... previously ...
Tell Me
"You knew Morgana was my sister?"
"Yes, Arthur."
"You knew she had magic?"
"I did."
"You knew she and Morgause were sisters?"
"Yes."
"How were the immortal soldiers destroyed?" No response. "Merlin?"
"Gaius told me that the cup of life had to be emptied of the blood within."
"That's what happened?"
"Yes."
"How?" Again no answer. "You did it?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Well, Lancelot helped me."
"But the sisters had magic. How could you have defeated them?" Silence. "Merlin? How?"
"I can't say."
"Why not?"
"You'll hate me."
"Not if your actions saved Camelot."
"Honestly?"
"Merlin, tell me how?"
"With magic."
Had mixed reactions when I published these four months old drabbles. So it's been nice to add the sequels and extensions to them now I have more experience. This is what Leaving-My-Mark had to say about 'Tell Me'
"... a bit too short to be enjoyed, and you cut them off right at the best part of the actual reveal: the reaction of the characters. In this most recent chapter, we get a good dialogue build up but don't get a good description of the expressions, the movements, or any of that. We don't get quite as powerful of a sense of hesitation and anxiety from Merlin or impatience and irritation from Arthur."
So ... you asked for it LMM! A lead up to the drabble, plus an extension of it plus a reaction. Aren't I spoiling you today? I really enjoyed writing this one.
Don't Hate Me
(Starts immediately after 3.13)
I could still hear the screams. Morgana's endless cry as she hugged Morgause to her and caused the coloured glass of the council chambers windows to rain down on us. Then the roof had started to collapse and we were forced to leave, ducking the falling rubble, staggering out as quickly as we could, desperately trying to ignore our various injuries. My head and back were still throbbing from where Morgause had flung me against the pillar and now, with the main threat over, my body was starting to protest.
"Merlin ... are you alright?" Lancelot asked as I suddenly crumpled to the floor. He didn't sound too good himself, his hand clutching the sword wound on his shoulder. I nodded in reply but then wished I hadn't, feeling suddenly nauseous from the movement.
"Gaius ..." was all I could manage and, not trusting myself to be able to walk, I instead started to crawl towards the old man who had also lowered himself to the floor, in obvious pain.
Why wouldn't the walls stay still? Why could I still hear her screaming in my head?
Why was everything starting to turn black?
xoXOXox
My head still hurt when I next opened my eyes, now apparently in Gaius' chambers. I tried to sit up in order to look around and groaned as the pain flared and my stomach lurched. A moment later a face swum into my rather out of focus vision.
"Gaius ..." for a moment relief overpower all pain. "... you alright?"
"A few bruises – nothing more. At least I didn't land on my head." He raised an eyebrow and I winced at the memory.
"And my back. ... really hurts."
"I know."
"Lancelot ...?"
"He'll be fine." I suddenly sat upright as the whole memory came flooding back.
"Arthur?"
"Merlin ... lie down."
"What happened to Arthur? And Gwaine and ..."
"Merlin, they're fine. They're all fine. A few cuts and bruises and a couple of broken bones. Nothing that can't be fixed."
"What about ...? - Oh!" The room seemed to tip to one side and I quickly lay back down.
"You feeling sick?" Gaius asked.
"Mmm."
"Well, we'll see what we ..." There was the sudden sound of the door slamming open and a very familiar, prattish voice shouted out, made my head ache even more than it had before.
"Is he awake yet?"
"Ah, yes, Sire but ..."
"Merlin ... I have a few questions for you."
"Can't it wait, Sire? He hit his head rather hard and ..."
"No, Gaius, it can't wait I have to talk to him now but ... it is probably best to have this conversation in private. We'll just go into his room." I looked up and struggled to focus on the rather blurred image that was hovering over me.
"Great, now there are two of you," I complained.
"What are you on about, Merlin?"
"Two Arthurs ..." I waved a hand in front of the pair of faces swimming in front of me, trying to work out which one was real. The Prince and Gaius exchanged a stunned look.
"I really don't think he should be walking anywhere yet, Sire and it's probably best if he remains horizontal."
"Fine," said Arthur abruptly, suddenly sliding one hand under my knees, another around my back and picking me up like I was some sort of damsel in distress.
"Hey!"
"God, Merlin, don't you eat anything?" he asked. Somewhere from behind me I heard Gaius' muffled response, but had no idea whether he was agreeing with Arthur's comment about my diet, or grumbling about the handsome prince carrying me heroically in his arms towards my bedchambers.
Wait – no, I didn't mean that. I can't believe I even thought that. Please let me forget the image that just flitted into my head then!
"Arthur, can't this wait?" I complained as he deposited me on my bed.
"No, it can't." I groaned as my head pounded again and the prince moved a stool nearer to my bed. "I've been thinking back to this last week and realised just how calm you were during most of it ..." he started.
"Well, someone had to be," I said pointedly and he gave me one of his glares.
"... and, then it dawned on me ... You knew about Morgana."
"Knew - what - exactly?" I'd long since learnt to make sure I knew what I was confessing too before I opened my mouth.
You knew that Morgana was my sister?" I played the conversation forward in my head and realised that I didn't like it's direction at all. Still, the look Arthur was giving me made me realise that telling him part of the truth was probably not such a bad idea. Especially considering that my head was throbbing so much that I probably wouldn't have been able to think up a decent lie anyway. He was looking at me, impatiently, his eyebrows raised and I sighed, resigned.
