A/N: I do not own Merlin or any characters from the show.
"MERLIN!"
Arthur walked into the armory, finally finding his wayward manservant sitting on the ground shining a piece of armor. Exasperated, Arthur demanded, "Where have you been?"
"Right here, shining your royal armor for the tournament tomorrow. Where else would I be?" Merlin quipped playfully.
Helping me get ready for the banquet tonight." Arthur said, expecting to see a sheepish grin spread across the young man's face when he realized how late it was. Instead he was shocked to see the young man smirk, his eyes flashing gold as he stood up.
"Don't worry. You don't need to get ready. There isn't going to be a banquet tonight – not one you'll be attending." Merlin said, his voice sinister and threatening. Arthur stood there, unable to move, as Merlin's eyes swirled gold once more. All the swords in the armory slowly began to float, eventually rotating to point at the prince.
Arthur stood staring at Merlin, horrified. "Why are you doing this? I thought we were friends! Don't do this Merlin. Please."
Merlin simply stared back at him, eyes slowing growing brighter as he voiced his reply.
"We were never friends."
His eyes flared, sending the swords hurtling towards Arthur as a dragon roared in the background.
Arthur jerked up, panting and thrashing in a cold sweat before realizing where he was.
His chambers were quiet, the dying embers of a fire glowing across the room from him. The windows were open, letting in a chilly breeze. Otherwise, the room was dark and quiet. Arthur ran his hand through his hair, trying to slow his breathing.
It had been three days since Merlin had disappeared from the dungeons. Arthur and his knights had searched the entire citadel, spreading out into the lower town and surrounding villages, but there had been no trace of the escaped sorcerer.
Arthur was exhausted. He spent the days out hunting for any sign of magic, and thoughts of Merlin plagued his thoughts and dreams and night. Many of his dreams were like the one he had just woken from – They always started with Merlin being his old self. He would be laughing, teasing with Arthur and sometimes Morgana. Then his eyes would flash gold and Arthur wouldn't be able to move. He had had to watch as Merlin forced Morgana to drink poison, then ordered a dragon to attack Camelot. The dream usually ended with Merlin trying to attack Arthur or his father. Just as he was about to die, Arthur would wake up in a cold sweat.
Arthur got out of bed to stoke the fire, knowing from experience that he would not be able to sleep for at least another hour. Padding silently over to get a new log, his thoughts turned again to the events of the last few days.
This was how he spent had spent the past few nights; restless sleep plagued by nightmares, waking in a cold sweat, staring at the fire while his thoughts chased each other in never-ending circles.
Merlin had hung back in the group and been very quiet. Arthur had thought the serving boy was just giving him and father room, but was he watching and planning? He had been making the stew right before the fire had surrounded them, so could he have started it? Arthur had turned from the servant when it had started, so he hadn't seen. Leon had said that he was facing away, though. I need to talk to Leon tomorrow and find out what happened in more detail He decided.
He thought of afterward, when he and his father had seen the gold eyes. He had been so shocked to see Merlin – goofy, clumsy, friendly merlin – with gold glowing in his eyes. His shock had slowly melted to anger: Anger that he had been fooled, anger that Merlin had broken the law, anger that he had not figured it out, anger at the situation. Then he had felt sad as he realized that Merlin had been lying to him – hadn't trusted him, that he had broken the law and had to be punished, and that he might have been the one responsible for the attack. That thought made him angry, and before he could think about it his father shouted for the knights to seize him.
Merlin had panicked then, saying it wasn't what they thought. The young man had said he was helping. Arthur wished now he had asked what he meant by that. How had Merlin been helping? Had he stopped the attack?
But what about everything he told Arthur after that, when he had been given the truth potion? Arthur could understand some of the other things Merlin had told him – Arthur had killed people in his role as prince, and understood the need for it when fighting or protecting something. But to poison Morgana and loose a dragon on Camelot? What could be the reasons for that? Did something change – did his magic corrupt him? Was that why he also attacked us? But then why would he say he was helping?
Arthur's thoughts ran in circles all night, until he finally fell into a restless sleep right before the sun came up.
~/^\~
Arthur woke up slowly, not having dreamt the last time he fell asleep. Looking at how high the sun was in the sky, he decided it was probably midmorning. Getting out of bed, he got dressed – someone had laid out an outfit for him and set his breakfast on the table – then headed out the door, grabbing a piece of bread and a sausage on the way out.
Making his way to the throne room, he went the long way. First, he walked through the courtyard to see if there were any search parties returning. After that, he went through the training yards to check on the knights and finish his breakfast. After a few minutes there, he finally walked to the throne room. He was set to depart on another search this afternoon, and wanted to discuss the plan with his father.
Entering the throne room, he found his father in discussion with Adsedo, a counselor, about the search. He entered quietly, approaching them slowly to allow them time to finish their discussion and acknowledge him.
"Arthur!" Uther turned to his son at a break in the conversation "Good to see you up! We have been discussing the locations left to search and possible resources. I would value your opinion."
Arthur smiled, explaining the areas yet to search, the results so far, and possible locations to be re-examined.
Uther watched his son throughout the report, concerned. Arthur did a good job of hiding it, but he knew his son was tired. There were dark circles under his eyes, and he misspoke twice during the report he gave. He seemed like he was still doing fine, but the betrayal of his manservant had hit him harder than Uther had expected. The boy is gone and still causing trouble, he thought angrily.
After Arthur finished the report, Adsedo stepped away to get a map.
"I'm sorry to be late, father. I -" Arthur was cut off before he could finish his sentence.
"It is not of any consequence. You are here now and that is what matters."
"Thank you, Sire. I will be riding out with Sirs Radgear, Vidor, Caridoc, and Bertrand at noon. Is there anything you require of me before I prepare to leave?"
"No, that will be all. Thank you. "
Having been dismissed, Arthur turned to leave, already thinking of the things he would need to get ready.
"Arthur" His father called out quietly, making him turn. "Be careful, we don't know how powerful he is."
Arthur smiled and turned to leave, knowing it was his father's way of showing concern without showing weakness. "Of course, Father."
Uther watched him leave, the worry seeming to calm some. Of course his son would be careful. He was the best warrior in the kingdom, and a fantastic huntsman. No mere sorcerer – especially a servant – would defeat him.
Still, the worry would not quite disappear. Arthur had been wounded in the attack, but he had also been betrayed by someone close to him. Uther would not let the traitor hurt is son any more. He had already lost two family members to sorcery, and would not let that servant destroy Arthur.
