A Marriage that Started a Legend

by IJustShowedUp

Follows canon but with my own arranged marriage spin on it. What happens when Hunith makes a mistake and is forced on the run with her infant son? What happens when Camelot knights find her twenty years later? What happens when Arthur learns he's betrothed to a peasant boy? Will Merlin be able to stand among royalty? Will these two different boys survive each other? Review!

80. Chapter 80

This chapter is dedicated to Jacquelyn, who wanted to see more of Arthur expressing a bit of jealousy over how Merlin was willing to sacrifice their life over Gwen. So I hope they enjoy how I went about it, and while it's only briefly touched upon in this chapter, it gets talked about more as it runs into the next of the updates ;p

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Let's forget everything Arthur had thought of doing only moments before. About his plans where he was going to show Merlin just a bit of kindness due to everything he was forced to go through in the last day. Arthur had been being generous, thoughtful, had every single bit of intention to go and visit Merlin once the council meeting finally came to a close. He'd been making plans on how to do it, things so stupid they didn't even matter in the long run. These stupid questions he'd been asking him self to think of included: how close would be acceptable to sit next to him if he actually did find Merlin crying on his poor flaring bed-and maybe Arthur should have a better bed made for him if he was going to stay there-but he'd also nixed the idea. Too many people would find out about Merlin's living situation, like the carpenter he commissioned for the bed, even the men he would need to cart the bed to the room in the first place. And that wasn't even counting the curious people they passed by to bring Merlin his bed, although how he was to sleep on the thing in there would forever be a mystery to Arthur.

He'd also wondered about other things than just the bed. Things like: should he run Merlin on the back as he was crying his eyes out, to show him a bit of compassion. Maybe it could even be a version of a treat, show the boy he could be understanding, and maybe then the consort would be less volatile towards him in the future. But then again…wasn't Arthur doin the exact opposite since he would have had an alternative motive for showing comfort. He would have seen it coming from a mile away if Arthur did that.

Unless Arthur didn't let him see at all, maybe he could pull Merlin up off the pillows before pulling him into his chest to cry. It wasn't the ideal solution, Arthur would actually have to-shudder-hood Merlin close for this, and then pet his hair while he ruined Arthur's top with his messy crying. Oh god, he hoped he would not be one of those messier criers, the ones that had snot dripping everywhere every time they got a paper cut. Arthur would have to go and toss the shirt out completely, if that was the case. No amount of Morris cleaning it off would make Arthur think it was truly clean.

But either way, Arthur would have to do his best to be gentle-Merlin was probably in the most fragile state he'd been in since arriving in Camelot, and Arthur wouldn't want to start encouraging any more outlandish behavior-while breaking the news to him. How Gwen was going to be brought out to the pyre and set on fire before a crowd of onlookers when it was done being built-because while they'd all been at this meeting, a handful of knights were starting to gather the materials needed for it. And that it would be best if Merlin just stayed inside until it was over, he truly didn't think Merlin's already fragile mental state, all of the changes in his life obviously far more than a peasant was meant to handle, could handle the extra strain.

Arthur hated to be the one to tell him, but he also didn't trust anyone else to do it without being blunt about it. He was trying to do his due diligence by preventing a public relations nightmare, a catastrophe! Merlin was known for doing stupid things whenever he wanted to show displeasure for anything he thought Arthur had done to him. Looking for a job…or moving out…Arthur was almost too scared to find out what he could possibly come up with next.

And then Arthur had bigger problems to deal with, because he found out 'exactly' what he would do the next time his fragile state hit a sharp turn. Merlin had came bursting into the council chambers-even though it was meant to be closed off. Yes, even to the consort as he hadn't been inside before the door closed off. Then the boy had been sprouting off that he was a sorcerer, screaming his head off as he stormed in and Arthur knew instantly what he was doing….

"Gwen is not the sorcerer!" Merlin repeated, voice practically thundering throughout the suddenly silent room, astonished by what the consort was doing. His jacket was had been wind blown, thrown back from the force of his entrance. His chest heaving as he threw everything of himself in this. And then Merlin was uttering the words that were meant to be his damnation. "I am!"

Arthur felt the sudden thud of upmost panic shoot through him when he realized that this was most definitely real. This wasn't exactly a fever flash dream, concocted by Arthur trying to think of the most outrageous thing Merlin could try to do next. This was real, because his consort was really in front of his father-as well as ten council members-screaming over how he practiced sorcery in his spare time. It was a bloody nightmare in the living realm.

