Arthur paced around the backside of Catherine's desk as he had at least twenty other times in however long they had been in this room. The room's charm had lost its appeal as his mind swam through his shortcomings with the enchantment. Catherine's assurances of the sophisticated nature of the enchantment did nothing to quiet his mind.
Nor did the reality that those children were not fabricated for the enchantment.
He was pulled from his thoughts as the healer and another man he remembered as Gunilda's husband strode into the room without so much as a knock.
"Catherine, you're alright." The healer, Sarah said watching her closely. The man named Balin stood at her side looking around as though something may jump out at any moment.
"What is going on?" Balin asked.
"That's precisely what I would like to know." Catherine stood from her desk. "Why are you here?"
Balin smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "We were asked by Emrys to wait here for him. Said there was something he needed from us."
Arthur's head perked up. "Merlin asked you here?"
Balin nodded. "Just a few moments ago. We came right away."
"There's something wrong here." Sarah assessed shrewdly. Catherine looked about ready to answer when at that very moment, everyone's attention was called toward the entrance.
A very frazzled appearing Gwaine busted through the door, slamming it open loudly. He seemed to have been roughed up, a look Arthur had come to associate with his rowdy knight. Despite the man's penchant for coming out of tavern brawls with a smile on his face, he presented with the opposite now. Arthur had seen fearfulness only a few times on Gwaine's face in the time he had known him. It was a fact that had been frustrating to the new king who so often struggled with keeping fear from his features. Gwaine would laugh in the face of bandits and shoot condescending smiles at sorcerers.
The alarm on Gwaine's face sent a shock through those who knew him.
"Merlin's under some sort of enchantment. It's stronger than before- much stronger." Gwaine said frantically. "He is completely under their control."
"That's not possible," Catherine assured, but Gwaine shook his head.
"They put something in his neck that's bending him to her will- to Anne's."
"Anne?" Arthur's eyebrows furrowed. It was as though he couldn't remember a word he used daily. He felt like he was grasping for a memory that would flit just out of his reach every time he neared it. "The enchantment didn't work before. He fought through it."
"It's different. He can't fight this, Sire." Gwaine's tone was not only serious but also terrified. Arthur could see his fear darting in his widened eyes. "He was in a bad way when I escaped." Gwaine's eyes darted to Catherine. "You have powerful sorcerers here, surely they would be able to stop him."
"We also have children here," Balin spoke up.
"Our first priority should be the safety of those most vulnerable." Arthur stepped forward. "We need to move quickly. How long before we can assemble enough of Gunilda's people to take them down."
"What about Merlin?" Gwaine reminded. "They could kill him, Arthur. He can't do anything besides-"
Gwaine cut off when he was thrown to the wall, hitting with a grunt. The knight slid down the wall and did not get up right away. The atmosphere of the room shifted immediately with the inhabitants reaching for their swords or raising their hands defensively. Metal rang sharply in the quiet of the room as they slid out of the scabbards. His blood pounded in his ears in anticipation of a fight.
The large door that had this always present groaning placed on the hinges had been opened silently. In its way was Merlin standing at the entrance, eyes glowing permanently gold. He said nothing, only stared ahead. There was none of his easy smile or his unending nonsensical chattering. Whatever spell they had on him held a grip so tight that Merlin had been robbed of himself. Steven and Anne walked into the space along his sides.
"It is good that you received the invitation, Balin and Sarah."
Catherine stepped forward, raising her hands with Balin and Sarah falling in step to her sides. "What have you done, Anne?"
"What everyone else is too weak to do." Her eyes were glinting with a mania. "We don't need to follow the prophecies. We can make our own path and use Emrys' power to get us there. We can build a new Camelot- let its bleed into the five kingdoms."
"It is not your place to do so." Catherine shook her head and raised her voice. "You are meddling with fates far beyond any of us."
"Don't you get it?" Anne cried. "We no longer bind ourselves to prophecies, only ourselves. Catherine, we can be our own people without those stained empty promises. And you can join us."
Catherine lowered her hands a fraction. Arthur couldn't bear the thought of Catherine even considering this.
Anne stepped forward. "I've always seen you as my family-"
"Don't call me family." Catherine spat. Her spite immediately reassured Arthur of her loyalties. "You betrayed your people out of a foolhardy power grab. And you-" She turned to Steven. "You were one of the people I trusted most."
"As were you to me." Steven's expression was grim. "I trusted you would make the right decision when it was presented to you."
