A Criminal's Burial
Chapter 15
Though Arthur hadn't stayed in Merlin's room long after informing him that he would be lifting the ban on magic, it was well into the night by the time that the king left with the excuse that he needed to practice his speech. Arthur had helped him settle back into a position that was comfortable, but Merlin barely slept. He was too energized by Arthur's news.
While he had spent a large portion of the remainder of the night ruminating on the last two weeks, it was interspersed with excitement over Arthur's news. He knew that he had to see that speech. Resolute with his morning plans, Merlin tried to get some sleep, but he swore that no time had passed before he could see the sun peeking through his window.
He initially pretended to be asleep when Gaius came to check on him, and as the physician's apprentice had expected, Gaius informed him that he would be heading out early to the market before Arthur's speech. Merlin expressed disappointment that he wouldn't be able to go, and Gaius replied that it was best Merlin get his rest.
As soon as the physician left, the warlock leapt into action. Grabbing Dragoon's signature red robe that he kept hidden in his room, Merlin shimmied it onto himself and shoved his bandaged feet into the boots that he had borrowed from Arthur. The warlock opened his wardrobe and procured Dragoon's staff from the very back, and as he took it into his hands, he thought that it would be particularly useful. Being an old man would surely hide his uneven gait.
Transforming into Dragoon, Merlin passed by his mirror and appraised his new visage. Surely no one would recognize him.
Cracking the door open, Merlin peeked out and slowly pushed it open as he became increasingly confident that Gaius had left. A majority of the patients Gaius had were sent home by now, and the ones who weren't were soundly sleeping.
Easing his way down the stairs, careful to actually use his staff as it was useful for him, Merlin breathed a sigh of relief when he reached the landing. Everything still hurt, and he could feel his skin tightening around his wounds. As quietly as possible to avoid waking the slumbering patients on the other side of the room, Merlin made his way to the door.
Before opening it, he prepared himself. Arthur told him that he had posted guards outside the physician's quarters for his safety in case someone disagreed with the king's decision to spare Merlin. Relatively certain that the guards had just changed (and wouldn't have been around to see Dragoon "enter" the room), Merlin ducked his head and confidently swung the door open. Grumbling something in his old man voice, Merlin startled the two guards as he made his way out of the physician's quarters. He could feel eyes on him as he departed, but he was relieved that neither chose to stop him, probably figuring that he was one of Gaius's friends.
The warlock definitely garnered a few slightly concerned looks as he made his way through the familiar corridors, but he ignored them, dead set on making it to the town square before Arthur began speaking. Though his pace was objectively slow despite his best efforts, Merlin made it to the town square just as others were gathering to hear their king speak.
Hidden amongst the crowd, Merlin looked towards the balcony Arthur would soon walk onto, breathless with the anticipation.
"What do you think he's going to say?" Merlin heard one man near him say.
"I think he's going to pardon that servant of his," a woman whispered in reply. "Do you think he knew?"
"I don't know," the original man replied, "It's not like he's burned anyone recently."
"Shame, that," an older man replied from behind him. "Tarnishing his father's reign." Merlin glanced briefly at the man, slightly surprised by the sentiment.
Turning his attention back towards the balcony, he heard the woman retort, "Did you even see that blue thing? He saved us."
The older man scoffed. "That thing"—Merlin shuddered at the vitriol—"is too dangerous to live among us. He probably created the whole situation to gain control over the king and the kingdom."
"You're crazy," the woman accused, pointing at the old man.
"You'd have to be blind to not see it, lady," the old man said, shrugging at her perceived naivete.
"Hey, isn't he in the infirmary? I saw the king take him there," the original man recalled.
"Yeah, and I bet he's faking that, too," the old man reiterated, "It's all just a ruse to take over Camelot."
The original man shook his head, "I don't know—he looked like he was dying."
"Yeah, he did," the woman agreed. "He was bleeding and unconscious. I wouldn't be surprised if he did die."
"With any luck, that's what he'll announce," the older man said.
