Arthur stepped into his room with Tea and trimmed. He had often experienced that there was a certain mistrust between Merlin and Sir Mordred, although he could not explain where it came from. But the present scene was even stranger. Mordred was in the process of treating a wound on Merlin's forehead, and there was no distrust to be felt. He had the feeling that something connected the two but he couldn't grasp what it was. Maybe the two of them could finally settle an old argument. Maybe it was also because Mordred had finally learned of Merlin's magic, but Merlin's wound was strange.
"Merlin, what happened to your head?"
Merlin looked at Arthur with a grin and said, "For once, I wanted to prove you right and be a clumsy fool."
"Merlin!" Arthur rebelled.
Tea and Mordred giggled, with Mordred trying to cover it up with a cough. Merlin winced as Mordred bandaged the wound.
He said, "Gaius should definitely look at the wound."
Tea added: "And the queen has asked you, King Arthur, to visit Gaius as well."
Arthur tried to give Tea an evil spark, but he did not succeed properly.
"Are you worse again?" Merlin asked alarmed.
With a gesture of his hand, Arthur ordered Tea to let him speak. "There must have been a misunderstanding. Be that as it may. Tea has probably saved me from a painful wound with her gift," Arthur began to explain and summarized the scene in the throne room for Mordred and Merlin. Both were shocked to hear that a knight of Camelot had attacked Arthur because the king wanted to relax the laws concerning magic. Both sorcerers looked at each other and nodded in agreement. In thought, Mordred said to Merlin: "I will do everything in my power to save Arthur from this vision or any other harm...".
Arthur interrupted the conversation with the following order: "Sir Mordred, please tell Gaius that if he has time, he should come to my chamber. Furthermore, post at least one Knight of the Round Table outside the door. I hate to admit it, but I need some sleep. Although I hate to burden Gwen with this, but someone should investigate the old judgements on the family of the knight Fewon. Maybe then his mumbling will make more sense. Likewise, Gaius should look after him and judge whether a curse might not have been the reason for his deed. Tea, if you don't mind, can you let Bronwen know that she could assist Gaius in this task?

After a brief moment, Arthur was alone with Merlin. "Are you really all right?" Merlin asked again.
"Yes, but I really need some sleep. I can hardly keep my eyes open, and between you and me, you don't look very rested either."
Since Merlin could not contradict this, he lay down on the extra mattress and closed his eyes. He heard the king's regular breathing, but he didn't seem to be able to sleep either.
"Merlin?," Arthur asked quietly.
"Yes?," Merlin replied just as quietly asking.
"Shouldn't you sleep?"
"I could ask you the same question," Merlin said.
"That's true, but I have a lot of thoughts going through my head right now. I owe my life this week not only to you, but also to Tea. Even though I probably don't say this enough, but I thank you, Merlin."
He grinned all over his face, although his forehead wound made him flinch. "I told you I would be by your side, as always, to protect you.
Arthur leaned back with these words. Yes, it seemed very familiar. He remembered the situation in which Merlin had said this to him. As Merlin noticed Arthur's frown, he added: "Years ago, just before Cenred's army attacked and the castle prepared for a siege.
"How is it that you remember it so well?" he asked in surprise.
"I was just glad to be alive and able to protect you," Merlin explained, waiting for Arthur to realize. Merlin had to wait much longer than he had thought.

