Chapter Twenty-Five: When it Turns to Chaos

Indignation. That was the first thing Arthur felt. Then offence. But then a slimy prat (yes, he used Merlin's insult) was insulting him, his kingdom, his wife and his knights while at the same time torturing his best friend, his brother. So yes, he had a right (and reason) to feel a catharsis of emotions toward the prince (in his mind, Arthur liked to think of him as a traitor, and he was to his kingdom at least).

Arthur readied his sword, slipping the knife that he found up his sleeve (a little sneaky, but Merlin would have done the same, plus this was war and all's fair in war) and was about to go 'charging in' as Merlin would put it when the manservant's voice stopped him.

"You have no idea what you are talking about."

It was that tone. It was the tone that Merlin used when he was angry, really angry and thankfully Arthur never had been on the receiving end of it. And hopefully he never would because Merlin was scary when he was angry. Not that he would ever admit it to anyone but himself. Arthur watched as Merlin looked at Baldulf with a glare so fierce that it made even Arthur shiver.

Baldulf paused in his tirade for a moment and Arthur held his breath, he couldn't see the prince's face but his body had tensed "King Arthur is a selfish king who has no real right to the throne; I wouldn't even be surprised that Uther killed Ygraine for an heir. In fact, he should join his dear old mommy-"

"Arthur is a good man." Merlin interrupted his voice deadly and his eyes narrowed. Arthur frowned as he looked at him more closely there was something wrong with his eye. Oh, God, his eye… its… Arthur swallowed bile as he stared at the tissue that was protruding around the swollen eye, the eye itself was red and slightly milky and Arthur knew that Merlin was possibly blinded in that eye.

Baldulf was slowly gaining confidence as he pointed the dagger at Merlin. "Then you are a fool because Arthur is a bloody coward and an idiot."

Arthur wasn't insulted, well, he was but he was more concerned for the guy who was about to receive the brunt of his loyalist's anger.

Golden light flooded the room and Arthur shielded his eyes. The very earth began to shake, and Arthur heard an inhuman scream. Merlin? Warmth surged through the king and his soul seemed to jump at the magic (there was no other explanation). The light faded slowly, although everything seemed to be out of focus and Arthur looked up and at Merlin in shock. The manservant, who was previously chained to the ground, was on his feet (Arthur noticed that his left leg was bleeding) and the cuff that had been on his wrist had snapped off. But that wasn't what had caught Arthur's attention, no, it was his eyes. Merlin's golden eyes.

"How did you?" Baldulf stuttered in fear and Arthur's gaze snapped back to the royal. "You can't escape those cuffs! They're supposed to block magic!"

Merlin glared at him in such cold, foreign and quiet fury that Arthur was surprised that Baldulf wasn't trembling like the sniveling coward he was (or begging for mercy, although Arthur would have probably chopped the man's head off himself if he tried that, he really was furious). "I am magic incarnated." He whispered and such a whisper had never put such fear or awe into Arthur. His voice was deep, ancient even and his golden eyes lit up the room somehow.

I've never really noticed or thought about it. It comes… naturally to us. The more powerful the sorcerer is and the more magic the sorcerer uses the deeper his voice goes.

Well, Merlin's voice was deep, almost as if he was the Earth itself. Arthur felt his very core vibrate with the intensity of his voice but was soothed as well. Wait… did he say magic incarnated?

Baldulf trembled, "B-but you are a servant!"

"Silence!" Merlin snapped coldly and Arthur shivered. "You have tried to bind my magic, and you made it unable to be loose, something that I do not like. Explain quickly, or I will not hold back my wrath." Is it even Merlin? Arthur wondered. But yes, it is. Just a more… different aspect of him. Like a more… kingly aspect maybe? Or just an angrier and powerful one…

Baldulf gulped. "T-then you should be contained, why you're supposed to be impossible. You could help me raze Camelot! I can be the Once and Future King and we can rule Albion together!" Baldulf said and his eyes gleamed wickedly. The prince was either very foolish or very brave, Arthur decided.

