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MERLIN
"UNCONCERNED"
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. GAIUS'S CHAMBERS – EVENING
Smirking, Morgana steps towards the shelf full of vials, eyes locked on the bottle marked: HEMLOCK.
GAIUS'S VOICE
Can I help you with something, my lady?
Morgana freezes. She scowls.
When she turns and looks at Gaius, her scowl has been replaced by her old look of gentle concern.
MORGANA
I thought perhaps there was something you might give Arthur for
the pain …
GAIUS
I've already given him everything I think prudent at this time.
MORGANA
Of course. I'm sorry. I just can't stand seeing him like this.
GAIUS
Quite understandable. Perhaps you should turn in for the night.
He'll be a lot better by tomorrow morning.
MORGANA
I couldn't leave him.
There's a soft knock on the door, and Gwen tentatively pokes her head around it.
GWEN
I hope I'm not intruding … It's just – I saw Merlin down in the
corridor, and he said it'd be all right for me to come up now …
GAIUS
Of course it's all right, Gwen. Come on in.
Gwen edges into the room. Her eyes go instantly to Arthur, covered in bandages but breathing normally again.
GWEN
How is he?
GAIUS
Much better. I'll be able to take the reed out soon. I'll keep him
here overnight to keep an eye on his breathing, but we should be
able to move him to his own chambers in the morning.
GWEN
(gesturing towards Arthur)
Can I …?
GAIUS
Of course.
Gwen crosses to the stool Morgana left behind and sits down next to Arthur. She takes his hand just like Morgana did. He grips hers back almost convulsively.
For some reason, the movement brings tears to her eyes. She clasps his hand with both of hers and presses it close to her face.
GWEN
I'm so sorry, Arthur …
Gaius turns back to Morgana.
GAIUS
You really should get some rest, my lady. Arthur's in good hands.
MORGANA
But Gwen can't stay all night. She's got Elyan to help get settled
in. Arthur will need someone to watch over him.
GAIUS
(looking up as the door creaks open)
Merlin can do that.
Merlin enters the chambers carrying a basketful of linen, notably using only his right arm.
MERLIN
(indignant)
What do you want me to do now?
MORGANA
Merlin needs to sleep; he's injured. And I'm going to be up all night
worrying anyway, so I might as well –
MERLIN
(catching on)
I don't need any sleep. I'm wide awake.
(pulling up a second stool next to Arthur
and plunking himself firmly down on it)
You go get some sleep, Morgana. The King would be furious if he
found out we'd kept you up all night. If your mind needs setting at
ease, I'm sure Gaius would be happy to whip you up a sleeping draught.
Morgana shoots Merlin a scowl that only he can see.
MORGANA
(to Gaius)
Oh, all right, just make sure you let me know if anything happens.
GAIUS
Of course, my lady.
GWEN
Good night, Morgana.
MORGANA
Good night, Gwen.
Under Gwen and Gaius's gaze, she gives Arthur one last affectionate look before departing. Merlin nearly sighs with relief.
Gwen turns back to Arthur. She kisses the top of his hand.
GWEN
(to Gaius)
How long do you think it'll take for him to fully recover? He – he
will recover, won't he?
GAIUS
(reassuringly)
I'm sure he will.
(with a sigh)
How long, on the other hand … Let's just say longer than he's
going to like being confined to bed. But that's just something he's
going to have to put up with. The lung is going to take a long time
to fully heal, as are the ribs.
Gwen nods, still clutching Arthur's hand.
MERLIN
I can't stop thinking how close it was … If it had taken us just a
little longer to get back to Camelot …
GAIUS
Or if he'd put any more strain on the injury while you were riding …
MERLIN
Maybe it was a good thing, then, that the punctured lung made
him lose consciousness.
GAIUS
(shaking his head)
If the lung injury alone had been enough to make him lose
consciousness, he'd have been dead long before you got him to me.
MERLIN
If it wasn't the lung that did it, what was it?
GAIUS
Probably everything else in conjunction with the shortage of air.
But you're probably right in thinking it a hidden blessing. Knowing
Arthur, he'd most likely have found ways to exacerbate the
condition if he'd been awake.
MERLIN
I never should have let it get as bad as it did …
GAIUS
Nonsense, Merlin. I'm certain you did the best you could. Gwen
told me how you took charge and worked out a way to get Arthur
safely back to Camelot. You should feel proud, not guilty.
They sit in silence for a few more moments. Finally, Gwen breaks it.
GWEN
I should probably be going … Morgana's right; Elyan's waiting for me …
(almost hopefully)
Unless there's anything you need me for, Gaius?
GAIUS
Merlin and I should be able to manage now. Thank you, Gwen.
Gwen kisses Arthur's hand again.
GWEN
Thank you, Arthur … for everything …
She gently lowers his hand back to his side and stands up, brushing away a tear as she turns to leave.
She's halfway across the room when Merlin jumps up. He catches her by the arm and pulls her back for a moment.
MERLIN
Gwen … I know what you're thinking … and you shouldn't. What
happened wasn't your fault.
(when Gwen says nothing)
And you know as well as I do that when Arthur wakes up, he's
going to tell you the exact same thing.
Gwen gives a weak smile.