"My father was sick because of a curse and you were gone," it slowly dawned on him. Your defense was that you were dying."
Merlin waited further and he saw it working in Arthur's head.
"You told the truth. Am I right? "You would be in such a situation...didn't run away."
Merlin nodded happily.
"Tell me everything."
"Very well, my King," Merlin teased and continued: "Uther was enchanted with a so-called mandrake, which only magicians can hear. In people without magic, this bores into the subconscious and makes them live through the worst nightmares and fears. I followed Morgana one night. She met with Morgause and planned the downfall of Camelot. I could hear their conversation, but Morgana knew of my presence. They left me tied up there to die an agonizing death in revenge for trying to poison her sister Morgana years ago."
"What is it?" Arthur couldn't believe what he heard.
"Understand me. You were about to fall asleep and die. Only Morgana was unaffected by the sleeping spell at the time and the Knights of Medhir would have killed you otherwise. I could only decide between two alternatives: Either to let you die or to eliminate Morgana, the source of the spell. Morgause noticed Morgana dying and preferred to save her dying sister than to kill you. Do you think the decision was easy for me? I thought Morgana was my friend, and I betrayed her for your sake," said Merlin, quick-tempered.
"But Morgana saved us from the army of the dead later," Arthur asked after a while.
Merlin snorted. "Like hell. Morgana was the reason why the knights were attacked by a second army in the first place. I tried to persuade her to stop it, but she wouldn't listen. She was so bitter that Uther would have her executed because of her powers that she decided to overthrow him - even though many men as well as women and children died for it. She felt like an outsider, had to hide who she was and should be ashamed of her powers. Since Uther hated everyone of her kind, he did not deserve any other behavior. It did not occur to her that she would have had the power to convince Uther of the opposite. You wouldn't believe how hard it was not to tell her that I could understand her situation so well because I have magic powers myself. May it be destiny, luck or chance that made me hesitate and not let her know my secret. I could hardly defend myself against her sword attacks and in an unobserved moment I resorted to my magic and let the ceiling collapse over her. With a sword stroke strengthened with magic, I cut the wand that was the origin of the spell".
"You saved all of Camelot and Morgana, she..."
"Yes, she wanted the downfall of Camelot, but she used the rescue to her advantage," Merlin said bitterly.
"Why didn't you tell me this?" Arthur asked agitatedly.
Merlin laughed without humour. "Why? Is it not obvious? I had tried to poison the king's ward. That was the truth of the matter. What do you think Uther would have done to me? Also, if it had not been for this circumstance, what would have happened to me if I had not dared to accuse Morgana, who is actually the daughter of Uther, of treason? I cling to my life, even if sometimes it doesn't seem like it.
After a few minutes Arthur asked: "How did you actually escape the agonizing death Morgause had in mind for you? You used magic to free yourself, didn't you?"
"No, it wasn't that easy. The bonds defied all my spells. I tried to fend off the Serkets, but I was hit by a poison thorn. So I called on Kilgharrah for help. I didn't think he would really come, but he did. He cast a spell on me that helped me defeat the poison. When I returned to Camelot, I destroyed the mandrake. The curse was broken, but your father was slow to recover."
"You were indeed dying," Arthur needlessly observed.
Merlin nodded.
"I felt so merciful that I had not thrown you into the dungeon," Arthur remembered, shaking his head.
"You forget that you gave me a lecture, that the future of the kingdom rested on your shoulders and asked me if I had the slightest idea what it would be like," Merlin continued to tease Arthur.
Arthur buried his face in his hands, shaking his head. "What kind of a..." he began and Merlin added to his sentence with "...dumb-ass?
Arthur did not respond to the teasing. "I really have the feeling of being blind and doing everything wrong," the young king confessed full of self-doubt.
"No, that's not true. It probably saved my life that
you were so blind to my magic. Besides, you're doing the right thing. You care about the welfare of the people and you are just and fair. Even if people are out to kill you, it doesn't mean that you do everything wrong, quite the contrary. Change always meets with resistance, especially when it is peppered with distorted ideas, hatred and fear. You cannot imagine how much it already means to me that you are considering relaxing or changing the laws of magic.

