Definitions of a Traitor (part one)

Words: 2,406
Characters: Mainly focuses on Merlin, Arthur, Gwaine and a nasty OC, but others are mentioned
Warnings: I dunno... does unhappiness count as a warning? Because this one is not happy.
Summary: When Camelot is again attacked, Merlin has one choice: reveal himself, or let his friends die. Really, it's not much of a choice.
A/N: I know I should be updating MOEL before another chapter of this, but my school laptop finally died and it had all my work for that one on it. Luckily I should be able to recover the work for it in a couple of days, but for now I guess I'll be focusing on Our Poor Merlin :) This one is for Lady of the Wind Dweller, who has waited far too long for me to get to her prompt. Apologies for that. This is a BAMF!Merlin reveal fic (in front of everyone) as requested and again has to be split up. You now see what I meant about all of these things getting too long - I now feel like a liar for saying this is a series of oneshots. Hopefully you guys don't mind too much.

And let me just make clear this is not connected to my other oneshots in this collection, and is set before season five. Thanks as always for your lovely support and constructive criticism, which I am taking into account.

"Merlin, be careful!"

The words barely reached Merlin as he ran past Gaius and down the hall. Taking a left here, a right there, two more lefts, Merlin did not slow, even as the castle rumbled under his feet. Have to get to Arthur, have to save Arthur, got to find Arthur…

There was another rumble and the sturdy stone shook around him. He heard a distant crash and willed his feet to go faster.

A sorcerer attacking. In the middle of the day. In the middle of the castle. Why, why oh why, could it never be simple?

Merlin continued to follow his senses, his magic reacting to that of the other, and from what he could tell, the other was in the throne room. While Arthur was holding court with the people, naturally. Because things just couldn't be easy.

Merlin finally reached the double doors, except they were no longer double doors - just bits of rubble decorating the entranceway to the large throne room. The massive room itself was in chaos and Merlin cursed himself for not getting here sooner, or even sensing the sorcerer's presence sooner. Camelot's people had scattered to the very edges, pressing themselves as close to the stone walls as they could, though not all of them had made it; there were a couple of bodies lying unmoving closer to the centre of the room. One throne had been knocked over, the other split in half and lying in pieces on the floor. And there in front of them stood the sorcerer, a man only slightly older than Merlin himself in a deep green cloak with matted hair so blonde it was almost white. The grim knights of Camelot were warily surrounding him, with their brave king to the fore, swords at the ready. He was laughing maniacally, and Merlin couldn't help but be disappointed by the lack of originality.

"You think those meagre things will stop me?" the man asked triumphantly. He turned to Arthur, his eyes as green as the cloak he wore. "Oh sire, there is only one weapon you possess strong enough to slow me down, and you don't even realise he exists!"

Merlin tensed from where he stood by the doorway as Arthur asked "he? What are you talking about, sorcerer?"

Everyone's attention was directed to the middle of the room but still Merlin felt ridiculously exposed as he raised his hand and his eyes flashed gold. "Ic þé wiþdrífe," he muttered, watching with a moment of satisfaction as the gloating man was sent flying backwards to near the end of the throne room. He finally came to a stop with a loud thud as he hit the furthest wall, sliding to the ground looking dazed. The knights watched with bewilderment, taking a few hesitant steps forward as the watching crowd murmured quietly with confusion. Merlin stepped further into the room but to the side, hoping to keep out of sight. Slowly, the sorcerer got to his feet.

The grin on his face was practically sickening even as he rubbed the back of his head in pain. "Ah. So he is here."

"What the hell just happened?" muttered Gwaine to his fellow knights, all just as oblivious.

"Nevermind what happened," replied Arthur and raised his voice to yell "attack!"

The knights and a small cluster of guards charged forwards. The sorcerer laughed again and flicked a hand as if swatting away a fly. Leon was sent flying back just as Percival stepped in with his sword arched in the air. The sorcerer quickly raised his other hand, muttering a few foreign words under his breath, and Percival's sword clanged against a barrier that glittered slightly as it was hit. Percival stumbled back slightly as the aftershock rippled through his strong arms. Arthur ran forwards with a yell, his sword at the ready, but the sorcerer merely sighed and caused his eyes to glow that gold once more. Arthur found himself frozen on the spot, his expression of angry defiance still in place. As the others hesitated, the sorcerer rolled his eyes.