Merlin avoided engaging with the conversation, feeling a bit rattled. He knew that not everyone in Camelot would be supportive of Arthur's decision to lift the ban on magic, but he did not expect this level of hatred from some of the citizenry.
Shaking, Merlin looked back up to the balcony, and he exhaled, comforted by the sight of Arthur walking out onto the balcony, waving at the crowd as he assumed his place behind the parapet. Intently watching his king, Merlin felt awed by the air of authority Arthur carried—everything from the resolute cut of his jaw, the confidence in his posture, and the square of his shoulders. Merlin had never seen Arthur from this side of a speech, and he felt his chest swell with pride for his king. This was the man had done everything for, this was the man Merlin knew Arthur could be.
The buzz of gossip promptly died, and everyone turned their attention towards the king. Feeling emotional, Merlin swallowed thickly and watched his king with bated breath.
"For nearly thirty years, Camelot has hunted, persecuted, and executed anyone we suspected of using magic, regardless of that individual's intent—and in some cases, regardless of their guilt. Though my father enacted this law and orchestrated the Great Purge with the intent to protect Camelot from the potential evils of magic, it was this very law that, in recent days, nearly tore our kingdom apart."
Merlin heard indistinct murmurs exchanged throughout the crowd. The woman next to him whispered, "It is about the magic."
"Two days ago, Camelot faced an attack on three fronts: the north, the south, and unfortunately, within our own citadel walls. My uncle, Lord Agravaine, conspired with our own former Lady Morgana, Helios of Southron, and Lord Staunton of Camelot to depose me and take Camelot's throne.
"Over the last several months, my uncle abused his power to place Helios's men in various roles throughout the kingdom. These men were loyal to Southron, and they were instructed to attack as Helios's army descended upon our southern border. Lord Staunton, for his part, was responsible for personally assuring my death and invading with his men through the north.
"Since I am standing before you today, this plan clearly failed."
Laughter bubbled up throughout the crowd, and Merlin smiled. Arthur couldn't help but be a little cheeky.
After the crowd settled down, the king resumed, "However, I do not want to make light of the threat we faced that day. Due to Lord Agravaine's actions, we have lost at least fifty within our own walls. Meanwhile, at least one hundred of Lord Staunton's men descended upon the north as Morgana and Helios marched forward with thousands to the south. We almost certainly would have lost Camelot that day were it not for the actions of our unlikely savior: my manservant, Merlin."
Merlin froze and felt his ears get hot. The crowd erupted with commentary, and Merlin felt like he couldn't breathe. For some reason, it did not occur to him that Arthur would mention him by name, though in hindsight it seemed obvious. The people of Camelot already knew what he had done and that it was him, but part of him still felt uncomfortable with the recognition. He had been protecting Camelot in the shadows for years, and with this outing, Merlin did not know what his future held.
"It was his manservant!" the woman next to him exclaimed.
"I wonder why he looked so bad," the younger man said.
"I mean, we thought he was dead when King Arthur came back without him," the woman supplied. "Maybe that wasn't too far from the truth."
The older man behind him, still unconvinced, grumbled, "Likely story."
Merlin clenched his staff with both of his hands, knuckles turning while. Closing his eyes, the warlock tried to ground himself amidst the influx of noise and anxiety. He never thought he would see a day where all of Camelot knew his secret that did not end in his own execution.
"Silence!" Arthur commanded, and Merlin snapped his eyes open. The crowd settled and allowed the king to continue, "For the last five years, Merlin has been—and shall remain—by my side. Though he flagrantly disregarded the law against magic, his loyalty and devotion to Camelot and her people is unparalleled." Arthur briefly paused before continuing, "At great expense to himself, Merlin uncovered Lord Staunton's plot to invade through the northern tunnels. His judgement is what led to zero casualties in the north, and his actions ensured that Morgana and Helios's army never breached our walls."
