Merlin stood underneath the small window, peering outside and watching the courtyard where they had now begun the process of constructing the pyre. His pyre. The pyre he was going to get burned to death on. The thought sent a shiver down his spine.
This day would be his last full day alive, and he would be spending it locked up in a dimly lit, damp cell. He had seen Camelot construct pyre's more quickly than this, but he supposed that they didn't want any errors in his execution, and there was most likely a big security risk as well, so they'd have to work out guard schedules.
He also assumed that they would want the majority of the population in Camelot present for his execution, to both deter other sorcerers, and to show the public that they no longer had anything to fear. He could only hope that it would be over quickly. Maybe he'd pass out from the pain, so he didn't have to suffer up until he point where death set him free. One could only hope.
His lack of sleep made his thoughts darker than they normally were, but he figured that these thoughts were all reasonable and understandable, considering the situation he was currently in. He didn't want to die, but even if he could escape, it would only darken Arthur's heart regarding him. He needed to die, in order for Arthur to accept what he was saying as the truth. Escaping prison would only prove his guilt, even if he was guilty of nothing, but being in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Well, he was guilty of being an idiot, but that was different matter entirely, and certainly not anything that would warrant an execution.
He heard a noise from outside the prison, but did not bother to turn nor glance over his shoulder. Change of guards, he supposed. It had happened a few times already. He was too tired to care, and watching his kings chosen method of punishment being constructed seemed far more interesting than a new set of guards. His gaze landed upon Morgana as she walked through the courtyard, the woman stopping to watch the pyre that was being constructed, before she walked away in a very upset manner. It seemed like she didn't agree with Arthur's decision either, not by that behavior. She genuinely seemed angry and upset from her facial expression, and from the way she had left the area. He supposed that he was glad that there was another person who may mourn his death in this world. It made him feel less alone.
A serving girl came by at some point, leaving a tray of food on the steps leading down to his cell. Merlin didn't even register the girl ever having entered his cell, having spent a large portion of his day simply staring out of the small, barred window, completely focused on the growing pyre. It was starting to look quite extra-ordinary.
The food he had gotten was of over average quality from what he could see. His last meal. At least Camelot sent people to their deaths on a full stomach, regardless of their crimes. He didn't have an appetite, though. Which was a shame, because under normal circumstances, he would've been all over this food like a hungry animal. Eventually he left the window, sitting himself down in the pile of straws within his cell, casually picking at the food he had been given.
He slowly begun to nod off, fighting to stay awake. He didn't want to sleep and waste his final moments alive. Not to mention, he didn't want to see what had become of his own Camelot, not when he was going to die anyways. He had to try to remember the good times he had there, and in order to do that, he couldn't let those nightmares overshadow his fond memories. He eventually lost the fight, falling asleep where he sat.
He stepped forwards, coming to a halt before Gaius, hunching down before the elderly man. "I am sorry, Gaius. I did not wish to do this, but Camelot forced my hand. If only Arthur would come to face me, and answer for his crimes, then I wouldn't have to harm all these people. They are protecting a monster, just as they protected the monster that came before him, yet.. With so much blood on their hands, and so many innocent lives on their conscience, they have the audacity to act as if I am the monster in this situation. Arthur is nothing but a child, following in his father's footsteps. You are, and always were a coward." He paused, a massive frown upon his face as anger continued to boil in his chest. Gaius merely groaned in pain, the man conscious to hear the entirety of his speech.
"At least I have done something, while you have merely been sitting idly by and watching Uther and Arthur both murder those who are different. I alone made Uther pay for what he did to mother, and I made Arthur suffer just as I have suffered. It is time I make Arthur pay for what he did to Morgana and all those innocent people for so many years. A life for a life, Gaius. You always cowered on the sideline whenever there were accusations of sorcery. You let them be killed, you let Uther and Arthur have their way without uttering a single word. The blood is just as much on your hands, as it is theirs. I have every right to kill you, yet I will choose not to. Mercy may be a foreign concept, so I will let you experience it first hand." He finished, a hand moving to pat Gaius' cheek ever so lightly in a belittling manner. Gaius made attempts to move away from him, yet his body refused to do what he wanted. The eyes of the elderly man were narrowly opened, peering straight towards Merlin's face, his breathing strained and shallow.
