Chapter 4: A Traitor

"What's going on?" Gwen stood in the doorway to Gaius's chambers, staring at the chaos within. To her delight, Arthur was awake, and sitting propped up against several pillows, but her joy was swiftly lost at the sight of her other friend. Merlin was swearing up a storm as he ransacked Gaius's library. Most of the books he grabbed were quickly discarded into a heap on the floor. Occasionally, though, he would pause on certain titles, and instead of throwing them away, he'd shoved them into a waiting backpack siting on a nearby table.

Gwen stared, flabbergast. She'd never seen Merlin like this. What was going on? She turned to the room's other occupant. "Arthur?"

The prince looked somewhere between exasperated and somewhat impressed with some of the creative cussing that was coming from his servant. The prince, however, could only shake his head at her question. "He's been like this since Morgana left."

All the colour drained out of Gwen's face. "Morgana was here! Merlin, what happened?"

"Not you too," groused Arthur.

But Merlin wouldn't look at them as he jammed yet another book into his bag. Gwen could see the fear in his eyes though, and that was the last straw. She'd had enough. This couldn't wait until Arthur was back on his feet.

She turned, moving to sit on the edge of the prince's bed. "Arthur. There's something we need to tell you."

The prince straightened, glancing back and forth between Merlin and Gwen. A creeping suspicion came over him, and he narrowed his eyes. "Does this have something to do with Morgana?"

"Yes." Gwen hesitated unsure what to say next.

Without pausing in what he was doing, Merlin took the conversation out of her hands. "She's trying to kill you."

Arthur let out an incredulous bark of laughter. "What?"

Gwen sighed. If this was how Merlin approached things, then it was no wonder that Arthur never believed him. "It's true, Arthur."

He snorted, rolling his eyes. "And I'm a sorcerer. What next? You're going to say she wants me dead so she can have the crown?"

Gwen bit her lip. "Well…"

"You're serious." The amusement died from his expression. "No, I don't want to hear it. Morgana has been though enough with her kidnapping–"

Merlin snorted.

Arthur rounded on him. "Is there something you'd like to say, Merlin?"

The dark haired servant shook his head, turning back to the bookshelves. "I wouldn't exactly call getting 'kidnapped' by her sister an ordeal."

Arthur's jaw dropped. "Sister!?"

Merlin glanced at them, puzzled "Yeah, Morgause. She and Morgana are sisters, didn't you know?" Taking in their shocked looks, apparently they hadn't. Merlin grimaced. "Hopefully not related on their father's side, that would be…" He shuddered.

Arthur looked at Gwen, but she was clearly just as confused.

Arthur crossed his arms. "Alright, they're related." He eyed the two servants. "Saying I believed you about the other part, how exactly is Morgana trying, or, dare I say, tried to kill me?" He raised an eyebrow in challenge.

Gwen looked even more put out. "Arthur, this isn't a game."

"Fine, but without proof–"

"Arthur," said Merlin. "Do you really think Morgana is stupid enough to leave proof? She set us up with that so called mission, and knew darn well the mess we'd land in!" Merlin clenched his teeth as his temper began to bubble. He went still, turning his back to his friends as he forced himself to take a slow deep breath. Calmer he reached for another book on the half empty shelves. "Not to mention what else she's done."

Arthur scoffed. "What else has she done?"

"Lists? You want lists now?"

Arthur's tone oozed his patented and oh so irritating arrogance, practically singing I'm-being-a-prat. "I'm all ears."

"Fine then." Merlin turned on his heel to face them. "Besides the trap she sent us into, there's the poison she put in your breakfast the morning we left, the water pitcher filled with acid, the guard who was bought off to switch your sword, likely hoping for death by training accident, along with various other items in your room which have been either changed out, or booby-trapped in some fashion. Your favourite belt, by the way, exploded."

"What!?" Arthur remembered Merlin saying he'd misplaced it.