If anybody had actually been looking at him-which they weren't because his consort was currently acting like a bloody lunatic in front of everybody (thank god nobody was able to discuss what went on in a closed meeting)-they would have seen the pure panic flashing across his face. Because he hadn't been able to mask his features into the cold and harsh indifference someone of his stature should have when somebody had just admitted to doing a heinous crime. For a second, just a second, Arthur had seen Gwen being jerked off her feet and dragged out of the chambers as she cried for a help that never came. Only it wasn't Gwen this time, it was Merlin, after realizing what a huge mistake he had made.

Gaius was the first one to get his bearing into order, because he practically jumped out of his chair, the chair making a loud screeching sound that irritated the ear, "Merlin!" the old physician exclaimed loudly, looking to be just as shocked and as horrified as Arthur himself was. Arthur glared at him, because was this was Gaius meant by Merlin's 'doing as well as can be expected.' Because Arthur would say this was going the exact opposite of what he should be doing right now. Good god, where was Gregory, shouldn't he be here to stop a fool from being made out of both Arthur and Merlin. "Have you gone mad!"

Merlin turned to face his uncle, before finally meeting one of the few eyes he was trying to avoid-he didn't want to see any kind of sad disappointment in them when Uncle Gaius saw what he was doing. "I cannot let her die for me." He said firmly, talking sorely to him and ignoring everybody else. Merlin already felt shamed-so much shame-that it had took him this long to step up. He should have been before the king the 'second' he saw Gwen as she was being dragged to the throne room to be sentenced. He should have never allowed himself to be stopped by Arthur, allowed his uncle to take him away from her. Should have never gone to visit her, not with the agonizing pain coursing through his body from seeing her in that cell. Like a common criminal. The sorcerer turned to Uther, ignoring the second pair of eyes that was watching him, before he was bowing his head down to him. "I humbly place myself at your mercy."

He hoped by saying this, by surrendering himself now instead of later on down the line when he was discovered-because let's just be real, this city was too large and with too many eyes on him, it would just be a matter of time before he was caught-Uther would at least show him more mercy than he'd been showing Gwen. He wasn't actually counting on it, he would be burned either way. But he could hope he wouldn't be dragged towards the cells, his hands still felt all tingly from the red stripes that he'd been sporting. Although the stripes themselves were actually barely noticeable anymore.

Seeing that Merlin wasn't doing anything to help himself, Gaius whipped around to look at the king, "He doesn't know what he's talking about!" If Merlin wasn't going to do anything to help himself, then obviously Gaius would have to be the one to do it. Even if this would make Merlin looked like an erect child, trying to act out to get the attention he hadn't been getting normally. Not exactly the best look for somebody near the throne, but at least Merlin would still be alive. Gaius continued talking to Uther, hoping Merlin wouldn't butt in and dig himself a bigger grave than he'd already done so, "He's just a boy, m'lord. I don't believe he understands the consequences for making a claim such as this."

"He's not a boy," Uther cut in sharply, and his eyes were colder than any glacier had looked like. "And he hasn't been for months. At least not since he married my son. As our Consort, he should have already learned to watch his words." And Merlin didn't dare bring up how hypocritical that was, although he probably ought to, it wasn't like he had a damn thing to lose by this point. He was already seen as the dead man walking, it was just a matter of his pyre getting set up.

But honestly, how did Uther expect Merlin to 'learn things' when nothing had been set up for him. No tutors or anything to teach him how to act like a Royal, lessons on things the royals needed to know, just Morgana passing him advice and she was hardly qualified as a real teacher. The closest thing Merlin had got to being taught 'anything'-other than those times he'd had George explaining things to him-was when Arthur had offered for him to have a tutor. And that was only because the prince had been shoving a dozen of things at him, showing off his riches so that Merlin got looking for a job out of his mind. Something he thought would keep Merlin occupied and his time out in public to a minimum. Just one more way to keep him in this glided prison of their own making. Their marriage had literally been doomed to fail before Merlin had came to this city, and he was pretty sure Uther was well aware of the problem. It wouldn't be any surprise to

M-Merlin if Uther had somehow got to work this entire marriage so that it would be a set up for his failure. Happy and content to watch Merlin's world crumble around him from afar. 'They' had driven Merlin to do this, to go crazy inside of his own skin until he had ended up in front of the council. But the king was right about one thing. Merlin wasn't any child, he might be young but he had been an adult ever since he'd said 'I do.' So he should damn well start acting like one, and take the responsibilities for his own action.

