I failed him. I drove him to this.
Just briefly, Arthur glanced a thought off of how Merlin was always giving him advice. Advice about love and about combat. Advice about how to be more in touch with his people. The simple farm boy had much wisdom, wisdom that Arthur thought Merlin had learned as his mother's knee. However, it didn't make sense how such a wise person would travel down the road to magic – for his sake.
The lankiness of the boy was exaggerated when he raised a hand above his head as if he was about to pull something out of the sky. Merlin had leaned back and shouted something at the sky, Arthur wished that he could hear the words. What ever Merlin had said, it was something powerful for all the creatures around him stopped fighting.
Arthur closed his eyes, trying to wipe the away the image of Merlin doing magic. He could not unsee what he had already seen. When he opened his eyes, that were a little too moist, he saw Merlin advance on Morganna. A small white dragon flit close by to the boy, darting back and forth behind Merlin's back, posturing as if it were a mightier and more frightening creature.
The great dragon landed and is on cue, it and the other creatures on the field bowed at the boy.
I failed him. I drove him to this.
He wished there were no witnesses to this, but all the knights were present. Each one was drinking in the reality, just as he was, that Merlin had magic. He wasn't sure what to do. He might need them if something happened, but then again this was Merlin. Merlin had an uncanny amount of luck even if he was an idiot. Granted he was a wise idiot, but he was still an idiot. A faithful, loyal, trustworthy idiot, and he was a terrific friend as well.
Morganna struggled to keep to her feet as Merlin advanced, she was staggering backwards and still attempting to sling spells. The rain was still falling and Arthur could see the mud and the water sloshing around Merlin's boots. Merlin, coated in fireflies casually deflected her attacks. The more she tried, the angrier she got.
I failed him. I drove him to this.
"Take her out!" yelled Gwaine, snapping Arthur's focus into a horrible realization. Merlin was actually winning without much effort. It was great and it was horrible. Morganna... Morganna... brought this on herself. Right? Morganna...
She kicked mud into Merlin's eyes. He had gotten to close. He was trying to wipe his face when she unleased a massive spell. It nailed him in the chest. The great dragon immediately attacked her. He had been flying over head and now he had landed between Merlin and Morganna and was violently slashing at her. He took a deep breath. Arthur recognized that posture and yet he was still surprised when the dragon released his terrible flame. Morganna screeched and then a whirlwind appeared. She retreated towards it and in a flurry of wet whipping hair and tattered dress, she was gone.
Merlin, however, hadn't fallen. He'd only gone down on one knee. One hand on his face one on his chest where Morganna had hit him. He seemed confused. The dragon turned slowly towards him. Arthur wanted to scream in terror, but the sound wouldn't come. It would have been a foolish thing to do, the dragon had after all given it's word. He picked Merlin up in his clawed paws and took to the air. He flew casually towards the battlements and released a still crouching, but complaining Merlin near Arthur.
"Don't disappoint me, young Pendragon," the creature warned and took off to the air again.
The creatures on the field began to move off.
Merlin's fireflies abandoned him. Arthur swooped down just as Gwaine did. Both of them grabbed an arm and hauled the farm boy turned sorcerer to his feet.
"Are you alright, mate?"
"Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. I had her! I didn't think she'd try to blind me with mud," said Merlin mournfully. His voice laced with disappointment in himself. "I'm sorry, Arthur – Gwaine – everyone. I disappointed you all."
Leon's stern face broke into a half grin, "Seeing you do that, I never expected you to return to us so humble."
Merlin gave a weak laugh.
"We can socialize later, lets get him to Gaius," Gwaine stated pulling Merlin from Arthur's grasp. Merlin's arm slid out of his grasp, but he swore the boys fingers half closed on his gloved hand as Gwaine pulled him onto his shoulder to bolster him onto his feet properly.
I failed him. I drove him to this.
"Yes, good idea," Arthur said. He knew he sounded exhausted, but he didn't care. He felt like he had been the one on the field. It took all of his strength not to run out there and scoop his manservant back into his protection. "Get cleaned up, Merlin."
He should have said more. He wanted to. Merlin sadly nodded his head. His eyes still closed against the mud that was still streaming down his face. The rain was washing him clean, but he needed Gaius to clear the sand out before it damaged his eyes.
As the two retreated, Leon – a wet God of War stepped up to Arthur and suggested that they all go into the castle. It sounded like a really good idea. Arthur was surprised he hadn't thought of it. Of course they should go in and get dried off. He allowed Leon to lead, but the white dragonet caught his attention. It flitted towards one of the windows where George looked out. Obviously he had seen everything, Arthur was grateful for the rain or others would realize that he had been in tears.
A thought struck him as powerfully as the lightning that had almost ended his best friend, George. Perfect George... Could he be Emrys?