GWEN
That's just how Arthur is …
MERLIN
Yeah, well, I'll tell you how else Arthur is. If I let you leave here
tonight still thinking this was your fault, then Arthur's going to get
all riled at me for not convincing you otherwise. So if you care
about me at all, Gwen –
(matter-of-factly)
– you're just going to have to stop blaming yourself.
Gwen laughs and shakes her head.
GWEN
You're a good friend, Merlin.
MERLIN
(grinning)
I do my best.
Gwen turns to leave, still smiling.
When she's gone, Gaius gets up and moves over to the basket of linen that Merlin deposited on a table near Arthur. He starts cutting the material into strips.
Merlin turns around, his smile fading as he looks at Arthur. He edges over to the dining table and sinks down onto a stool, looking dispirited.
Gaius casts a look over at him as he cuts up the cloth.
GAIUS
That was some good advice you gave Gwen.
Merlin gives a non-committal shrug.
GAIUS
You should follow it yourself.
MERLIN
What?
GAIUS
Namely the bit about not blaming yourself for something you had
no control over.
MERLIN
It's not the same … Gwen hasn't got magic. I should never have
let it get so far …
GAIUS
Merlin –
MERLIN
I was in the room, Gaius, the whole time while they were … I tried
to stop them, but … there were so many guards, and they were
so close to me, holding me back … I tried to help, but … there was
only so much I could do without being seen … or heard … without
it being obvious it was magic …
GAIUS
So you did everything you could.
MERLIN
Did I? Maybe I should have been more creative … maybe I should
have thrown caution to the wind and not held back …
GAIUS
And what of the consequences then?
MERLIN
I came very close to damning the consequences … I almost wish I had …
(with a guilt-ridden glance at Arthur)
I mean, is my secret really worth this?
Gaius abandons the basket of linen to come and sit down next to Merlin.
GAIUS
Merlin, listen to me. Keeping your magic secret from Morgause and
her allies is every bit as important to the safety of this kingdom as
the information Cenred was trying to extract from Arthur, and I
think the evidence speaks for itself as to whether Arthur considers
that worth this. You'd have been doing him no favours by revealing
yourself to Camelot's enemies.
MERLIN
I guess …
GAIUS
(putting an arm around Merlin)
You got him out alive, Merlin. That's what's important.
(climbing back to his feet)
Now come on. Help me see to these bandages.
Gaius returns to the basket of linen. Merlin follows.
GAIUS
(picking up a sizeable roll of cloth)
Now … there's just one last thing, Merlin … before I forget …
MERLIN
What?
Gaius takes the roll of linen and whacks Merlin across the back of the head.
MERLIN
(shocked)
What was that for?
GAIUS
That was for not telling me you'd injured your arm.
MERLIN
(gesturing indignantly at Arthur)
You were busy!
GAIUS
I'm not busy now, but you still didn't tell me.
MERLIN
Well, excuse me for thinking of other people instead of myself! And
how is hitting me supposed to help?
GAIUS
It's not your head that's injured, not unless there's something else
you need to tell me? Now let me take a look at that arm.
MERLIN
It's just sprained.
GAIUS
I'm the physician here, Merlin. Leave the diagnoses to me.
He pushes up Merlin's sleeve and carefully examines the discoloured area around his elbow.
GAIUS
(at long last)
It looks like a sprain.
(in response to Merlin's smug look)
But a bad one. And you'd have just let it go untreated all night,
wouldn't you? How did it happen?
MERLIN
I got kicked by a horse.
GAIUS
And you didn't think that was worth mentioning?
They're interrupted when Arthur suddenly starts murmuring in his sleep.
ARTHUR
Merlin …
Gaius and Merlin turn to him anxiously.
ARTHUR
Merlin …
MERLIN
(tentatively)
What is it, Arthur?
ARTHUR
(still fast asleep)
You're an idiot, Merlin …
Merlin looks miffed, but Gaius smiles.
GAIUS
At the moment, sire, I couldn't agree more.
CUT TO:
INT. KING'S PALACE (ARTHUR'S CHAMBERS) – DAY
Arthur's fast asleep in his own bed, still covered in bandages, but reed-free.
Uther stands nearby, leaning against a bedpost, half-hidden by the hangings, just watching Arthur breathe, as though afraid that if he looks away he might stop.
Arthur stirs. Uther straightens up.
Arthur's eyes slowly flicker open. He catches sight of his father and blinks up at him, looking confused.
ARTHUR
Where am I?
UTHER
(moving quickly to a chair beside Arthur's bed)
You're home … You're safe.
Arthur closes his eyes again for a moment, as though trying to bring clarity to his thoughts.
UTHER
(placing a hand on Arthur's shoulder)
Tell me who did this, Arthur.
ARTHUR
(opening his eyes and looking at his father)
Did what?
UTHER
Your servant – Merlin, isn't it? – said that you were ambushed on
the road. That you were taken prisoner?
ARTHUR
(vaguely)
Right …
UTHER
Do you know who was responsible?
Arthur takes a long time to answer. He seems to be trying to decide just how truthful he can afford to be.
