A/N Thank you to everyone who has read, story alerted and/or reviewed - the interest and lovely things said, make me feel great. This is the last chapter, so I hope it does not leave readers dissapointed.
Bushfire chapter 5
"What evilness is going on here! I made it clear there was to be no magic! How dare you disobey me!" Arthur ranted as he came up behind his man servant and the Druid leader.
"Arthur!" Merlin spun around, his stomach dropping in horror.
"Merlin, go back to the cave and get our things together. We're leaving. Now!" Arthur yelled, manhandling Merlin away from Weylyn and propelling him in the direction of the cave system. He then turned back around to glare at Weylyn, pinning him in place with the coldness and disgust in his eyes. "You! You are breaking the law!" Arthur pointed threateningly in Weylyn's face.
"What? No Arthur, it's not what you think!" Merlin cried, leaping to Weylyn's defence.
"Stay out of this Merlin!"
"I will not! Look around you Arthur! Look what we've done using magic!" Merlin gestured around himself at the rapidly greening landscape. "How can this be evil?" he carried on frustratedly. "Arthur, think of the suffering this will prevent. Surely even you can see that a good thing has been done here?"
Merlin could not comprehend how his friend could be so overwhelmed by witnessing the use of magic that he couldn't actually see what had been achieved. The concept that this particular use of magic would be saving lives and stopping starvation amongst both people and animal populations alike, did not seem to have entered the Prince's consciousness.
"You've been trying to brain wash my man-servant too! Is there no limit to your effrontery!" The young Pendragon sneered aggressively at Weylyn.
Merlin's frustration and anger had built to an unbearable level. Why couldn't Arthur think for himself for once and take into consideration all the facts around him, instead of lashing out mindlessly like a younger version of his father.
"Stop it Arthur! It wasn't just Weylyn. I was performing magic too!"
Arthur continued to fume, his face reddening in anger, this time fixing Merlin with a withering look. "Don't be ridiculous Merlin. I can see you've formed some sort of dependency with this man, but your loyalties are misplaced. There is no need to cover up for his crime with lies!"
Before Merlin could vent his brewing emotions further, Weylyn intervened. They had spent a lot of time together during the past few days and the young Warlock had confided many of his fears to him in their discussions. These included the sheer magnitude of Arthur's hatred of magic, his fear that the heir to the throne of Camelot would never waver from this opinion and how he doubted he'd ever achieve his destiny if the 'other side of the coin' continued to dispel all magic users as corrupt beyond redemption. Weylyn sympathized with the one known as Emrys, but had faith that all these difficulties would be overcome when the time was right.
"Merlin, return to the caves as your master suggests. Now is not the moment for you to face this battle."
Merlin met the druid elders gaze for a few minutes then sighed heavily as he seemed to come to some sort of acceptance.
As he began to trudge back to the caves he supposed he should be happy that Arthur had assumed the druid had been the one conducting the magic and that he was just an innocent bystander. It certainly avoided a lot of unpleasant explanations. Conflictingly, he knew Arthur had to understand and accept magic if they were ever going to fulfil their ordained futures and how was that ever going to happen if he continued to lie, delude and be evasive whenever magic was used near the Prince?
The walk back to the caves was not pleasant for the warlock, as many difficult emotions swirled around in his head. It was exhausting to keep so many secrets, and even though he knew it was often for the good of Arthur and/or Camelot, every untruth he was forced to tell his Prince, felt like a betrayal. It made him feel physically ill when he thought about all the lies he'd had to tell and stories he'd invented. The pain of Arthur's rejection of all things magic, hurt Merlin deeply too. The Prince may as well have been telling him how much he hated him and how disgusting he thought he was, every time he declared his fervent dislike of magic.
It was times like this that Merlin despaired of ever completing his destiny. Gaius would know what to say to help him feel better, but he was 3 or 4 days of travel away!
"Well, what have you to say for yourself?" Arthur began his one man interrogation squad.
Weylyn spoke evenly and passively. "I have no shame in using sorcery to help those in need Princeling. I know your father believes all magic users to be evil but before you condemn my kind so quickly, please consider that that wasn't always the case."
