A/N: There's a bit of graphic content described violence/torture scene when Elyan and Arthur meet, almost by the end of the chapter, nothing big but beware guys.
Happy reading!
CHAPTER 45
Do Not Fail
"It's like a game of chess; all the pieces are on the board.
All the moves had been made, you know what that means?
Checkmate."
Gwaine was having so much fun, honestly, being on the other side of the story was quite amusing, he wondered if that's how Merlin felt all the time. Always walking around knowing way more than he let on. He considered, not for the first time, how Merlin had managed to keep such a secret in the middle of a city like Camelot. He had always thought that the fact that Merlin was alive was a miracle, but now given the circumstances he couldn't help feeling like it really was.
He was sitting by the window in Gaius's chambers, quietly watching by the corner of his eye how Lancelot and Gaius were talking in hurried whispers from across the room, throwing him anxious glances every now and then. The boisterous knight chooses to stay quiet, placing fake interest in whatever could be seen out the window before turning to face his friends with a loud clap.
"So—" He said quite loudly, making the old physician and Lancelot turn around alarmed, "When are Arthur and Merlin coming back? They said this was important,"
Gaius exchanged a look with Lancelot before replying.
"I, I'm afraid, Sir Gwaine, that I— oh look!" Gaius turned towards the nearest quite empty table, motioning with a hand, "How clumsy of me. Age is finally getting to this old brain of mine. We can't have a meeting, certainly not right now, look at the state of this…I forgot to bring…. bring…"
"Water," Lancelot replied helpfully, voice stern, eyes set. Gaius was impressed, he almost believed it. Gaius gave the knight a stern look before turning his stare towards the old physician.
"Yes, water, water indeed, we can't have any meetings without water, isn't that right, Sir Lancelot?" Gaius was glaring so hard at Lancelot, Gwaine almost laughed.
Lancelot nodded so solemnly Gwaine could've been fooled. He didn't know if he should feel appreciated because they were incredibly polite about throwing him out or laugh because of that same reason.
"Water," He deadpanned, just for the sake of playing along. He only had a few seconds before Merlin or Arthur walked inside to ruin the charade.
"Incredibly important and vital for meetings," Lancelot nodded, hands behind his back, "I need to be here for when Arthur arrives but maybe you could do us the favor to go and bring some from the well outside the castle?"
"Uh—uh," Gwaine said as he stood up from the windowsill, "Well, in that case, I'm sure that, that full bucket of water by the corner doesn't count, right mate?"
Gaius closed his eyes in defeat while Lancelot turned to stare at the bucket as if it had personally offended him.
"Listen, Gwaine," Lancelot said, his kind face was mixed with tiredness, "The meeting we are going to have…. Just… I don't know if it will be wise for you to be here."
"I'm the only knight, besides Owen, who knows what happened on our way to find them," Gwaine said easily, "I need to fill a report,"
"I know," Lancelot said gently, "It's…it's difficult to explain."
Gwaine decided to give them a break. He raised his hands in a peaceful manner.
"Relax, Lancelot, I know, no need to break your head over this mate,"
"You know?" Lancelot said confused, "Well, uh, what a relief, I guess. Thank you for understanding, I—"
"No, no, no, I mean, I know,"
Lancelot looked even more confused.
Gaius raised his brow at this, "What do you know, sir Gwaine? Did something happen on this trip that I don't know of?"
"Several," He deadpanned and Gaius raised his brow higher, "But what I'm trying to say is that I know, the whole thing with, ya know—" Gwaine raised his hands and wriggled his fingers, "—all that and Merlin."
Gaius and Lancelot exchanged a dubious look and Gwaine sighed exasperatedly.
"Gwaine, what—"
"I know about Merlin and his… secret."
"Merlin? With a secret? Oh, sir Gwaine you must be seeing things," Gaius said almost automatically, "Merlin is the most—"
"Alright, now I feel offended," Gwaine whispered to himself as he finally gave the other men a very significant glance, silence for a few seconds, to let the information sink, "What I'm trying to say is that I know."
A minute of thick silence.
"You… know? Know what exactly?" Lancelot asked slowly, eyes narrowed, "There are a lot of—"
"Ugh!" Gwaine said exasperated, throwing his hands in the air, "About Merlin and his…hoccus poccus!"
Gaius let himself fall on the nearest seat, letting all the air in his lungs go.
"Oh, this boy is going to give me a heart attack one of these days," Gaius said placing a hand on his heart, "Since when have you known? How did this happen?"
"I—uh…" Lancelot said taken off guard, "I… I wasn't expecting this. Merlin is always… well, so secretive, not that I don't trust you it's just… I need a minute, to process."
Gwaine rolled his eyes in good nature.
"Merlin knows that you know?" Gaius said after several moments, millions of questions running through his mind, How? When? Where? Who was there? Does someone else also know?
"Course he does! I wouldn't tell you if he didn't. It's quite an epic story," Gwaine whispered before taking a seat by the windowsill again, a smirk on his face, "We were surrounded by some enemies we encountered on our way back, and we were on the verge of dying, and right then in the middle of a battle I finally told him. He was frozen in place, just like you are right now, Gaius!"
"What do you mean you almost died?!"
Gwaine grinned, oh how much he loved telling stories.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
When Merlin stepped inside the chambers he was welcomed by the boisterous voice of Gwaine, who was explaining something in great detail, grand movements of his hands accompanying his words.
His audience; Gaius and Lancelot, looked between being preoccupied or highly amused. Gaius however, looked more inclined to being scarily close to either start fuming or have a stroke.
"—and then, he placed his hands, just his hands, on the floor, in the middle of a fight against fifty thugs, ya hear me? And then his eyes shined gold, ya know? And what happens next? The earth moved, Lancelot! The earth. The firm ground we walk on every day, God bless, moved." Gwaine shook his head as if he still couldn't believe it, "It moved, Lancelot! We were this close to dying," At this, he placed his index finger incredibly close to his thumb," And me? I'm always close to dying, alright? Comes with being a knight, but at that moment, uh-uh, we were doom, accounted for, and Merlin just ended a fight, in a minute, with his…" he wriggled his fingers as if that was any valid explanation, then he huffed, "How come we don't use his magic more often? Such a waste of talent right there, I'm telling ya'".
"Gwaine, uh…" Merlin laughed anxiously as he stepped further inside the room hurrying to close the door. Lancelot and Gaius turned his eyes towards him, Merlin impishly smiled, "Well, uh, guess uh…good news! Gwaine knows! He uh… good thing, right?"
"Merlin," Gaius' voice, sharp as ever, interrupted him, "Did you do what Gwaine just said?"
"Maybe?"
"Merlin!"
Merlin stood straighter, faking interest in a near book, "If it's going to get me an earful, then I didn't".
"MERLIN!"
