~That Evening~
"The whole family. Remember, no prisoners. Have them burned in the off country." The knights nodded, placing on their helmets and getting out their swords. He smiled as they walked off into the late night. He climbed the stairs to one of the balconies and peered over the edge as the screams came form the houses and faded quickly. He smiled. Job is done, almost. He stepped away from the edge, taking a deep breath of the cold, Camelot air that was new to his lungs. He whisked down the stairs and into the throne room, locking the doors behind him.
He stood in front of the throne which seated Uther, and bowed. "My king," Uther tried to push past the chains that bound him to his throne, tried to push away to gag in his mouth. "Ah-ah-ah, don't struggle." He walked foreword, despite various muffled verbal pleas not to, untying the gag but holding it in place. "Now, I'm being nice enough to let you speak, and if you call for help, I will silence you with my own...methods." He pulled it off, stepping back.
"You bastard! You aren't my son!"
"This is obvious,"
"GUARDS!" Uther called, and the doors tried to open.
"Silentium custos," he whispered, smiling yet again. "I told you not to call for help." Uther could do nothing but stare.
Merlin sat amongst the tables and shelves in the library, flipping through a book looking for an exsorsism. They weren't even sure that he was possessed, but after they'd received news that they couldn't get to the king, they had to try something. They had to rely on hope. And it wasn't even logical that he was possessed! Demons, of all things, shouldn't be real. Can't be real. But things had yet to surprise Merlin and he finally flipped to a page with the answers he needed.
He committed the words to memory-were they latin?-and drew the trap on his hand, shoving the book sloppily back in place. As he reached the hall to the door, he had to make a choice, quickly. Go tell Gaius and Gwen, or be quicker and- he ran left, pushing the guards away from the door and telling them to try the door around the other side-which didn't exist but they bought it, and after a few quick marks, he unlocked the door, pulling it open and stopping at the sight.
Arthur turned around, still clutching the unconscious king's shirt in one hand, bloodied fist in the air. His eyes were solid black, he couldn't see anything but. He took a step back when he dropped Uther on the ground. "He's not dead," Arthur said coyly, half-smirk ever-present. American? Merlin thought. "I see you know who I am, now, Merlin." His eyes went back to normal, but they were clouded, dead.
"A demon." Arthur's eyes flicked black as he blinked. Merlin barely flinched.
"Good, and you have magic."
"How did you know?"
"Oh, sweet, innocent, Merlin." he purred, walking up to him and stopping a few feet from him. He looked at the servant intently, studying him. "I've got a spot reserved for you in hell, you know?"
"What? Who are you?"
"Now, now. We'll have this all figured out in a bit." He stood too close for comfort, and Merlin blocked him with his unmarked hand. Arthur held his hands up in a non-threat gesture, backing off a few inches. Merlin was eyeing a key chain handing from his breast pocket that Arthur did own. It must be his... "I'm sure we can negotiate something- Hey!" Merlin snatched the chain and bolted out of the door, stopping around the corner. Arthur chased after him, but started laughing from inside the main hall. "You really got me this time, didn't you?!" H
e yelled, and Merlin breathed out in relief. Hoping to any gods that would listen that he'd been caught in the trap. He was, and he was laughing about it. But somehow, it wasn't Arthur's laugh, it didn't even sound like his voice. His eyes saddened, but he needed to get this over with. He had no time for worrying about who's laugh it was or why it wasn't Arthur's; how it wasn't. How any of this could possibly be happening! He took another breath, peering around the corner all the way and stumbling out as he stood before him.
"Real funny, kid. Let me out."
"Gladly," Arthur looked surprised. No, not Arthur, a demon. He closed his eyes, reciting the words from memory.
"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus,"
"No, stop it! Shut up!"
"omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio; infernalis adversarii, omnis legio,"
"You don't know what you're- you-" he was hacking, clutching his chest but his arms drew out eventually. Merlin screamed the final line in more of a battle cry than a demand.
"omnis congregatio et secta diabolica!" He shut his eyes expecting something bright to cascade the room, but instead Arthur coughed up black smoke that rolled among the floor. He violently heaved until it seeped through the ground, and Arthur fell to the ground, unmoving. He ran to his side, moving his onto his back and feeling for a pulse. "Damnit!" He looked around, seeing no one he concentrated on remembering a life giving spell, finding one that didn't require any material things and he held him in his arms, lightly weeping and hoping it would work.
"Dot viņam gulēt, dot viņam dvēseli!" He called. Nothing happened. Again; nothing. "No, Arthur, no... No." Arthur could not die, he hadn't fulfilled his destiny. He lost count of how many times he'd said it until Arthur started hacking and Merlin pulled him farther into his lap, much like the night before, and hugged him almost too tightly. Kissing the top of his head, he mumbled, "I'm sorry, Arthur. Oh god, I'm sorry."
"Merlin, you have done Camelot a great deed, and have saved my life, along with my son and all of the people of camelot. So tell me, what can I help you with? Anything you need, or want, tell me?" All eyes were on him, and despite his large grin he couldn't accept anything. He didn't need or want anything. He had everything he needed; everything he'd wanted. Arthur stood next to him, hand on his back. Merlin looked nervously around.
"Well, Um, there is just one, tiny, small thing, uh, I would like to have your trust, and the knowledge that you've got my back, in case this were ever to happen or anything again. And I'd like to know that you trust me, too, as well, if it's not too much. My lord." he nodded his head to finish off, taking a step back an pushing into Arthur's hand. "Sorry," Merlin whispered. The king laughed. It wasn't a rude laugh, it was a relieved and happy laugh. Surprised, probably.
"You have my trust, and I have faith that you will be able to protect my son, my kingdom. And if you ever need help, I suppose we're here!" Uther shook hands with Merlin, and everyone clapped.
~Two Days Later~
"Feeling better?" Merlin asked with his big, goofy, Cheshire grin that managed to make his eyes brighter. Arthur sat up in his bed, accepting the tea Merlin offered and smiling back. Though, not as big and cheerful as Merlin.
"You know, Merlin. You never explained-"
"Shut it."
"Why you were weeping if-"
"Shut up." He said, pointing a finger as he gathered the rest of Arthur's armor and walked out of the room to set them in his. When he came back Arthur was dressed, picking up his belt from the chair and strapping it on just above his hips.
"I am not worth your tears, you idiot." But you are...
"You ready to go?"
"I'm not excited about it, but yes." Arthur replied bitterly, clasping a hand on Merlin's shoulder. "Merlin, really though, and don't get out of it because I will order you to tell me if you don't, why?"
"Why what?"
"Merlin! It's not like I'll punish you for weeping over me, I just want to know why."
"I don't know."
"I don't know," Arthur mocked, chuckling as they walked toward the courtyard.
AN: It isn't over yet! :) There is going to be much more, as I said, this is the adventures of Merlin. Expect much, much more to come. I'm doing a mornign update because I felt happy. Okie! Thank you so much for reading. Bye! :]