Well, everyone, thats right! Due to the (absolutely staggering, to be honest) reviews I've been receiving, I've been persuaded to continue this fic. I have no definite plans, but I'm thinking of three main guidelines. 1. No magic reveal. Sorry, but I'm not quite sure I could pull it off satisfactorily and I want to have a certain amount (cod for 'a hell of a lot') of tension and angst in Merlins mind, and I think still having to lie about his magic will do that. 2. A scarfic. I really like those, because they say that yes, Merlin takes an ungodly amount of pain for Arthur. I think he should know it. I don't think it will be the main focus of the story, but it will feature prominently (and, as said above, no magic reveal. I'll have fun making Merlin think up excuses for all those scars). and 3. I want to have Agravaine carry out his threat. What good is making a threat if you can't carry it out? So we will have some action, have no fear.
I have no idea how many chapters I will be making, BTW.
Merlin is mine. MIIIINEEE! Yeah, no.
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Merlin felt vaguely annoyed.
After the tense...conversation with Agravaine, he had wanted to have some peace. True, he was accustomed to threats/guarantees of violence (Morgana and her fondness for alcoves sprang to mind), but that simply meant he could put up a good front.
Not that he had been bluffing. A credible threat had to be very real, he believed.
Unfortunately, Agravaine was also a credible threat. And there were ways to kill people that were thoroughly believable as accidents.
Ah, he had forgotten how it had felt to be under metaphorical swordpoint at all times.
So when Gwaine had inexplicably ambushed him and dragged him to Arthur's chambers, only assuring Merlin that he 'really should be part of this', he was preparing himself to do some chore he had forgotten, and prepared to be even more annoying than usual.
However, Gwaine's comment to Arthur before pulling Merlin into the room had confused him.
Even more confusing were the people in the room. Arthur, Gwen, Elyan, Leon, and Percival.
A feeling of foreboding rose up in the pit of Merlin's stomach.
Something was different.
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"Um." Merlin looked cautiously at the faces staring at him in undisguised shock. "What's going on?"
Guinevere felt she should do something. Anything, really. Arthur was frozen, staring, his face still as granite.
Merlin's voice, Gwen registered, was wary. It was not of someone who was oblivious to the atmosphere of the room. Rather, it was of someone who had no idea of the current situation and was proceeding with caution.
She cut her eyes to Gwaine and, before she could think, blurt out, "You didn't tell him?"
"Tell me what?"
"Well, no." Gwaine sounded slightly defensive. "It's not the sort of thing I'm good at. You're all so eloquent, I thought you'd say it better."
Gwen looked at him in patent disbelief.
"Ah, fine. I'll just get it over with, then." Gwaine turned to Merlin, his face uncommonly serious. "Thing is, mate, we heard you in the armoury. With Agravaine. The whole thing."
Merlin froze.
What did I say?
His brain went into overdrive.
Agravaine There's nobody here I think we can do without the pretend for once You mean you'll kill me You'll have to try and kill me then A lot of people have tried to kill me None of them really succeeded Two that he knows of Dozens at least I've lost count More than a little You'd still have to actually kill Arthur He's the best warrior in Camelot Four Agravaine Know this I don't care if you're crowned King or if I die doing it if you harm anyone I care for I will kill you.
Merlin let out a breath.
"Ah."
He paused.
"It was rather...incriminating, wasn't it?"
"Somewhat." Gwaine answered, studying his face closely.
Merlin avoided looking at the person whose reaction would matter most to him. He simply couldn't.
The silence stretched out.
Another thought crept into his head, one he couldn't answer.
What happens now?
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"How long?"
Merlin's head jerk up to meet Arthur's eye. "What?"
Arthur hadn't meant for that to slip out. He had been staring at Merlin, who wouldn't look at him. He had an overwhelming urge to meet Merlin's eye, to see for himself and know that what had happened in the armoury was real.
"How. Long." Arthur repeated, letting a trace of emotion leak into his voice. "Have. You. Known."
Merlin paled. His eyes flickered away.
"LOOK AT ME!"
Merlin stumbled back, eyes wide.
Arthur held his gaze, tears threatening to spill over. He wanted to know, be told the truth, what was going on, why everyone lied to him.
Struggling, he repeated, "How long?"
"A few weeks."
Merlin's voice was quiet. Not the quiet of admitting to saving Arthur's life from poison, but the quiet of fear, of hope of forgiveness slipping away.
Arthur closed his eyes.
You mean you'll kill me.
Yes.
Truth be told, Arthur knew it was not Merlin he was angry at.
"Why?"
Merlin looked confused.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Arthur tried to make it sound as if he was angry that a servant had neglected to inform him of a possible threat to the crown. Instead, he knew the real meaning of his words rang out loud and clear.
Why didn't my best friend tell me someone I care about is planning to betray me?
Merlin's face...crumpled. Arthur couldn't think of a more accurate description. He was mentally transported back to the closet, watching Merlin silently grieve for a lost brother.
"Would you believe me?"
Arthur opened his mouth to reply, then halted.
No.
He would not have.
He would have laughed, passed it off as a joke, then grown angry as Merlin insisted, been insulted and hurt that his oldest friend would imply such a thing, and ultimately forbid Merlin from saying it ever again, building a frosty wall between them.
Arthur could see it as clearly as if it had actually happened.
Merlin gave him a small, sad smile and answered for him. "No. You wouldn't."
And Arthur found he had run out of things to say.