Arthur entered the room at that moment, assessed the scene before making sure the damn room was locked behind him, for God's sake, do these people forget what are they going to talk here?
"Alright, so I know we all want to yell at Merlin from one thing or another," Arthur patted Merlin's back as he reached him, his friend huffed offended. Arthur led him to the table as he ordered Gwaine to sit down too, "But I think we better start from the beginning if you want to yell at him properly that is."
Merlin shot him an incredulous look as Gaius and Lancelot rounded on Merlin.
"Merlin, for all the seven Gods, what did you do on this trip?! You know, besides going around telling your secret to everyone who dares listen?!"
Merlin turned on his seat, locking the door magically and placing a spell on it so no one could eavesdrop. And it was not only Gwaine. Oh god. Owen knew too. He gulped. Gaius was going to make him clean the tank of leeches for the rest of the year when he tells him.
"If it helps I'm glad you are deciding to share your secret with your friends," Lancelot said honestly, ignoring the glare Gaius was throwing at him, "It was about time you both decided to bring more people inside this circle. I do believe it's going to be the secret to fulfill the prophecy."
"Wait, what prophecy?" Gwaine asked confused, "Do we have a prophecy?"
"We?" Arthur said amused, but after the warm welcome of his people and them finally back on Camelot, he was feeling at ease.
"I'm part of Merlin's army now, am I not?"
Lancelot chuckled, "Merlin's army?"
Gwaine grinned, "The best warriors have a name, Lancelot, you should know that, why not Merlin's army?"
"Oh, we are not naming such an important group after him," Arthur said as he motioned to Merlin, clearly offended, "People will laugh at us!"
"Oh, so we name it Arthur's army?" Merlin bitterly, however, it was nice to be in Camelot again, it would never be Ealdor, but it felt like home.
"Sounds better,"
"If Killgarrah ever heard this he would fire both of you to ashes for how stupid this conversation is going." Gaius said infuriated, "Don't we have more important matters to attend? Like the reasons I would like to take turns on reprimand every one of you on this table?"
Arthur grew serious again.
"You are right, I apologize, it's… it was a very… enlightening trip," He glanced a the golden vase Merlin had placed on the table, "however, some things are still left unsolved."
Lancelot and Gaius looked sad at the news.
"Who is Kilgharrah?" Gwaine asked.
Merlin answered as if he had asked about the weather, "Oh, right, he is my dragon."
Gwaine looked so torn it could have been funny any other day, he threw all his body back, as if he had been hit, and he looked around, an incredulous smirk growing on his face, thinking they were hiking with him, but when no one laughed he looked even more traumatized, "You—A DRAGON?!"
Merlin couldn't help it, he laughed.
"WHAT?!" Gwaine turned on his seat, "For God's sake is he here?! Can he hide?! Is he invisible? MERLIN DON'T LAUGH! WHAT ON EARTH?! THAT THING WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!"
Lancelot couldn't help himself, he laughed wholeheartedly, he had barely gotten any sleep these past few days, but now that Merlin and Arthur were home he could let his soul rest for a moment. Even Arthur had his arms crossed and was clearly trying to behave, he ended up chuckling, coughing to hide it behind his fist.
Gaius sighed, it was going to be a long talk.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Gaius could not believe that such an important meeting was taking place in such a mundane place as his working chambers. There have never been so many people knowing of Merlin's secret sitting all together in one place talking about magic at the very castle where the King would kill them if he ever heard of this.
It was bravery beyond any words could describe. It was truly, even though he would not say it, an honor to be part of this, it was not only the fact that Arthur and Merlin were working together, side by side, talking and sharing their part of their story in sync. It also showed in the way they acted. It probably wasn't noticeable to outsiders, but Gaius had known them for years and he could see the difference as clear as day and night.
It was in the way Merlin sat straighter, how Arthur didn't interrupt but nod along as he talked, approving of Merlins' words, it was how Arthur talked about magic without flinching, how, before telling a dangerous part, they should share a glance as if deciding just how much information would be wise to tell.
Finally, after what it took them hours, everything was, quite literally and metaphorical laid on the table. As it was now filled with books, maps, Arthur's ring from the alliance—two hours were spent on that topic alone—the golden vase, a few coins from the thugs they fought, all of this in the middle of food and goblets of water. Arthur had ordered food from the kitchens when it became obvious the meeting was not going to be short.
Questions were asked and resolutions were taken as Arthur and Merlin kept on sharing their side of their story, they told them about the birth of Aithussa, Merlin's birthday, their stay with Hunith, Arthur meeting the great dragon, Merlin's great advances in training, the meeting with Mordred –that Gaius and Lancelot were both equally wise to keep silent—and their reunion after being attacked.
Gaius made several mental notes, there were questions that he still needed to ask, but he would keep silent about those until Merlin and him were alone. Even if Merlin and Arthur saw wise to share Merlin's secrets there were things that in the end should only be heard by Merlin himself. Gaius looked grimly towards the golden vase shining brightly at the table. The fact that the vase remained unsolved was still their worse of their problems.
"It seems then, that you were very busy," Gaius said warmly several hours later, when everything was said and done, he had reprimanded and chastised some acts during the talk, but in the end, he couldn't help but feel proud of the boys he had raised, "I'm very proud of you both. It was a brave decision you took with the druids Arthur, and me, being a magical being too, cannot tell you how truly amazing and heartwarming this news is."
Arthur nodded, "It was for the best,"
There was silence as they all cleared their plates, slowing eating, all of them connecting the dots in what they have learned about each story, Lancelot and Gaius being the ones out of the loop the longest, while Gwaine needed a few minutes to catch up with everything he had been missing.
"How's my Father been?" Arthur tried to ask nonchalantly as he placed his empty plate along on a nearby table, "Is he well? Does he seem to be getting better, worse? I… I have not seen him yet,"
Lancelot smiled, "We have been taking care of him, he is well Arthur, as well as he can be, of course,"
Gwaine smiled sadly, even though he has known about Merlin for a while hearing about Uther's loss of memory had come as a shock to him, he couldn't imagine how Arthur must feel about this, and now it was even more impressive how, for months, Arthur had managed to keep so collected and silent in his pain.
"I'm very grateful to you both," Arthur said sincerely towards Gaius and Lancelot, "I feared that in my absence the noblemen would try and do the worse, I'm glad that it didn't come to that,"
Gaius sighed but he shook his head, "I was barely able to contain them, they became restless when the four days you promised began to turn into a week and then two, they began wondering if you would find a cure,"
"Besides the noblemen, rumors are spreading like wildfire in the lower town," Lancelot added, taking a long sip of water, "for all that we know, you disappeared and gave no one notice, no one knew where you have gone and people had already noticed how… well, tight the relationship between you and your father was, they suspected you were being punished for something, others that you were on a quest. And even though Gaius and I kept saying you were in Annora it became obvious you weren't there either the longer it took you to come back. And then the sword in the stone started…" Lancelot grew quiet.
