Ok, this chapter isn't the greatest, but I hope I did the characters justice and stayed in character.
Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize.
Chapter 16: Shocked
Standing where the giant doors had been just seconds before stood Merlin, his hand outstretched and his eyes glowing gold.
Arthur could only stare as Merlin slowly lowered his arms and his eyes faded back to their normal blue. Merlin had magic. The revalation shocked Arthur to his core. He stumbled backwards slightly, his mind all but shutting down as he stared at his manservent, at his friend.
"Very good Merlin." Morgana smirked, breaking into Arthur's thoughts. He saw her walk around his friend, laying her hand on his shoulder. "Excellent job."
"Thank you, my Queen." Merlin replied.
A gasp filled the room, and Arthur's eyes widened. His queen. Merlin had betrayed them-betrayed him-to serve his evil half-sister. To serve the woman who had tried more then once to destroy Camelot.
Arthur was barely aware of what was going on around him. All he could think about was the hurt he felt from Merlin's betrayal. Anger began to rise in him as he stared across the room at his once friend. He could scaresly believe that Merlin had magic and had betrayed him for Morgana.
Merlin had magic. Arthur shook his head slowly, not wanting to believe it. He didn't want to believe that his closest and most trusted friend had lied to him, had betrayed him, for years. But the proof was right in front of his eyes. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the anger that was growing from the hurt and pain he felt.
"He's under a spell, Arthur!" Gwaine suddenly shouted. "Everything he's doing isn't of his own will!"
Arthur tore his gaze away from the traitor and noticed, for the first time, that Gwaine was held between two guards, his arms straight down his side as if tied their without rope. Arthur watched as one of the guards snapped "Shut up!" at Gwaine and hit him in the gut, doubling Gwaine over. The other guard pushed Gwaine forward, dropping him to his knees. Gwaine looked up angerly at his guards, before turning back around and locking eyes with Arthur.
"Listen to me." he pleaded.
Arthur watched as Gwaine was kicked in the kidney, doubling the captive knight over. He's under a spell. Gwaine's words echoed in Arthur's head, and he remembered that Gwaine and Gaius had come to him just before the battle started to tell him that same thing. Arthur looked back at Merlin, trying to find some sign that he was under an enchantment. But he could find none.
"Let them go, Morgana." Leon ordered, stepping forward with his sword drawn.
He had seen the conflicting emotions crossing Arthur's face and the knight knew his King would be unable to function for awhile. Merlin's betrayl would be to much, Leon knew. It was almost to much for him as well. Over the years he had known Merlin, Leon had grown to trust the man and to respect him for his courage and, at times, wisdom in dealing with Arthur.
But now he could see that he had been taken for a fool. Merlin had betrayed them all for Morgana. Briefly, Leon wondered why, but then the revalation that Merlin had magic made the reason clear. Merlin had magic and Morgana was trying to return magic to Camelot. It would only be natural for Merlin, a magic user, to join another magic user. And yet, he had told Morgana to release them, both Gwaine and Merlin. He wasn't sure why, it had just come out.
"And why should I do that?" Morgana asked teasingly.
Leon started to answer her, but his eyes were drawn to Merlin before he could say anything. He looked into the servant's eyes and felt his shoulder's droop slightly at the look he saw. Merlin was looking at Morgana with devotion, the same devotion that Leon had seen in his eyes so many times when he was looking at Arthur after a big turning point in the king's life. Leon's mouth closed, knowing that the Merlin they all knew was gone.
"What's that?" Morgana taunted, taking a step closer to him. "No answer, Sir Leon?" She paused, as if just realizing that everyone's gaze was on Merlin and not herself. "Ah, I see you are all more concerned about my new ally then in me."
She turned on her heel and walked back to Merlin, circling around him like a shark circles prey. Merlin didn't seem to realize the threatening way she was walking around him, and simply looked at her, before looking curiously back over at Gwaine and then Arthur. Morgana stopped circling and stood beside Merlin and looked over at her half-brother.
"Did you know you were harboring a sorcerer under your very nose, brother dear?" she asked, her smirk still firmly in place. "Who would have ever thought that simple little Merlin would be a sorcerer."
"What have you done to him, Morgana?" Gaius asked, stepping forward with anger in his eyes.
Arthur looked over at Gaius and saw, to his surprise, the anger in his eyes. The anger was directed at Morgana and not Merlin, he noticed, and Arthur realized that Gaius had known all along. Gaius had known Merlin had magic and instead of telling Arthur he had kept it secret, protecting the man.
"I've done nothing, Gaius." Morgana replied smoothly. "Merlin just decided that he'd had enough of my overbearing brother and decided to join the real heir to the throne."
Arthur's head snapped over to her and the shock that had overtaken him melted away.
"You lie, Morgana!" He barked. "You have no right to the throne and Merlin would never betray me!"
