Merlin

Season 6

Chapter 2: The Return

"Damn it, Merlin!" Growled Arthur in annoyance as Merlin took down the third group of bandits they'd come across before Arthur had a chance to fully unsheathe his sword. "Is this going to become a thing? I am capable of fighting for myself you know. I'm not wounded anymore."

Merlin chuckled. "Just don't want to take any chances. Imagine what people would say? You survived a mortal wound from a sword forged in a dragon's breath…then get killed by a bandit while I'm with you," Merlin paused for a moment thinking. "Plus it's faster," he added.

Arthur frowned. "So you're trying to say my way is too slow?"

Merlin grinned. "Well…yeah."

"You know as far as I'm concerned, magic is still banned," Arthur stated simply. Merlin's smiled instantly vanished. Arthur glanced at him. "I'm kidding Merlin," he laughed, but then sobered quickly. "I don't… know what to do," he said seriously after a moment.

Merlin looked at him. "About magic?"

"Obviously," Arthur rolled his eyes. "I've no idea how the court will take it, and the knights…and what if all hell breaks loose when it's legalised?"

"Arthur…do you still think magic is evil?" Merlin asked slowly, peering at his friend closely.

Arthur glanced at him uneasily. "Well, no…but, well you're not. I don't know…"

"Arthur," Merlin said loudly. "Camelot will be a more peaceful place while magic is not banned. It's going to be hard to change a lot of people's minds and get used to a very different kingdom but…I promise you, this is not something you need fear."

However, Arthur did not answer. Instead he frowned again, dragging his feet a little. "That time with the Disir," he said all of a sudden. "You said to me magic could not be allowed to return." Arthur looked up straight at Merlin. "Why did you say that?"

Merlin let out a long breath. "I made a mistake…" he said slowly, glancing at Arthur nervously. "I had been warned…a lot, and I'd even seen into this crystal that shows the future. It showed me a possible future that would happen if…if Mordred lived."

Arthur's eyebrows shot up his forehead. "You knew Mordred would betray me? All this time?" he demanded.

Merlin nodded sadly. "Ever since he was a child I was warned that he was destined to kill you," Merlin said softly. "I'm sorry Arthur, and the Disir knew his destiny too. That is why they saved his life. I was such an idiot."

Arthur didn't say anything, instead he just watched Merlin as they walked for a long time. He was thinking of how Merlin called himself an idiot when really…it was he that was the idiot. As much as that was a struggle to admit. He frowned again. "It's just…" he said all of a sudden. "You must have thought I was a complete idiot." He heard himself saying in his head, "and what would you know about magic Merlin?" in a very brazen voice.

Merlin laughed, grinning lopsidedly. "Well I have always said it."

Arthur didn't laugh, instead he pouted. "I mean, I thought I was just lucky. Maybe had someone watching over me..." Arthur perked up all of a sudden. "Like all those years ago when I was getting the flower for you, when you were poisoned. There was a-"

"Glowing orb that helped you find your way out?" Merlin finished the sentence for him.

"Seriously?" Arthur looked slightly outraged. "All this time I've just been living inside of Merlin's little magic safety bubble. You probably don't think I can fend for myself. What did I do before you came along? Or were you hiding in the background then too?"

Merlin chuckled. "No you managed to make it that far in life." He laughed again when Arthur looked furious. "I just helped as much as any of your other knights have helped you," he said quickly, his tone turning from joking to serious. "Just a little more secretly…and that's because I'm proud to serve you Arthur. Not because I think you're not capable. You're the most capable warrior in the entire kingdom. And a King who is loved by all of his people and his queen."

Arthur huffed a little, but then smiled warmly. Guinevere. "We need to fine some horses," He said suddenly, his heart aching at the thought of Gwen waiting him back in Camelot. Back home. He looked at Merlin. "Can't you just…summon one or something?"

Merlin raised his eyebrows. "Uh…no."

"Really?" Arthur said dully, raising one eyebrow.

"Hey!" Merlin raised his hands in defence. "I don't know every spell."

"Pathetic…" mumbled Arthur.

Merlin frowned in agitation. "Celero…" he said softly, his eyes flashing gold. Then quite suddenly their pace began to quicken like an invisible wind had crept up behind their ankles, accelerating them on.

Arthur's eyes widened. "Why didn't you do that sooner?" he demanded.

