Finally...16 chapters in and Arthur and Merlin actually talk...but will it stay cordial?
Will Arthur know he's going to be an Uncle?
Will Mordred have a heart attack?
Damn I'm impressed I managed to drag it out this long, but here we go...let's see how Merlin and Arthur handle each other
Morgana? Well she's just here to make sure nothing goes terrible like ya know chapter 4 haha
*** Also I have a new Mergana story out "There's a Hero in all of Us" if you're interested please check it out :) archiveofourown works/40787499 ***
Mordred's Apartment
Arthur groaned at the sound of knocking in his door, it was 9 in the morning. What the hell does Mordred want?
The boy in question opened the door with a look of concern in his gaze.
"Mordred, I told you this is my day off. So, unless you found the Crystal Cave I just want to at least wake up when the sun is actually at its highest." Arthur's bones ached, he really hated Mr. Morris and he may hate Mordred more for making him work. He just wanted to sleep until noon and not care about anything.
Mordred however bit his lip; his silence causing Arthur to lift and turn his head towards the former Druid.
"What's the matter with you?"
"Arthur…we have guests…"
"So? I don't know any of your little Uni friends so bugger off and let me sleep!"
"Arthur I REALLY think you should come out and see them…" Mordred's eyes were pleading.
"And I REALLY think you need to bugger and let me sleep. Goodbye." Arthur hid his head back beneath his pillow.
"Typical Arthur, always so grouchy when he doesn't get his breakfast."
Arthur gasped as he quickly sat up at the familiar voice…
Merlin.
There his former manservant stood with a mocking expression in his face, arms folded and back straight. He looked far more confident that at any time he remembered in Camelot.
The navy blue shirt with black denim jeans and boots also emphasized his blue eyes even with the sun barely shining in his room.
"Merlin…"
Merlin's eyes flashed as he magicked the curtains open, causing to jump. Whether it was at the show of magic or at the sun's rays stinging his eyes…not even Arthur could say for sure.
"I do hope you taught yourself to dress since you've returned Arthur. I really don't want to waste more time here longer than necessary." Merlin than went back to Mordred's living room while Arthur just blinked, unable to process what just happened.
He turned to Mordred who himself was a bit on the tense side. "Why didn't you tell me Merlin was going to be here…?!" He whisper-shouted.
"I did tell you…!"
"Oh Arthur we have guests. That doesn't tell me shit..!"
"Well whatever let's not keep them waiting, get dressed already!"
Arthur's eyes widened "Them?!"
Mordred nodded "Morgana's here too."
"Too?! Here?! Morgana?!"
"Are you going to talk like Yoda all fucking day?"
"Who's…ugh just forget it!"
Mordred threw his hands in the air and left the room.
Arthur sighed and placed his face in his hands. Okay okay calm down…so what if the last time he saw those two he nearly killed Morgana and Merlin nearly killed him…who cares…?
"…"
Yeah it's not working.
He's rather nervous, he's never felt nervous over Merlin before. Ever.
And now Morgana's here too? So much for a simple lie in, now he has to figure out what to do.
Didn't sound like they were here to hurt him, but than again…he doesn't actually know Merlin does he? How does he really know what he's going to do? And without excalibur he's powerless to even defend himself against either of their magics. Hell, his armor has gone rusty and without any blacksmiths in this modern day so he was forced to keep it shelved and covered unless he really needed it…maybe that day is today?
Ugh he needs to stop cowering like a child, he's a King damnit!
Arthur got himself presentable taking a look at himself in the mirror. Nothing much to do about his hair, it's not like they gave him advanced warning…probably the point.
With a heavy sigh, Arthur joined everyone else in the living room.
This was perhaps what Mordred described as a 'Mexican Stand-off'? Well maybe if they weren't sitting...
Mordred was sitting stiffly at a chair closer to Arthur while Merlin…and Morgana were on the small couch opposing them next to the front door. The witch in question wearing a black leather jacket with a green shirt underneath, ripped black jeans and her hair let loose on her shoulders.
Merlin sat with his hands on his lap, calmly assessing Arthur as soon as he stepped into the room.
Morgana…?
She could hardly be bothered to pay attention to anyone as she was on her cellphone…
"Ooh Merlin guess who's back on Insta!"