There was a knock at the door and Gaius entered with Tea. "My King, you sent for me?" began this. When he discovered Merlin's head bandage, he rushed to him immediately and poured questions over him.
Merlin tried to reassure Gaius. "It's not serious. Just a superficial wound. Mordred has already cleaned it. It would be helpful, of course, if you could take a look at it tonight."
Gaius was reassured and turned back to Arthur, who spoke: "Gaius, Gwen asked me to have you examine me briefly. She's afraid a small poisoned wound will be missed or something, and I'll die anyway." Arthur tried to play the whole thing down. However, he allowed Gaius to examine him without question.
The court physician examined the king with a wrinkled forehead, which only smoothed when the healer could not find a scratch. "My king, I cannot find any injury, but you urgently need sleep and rest. Even if you think that the queen is exaggerating with her concern, she is quite right to be careful," Gaius replied.
The king grumbled a bit, but nodded.
"Come on, Tea, these two really need some rest and sleep," Gaius said invitingly.
The bright girl nodded, waved at them beaming with joy and followed Gaius in good humor.
Arthur shook his head and said, "What kind of a girl is that!
Merlin again watched the king attentively and could not help but hear the following words: "You are aware that she is a seer and probably a very powerful one?
Arthur only suppressed a shiver with difficulty. No, he had somehow suppressed this fact. But yes, he actually knew, and yet she seemed so lovely to him. Could it have been an act? Did she secretly have a plan? "What do you think of her?" Arthur asked cautiously.
Merlin chose his words carefully: "She makes a very innocent and likeable impression. However, I advise not to be distracted by this. She sees the important scenes of the future. That makes her very powerful. She is still very young, which makes her easy to influence, although she often gives the impression that she understands 'the big picture'. I am very glad that your continued life is in her interest. I will treat her with respect, since she is a seer, and shower her with curious attention, since she is almost a child.
Arthur smiled and said, "This is one of those moments again..."
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked, unsettled.
"There are moments, Merlin, when you radiate something Even though I don't like to admit it's wisdom. And again you look so self-satisfied, the rest of the time you are a complete idiot," Arthur said slightly annoyed.
Merlin grinned and said, "Not the entire remaining time, as you now know.
"Oh really! Name me one situation where you weren't a complete idiot after all," Arthur replied teasingly.
Merlin thought for a moment and said: "I followed you into the land of danger.
"And I still don't understand why you donkey had to follow me at all costs," Arthur replied.
Merlin grinned maliciously. "Then who do you suppose is the donkey of us two?"
Arthur said angrily: "Merlin! Don't push it too far! This was MY test to prove ME worthy of the royal throne, and this I was to pass alone, without help!
Merlin fought with himself and did not tell the king that this had actually been his test. Nevertheless, he asked: "Can you remember the words of the guard at the bridge?
Even though this was several years ago, he could remember the conversation very well, since what was said sometimes went through his head because he did not understand it completely. "He thought I was the courage. He also gave me advice that besides courage, I needed two things to complete my trial, namely strength and magic. When I refused the use of magic, he advised me not to reject magic prematurely, since different rules would apply in the country I was traveling in. Since

Gwaine is not a wizard, you were meant by magic and Gwaine stood for strength. I realize that now, but saying goodbye to the bridge guard was unpleasant. He admired my bracelet and his behaviour irritated me. He apparently didn't think much of lucky charms."
"It was precisely this so-called good luck charm that made me follow you. I knew who gave it to you. I found out that this amulet was actually a phoenix eye, which burns the life energy from the wearer. It was not a lucky charm, but rather a death bringer, Arthur," Merlin explained.
Arthur became very quiet. He simply couldn't understand Morgana's actions and it always hit him unprepared when he learned how long her hatred for him had been fermenting. "Then the bridge guard was right with his advice: I would not have completed the test alone - I would have lost my life. Isn't it surprising that the land of danger seems to be slowly recovering from the centuries-long illness? Arthur hesitated and added: "Something significant happened in the throne room when you were briefly locked up, didn't it?"
Merlin looked somewhat sadly at the king and declared, "Yes, I met the Fisher King in the throne room. By his magic he did not die, but he could not help his kingdom or himself to recover. His only desire was that his torments should cease - he wanted to die. He had waited all these years for the dawn of a new time, the time of the former and future king. This time would dawn and his time would finally come to an end. The king kept water from the lake of Avalon for all these years and presented me with this precious gift with the words: 'Albion's time of need is drawing near and in this hour you must be strong, because only you can save it. Your power is great, but you will need help, so I give you this. When all seems lost, the water will show you the way'". Since he had given me a gift, he also demanded a gift in return.
"You should kill him, shouldn't you?" Arthur asked cautiously.
"Yes, indirectly. I had taken the Phoenix Eye from your arm shortly before and I was carrying it with me at that moment. The Fisher King knew that the Phoenix Eye would burn away his last life energy and magic power and he could finally die and thus begin a new era. Shortly before you entered the throne room, I put the amulet on the Fisher King kneeling and honoring him. He dissolved with the word 'Thank you' and died," Merlin ended.
Arthur tried to dispel Merlin's sadness with a funny saying: "Okay, Merlin. You're not an idiot the rest of the time, you're only half the time. But the other half, you're probably a pain in the ass."
All that needed was a tired smile on Arthur's face, but it was better than the sad expression on his face before.
"Do you still have the water I gave you?" Arthur asked with interest.
"No, I no longer have it. "And no, I have neither drunk it nor lost it. It has really helped us a lot," Merlin yawned extensively and blinked tiredly, "and ..." Merlin yawned again.
Arthur now had to yawn too and said: "Another time - we should listen to Gaius and finally get some sleep. He made himself comfortable in his bed and assumed that Merlin had already fallen asleep. It did not take long before sleep overcame him as well.

My account got hacked or whatever. I recently contacted the support and they fixed it, so hopefully I can upload the other Merlin Story again, but this time with the right documents