Merlin shook his head. "There's just no pleasing you sometimes..."

After another days travel the two had made it back into Camelot's sights. Towering majestically before them, only a small distance away, was the great castle they both called home. The day was nearly at its close and the warm rays of sun glowed red on the horizon, casting a golden sheen over the old stone walls.

"I think…" said Merlin slowly, "That we should try to enter in secrecy. Find Gwen and Gaius and decide what to do next."

Arthur nodded slowly, "I agree, the whole kingdom will be up at our return, wanting to know what happened."

"I think you need to have a plan in place for what you are going to do about magic before you face the kingdom and tell them the news," Merlin said softly.

Arthur nodded, his brow furrowed in serious thought. He'd think about that when they got there. "Let's get home," he said.

"Yes," smiled Merlin, "let's- agghh!"

Arthur grabbed Merlin's arm quickly as the warlock put a hand to his head as though in pain. "Merlin?" he said quickly.

"Sorry…" muttered Merlin, "I thought I heard… something."

Arthur raised his eyebrows. "What is it?"

Merlin hesitated, wondering how much Arthur could take of all this 'magic stuff'. "There's this…whimpering noise in my head," he said slowly and Arthur's eyebrows went higher. "It came all of a sudden, it was just really harsh, that's all. Let's go."

Merlin moved to walk on and Arthur stared at him before running to catch up. "Is that normal or something?" he demanded confused.

"No…" said Merlin, not elaborating. He was trying to work out the source of the noise. It had died down to a quiet whine in the back of his mind. He walked a little faster.

Arthur was nearly jogging to keep up. "Well, shouldn't we be worried?"

"I don't think so," Merlin said simply. "Hurry up."

Arthur growled in annoyance. "I'm still the King you know, Merlin."

Merlin smiled to himself. "Yes sire," he chuckled, scratching at his ear in annoyance. "And the walls of your kingdom are just ahead."

"So this is how you always snuck around so easily," Arthur whispered as the two of them slunk along a stone wall inside of Camelot. "I need better guards."

"I'd still manage," Merlin hissed back quietly.

Arthur rolled his eyes. "You know, I think you're getting bit cocky with all thi-"

"Shhh!"

Arthur gave Merlin an affronted look. "There's no one here!" But, then he stopped as the distant echo of someone speaking bounced off the walls down the corridor to their ears. "Gwen…" his heart sped up in his chest and blood rushed to his head as he went to blindly run toward the voice of his wife.

Merlin grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him back. "Wait," he hissed quietly. "Secret, remember?"

Arthur grimaced and nodded reluctantly while Merlin peered round the corner.

"You haven't heard anything?" Gwen was saying, her voice was level, but behind it Merlin could hear the fear and uncontrolled worry that must be plaguing her mind. "No sign of Merlin? Nothing?"

"I'm sorry My Lady," Merlin's heart skipped a beat as he heard Gaius reply. "I've heard nothing. But this is not necessarily a bad thing. I think it more likely that if anything ill had happened to Arthur…we would know."

"You're right Gaius…" Gwen said softly. "I just…I miss him." Finally Gwen let a little of the pain she was experiencing past her wall of strength she put up for the kingdom and for the knights. This was too much for Arthur. He had rounded the corner before Merlin raised a hand to stop him.

However it did not matter. The four were alone.

"Guinevere," Arthur said in a hushed voice. He stood there before them looking majestic somehow even though dirt covered his face, dried mud stuck to his hair and blood still coated his chainmail around the ominous mark where sword had pierced armour.

There was a heart thumping moment of silence where Gwen stared at Arthur, her eyes shining in giddy disbelief and joy before she rushed forward. "Arthur!" she cried, throwing her arms around the King's neck and burying her tear stricken face on Arthur's neck. "I knew you'd make it," she whispered, "I knew it…"

Arthur closed his eyes, running a hand over Gwen's hair and down to the small of her back. "I love you, Guinevere," he whispered.

Gaius, though quite shocked, embraced Merlin who had followed Arthur, smiling gangly, around the corner. "Well done, Merlin," Gaius said in a hushed voice, his tone relieved, yet proud.

Merlin pulled back. "We need to go to a place of privacy. We feel it better to wait…to organise a few things…" he glanced at Gaius, "before everyone knows we are safely returned."