"What happened with the sword? Did—someone actually managed to—"
"Oh no, that's impossible, only Merlin and his magic can do that," Gaius offered, "No, it'st just… I need to be honest, Sire."
"Please, Gaius, we can't be more honest than this, speak freely my friend," Arthur said warmly but incredibly aware where this was heading.
"Well, when Lancelot and I began to notice how long you were taking… we feared the worse,"All eyes fell on the golden vase, "And… sadly, the worse came to happen,"
"Gaius, what's your point?" Arthur said, not mad but tired and frankly quite scared to hear those words out loud.
"Well, Sire, my job it's to protect the crown and the realm, not by fighting but by strategizing, so, if you could ever forgive me, I planned in case you came back without a cure,"
"Gaius…" Merlin whispered, incredibly hurt by this.
"Oh, no, no my boy, I never doubted you. If anything I have an unshakable and unbreakable faith in you, but the hard turth is that time ran out. I do believe you will break the spell on the vase, but I'm afraid it will take longer than any of us anticipated," Gaius said warmly, placing a hand on Merlin's shoulder, "Please do believe me,"
"And what do you propose?" Gwaine asked after several moments where it looked like neither Arthur and Merlin wanted to ask and neither Lancelot and Gaius wanted to tell.
Gaius turned towards Arthur, he nodded, given permission, "If anything, I'm willing to listen,"
"Arthur!" Merlin said scandalized, "You can't—"
"Merlin," Arthur said with a steady voice, "When I let Arya keep the vase… I knew the stakes; I passed through all the stages and all the scenarios. I knew what I was giving up. I prepared for the worse, so it makes no difference that we have it now,"
"How can you say that?"
"Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful that we have it, endlessly grateful for whoever gave it to us, but I can't fool myself any longer, do you understand? I know, just like Gaius, that you will fix the vase, despite what Arya says I do believe in you… but Gaius is right Merlin. We tried," Arthur's voice was sincere and that's what hurt the most, "We tried, and we went there and we fought for my Father. I can't ask for more. It's time to accept that Morgana played this well, from the beginning. I think this is something bigger than us Merlin."
"Arthur is right, Merlin, don't look at him as if he's stranger," Lancelot smiled softly, "As long as we have the vase we have a chance to cure him, what Arthur is saying is that he's not giving up yet, but we need to change the strategy,"
"Yet," Merlin said hurt, "I can solve this, I will. I promise."
Gwaine smiled, patting Merlin's shoulder and trying to light up the mood, "We know mate, we know, but… you have to see it from our perspective, the… knight's perspective, sometimes, you have to change the strategy, like a game of chess. Morgana made her move and she beat us, but now is time to strategize,"
Merlin huffed softly, however, he was listening, incredibly torn inside that all his efforts, all these past weeks, had been in vain. All of them. It was crushing.
"Strategize? How can you all talk about strategy? This is about solving the vase so Uther can have his memories back. She just wants Uther out the picture so while Arthur… well, while Camelot is weaker she can somehow take the throne,"
"You are missing the battle logic," Arthur smiled softly, "In the end, despite how brilliant you are… I guess you are still you,"
"What do you mean?" Merlin said almost offended.
"If Morgana is planning what I think she is… she won't even have to do anything to get the throne," Arthur said with crossed arms, "She learned from her mistakes."
Merlin blinked, confused, "How is that even possible?"
Lancelot placed a large piece of parchment in the middle of the table and took a quill, he dipped it in black ink, then quickly drew a crown in a circle on the parchment and next to it, connected with a line of dots, wrote Arthur's name.
"Everything, when it comes to the realm and the crown, every action, goes beyond what we see at first, it's a delicate matter, in court, you fight with words, not swords, so sometimes it's hard to know where to look, but here, let's start with this. Uther and Arthur. And Morgana's main goal."
"The throne," Merlin nodded, "She severed the bond between them. I understand that will weaken the realm."
"Yes, but it was not only the fact that she did but how she did it,"
"With magic?" Merlin asked.
"And silently," Arthur said quietly, "that was the worst part. She did it and we took days to even notice,"
"What difference does it make?"
"Well, it changes everything," Lancelot said, "imagine if Morgana had attacked him in the middle of the day, or in the throne room like she attempted the first time, nobody would have doubted us, now? We have no witnesses to assure our realm that Morgana his behind this, even now, the only confirmation we have is Agravaine and he's dead,"
"Worse, he died as a hero," Gwaine said, disgusted, "We can't suddenly say he was working with Morgana without revealing that everything else was a charade."
Merlin had never imagined that he would need proof that Morgana was behind this, she just was! Wouldn't the people just believe it if Arthur said so?
"What if Arthur makes an announcement? What would happen then? People ought to believe him, he's the prince."
"That is the less of our problems," Gaius said somberly.
Lancelot crosses the line between the crown and Arthur's name, like dividing them. He then drew an "M" in a circle and out of it he drew three lines that eventually linked with the Crown in the middle of the parchment.
"For the way Gaius and I see it, there are only three paths this can go. First; Arthur tells the rest of Camelot about this news. As you correctly said, people will believe him, everybody knows he's Uther's son and soon the fact that he's under a spell will be rather obvious. What happens next? Chaos. The king. The man who has been fighting magic all his life; enchanted, by no one else but by his daughter who turned out to be an evil witch. Fear spreads like wildfire. People will doubt Uther, no one will trust him, they will want him out the throne, they will demand Arthur to take the throne unless he wants an uprising."
"I stop being trustworthy all at once. If I take the throne, I'm labeled as unloyal, even if that was the right choice to make, and who assures my people that I'm not enchanted either? If I don't take the throne, I'm untrustworthy, because how can I let my father rule when he is obviously enchanted? It's a lose-lose situation. The result would have us both killed."
Lancelot encircles again the "M" letter, "She wins, in the chaos, she takes the throne and with her magic she coerces everyone. Just like Arthur rules with loyalty, she will rule with fear and magic, in the end, they are both great ways to have people under control."
"True. Merlin could maybe defeat her, avoid my death, but magic would forever be seen as the evilest thing to happen to this kingdom, we are fighting to bring magic back, going that direction would lose us years of achievements," Arthur said somberly.
Merlin nodded, seeing sense and motioning for the second line, " What about the second option then, what happens if we don't tell anyone, just as we are doing, what then? I know there are risks but…"
"We can only play safe for so long," Gwaine answered, "Not telling anybody means keeping the charade and it will fall, Merlin, eventually. And when it happens…" Gwaine took another quill and wrote under the second line with bold letters two words: 'Mad King', "We get what no kingdom ever wishes to see: A Mad King."