"You're right." Merlin announced before his uncle could try to take over and correct him on something that wasn't true. "I know what I'm saying, and I am the sorcerer who used the magic on Gwen's father!"

It felt wrong for Merlin to say anything about this. It felt wrong just to be in the same room as these people, knowing they hated him and his kind. He'd been struggling for years to be able to keep this power tucked away inside of him, using it only when he was alone or in the dead of night where he wouldn't be disturbed by anybody. And now he was here, shouting it just to make sure he was heard by any fool that might be lingering outside the door. He'd do this, he knew he would, but it didn't stop a itch from forming under his skin, a sickening feeling deep in his gut that told him he should run while he still had the chance. Stories with absolute horror ran through his mind, things he'd heard growing up in his childhood about the things people did when they found magic users. People hanging them upside down and tied by the ankles with ropes, their throat cut so their wicked blood could drain across the ground, a way of giving back life to the earth because a sorcerer had obviously taken lives aplenty. Or stories of people who were taken and tied up like a hog from said tree, allowed to be beaten with clubs or sticks-anything a person could find on hand-by anybody who happened to come along. Because the only good witch was a dead witch. And don't even get Merlin started on this one story he heard, where a lady was tied up between two posts, a wrist tied to either side snd stretching her out. She'd be tied there for three days before dying from sun exposure and thirst, and left to hang there for another week before some horrific soul bothered to take her body down.

As Merlin's thoughts were turning more and more horrific, the image reflected on his face because as Arthur had already discovered on his own, the boy was an opened book. Merlin was unable to hide 'anything', and his under-distressed confession seemed to be the only word Uther needed. The King though, was taking his time as he settled himself back into his throne chair. Although his face was like a stone wall, nothing getting through the king's impeccable mask, his eyes seemed to show a blazing rage in their depths. So deeply, there seemed to be red veins popping in the whites of his eyes.

"Then arrest him," the king spoke, his voice was coiling over in disgust. He should have had the boy executed on the spot the 'very' second he showed up in his kingdom looking like some sort of rag doll. The way Merlin was looking…so much like his bastard father who managed to evade him all those years ago…the same stupid blue eyes, and sporting what was almost the exact haircut his father wore in their youth. It had been like falling back in time when he'd first seen Merlin, seeing just a glimpse of the past he wanted to forget, but a past that refused to leave him alone. And, the king should have known out of everybody in his kingdom, it would have been Merlin who'd be the most tempted to start dabbling in the magical arts. So like his father, he seemed to be. Unable to understand the troubles that came with magic. Uther had welcomed that boy into his family, allowed him to marry his only heir and squander whatever chance his son had at having a proper match, and Merlin had spit his mercy for not having him killed that first day right in his face.

Merlin yelped in surprise, but didn't even try to fight back-considering this was what he'd been expecting-when two guards standing on the inside of the doors-just in case things took a rough turn and the council members got physical with each other while unable to come to a proper agreement-grabbed onto his arms from behind. Merlin's eyes darted around, feeling the panic like a noose around his neck as he saw the harsh and judgmental eyes coming from every direction inside the room.

Those chosen to sit in as the king's council was ten men, all sitting at the table, glaring at him as if he'd just stripped down and started dancing naked on their table. Which he felt as if he had, baring his soul and proclaiming his magical abilities to this closed minded group of men. The group seemed to be made out of prominently elderly white men, older than the king himself in fact. Each one was sporting a white beaded in varying lengths, wearing the fancy ornate robes and looking at him like he was something that needed to be dissected. There wasn't a single woman in the chamber, nor was there a person of color. Those types of people were apparently unwelcomed to sit at the king's special table, discussing any of the important business that they did, unable to have a voice for their kingdom.

And then Merlin's eyes landed on…him.

Arthur.

And he only allowed his look to linger there for a second before he turned away, trying to find purchase on his feet as the knights were leading him to the door. Merlin's look, like he was finally accepting what was happening to him and his shoulders sagging, almost like he was relieved it would all finally be over. Merlin wouldn't have to deal with the pain of life for a second longer, wouldn't have to live in this world with people who didn't understand him or feared him if they ever found out what he truly was, seemed to be the one thing which spun Arthur into action, knocking him out of the stupor he'd been in.