ARTHUR
(finally)
It was Cenred …
UTHER
(darkly)
I should have known …
ARTHUR
He wasn't alone …
(cautious)
Morgause was with him … They seem to have formed some sort of alliance …
UTHER
(alarmed)
That is grievous news indeed …
ARTHUR
I know …
(after a moment)
But it explains how he was able to raise an army of the dead when
he attacked Camelot … She must have been behind it …
UTHER
It is proof of Cenred's villainy that he would ally himself with such
forces … What did he want with you?
ARTHUR
Information on Camelot … He didn't get it.
UTHER
Not for one instant did it cross my mind that he might have.
Cenred was a fool to expect anything different.
Instead of looking pleased by his father's faith in him, Arthur avoids Uther's eyes.
UTHER
How did you escape?
ARTHUR
I'm not sure … But I think Merlin may deserve some credit …
UTHER
His contribution will not be forgotten. Do you know where it was
that you were held?
ARTHUR
(after a moment's hesitation)
It was the Castle of Fyrien.
UTHER
The Castle of Fyrien? Are you certain?
ARTHUR
Quite certain.
UTHER
Then Cenred has become far too bold … He would have had to
cross several leagues of Camelot's land to get from Essetir to the shores of Meredor … I shall dispatch a patrol there at once.
ARTHUR
He'll be long gone by now …
UTHER
Then perhaps we shall waylay him on his way back to Essetir. And
woe betide him if we do …
Arthur doesn't look too hopeful. He allows his eyes to drift shut tiredly.
UTHER
You've done well, Arthur …
Uther pauses for a moment, as though struggling against his most basic instincts.
UTHER
I'm proud of you.
Arthur's eyes shoot open. He looks at his father in surprise, clearly at a loss for how to respond.
ARTHUR
(after a long silence)
I was only doing my duty to Camelot …
(after another pause, offhand)
And to be perfectly honest, Cenred's a rubbish torturer. He never
stood a chance.
UTHER
(smiling)
Naturally …
ARTHUR
(more seriously)
Men like Cenred will never understand the ideals of trust and
loyalty on which Camelot was built … That's why we'll always
defeat him, no matter how many sorceresses he's got on his side.
UTHER
Well, you've certainly given him something to think about this time.
How many men were you up against?
ARTHUR
(offhand)
There had to be at least several dozen … and a dozen or more in
the tunnels when we fought our way out.
UTHER
A dozen or more of Cenred's goons against one of Camelot's
finest – that'll make him think twice before crossing us again.
ARTHUR
I had some help …
UTHER
Who? Your servant?
(chuckling)
I can hardly see him being of much use in a fight!
ARTHUR
(grinning)
Nah, he's really a bit useless …
(glancing up)
Speak of the devil …
Merlin has just entered the chambers, carrying a vial of medicine and eyeing Uther in a way that suggests he's thinking of backing straight out again.
Uther spares him barely a glance before turning back to Arthur.
UTHER
You'd better get some rest. You gave us all quite a scare yesterday …
ARTHUR
(casual)
I'm fine. I'm sure I'll be up and about again by tomorrow, easy.
UTHER
(sternly)
That will be for Gaius to decide. You are to do as he tells you.
ARTHUR
(sighing)
Yes, Father …
Uther claps Arthur on the shoulder. Merlin winces a little as he does so, but if it hurts Arthur, he doesn't show it. He just gives his father a vague smile as he sweeps from the chambers.
Merlin waits for Uther's footsteps to fade away before turning to Arthur.
MERLIN
(tentatively)
How are you feeling?
ARTHUR
I've felt better … but I've also felt worse, so on the whole …
He tries for an indifferent shrug, but it turns into a grimace.
ARTHUR
(feeling his side)
Why do I feel like I've been stabbed in the chest? I can remember
Cenred's men doing a lot of things to me, but not that …
MERLIN
Oh, that was Gaius.
ARTHUR
What?
MERLIN
You had a punctured lung.
ARTHUR
(incredulous)
And his solution to that was to stab me in the chest?
MERLIN
It had something to do with air leaking out of the lung and … I
dunno, I don't really understand it – you'll have to ask Gaius. Here.
(holding out the vial of medicine)
Gaius said if you were awake, I should give you this.
ARTHUR
What is it, poison?
(in response to Merlin's nonplussed look)
Well, if he thinks stabbing me in the chest is a good idea, who
knows what else he might try?
MERLIN
He didn't exactly stab you in the chest … Well, all right, he sort of
did, but it was only so he could get this tube thing in and … well,
it saved your life, so just be grateful.
ARTHUR
Whatever you say, Merlin, but you're not the one who got stabbed
in the chest by your own physician.
MERLIN
(holding out the vial again)
Just take your medicine.
ARTHUR
(looking at Merlin properly for the first time)
What'd you do to your arm?
Merlin has his left arm bound in a sling.
MERLIN
(casually)
Got kicked by a horse.
ARTHUR
Ah. No big deal, then.
(after a moment)
Is it broken?
MERLIN
No, just sprained.
ARTHUR
Good, I wouldn't want you using it as an excuse to skimp on your duties.
MERLIN
You know, on second thought, maybe it is a bit broken.
ARTHUR
It's a good job you've got another one, then. How'd you manage to
get yourself kicked by a horse, anyway? How thick are you, Merlin?
MERLIN
(indignant)
I was trying to save your worthless neck!
ARTHUR
What are you talking about?