Merlin's calm expression quickly became irritated as he turned to her "You seriously telling me I have to suffer through more of your ridiculous vlogs?"
"I have so many plans for us! I can't wait to try them out on you!"
"How the hell did they even unban you? You were literally streaming us having sex."
"Oh don't worry about it."
"Yeah, you definitely used magic."
"Maybe yes maybe no, either way my journey to the top of the streaming world has returned from its sabbatical!"
Merlin rolled his eyes "Goodness technically has turned you into a child."
"And you into a stingy old goat." She retorted with an annoyed expression of her own.
"At least warn me ahead of time before you put a camera to my face…" Merlin knew a losing battle when he saw one...and boy was he just speaking to a wall at this point.
"Aww, I knew you'd see things my way." Merlin tapped her hand away when she pinched his cheek.
Arthur and Mordred both sweat dropped at the scene…okay this wasn't exactly what they were expecting.
Do they interrupt?
Do they dare?
Arthur cleared his throat "So what exactly did you want to talk about?"
The mages quit their banter as they remembered that oh yeah…they were here…
They turned towards Arthur with blank stares as Mordred tried to make himself smaller, though the former King remained steadfast.
Well, no one can say Arthur didn't have balls of steel…
"I don't. He does." Morgana pointed to her husband who folded his hands once more on his lap with a knee over the other.
"…" Merlin said nothing, still trying to wonder what exactly to say.
"Well? I was under the impression you wanted nothing to do with me." Arthur was still feeling a bitter about that.
"Correct."
"I was speaking to Merlin."
His unruly sister scoffed but before she could retort Merlin held a hand, signaling for her to let him handle this.
"Merlin, how did you even find out where I lived? And that Arthur stayed with me?" Mordred was very curious, it's not like they kept in contact with each other.
Merlin blinked, ah yes Mordred was also here. "Well…when Aithusa conveniently and suspiciously tried to stall me to let you two leave the Lake of Avalon it was deduce the pair of footprints were yours."
Arthur cursed, such an amateur mistake and he can't believe he didn't cover their tracks.
"Besides Freya let a thing or two slip."
And damn her for selling them out.
"As to where you were specifically, well it's simple…Arthur may not have magic himself but he was born of it. His aura is a mere speck but it's still there. The closer I got to the general location you were in the easier it was to zero in on Arthur's precise location. Thus, here we are at your appointment. Which I must say Mordred I was under the impression you were a loser, but I guess a loser with rich parents." Merlin finished with a chuckle.
"I see…" Mordred didn't really know how to interact with him, it at least appears that Merlin is a lot more…composed…than the last time they encountered him. What changed?
Wait a minute…if Freya told him about them…did she also tell Merlin about their plans?
Morgana noticed Mordred's antsy mood and snorted "Oh please Mordred, we already know that you two imbeciles plan to follow your fool's errand as the Fates' stooges."
Arthur's eyes raised at that…is that why they're here?! To stop them?!
"Calm down Brother, you'll piss your pants if you don't control your stress levels." That fucking smirk...!
"Why you—"
"—Arthur."
Arthur's mouth closed as he turned to Merlin who was looking amused at his wife's little antics at annoying Arthur.
"I'll tell you about Gwen. Her initial reaction to your death, her reign, her final moments."
Arthur couldn't believe it. Finally…finally he would get answers…
"Really?"
"Yes."
"…Why?" Why now?
"Because than the little nagging angel on my shoulder can shut up and I can move on."
Arthur figured that's as good as it'll get and took a seat in the chair next to Mordred…how funny. Centuries ago the teams were different, this still feels so bizarre to him.
"I mean should Morgana and I leave…?"
"You can leave Mordred. I'm going nowhere." Morgana wasn't letting Merlin out of her sight anywhere near Arthur.
"Tck… This isn't your house sister." Arthur glared at her only causing her to smirk.
"Just try it Arthur. Go on, I dare you." And boy was she waiting to be given a reason.
Arthur clenched his mouth but wasn't going to take the bait this time.
"Are you two done?"
Both siblings looked chastised at Merlin's annoyed tone, Mordred the only one looking appreciative as he really didn't want his apartment being destroyed.
In all fairness Morgana did want to know about this also, Merlin only ever gave her the bare bones of his time in Camelot during Gwen's reign. Honestly, it's not like she was itching to know about it anyway.