"If we decide to keep Morgana a secret then what's the excuse for Uther's forgetting me?" Arthur talked as if he was talking about another Arthur and another King because he didn't look affected as he spoke. Merlin was sure it was a façade, no one could talk about their owns death in so many ways without having to detach a little, "He went mental. No one trusts a Mad King, Merlin. No one wants one. People will demand his death by forcing me to rise to the throne faster than what it takes for you to light a candle. I kill him, do my duty, I'm a tyrant and a martyr, all at the same time. No one wants a prince who killed his father because he was sick, Merlin. and I certainly won't. So second option…" And with that, he also drew a cross on the "Mad King" quite hard.
Merlin sighed, "Fine, fine, for all the seven Gods, what can we do?"
"The third option," Gaius said easily, writing another word under the third and final line.
"Abdication," Gwaine read out loud, confused, "The last time a royal abdicated was almost a century ago when Queen Lyanna gave up her throne to her youngest. And that wasn't even in this kingdom—what? I do read, ya know?"
Arthur was amused but this but just nodded, "That… is correct, Gwaine, and that's an option I can't say I had not been thinking about."
"But… abdication is by free will," Merlin said as if he was talking to very oblivious people, "This is Uther we are talking about. He would never do it, let alone willingly. I think I could magically force him to speak... even write a letter, but to force him for a few minutes to actually behave like that and accept it as something he does thinks its impossible. No one can affect free will for that long, not unless they are completely under a spell, then there's no free will at all, but even then, it doesn't last forever."
Gaius and Lancelot sighed, sharing a silent conversation and Arthur noticed.
"Something tells me you two have been thinking and talking long about this."
"There's a way…. Sire, to make Uther pass the throne to you peacefully," Gaius answered and everybody went quiet, turning towards Arthur. In the end, it would be Arthur's choice which path to make. Arthur was looking at the vase as he spoke.
"I know what you are going to say," He said quietly, "I know and I… how can I know he will be safe?"
Lancelot gave him a sad smile, "Gaius and I have planned it, we have looked into every situation and we think this is the best way to do it. In the end, is your choice, but rest assured no harm will come to your father, I give you my word."
Arthur chuckled darkly, "We all made an oath to the King that we would protect him, and yet we are here, sitting at a table on his castle talking about a coup," Arthur closed his eyes for a long moment, trying to compose himself.
"There has to be another way," Arthur muttered angrily, a fist hitting the table, "Damn it, we are running out of time. Not only with this solution but also with the damned sword, I need to take it out eventually. Talking about that sword, how did that happen? What was the promised reward?"
"I managed to control that, at least," Gaius said, aware Arthur was trying to derail the topic at hand, "Dozens of people have lined up but no one has claimed it, as far as the reward goes, everybody is making vague speculations; money, fame, lands, titles. No one has the slightest idea they are competing for the seat on the throne, no one suspects it, you are still your father's son, even if he can't remember the whole of Camelot does."
Gaius kept talking after that but Merlin stopped listening, he looked at the drawings and lines on the parchment, he gasped, analyzing the words Gaius said, he was hit with a sudden realization and he almost jumped from his seat, Gaius stopped talking to give him a wary look.
"Merlin?"
"Gaius, Gaius, Gaius," Merlin whispered as he stared down at the parchment, making imaginary connections, "What did you just say? Just now?"
"That… people believe Arthur is the only one who can pull out the sword? "
"What?—no no, that Camelot remembers. Camelot remembers who Arthur is. We all know who you are Arthur, even if your father does not..."
"Merlin, it's been a very long day, can you just say what you mean, please?" Arthur said, he wasn't even angry that Merlin was talking in riddles again, he was honestly mentally and physically tired. He kind of wished to go to sleep and never wake up to the never-ending madness.
"We—there's another option; we make Uther believe it. The key is not finding a way for Uther not to find out about Arthur, the key is letting him know!" Merlin said excitedly as he stole Gwaine's quill from his hand and scribbled hurriedly, drawing a line from Arthur's name back to the crown several times.
"We are not even contemplating Arthur in these equations, we are thinking about Uther making something and Morgana acting on it. But what about Uther and Arthur? No one knows about the reward of the sword in the stone, but we do. Uther does. What we have to do is use this to our advantage. Look, Uther knows something is wrong with Arthur, even with all our work he had noticed something is off about him. So we follow that path: Arthur you tell him, the whole truth, and you give him silent hints, and he had received lots from the noblemen before, surely, asking for you, he had even said once he as confused about who this "Important Arthur is?" Right?"
Gwaine seemed to be catching on, "You are joking," But he looked at the paper again, "You have to be."
"We bring him to the sword in the stone field in two days or three, after enough hints had been made, you show more around the castle, talk more with the nobleman, and by the third day you go to reclaim the sword. Gaius will make sure Uther is there to be witness, away from prying eyes, you ask him to watch you. And in a very... magical way. You know, insert a doubt there just in his heart. Could it be...? Uther will think. Can you be his son? And then what will be the outcome?" Merlin refrained himself from saying 'ta-daaaaa' "You pull out the sword, of course, because I'll be your brave sorcerer behind all this. Now, what's the prize for that?"
"The throne," Lancelot said, "Jesus, it's the throne."
"But it has always been my throne!" Arthur said, trying to see reason but failing, "Merlin, what's the point? I will not be his son, not to his eyes, this does not change anything!"
"No, but Arthur, who can rightfully so, according to our story, pull the sword? Someone of nobility, worth of being a king… or someone with Uther's blood running in their veins, don't you see? You secure the throne, Uther will be impressed and he would want to talk to you at the palace, tell you about the reward, all of it. That's when you tell him. You tell him, Arthur, that you are his son… and the pieces will fall together. Everybody asking about you, you being able to pull out the sword, the hints, you tell him everything—well not everything— but tell him about Morgana and show him the vase, tell him he was enchanted, tell him you went on a quest to find a cure but you are so torn, which is true, because you didn't find it."
"How could he ever believe it!" Arthur said and his voice almost broke, "He will demand my head just for saying such outraging things! How could he ever think I'm not a sorcerer who is making this up?!"
"With the stone," Merlin said hurriedly, he was so excited that he rose from the stool to pace around the table, "The stone shines, Arthur, when it touches something magical, it will shine when it touches the vase but it will not shine when it touches you. Arthur, he trusts that rock with his life. And even if he doubts, even if he says to hang you and he runs out the door and screams that order… chaos will ensue! No one will do nothing."
"No one because…. even if Uther does not remember who you are…. Camelot does," Lancelot said almost out of breath, "Oh my god."
"And we don't even have to lie, not even once because Arthur for God's sake, you are his son, there's proof on every single room of this castle, on the clothes you have, on the room you own, you could tell him all the things the rest of Camelot does not know about him. For God's sake, you should be wearing your circlet when you tell him, it will come as a shock, of course, but even Uther sees reason from time to time, he can't fight against the world."