Merlin blinked at him, surprised by his reaction. "That was only this week, you realize. I haven't even mentioned–"

"Stop." Arthur pressed a hand to his head, trying to hide how shaky he suddenly felt. He wasn't sure he believed this. The attempts? Oh, most certainly. He was the crown prince, such attempts were not unheard of, and Merlin was definitely idiotic enough to try and stop any plans against his life. That was how their bizarre… friendship? That was how this had all started, after all.

But Morgana? Arthur didn't believe it.

"Arthur." Gwen's voice was grave, making him dread her next words. "I… I caught her preforming magic."

Despite himself, Arthur's stomach dropped. He didn't want to believe it.

Gwen's eyes were watery, as she twisted her hands nervously together. "I suppose it makes sense that they're sisters, I saw them– Morgause in the market, right before you left on your quest to prove yourself as the crown prince of Camelot. She… she spoke with Morgana, Arthur."

"About what?"

But Gwen could only shake her head. "I don't know. But I got suspicious, so I… I hid in Morgana's room one evening, and…"

Arthur's mouth went dry. "And that's when you saw her preforming magic."

Gwen nodded her head.

The prince's mind whirled. That was getting close to being a full month ago now. They'd known for that long and said nothing? "Can you confirm this as well Merlin?" He needed more facts before he came to any sort of conclusion. "Have you seen Morgana preforming… magic?"

There was no answer.

Surprised, Arthur looked up, suddenly realizing how very quiet his servant had gone. "Merlin?"

The secret warlock flinched, silently refusing to meet his gaze.

Gwen turned as well, but instead of surprise, she reacted with anger. "I knew it! Morgana has done something."

Merlin eyes widened as he shook his head far too many times. "No!"

Arthur felt ill. Merlin was a terrible liar. But that meant…

He opened his mouth, not quite believing. "Did Morgana threaten you?" The words felt foreign on his tongue.

Merlin scoffed, still on edge. "Do you want a list of that too?"

"Oh Merlin…" Gwen rose to her feet, but Merlin shook his head, turning away from them. But that didn't stop Gwen from coming to stand beside him. She took one of his clenched fists, gently pulling his fingers loose. She paused when she saw the bandage wrapped around his palm. "Did she do this too?"

Merlin grimaced, admitting. "I wasn't exactly careful with moving that water pitcher."

Arthur suddenly felt very cold. "Those incidences you mentioned, did she use magic in any of them?"

Merlin hesitated, eyes dancing away, and that alone was answer enough.

Arthur shut his eyes, grinding his teeth. "How long, have you known about this?"

Silence hung over the room.

"How long Merlin?"

"You're not going to like the answer, Arthur."

The prince tried to contain his temper. "I asked you a direct question, Merlin. How long have you known about Morgana's magic?"

Merlin looked pained, staring at Arthur for a long moment. "Since the druids… kidnapped her." Merlin fell silent, knowing full well that incident had happened two years ago.

There was long pause before Arthur exploded. "Why have you never said anything!"

"Because back then she was still loyal to Camelot! And I promised her as a friend that I wouldn't– that I would keep her magic a secret." Merlin's expression crumbled into guilty sorrow. "It was… the last promise I made as her friend."

Arthur seethed. "And now she wants me dead."

"You, me, your father."

"Why?"

Merlin shut his eyes, giving a weary sigh. "Isn't wanting the crown enough?"

He was lying again. Arthur's temper exploded. "Dammit Merlin! Are you trying to get me killed?"

Merlin bared his teeth. "How dare you! I've been running myself into the ground trying to keep you alive, you ungrateful clot-pole. If you want to know why so badly then go ask your father!"

That brought Arthur up short. "What does my father have to with any of this?"

Merlin blanched, looking torn between answering and jumping out the window.

Gwen stepped between them. "Enough!" She shot Arthur a glare as he tried to protest. "I mean it. We're on the same side here."