Catherine's tone edged on what she was feeling- betrayal. "That was your mistake."
"You're right. It was." Anne said.
Catherine never stood a chance as Merlin's hand lashed out with a swift strike through the air. It sent her flying across the room, and much like Gwaine she did not get up upon falling.
Sarah and Balin immediately stepped up and into action in approaching Anne and Steven. They began fighting, throwing out their power in quick bursts that flashed from their palms only to be blocked midair and dissipated by a magic shield procured by Arthur could only assume to be Merlin seeing as the other two were engaged heavily in battle.
"He's got a metal bar in his neck!" Gwaine shouted over the chaos, he was leaning heavily against the wall he had just been thrown against for support. "That's the source of the enchantment."
Arthur had no clue how they would pull Merlin away until Sarah, who no doubt heard Gwaine, managed to break the group apart. She blasted Steven away with a powerful show of force. He flew over furniture and to the other side of the room. Sarah and Balin targeted their attack solely on Anne, who appeared to struggle with focusing on controlling both her power and Merlin.
Arthur stepped in front of Merlin. He looked around the king toward Anne and pushed forward, only to be felled quite dramatically as Arthur swept his feet out from under him. He landed on his stomach with a grunt and began to get to his feet again. Arthur tackled him back to the ground.
For his part, Merlin fought like hell to get Arthur off him. Despite their obvious difference in size, he was stronger than Arthur would have thought. Arthur grunted as he lost grip of Merlin's arm and was backhanded directly in the nose.
"Looks like hauling my bath-water paid off."
There was no usual snarky reply as Merlin continued to fight. The knights had rushed forward to help hold Merlin down. Percival and Elyan had strong hands on his shoulder as Arthur sat on his back. Leon pinned his legs down and it was more than enough to keep any one of them from getting up. Merlin made a horrible wheezing sound and as his face was turned to the side, Arthur could see a pained expression on his face, breaking through the mask of the enchantment. Arthur felt sick with himself as he held Merlin's face against the ground to keep him from moving too much. Merlin's struggling opened whatever crusted blood had managed to clot and it was flowing freely again from the two points on either side, which was inflamed and reddened.
"No!" Anne screamed.
Arthur reached for the bar and wasn't even able to so much as touch it before Merlin's eyes flashed open and sent them all flying away from him in a strong blast of power. Arthur landed harshly on his shoulder causing a sharp pain to scream up his arm. He scrambled to his feet looking at his knights who also were in the process of doing the same.
Merlin for his part was immediately back on his feet and reconvening on the fight with Sarah and Balin. Steven got knocked from his feet again as Balin and Sarah targeted him together. The man went skidding. He lifted his head and his temple was bleeding profusely. Anne's eyes widened.
"Enough," Anne shouted as Merlin stepped up at her side. She clapped a dagger in his hand and before Arthur could process what was happening, Merlin was holding it directly below the soft underside of his own chin in the wake of another command.
"Next one who attacks will be the reason Emrys dies."
Sarah and Balin froze. Steven stood painfully slow to hobble over to where Anne stood.
"Emrys, overpower them."
His free hand extended outward as his eyes glowed gold. Arthur noticed the way he swayed on his feet as his power dropped Sarah and Balin to their knees. Arthur felt his own feet stick in place leaving him unable to move.
"Steven, make sure Catherine doesn't wake for some time."
Steven nodded and proceeded to approach her fallen form with a slight limp and placed a hand on her forehead. Arthur could only assume it was some sort of sleeping spell.
"We could have spared the dramatics had Emrys here not been tended to constantly in the infirmary after the Wyvern attack. We wrongly assumed there would be more people severely injured keeping your healers busy.
Sarah scowled with eyes that held a similar fire to Gunilda's "We're stronger than you think."
"We also assumed whatever melodrama was being acted out between the king and his pet sorcerer would have stopped him from being at his bedside every waking second." Anne's eyes flashed to Arthur. "But it would seem you actually do care about him."
Arthur caught Merlin's eyes across the room. Merlin seemed calm outwardly, but his internal thoughts were racing through his mind. His thoughts were the only thing he could possibly have any semblance of control over, but they had long since succumbed to the terror of the possible outcomes that could be committed using his hands.
Merlin remembered nothing from his time being under the fomorrah, but if it had been anything like he felt now, there was no way he could have simply come skipping back into Arthur's life after throwing the snake in the fire.
"You two are the final barrier to securing our final ally." Merlin could pick up the confusion evident on Sarah and Balin's faces at this remark. Sarah's expression hardened suddenly.