Everyone in the room was silently staring at Merlin, all of them contemplating his words, there were a lot of 'ifs' in this plan.
"If he sees you when you pull out the sword…" Lancelot was already scribbling things on the parchment making more lines and writing more names.
"And if we keep asking about you..." Gwaine said hurriedly, "You behaved weirdly around him, you have done it all the time, so much he had called you on that."
"I know, I know it's not permanent, the memories will not be back but maybe it would help, and at the very least buy me time to solve the vase, Arthur, let's use Uther as a solution."
However, Arthur was shaking his head, as if he could not believe this plan, as if finding a solution so easily out of the sudden was the worse plan in existence, "Merlin, Merlin, listen to all of you, this…this is my father who we are talking about. A man who is ruthless in his beliefs, in his mind I have never—I have never existed, how?"
"I told you, the memories are lost but not his feelings, not those," Merlin said decisively, "I have seen the way he looks and treats you, you have never been another knight Arthur. Never,"
"He has asked for you a few times these past days," Lancelot conceded, "He wanted to thank you for the sword in the stone idea,"
"We are going with a feeling," Arthur stressed, "A feeling that his heart might remember that he loves me. That's the plan, for him to believe that the feelings he unknowingly has for me are because he's my father. I—I can't— this is madness!"
"Arthur…" Gaius said calmly, "I don't think you will have to say much if you tell him, I think that somehow… he will accept it."
"How? How can you be so sure when he has killed people for less?" Arthur said, almost biting the words, feeling everything at once: anger, hope, deception, fear.
"Because, my dear boy, you look exactly like your mother," Gaius said warmly, "And that's your greatest weapon, not one even Morgana can take away from you."
Arthur had to control himself not to break in front of all his friends, he raised from his seat and walked to the window, the sun was setting on the horizon, hours had passed since he arrived.
Everyone was silent, waiting for the verdict.
"Arthur… is better than the other three, by far, what do we have to lose?" Gwaine said after several minutes, the sky was just a red and orange horizon, making the room feel warmer than it really was.
"A lot," Arthur whispered, slowly he turned, "You are all being clouded, even you Gaius." He sighed, "My father is a very, very stubborn man, he is arrogant and impulsive, incredibly skeptical, he won't trust me at once. I could either convince him…. or make him believe everybody in Camelot is against him, in his rage…" He shook his head and looked towards Merlin, "We all know what happens when my father loses it."
Merlin felt his heart ache, "It won't come to that, I'll make sure of that."
Arthur held Merlin stare for a long moment after that, but finally, he nodded, he looked older in the soft orange light.
"You have three days. You have to make a plan so well thought that by the time you finish telling me even I will believe I have a son." He said and there was no humor in his voice, "I can lose him, and neither I can lose my kingdom."
But he was willing to go with it and that was all they needed.
He was going with Merlin's plan. Again. Despite failing the first time. Merlin felt like crying all over again.
The tense air that had filled the room since they entered lifted. Lancelot and Gaius were already making plans about the nobleman, the knights, and a few trustworthy friends in the lower town.
Merlin rapidly went to give Arthur a hug, surprising everyone on the room, Arthur just shrugged as if expecting it, offering Merlin a roll of his eyes for his troubles and a pat on his shoulder. They both knew the hug wasn't exactly for Arthur's benefit, but Merlin's, they kept quiet about that though.
"Don't… don't make this a thing, Merlin," He said almost angrily as he pushed Merlin away, "I'm not dying, God. Just… can we keep the hugs just to where I'm about to die? Thank you. I appreciate it."
"Can't you ever shut up?" Merlin chuckled with watery eyes and shoved Arthur on the shoulder, hard. Gaius almost gasped."Prat."
"idiot."
"A sorcerer court idiot, thank you, I was promoted."
"Oh, certainly, my apologies."
And they boy laughed quietly as if sharing inside jokes no one was allowed to be part on. The rest of the knights and physician smiled at the interaction. There was a knock on the door then, breaking the moment. Gwaine raised from his seat, the magical spell Merlin placed lifted the second the door was open.
"Percy, Heya mate!" Gwaine said, "Miss me? I missed you, buddy, Owen does not appreciate my jokes as much as you do,"
Percival patted Gwaine's back and smiled, however, his eyes were fixed on Arthur.
A silent conversation passed and Arthur nodded, his entire posture changed, he grew stiff and his face solemn, he nodded and without a word Percival left, not before hugging Merlin back and telling Gwaine to wait for him at their bunks in the knight's dorms.
"What? What happened?" Gwaine asked confused, Arthur shook his head, he looked around, giving his final orders.
"Everyone, I'm proud of you, and I'm glad we all are part of… of this. Get some well-deserved rest, Lancelot you above all take a free day tomorrow, sleep, eat. All of you, it's been a few tiring weeks, lets us rest and come with new ideas. We will rearrange tomorrow."
He bowed to them. Actually bowed before standing straight, "I'll leave the matter of my father in your hands, I trust all of you. Just please, think four times before you come up with a plan, I can't afford to fail," He said, eyes imploring as he looked at each of them in turn, to let the words sink, "I can't lose him."
"You won't, I promise," Merlin nodded. Arthur sighed and looked to the floor, before leaving.
The left ones inside the room were silent for long after he was gone. Merlin let himself fall on a stool, feeling drained. His friends seemed to be in the same shape. His eyes fell on the "M" on the parchment and he closed his eyes.
He was sure Arthur would be on top of his tower tonight.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Arthur took a deep breath outside the doors of his chambers, steeling himself for what was about to happen because there was no way this argument could go smoothly, nothing he could say could make this right because there had not been an actual right path for this, he was still mentally drained from the hours of conversation, however, he had taken a decision and he will stand by it.
Given what he knew now it surely was not the right one, but it had been the safest one then. The most logical thing to do. Playing safe, however, had cost him men weeks ago, and now he would have to face Elyan, a Knight of Camelot, his friend, a friend who was tortured while he thought him dead… and he would have to hear what he had to say.
No, it was definitely going to hurt, but it needed to be done.
He turned when he felt a hand on his shoulder and he almost jumped. Leon smiled warmly at him and patted his arm, making Arthur feel a bit better about this and at the same time guilty all over again for different reasons, of all his closest friends Leon was still in the dark about Merlin's magic, and yet, even though Arthur would want nothing more, he would respect Merlin's wishes, Merlin should decide who to tell and how.
Maybe, in time, Merlin would see in Leon a trusty ally.
"I heard, about Elyan," Leon said motioning to the door and Arthur nodded somberly, "It will be alright, Arthur, I know… nothing happened how we expected but you did make the right choice."