MERLIN
You're the one who fell off and scared the poor thing half to
death. You'd probably have had your brains splattered all over
the undergrowth if I hadn't stepped in.
Arthur looks taken aback. He tries to say something scathing, but it gets lost halfway to his mouth.
ARTHUR
Oh …
MERLIN
Here. Drink this.
He tries to hand him the vial of medicine for the third time, but Arthur's taken to staring out the window and doesn't seem to hear him.
MERLIN
Arthur.
ARTHUR
(tearing his eyes away from the window, distractedly)
What …?
MERLIN
Arthur, are you all right?
ARTHUR
I'm fine … I mean, apart from having been stabbed by my own physician.
MERLIN
I didn't mean physically …
ARTHUR
(irritably)
What other way is there?
He turns stubbornly back to the window.
MERLIN
(frowning)
Well, it can't be anything the King said … He was acting downright
warm and cuddly compared to his usual self … He even said he
was proud of you.
ARTHUR
(turning indignantly on Merlin)
Exactly how long were you eavesdropping, Merlin?
MERLIN
(defensive)
I wasn't eavesdropping! I was …
(shaking the vial)
– bringing medicine.
Arthur doesn't bother to respond. He's already gone back to staring out the window.
Merlin's about to start probing again, when Arthur beats him to the punch.
ARTHUR
(still staring out the window)
He only said that because he believed the story you made up
about us being ambushed on the road …
MERLIN
(nonplussed)
That's what this is about? You feel guilty about lying to your father?
ARTHUR
He'd be saying something completely different if he knew what
really happened …
MERLIN
Arthur, what really happened should only give him even more
reason to be proud of you … If your father can't see that … well,
then he's the one with the problem.
ARTHUR
You wouldn't understand, Merlin … How could you … You haven't
got a father …
Merlin blinks. Arthur seems to realise what he's said. He tears his gaze away from the window and forces himself to meet Merlin's eyes.
ARTHUR
I'm sorry. I didn't mean … I shouldn't have … That came out wrong …
MERLIN
It's all right … You're right. I haven't got any idea what it's like to
have someone who constantly expects … too much of me.
ARTHUR
Is that you being judgy, Merlin? He's the King of Camelot. It's not
down to you to tell him what he can and can't expect of me.
MERLIN
Are you saying you regret saving Gwen's brother?
ARTHUR
Of course not … It's just … You wouldn't understand …
MERLIN
Try me.
ARTHUR
It wasn't just my own life I put at risk, Merlin … You've got no idea what
it means to have an entire kingdom depending on you for its survival …
MERLIN
Well, just for the sake of discussion, let's pretend for a moment
that I do.
ARTHUR
(with a laugh)
There's not enough imagination in all the Five Kingdoms to
accomplish a feat like that … Merlin … with real responsibility …
It's inconceivable …
(after a long silence)
You're lucky, Merlin …
MERLIN
OK, if you want to talk about responsibility … some might argue
that it's a part of your responsibility to your people to come to
their aid when they need you, which is exactly what you were
doing when you went to rescue Elyan. A couple of days ago you
seemed to believe that yourself, so I don't know why you're
second-guessing yourself now.
(when Arthur says nothing)
I know you're the Crown Prince and if you die Camelot has no heir,
but that's never stopped you before …
ARTHUR
That's not what I meant, Merlin.
MERLIN
What did you mean, then?
Arthur takes to staring out the window again, and it's a long time before he answers.
ARTHUR
I knew it was a trap, but I walked into it anyway … I was so …
cocky. I thought I could outwit Cenred. I was so sure I was the
only one who knew about those tunnels … but he was aware of
them all along … Even you tried to warn me, but I didn't listen … I
just marched you and Gwen and Morgana straight into his hands …
If my father ever found out I'd knowingly taken Morgana into danger …
after everything we went through to find her … he'd never forgive
me … If anything had happened to her … I'd never forgive me …
MERLIN
Morgana came with us of her own accord. You couldn't have
stopped her if you'd wanted to.
ARTHUR
I should have tried harder. I should have –
He breaks off, clearly unsure what he thinks he should have done.
MERLIN
Everything turned out fine – or at least – none of us got hurt
except you, and I know you well enough to know that that's not
what's got you second-guessing everything we did. So … why are
you? We succeeded. Why are you acting like we failed?
ARTHUR
We got lucky … that's all … If we hadn't escaped when we did …
It wasn't just you, Gwen and Morgana I put at risk when I walked
into Cenred's trap … it was all of Camelot … If I had told him what
he wanted to know …
MERLIN
(easily)
You wouldn't have.
(when Arthur doesn't look as certain)
Arthur, I was there. Cenred may as well have been trying to get
information out of a stone wall … I don't know if I could have …
ARTHUR
But that's my whole point. I wasn't his only prisoner. Who knows
what he might have tried next …
MERLIN
Well, I don't know enough about Camelot's defences to have been
of any use to him.
ARTHUR
That's not what I meant.
MERLIN
(trying not to look pleased)
If he had tortured me, would you have told him?
ARTHUR
(trying to sound scornfully confident but not quite managing it)
Of course not.