But now? Well, there's been more than enough time and distance that her curiosity has simply peaked.
Arthur meanwhile, while grateful that Merlin is finally even acknowledging his existence…is still trying to match this Merlin with the Merlin he thought he knew…
"Were we really friends?"
Merlin sighed as he closed his eyes "Hmm where should I begin?"
Morgana rolled her eyes "The beginning is usually the starting point darling."
"You're not amusing."
"I beg to differ."
Arthur just stared blankly at the duo, still finding it so unnatural that the two have been married for ages when they were bitter enemies in Camelot.
Merlin opened his eyes and looked at Arthur, finally ready to get this over with. "The Queen was devastated of course, when I returned without you. The look of grief on her face when I told her you had perished and that I didn't make it in time is something that has never left me."
Arthur expected as much, at least he hoped it was. He did his best to always do right by Gwen especially after he had her banished. He still doesn't fully forgive himself for that one.
"Up until her coronation she never so much as left her chambers."
By now everyone was focused solely on listening to Merlin's words.
"The Queen knew I was the Old Warlock thanks to Gaius. You know right? The one you recall as…ummm…ugh help me out dear?" He turned to Morgana in frustration over his poor memory.
Morgana furrowed her brows thinking, "Didn't you call yourself Dragoon?"
"Ah yes that's the one! Thanks." He pecked her cheek causing Mordred to widen his eyes and Arthur to turn slightly green. Gross.
Morgana looking like she's soooo brilliant certainly didn't help, it made Arthur want to vomit.
"Well anyway, the future of Camelot remained uncertain. She was now Queen, but the nobles and knights weren't exactly thrilled that a former peasant was now it's sovereign."
Arthur processed Merlin's words carefully, he wasn't too surprised by the nobles' stubbornness but he had hoped that his men in arms would have at least stood by his successor wholeheartedly.
"The Queen needed to marry and among all those she picked Leon seemed the most logical choice. He was of a higher birth, everyone knew and respected him, but also they were familiar with each other. Slowly with his experience, any thoughts of rebellion were quelling and settled into more pacifying disgruntlement."
Morgana had to raise her eyes at that one "Rebellion?" hmm…
"They wanted to rebel?!" Arthur shouted voicing her thoughts.
Merlin shrugged "If they did, they certainly lacked the courage to. Hardly surprising, a bunch of pups barking when they had no wolf to guide them. Of course they weren't going to actually rebel against her."
Mordred looked at the other three as the only one here who lived in Camelot the least, if anything what Merlin said made complete sense to him.
"Her majesty knew that any laws she enacted would be met with the upmost scrutiny, however once it became well known that I was a Warlock it only exasperated things. Oh the typical nonsense, 'I enchanted her' or 'I'm the devil incarnate' but my favorite has got to be 'But your majesty! He will take over Camelot'" Merlin laughed at the memory of those fools demeaning him as a power-hungry maniac when that's all that they were themselves…
Arthur's eyes were wide as he tried to imagine it. He believed it, why not? Magic has brought havoc to Camelot for as long as he lived there and even before. His father's reign holding a lasting impact on the minds of people.
Morgana meanwhile scoffed and glared at the floor. Of course the old goats of Camelot would cling to Uther's ideology as best they can. She honestly doesn't know why Merlin even entertained them after Arthur died.
"It took Her Majesty many silent deals, many nights of sleeping with guards handpicked by Leon to guard her when she sleeps in order for her to actually pull the seemingly impossible. She repealed Uther's ban on magic."
The other men were shocked, with Morgana remaining blank as Merlin had already told her that part. But like he, she knew that by that point it was too little too late.
"So, she actually did it…magic was once more free?" Arthur couldn't believe it, should he be proud of his wife? Angry? Disappointed? None of those?
"For a time at least."
"What do you mean."
Merlin sighed "Arthur, magic's fate had already been sealed long before your death. Nothing anyone could have done would have changed it."
Mordred quirked a brow "Meaning?"
Merlin turned toward him "Meaning, that the Fates had already made up their mind."
Arthur grew annoyed "In plain English please Merlin."
"Ah yes, you can speak English now."
"Merlin."