Arthur sighed and looked to the doors again, hands resting on the doorknob. Did he?
"I'll be outside once this is all over," Leon said in reassurance but finality.
Arthur nodded, took another breath, and walked inside his chambers with the attitude of someone who knew what doom awaited him but was going to face it despite it.
He had not even finished crossing the threshold when he faltered slightly on his steps because it was not only Elyan seated on the table, looking malnourished and pale, even with his dark skin and the poorly illuminated room due to the hour of the night Arthur could see how ill his friend was, how deep the bags under his eyes went.
But it was not that that startled him, this he had expected, what he had not expected though was Gwen. Beautiful and kind Gwen was also in the room and for a second he didn't know if he wanted to disappear or stop Leon from closing the door, he had to remind himself that he had been the one to summon Elyan here. Arthur felt as if he was staring at two strangers, he had not seen Elyan before he left and the last time he had seen Gwen he had left without even telling her weeks ago.
Both siblings raised their heads and stood up to greet him when he approached them, they bowed their heads in acknowledgment. He didn't miss how Elyan didn't raise his eyes to meet his.
"Please, please my friends," Arthur said, "Sit,"
After a tense moment the siblings uncomfortably sat and Arthur, after nodding to them, bypassed the table, going to pick a jug of water and three golden cups. He needed to have something in his hands to survive this. For a moment he eyed the red wine, but in the end, decided against it. He could drink later. Later when he was allowed to lose it. Not now.
"I—I can do that, my lord," Gwen quickly said, rising to her feet but Arthur shoots her a gentle look.
"I'm not useless, Gwenevire, despite what Merlin surely proclaims around the kingdom," Arthur said kindly, however, he realized the moment was dire and it was better to not act on silly jokes at the moment, he could very well lose a friend and the woman he was in love within just a matter of minutes, "This is the least I can do," He said more serious.
Gwen nodded jerkily and silently sat down again. Elyan did not even turn on his seat.
Arthur came back and deposited the water on the table, filling the three glasses before finally sitting on his place at the head of the table, both siblings to his right.
Arthur took his glass and Gwen followed after a moment, decency getting the best of her but she did not drink. Elyan ignored the glass, as his gaze was zeroed on the surface of the table, hands on top of it, painfully grasping each other. Gwen watched him with apprehensive eyes, she shifted in her seat so she could be facing Elyan more directly, one hand on his shoulder before looking towards Arthur.
A myriad of emotions crossed her face, so many Arthur could not pinpoint them all, but he recognized some of them; sadness, fondness, anger, disappointment, confusion. Arthur wished there was a way Merlin could correct this for him, give Elyan a potion to forget and Gwen to forgive him.
"I'm glad to see you both," Arthur was the first to speak, as it was expected of him, at least this part was the easiest because he was indeed happy to see them, alive and breathing, "I'm truly glad, more so after being away for so long."
No point stalling the topic of his departure of Camelot, and he had been right to address it because Gwen turned towards him sharply but stopped herself at the last moment. Curly hair bouncing as she moved.
"I'm… I'm glad to see you too, my prince."
"Gwen, please," Arthur said placing a hand on a table, "We are friends in this room."
Arthur quickly looked towards Elyan, who seemed to grip his hands harder, but nothing else happened.
"Arthur, then," Gwen said as she kept a steady hand on her brother's shoulder, "I—God, I have thought of seeing you again for so long… I have so many questions and now that you are here I don't even know what to say, where to start, I— everything has been…. so confusing. " She turned towards Elyan and squeezed his shoulder, Elyan finally raised his eyes to look at a vague point on her face. "For both of us,"
Arthur nodded, taking a careful sip of his water before lowering the cup, rolling it softly between his fingers, "I know… I know that being away made matters worse. That's why I wanted to see Elyan the moment I got back, so we could…. talk, clear the water. Elyan, "he said addressing the knight.
Elyan turned for the first time to face Arthur, his face unreadable. Arthur sighed but offered a warm stare, trying to reach his friend, Elyan was not like this, he joked and rolled his eyes at him…. Arthur added this to the never-ending list of Morgana's crimes. She had done irreparable things.
"I know you have questions, ask them all, say all you need to say, scream and blame me if you want to do so, I won't stop you. I'm here to either listen or… try to, at least, give you a peace of mind. I know I have been away, from my people, from everybody but it was needed, I wouldn't have left if it wasn't."
"What were you and Merlin doing?" Gwen said and Arthur felt his skin crawl with the way Elyan was looking expectant at his answer. Looked hopeful. Arthur looked square to their faces before giving an answer.
"I'm afraid I cannot tell you that. There was a reason why I left without saying much, and for the sake of Camelot this might be the only question that I won't be able to answer, I'm sorry," Arthur gave a long sigh, this had not started yet and it was proven to be already a fiasco, "It's a matter of the crown, more than personal, what Merlin and I did was for the sake of our people, I hope you understand."
There was silence. Gwen just nodded but before Arthur could keep speaking he was interrupted.
"You hope we understand," Elyan deadpanned. Face carved in stone, not giving away any emotion, it was the first time he talked and it was as if the already tense air was now suffocating them. "You left, for weeks, and you hope we understand?"
What was unnerving were not his words… but the collected way in which he spoke.
Arthur shot him a look, hoping for his friend to see his point of view, "Elyan, you are a knight of Camelot, I'm sure you can understand when the crown and my father, the King, gives an order, this is above all of us. The mission Merlin and I were sent to was important, we couldn't wait and we couldn't stall it. I know I'm asking for… for a lot here. Probably for more than what I deserve. But I need your trust. Trust me that I took the right decision by leaving."
And he knew, the moment he said those words, that he had said the wrong thing.
Too late now.
"Trust—then should I trust you took the right decision, right? When you left James and the rest of us to die by Morgana's hands, all those days ago. That was the right decision too?" Elyan for the first time let some of his anger escape him and Arthur deflated. Throwing Gwen a helpless look for a second, because he knew the second he said it out loud he would lose them both, "Arthur, did you or did you not made the choice to leave us to die?"
Arthur steeled himself.
"Elyan… I… you need to understand," Arthur felt like he was repeating himself, hating himself for it. Now that he was in front of them he felt so unprepared. Now that he saw him he saw just how much he had been wrong.
Gwen gasped.
Arthur closed his eyes for a moment before looking towards her, her eyes were glassy as if she was trying not to cry. She shook her head twice, as if not believing his words.
"Arthur, you would've never. Never abandon your knights, your friends. I know you. All this time we—" Elyan shot her an angry look and Gwen coughed, "I—I was sure there must be an explanation. A reason for all this. You wouldn't, not knowingly, leave them behind, you wouldn't!" Gwen said as she placed a hand on top of his, eyes imploring, "There was a reason, maybe you received fake news of their deaths, maybe you were misinformed, maybe someone else took that decision. Arthur—just tell us the truth, what happened?"