Arthur crossed his arms, glaring at his bed sheets. "I don't see how my father could possibly know anything that would drive Morgana to murder."

Merlin sighed, eyes going dark and deep with that strange wisdom that liked to pop up at the oddest times. "Uther has everything to do with it. Though, despite what Morgana thinks, there were many hands involved, and not one of them innocent."

Arthur swallowed hard. "You're talking in riddles."

Merlin blinked, and the illusion of wisdom broke. "I suppose I am." He tried to smile but the worry was starting to creep back into his expression. He glanced toward the bookshelves.

Arthur frowned. "What are you doing anyway?"

"Oh, that's– nothing. Don't worry about it." Merlin forced a grin. High above the warning bells began to clang. Merlin froze, and then he leapt forward, cursing as he grabbed up his backpack, barely pulling it shut before the books tumbled out.

"Merlin, what is it?"

"Morgana's made her move."

Both his friends froze, but there wasn't time.

He grabbed a quill and a scrap of parchment from the table, quickly scribbling a note. Gaius, he wrote in quick rough letters. M's sprung plan.

Not entirely sublet but he didn't have time to write anything more cryptic. "Gwen, I need you to look after Arthur."

"What!"

He continued to write. She knows about–

Gwen caught his arm, making him drag the 't' out across the piece of parchment. "Gwen!" His hand knocked into a bottle, sending it and several other items crashing to the floor.

"Merlin you can't leave! What about Morgana?"

"Gwen, I can't stay! She'll– please just let me go."

"She'll what? What has she done? Merlin, you–" Something hit the side of her shoe. Gwen glanced down, and that was all it took to silence her.

"Guinevere?" Arthur was immediately on alert, trying to crane his neck to see what was going on.

Gwen bent down, picking up a small etched stone, one of the ones Merlin had brought back from the ruin. The secret warlock froze. Gwen's hand began to shake. "Merlin, what is this?"

He didn't want to answer.

Arthur stared. "Merlin?"

His skin began to crawl. "I can't stay! If she– I could–" A spasm ran through his hands, nails becoming sharp points. No, no no.

He turned, and fled for the door. "Merlin!" they both shouted. He didn't stop, reaching for the handle just as the door burst open. Merlin scrambled back as three guards filed into Gaius's chambers.

The third guard pointed at Merlin. "Seize him."

"What's the meaning of this!" Arthur tried to rise out of bed.

Merlin bristled, a growl rising in his throat. The backpack slipped from his shoulder, spilling the books he'd collected onto the floor. If they tried to–

Gwen stepped between them. She stared down the guards, hiding a clasped stone behind her back. Merlin's breath caught. That was the etched stone. Was she… was she going to turn him in?

Then Gwen spoke. "What do you think you're doing seizing one of Gaius's patients? Did you not hear your prince ask you a direct question?"

The guards hesitated, looking back toward their leader. The third guard bowed to the prince. "My apologies, Prince Arthur, but we're following King Uther's orders, you'll have to take the matter up with him."

So that was what was going on. Morgana had played her move well. If he tried to make a run for it, the whole of Camelot's force would come after him. With his magic useless, he'd never make it out of the city.

Merlin placed a hand on Gwen's shoulder. "It's okay, Gwen. I'll go with them."

"But Merlin–"

He pushed past her and the guards grabbed hold of him. Merlin drew a slow, slow breath, making no move to resist. The last thing he wanted was to provoke another reaction out of his curse. It was already too close to the surface.

The guards yanked Merlin's arms up behind his back and began to force him from the room. The last thing he saw before he was shoved through the door was the leader bowing to Arthur. "If you excuse me, Prince Arthur, but I must follow orders–" The rest of what he said was lost to Merlin dragged away.

