« In a land of myth and a time of magic … » I would own Merlin's rights and be able to use english like my maternal language. Sadly neither of those things are true. I hope you'll enjoy though. Snapepotter.
The Coming of Arthur
She spent a fortnight in her cell. Progressively, the fear to die disappeared, remplaced by confusion as to why Arthur kept her imprisonned. The bars weren't even made of steel and if she had wanted to escape she could have done it within seconds. Regularly, Gwen and the others came to see her, engaging in light conversation and sometimes a game of chess. Gaius had told her that he'd been allowed to take care of Aithusa in her absence and that she was learning to fly with the help of Kilgarrath, away from Camelot. Everything seemed to have come back to normal, appart from the fact that Merlin was never seen at Arthur's side anymore.
The first few days of her captivity had been awful. She had worried and cried so much that Gaius had had to lace her meals with sedatives. It had rendered her sleepy and feverish and she still would not be able to tell if she had dreamt of the soothing presence at her side or not. Now, though, she was reading focusing on one of Gaius's treatise of Herbology rather that the fact that she was going to spend the rest of her life in that cell, waiting for Arthur to take measures against her.
« You've lied to me, all this time », his voice said and she started when she saw him there. She had been too lost in her thoughts to notice him entering her cell.
He looked like he could have used some sedatives too and she felt a surge of guilt setting on her stomach. His blond hair was tussled, his eyes sad and his mouth twisted with anger. She kept silent.
« It's cold in here », he added suddenly pointing at the wood in the fireplace.
« I know », she replied. « There's no lighter ». She did not say that she didn't want to anger him even more by using her magic.
«Show me », he said suddenly. « Your magic... »
Surprised, she turned to look at him, not missing the strange glint in his eyes when her gaze turned gold, lighting the fire. After that, however, he stayed silent, watching her carefully.
« When will I be executed? », she asked, frustrated by his behaviour and that seemed to get an answer out of him. Starting, he nearly lost his footing and she could swear she heard him curse.
« Tomorrow. At noon », he replied coldly before he got out, never looking back.
The guards came to get her at noon, while the bells were ringing, announcing her execution. She had not seen anyone since Arthur's visit, the previous afternoon. Arthur could be many things but idiot was not one of them. He wouldn't have allowed any of her friends to come near her cells knowing full well that they would try to get her out of them. He shouldn't have bothered thought Merlin, she would never have left willingly.
Hands bound, she tripped with each step she took and the gown she had put on did not help. At last, one of the frustrated soldiers by her side had enough and reached for the material of her skirt, pushing it in one of her palms.
« And now, hurry sorceress », he spat.
It was easier to walk after that, even if the men at her sides kept on pushing her, trying to make her stumble and fall. It was humiliating but she stayed silent, unwilling to give them the satisfaction. The tears running down her face were embarassing enough at that.
Finally, after the painful walk towards the forecourt, she realised why Arthur had had a handmaid tie her hair up behind her head. There was no pyre in the courtyard, only some kind of stool, stained with blood with a basket by its side and she knew her head would end up there. She felt honored, rather than frightened, because she knew such treatment was reserved for the nobles and not the common folk, much less when they were caught doing magic. Arthur was doing her one last favor.
When the guard made her kneel in front of the stool, she raised her head looking around. Her friends were there, tied up and surrounded by guards in case they would try to save her. Gwaine was positively furious, up to the point that they had been obliged to gag him while Gwen was sobbing uncontrollably on Percival's shoulder. It was Gaius's face that broke Merlin heart though, because the old man was as white as a sheet, staring at her with such a despair that she wished he was not here to witness her downfall. Arthur, for his part, was standing at the balcony, his new manservant by his side, looking at her with a calm she had never seen him display.
« Let this serve as a lesson to all », Arthur declared loudly, unknowingly mimicking Uther's words for Thomas James Collins when Merlin had first set foot in Camelot. « This woman, Merlin Emrys, has been judged guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic. Here, in Camelot, such practices are banned on penalty of death. I pride myself in being a fair and just king, but for the crime of sorcery, there is but one sentence I can pass. »
He nodded to the executionner then and Merlin bent over the stool, her neck in full display while the masked man reached for the sword. Trembling, she felt the cold metal brushing against her skin before he raised it again, knowing where to strike. The sound of the drums resonated in her ears and she nearly failed to hear Gwen's hopeless shout for mercy.
Then the sword fell.