"Yes, Arthur."
"You knew she had magic?" This really wasn't going in the direction I wanted it to go. How did he know that? Had he seen her use magic to escape? I wondered if I could perhaps pretend to pass out, but that just gave me more disturbing images of being Arthur's damsel in distress - not good at all.
"I did."
"You knew she and Morgause were sisters?" My mind flicked back to the council chambers again. Had I killed Morgause when I'd thrown her against the wall? For someone who was suppose to be a 'good' warlock, I seemed to have killed an awful lot of powerful sorcerers.
"Yes." My voice seemed to be getting quieter and I felt the overwhelming urge to fall asleep. I allowed my eyes to close.
"How were the immortal soldiers destroyed?" Nice and dark and quiet. I could just fall asleep and not wake up for ... about ten years? That sounded good. No chance of that, the prat was now shaking me awake. "Merlin?" It was a question and a growl all at the same time.
"Gaius told me that the cup of life had to be emptied of the blood within," I muttered, looking up at both Arthurs and blinking hard.
"That's what happened?"
"Yes." Actually, what was the question? Was he asking me if I was telling him the truth about what Gaius had said, or was he asking me if the Cup had been emptied? I shook my head again.
"How?" The latter then. He moved closer, as if realising that I was having trouble concentrating. "You did it?" He asked increduously. If I'd been feeling a little better I think I would have been offended by his surprise.
"Yes." Actually that did sound a little offended. I probably should have gone for more modest tone.
"How?"
"Well, Lancelot helped me." There ... modest. Much better.
"But the sisters had magic. How could you have defeated them?" Oh, we're back on that bad road again. The one that I just can't see any way of turning around on. Now would probably be a really, really good time to call for Gaius. "Merlin? How?" I gave a little groan, hoping I might get some sympathy.
Yes, I know. Sympathy from Arthur? Like that's going to happen.
"I can't say." Or perhaps I should have said 'I don't know' Play the idiot? Arthur would accept 'idiot' Merlin much better than 'sick' Merlin, wouldn't he?
"Why not?" I tried hard to focus on Arthur now because all these thoughts running through my head were just confusing me and making me loose track of the conversation. His face was coming more into focus - his eyes boring into mine, emotions just below the surface that I was quite unable to read and, suddenly, I was feeling less worried about the road we were taking and more concerned about the eventual destination.
"You'll hate me." He blinked – as if that thought had never occurred to him. It gave me just the very smallest hope.
"Not if your actions saved Camelot."
"Honestly?" Should I? Now? What if ...?
"Merlin, tell me how?"
"With magic." Subtle, Merlin. He stared, I stared back. Nothing was said for ages. "Of course, I am suffering from a serious concussion here so I'm probably talking total rubbish," I said eventually.
"You always talk total rubbish. Magic? You? Really?"
"Yes, I'm one of those evil, hateful sorcerers who has nothing on my mind but vengeance and the desire to kill Uther and destroy Camelot."
"Now you're just being silly. I thought for a moment you were actually being honest with me for once."
"I ...?" Could I get out of this by pretending I was ill or joking, or was this really the right time to come clean?
"Merlin, do you really have magic?"
Time. I suppose.
"Yes, I've used it regularly to save you and, as much as I'd love to tell you all the details, I think it would probably be better if you just go and let Uther know that you have captured a powerful warlock. Although, if you wouldn't mind, could you schedule my execution for next week? I really think I'd just like to sleep for the next three days."
"Merlin! Will you be serious?" he shouted and I winced.
"Actually, no ... I've a much better idea. Can you arrange my beheading immediately? That way I won't be able to feel the pain in my head, or hear Morgana's screams or ... or see the look in your eyes when you tell me ... that you hate me." The room was starting to spin again.
"Merlin ..."
"What?" I blinked hard trying to focus. Now there seemed to be three Arthurs. That really couldn't be good.
"I don't hate you."
"You don't?" I really, really wished the bed would stay still. "That's ... nice."
"Sire, I do believe Merlin should rest now." Gaius' voice sounded as if it was coming from a very, very long way away.
"I think you're right, he said something about a headache."
"Can you bring him back into the main room, Sire? He really shouldn't be left alone if he has a concussion."
"Oh, right. Of course." I felt myself being picked up again and this time felt no negative thoughts about being carried to the next room. Actually, it felt quite pleasant.
"Are you sure you don't hate me?" I murmured as I rested my head against Arthur's shirt and closed my eyes.
"Idiot."
"Prat."
A/N I wouldn't normally split up a conversation quite so much but, I just felt I needed to go from the sublime to the ridiculous .
Whirlwind821 asked for more sick!Merlin after chapter 14 of TETS and I'd love to say she prompted me but I was already halfway through writing this when she sent the review. Anyway WW – I hope you liked it.
Just to warn you that I'm going away from a few days from Wednesday. I should be able to get the next chapter up tomorrow but there'll be a little break after that. At least I won't be leaving you with any cliff hangers!
I've added a couple of links to my profile page. One is to the original Advent Calendar challenge and the others to my blogs and other social sites. Feel free to friend/connect/follow me.