Heyyy... Short chapter, eh? I know. It was intentional and not 'coz of any time constraints.

Also, this isn't the chapter I promised (Caves of Peril). I was sleeping and thinking over the plot and suddenly, I just had to get this chapter off my chest (not my brain, mind you). It might not be a filler chapter, dear friends but the plot starts here! This chapter is CENTRAL and will make a reappearance (I guess) in the future.

I don't know about you but it finally seems like I'M DEEPLY INVESTED IN THIS FIC. If you find any plotholes, do let me know. I want to do right by this fic. I just LOVE the idea of Merlin finally being an open badass!

Duhh, I'm drooling... Don't mind me!

Thank you mersan123 and Squidney (ManxMerthur) for your reviews that kept me going and to all the others who've been following my story!

Words: 1258

4. Recompense

Arthur... I will ensure you will get your deserved comeuppance.

The court was in order. And the throne of Camelot was devoid of its rightful King. The throne room was embellished with Camelot flags hanging down gracefully from its ceiling, pillars decorated in flower garlands, a red carpet kissing the stone floor in the center. Knights of Camelot occupied the right part of the room whereas other dignitaries and servants stood to the left of the court. Geoffrey, the Court Genealogist stood beside the elegant throne with a red pillow in his hands that held a royal crown.

Nobody knew what was happening. Though they stood calm, it was a state of inner chaos, for they didn't know whose coronation ceremony it was. Again. For all they've known, Arthur was their King, recently coronated. All heads turned to the door when in walked a strangely familiar figure, a person who they once knew as a faithful loyal servant to the once Prince now King of Camelot, Merlin. He wasn't donned in his usual ragged and tattered clothes of a peasant but in a royal dress embroidered with gold and silver threads with a cape bearing Camelot's crest over it, like a royal born. If one looked closely, they could also see Arthur's ceremonial sword sheathed into the crevice of his belt.

"Merlin!" Gaius exclaimed, partly in wonder and happiness, partly in dreaded confusion.

Merlin acknowledged his father figure with a brilliant smile and a respectful incline of his head as he strode towards the throne.

"Geoffrey, if you will," Merlin gestured to the throne.

"No," Geoffrey gritted out, his hold on the pillow tightening with his unusual display of courage.

"It is useless and you know it," Merlin declared, jutting his thumb out to softly feel the texture of the Royal crown beneath his skin.

"No man, however worthy or powerful might he be, has ever sat on this throne, except a Pendragon. And you are no Pendragon! You are just Merlin," Geoffrey spoke wildly, anger emanating from his stout figure in furious waves for the first time in many years.

Merlin laughed aloud in mirth at Geoffrey's words (futile, soon to be despondent words) and turned around to face the equally bewildered and angry crowd (hopeless and they will come to know in time). "I understand that you are all confused. You possibly wanted Arthur here and he will be in a while. I do not wish to hurt anyone but I will not tolerate anybody trying to kill me," Merlin announced and tilted his head towards Geoffrey, "or elude my orders; requests, for now."

Geoffrey gulped in fear at the maniacal look in Merlin's blue orbs.

"Merlin, what's the meaning of this? What are you doing and where's King Arthur?" Sir Leon spoke for all and a few nodded in compliance.

"It isn't King Arthur anymore, dear friend. From henceforth, I am your King. And Arthur? He will be my betrothed," Merlin said casually as if what he just uttered wasn't unconventional by any means.

The whole courtroom was filled with gasps of surprise and indignation. Hushed words broke into a loud discussion until Sir Leon calmed them with a voice of his own that he delightfully directed against Merlin.

"Are you out of your mind?! This is treason, Merlin! I demand you to tell me where our King Arthur is and put an end to your rubbish before we deem you worthy of death!" Sir Leon bellowed, drawing out his sword and tipping it towards a barely affected Merlin.

Merlin stood unfazed at the pointy end of Sir Leon's sword. For a moment, his eyes glowed gold and all that was left of Sir Leon's sword was black powder on the floor. He charred and pulverized the sword with a gentle toothy smile on his face.

Another wave of gasps rose and Merlin could distinctly hear the word 'Magic' among the whispers.

"Merlin, what are you doing? Stop this nonsense at once!" Gaius stepped closer to Merlin, clearly disturbed by Merlin's open display of magic, and shook the warlock's arm to emphasize his worried emotions.

Geoffrey gulped once again when Merlin shook Gaius off carefully and walked towards him. He could tell his hands were shaking. It would not be a wonder if the Royal crown fell down on to the stone floor. Geoffrey could only look at Merlin like a quivering deer doomed to be a lion's prey.

"What will be your answer now, Geoffrey?" Merlin asked, knowing he won the battle. The look in the Court Genealogist's eyes screamed his victory over the entire court.

"By the sacred laws vested in me," Geoffrey started, his voice shivering.

"No!" Leon screamed and charged forward with his knights to attack Merlin.

But all Merlin did was raise his palm. His eyes gold once more, he rooted Leon and his knights to the floor. Now, no one would dare interrupt him. Why couldn't anyone understand that he didn't want to hurt anyone? He wanted no casualties either. All he wanted was a place on that stupefyingly wondrous throne and Arthur by his side. Like a loyal man.

"Go on," he smirked at the Court Genealogist, whose bald head was glistening with beads of terrorized sweat.

"Don't do it, Geoffrey," Gaius spoke up yet he was unheard. Merlin's magic kept him from grabbing the crown.

Only one thought ran in everyone's minds... Where was their King? Where was King Arthur when they needed him now?! Only he can take down this evil manipulative sorcerer, his manservant, Merlin.

"By the sacred laws vested in me, I crown you, Merlin, King of Camelot," he announced and placed the Royal Crown on Merlin's head when the man knelt down on one knee.

Geoffrey ran down the aisle to stand beside a shocked and utterly disappointed Gaius. Rivulets of sweat still ran down Geoffrey's head like a never-ending waterfall though he rubbed the drops away with his robe.

"I had no choice, Gaius, I'm sorry," he hung his head in shame.

"Calm down, dear friend. I am sure Merlin is out of his wits and Arthur will take care of him," Gaius ensured but little did he know that they were all puppets in the hands of Merlin now. He held the power.

"I believe you would want to see Arthur. I'm excited too!" Merlin laughed like his old self for a fleeting instant and then composed himself with a soft pat to his chest. "Enter, Arthur Pendragon," Merlin said softly but loud enough for Arthur, who was placidly standing outside the courtroom, to hear.

The people in the throne room just noticed Arthur's presence though he arrived during Merlin's coronation. Arthur Pendragon walked in a daze and he was immune to all the complaints of his people in the court. It was as if he were hypnotized because he didn't respond to his people at all. His eyes were fixed on Merlin. Not a slight smile graced his features. Like a puppet in a puppeteer's hand, he walked towards Merlin and stopped when they were merely a half foot apart, noses an inch apart.

"Sire – ," Sir Leon's sentence was unceremoniously cut off when Merlin pulled Arthur flush against his body and crashed their lips together.

The crowd gasped.

Again.

I now hold your recompense in my hands, Arthur.

Now that I got it off my chest in a single sitting, I'll get back to my bed. Good night! (Good Morning, Good noon to people in different time zones!)

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Bye.

~ Wheezy