As he said it, Arthur realized it was true. Merlin may have magic, but he would never leave Arthur's side. Merlin had drank poison for him, offered his own life for Arthur's more times then Arthur could remember. Merlin would never betray Arthur by going over to his worst enemy if he was in his right mind. He's under a spell. Gwaine's words echoed in his mind again and Arthur suddenly believed them.
"Oh but he has, Arthur." Morgana said in amusement. "He has been practicing magic after all."
"H...he..." Arthur wasn't sure what to say.
He knew Merlin would never betray him by going over to Morgana, it just wasn't like him. But he had betrayed Arthur's trust, his friendship, by practicing magic. Arthur may not believe that Merlin was willingly betraying him by joining Morgana, but there was no denying that Merlin had betrayed him by practicing magic.
"I think this pleasent chat has gone on long enough." Morgana said triumphantly, pleased that she had rendered her half-brother speechless. She turned to Merlin and looked him in the eyes and said two simple words. "Kill them."
A frown crossed Merlin's face.
"All of them?" he asked.
Morgana looked around the room thoughtfully.
"Spare the people." she decided, realizing that she would need subjects. "Kill the knights, starting with Arthur."
"Yes, my Queen." he nodded and walked into the room.
Behind him, Morgana motioned for the two guarding Gwaine to push him into the room alongside the other knights. They nodded and roughly dragged Gwaine to his feet before pushing him roughly into the room past Merlin, who stopped walking to look over at Gwaine curiously.
Gwaine met his eyes at stopped walking, ready to say something to try and make Merlin fight the spell again, when a man's voice stopped him.
"Hleap on bæc!"
Gwaine felt himself rise from the floor and go flying across the room, hitting a group of knights and sending them all to the ground. Merlin frowned and turned around to see Salazar lowering his hand.
"Why did you do that?" he asked, still frowning.
"He was going to try and attack you." Salazar lied smoothly. "I was only trying to protect you."
"Oh." Merlin said, the frown dissapearing. "Thank you then."
"My pleasure." Salazar replied, nodding his head in a little bow.
"Why did you do that?" Morgana whispered, sure that Merlin would not hear as he walked across the room to stand in front of Arthur.
"The spell is shakey." Salazar explained, equally quiet. "If that knight had said anything, it might have shaken the enchantment once more."
Morgana nodded in understanding and turned back to watch her enemy be destroyed. A cruel grin spread across her face as Merlin stood five feet from Arthur, who just stood there, anger and hurt in his eyes. She had planned on killing him herself, but seeing his closest friend turn against him and kill him would be much more rewarding.
Merlin raised his hand, ready to cast the spell that would end Arthur's life. He looked back at Morgana, making sure that he was doing the right thing. Morgana nodded and Merlin turned back to face Arthur, who was looking at him. Merlin met Arthur's eyes and saw the anger, hurt, and-to his surprise-sorrow.
"Why?" Arthur asked quietly.
For a second, Merlin wasn't sure he heard him right.
"Why what?" he asked when he realized what Arthur had said.
"Why are you obeying Morgana?" Arthur asked, trying not to let his anger seep in.
Arthur took a deep breath, hoping his anger at Merlin's betrayal wouldn't seep into his voice. He was mad, there was no denying that, but if what Gwaine had said about Merlin being enchanted was true-and Arthur believed that the knight was, for once, right-then he had to stay calm and find a way for Merlin to break the spell. If he didn't he would die.
"Because she's my queen." Merlin replied promptly, his hand lowering slightly.
"Why though?" Arthur pressed. "What has she ever done for you?"
Merlin opened his mouth to reply before shutting it, not sure how to answer. He looked at Arthur curiously, his hand falling back to his side. Neither man said anything and a frown appeared on Merlin's face as he stared at his old friend.
"Kill him, Merlin!" Morgana shouted, not understanding why he hadn't done so already.
"Why is Morgana your queen?" Arthur asked quickly, seeing Merlin's hand starting to rise again. "She's just using you, Merlin. She's not your queen."
"B...but..." Merlin stammered, a sudden pain crossing his head once more.
He looked at Arthur and memories began pouring in one after another. Arthur confiding in Merlin about his plans to marry Gwen. Merlin using magic time after time to save Arthur's life. Morgana trying to kill both him and Arthur. Merlin commanding the dragon to leave Camelot. Arthur going after the flower to save Merlin after he'd been poisoned.
Merlin gasped and grabbed at his head with both hands as the pain overtook him. He almost fell to his knees, but Arthur reached out and grabbed onto him, holding him up. His breath was coming fast gasps as memory upon memory raced forward. The pain spread across his head, increasing in strength until the world was blurred around him.
"Kill him now Merlin!" Morgana barked, her voice loud and angry. "Kill him!"
"Come on, Merlin." Arthur whispered, suddenly fearful as he didn't understand exactly what was going on.
"Kill him!" Morgana shrieked.
Merlin's eyes snapped opened and he gasped, his eyes dark red.