"Enough of these games. Is this revered Emrys going to face me? Or will he let his comrades die by my hand?" Twisting his hand slightly, he smiled sadistically as Arthur was turned on the spot to face the general assembly. Slowly, his bones practically creaking as they fought an internal battle, Arthur rose his sword away from where it had been pointing in front of him and turned it so it was facing his own heart.

Everyone in the room froze, knights, guards, nobles, commoners and secret warlocks alike.

"Last chance, Emrys. Face me in a fair fight? Or let your Once and Future King die?"

Everyone's eyes were either on him or man he held hostage. No one was paying mind to the servant at the other side of the room, and Merlin knew he had to take the opportunity. He had to make it count.

"Eorðe, lyft, fyr, wæter, hiersumaþ me," he began chanting quietly, and as the power of the spell shook him, he had to raise both arms to force it forwards. "Eorðe ac stanas hiersumaþ me." His eyes glowed a fierce gold and his body shook, but he did not stop, even as his got subconsciously louder. "Ic can stanas tobrytan. Hiersumaþ me!"

The ground rumbled under the cocky sorcerer's feet and he looked down in shock. Spectators began to cry out and back away from the focus of the rumbling.

Suddenly the stone crumbled, forming a gaping hole where the sorcerer stood and he was swallowed with an almighty cry as he fell. Merlin lowered his arms with a deep breath, knowing it would not slow him for long. He was just about to turn and run out, to find the man before he could find them again, but was frozen to the spot. And not by some spell.

As soon as the sorcerer had fallen, Arthur's limbs had unlocked and he was freed from the spell. But other than dropping his arms, Camelot's king had not moved. He was stock still, staring exactly where he had found himself looking while under control.

At his servant.

Merlin was caught in that gaze as if someone had chained him to the spot. Arthur was staring at him. Arthur had seen. Arthur knew…

His face was blank, his eyes hard. Merlin had no idea what he was thinking and he wasn't sure he would ever want to find out. No, no, this wasn't right, he wasn't ready for this, this wasn't how things were supposed to go… His heart rate had picked up, now beating ten times faster than it had as he had faced their enemy.

The knights all surrounded Arthur, checking if he was okay, Gwaine clapping him on the back and teasing him about something or another. But Arthur and Merlin remained in their silent staring match. They remained that way too long.

For next thing they knew, there was a harsh yell from behind and Merlin found himself knocked to the floor several meters further into the room. Quickly turning and standing, he faced the sorcerer. The man looked bruised and dusty but not at all slowed down. He looked angry for the very first time.

"There you are… Emrys," he sneered.

No, no, no, Merlin kept thinking, please, not now, no…

"Now how is that a fair fight, hmm?" the sorcerer asked mockingly. "Not very sporting of you, Emrys."

"Merlin!" That was Gwaine's voice, but Merlin didn't dare take his eyes off of his adversary. Nor did he want to turn and see Arthur's expression. "Get away from him!"

Still Merlin ignored him and instead addressed the sorcerer for the first time. "Who are you?"

"Oh how rude of me," came the laughing reply. "I know your name, but you do not know mine." Merlin received a sarcastic curtsy and the man announced proudly "the name is Peyton, and I, almighty Emrys, am to be your downfall."

"I'm not - "

"Ah but of course they don't know do they?" Peyton asked with a vicious grin. "You are a sneaky one aren't you, hiding under their noses all this time…"

"Merlin," said Gwaine, and his voice was closer this time. "What is he talking about?"

"I - I don't know," Merlin tried, but it was more habit than anything else. Arthur had seen. Arthur knew. There was no point in hiding it now. It was all over.

But - but maybe it wasn't? Maybe Arthur would realise what Merlin had done for him, would accept him now? Things had changed, Arthur was a new man, maybe…

"What do you think they would do to you, Emrys, hmm? Imprison you? Banish you?" His lip tucked up in a sneer. "Or just kill you where you stood?"

"No one will be doing any such thing," Gwaine announced, stepping in front of Merlin.

"Gwaine - "

"Merlin, mate, I'll admit I haven't a clue what's going on here. But I won't be letting some filth like him get to you." There was a pause. "This is the part where you run, Merlin." Gwaine's face was determined, his sword held out in front as if it held all the power in the world. Merlin knew he wouldn't last long. He couldn't let his friend make such a sacrifice for him. Not again. Not after Lancelot.