It was an uncomfortable trip. The guards were tense, nervous even, as though they expected him to do something. Merlin, for the most part, ignored them. Whatever Uther wanted it couldn't be good, and Merlin had to make sure he didn't loose his temper, otherwise…

He drew a shaky breath as they reached the hall leading to the throne room. The doors were opened at their approach, the old wood creaking ominously. Gaius rushed out, following alongside a stretcher carried by two servants. Merlin's guards yanked him aside as the stretcher passed, but for all his focus on his patient, Gaius was not completely blind.

"Merlin!" His guardian screeched to a stop as he saw the two guards flanking the warlock. "What–"

Gaius never got to finish as the King of Camelot's voice boomed out. "Bring him!" Merlin swallowed hard, looking back at his guardian as he was hustled into the throne room.

Gaius was barely able to hide his fear. "Sire!"

"Thank you, Gaius, but please see to Sir Leon." Uther waved dismissively from where he stood at the front of the room.

Merlin twisted his head, straining to catch sight of the stretcher. It was Leon. Relief rushed through Merlin. Thank the gods, one of Arthur's knights had made it back from Morgana's trap. They hadn't all perished.

Then the great doors to the hall were slammed shut, leaving Gaius and the wounded Leon on the other side. Merlin swallowed hard, trying not to show his fear as the guards dragged him before Uther. All the eyes of the court were upon him. Arthur's father looked murderous, but it was the terrible smirk upon Morgana's face that really worried Merlin.

His guards stopped him just short of where the King stood, and with rough hands, forced him to his knees. All was dead silent in the large hall. No one spoke, and no one told him why he'd been brought here, and for that reason alone, Merlin held his tongue.

The murderous look still hadn't left Uther's face and one wrong word could easily be his last.

"Well?" the King finally said. "What have you to say for yourself?"

Merlin stared at him blankly.

"Speak!" Uther's voice echoed in the closed space.

The gathered nobles stared as though trying to drill holes through Merlin's skull. He didn't think he'd ever had this much attention on him before, and frankly found it very unnerving.

"My lord," Merlin started off as politely as he could, voice surprisingly steady. "I don't know why I've been brought here."

Uther's eyes glittered dangerously. "Should we start off with something simpler then?" He eyed Merlin with a calculating look. "You caused quite an uproar when you carried Arthur all the way to the castle." Merlin frowned, not sure where this was going. "Tell me, your scars, are they because you really are that disobedient a servant?"

Merlin's face flushed. How in the– Oh, that explained why Gwen had given him the shirt, and, come to think of it, the nervous air of his guards. Merlin cleared his throat. "I've had them for years."

"Really, how did you come by them? Torture? A promise to deliver my son into enemy's hands to save you own worthless skin?"

Merlin couldn't believe this. "I got them by keeping your son safe."

"Do you really expect me to believe that?"

"If I wanted Arthur dead I would never have carried him back to Camelot!"

"Then you admit it! You do want my son dead!"

"No!" exclaimed Merlin. By the gods, Uther was as bad as his son! "Are you even listening to me?"

"Don't talk back to me, boy!" The King snarled in his face. Merlin held his ground, eyes narrowed. "Who paid you to kill my son?"

"No one! I don't want him dead. Can't you see that? I've been saving his life since the day I arrived here!" He couldn't see Morgana, but her very presence set him on edge. "And I'll protect him, no matter who threats his life."

Slowly, the King of Camelot drew away, a calculating look in his eyes. He took several steps as he weighed the truth of Merlin's words. The warlock didn't let his gaze waver. "Tell me again, boy, how you escaped and brought Arthur back here."

Merlin frowned. "I don't understand."

"You accompanied him and his knights to find Morgana's kidnappers, correct?"

"Arthur takes me everywhere, you said so yourself."

"And yet," Uther leaned in once more. "Morgana saw Arthur dismiss you back to the castle." Merlin's eyes darted to the King's ward. "You speak to me, boy."

Merlin's gaze jumped back. This was not good.

"Do you deny it?" pressed Uther.

"Your Majesty–"

"Do you deny it?"

