A/N: I'm so grateful for the reviews everyone has left, they've really helped to keep me motivated! Fear not, this is a tricky cliffhanger, but more is to come!
Arthur was paying special attention this time to Merlin when he came in, seeming cheery as ever. Merlin had a bright and seemingly genuine smile shown on his face, but Arthur noticed that his smile didn't quite seem to reach his eyes, which were surrounded on the underside with dark circles indicating Merlin had once again not been getting the adequate amount of sleep.
"Morning sire, you're up earlier than usual!" He said, tone matching his expression. All things considered, if it were in fact the case that his smile was fake, it was certainly not obvious, as his demeanor seemed as though it would be the same as any person who was a bit tired, but all in all in a pleasant mood. This was a bit unnerving to Arthur, as if his expression was this convincing it was entirely possible that it was often like this, and Arthur had simply failed to notice during his own morning processions what it was that was upsetting his servant.
"Yes, I had a bit of planning to do for the council of representatives. As part of the new things I've implemented as King, it was recommended to me by Gwen that I ask the representatives of each of the outlying villages to join me in a council to discuss changes they need the court's assistance in implementing or, if there are any, required increases to rations. It's already been postponed once, and I don't plan to do so again, as it's important to gain the public's opinion on issues that impact their own villages."
Merlin looked at Arthur, raising an eyebrow. "That's surprisingly astute of you, are you sure you really know what all those words mean?"
Arthur rolled his eyes, although he couldn't deny that Merlin's occasional playful jabs were amusing, and helped him gain confidence that he might be getting back to their original rapport, although his fake smile did little to reinforce that view.
"Yes, Merlin, I'm not entirely daft unlike someone else in this room."
Merlin smiled, not outwardly laughing, as neither usually did, but knowing that both men were still friendly enough despite Arthur's apparent suspicions to deliver the occasional insult was reassuring.
Gwaine's warning had sent Merlin into a brief panic, and he had went to Freya's resting place to think what his next options were. He could obviously tell Arthur the truth, but was that even really an option? No, he decided, so moved onto the second option. He could elect to use his magic as little as possible, as he'd sometimes done so for laughs or to sabotage Arthur's arrogance, which seemed to be the safest bet, so he settled on that. He found it difficult, particularly when not in the company of Arthur, to not fall back on his old habits and use his magic to complete mundane tasks, but he chose to remain strictly magic-free as he had done when he first arrived. He imagined the men who, over the years, he'd seen executed by Uther for their use of magic, Arthur standing stoically by his father's side without objection to the gruesome affair. He had to keep his gift hidden - it was a matter of urgency, not a choice.
So once he'd had time to think it over fully, and to calm his nerves, he practiced a bit. When Gaius would drop a jar, rather than quickly use his magic to halt its fall midair, he'd let it drop. Of course, Gaius had been informed before, so he was being extra clumsy today to, as frequently as possible, catch Merlin off guard and test the limits of his self control. Once he'd allowed all the objects Gaius had dropped that day (save for the first two) drop and break, he mended them each reluctantly using his magic and thanked Gaius for the practice. He was notoriously clumsy, and not using magic to prevent the few things he could from tumbling down before they broke would simply amplify that part of his reputation, but he was willing to be seen as a clumsy oaf by all who walked the castle halls as opposed to potentially being exposed to Arthur as a sorcerer and forcing Arthur to decide between his ideals and his friend, not to mention endangering his life.
"Merlin, I want you to muck out my horses, polish my armor, mop the floors..." The list of usual chores went on, and Merlin sighed, not looking forward to completing them without his magic.
Besides the obviously fake smile Merlin had displayed, Arthur could detect no unusual behavior with Merlin. It seemed as though, against anything he could imagine, Merlin was perfectly fine.
Despite this he couldn't imagine it was true. He resolved that he would first attend the council of representatives, then follow Merlin himself and see what Gwaine and Gaius found themselves so determined not to reveal to Arthur. He couldn't, in good conscience, force Gwaine to reveal Merlin's secret. Somehow it didn't sit well with him; although he didn't know why the line was asking someone else as opposed to spying on the person in question. Either way, he rationalized it by saying that if Merlin happened to accidentally reveal his secret in the company of Arthur, regardless of whether it was obvious that he was, in fact, in the company of Arthur, it was justifiable to confront him about it, or do with the information whatever he saw fit.
The council was not as brief as Arthur had hoped, although fruitful. Three representatives requested more rations, two complained of tyrannical leaders and provided the date of their expected return to their village to unlawfully steal crops and coin, and five reported supposed sightings of sorcery. He resolved to prioritize rations, then addressing the threats of sorcery, and, because the dates that the tyrants were expected to return were at least a month off, that would be addressed last. He informed the individual representatives of his plans, thanked them, and allotted each representative room and board for the night, as well as lavish meals prepared by the castle chef.
He asked one of the servants passing through the halls where he had last seen Merlin, and was told that Merlin had finished his responsibilities and went to his home for the remainder of the day to address some of the things Gaius needed done while he was away in the lower towns responding to some at-home calls.
He hadn't ever really looked at Merlin's home before, but upon seeing it noticed it was quite small, in fact the entire section might be smaller than his own bedroom. The shelves were lined with various different drafts and ingredients, as well as pots, bowls, containers and otherwise.
It was then he heard a voice coming from a room off to the side, recognizable as Merlin's, but.. singing? It was a song he'd never heard before, but was in a different language as far as he could tell and was a gentle, calming tune. His voice was surprisingly soothing, almost as if he were a professional singer, but he'd never heard Merlin sing before.
Quietly, he crept up towards where Merlin's door was open just enough to see him, and a canvas in front of him. Merlin was painting someone, a beautiful woman with long brown hair and a dusty face. Her clothing was tattered, but it didn't make her any less beautiful - she was glowing. He looked over to Merlin and noticed that his eyes were shining with tears, the light shimmers of tear tracks staining his cheeks. He'd never seen a portrait more lifelike, it was shocking. He'd been certain Merlin possessed no real talent.
Merlin turned around suddenly, and knocked over a glass of his water. In a millisecond he stretched out his arm towards the falling cup and his eyes glowed golden, stopping the cup midair and replacing the water in it, laying it gently upright on the ground where Merlin promptly picked it up and set it down gingerly where it was before, only a bit further from the edge of the table.
Arthur felt a stabbing pain in his chest. Instantly, he thought of the word betrayal. Merlin? A sorcerer? It was unimaginable, beyond his greatest fears and then some. The one person who stood by Arthur when the threat of Morgana loomed over his head. The one who told him, in words clearer than glass, "There is no place for magic in Camelot." he had been lying, all this time.
Shocked, he stood there for a few moments, hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it, point it at Merlin, order him to stand still.
Point a sword at his best friend.
He snuck back out of Gaius' chambers unnoticed. He didn't know what he was doing. He witnessed sorcery. Merlin was a sorcerer. Why was he running away? Where was he going now? Did Gwaine know of this? Did Gaius?
Merlin was a sorcerer.