AN: Pt. 3 to the Stone Table drabbles.

Disclaimer: I do not own "The Chronicles of Narnia" nor do I own Merlin.

Prompt: The Stone Table: In which Morgana returns from betraying everyone, and Merlin must make things right.

25. Stone Table, pt. 3

The night was upon them, and the air thick with a withering and weary exhaustion that threatened to overcome all those in the near vicinity. They were camped out in the heart of the lower town, which was one of the few parts in the outskirts of Camelot that had not been reduced to a smoldering rubble following the initial battle with Morgause' forces.

It was days like these that Arthur wanted to curl up in his bed and never leave. He also selfishly wished he was still the carefree prince he had been before his Morgana had betrayed them, before his father had tried to restart the purge.

They'd lost a fair number of innocent citizens before Arthur had been able to find a way to make him stop.

There would be consequences when it was all over. Merlin and Gaius had both told him of what would likely happen after the dust from this war with Morgause settled.

Would he be willing to step up and do the right thing? Even if it meant overthrowing his father? God, he hoped that he'd never have to make that decision. Everything in his life was so complicated right now.

"Arthur, I need to talk to you about something," Merlin's wary voice came from behind him.

Merlin. He hunched his shoulders and winced. Merlin who'd gone against his wishes and taken over negotiations with Morgause in Arthur's place, when he'd had no right. Even worse, Arthur was waiting for the fallback. Even with the revelation and his acceptance of the fact that nothing with magic was black and white, he knew that it was also never ever simple. Nothing came without a price.

"There's nothing to talk about, Merlin. You know without my saying it that you've done something that I disapprove of. You know what would happen to you if my father was here? You'd be run through on the spot. You are nothing more than a servant, Merlin; you had no right to do what you did. I'm not even sure exactly what it is that you've done, but I'm sure it was stupid. Idiot."

He was breathing heavily, and his fingers were clenched in his lap.

"Possibly, " Merlin agreed, "but it was unavoidable. Look, Arthur, this is really important. She dislikes you and Camelot and especially your father, but what she's really threatened by is… well, me."

"And why you?" he demanded in frustration. "I don't understand why you're so special!"

Merlin shrugged helplessly, "I don't either. But if I can do something to stop this war, then I'm duty bound to do it, right? My loyalty will always be to you."

Idiot. Stupid, bumbling, idiot of a manservant. Why was he so damned noble? Why did he have to be such a martyr? One might confuse him with Lancelot.

"What's going to happen?"

Merlin sat down beside him, leaning slightly into his shoulder. If anyone else had taken this liberty with him, including his closest friends, Arthur would have protested fiercely. But… this was Merlin. His manservant. His friend. His closest friend, and one of the only people he really trusted. He was trying hard not to be upset with him for whatever he'd done, because Arthur knew that to Merlin, he was doing what had to be done to protect Arthur. Stupid.

"I don't know for sure," he said softly.

"Don't. Lie. To. Me," Arthur snapped fiercely.

Merlin sighed. "There will be a time when I have to leave for a little while. I can't really say more than that, but Arthur, I need you to trust me. It's going to be okay. Can you trust that? Can you trust me?"

Arthur swallowed harshly.

"I…" he didn't answer. Instead he asked, "Where will you go?"

"Somewhere far away," he replied, a tinge of sadness overwhelming his words.

Arthur didn't understand. He knew that Merlin wouldn't be anymore direct, though. He never was.

"Okay," he whispered.