Arthur was incredulous at this man. What did he know of the danger magic posed to his family and his home? "Do you have any idea how many deranged sorcerers have tried to kill my father or myself? How many has been hell bent on destroying everything he stands for? All of them are corrupt to the core." Arthur retorted furiously.
"In a way Arthur, your father brought this hatred and need for vengeance, down upon himself." Weylyn was sorry to have to tell Arthur that his father was the perpetrator of his own misery, but it was true.
"What do you mean old man? What do you know of my father's past?" Arthur almost spat. The impudence of the druid was galling.
"Many years ago, before you were born, magic was used freely across the 5 kingdoms. Your father had sorcerers as friends and employed others to help him rule Camelot. Then, in a desperate situation Uther made a poorly considered request to a Sorceress he trusted. She did as he asked using her powerful magic but Uther had not foreseen the full implications of his request. The tragedy that resulted caused him crippling grief and he lashed out by blaming all magic users. Thus began The Great Purge." Weylyn explained in hushed, reverent tones.
"What was this dire situation you speak of?"
Weylyn shook his head, "I will not elaborate upon that matter as it is not my place to do so."
He was greatly saddened to realize that Uther had kept the circumstances of his birth and his mother's death from him. In his experience secrets between father and son always came out in the end, causing undue pain and regret.
"However, it is my place to show you that magic can be harnessed for benevolent means if the wielder of the power so wishes. Your young companion is more remarkable than you give him credit for Sire. He spoke the truth when he said our use of magic today was going to prevent much suffering." Weylyn paused to give Arthur time to absorb his words which he knew were adverse to all he had previously heard on the topic. "My kind regard you highly young Pendragon and I am confident you will do the right thing for your people. Surely you can see that that is what I have commenced doing with these enchantments for healing and re-growth."
Arthur's frown and his stiffened posture reflected the turmoil going on inside his head. He had never considered magic as anything but malicious before, but the evidence in front of him suggested maybe the druid spoke the truth. The shear acreage of forest and farmland burnt out had left him extremely concerned about how the peasants and farmers were to survive- those who hadn't perished in the blaze already that is. He knew Camelot would contribute supplies for as long as possible, but they could not support the great numbers affected for long.
As he gazed around at the greening landscape, running a hand through his hair in confusion, he was astounded at the power it must require to achieve the changes occurring. Already the pasture coverage on the grassy plateau before him was probably greater than it had been before the flames; the prolonged dry weather had left most fields barren. The forest land beyond was sprinkled with numerous thick green shoots which would soon attract insects, which in turn attracted birds and other small animals. Arthur could see in his mind's eye the circle of life returning to the land, something of which he had pretty much taken for granted before now.
Indecision overtook his normally strong conviction. How could he order this Druid to cease his magic if it was going to cause his people further harm to do so? He knew what his father's stance would be; execute the sorcerers so they cannot spread their vileness across the land. Any casualties of his inflexible attitude would be considered unfortunate but necessary.
Arthur sighed heavily at the difficult situation before him. He had already clashed with his father numerous times this year and he was coming to the conclusion that he would again, over the choice he was going to make today.
Inhaling deeply, the Crown Prince of Camelot drew himself to his full height and addressed Weylyn as an equal, "Despite my views upon magic I cannot find it in myself to stop you from what you are doing here. My father would not agree with me so I ask you be discreet about what has been discussed between us."
"You show great maturity and humility Prince Arthur, qualities which will see you become the fair and just King you are destined to be."
"Yes, right," Arthur replied cautiously, not sure what Weylyn was on about but accepting his words, as had come to respect the older man's wisdom and attitude.
"However, my man-servant and I will leave here today. I do not wish to be a witness to further occurrences of sorcery, no matter what they should bring. I would also advise you to refrain from any acts of magic if other representatives of Camelot should pass by. If word gets back to my father of your 'activities', he will order your capture and execution."
"I understand Sire", the druid bowed his head fractionally in acknowledgement, as Arthur turned and stalked back to the caves to collect Merlin.
It took a few hours of walking after their departure from the druid encampment until Merlin had finally calmed down enough to speak in an appropriate way to his Prince and 'master'.
"Are you going to tell me what happened back there Arthur?" Merlin feared the worst: that Arthur had forbidden Weylyn from any further use of magic and had vowed to send a patrol to drag him back to Camelot where he would be tried for sorcery, as soon as possible.