"Father, please!" The prince said, before the knights could get Merlin to the door. Arthur whipped his head around to look at his father with a protest already forming tightly onto his lips, "I cannot allow this, it's nothing less than absolute madness!" and even though he was talking to his father, Arthur couldn't fight the urge to shoot his eyes back to Merlin's stilling form. His eyes darted down to the harsh grip the knight's had on his consort's scrawny tiny biceps, and scowled. What were they holding him so tightly for? Did they think Merlin came here, got this all started, and then planned to run off on them? Merlin was easily stupid at the best of times-this moment was a pretty good example-but he wasn't that stupid. He wouldn't start something without going over the finish line, "There is no way that Merlin is a sorcerer." His voice sounded incredulous at the mere thought of it all.

Arthur knew that sorcerer's could easily pass themselves off as a friend, could be a demon hiding behind the skin of a human to get the empathy points needed by the others around them. Letting their magic go unchecked and unnoticed. His father had warned him of the dangers, explain to him that just because one says they are a friend, doesn't mean they are not a sorcerer waiting to stab you in the back the second you turn around. But Arthur also had this imagine in his head, kind of like Mary Collins who tried to kill him the night that he'd been wed. A spinster. Somebody elderly and wicked, who had known how to cheat behind the system for decades before they had been caught.

Now, Arthur knew that this wasn't necessarily true. He'd seen hundreds of executions from the age of seven, when his father started to invite him to the balcony to watch him order it done. He'd been horrified at first, until he had grown and it became the norm. Sorcerers often came in many different sides and forms in life-from an elderly spinster to a little girl in the making of becoming powerful, which was why Uther exterminated them. Before they'd be able to grow into something the kingdom couldn't handle-but…Merlin? If Arthur wasn't seeing how dire this situation was, he would have cracked a rib already from how hard he would be laughing. Merlin…a sorcerer? Arthur highly doubted his consort was hiding away in his room, practicing spell work in the dead of night.

Not when his nights were already filled with 'what can I do tomorrow to drive Arthur up the wall'.

Uther turned his ire onto his only son, every body knew you did not want to be on the bad side of the king, not even his son would have been freed from his wrath, "Did you not hear him?" The king demanded harshly, the color of his eyes standing out with his agitation. He was trying to conduct a serious investigation, as well as getting rid of the nuisance clouding up his family tree. The killing of two birds with one stone, or so the saying goes. And getting rid of the son once and for all, might help the king to finally forget the father who'd brought chaos into his youth.

Arthur pursed his lips, dragging his eyes from the men who looked like they were trying to make bruises form into the pale flesh of his consort's skinny arms-he really was a fragile thing, wasn't he?-who clearly needed Arthur to help him out of the situation he had gotten himself into, "…Yes." He admitted, wishing he had just sucked it up and went to see Merlin earlier today. Maybe if he had, Arthur would have seen the signs that Merlin was going to do something batshit crazy. He could've put a stop to this train of thought before he got it into his head. Then they wouldn't be here, as Arthur was trying to spare Merlin's pathetic little life. Pets were notoriously to be stupid creatures, Arthur honestly should have seen something like this coming from a mile away.

The least he could have done was warn that Knight Gregory to not allow Merlin out of his sight. Merlin was obviously the slippery one to have managed slipping his personal guard.

"He's admitted it!" Uther snapped, as if there wasn't a million and one reasons for someone confessing to something they didn't do. And Arthur knew exactly why Merlin was doing all of this now. That fool wanted to protect Gwen and the only way to do that was by throwing himself into the line of fire. Arthur was going to kill him for this, he wouldn't have to worry about being executed once Arthur managed to get too. Of course, Arthur thought with this contempt manner, he'd have to punish those guards accordingly first. They were handling his consort too roughly for his taste, he didn't even care if they were just doing their job. He had better not discover any markings on the boy later on, or those guard would be doing a few more practice drills over on the training grounds than was humanly possible.

Arthur turned back to his father, making his voice sound as 'this is ridiculous' as he could possibly make it, waving a hand towards his consort in question, "He's my husband!" the prince said boldly, for once not stuttering or hiccuping over the word awkwardly, the sour tang the word usually left him with seemed to be absent from his mouth. He didn't the time to curse Merlin for marrying him, he seemed to have no time for anything, focused firmly on getting Merlin out of this alive. But only so he could kill him for this later, he had to have known Arthur wouldn't just let him go with no fight. Had to have known Arthur was his only safe harbor away from people who couldn't hope to understand what they had. This push and pull of anger, fighting, and contempt with one another. If anybody was going to punish the boy, it wasn't going to be his father with a false claim for magic brimming off of Merlin's lips. It should be Arthur-one of his husbandly duties that he found himself not opposed to doing-who did the punishing. And it wouldn't involve having Merlin burnt at the stake.