Someone began clapping, and before Merlin knew it, a majority of the crowd began cheering, including the man and woman who had been talking next to him. Merlin's eyes widened as he took in the overwhelming support, and he was stunned with humility. While he had, admittedly, done everything for Arthur, these were the people he protected. Intellectually, Merlin was aware that he had saved Camelot and her people, but he did not comprehend the full weight of it until the crowd around him roared. Looking down, Merlin took a deep breath and tried to tamp down the embarrassment he felt. He had gone on so long without recognition that acknowledgement on this grand a scale was overwhelming.
Thankful that he was currently disguised as Dragoon, the warlock turned his attention to the king. Though Merlin could not quite see Arthur's expression from this distance, he swore he could see Arthur smiling.
Instead of silencing the crowd like he previously had, Arthur let the cheers peter down into silence before he continued, "From today forward, magic is no longer banned within our borders. I do not take this decision lightly, and I am aware that this decision appears to undermine my father's legacy." The crowd began to murmur, but Arthur continued over them, "However, my father and I ultimately both wanted the same thing for Camelot: to make her a safe and prosperous land. I no longer believe banning magic is the way to accomplish that goal, and I aspire to make Camelot a safe and prosperous land for all."
Merlin felt chills from Arthur's conviction as he spoke. This was the man who could unite Albion.
"Through Great Purge and the subsequent ban on magic use, we have only made enemies, enemies of people we condemned for simply existing. I have come to learn that magic can be an inherent quality in someone; having magic is not always a choice," Arthur let the statement linger for a moment for emphasis. Unlike before, the crowd was silent, hanging onto every word.
"Ultimately, Camelot's ban on magic became a self-fulfilling prophecy." The king paused before elaborating, "Believing that magic is a choice—a choice made to commit evil acts—it became easier for us to justify killing them, and in direct response to our ruthlessness, it became easier for them to justify killing us, too. The difference? We were fighting to protect ourselves from a threat of our own imaginations, and they were fighting for their lives and their very right to exist.
"I do not condone anyone's actions in attacking Camelot, but that sort of existential fear can drive anyone to extreme lengths. Every time Camelot faced a magical attack, we used it as further proof that those who used magic were evil, which justified our continued persecution. This same cycle has repeated for the last thirty years, each day increasing the fear and hatred between us, and today, I am breaking that cycle."
The crowd rumbled, and Merlin was breathless, leaning heavily into his staff for support.
"I understand that I alone cannot atone for the atrocities we have committed over these last thirty years, nor can I begin to repent for my own part in perpetuating this hatred. I cannot mend the broken families, nor can I restore the lives we cut short. I cannot even say that we deserve forgiveness, for that is not my decision to make."
"What I can do is try. Not to receive forgiveness, not to erase the suffering we caused, but to right an immense wrong in our kingdom—a wrong that culminated in our once beloved Lady Morgana crafting an attack that just the other day, nearly razed us to the ground. Morgana had once told my father that persecuting magic users would only make enemies of Camelot, and years later, when she came into magic of her own, Camelot made an enemy of her. Morgana did not rebel because of her magic—an excuse I have long told myself—but because of our inability to accept and protect her. I can only try to honor her memory—and the memories of all those we have lost to this meaningless crusade—by creating a future where they could all have prospered, living to their fullest potentials without fear of persecution."
Merlin felt tears start to slip down his face, believing that Arthur meant each and every word. Though he still felt guilt for his part in Morgana's descent into darkness, he felt hopeful about the prospect of honoring her memory.
Though the crowd still rumbled with quiet commentary, the king resumed, "I cannot allow the ban on magic continue to create enemies. I cannot allow it to continue to tear our kingdom—and our very families—apart. Most importantly, I cannot do it alone." Arthur paused, and the crowd settled into silence.
"I ask you, people of Camelot, I implore you to do your part to make Camelot safe and prosperous for all. I ask you to open your minds, and your hearts, to magic and those who use it. This request does not come without assurances that if anyone commits a crime within Camelot, they will be punished, regardless of the means used to commit that crime. From today forward, Camelot will no longer punish individuals for who they are, but for what they do."
"From today forward, I believe we all can bring Camelot into a new age of peace, unity, and prosperity, if only we try together." Arthur took a step back from the parapet, and as he lifted his hand to wave to the crowd, the crowd erupted with cheers.