Merlin was silent for a long moment. "No."

A murmur ran through the room. Uther backed off, taking several measured steps away as he allowed the court to draw their own conclusions.

"Now, tell me again," Uther continued, and the hall fell silent. "From the very top, what happened after Arthur dismissed you from the courtyard?"

Merlin shifted uneasily, or tried to, but his guards weren't giving him any wiggle room. He'd already told Uther this story, and changing the half-truths he'd said would only make things worse. He needed to move the topic along. "Well," he began, "I went anyways, and we set out."

"Interesting. All of you?"

"Yes."

"And how many knights were there?"

Merlin hesitated. "There were fourteen of us in all."

But Uther was no fool, and Merlin could feel the trap closing in on him. "And you were with them the whole time?"

"That's right." Any other answer would see Uther accusing him of conspiring with the enemy again.

It didn't stop Merlin from feeling uneasy though, especially when there was a flash of victory in the King's eyes. "And yet, our returned knight, Sir Leon, never once saw you. How do you explain that, boy?"

Merlin let out a slow sigh. So that was it then. He'd been dodging the point on purpose. Impersonating a knight was punishable by death, a fact Lancelot came very close to finding out first hand. Merlin would too if he admitted to having stolen Arthur's spare armour.

It was a nasty problem. If he said nothing, he'd be declared a traitor and that amounted to the same thing. Neither answer was going to save him here. No wonder Morgana looked so happy. Did she think backing him into a corner would cause him to panic and go all scaly and fire breathing? Too bad! He… actually, he wasn't feeling too confident.

Sweat trickled down his brow. He curled and uncurled his fingers, trying to reassure himself that they really were just that, normal human fingers. "Your Majesty," he began, but he really didn't know what to say.

Uther could see that to. He raised his hand into the air, an order on his lips, when the doors of the throne room opened once more, drawing everyone's attention.

"Arthur!" exclaimed the King, though Merlin couldn't turn enough to see. Uther stepped past him, out of his field of vision, leaving Merlin to stare up at the thrones where Morgana sat. Her eyes narrowed, but her expression remained mostly neutral.

The whole court was assembled after all. Merlin grimaced.

"Father," greeted the regal tones of a certain cabbage headed prince, and Merlin admitted, if only to himself, he really was happy to see him. As Arthur's steps drew closer, however, it became clear they were faltering at best. Merlin felt a spike of worry. It wasn't so long ago that Arthur had been unconscious because of his head injury, what if he pushed himself too far? "Why is my servant being treated like this?"

Uther came back into Merlin's line of sight, circling him like a predator. "Your servant stands accused of conspiring against your life, and consorting with the enemy."

Arthur gave a bark of laughter, the same incredulous note in his voice as when Merlin had revealed Morgana's desire to kill him. "Really? Merlin? Have you even looked at him, father?"

"Have you?" retorted Uther.

There was a beat, in which Arthur said nothing, and even as short as it was, it was far too telling. Merlin knew he'd shaken Arthur with revealing Morgana, he knew that. He'd just… he hadn't thought that the prince would question his loyalty as well.

"Merlin," the prince abruptly addressed him, making the warlock jump. "Is there anything I should know about you that I don't already?" The question was a challenge to his father, in which Arthur confidently thought he already knew the answer.

Merlin's heart twisted guiltily. How about I'm a warlock, and that I'm turning into a monster.

There was a scoff from the front of the throne room. "Really Arthur?" Apparently Morgana had gotten tired of staying silent. "That has to be the stupidest question I've heard yet."

Merlin glowered at her. Not that it did any good, she simply raised an eyebrow in challenge, silently daring him to answer Arthur's question truthfully. Merlin swallowed hard, but didn't look away. The secret hung ominously in the air between them.

She knew what he was becoming.

He curled his hands, nails digging into his palms. She might very well reveal his curse here. She was trying to corner him, to get him to transform. He refused to play into her trap. Knowing it was there, that was half the battle, or so he hoped. He really dearly hoped.