(after a moment's silence)
But if he had hurt Guinevere … or Morgana … I don't know what I
would have done …
MERLIN
(quietly)
Well, he didn't …
ARTHUR
But he could have … And I couldn't have stopped him … not without
betraying … everyone else … I was completely … I had to rely on
you of all people just to get us out of that cell … If you hadn't
somehow managed to get that key … If we had been locked in a
cell that bolted on the outside like Gwen and Elyan's … I never
should have let us get into that situation in the first place … It
was irresponsible … It was … I should have … I should have …
MERLIN
You should have what? There was nothing else you could have
done, Arthur. There's nothing wrong with having to rely on other
people sometimes.
ARTHUR
And that's what you'll never understand … That's why you'll always
be a servant … It may be all right for you to rely on other people,
Merlin, but I'm the Prince of Camelot … I can't afford that luxury …
I can't afford to leave things to chance … to let the responsibility
fall on others … but that's exactly what happened …
(with a bitter laugh)
My father thinks I'm some kind of hero … He thinks I single-handedly
engineered an escape and fought off Cenred's men all by myself …
and what's more, he believes I got landed in the situation through
no fault of my own …
(miserably)
I can count on one hand the number of times he's told me he's
proud of me, Merlin … but this time I don't deserve it, and I can't
even tell him that … because how can I tell him what really happened
without getting so many other people into trouble as well …? But
the truth is, if it had been left to me, we'd all be dead … or worse
… It was only because of the rest of you that we all made it out
alive … all I did was slow you down … all I did was fall off my horse
and rely on the rest of you to drag me back to Camelot … probably
risking your lives in the process …
Merlin's staring at Arthur through narrowed eyes, and when he speaks, instead of trying to sound reassuring, he just sounds irritated.
MERLIN
There are about a thousand things wrong with what you just said,
Arthur … but I'm not even going to bother trying to point them all
out, because you are without a doubt the most infuriating prat
I've ever had the misfortune to meet. If that's really what this is
all about, then … I don't understand how anyone can be so
unbelievably arrogant.
ARTHUR
Merlin, you can't talk to me –
MERLIN
(ignoring Arthur)
So basically what you're saying is, it's all right for you to risk your
life to save everyone else, but none of the rest of us are good
enough to be allowed to do the same for you?
ARTHUR
That's not what I – You know what, Merlin? Just get out. I don't
have to explain myself to you. And I'm not going to bother trying
to explain something that you're clearly too thick to understand.
MERLIN
Oh, I understand perfectly. You're the Prince of Camelot, and it's
your duty to protect each and every one of your people. I accept
that. But why can't you accept that we feel that it's equally our
duty to protect you?
ARTHUR
It's not your duty to protect me, Merlin. You're not a knight. And
neither are Gwen and Morgana, or Gwen's brother …
MERLIN
You are such a prat.
ARTHUR
I thought I told you to get out.
MERLIN
I came here to give you your medicine, but you still haven't taken it.
(thrusting the vial forward)
So take the damn potion.
ARTHUR
I don't need –
MERLIN
Or are you too good to accept Gaius's help, either?
ARTHUR
(snatching the vial irritably from Merlin)
You can't talk to me this way.
Arthur tries to wrench off the cork, but his arm proves too weak. Merlin looks like he's not sure whether to offer to help him out of pity, watch him struggle, or do it for him out of sheer annoyance.
But before Merlin can make up his mind, Arthur manages it himself. He has the bottle halfway to his mouth, before he lowers it again suspiciously.
ARTHUR
What's in here?
MERLIN
Lungwort, I think, and –
ARTHUR
(irritably)
I mean what does it do?
MERLIN
Lungwort prevents inflammation and infection of the lungs … and
there's also some kind of palliative in there … to help with the pain.
ARTHUR
(narrowing his eyes)
Will it put me to sleep?
MERLIN
(shaking his head)
Nah …
Arthur hesitates for a second longer, then downs the contents of the vial in one go.
MERLIN
(once he's sure Arthur's taken all of it)
At least the pain medicine won't … the sleep aid Gaius put in there on
the other hand …
ARTHUR
Why you –!
Merlin quickly dodges out of Arthur's reach. Arthur hurls the empty vial at him, but Merlin ducks and it smashes against a pillar behind him.
MERLIN
Now look what you've done! You've broken Gaius's vial! He's going
to be furi– …
But Merlin's expression softens when he looks at Arthur. He's got his eyes shut tight, clearly having hurt himself when he threw the vial, but just as clearly trying not to show it.
MERLIN
Are you all right?
ARTHUR
(irritable)
I'm fine.
MERLIN
Well, you're just going to have to stop throwing things at me for
the next few days.
ARTHUR
(trying to stay angry, but unable to suppress a smile)
Oh yeah? I could always hire another servant to throw things at
you for me. Or I could just order you to throw things at yourself.
You live to be my footstool, remember? Your words, not mine.
MERLIN
That was meant to be taken in context only.
ARTHUR
Sorry, Merlin, you said that you live to be my footstool, not that
you were willing to act as my footstool one time only, or only under
certain circumstances. If you wanted there to be conditions, you
should have specified them at the time. It's too late now.
Merlin rolls his eyes, but he smiles too. He tentatively crosses over to the chair next to Arthur's bed and sits down on it.