The woman who was standing next to Merlin jumped as she cheered, arms raised in the air above her. From his vantage point, Merlin could see the entire crowd swell and surge around him as they roared. The sound was deafening, and the warlock felt overwhelmed with emotion. Chest fluttering, Merlin wiped at his face and joined the cheers with a yell.
As the cheers died down, the crowd began dispersing back to their regular lives. Merlin could not help but watch people as they left. Many departed with a wide smile, but it was the ones who walked away with a visible sadness that drew Merlin's attention the most. Some were openly crying, just as he was, while others wore a watery smile. Merlin could not help but wonder if they had lost someone or if they were crying tears of relief for themselves or someone they loved. Rubbing his eyes with his sleeve, Merlin took a deep breath and started back for the physician's quarters with hope warm in his chest. He was sure that in the coming weeks, he would begin to learn just how much magic was already in Camelot.
Just as he was feeling less alone than he ever had in Camelot, Merlin heard two old men grumbling together.
"'Meaningless crusade,'" one remarked.
"I don't trust that servant of his," the other added.
"Just opening Camelot up for attack—after all we did to rid ourselves of this plague," the first one agreed.
Suddenly self-conscious, Merlin picked up his pace to get out of earshot of that conversation. It was indisputable that a majority of those who attended the speech supported the decision to lift the ban, but the amount of resistance still left him feeling a bit rattled. As well-reasoned as he thought Arthur's speech was, there was certainly a vocal minority that would have a difficult time accepting the legalization of magic.
As turned down the hall that led to the physician's chambers, he saw the two guards that Arthur and Leon had posted. Merlin initially thought that Arthur and Leon had overreacted by placing the guards, but he now understood and appreciated the caution.
By the time that Merlin approached the doors to the physician's quarters, he was heavily leaning on his saff. He did not regret his decision to watch Arthur speak, but he certainly had overdone it. Each step he took felt like he was fighting to keep his legs working underneath him. His entire body ached, and as Merlin moved, he could feel his wounds stretching, and in some cases, splitting at the exertion.
As Merlin shuffled forward, the guards opened the door for him, recognizing the old man from earlier. Hoping that he had beaten Gaius back, Merlin slipped into the physician's quarters as quietly as he could muster.
He had not beaten Gaius back.
Glancing up from grinding his new herbs, the physician saw Merlin and sighed. Merlin, for his part, smiled a guilty toothy smile at the old physician. "Go back to your room, Merlin," Gaius scolded, pointing upstairs with his pestle.
Exhilarated from his speech, Arthur returned to his quarters and took a deep shuddering breath. He was relieved to hear that a majority of Camelot's citizens cheered upon his announcement. Practically shaking with excitement, the king knew who he had to go see: Merlin.
Most of Camelot's staff were slowly filtering back into the castle halls, and as Arthur strode to the physician's quarters, several guards, servants, and knights expressed approval about his radical new policy change. Though he was certain that dissenters were unlikely to accost him directly, each passing comment affirmed that Arthur had made the correct decision.
Finally at the physician's quarters, the guards stepped aside and opened the door for the king. As Arthur entered, he could see the old physician picking apart some herbs and placing them in his mortar for grinding. Gaius waved the young king upstairs and said, "Congratulations, Sire."
Bounding up the stairs, Arthur practically threw open the door, only to see Merlin's bed empty, his sheets and blankets overturned on the floor. The king looked around, trying to find some sign as to what could have happened to Merlin—surely Gaius or the guards would have told him if Merlin had left. As he checked the window and found that it was still locked, he heard someone slowly ascending the stairs.
Figuring it was Gaius, who had wised up to Merlin's departure, Arthur turned his attention to the door. Only Gaius wasn't the one who entered. It was Dragoon, Dragoon the Great, who dropped his staff in surprise upon seeing the king. Scrambling to pick it up, the old sorcerer looked up at him, shock evolving into a familiar, sheepish smile.
"Great speech?" Merlin said, slipping back into his regular appearance.
"You have got to be kidding me."
End of Chapter 15