Merlin glared at him in such fury that Arthur flinched and Baldulf covered his head. "You think I'll help you destroy my home then you are seriously twisted. I follow only one king, and I'll never rule with an evil one." Merlin's lips twitched, as if he knew something the prince didn't. Which, Arthur thought, is very likely. I wonder how many secrets he's got… "You are not the Once and Future King."

Baldulf slowly smirked. "Is it that coward then? Arthur? He's not even strong! Why, I bet your aren't magic at all! Emrys is saving your behind even now!"

Merlin shook his head. "I pity you." He said almost sadly, "but I don't fear you. You can't even see the change that is coming." Baldulf smirked and turned back to the sorcerer.

"Oh but I can. Now, tell me where Arthur is, or I'll have to kill you." Merlin's eyes narrowed and he shook his head.

"I don't think you can." Merlin whispered. "Have you met Agravaine?"

Baldulf paused for a moment in confusion and surprise. "Didn't he die?" He asked almost afraid and Arthur shifted.

"I killed him." Merlin said coldly although there was a hint of pity in his voice. Baldulf gulped but something flashed in his eyes.

"Very well then…" Baldulf murmured and he threw his knife at the sorcerer. Merlin's just jerked his head up a little and the knife lodged itself into the wall.

"I am Emrys." Merlin whispered his voice deadly. Then the walls began to crumbling and everything exploded.

After everything stopped spinning and Arthur could see, he rushed into the destroyed torture chamber and climbed his way over to Merlin who had collapsed. "Merlin?" He whispered reaching his friend and gently placing his hand on his leg. Merlin's eyes snapped open and Arthur nearly yelped. "Oh Merlin… your eye." He whispered his brows furrowing in concern as he stared at the milky white eye of his friend. Merlin smiled tiredly.

"You came…" He whispered and Arthur smiled fondly.

"Of course I came." Arthur murmured and buried his hand in his friend's hair. Merlin smiled slightly his eyes already becoming heavy.

"Thought you wouldn't…" He whispered quietly then he opened his eyes again and saw Arthur's exasperated glare. "You saw?" Merlin asked quietly, almost sadly.

Arthur paused, wondering if he should lie or not. He nodded, not sadly but resignedly. "Of course I saw Merlin. You blew up a… man." Merlin winced and Arthur bit his lip.

"I have to tell his father sorry… don't I?" Merlin's voice was getting quieter and for a moment Arthur felt a surge of panic as he pressed two fingers against his friend's neck. The pulse was strong and Arthur let out a sigh of relief. "I didn't want to show you in that way…" Merlin continued softly. "I'm sorry…"

Arthur shook his head with a sad smile. "No, old friend, it's alright. You can sleep now, you're safe." Merlin smiled and finally closed his eyes, relaxing into the king as Arthur held him.

Arthur watched as a peaceful look drifted onto his friend's face and he smiled, what he had said was true, it was alright, or it will be. Slowly, Arthur remembered a lullaby that his nanny would sing to him and he began to hum it.

Then he heard the sounds of running footsteps and he tensed. Merlin shifted as the hum stopped and Arthur patted him on the head. It worked surprisingly, Merlin settled down and Arthur watched as Freya, Gwaine Harry and Lancelot ran in.

Freya and Harry stumbled to a halt while Gwaine crashed into Lancelot. "What happened?!" Gwaine exclaimed his face full of shock and Arthur smiled wryly.

"Magic." He said with a sense of irony and Freya and Harry looked at the king in surprise and Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"We should get him out of here." Lancelot gently stated and Arthur looked at him in confusion. "Merlin," he added. "Merlin needs to get out of here."

Arthur nodded and stood, gathering the sleeping warlock in his arms. Merlin only opened his eyes for a moment and smiled before drifting back to sleep. "Kay, and Ginny." Arthur whispered and Freya nodded in understanding, casting one last worried look at the warlock. "He'll be fine with me, Freya." Arthur reassured her gently and she smiled warmly.

"Alright." She said, glancing at Merlin in worry and she bit her lip, obviously not wanting to go before she darted out of the room. Arthur sighed and he glanced at his friend.

"Why do you always have to complicate things Merlin?" He complained. The sorcerer only answer was a light snore. Arthur snorted in disbelief and followed Gwaine, Lancelot and Harry.

Author's Note: Fast update.