Merlin paused at the tone Arthur used when pronouncing his name…hmm
"The decisions I've made had consequences Arthur. That's it."
Morgana sighed, hopefully once this is out in the open they can leave the past behind them for good.
"Such as?" Arthur needed to know what could have led to all this happening.
"You want a list? Tck…none of it hardly matters anymore; I don't see why I should indulge you."
"Merlin, you said your decisions had an impact on the events in our life. I want to know all that you've done for Camelot. For me."
"That's not what I'm here for."
"I need to know!"
"Not my concern."
"I command you!"
"On what authority!"
That stopped Arthur in his tracks…right he isn't a king anymore…how easy it was to fall back into old habits when Merlin is actually talking to him.
Mordred was biting his lip, this was exactly what he was afraid would happen dammit!
Morgana looked closely in Merlin's eyes, trying to see if there was any sign of Emrys. No, it didn't appear to be the case. This was all Merlin. Well at least those pills are doing something for once…
"You're right. I'm sorry."
Mordred and Morgana both turned to Arthur who sighed and rubbed his face.
"I'm not your king. Hell, I don't even know if I'm your friend…was your friend. I just…I really need to know if any of it was real Merlin." Arthur was pleading to the man he once considered his best friend.
Merlin assessed Arthur's words and expression. It was weird for him as well. For the immediate centuries following Arthur's death, Merlin held onto the rose-tinted memories he had of their relationship. One of comradery and horse play, of having each other's backs when it counted.
And then he didn't.
Around the time after William the Conqueror unified England, Merlin began remembering all of the times Arthur had taken their friendship for granted. How Arthur at times even insisted they weren't friends, since he was 'a servant'.
And around more recent times well…
He remembered each and every time Arthur had belittled his warnings. Mocked his concern. Chosen to believe complete strangers over him.
Cornelius Sigan's one time host Cedric comes to mind.
That snake Agravaine, to this day Merlin still feels a sick pleasure at having gutted the bastard where he stood.
So when Arthur returned to the land of the living…all those mixed feelings came roaring back to the surface that he had thought were long buried. Merlin didn't know what to do except lash out and get away from the madness.
His whole existence at one point was devoted to Arthur because the Fates' proclaimed it so long before he ever entered the Earth. They're relationship was never truly equal…but maybe now it can be?
How often has he heard Arthur give so much as an "You're right" or an "I'm sorry" before? Not often enough.
But did he dare bring himself to trust this new Arthur? Does he hate Arthur?
Is he even capable of doing so?
"I don't even know."
What Merlin does know however is that, in order to move beyond the shackles of the past he must make peace with it. Mordred was a bit tricky because of the whole 'girlfriend was trying to kill Arthur thing'…I mean at this point Merlin can completely relate. But the boy seems to be keeping his head on his shoulders this time around from what he could see.
Arthur? It seems being an ordinary man has given him perspective. Perhaps now they can truly peel back the layers and mend the wounds of their past? Dare Merlin say it…be truly friends? Hmm…baby steps.
The only conundrum, does he really want to hash out every single thing he did in Camelot in Arthur's name?
Jury's still out on that one…
"Apology accepted."
Arthur smiled in gratitude while the others breathed a sigh of relief.
"Look we'll discuss everything else…at a future date. For now, I'm just going to tell you the twilight of the Queen's life."
Arthur knew a good deal when he heard one, so he nodded in affirmation while Merlin continued with his story.
"You can imagine the reaction to her decision was immense. The entire Citadel was in uproar, plenty of people opposed to the decision to rescind the ban on magic. Of course, those that did not never made their opinions known in fear of assassination. That was, until magic started doing them favors. Keeping the crops protected, even allowing many to grow during the winter. Making it rain during droughts or bringing out the sun during a cold blizzard."
The others seemed to have differing thoughts on this. To Mordred and Morgana, it seemed obvious. They always knew magic could do these things; the former having seen it done with the Druids. But for Morgana in particular, it stung that it took Gwen to rescind the ban for the people to quit being obtuse about the nature of magic. Of course, from what Merlin was describing it sounds like people got awfully greedy very quickly.
Arthur was simply fascinated that magic had actually been used for rather mundane things. How much more productive the kingdom could have been had his father not criminalized sorcery…
Merlin noticed the looks on Mordred and Morgana's faces "Hmm so you two have an idea on where this is going?"
