked between them with slight confusion before Lord Bedros approached and clapped a heavy hand onto his shoulder.

"Arthur my lad, would it be possible for me to join your knights in training?" He asked politely.

"Of course." Arthur answered forcing on a smile before ordering the knights back into action.

As training resumed, Aradia whispered something into Morgana's ear and the dark haired girl nodded before joining Merlin and Gwen whilst Aradia made her way back inside the castle.

"It's good to have you back Merlin." Morgana said as she stood between the two servants.

"Thank you, it's good to be back." Merlin grinned.

"So tell us, where did you and Arthur really go?" Morgana asked and Gwen looked to Merlin desperate to know the answer herself.

"We visited my mother in Ealdor." Merlin admitted.

"Why?" Gwen asked. "I mean, your mother is lovely and it makes sense for you to visit her but…why did Arthur accompany you, I mean he's the prince, surely there's other things he ought to have been doing."

"I'm sure Arthur just wanted to get away for a bit." Merlin replied. "You know, for some peace and quiet."

Morgana carefully surveyed the boy and she could tell that he wasn't being entirely truthful. She quirked an eyebrow as she tried to determine which part of what Merlin had said was true and which parts were false. As she observed him she also noticed the faintest of bruising on the back of his neck that was only partially concealed by his neck scarf.

"Gwen?" Morgana asked turning to the mocha coloured girl. "Would you be so kind as to fetch me an apple from the kitchens? I'm feeling peckish."

"Of course my lady." Gwen replied dutifully before setting off for the kitchens.

Once Gwen was far enough away Morgana leaned closer to Merlin so as to whisper in his ear.

"How did you get that bruise on your neck?" She asked. "And don't lie to me."

Feeling a small sense of panic, Merlin's hand flew up to his throat and he tried to think of a believable excuse but nothing came to him.

"Well?" Morgana asked impatiently when he failed to answer.

As she continued to look at the servant expectantly she noticed his eyes flicker towards Arthur for a brief moment.

"Merlin, did Arthur hurt you?" She asked seriously.

Eyes bulging Merlin gaped at her and shook his head frantically.

"He did, didn't he?" Morgana asked sounding horrified. "He hit you."

"No, I promise you it's not what it looks like." Merlin said urgently.

"Then explain it to me." Morgana demanded.

Looking around helplessly Merlin realised he had no choice. If he didn't tell Morgana the truth now she'd only keep interrogating him until he told her everything and she'd probably question Arthur too.

"Not here." Merlin pleaded as a few villagers passed by with buckets in hand heading off to the water supply.

"Very well." Morgana sighed. "Come to my chambers after lunch. You will tell me everything then."

Merlin just nodded dumbly as the beautiful woman turned away from him and presented Gwen with a smile as she rejoined them with the apple Morgana had requested.

***

When the knights' training session was over, Merlin accompanied Arthur back to his rooms. He helped the prince out of his chainmail before setting to work on sharpening his sword.

"You seem tense." Arthur observed as he watched the dark haired boy work.

"I'm fine sire." Merlin lied as he kept his eyes on the blade in his hand.

Frowning slightly the blonde came to sit beside him and gently took the sword away from Merlin and set it safely aside.

"Is this about what happened during our return to Camelot?" Arthur asked him. "Because if so then I assure you there is no need to feel awkward."

"It's not that." Merlin told him. "I'm just being my usual idiot self."

From the look on the prince's face it was obvious that he didn't believe him but he did not push the matter. He simply ruffled Merlin's hair slightly before standing up and telling Merlin to continue his work.

***

As instructed, Merlin entered Morgana's chambers after lunch and found both Morgana and Aradia waiting for him there. He inclined his head to the visiting noble woman and shuffled his feet awkwardly wishing that he'd had the courage to defy Morgana's request for a meeting.

"Take your scarf off Merlin." Morgana ordered. "Your jacket and tunic too."

Casting his eyes downwards Merlin did as he was told and the dark haired woman let out a slight gasp when she saw the numerous scratches and bruises that covered the boy's torso. Aradia remained silent as she scanned his battered form.

"Is Arthur responsible for all of those marks?" Morgana asked sounding angry.

"He's not…it isn't as it seems." Merlin told her as he pulled his tunic back on.

"I am disappointed." Aradia spoke up. "You told me Arthur would make a fine king, that he was not like his father, yet he beats his manservant. It would seem Arthur is very much like Uther."

"That's not true." Merlin said defensively.

"I really thought Arthur was a good man at heart." Morgana said as she looked at Merlin pityingly. "I knew he was a prat of course but I always believed him to be a decent person beneath his arrogance. We won't let him get away with this Merlin. We'll make him pay for how he's hurt you."

"No." Merlin cried. "You don't understand."

"Merlin, did Arthur give you those cuts and bruises?" Aradia asked in an authoritative tone.

"He did." Merlin confessed with a small nod. "But…"

"No buts." Aradia interrupted. "If he caused you this pain then there is nothing more to understand. Like his father Arthur is a monster."

"He is not." Merlin defended glaring at the blonde woman liking her less and less by the second. "Arthur is the greatest man I know."

"Then you obviously don't know many men." Aradia retorted.