MERLIN
I'm sorry, Arthur, I … shouldn't have picked a fight … especially if
it's going to get you all riled up and make you do stupid things that
make you hurt yourself even more … I … I just thought that maybe
getting angry was the best way to get through to you … you
know … given what a complete prat you are and everything …
ARTHUR
(tiredly)
Didn't I tell you to leave?
But whether because the sedative in Gaius's potion is starting to take effect or because Merlin's managed to cheer him up a little, there's no real insistence in Arthur's tone.
MERLIN
Arthur, I just wanted you to realise …
(sighing)
Look, I know I'm just a servant, and … and maybe I don't know as
much about duty and stuff as you do … and maybe it's not the
duty of the common folk to protect their sovereign … but, well …
there is one thing I do know plenty about, and it goes beyond
duty … regardless of whether or not there's any reciprocity in the
relationship between a people and their prince, or a servant and
his master … I know that friendship is something that does go both
ways, and … maybe you don't consider me a friend – fine – whatever
you want – but … I think you might at least consider Gwen a friend,
and I'm sure she'd agree with me when I say that friends do protect
each other. Whether they like it or not … that's just the way it works.
The truth is it took all of us to get out of that castle, and … if you
think that you failed us just because you didn't do it all by yourself …
well, say what you like about being a prince, but the truth is you
did more than anyone had the right to expect of you, and … and
we'd have been the ones to have failed you if we hadn't been there
for you after you were there for all of us … because, whatever the
case is with princes and knights and servants and commoners, looking
out for each other is what friends do. And there's no … shame in
that, Arthur; that's just the way it is.
ARTHUR
(in a far-off voice)
It's what you do when you love someone …
MERLIN
Yeah – wait – what?
(stunned)
Did you really just say that?
ARTHUR
(scornful)
Don't be an idiot, Merlin.
MERLIN
Right … no – hang on – I heard you just say that.
ARTHUR
(shaking his head)
I was just remembering something Guinevere said.
MERLIN
Oh … OK, good, because for a moment there, I thought the entire
world had just gone mad.
ARTHUR
Wouldn't it be more reasonable to assume that it was just you
that had gone mad?
MERLIN
Nah, it'd be much more likely it was you who'd gone mad … Hang
on … if you're relating what Gwen said to what I said … are you
implying that you love me?
ARTHUR
(scathing)
Merlin, sometimes you really are a complete imbecile.
MERLIN
(still a bit off-balance)
Right … Well, I think I've made my point … Or at least, Gwen's
made it for me …
(with a frown)
I still can't believe I just heard those words come out of your
mouth … Are you feeling quite all right?
Merlin tries to feel Arthur's forehead. Arthur swats his hand away.
ARTHUR
Haven't you got some chores to attend to or something, Merlin?
MERLIN
No.
ARTHUR
Yes, you do. You work for me, remember? I think these chambers
could use a cleaning. You're definitely going to need to clean up
that glass before someone steps on it.
MERLIN
(standing up)
I'll fetch a broom.
ARTHUR
Hang on, I'm not finished.
MERLIN
(groaning to himself)
Why couldn't Gaius have mixed a faster-acting sleeping draught …?
ARTHUR
I'm fairly certain my boots could do with a cleaning, and don't
forget to polish my … oh, no, actually … you're probably going to
have to procure me all new armour, because you left my old armour
at Fyrien, didn't you, you useless twat?
MERLIN
(in mock dismay)
Oh, no, how negligent of me! During all that running for our lives,
how did I not think to go back for your armour?
Gaius's potion is beginning to take effect and Arthur's eyelids are starting to droop.
ARTHUR
Mmm … I may have to put you in the stocks for that … If it's your
duty to protect anything, Merlin, it's that armour …
Before Merlin has a chance to respond, there's a knock at the door.
ARTHUR
(drowsily)
Come …
But his voice is far too soft for anyone outside the door to hear, so Merlin crosses over and opens it.
His face darkens when he sees who's standing there.
MORGANA
I was just with the King. He told me Arthur's woken up?
MERLIN
Gaius has just given him a sleeping draught. You should come back later.
ARTHUR
(from inside the room)
Stop being a prattling buffoon, Merlin, and let her in.
Morgana gives Merlin a sarcastic smile and pushes her way past him.
Morgana approaches Arthur, while Merlin lingers in the background.
MORGANA
Arthur, how are you feeling?
ARTHUR
Better for being spared the slow torment of Merlin's company.
MORGANA
(smiling)
Seriously, Arthur.
She takes a seat next to Arthur's bed. Arthur gives Merlin a look that tells him to go. Merlin pretends not to have understood it.
MORGANA
How are you? Really?
ARTHUR
Better than I was yesterday … or was it the day before …? How long
has it been?
MORGANA
We escaped from the Castle of Fyrien the night before last. Don't
worry, you haven't been out for days or anything.
ARTHUR
I would be if Gaius had it his way … Speaking of Gaius –
(to Merlin)
– why don't you go see if he needs anything, Merlin?
MERLIN
He doesn't. I just came from him.
ARTHUR
Well, then go – polish something.
MERLIN
All your armour got left at the Castle of Fyrien, remember?
ARTHUR
(to Morgana)
Apparently he doesn't understand anything unless you spell it out
for him explicitly.
(to Merlin)
Merlin. Go away and give us some privacy.