Gwen was giving him so many opportunities to back down, but the truth was, at the end of the day, even if Gwaine had been the one to make the wrong choices, by ignoring his duties, he had been the first to call for a search party. For God's sake, he had gone almost alone to seek them. In the end, it had been Arthur, unknowingly of their lives but knowingly of the stakes, that had decided to leave them there.
Arthur squeezed her hands softly, almost knowing it might as well be the last time he would be allowed. Holding Gwen's hand he looked at Elyan in the face.
"When your party went missing, it took us days to realize it, things happened, the knight in charge of the patrols was misinformed, by the time we realized what had happened we feared it was too late," Arthur gently let go of Gwen's hand after a minimal shake and Gwen knew it, before Arthur said it, what had happened. Horrified she placed her hands on her mouth.
"I was faced with two choices, Elyan," Arthur said leaning on the table, looking now at Elyan and Elyan alone. His friend looked into the prince's eyes for any lie in this, for any emotion. Arthur hoped the guilt and sadness that threatened to kill him alive could be seen on his face. "I could have sent a search party, after all, it had only passed around four or five days since your disappearance. But I also knew what was hiding in those woods. And what the stakes were."
"Morgana," Elyan said, and Arthur was surprised when he didn't stutter. Arthur nodded, hoping that Elyan was seeing the light in this matter, hoping against hope he could fix this.
"Shortly after Morgana's betrayal, in between organizing Camelot again, I took notice that every patrol I had sent down that path… never returned. I lost more than twelve men to her hands, by the time I started to worry and wonder Agravaine joined the army. He was the one that for over almost a year was in command of the patrols, and so, knowing what he knew, about Morgana and her whereabouts, stopped the patrols going in that direction."
"How—why didn't you do anything when the first two parties disappeared?" Gwen asked confused, "That was a sign that something was wrong,"
Arthur sighed, taking a sip of his water again wishing it was wine, "It was, when the first one disappeared, no sign of them or news, I sent a party to look for them, until then I was ignorant that Morgana was hiding there, so when the second party failed to return was around the time Agravaine showed up, he told me there were thugs on those regions. He swore to me he would take a party himself and went checking, he came back with only news about their deaths and alone."
Arthur lowered his glass on the table harder than he should've done.
"It was a lie of course. I thought of reorganizing a larger party, after all, if there were thugs on that side of the realm I needed to take care of it but Agravaine told me not to worry, that he would see it through, he did, well, of course, he did, he was lying again. So, for a year, while I was preoccupied with other matters of state…" Arthur shook his head, "He didn't send another party, he never battled the thugs, he was protecting Morgana. After I—after I killed him, and the patrol's duty passed towards…. towards a new knight, that's when Elyan's party went missing. It was until then… that we all realized what you actually being lost meant."
Arthur let the silent sink in, let them digest the news.
"So you assumed?" Elyan said after several minutes. Silent tears were falling from Gwen's eyes now. "You assumed we were dead."
Arthur held Elyan's stare for a long minute.
"The other's died, so you assumed we were dead too," Elyan said raising his voice.
Arthur steeled himself.
"Arthur, did—"
"I did. Every party that had gone down that path never came back. Not a single person. Five days had passed Elyan, and no news, no sight of any of you. None of you came back. It's unusual for a whole party to just disappear. Morgana didn't ask anything from us… so, so I assumed you were all d—dead by the time I had to make a choice." Arthur said confidently, however, he placed a hand on Elyan's shoulder, his voice breaking just barely, "Had I known you were alive, I would—"
Elyan smirked, but it was dark, holding no sentiment in it. He shrugged off Arthur's hand as if it had burned him, "Had—Had you known? Arthur, we were your knights, your friends, you should not only have known, but trust us to be alive until proven otherwise, until you saw it with your own eyes! For god's sake, we held a funeral and you weren't here!"
"Elyan, Morgana is a witch, what could I possibly could've done against her?" Arthur tried to reason, pleading, "Sending another party would have meant losing twice my men. Going against her blindly could have cost me the realm. When I was faced with two wrong choices… I had to choose the one with fewer casualties. And I'll live with that decision."
Elyan finally lost temper, in anger he hit the table with both his hands, "Choose to live with what decision?! We were the ones who died! In that aspect, you are right, Arthur, because I died there. If anyone has to 'live with your decisions' it's me, because you weren't there. You weren't there to be a witness of her evilness. She tortured us. She tortured us until one by one dropped dead. Richard was the first to go, he was the youngest too, I still remember how he had unwavering faith you would show up, even told Morgana that straight to her face, because of his insolence she cut his wrists. She let him die, slowly, painfully, in the corner of that damned hut."
Arthur pressed his lips tight, knowing he could not demand Elyan to stop. Hearing this would haunt him forever, he knew that but now he was now certain, he had imagined all the horrible ways in which his friends could've died, but hearing Elyan speak so rawly made his blood freeze. Gwen was sobbing quietly now, shaking Elyan's shoulder.
"No, please no, Elyan, please."
But Elyan wouldn't listen, his hands twitched as if he wanted to punch something.
"Rick was next, he was the one who tried to escape two days after Richard's death, I don't know what happened to him. I only heard the screams…. and the laughter. It still haunts me. I can still hear her. Laughing as she ended his life. She took her time."
Rick, Rick who was a father of two little kids. Rick who was a loyal friend. Rick who liked to play chess with the knights on their free days. These were his friends that have died. Arthur remained still on his seat.
"The last to go was James, she used him as a potion tester, by the time she finally allowed him to die he didn't know who he was anymore, what he was doing, why he was in so much pain, but I knew, I knew exactly who had done this to us, because by then I knew you were not coming."
The truth was finally on the table and the silence settled heavily on their shoulders.
"I need to hear it," Elyan said after a moment, he was shaking with pent-up energy, voice shaky, "I need to hear it. Out loud. Because all these days thinking you would have an excuse, a reason, Gwen telling me over and over again you wouldn't do it. I knew it. I knew it, so say it, Arthur, or God help me when—"
"I decided," Arthur said firmly, almost expecting the world to end, voice lower than usual "I decided to leave you there."
"To die?" Elyan asked again, this time more hurt than anything.
Arthur took forever to reply but in the end, he just nodded, unable to say it out loud. Too tired, too scared to accept the fact that he had left four good men in the hands of an evil woman. He should've never left them. If he had gone with Gwaine? All those days ago? Would all of them be alive? Would Elyan be smiling now?
He would never know.
Gwen was sobbing, her face buried in her hands, she had thought she had wanted to know, but now that she knew she wished she could erase Elyan's words from her mind. The look on Arthur's face, reflecting every piece of sadness and guilty he felt. Gwen had tried to believe in him like Lancelot had asked from her…. But he said it, he had actually said it. He had left them there, knowingly, to die. Gwen cried harder, biting her lip. Her heart scrambling for any piece of hope she could hold on to.