"Well you don't know Arthur." Merlin replied. "Morgana, please, just let me explain…this isn't what it looks like."

"Oh no?" Aradia enquired. "Then what did happen? Were you training with him perhaps and received the odd bump and bruise? You must think us fools if you expect us to believe such a story as that."

Turning away from Lady Aradia, Merlin stepped up to Morgana and looked her carefully in the eye.

"I asked him to hurt me." Merlin told her. "Begged him to. Since we returned from Ealdor…since Will's death, I haven't been myself. It felt like I was the one who died and every day…every day was like torture."

"That's not true." Morgana tried to reason. "You were happy. I know you were, I saw you, spoke to you, laughed with you. You were happy."

"Whatever happiness you saw on my face was only pretend." Merlin replied. "Every laugh was false and each smile was fake. It was as though I were a shell. I couldn't feel anything…except with Arthur. I needed him to hurt me so that I could feel; so that I knew I was still alive…then we'd…we'd…be intimate together. Every night I'd force him to do these things to me. He hated it, he didn't want to. He was disgusted with himself but he did it for me because I asked him to…because he cares."

Morgana studied him carefully unable to believe what she was hearing but at the same time knowing that Merlin was speaking the truth.

"That's why Arthur took me to Ealdor." Merlin said. "He told my mother about…everything…he thought being home for a while might help me…and it did. That's the truth, I promise you."

"I believe you." Morgana assured him before looking to Aradia who didn't seem very impressed. "I believe him." Morgana said in a stronger tone.

Bending down, Merlin picked up his jacket and pulled it back on before stepping towards the door.

"Not just yet." Aradia called. "I ought to seek out my husband, you can accompany me. Farewell my dear Morgana."

Together, Merlin and Aradia left Morgana's chambers and proceeded down the corridor. The blonde woman looped her arm with Merlin's and guided him to a secluded part of the castle where she came to a sudden stop and faced him.

"My lady?" Merlin asked in confusion but she shushed him.

She stared at him intently and Merlin felt highly uncomfortable under her piercing gaze. She muttered strange words under her breath and a deep violet glint coloured her irises. A minute later her eyes returned to normal and an infuriated expression crossed her features.

Chanting louder, Aradia stared into his eyes again but whatever she was attempting to do was not working.

"You have magic." Merlin whispered.

"Tell no-one." Aradia warned him in a hiss. "You'll only cause trouble. The king would never believe the word of a servant over that of a lady."

With that said Aradia turned on her heel and stormed off. Gulping slightly, Merlin took off in a sprint heading for Gaius' rooms. When he stumbled in Gaius looked up in shock.

"What have you done now?" He asked in exasperation.

"The lady Aradia." Merlin said. "She's a witch."

The old physician set his book down and turned to his charge.

"You're sure of this?" Gaius questioned.

"I saw it with my own eyes." Merlin told him. "Her eyes turned violet. She tried casting some kind of spell on me."

"What happened? Are you hurt?" Gaius asked worriedly as he hastened over to his nephew and placed a hand to his forehead checking his temperature.

"I'm fine." Merlin assured his mentor. "Whatever she tried to do didn't work. But I fear what she may be capable of and what her intentions might be."

"She and Morgana have been getting along splendidly well." Gaius said. "They are rarely out of one another's company. Aradia may be manipulating Morgana to do her dirty work."

"No, she couldn't be." Merlin replied. "Nobody is able to manipulate Morgana; she's too smart and too stubborn. Although…they could be working together, Morgana has magic too, perhaps Aradia knows that."

"I've known Morgana since she was a child." Gaius reasoned. "She's not evil and we're not sure if Aradia is."

"Oh trust me, Aradia isn't as innocent as she seems." Merlin told him as he paced the room. "She's up to something, I'm sure of it, and I fear Morgana is involved."

"Then we'd better keep an eye on them." Gaius suggested.

"That's impossible." Merlin sighed. "I can't tail the two of them around everywhere."

"You can't, but I can." A voice said from the doorway.

Turning round Merlin spotted Gwen slipping inside.

"Morgana has been different ever since Aradia's arrival." Gwen told the two males. "I know it's not my place to be judgmental but I don't trust lady Aradia at all."

"Gwen, if Aradia realised you're spying her…" Merlin trailed off not knowing what to say. "This will be dangerous Gwen." He finally said.

"I understand that." Gwen replied. "And I'm willing to take the risk."

"What about Lord Bedros?" Merlin asked. "Is there any chance he's involved with Aradia's plan."

"I wouldn't know." Gwen answered.

"Nor I." Gaius said. "But I can find out."

The two youths looked to their elder waiting for him to elaborate.

"I'll share a bottle of red wine with Uther and Bedros tonight." Gaius said. "When drunk Bedros has a very loose tongue. If he has any part in whatever Aradia is planning he'll spill it out after a goblet or two."

"I'll attend to Morgana now." Gwen told them. "I believe she's out of Aradia's company for once, I'll see if I can talk to her."

"Gwen, thank you." Merlin said graciously and she smiled at him before leaving. "I should attend to Arthur."

Gaius nodded and watched Merlin leave.

To Be Continued

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