"Merlin you need to forget anything illegal you witnessed the druid doing." Arthur began hesitantly.
"You mean the magic? Why can't you even say the word!" Merlin replied accusingly.
"I know this is difficult, but I have seen more magic than you Merlin. I know what I'm doing."
Merlin stifled a guphaw. You've got to be joking!
"Would you really let people suffer because of your own narrow minded attitude?"
It was not Merlin's way to impose his ideas on others, but Arthur really needed a wake up if he was prepared to do this.
"Merlin, must I remind you that I am your Prince and you cannot speak to me like that!" Arthur self-righteously declared, then lowering his voice till it was almost conciliatory he continued, "And you can stop glaring daggers at me because I have decided to turn a blind eye to Weylyn's dubious activities."
Merlin mouth fell open in shock. "Oh."
"Not that I need to explain my actions to you Merlin, but despite my father's teachings, I believe to stop what the druid was doing would have been tantamount to condemning countless innocent people to more suffering."
Merlin could not contain the pride he felt in Arthur for coming to that decision. He appreciated all the mental obstacles that he would have had to overcome to reach this point. Even the most open minded of people would be hard pressed not to be suspicious of magic users if they had been attacked by sorcery as many times as Arthur had. A life-time of beliefs could not be put aside easily.
Merlin's face lit up in a wide smile as he absorbed the ramifications of Arthur's decision. If he could accept that magic was not intrinsically evil and think beyond what Uther had always preached, maybe one day, there would come a time when Arthur could stretch his beliefs even further. Maybe even as far as accepting that his servant / closest friend had magic?
"Why are you smiling like a common lunatic Merlin? This is deadly serious stuff." Arthur admonished in his superior way, although if you knew him, you'd be able to detect the undercurrent of familiarity underneath all the bluster.
"No reason Sire. I just never thought I'd see the day." Merlin couldn't get the grin off his face. He wondered how on Earth Weylyn had managed to get through to him.
Arthur looked Merlin straight in the eye, drawing his friend into his confidence, "Nobody can know what has happened here Merlin. If what I have done gets back to the King..."
"I understand Arthur." Merlin interrupted before the Prince could complete his description. "You have my word of honour."
The minutest of smiles flickered up one side of the Prince's mouth as he replied, "Thank you Merlin." Arthur knew beyond shadow of a doubt that he could trust Merlin's word and although he did have a tendency to babble on far too much at times, he knew the younger man would keep the events of today to himself.
Early the next day, a group of five knights came upon the bedraggled pair, and returned them both to Camelot as hastily as possible. The only person to ever hear the truth of what had occurred was Gaius, but as Merlin had not been privy to the conversation between Arthur and Weylyn, even he did not hear the full story.
In the days following their return, Arthur braced himself for reports from returning patrols about unnatural growth occurring in the burnt out areas. He knew any such story would lead to some awkward questions for himself and definitely send his father off on another campaign of righteousness. As the days went by and it became obvious no such reports were going to be delivered, Arthur was both relieved and bemused. He wasn't sure if his soldiers were just remarkably unobservant or if they were covering things up for same reasons he did.
Although he tried to many times, Arthur could never bring himself to talk to his father about the time when magic was legal in Camelot and what the desperate situation was that Weylyn had referred to. Ever since he was a small child, Uther had made it very clear that speaking of the time prior to The Great Purge was not done. Clearly, it was far too painful to recollect and Arthur respected his father's need to keep emotions associated with this time, firmly suppressed.
He was not, as yet, able to form the link between the vigorousness of Uther's commitment to the eradication of magic, and the events leading to the guilt that had triggered this reaction.
The moment when Arthur learned all the details of his birth and Ygraine's death, was a whole other story.
The End.
A/N Well, sorry if you waned a reveal fic, but i just can't quite get that far in my thoughts yet.
I feel the need to help Merlin along in his destiny, in this case by getting Arthur to see and confront magic being a good thing. I don't like it when he seems to work so hard and give his all, but gets no closer to being acceped for what he truly is.
I was going to end it with a cheesy litle scene betwen Gaius and Merlin over dinner, but too much of the stuff at the end involved Arthur's inner thoughts so couldn't quite work it in.
Thank-you for reading, and I hope it was enjoyable and made you think.