MERLIN
What do you need privacy for? It's only Morgana.
ARTHUR
(warningly)
Merlin.
MERLIN
All right, all right! I'm going … Are you sure you don't want me to
clean up that glass fir–?
ARTHUR
Now, Merlin! Before I throw something else at you.
Reluctantly, Merlin drags his feet out the door.
ARTHUR
(calling after Merlin)
And shut the door behind you.
Merlin turns back to give Morgana one last suspicious look, before taking as much time as possible to shut the door.
ARTHUR
(shaking his head)
He's an insolent toad …
MORGANA
(with a gentle smile)
He's just concerned about you, Arthur. We all are.
ARTHUR
(his eyes starting to drift shut again)
There's nothing for anyone to worry about. I'm perfectly fine …
MORGANA
Well, I must say, for someone who's perfectly fine, you look
absolutely horrible.
ARTHUR
Thanks, Morgana. It's nice to see I can always count on you to be
supportive and uplifting.
MORGANA
Seriously, though, Arthur … I just came by to see how you were
doing. You can go to sleep if you want to.
ARTHUR
(trying to force his eyes to stay open)
I don't want to.
MORGANA
Then appearances are nothing but deceiving with you today.
ARTHUR
That's Gaius's fault. He went and put some kind of sedative into
my medicine. And then Merlin tricked me into drinking it. I should
have him hung for treason.
MORGANA
(genially)
The nerve of some people.
ARTHUR
I don't know what Gaius thinks he's playing at. I only just woke up.
I don't know what he wants to go putting me back to sleep for.
MORGANA
Well, if I know Gaius, and if Gaius knows you, I'd guess that he
thinks there's less danger of you overexerting yourself if you're
safely asleep.
ARTHUR
So his solution is to keep me drugged? Well, I'm not taking another
single one of his remedies until I've secured his solemn word of
honour that he'll leave out the sleeping herbs from now on …
Arthur's eyes start to drift closed again. Morgana pulls the covers up around him and straightens his pillows.
MORGANA
Well, in the meantime, I suppose there's nothing else for it but to
sleep this one off.
ARTHUR
(shaking himself awake and pushing back
the covers Morgana has just pulled up)
No, I – uh … I wanted to … I wanted to … say something to you …
(blinking in an effort to keep his eyes open)
I, uh … Water.
MORGANA
Water? Well, that's … absolutely fascinating, Arthur. I'm glad I
stopped by to hear it.
ARTHUR
No, water would … I need water … to wake me up.
(trying to look around)
Is there a jug somewhere, or do I have to call that idiot Merlin
back in …?
MORGANA
No, I'll fetch it for you.
She gets to her feet and crosses to the water jug on the table. She picks up the goblet sitting beside it, and for a moment looks as though she bitterly laments not having Gaius's vial of hemlock on hand, but then she seems to decide that poisoning Arthur would be too risky at this point anyway. She picks up the jug and fills the goblet with water, then carries both of them back towards Arthur, who's still fighting to keep his eyes open.
MORGANA
(handing Arthur the goblet)
Here.
ARTHUR
(faintly)
Thanks …
Arthur takes a long drink of water that nearly empties the goblet.
MORGANA
Better?
ARTHUR
A little.
MORGANA
(smiling)
I was right in thinking you wanted to drink the water, then? Or did
you want me to dump it over your head?
ARTHUR
(draining the goblet)
No, I think this way'll do for now …
Morgana refills the goblet for him, then sets the jug down on the bedside table.
MORGANA
(sitting back down)
What did you want to say to me?
ARTHUR
Just, uh … I wanted to … Are you all right?
MORGANA
(surprised)
Am I all right?
ARTHUR
Yeah, how's your … how's your …
(taking another sip of water)
– your head. How's your head?
MORGANA
My head?
(catching on)
Oh … It's fine. I can barely feel the bump any more.
ARTHUR
You sure? What about … the rest of you? Did you see Gaius?
MORGANA
There's no need, Arthur. I'm perfectly all right.
ARTHUR
Are you sure? Because you had two roofs cave in on you in the
space of less than half an hour … Anyone might think the masonry
was out to get you.
MORGANA
Yeah … guess I was having a run of bad luck …
ARTHUR
(shaking his head)
It was good luck the first time … It took Cenred and Morgause out
for us.
MORGANA
Yeah …
ARTHUR
What did he want with you? Cenred?
MORGANA
The same thing he wanted from you. Information. Once again, he
got nothing.
ARTHUR
Did he hurt you?
MORGANA
Nah … I think he'd decided to try the softer approach with me, at
least to start out with.
ARTHUR
I hope he didn't try and get too friendly.
MORGANA
As if I would have let him.
Arthur gives her a slight smile, but it fades quickly.
ARTHUR
When you weren't in the cell with Gwen and Elyan … I thought …
MORGANA
(squeezing Arthur's hand)
I'm fine, Arthur … We're all fine …
A few moments pass in silence. Arthur starts to drift off again.
MORGANA
Was that all?
ARTHUR
No, I, uh … I also wanted to say … Thank you.
MORGANA
What for?