"And yet, you forget, Morgana," Arthur said, voice serious, "Merlin saved my life. If it weren't for him," the prince paused for effect, "I wouldn't be standing here." There were more faltering steps, and when Merlin turned his head it was to find Arthur, supported by Gwen, standing beside him. "The fact Merlin's loyalty is even being questioned, that is the real stupidity here."

Uther's expression darkened. "If you are so certain, then explain how it is one of your very own knights never saw him."

Arthur looked thoroughly unimpressed. "That's because Merlin was wearing armour." Murmurs ran around the room once more. Arthur turned his head, pitching his voice for all to hear. "I thought it was common knowledge how much of a klutz my servant is. And, considering the dangerous nature of our mission, I thought it best to make sure he came back in one piece. I'm not surprised he was too embarrassed to tell you that, Father."

The warlock grimaced, reminding himself that Arthur was here to help him, and when this was all over, he would have plenty of time to both thank him and pay him back for that jab. Until then… he was just going to have to put up with it… maybe. Holding his tongue had never been his strong suit.

Thankfully Uther spoke again, before Merlin could say anything unflattering. "True as that may be, tell me, why was he even out there? Morgana said you dismissed him back to the castle."

"Did she now," Arthur said with far more interest then he should have shown. Merlin tensed, but the prince was smart enough to keep his focus solely upon his father. "She asked to speak with me in private, so obviously I dismissed him."

"Back to the castle?"

Arthur pressed his lips together. "Merlin, tell my father why I sent you back to the castle."

Of all the times to run out of ideas and throw it back on him! Merlin bit back a growl, very carefully drawing a breath. "You sent me to finish getting ready, Sire, including getting my… um, armour."

This wasn't going to work. Uther was going to hang him just for that alone, but to his surprise the King seemed unbothered by the fact he'd worn armour, that, or he was saving his anger for when he and Arthur were in private. Merlin grimaced, he could just imagine the argument. Uther furiously chewing Arthur out for allowing a servant to use such things, blah, blah, blah.

Just thinking about it made him feel sorry for Arthur.

Uther focus shifted back to Merlin once more. "What happened to the armour?"

A flash of memory came to him, and, for a moment, he could almost feel the great black wings that had destroyed the chainmail. Merlin shook his head, shoving the memory as far away as he could. "The– the mercenaries took it. The quality was probably better then their own, and I didn't have time to look for it when they– um, when we left."

Beside him, Arthur frowned, looking worriedly toward him, a silent question in his eyes. But Merlin could no more answer, than he could look at Morgana. He could practically feel her horrible all knowing smile from here, and it made him shudder.

Morgana leaned forward on her chair. "Is it just a coincidence then, Arthur, that you told your servant to attend to other duties that didn't involve serving you?"

Arthur's eyes narrowed, perhaps finally seeing the game she was playing. "Such as packing his own things? Really, Morgana, are you doubting my word?"

There was a slight pause, before she was forced to say, "Of course not." She fell silent, but Merlin guessed she was fuming.

"Very well, Arthur," said Uther in a measured tone. "How do you account for the scars?"

Arthur's brow furrowed. "What scars?"

Merlin winced, studying the floor as Uther pointed at him. "The ones covering his torso."

Arthur's mouth fell open, expression stunned. He looked to Merlin, a fear and a new question in his eyes. Morgana. Did she do this as well? Merlin hesitated, shaking his head once. But his slight pause had not gone unnoticed and Arthur's jaw clenched. Oh no–

"If I may, my lord," Gwen's timid voice caught them off guard. Uther waved at her to continue. "Merlin was injured during the dragon attack. I–I treated the burns myself, and I'm sure Gaius can give you full detail of the others."

Uther stared at her, and though Gwen did not challenge his gaze, she gave no hint that she had just lied to his face. Arthur looked shocked, but considering he clearly knew nothing about this whole situation, his reaction didn't read as strange. Merlin drew a breath and waited.