He took their silence as confirmation but for Arthur he was confused as to what he was implying.
Merlin looked back at Arthur and in a solemn tone "That mentality of 'magic can do everything for us at no extra cost' is what eventually doomed Albion."
Morgana clenched her fists, of course people would be so stupid…!
"While people suddenly became more at ease with using magic for tasks of manual labor and even for combat…no one at all heeded my concerns of the balance that the old religion demanded."
Arthur narrowed his eyes…balance. That term always sends a shiver down his spine.
"For example, to make it rain here…you must take it from over there. So if Camelot is getting all the benefits of magic, naturally all the other Kingdoms of Albion wanted a piece of the profits so they too loosened their restrictions on magic to reap the rewards. Also however not paying any creed to the core tenant of the Old Religion…"
"Of course with the Goddess having faded…it's not like anyone is enforcing that rule anymore…" Merlin hummed at the thought.
Morgana scoffed, "Fools."
Mordred had to agree, magic wasn't free. It was a power that most borrowed from the earth and always in exchange.
Arthur didn't really know much on the Old Religion itself aside from the whole balance rule. "What happened next?"
"Eventually the people's greed became so large…that those who could, performed such selfish acts against nature itself. I've never felt so disgusted."
They waited with anticipation as they saw Merlin's fists shaking, clearly this was something that had to be appalling…
"Pretenders, began to use the art of Blood Magic."
"What?!" Mordred couldn't believe it, such a thing was greatly discouraged among the Druids!
Even Morgana despite everything never dared to cross the line THAT far…
"I don't understand what is Blood Magic? What makes it different from any other magic?"
Merlin responded "If I'm going to be as objective as possible than I'll say there are 3 types of magic. First, magic that hails from the Earth. The kind of magic you typically see mages, Sidhe and Dragons perform as it pertains to the elements or simply willing something into being. Second, there's Dark Magic. Mostly hailing in the planes between this plane and the underworld. You usually see it when it comes to necromancy, stripping someone of free will, or…artificially preserving your life."
Morgana knew exactly who he meant with that last statement. Cornelius Sigan. No surprise he's a master of the Dark Arts.
"And than Blood Magic, which I personally see as the filthiest of them all."
Arthur didn't realize magic was this complex before, how he wishes he could have known this all his life.
"Blood Magic is essentially when a mage use the blood in their own or another's body to cast spells…but it rarely ever works out for them."
"Why is that?"
Merlin sighed "Blood magic is a surefire way to achieving whatever you want. A way to avoid all the rules that your typical magic demands. It enables ones greed…but it does something worse. Because people were too cowardly to offer their own blood, they used that of others. Now at a massive scale what this did was invite creatures of darkness into their souls. Each time someone uses it they weaken their protection from demonic entities ready to take possession of them."
"Demons? Those are real?!"
"Yes Arthur, much of what the mortals consider to be 'myth and legends' are real. Just perhaps not exactly how they see it."
"Have you ever fought any?" Mordred was curious to know.
"Yes. Of course demons are just one element. You can also bind any person or beast to you to the point of them being slaves, whereas with earthly magic you merely tame them to a degree. Like how Nimueh tamed the Griffon."
From what Merlin described, Morgana deduced that the now dead Sidhe elder Cathair must have used a form of blood magic to call his beasts forth. Does that mean that the ritual he used to summon Ymir was also such magic?
She had to agree with Merlin. Abominable indeed…
She'll file that away as well to ask Merlin later.
"So…were there demon attacks in Camelot?" Arthur wondered if demons were walking amongst them while his father was King.
"Hmm…not when the Queen was alive." Merlin responded.
"How?"
"It simply wasn't as bad yet, Her Majesty was the only one who took my word seriously. And though she tried to regulate the uses of sorcery it was too late. She was now into her 30th year as Queen and the people saw her as weak, feckless. The only reason they didn't go further is simply because she still had many knights and mages loyal to her, myself including."
"You kept her safe." Arthur was glad.
"I kept them all safe Arthur. For what good it did, I was up against the very greed and lust for power of humanity. No power in the world could hope to triumph over that." Merlin scoffed.
Morgana looked at him with sympathy, holding his hand and rubbing his thumb. Though if Arthur got annoyed at the sight, she was happy to spite him.