"No-" She said sternly and as though they were back in the infirmary and she informing a patient of their limitations.
"Imagine what Gunilda will become if she isn't softened by domestic life," Steven said passionately. "She will serve a greater purpose and properly train our people for war."
"She teaches only for the hope of peace." Balin's words shook slightly in fear.
"And that is precisely the problem. She has too much in her life giving her hope." Steven took a breath, sobering his emotion as if burying it would help him through his next words. "Without the two of you, she will redefine her drive."
Balin's features merged into fear. "No- you don't want that."
Steven knelt down in front of Balin and spoke in a tone that was soft- almost caring in a way. "I wish you understood just how important you are in this. Your sacrifice may be remembered in silence, but it will have a lasting legacy." Steven's face split into a manic smile and he spoke almost excitedly. "You will be a part of something bigger than you ever imagined possible."
Balin had tears in his eyes as he stared into Steven's. "Please, we're friends, Steven."
Steven placed a hand on Balin's face. Balin searched his friend's face for any sign that he was listening.
"I never said the sacrifice was easy." Steven stood, and Balin's face switched to horror. Steven nodded at Anne. She placed a supportive hand on his shoulder as though preparing for a choice they had no other option but to do. Anne said the next words casually, as though reciting a task for preparing a meal.
"Emrys, using your magic I would like you to snap his neck."
Merlin felt himself call forth his magic the moment Anne ended speaking, and Balin's head jerked unnaturally fast to the side and drooped.
His magic hadn't been bothered by the scream echoing through the room from Sarah. It didn't even hesitate.
Anne allowed him to drop the enchantment holding his body and Balin slumped to the floor in a limp heap. Merlin felt his power retreat, leaving him feeling cold as he gaped at the fallen man.
He was collapsing inside.
From his short interactions, Balin had only presented as a kind light-hearted man with a love for his people and wife. Merlin knew the type of man Balin is- was. Balin would have to be referred to as was from now on.
Because Merlin killed him.
The reality hollowed Merlin out entirely. Balin's eyes were slightly open. They were dull, coated with a lifeless veneer graying his once bright blue eyes that remained open in death.
The act was a stain on his magic, an ugly dark marking that would never come out no matter how much he scrubbed at it. It would remain with him until the day he died. He couldn't bring himself to look at anyone in the room. He wanted to scream out, but Anne still had a hold over his tongue.
She removed the dagger from his hand he had still been holding to his own throat. He hadn't realized he was still holding it. His hand- hell- his body felt numb. He glanced toward her as she turned the dagger over and over in her hand. "That won't do."
She walked up to a dropped sword. And upon grasping it in her hands, she stopped. Merlin knew instantly it was Excalibur.
"This is beautiful." Anne's eyes stared at every inch of the weapon. "A beautiful weapon made for the king. Please answer if I am correct or Emrys?"
Merlin bobbed his head once, feeling his breathing accelerate in the wake of what he had done and the realization of what she would have him yet do. Anne's lips turned upward in a sad smile. She tucked the sword in his hand, clasping his fingers around the cool hilt gently.
"I'm sure you know what I will be asking of you."
Merlin blinked and with it tears fell, past his cheeks. His hand shook around the blade, but Anne's firm hands steadied it.
Sarah's eyes were filled with tears as she knelt stock-still. Her body was tense and her eyes wide. "Emrys," She called through a sob. "You're stronger than this. I know you can overcome the spell."
Merlin felt more silent tears fall past his cheeks. Sarah had been calm and cool whenever she had approached him. She had worked tirelessly to heal him the multiple times he'd needed it while being here.
"Emrys, using the sword, kill her." Merlin heard Anne say.
"Please Mer-"
His body reacted faster than he would have thought, but it felt as though time had stopped. He grabbed her shoulder. Pulling his arm back he thrust the blade forward. He felt Sarah's frame tense up as the blade pierced toward her heart. She cried out, interrupting her plea that begged for him to stop. Her voice was like shattering glass, clear and piercing. Her blood poured over his hand that still grasped the blade as she leaned forward. Merlin shook as he knelt and brought his hand around her back to bring her forward to rest against his chest.
He heard the crackling of her last breath as it left her lungs.
An order to let her go was made and he pulled the blade out, letting her fall to the ground. Time seemed to slow as the intolerable weight pulled him down.
Steven grabbed the blade from Merlin's bloodied hands and lifted him into a standing position. Merlin felt like he was being crushed by the gravity of his actions. He glanced numbly at the blood on his hand. The red contrasted jarringly with his pale skin.