"Get out of the way, Gwaine," he said quietly, trying to keep his voice steady. "Please."

Gwaine looked back at him, almost annoyed. "Good joke, mate."

Merlin shook his head and stepped out from behind Gwaine. Before the knight could go to stand in front of him again, Merlin faced Peyton. The bastard had been looking way too amused by the whole situation. He brought up his hand and a couple of tears escaped his eyes as they alighted with gold.

"Ende þes wipergilde Peyton angrisla," he chanted, his legs trembling, "gemot æhteswán ríce and hine," Peyton 's eyes widened and he let out a scream as he realised what Merlin was doing. His skin appeared to be heating up, glowing red and smoking like a pile of hot coals. He yelled a spell but his eyes did not even glow gold and he fell to his knees as pain overcame him. With a growing determination to finish that which had ruined so much, Merlin finished the spell with a shout of his own. "Bæc æt náht!"

Peyton shrieked, curling in on himself as the smoke intensified and his whole body appeared to swell. With one last scream of anger and pain he was engulfed in smoke, heat radiating from where he stood. As it echoed around the room, the smoke slowly cleared and Peyton was gone, leaving nothing but a small scorch mark on the stone. Merlin dropped to his knees, exhausted and, despite his victory, feeling utterly defeated. They knew. They all knew.

Arthur knew.

The first one to move in the hall of shocked silence was the ever reliable Gwaine. He stepped towards his friend and knelt beside him to rest a hand on his shoulder but Merlin flinched away, not meeting his eyes. "Merlin…" Gwaine whispered.

Before he could say anything else the rest of the hall erupted. Nobles and peasants alike were suddenly yelling, screaming for blood. "Kill him!", "burn the traitor!" and "he's one of them!" filled the air, and Gwaine's hand turned into a fist. Did these people not see what Merlin had done for them? Had most likely done for them before? What he had just sacrificed to keep them all safe?

"Merlin - " he tried again, but was cut off.

"Gwaine!" The knight froze at the voice of his king sounding cold, the rest of the hall quieting to hear him speak. "Step away!"

Gwaine gritted his teeth. "Arthur - "

"Now, Gwaine."

Gwaine stood and turned but did not leave his friend, who continued to stay low and silent. The knights all stood slightly behind Arthur. Gwaine took in the expressions of each of his comrades. Elyan was looking mutinous. He was going to be a problem. Leon looked absolutely shell-shocked, and Gwaine could not yet judge if it was a reaction of anger or not. Percival was watching with concern, his eyebrows furrowed as he appeared to be calculating the situation. Having sized up that of his fellow knights, Gwaine finally focused on Arthur and did not like what he saw.

The king was looking betrayed and angry. More than angry, he looked as if he was about ready to run his sword through someone. And if that someone ended up being Merlin, Gwaine knew there would be hell to pay. Sorcerer or not, Merlin was no traitor. Gwaine was not about to let him be treated like one. He was sure Merlin had his reasons for learning magic, and thinking back on all the times he had insisted on tagging along on patrols, or the times he had looked for Arthur before anyone else… The time he had dived right for a dorocha to stop it reaching Arthur… Gwaine felt he had a pretty good idea what those reasons were.

Merlin, Emrys, whoever. He was their friend, and Gwaine wasn't going to let anyone forget it.

"Step away, Gwaine."

Gwaine shook his head. "Not until I know what you're planning for him, princess."

Arthur's face, if possible, darkened further. "I don't see how it's any of your concern, Sir Gwaine."

"Oh no?" Gwaine took one threatening step toward his king but went no further, still wary of the guards awaiting orders and eyeing Merlin in a way he did not like. "How is it not my concern, sire? He's my friend - yours too, in case you're forgetting - "

"He's a sorcerer, Gwaine! A bloody sorcerer! Sorcerers are no friends of ours! I will not ask again! Step! Away!"

Again, Gwaine shook his head. "You want him, you'll be going through me."

There was a moment of silence where Arthur glared at his knight, having studiously not looked at his servant during the entire argument. But finally, his mouth set in a rigid line, he said "fine. Seize them both."