"But where was Leon? I can't imagine he wouldn't have enforced her word as well?"
"That's a good question Arthur. Where was Leon, well I don't know."
All three of them look puzzled, what did he mean he didn't know.
"It means I don't know."
"Tck, what I did I say about reading my mind Merlin?" Morgana was so gonna get him for that later.
"Not my fault you three are thinking too loudly."
"Wait wait wait, how could you not know? Couldn't you just find him with your magic?" Arthur was getting antsy now, did his most loyal knight abandon Gwen?!
"I did try. He was supposed to be going on a diplomatic mission to what would become Dublin during Her Majesty's 5th year…but he never made it there. And never came back either. No amount of scrying or asking the nature spirits would get me answers. It was simply going to remain a mystery to me." Merlin shrugged which rubbed Arthur the wrong way.
"How could you be so nonchalant about this?! Leon just vanished! Aren't you at all concerned that he might have died?!"
Morgana glared at her idiot brother, ready to cut him down to size until Merlin interjected.
"First of all Arthur, he didn't just vanish…he vanished fifteen centuries ago. Of course, I don't feel much about it now. And quite honestly the knights and I didn't particularly have a warm relationship following Camlann anyway."
"Because of your magic?" Arthur could only guess.
"Among other things, chief amongst them was failing to save your fat ass."
Arthur's vein popped in his forehead…there he went calling him fat. He tried to stifle the small bits of joy he felt at the familiar insult.
Morgana snorted while Mordred looked mildly amused at the former king.
"Anyway, so the people simply waited for the Queen to die before going all in. Even the Nobles who once were practically the Sons of Uther were steadily counting down the minutes. Once she died, those loyal to her would no longer have any reason to restrain themselves. And soon I would be proven right."
Arthur steadied his breathing…this was it…his wife's death.
"Merlin I must ask, you keep calling Gwen "The Queen" and "Her Majesty" but why not by name?" Mordred was under the recollection that they were friends.
The Pendragon siblings were curious themselves; Merlin seems to have been very formal in addressing Gwen. Why is that?
Merlin turned blank "Gwen and Her Majesty are two different people."
"How so?" Morgana asked.
"Gwen was my friend, always had my back when she could. Her Majesty was not a friend per say. Simply my Queen."
"But…I still don't see the difference." Arthur couldn't connect to the dots to Merlin's logic.
"Once Gwen married you, everything changed. I don't know why, I'm not the one to ask. All I know is we were far closer when she was simply a blacksmith's daughter. Add onto the fact that she was always heartbroken by the fact that I failed to keep her husband alive…that doesn't mean we couldn't be cordial for the greater good. Her Majesty only returned to being the Gwen whom I made laugh on the stocks, the closer to death she got."
Arthur had no response to that; it was sad to see their friendship turned icy.
"Now than, her death…rest assured Gwen died in her bed. She died in as much peace as she could. She only called me in that day, it was odd quite frankly. It had been more than 20 years since we spoke in private like that. Despite being all gray and wrinkly in those precious hours she looked exactly like the Gwen whom I made laugh while in the stocks." Merlin gave a soft smile at the memory.
Arthur might have as well, had he not try hard to show emotion at the thought of his wife having lived on and dying only to have all of her efforts come crashing down.
"She told me she regretted ever making me feel as though our friendship was worth nothing. I did my best to comfort her, but she insisted on dying without any lingering thoughts. She did ask if she would see you when she passed…I had no real answer for her, for truly I did not know. I simply told her yes and hoped she would forgive me if it turned out I was false. It looks like I was since you were stuck with the Sidhe in Avalon."
Arthur closed his eyes, the will to simply cry was becoming a challenge to overcome.
"And as the sun dipped below the horizon, so too did her spirit dip into the afterlife. Gwen died at the ripe old age of 66. Not bad in those days honestly."
Arthur bristled at Merlin's nonchalant attitude "Sheesh don't sound too sad Merlin…"
Merlin raised a brow, confused as to why Arthur's is being all moody. "I don't understand?"
Arthur gritted his teeth before he got up and stormed out of the room to cool off.
Morgana scoffed at his quick retreat, smart move though.
