Chapter 5
(A/N) I broke 100 followers to this story! Thank you guys, you are the BEST. And over thirty reviews, wow I was not expecting that when I came up with this idea. But keep them coming, I cherish every single one of them!
Thank you to Dawnfire11
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin
Arthur sat slumped against a tree, fully healed but still in horrible, terrible pain. His friend … No his best friend. Had done the one intolerable thing. He had known the consequences, and he had studied this evil craft.
The knights, having already searched for Merlin for over an hour before stopping and going back to make sure that Arthur and Gwaine were okay, were either sitting slumped like Arthur, or pacing like wild animals. After tending to Gwaine's wound, Gwen stared into the fire, her blank eyes not noticing anything around her. He had built this fire. He had been tending it when the bandits attacked. Had he used magic?... had he used magic to start it, had he used it every single time they had gone on a patrol, or a top secret mission?
The bushes around the edge of the clearing swayed morosely, as if they understood the somber mood of the humans they were surrounding.
Arthur, still leaning against the tree, looked over at his love. Her eyes met his, and with an unspoken word she came and sat next to him, not saying anything, knowing that he just needed someone to hold him, to know that they were real and not going to betray him.
"Why would he do this... to me ... to us? Why would he study sorcery?" whispered Arthur into his hands. "Why would he betray me?"
"He did save your life" Gwen said tenderly. When Arthur didn't acknowledge her words, Gwen looked straight into his eyes, and softly spoke into his ear "You know that right? He risked his freedom, possibly his life to save you."
"I don't care!" Arthur stood up with conviction and said, "he is at the mercy of the law".
"Think about this Arthur! Didn't you have a suspicion of this? Didn't you see this coming? You knew that Merlin was hiding something!" Gwen was practically screaming at him now, the knights looking dazed at the sudden change in tone. "Now I realize it, whenever you take Merlin along on a patrol or on some hair brained quest, something strange happens! I've seen it falling branches, people dropping their swords! Don't you see it, he has been helping you from the background since he came to Camelot. I bet he saved your butt multiple times in his first Month and you didn't realize it!
Gwen was breathing hard, she stared at Arthur daring him to say something.
Arthur was slack jawed as his mind raced through all the trips and battles he had been in since Merlin had come to Camelot.
The king remembered Nimueh and the floating ball of light. Merlin had been dying. He couldn't have produced that, and he was a filthy sorcerer, he wouldn't protect a king who had persecute his kind.
All the things Merlin said about protecting Arthur and always being there for him, had all been a lie. There had always been an ulterior motive. The only explanation was that Merlin had been trying to bring down Camelot from the inside. He had been in the perfect position to do it, being servant to the king had given him uncommon access to the king, quarters and even his food.
Arthur finally gathering his nerves together, spoke in a soft voice, "Why would he save me, Gwen? He is obviously trying to topple Camelot. No one with magic would help me of all people... no magic user would help anyone at all."
"You don't really believe that do you Arthur? This is Merlin we are talking about. He has never shone the slightest hint of betraying you, and now that he has magic even though he saved your life in the same minute you accuse him of being heartless? How dare you Arthur." Gwen was furious, stalking off into the trees.
For the second time that day Arthur stared open-mouthed at Gwen.
Merlin was his best friend could he really put behind him all the quests, the trainings, and the jokes he had shared with Merlin, all the immeasurable trust they had put in each other, just because of that one moment? Merlin... kind, compassionate, lovable, stupid, unreliable, and above all loyal Merlin.
"We have to get him back."
-Alice