"Gaius!" A familiar voice shouted from the side, rapid footsteps rushing forwards, accompanied by metallic footsteps as well. "Guinevere! Get away!" barked the old man, his voice strained, each word clearly shooting a wave of pain through his body. Merlin's head turned, eyes now laid upon Guinevere and the knights that were escorting her as the came to a halt. "If it isn't the Que-.."
Several loud sounds, jolted him awake. He pushed to his feet, eyes wide open as one of his guards were flung violently into a nearby wall by a force of magic. The six remaining guards drew their blades, only to be disarmed at the mutter of a word. They were then flung to meet the same fate as the first guard, all of them unconscious from the brief exchange.
A cloaked figure came to a halt in front of the prison bars, the face well hidden underneath the hood of the cloak. The individual quickly patted down the guardsin silence as Merlin watched in shock. Their hands grasped onto a key. They approached the prison door, inserting the key and twisting it, swinging the door open for Merlin to escape.
"We do not have much time. You must be out of Camelot before the bells begin." A familiar voice spoke. The hood was quickly removed, revealing the person who was breaking him out of prison.
It was Morgana.
"If I leave, then that will only prove my guilt to Arthur! It's not like I have anywhere to go, no one who will miss me!" Merlin objected, shock visible on his face.
"If you are executed, Camelot will be thrown into a war it can not win." Morgana explained in a rushed manner.
"What do you mean?!" Merlin let out in confusion.
"In this world you have a massive following. They call you their savior, and they would go to the depths of hell in order to avenge you. Camelot will be destroyed at the hands of magic if you die tomorrow. You need to leave Merlin." The female spoke as she flung a knapsack towards Merlin, which he rather clumsily caught.
"Food, clothes and supplies on your journey. Gaius insisted on giving you this. There's a map in there, it should be of great help. Now come on!" Morgana rushed, stepping into the cell and forcefully grabbing a hold of the shocked Merlin.
"Wait, wait. I don't understand. How do you know this?!"
"I saw it in my nightmares, Merlin. It started twelve days ago, around the time you said you arrived in this world. I did not understand at first, but when I saw you in the throne room it all made sense. I never dreamt Camelot's destruction before then." Morgana stated, pulling her hood back up as she continued to drag Merlin after her.
"Where am I supposed to go, Morgana?!" Merlin questioned, being dragged after Morgana somewhat reluctantly.
"To the sorcerer sanctuary. The place you made in this world. You took land from Camelot by force, and constructed a place where sorcerer's would not be persecuted, swearing that they would be protected against Camelot's wrath." Morgana explained as they rushed down the corridor, Merlin walking on his own volition now. He had viewed this worlds Merlin to be a monster, and yet he had managed to create something so wonderful.
"And Uther accepted this?"
"No, Uther was already dead at the time.. Arthur has been trying to drive the sorcerer's out and get rid them ever since the sanctuary was made. There has been several large battles, but Camelot has never once come out victorious." She stated, before she came to a sudden halt.
"Merlin. Your counterpart tried to show Arthur how wrong it is to execute people merely because of who they are. A life for a life.. Arthur only sees it as murder of innocents. Acts of evil and corruption. He does not see the similarities of what he is doing, and what Merlin was doing. It's so messed up, all of this. Only you can put an end to it, for Arthur will never be the first one to stop. He will never see reason if this continues. I can't go with you any further than this, continue down the corridor and break through the bars. The map is in your knapsack, I marked where the Sanctuary is located.." Morgana stated, starting to move away from the area as if in a rush.
"What happened, Morgana? I know that Uther forced Arthur to kill my mother, but I don't think Arthur would have continued to persecute magic users like this when he became king. I don't think he would march his army on the sorcerers if they caused no harm. What did this world's Merlin do to him? I need to know what convinced him that Magic was purely evil, and that it needed to be fought." Merlin asked, his brows furrowing as his expression was quite serious. The answer to this question could change everything.
"He killed Uther, using magic to do so. Now go, we are out of time!" Morgana responded, turning back around and rushing away from the area. It did not take long for the bells to begin, which broke Merlin out of his shock and sent him running down the corridor. He could think about this later. He needed to get out of there before any guards found him.