He was standing, watching as Arthur – his master, his responsibility, his friend – destroyed people because the prince's father told him to. It didn't make it better that they attacked right back. The magic-users were still the victims of the king's laws…
But Merlin still had a job to do, and so he fought back the loathing and shame, focusing on watching Arthur fight. The prince could defeat the sandy-haired man, Merlin felt sure.
A tug. Merlin felt a tug on him, magical in nature, and looked up to find the old man, the old sorcerer, staring at him with eyes glowing.
What? What is he doing?
His eyes were hypnotic… Merlin felt himself being pulled in, pulled closer, his mind swirling dizzily. His thoughts made no sense. Who was he?
He was Merlin, right. Merlin, but he was so close to the other man… How could he be sure that he wasn't that sorcerer instead? He felt almost attached.
No, I am Merlin. Son of Hunith and Balinor. Protector of Arthur. Merlin.
There was a spell twisting around Merlin's body, pulling him closer. It had things… like tentacles. Yes, tentacles. Entwining with each other, tying him up, tying him to the sorcerer…
And then he was back in his own body… But no, he was looking at his own body, wasn't he? His old body, frail and bent, staring into his own eyes. Wasn't that his?
Wait, who am I?
Who are you?
What?
He was confused. Who was he? What was this? Someone else was in his body! Two people in one body! How was that possible? He felt like one.
No one else belonged in his body but him!
I am Merlin, son of Hunith and Balinor. Who are you? What are you doing in my body and mind?
I am Orson, son of Olive and Samson. And I am taking over your body.
Merlin felt horror rise up in him, but his expression didn't change. His heart didn't speed up. It was like his thoughts and emotions no longer had control of his body.
Oh, no.
No! I am Merlin! I am the most powerful warlock ever! You can't… can't… Ewch allan o fy nghorff!
Orson saw the spell coming and blocked it easily.
You are young, though. Powerful…. Yes, I see that in your memories. But young. And no longer in control of your body. Now, if you don't mind, I shall return my energy to getting used to your body… You move so much differently at this age.
Merlin tried to struggle. It was hard to do when he couldn't move. He felt Orson's presence getting stronger.
Better. Now… what? No!
Orson caught sight of his own body, skewered and dead. No surprise there… But the rest. The ones who hadn't performed a spell that could keep their consciousnesses alive. The ones Orson had wanted to save, but hadn't taken control fast enough.
Dead.
No!
A single tear – Orson's tear – pushed past his defenses and onto Merlin's face. Grief welled up, touching Merlin too, creating in the warlock a confusing mix of pain and sorrow and anger and triumph and sympathy… Orson's resolve strengthened with his pain. Uther and his kind would pay for all the death today.
Merlin was powerless. Powerless as Orson made his plans, using Merlin's memories to do so. Powerless as Orson tricked everyone he knew effortlessly. Powerless as Orson worked out how to control his body: Let Merlin do the moving while dictating and ordering him what to do; only step in when Merlin disobeyed. When Merlin fought…
When Merlin fought… Especially when he fought and nearly wrested back control of his body…
When Merlin fought, punish him.
And Merlin woke up from his dream at the thought, screaming in his head. But Orson's mind, controlling even in his sleep, stopped the scream from making its way into reality though Merlin's insides shrieked like a madman's. On the surface, Merlin's eyes remained closed and his breathing steady with peaceful sleep.
Gaius had stayed up all the night looking for answers. He only put his books away when Merlin came home, and once Merlin was sleeping, he brought them back out again and once more began to peruse the books for a hint as to what was wrong with his almost-son.
At dawn, he found it. In the last book, of course. And he stood immediately, making his way back to the library. Geoffrey would want the books back as soon as possible, and then Gaius would go see Arthur.
His old heart felt heavy and full of pain. He couldn't believe what he had found… Or, no, he actually could.
Poor Merlin.
Poor, dear, brave, always suffering boy. If Gaius wasn't in such a hurry to help him, the old man could have cried.
The old, sleepy librarian took the books back with thanks, grateful that there were no more complications. "Did you find your answer to the black eyes? What caused them?"
"I did find the usual reason for it in my research." Gaius nodded solemnly. "Possession."
A/N: There you go. The reason. Smiles all around! Oh, wait, I still have to explain how they fix this, as well as Morgana's plan? Oh, right. I'll update soon, then! Please review! Was the dream sequence too confusing?