Disclaimer: I do not own the Merlin series.
Chapter 9 Lancelot du Lac
Arthur has just told Agravaine about his plans to marry Gwen. Merlin does not say anything until he leaves Arthur's chambers.
"Your uncle didn't seem too happy about you asking Gwen to marry you," he notices.
He keeps himself busy by picking up around the room to avoid Arthur's gaze.
"Are you?" Arthur asks.
"You'd know if I wasn't," Merlin answers.
Arthur gets in Merlin's way to make sure he looks at him.
"Good. I want it that way. Always be honest. If you disagree with me, tell me," he says.
"Oh, I think I do that enough," Merlin replies.
Arthur laughs and pulls Merlin in his arms.
"Indeed you do," he says.
Little did they know that Agravaine is on his way to tell Morgana?
"Arthur?" Merlin asks.
He reaches for Merlin's neck and takes hold of the chain and his ring on it.
"This will always be yours," Arthur says.
Merlin smiles and tucks the chain back in his shirt where it hides.
xxx
Arthur declares a tournament after the announcement of his engagement to Gwen. Merlin helps Arthur with his armor after dismounting his horse.
"Well?" Arthur asks.
"Two days of sweaty men knocking the sense out of each other. Very romantic," Merlin replies as he takes Arthur's sword.
"Funny. It's tradition," Arthur says. The trumpets sound, announcing a new rider to enter. He does not look familiar to Merlin or Arthur. "Who on Earth's that?"
"I've no idea," Merlin replies. The rider takes off his helmet. It is Lancelot. Merlin's eyes grow in surprise. How could he be back? "It can't be."
"Are you okay?" Arthur asks.
Merlin recovers himself from the shock.
"Yes, just surprised," he says.
"As am I," Arthur replies.
xxx
Merlin and Lancelot enter Merlin's room.
"You can have my bed," Merlin says.
Lancelot laughs and shakes his head.
"No, I can't," he says.
"I insist. I'm not even here most of the time," Merlin replies.
He momentarily forgets Arthur and Gwen will soon be married and that he might have to stay in his own room more often than he has been.
"I see," Lancelot says, although Merlin can tell this confuses Lancelot. "Thank you." Merlin holds his breath as Lancelot touches his shoulder. If this was truly Lancelot, it would be more than Merlin could hope for. However, it is not. It is Morgana's dark magic that has brought Lancelot back. Trying to ruin Arthur, Merlin, and Gwen anyway see can. "It's good to see you."
"I've often thought of that night before you…" Merlin starts to say.
"Yes," Lancelot replies with a nod.
"If I could have only used magic," Merlin says.
Lancelot laughs as he sits on Merlin's bed.
"If any of us had magic, life would be a lot easier," he replies.
Merlin knows something is not right about this. He tells Gaius his suspicions.
xxx
Lancelot is given a cursed bracelet, which he decides to give Merlin. Meanwhile, Merlin and Gaius test to see if Lancelot has been brought back from the dead. The bracelet had already taken its effect before Merlin can do anything about it.
"I didn't want it to be true," Merlin says.
"We all wanted him back," Gaius replies. Gaius notices Merlin's bracelet as he begins to play with it. "That's new."
"Lancelot…" Merlin begins to say.
His hand rests on the bracelet now.
"You might want to give me that," Gaius replies, extending his hand out. Merlin quickly moves his hand. "Merlin."
"I… I'll handle this," he says.
xxx
Merlin claps for Lancelot the next day when he goes on to the final with Arthur.
"You have to do something," Gaius says.
"What?" Merlin asks in a daze. "Oh, yeah."
He returns his gaze to Lancelot.
"Merlin," Gaius yells.
"I don't know," he replies. Merlin walks away. He meets Lancelot later that night. "Why am I here?"
"Because you want to be," Lancelot says.
He takes Merlin's hand.
"No, something else," Merlin replies.
"This," Lancelot says.
Lancelot grabs Merlin's waist.
"I…" Merlin begins. Lancelot kisses Merlin deeply. "I can't. I shouldn't."
Lancelot places a hand on Merlin's cheek.
"But you will," he says.
"Merlin?" a piercing voice asks.
The sound of Arthur's voice seems to shake Merlin out of his trace. He takes in the scene.
"Arthur, I..." Merlin starts to say.
"Get out of my sight," he commands. "Guards, take Lancelot to the cells."
xxx
Merlin sits on his bed in confusion. What had happened? He glances down at the bracelet. In anger, he takes it off and throws it. Everything starts to come back.
"Merlin?" Gaius asks. But when Gaius it, Merlin is gone. When he walks back downstairs, Arthur is waiting for him. "Sire."
Arthur looks down and clears his throat.
"Merlin?" he asks.
They both look towards his room.
"He's gone," Gaius tells him.
"All those times he said…" Arthur starts to say, but he cannot finish.
"He meant every word," Gaius replies.
They walk back up to Merlin's room.
"I'm marrying Gwen tomorrow," Arthur says.
"Yes," Gaius replies with a nod.
"Was he worried?" Arthur asks.
"No, Sire," Gaius answers.
Something catches Arthur's eye as he looks away.
"What's this?" he asks.
It is the bracelet. He picks it up to examine it.
"I believe it was cursed," Gaius tells him.
"That's why Merlin…" Arthur beings to say.
"I believe so," Gaius replies.
The guards then come to tell them that Lancelot has taken his life.