The dungeon was not only for those who commit the more heinous crimes, its primary use was to house those who may be able to escape the cells. It was for the latter reason that the dungeon is where Merlin is currently housed. To Arthur, Merlin seemed to harbor an unseen power. Not magic, per say, the thought of Merlin being something as terrible as a sorcerer would never enter Arthur's mind. Merlin did seem to be more than meets the eye, though. Merlin's strange abilities, escaping the prince for example, occupied Arthur's thoughts for quite a while.
People have been avoiding Arthur the entire day. The morning after Merlin was captured, anyone who saw Arthur would say he was just distracted. By dinner, Arthur was thought of as "just in a bad mood". After it was decided that Arthur's mood had carried on to the next day, servants only approached him when necessary and even then, very carefully. Merlin had been in the palace dungeon for two nights (including the night he was captured) and Arthur could not get him out of his head. Merlin taunting him like an old friend, Merlin escaping him like he was in the lead in a game, and finally, Merlin staring at him, heartbroken, like Arthur had betrayed him.
The latter had been weighing on him since. The two nights passed were sleepless, and they days were distant. Arthur was not overly-sensitive, but he does have morals. Arthur decided that he at least owes Merlin a visit before his fate was decided, to understand why Merlin acted as he did if for nothing else. If not, Arthur would not be able to face him this evening while his father coldly passed judgment for Merlin's transgressions. Decided, Arthur head down to the dungeon where the reason for his ever-changing disposition is currently awaiting his trial.
"I'm here to see the prisoner," Arthur told the guards stationed in front of the dungeon "stand outside, he will do no harm to me." Arthur commanded. The guards' eyebrows reflexively rose dubiously at the prince's words. Why wouldn't a criminal want to harm the prince that would execute him? The guards finally nodded in submission, knowing that it was not their place to question Prince Arthur, said their "yes, my lord"s and left. Arthur secretly hoped that he was doing the right thing, sending the guards away, and that Merlin really wouldn't attack him. Arthur wasn't sure how much his actions affected Merlin, Merlin could loathe him. Nevertheless, the guards couldn't be there when he talked to Merlin though, he needed privacy.
Arthur sucked in a deep breath, raised his head, rolled his shoulders back, and started walking in the direction of the dungeon with the confidence of a prince. When he arrived at the door, he curiously peeked in the small barred window to check on his prisoner. What Arthur saw wiped all traces of pride from his mind. Merlin was sitting on the hay covered floor in the far corner of the dungeon, shackled arms loosely hugging his legs to his chest. There were dark red marks on his wrists where the shackles lay. Somehow, his usual slight frame coupled with this environment made Merlin look emaciated. He was intently staring at the wall, seemingly deep in thought. Arthur privately thought that his face looked bare and sullen without the lopsided grin and the sparkle in his eyes that Arthur saw the first two times he had captured Merlin. Unable to wait any longer, Arthur fished the key to the dungeon off his key ring and unlocked the door, pushing it open and entering the dungeon.
In the period between Arthur glancing through the window and when he peered in through the door, Merlin's head had snapped towards his intruder. Merlin was now staring at Arthur with that same unwavering gaze, like he was reading Arthur's thoughts. Arthur briefly wondered what Merlin would think if he could see inside Arthur's mind, then dismissed the thought immediately. Now was not the time.
Arthur walked bravely towards the chained individual in the corner and then, on a whim, sat down on the floor right in front of him. Arthur had his right leg lying flat on the stone floor, foot extending beneath his left leg and reappearing just barely beyond his sharp left hip. His left leg was flexed similarly to how Merlin's was, propped in front of him on the floor, and his arms were draped over his left knee. Merlin mirrored his pose, but Arthur could not tell if this act was conscious or not. Merlin seemed to be forgiving him by just this act alone; he had even smiled a bit. Not his usual oversized grin, but a soft, accepting smile used only between friends. For not the first time, Arthur wondered if Merlin was older than he looked, wiser.
"I figured you would come to visit," Merlin started "You could never have just had me executed without a second thought. It's not the kind of person you are." Arthur didn't seem to have anything to say to that, so Merlin just continued "Someone once told me that we are two sides of the same coin… me being the brighter half, obviously" Merlin joked, and was rewarded with a snort from Arthur and a small smile.
"And who told you that?" Arthur questioned. Merlin looked thoughtful for a moment, like he was remembering, almost mourning, before refocusing on Arthur.
"A very wise old friend," Merlin smiled slightly and seemed to contemplate something for a second, and then added "His time had come to an end a while ago, just as another had arrived to take his place". Merlin smiled, thinking of the newest addition to his home. "Well, as you can see, I'm perfectly fine. You feed your prisoners well" Merlin said, trying for another joke but bringing up being a prisoner only served to dim Arthur's mood.
"I'm glad to see you have been treated well," Arthur paused, trying to sift through all the questions forming in his head. "What is 'Emrys'?" Arthur blurted out, unable to take the awkward silence forming.
Merlin's smile became brighter. "Just something people call me now and again. I suppose you could call it a nickname. Merlin is my given name." Merlin answered.
Arthur pondered that for a while, and suddenly remembered that his father had requested his presence.
"You should go. Your father is probably wondering where you are." Merlin suggested, as if sensing Arthur's shift in attention.
"Yes. Yes, I suppose I should". Arthur stood up, turned around, and walked to the dungeon door. "I'll make sure you aren't executed" Arthur promised without turning back around.
"Don't worry Arthur, I'll be fine" Merlin said matter-of-factly. Arthur turned towards Merlin and raised his eyebrows, unconsciously mimicking Gaius (which Merlin found hilarious). Arthur rolled his eyes at the slightly arrogant response and reached for the key to the dungeon, only to find that it wasn't on the key ring.
"Heads up" Merlin called, and tossed the key to the dungeon at Arthur, who caught it one-handed. Arthur smiled and barely managed to suppress an "amazing" as the turned to the door and exited the dungeon.
Hours later, as the sun was setting over the peaceful kingdom and turning the sky a lovely shade of orange-pink, Arthur was returning to the castle after an impromptu training exercise. George was made to hold a small ring above his head in the middle of the jousting arena while Arthur ran it though on his horse with a lance. Arthur ran his lance through the ring almost every time he tried. He had been in a very good mood after meeting his father. Arthur had managed to make sure Uther was lenient in the assigning of Merlin's punishment. Merlin was still occupying his thoughts, but Arthur wasn't overrun by the thoughts as he was earlier. The questions just played lightly on his mind. Who is Merlin? How is he so talented? And why would he choose to become friendly with Arthur?
Arthur was still pondering these things as he heard the warning bell go off.
A/N Another chapter done. I'm going to take creative rights and start changing around things that happen in the TV show. For instance, Some things are going to happen while Uther is still king even though he wasn't when they happened in the TV show and I'm going to completely omit some plot developements as well (No Mordred, no evil Morgana, etc.). Can you guess who Merlin's friend is, and who replaced him? and thanks for the feedback.
2nd A/N I reedited this chapter because I found that I accidently made it seem like Merlin was in jail for being a sorcerer. He's not, he's in jail for being a thief. I also found Arthur/Merlin's jail conversation lacking, and I added more to it. Thanks.