"Look at them." Anne's voice in his mind commanded. Merlin's eyes flashed immediately to the lifeless bodies in front of him. He felt his heart skip before thudding normally within his chest. "You left us with no other option."
She stepped before him. "Are you ready for Catherine?"
Merlin turned to the side and lost the contents of his stomach. A bit of the bile splashed on Anne's shoes and the hem of her robes. Her face scrunched in anger and was the only warning she gave before backhanding Merlin, snapping his head to the side.
"You are pathetic." She grabbed his collar. "We have no need for her death at this point. Overpower her, keep her subdued, unconscious, but alive. I want her to witness the strength her people have when they are led properly. I want her to see us victorious over Camelot before I snuff her out."
She mockingly clucked her tongue and wiped his face as tears trailed down his cheeks. Merlin could do nothing but stand by. "Now that won't do." She gave his face several gentle pats as though he were a child. "There will be no tears next time."
"Don't touch him!" Arthur spat out, finding his voice. He tried to step against the spell holding him, but it was in vain.
"My, I didn't know he was so protective." She walked around behind Merlin and reached her arms around his front, resting on his upper chest which tensed at the contact. "Arthur, son of Uther, caring for a sorcerer, what an interesting turn of events."
"He showed me the truth of magic." Arthur defended. "A truth your actions disgrace."
Her face mouth turned into a bitter frown. "You speak as ruler of a kingdom set to annihilate magic. What could you know of magic?"
She moved and grabbed Merlin's forearm roughly while being mindful of where the blood was.
"That won't do," Anne said. He had no choice but to follow her as he was led through a strong grip on his arm. They stood face to face with Arthur.
Arthur pulled a concealed blade out from his hip and stabbed toward Anne in a well-trained motion.
His hand stopped an inch from her body. The blade grew hot in his hand. He grunted as his skin sizzled and he was forced to drop the blade. Arthur saw Merlin's gold eyes washed with guilt watching him.
"No action can come against me, King Arthur." Anne smiled. "I have my own knight for protection." She glanced to Merlin whose eyes glowed gold again at her unspoken order. He twisted Arthur's arm, overextending the bones, causing them to ignite with a fiery pain that shot upward into the shoulder he had fallen on.
She watch his features closely, reveling in the pain he was experiencing. Stepping forward, she whispered slowly and closely to Arthur's ear, sending the hairs on the back of his neck standing straight up.
"This will be less severe for your first offense." She pulled away from him, the corners of her mouth lifting ever so slightly.
"Break his arm," Anne ordered.
Arthur had experienced breaks. When he was younger he had experienced a particularly hard fall off his horse onto his arm which ended in what Gaius had deemed to be a small fracture. It had healed quickly and with no further issues under the physician's experienced care.
To say the pain was unbearable would be an understatement. His arm twisted in the grip of Merlin's magic the bit more needed for the bones in Arthur's arm to splinter like it was nothing more than a tree branch. He shouted and dropped to his knees, clasping his arm to himself. His breath was stolen in the excruciating pain of the break. He struggled to regain it amidst its swells.
"A pity about your sword-arm, King Arthur."
She looked to Merlin again and his friend dropped to be on the same level as him. Arthur stared at him to see a flurry of emotions- terror, shame, guilt, anger- they were all there.
Merlin brought his bloodied hand to Arthur's broken one. The king grunted as his hand was grasped in a bloody handshake. Merlin removed his hand quickly and stood away from Arthur.
"Outside of this room, the blood will be remembered being on your hands, King Arthur."
Arthur figured she had been aiming to frame him and the knights for the violence. It would be easy enough to do especially with Merlin's stolen influence.
Steven's eyes flashed gold and Merlin started as a vase exploded to the right of him. Steven continued his onslaught of destruction against the room, and the workspace was soon in complete disarray as tables were upturned and various items shattered. He made quick work of the space, alluding to a fight that could have never been in the present situation.
Merlin would have no choice but to relay the story Anne and Steven had fabricated. Arthur doubted anyone would bat an eye at their sudden fall from grace. Many of the druids had most likely been waiting for the confirmation that Arthur was exactly who they had expected him to be.
"When I say you can call out to the healers. Tell them the king of Camelot and his knights murdered Balin and Sarah. Tell them they attacked Catherine. Tell them how you failed them. Because you did." Anne walked up to the bodies and stood over them.
"You failed where we will not."