She could understand the reasons why Prince Arthur would've taken that decision, and as a citizen of Camelot, she should abide and agree with him.
But as Gwen, sister of Elyan, as a woman who thought knew someone just enough… she couldn't.
And that thought, that she couldn't believe Arthur had done that broke her heart more than she wanted to let anyone toknow.
"Then you have no right to be asking for trust or loyalty from us," Elyan finally said, taking Gwen's shaking hand between his.
"I have no right, you are correct."
"Then, my lord, there's nothing left to be said," Elyan said controlling his anger. Arthur knew he wanted to punch him, honestly, he wouldn't blame him if he did. Elyan stood up, Gwen quietly following, hands clutching Elyan's hand for support, the heartbreak and the raw news way too much for her to handle, "I have one more thing to say".
Arthur nodded somberly.
"I decline my rights to be a knight of Camelot,"
"Elyan, you earned this, you can't just—" Arthur stood up startled.
"I can and I will," Elyan said, gently letting go of Gwen's hands, he tinkered with the cloak's locks for a moment before they came free, neatly Elyan deposited the red cape on the table, "A knight is supposed to protect its people, it's realm over all things, he knows right from wrong and would die in duty for his King,"
"You have not failed," Arthur said resolutely, taking the cape and offering it back, "Elyan—"
"I should accept your explanation," Elyan said quietly, "I should but I can't. As a knight, I should understand but I can't."
"What I did was unforgivable, Elyan, but you fought so hard for this, don't let me and my—"
"And yet was the best result in your eyes," Elyan said icily, "It was a choice, a choice that you did and I should respect, that's what a knight would do, it was a command and yet…. Here… right now… I don' even want to be addressed by you again."
Arthur lowered his arms, his fingers going numb with the force he was using to hold the red silky fabric. He stayed silent.
"When I saw you enter the room I felt like punching you, take a sword and dare you to a fight, I wanted to inflict on you half the pain that we had to go through in your name," Elyan said as Gwen finally hid her face on his shoulder, sobbing openly.
"Let's go, E-Elyan. Let us go. Please,"
Elyan didn't look down, ignoring her, "That's not what a knight does."
Arthur stared at his friend's face for a long moment before finally moving out of their way so they could depart, however, Elyan hesitated, and Arthur had a spark of hope.
"Did Gaius tell you…. about…. About my…" Elyan indicated with his free hand to his head and Arthur nodded, feeling his spark of hope die.
"He did explain to me what had happened, a coping mechanism," Arthur said matter of fact, trying to resemble a bit of the prince he was supposed to be, a piece of the strength he needed to show. He didn't know if he was going to survive the guilt after this, "I don't blame you for that, and you should know neither my father and I expect nothing from you."
"If I remember anything else, anything that can help you fight against Morgana, I can promise to tell you, not because of any duties to you, but because of them," Elyan said firmly, "I owe this to them, otherwise, please leave me and my sister alone, that's all I ask from you."
Arthur sighed tiredly and nodded but looked towards Gwen for confirmation, "If that's what you both want…" Gwen looked towards him, disappointment and anger so clear in her face Arthur felt like he was suffocating, he coughed, "The crown will let you both be. You will receive an indemnification, of course, Elyan, for the rest of your life, the same amount you earned as a knight plus some condecorations. Don't worry about your house or any other expense, I will cover it. And please, visit Gaius anytime you feel like it, I'll cover all expenses."
Elyan nodded, barely giving him a stare before he passed by him, Arthur went to grab Gwen's arm but stopped himself at the last moment, it was not his right anymore. Gwen walked out the door, still crying, but Elyan stopped on the doorkob, Arthur waited patiently, face stony, and feeling colder than the night outside the window. Elyan stood there, back towards Arthur.
"I'm glad you are back, you know?" Arthur said, feeling incredibly tired and hollow. "I'm really, really glad you made it out alive, you are my friend, Elyan. Despite the choices I took as a prince."
Elyan didn't turn, but his voice was clear when he spoke, "A friend…" He said the word as if it was a foreign concept, he scratched his neck before continuing, "You know? For being so incredibly torn apart, you never said you were sorry," Arthur blinked at this, face scrunched in pain as Elyan finally turned for a moment on the threshold, "You came and asked for trust but… you never said you were sorry, Arthur."
Elyan and Arthur stared at each other for a second that felt like a whole eternity, Arthur could not see any traces of the Elyan he used to know, Morgana had broken him. He had broken him. Elyan finally walked out, letting the heavy wooden door close behind him. The tormenting silence became his only company.
Arthur let the cloak slip from his fingers to the floor.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Gwen had been out as a light when she finally ran out of tears to give. Elyan couldn't sleep though, and he kept drumming his fingers against his tight, waiting…. Waiting, just like every night for the past few days.
Then, like a clock, he heard a few toc's tocs. He turned towards the window. There was a blackbird hitting with his peak against the glass. It was a raven with eerily red eyes. Elyan went to the window and softly opened it, he turned towards Gwen, who was still asleep in the cot.
The raven came each night, and every night it had left without news.
Not tonight though, he had already scribbled down the note, and he quickly rolled it around the raven's leg. The second it was secured the animal spreads its wings, disappearing into the night. Elyan waited…. and waited… for hours.
Finally, a reply came, almost as the sun began to rise again, the raven came back, the smallest of letters attached back to its leg.
The paper contained simple words, but sufficient.
You know what to do. Do not fail me.
Elyan nodded to no one in particular and threw the paper towards the fire, only then he deigned himself to sleep. All the pieces were aligned, the king, the queen, the knights and the peons. And now it was finally his turn.
A/N: WO. LONG CHAPTER DUE TO THE LONG WAIT. It's four am. Apparently, I write at unholy hours of the night, but I had to write like, ten pages by hand first before this chapter could be typed and then I read it twice to correct mistakes. I'm almost shaking because I honestly thought on giving up. And here, every time I think this is it, here I am.
THANK YOU. For every comment and follow, that keeps me going. I swear I had read all your past comments at least five times, but as always I will reply after this chapter is up. But from the bottom of my heart: thank you.
Now! Thoughts? I hope I didn't bore you, but all of this talk needed to happen, place every character on the same page. The golden team? Reunited. Elyan and Arthur? Met. That just went south.
Morgana? Kind of showed up.
The war? Started. Even if Arthur does not know now.
What do you think it will happen? I can assure you, you won't expect it. I'm vibrating. Alright, I let you be! Thank you once again! Lots of hugs wherever you are! Thankyou thankyou thankyouthanyouthankyou.
-Juliet'lovestory-