Title: Trust no one
Characters: Merlin, Arthur
Summary: Arthur had to uphold the law, didn't he?
Warning: character death
Word count: 100
Note: this was written after I finished 'Trying to Breathe', a story I left open-ended. However, it's not really the ending of that story, just the inspiration.
The pyre burned bright that day. Someone he'd once loved was now ash, scattering into the wind.
Arthur knew he should have thought it through, stopped his hand before his sword-thrust ended Merlin's life and yet, and yet, a small part of him could not regret it. His friend, no - the sorcerer, lied to him, twisted the trust Arthur laid at his feet into treachery. He'd never been so close to anyone before, opened his heart, his life. The result was betrayal, loss so deep he couldn't comprehend it.
At least Merlin taught him one final lesson.
Trust no one.