Finally Uther rounded on him once more. "Have you anything else to say?"

"Father," Arthur cut in. "Merlin has done nothing wrong."

Uther did not look happy. "Arthur, while your defence of your servant is admirable," the way Uther said the word certainly didn't make it sound like that, "you must consider–"

Arthur scowled. "There is nothing to consider, Father. I stand by what I have said. This has all been one big misunderstanding. Merlin has been in my service for years, and has proven his dedication and loyalty many times. Any insult to him, I'm afraid, is an insult to me. So unless you have some other piece of evidence against him, then I must demand his release."

Uther was silent for a very long moment. Merlin held his breath.

The King turned toward him, the promise of death in his eyes. "Know this boy, if you so much as breathe treachery near my son, nothingwill save you from my wrath." Merlin swallowed hard. "Clear?"

He nodded quickly.

Uther stepped away. "Release him."

Merlin blinked as his guards immediately let him go. A breath escaped him, as relieved beyond words, he rose shakily to his feet. Arthur had done it. He was free, which probably meant he owed the prat a very large thank you. Oh well. He glanced gratefully toward the prince, who answered by throwing a smug smirk over his shoulder at Morgana. Oh bloody–

Her eyes widened, and all the colour in her pale cheeks vanished. Her gaze darted fearfully from Arthur to Merlin, and then her face flushed with anger. "NO!" Her voice bloomed in the hall as she surged to her feet.

Uther turned, confusion colouring his voice. "Morgana, what are–"

"I won't keep silent any longer!" Fury shone in her gaze and it was focused solely on Merlin. "No matter what you do to me!" Arthur and Gwen instinctively moved closer to their friend, as though to shield him from her wrath. But Morgana's fury only grew. She pointed straight at Merlin. "That man is a traitor! He tried to kill me with poison!"

Merlin flinched, eyes squeezing shut as shock rippled through the crowd, and that one act, that one show of guilt was all it took for Merlin to damn himself. Everyone saw him react and Uther turned red with rage.

"Guards!" roared the King.

They were back on him in less than a second. Morgana's eyes shone with triumph. She waited for him to react, to fight, to break loose, and for his curse to consume his form and make him mow down her all enemies with fire; but Merlin did nothing. He stood there, racked with guilt, and let the guards shove him to the floor.

"Take him to the dungeons!"

He didn't look at his friends, and neither rose to his defence as he was dragged away. A hallow feeling had settled in his chest. The curse churned within him, but he wouldn't let it out. He refused to give it an opening, even if it meant loosing his last chance at freedom. Merlin swallowed hard. It looked like he didn't owe Arthur a thank you anymore.

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Great job Arthur, you just had to gloat. This is why Merlin doesn't tell you anything, you realize. But then Merlin tends to just blurt out things like 'Oh hey, Morgana is trying to kill you,' so I guess it all evens out in the end.

I can't imagine what would have happened if the series had actually had it that Morgause was related to Morgana on their father's side. Just think about it, the idea that Uther is Morgause's Dad, and that Uther basically has a whole pile of MAGICAL kids! The irony is so wonderful and still amuses me any time I think about it.

So yeah, I couldn't resist doing a quiet-ish scar reveal on Merlin. Felt like a good way of adding fuel to the fire with Uther's interrogation, plus it was also fun having it that Arthur was the last one to find out.

I do feel bad about picking on Leon. But I needed a named knight from the series and sadly at this point in time Leon was the only one. So there you go, Leon's cameo appearance, in which he almost died. Sorry Leon, this seems to happen to you a lot, even in cannon.

Next time: In which Merlin is imprisoned and Morgana decides he needs a plan of escape. Look forward to Chapter 5: A Battle on March 11th.

Thanks for reading and reviewing! You guys have been great. Till next time wonderful readers!