Gaius nodded and Gwen led them quickly to the royal chambers, Arthur holding her hand tightly the whole way. As soon as the door shut, she embraced Merlin, sniffing back tears. "Thank you, Merlin," she whispered.

She stood back, smiling warmly while her eyes still sparkled and Arthur wrapped his arm around her.

"Gwen," he said softly. "Merlin saved all of us. It was he-"

"Arthur I know," Gwen cut in, almost laughing she was so happy. "Gaius had to tell me. I…we are indebted to you, Merlin. We owe you so much."

Merlin gave a bashful laugh and looked at his feet, a little unsure of how to take gratitude. "I'm just glad we made it out of all this…" he mumbled humbly.

Gwen glanced at Gaius, her smile fading. "Gwaine…" she said after a moment. "Gwaine did not make it."

Arthur and Merlin exchanged looks of horror. "But…"stuttered Merlin, his head pounding, "I saw him after the battle. He wasn't badly injured!"

"Gwaine…" Arthur muttered in shock. "How?"

"He…" Gwen started, "He tried to ambush Morgana with Percival. He was-" she cut off, her voice breaking.

"Morgana," Gaius looked at them all solemnly. "Morgana tortured him to death."

Merlin felt sick with shock and grief. His stomach churned at the thought of his friend dying at the hands of one so cruel. But then he jumped shakily as a sudden loud smash brought his mind back to the room.

Arthur had kicked the leg of the table, knocking a silver tray and glasses to the floor. He growled in frustration. "Why?" he demanded furiously, "Why did he go? What the hell was he thinking?"

"Arthur…" Gwen said quietly, reaching out to touch his arm.

Arthur paused at her touch, breathing heavily. "He was a good man," he said finally. "An honourable knight. A loyal knight."

"He was given a proper burial, Arthur," Gwen comforted. "One worthy of the knight that he was."

Arthur nodded jerkily, "At least…" he said slowly. "At least he has been avenged."

Both Gwen and Gaius looked at Arthur in shock, unsure whether to hope he meant what they thought.

"Merlin killed her. He brought us peace," he said, his voice low and shaky with emotion.

Merlin shook his head, his eyes tight and hot with unshed tears. "I should have done it sooner…Gwaine shouldn't have died."

"You have saved us all Merlin," Gaius cut across, placing a hand on the warlock's shoulder. "Gwaine died in a great war that has finally brought peace. He would be happy and proud of what he took part in." Merlin nodded shakily, but did not answer and Gaius continued. "I think we all should sit. We have much to discuss."

They gathered round the table, Arthur squeezed Merlin's shoulder comfortingly as they sat down; sharing in the grief they shared over their lost friend. Arthur removed his sword from its sheath and placed it on the table before them, out of the way. But, Merlin stared at it, something very ill nagging the back of his mind.

"What's that?" he demanded suddenly.

Arthur looked at him and frowned. "It's my sword, Merlin…"

Merlin shook his head, his eyes wide. "No…look at it," he said, grabbing the hilt and looking at it closely. It was very similar, the same shape and make but… it was dull. The metal was a plain, old silver. There were no markings or gold trimmings and it had lost its almost luminous glow. "Gaius," he said quickly. "If the dragon, whose breath forged this sword, is dead…does that mean the enchantment has died with it?"

Gaius frowned in shock. "It's possible, yes," he said slowly. "But, surely Kilgharra is not…"

Merlin bowed his head. "He gave his life so that Arthur may live."

Gwen gasped, gripping Arthur's hand and Merlin realised she must be very confused. She would have to wait a moment longer for understanding. "That is…" Gaius said after a moment of shocked silence, "formidable indeed. Merlin… that is delving into old magic, I fear that this exchange may not have been as simple as it seems."

Merlin nodded seriously and Arthur looked between them, trying to understand. "It would appear so…" he said lowly.

In his mind's eye he saw back to the battle field littered with corpses. He stepped over Mordred's dead body, pierced by the fatal, dragon forged blade. The prophecy seemed to have been completed…however Merlin had meddled with it. He stared at the dulled blade on the table before him and the gritting whining sound in the back of his head grew stronger.

A/n Wow guys. Thank you so much for all of the amazing reviews/follows and favourites! Totally made my day. So excited to keep writing. Hopefully this chapter was ok!