"I think what he's trying to imply Merlin is, well Gwen was your friend. Did you not mourn her?" Mordred tried to play peacemaker, how ironic.
Merlin hummed as he thought it through…
Arthur came back as well with his arms crossed. No doubt hearing Mordred's words and wanting Merlin's answer as well.
"I mean, sure I was sad…at the time. You two need to understand that for Morgana and I, we're ancient. To me Gwen's death…all their deaths are a mere fraction of my overall existence. It was only in recent months that I even remembered most of my time in Camelot at all." He shrugged as Morgana finally lost interest in this conversation and went back to her smartphone…is she really taking selfies?
"So what…you're just made of stone now?" Arthur may not be hundreds of years old but surely one doesn't simple lose any feeling they had for their loved ones?
Morgana paused in her little photo shoot to glare at Arthur for the insinuation, goodness he was really pissing her off today!
"Quite the opposite actually…"
"What's that supposed to—"
"—Arthur do you still feel sad over Uther's death?"
This time Morgana intervened; Arthur was puzzled as to her question. "Do I still mourn his death? Of course!"
Merlin picked up on where his wife was going towards, "But you don't weep like you did when he first died."
"…"
"Because time Arthur. Even before your death, you had long outlived Uther and time simply mended the open wound in your heart. Now multiply that by 1500 and you have my situation. I simply feel numb whenever I remember the deaths of those whom I still thought fondly of in Camelot."
Arthur thinks he can finally get what Merlin is trying to say. "I see…that must be quite the experience…"
Morgana rolled her eyes and went back to styling herself, poor Mordred was looking at her like she was this unrecognizable figure...maybe since at one point he served her and she was all serious and broody.
"Can I finish my tale already?"
Arthur gulped, nervous to hear the end of his kingdom…but nodded regardless.
"What I said soon came to pass, not long after the funeral was completed many mages allowed their lust for more to dictate their lives. Blood magic was nearly all over Albion, and this wasn't restricted to just sorcerers but even those without magic would hire a sorcerer to use the self-serving power to subdue rivals to their positions or keep the peasantry from revolting…it was abhorrent." Merlin glared at the wall to his left, picturing himself in this exact position years ago looking out his chamber windows in Camelot to see a kingdom unrecognizable to the one he first entered decades prior to that.
"How did all this end?" Mordred was curious since the history books obviously neglected to mention this.
"The Saxons ironically enough shared my opinion; barbarous they may have been…they too saw the rise of Blood Magic and Demons as worthy justifications to continue their onslaught on Albion. Finally they succeeded, I certainly wasn't going to defend Camelot when they themselves refused to be helped."
"You just let Camelot be conquered?!" Arthur stood up ready to pummel Merlin in his irrational anger.
Merlin simply crossed his arms and looked at Arthur in a serious expression. "I simply let the consequences of their actions take place, not lifting a finger for either side. What was worth saving for Camelot? All I had known and loved had either died or have been twisted into something hideous. Empires rise and fall Arthur, what makes Camelot the exception to that?"
Arthur in his anger punched the nearby wall making a dent, despite his rage he still can't truly refute any of what Merlin is saying…but than…?
"How does this in any way prove that magic isn't evil?!"
Mordred flinched at Arthur's words, feeling like this was Camelot all over again.
Morgana finally had enough, she was ready to shock Arthur to the next millennium, Merlin pulled her back however mentally imploring her to let him handle this.
"Oh for fuck's sake Merlin, just a zap won't kill him."
"Much as I would laugh at the sight, his reaction isn't unexpected my dear."
"Next time don't invite me if I can't even let loose."
"Don't worry I'll make it up to you."
"Tck…I'll hold you to that." She was definitely going to be brainstorming ideas.
"Were you not paying attention? There were 3 arts of magic and only 1 of them is considered by me as abominable. It was a way for people to completely disregard the very earth that granted them magic in the first place. But even than none of the 3 make someone evil. That's nonsense, complete and utter rubbish you and Uther say to justify the laws you enacted and enforced."
"And yet none of this happened when the law was in place!"
"It didn't happen before it was in place either you dolt."
"So what than?! How do you explain what went wrong?!"