ARTHUR
(distantly)
I … I can remember you … being there with me, when … after I …
when we were … we were riding, I think … and … it was so hard …
just to keep breathing … and it hurt so much it almost wasn't
worth trying … It would have been so easy … just to … give up …
But I could hear your voice … and feel your arms around me … You
gave me strength … to keep fighting … kept me from feeling … alone …
I don't think I'd have made it without you, Morgana.
MORGANA
(forcing a smile)
Well, I'm … glad to have been of help …
Arthur returns her smile, vaguely, through half-closed eyes. His grip on the goblet has slackened and it's tilting forward, almost spilling. She reaches out and takes it from his hand.
ARTHUR
(his eyes closed now)
Oh, and … I'm sorry if I … made things difficult …
Morgana sets the goblet down with a startled clunk.
MORGANA
What?
ARTHUR
(opening his eyes again)
I, uh … I thought I could remember … you saying something …
about me making things difficult … Maybe I was dreaming …
MORGANA
You must have been.
ARTHUR
(drifting off)
Guess so …
MORGANA
Sleep well, Arthur.
ARTHUR
(half-asleep, as Morgana turns to leave)
Thanks, Morgana … You're a good friend … a good sister …
Morgana freezes. She whirls back around.
MORGANA
What did you say? I'm not your sister, Arthur.
ARTHUR
(vaguely)
Hmm …?
(trying to clear his head)
Right, I, uh … meant … you're … as good as … a sister …
MORGANA
(relieved)
Oh … that's, uh … Well, you're certainly as annoying as a brother …
ARTHUR
(smiling drowsily)
I meant, because … it's what brothers and sisters do, isn't it …?
Like Gwen and Elyan … They …
MORGANA
What? Annoy each other?
ARTHUR
No, they're … they're there for each other … like she was for him …
like you were for me …
MORGANA
Yes, of course.
ARTHUR
(half-asleep)
Because that's what you do …
MORGANA
That's what who does? Brothers and sisters?
ARTHUR
Mmm … because that's what you do when … when …
He trails off, barely able to stay awake now.
MORGANA
That's what you do when … what, Arthur?
Arthur tries to open his eyes, but they flicker open for barely a second before slipping shut again.
ARTHUR
It's what you do when …
MORGANA
When?
ARTHUR
… when you love someone.
As Arthur slips out of consciousness, Morgana stares down at him, and for the briefest of moments, there's something close to guilt in her expression.
But then she shakes it off, and scowling, she turns her back and stalks away, not once looking back.
FADE OUT.
THE END
Got any thoughts on the events of this or previous chapters? I'd love to hear about them. Completed stories need reviews just as much as in-progress ones, so don't ever let the length of time since completion stop you from reviewing.
Note: I sometimes respond to reviews on the review page by posting my response as a separate review. If you have an account I'll also send you a copy of the response via PM, but if you review as a guest you may want to check the review page every now and then to see if I've replied to you.
A small confession, this story was originally meant to be two parts only, but Act Two ended up being over twice the length of Act One, so I decided to break it into a second and a third part. So if the resolution to the cliff-hanger seemed disappointingly obvious, it's because it wasn't originally intended to be a cliff-hanger, just a minor "oh no!" moment. I briefly considered having Gwen interrupt Morgana's scheming instead of Gaius to make it a bit less obvious, but I liked the exchange between Gaius and Morgana and didn't want to mess with it.
Another side-effect of turning a two-parter into a three-parter is that most of the action ended up being confined to part one. If you're the kind of person who's bothered by that sort of thing, then sorry, but personally I prefer a good aftermath to "And then they escaped and skipped off into the sunset. The end."
Sorry to any Gwen fans who might have been disappointed that she didn't get a scene with Arthur after he woke up, but if I'd written a scene between the two of them just for the sake of having one it would only have felt forced and wouldn't have fit into the flow of the story. Originally the scene between Elyan and Gwen in Act Two was going to be her last appearance, but then I decided she needed a bit more attention, especially since she was sort of the raison d'être behind the original version of the episode. That being said, the raison d'être behind this alternate ending was the tragically duplicitous brother-sister relationship between Arthur and Morgana, so that needed to be the focus at the end.
Speaking of Arthur and Morgana's tragically duplicitous relationship, I still stand by my original statement that it wasn't in any way intended to be interpreted romantically in this story. Arthur's thinly veiled, semi-drug-induced "I love you" at the end was one hundred percent platonic/brotherly. I know that when he repeats the phrase to Gwen at the end of the original episode it's obviously being applied romantically, but bear in mind that in the original context that Gwen said it, she was talking about her brother.
On a related subject, this story wasn't Merlin/Arthur romance either. When Arthur almost accidentally implied that he loved Merlin, it also came from somewhere completely platonic/brotherly, and even when Merlin teased him about it, in my mind Merlin was teasing him about the idea that he might feel brotherly love for a servant more so than anything else. But obviously the intent of Merlin's teasing can be read either way without changing the nature of their actual relationship.
The only romantic relationship intended was between Arthur and Gwen, although it wasn't the focus of the story. I've never been one for either writing or reading romance and tend to find other kinds of relationships more interesting.
It was only after writing this that I came across a deleted scene from series three episode twelve where Arthur tells Morgana that she's annoying enough to be his sister. I swear I hadn't seen it when I wrote this. I guess the Merlin writers and I just think alike … which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your perspective.