"It's simple Arthur. Because your tyrannical fool of a father burned all of the books of not only the Old Religion but of basic magical theory, history and instruction. It prevented people from learning the risks of using the magical arts. People simply saw power, and harvested it without paying the proper respect. Without the bilateral relationship. Blood Magic being the closest you can ever get to so called 'evil' magic…if the user was already more inclined towards evil to begin with."
Arthur scoffed but Merlin wasn't letting get out of this, rising to his feet and forcefully turning Arthur back towards him.
"It never occurred to you that the hearts of man was always so easily swayed by their natural flaws. Guess what Arthur, not everyone in Camelot turned to Blood Magic in fact many have fought Blood Mages with their own magic and never succumbed to their inner greed. Those are the only people I had warned to flee right before the Saxon invasion. Leaving the rotten to their doom."
Arthur looked into his eyes with anger yet also exhaustion, so much knowledge so little time to process everything.
Was it really that simply that good people meant good magic and bad people meant bad magic?
Merlin sighed "Look, all I can say today is that I wish things could have been different. But it is what it is, and right now I'm looking towards a brighter future." With that he turned to his wife, who tried not to let anything show in her expression...but he felt her appreciation at the thought.
"I…I don't think I can understand your decision-making process Merlin. But I can understand that, for you Camelot was more than a kingdom it was its people." Arthur sighed, rubbing his forehead to try and quell the headache that had formed.
"You were the same."
"Not necessarily."
"You were the King."
"Yes but clearly I failed my people. Those with magic were also my people."
"…" I mean…he was right, Merlin had nothing to refute that.
"So I also wish I could have done things differently."
"…I mean I failed them too, I was too…" Too indecisive, too reactive, too fearful, too easily swayed…too mortal.
Arthur gently put his hands on Merlin's shoulders, causing the Warlock to jump slightly but looked at Arthur's gaze.
"I don't know what the future holds, I can respect that you and Morgana will not take part in whatever Destiny we have. But I would very much like for us to start over. To truly be the friends we couldn't be before."
Mordred looked intrigued and somewhat hopeful, Morgana…
Morgana's expression was blank, even her thoughts were well guarded in case Merlin cold hear them.
Merlin was faced with a choice…did he dare do this? Knowing that this could potentially back fire on him?
Did he want to avoid Arthur forever?
…
Merlin slowly put his own hand on Arthur's shoulder in return "Starting over? I suppose it'll be interesting to see how it goes when social statuses aren't in the way."
Arthur's eyes widened than gave a small smile before releasing him.
Merlin turned to the former Druid, assessing him as if looking at a store mannequin. "You too Mordred."
"I appreciate it Merlin." Mordred felt like he can finally breathe, truly to be held onto the sins of his past felt suffocating.
Morgana rose, "Well that was lovely but I'm feeling a bit winded, can we go now Merlin?"
Merlin's concern grew "Are you alright?"
"Yes yes, but I have so many other things to do today remember?"
Merlin knew for a fact she didn't…but he wasn't going to let the others know that so he nodded.
"Merlin."
Merlin turned back to Arthur as the man in question bit his lip in thought "We should try and do something later on, I don't know something that friends do in these days."
Merlin scoffed "Wrong guy to ask, Morgana's the one who loves keeping up with the current trends."
Well that certainly made things awkward for Arthur.
"One of these days you really have to tell me how you two even work…"
"Okay great, you ready now Merlin?" Morgana wanted to leave like yesterday.
"Yeah." Merlin followed after her but not before bidding those two farewell. "This was…better than I was expecting, For what it's worth I do hope that you can survive whatever the Fates throw at you."
Especially since they hate him for defying their will…
"Thanks, I hope you and Morgana continue to do well." Mordred gave a thumbs up, Arthur with folded arms gave a nod.
Merlin smiled and walked out of the building to meet Morgana sitting in the driver's seat.
"What's wrong? What made you want to leave?"
Morgana's finger kept tapping the steering wheel, "Can we talk about it later? I'd rather we just go anywhere else, even if it isn't home."
Merlin learned his lesson…most likely he didn't do anything to warrant this reaction from her…he hoped. But he'll be patient and just be the listening ear.
"It's still early…Starbucks? I could go for a double espresso"
That at least got a soft smile from Morgana as she started the ignition.
Hope you guys liked it I really love hearing from you. I'm honestly surprised this has as much kudos as it does, feel so humbled :)