No. It needed to be something that was a bit more…personal, to the touch. Maybe he'd get the chance to whip Merlin's arse into shape if things didn't take a turn for the worse.

"The Consort of our kingdom." Arthur would continue to say, turning to look back towards his father so people wouldn't see the need in his eyes. This need to finally just 'do' a damn thing about Merlin's attitude, and giving him a good spanking-like an erect child who'd been caught misbehaving one to many times in the privacy of his chambers, where only Arthur'd hear the yelps and the cries as Arthur forced the other boy over his knee before starting a wailing on his arse with the opened palm of his hand-and it might actually cause Merlin to think a bit more before he did something like this again. "You cannot just go around having Camelot's consort arrested. Executed…"

Although, Arthur knew that wasn't entirely the truth. It was very rare-as most families of a Royal sense liked to send their bad eggs off on some 'expedition' trip they never seemed to return from-but there had been instances and cases where a Royal member was given a public execution. Arthur knew his families history backwards and forwards, just one of the many things he had to be educated on in his youth-and he knew his father once had an uncle. An uncle he'd never met because that man had been executed on the front yard of the kingdom nearly thirty years before he had been born. He had been executed due to the string of suicides being done by the servants at the time, all young pretty females. Arthur will just say his Great-Uncle had this thing for the girls and used his power as prince to get what he wanted from them. None of the girls had spoke up because-who would actually believe them over the prince-until one young maid managed to escape him and informed the king-Arthur's grandfather-about what was happening. The Pendragon's ruling was newer at the time, and that kind of behavior in the family wasn't tolerated. So instead of hiding the prince away in some far corner of the world like most noble families would have done, he'd been put to death and was never spoken about again outside of Arthur's brief lesson on who he was.

But Arthur hoped by bringing this up, Uther would see how insane all of this was. Arthur was sure his father wasn't thinking straight, it was madness! Not to mention, this marriage would have been a complete and utter waste. Not that it already wasn't, but why would his father drag Arthur down onto to execute his consort at the first chance he got:..surely his father could see all of this was just a ploy of Merlin's. Not to get Arthur's attention though, like all of the other times he'd gone and tried to pull something. But to save Gwen…

"I can if he's a sorcerer!" Uther snapped, as he banged his fist down on the table. It was a loud sound that boomed out, startling all that was there. But Uther did not care, and he was not going to be swayed. Just like his father…Uther would not allow his son to fall into the same trap that he had in his youth. Would not allow his son to believe that a sorcerer would be capable of anything other then deceit and the destruction of everything around them. It was a dangerous time they lived in, but Uther would be damned if he allowed another one of those pesky sorcerer's destroy his family.

Arthur's mind scrambled for another-any at all-direction he could go in. If his father was not going to stop this because of Merlin and his Royal status, then there had to be another thing he could use. Something that would, he whipped his head around to meet eyes with a certain consort-Merlin was looking wide eyed and panicked, confused-save this boy's lif…the prince whipped back around to look to his father, "He saved my life!" He blurted out.

Arthur would be the last person on earth to show anybody any weakness-his father was usually the one to tell him that weakness is a thing no Royal could afford to have, lest their people start questioning their rights to rule them-but this wasn't any old situation. It was Merlin and Arthur had already-actually quite grudgingly on his part-swore to protect said mutt after last month's…debatable. But said pup wasn't making it easy for him at all, was he? There was a lot of thing's Arthur would've loved to shout about his consort, but the one thing above all was Merlin knew how to keep somebody on their toes. It was a miracle the boy had even lived long enough for them to be wed. Which was probably why he needed to doll out the perfect punishment for him. If it involved a through trashing on Merlin's ass, then Arthur wouldn't be opposed.

Uther's expression hardened onto his son in a vicious manner, "I paid for that debt to him already-" the king insisted, making the prince frown at him confused. Arthur could still see the blade of the knife glinting at him as Mary Collins was lifting it over her head-whenever he thought about it for too long-and could've imagined the sink of the blade as it slid right through his skin like butter. Embedding itself into his heart and ending his life before he'd got the chance to defend himself. But he did not have to defend himself because his one and only consort had done it for him. Stupid boy had dragged him out of the way, and it had saved Arthur'a life…maybe he was a bit too hard on him sometimes…nah. Not after all the issues he's caused since. Uther decided to finish off his statement with a sneer, "Did I or did I not allow him to live after he accused a knight of devious actions?"

Arthur felt his jaw tightening, and frustration was growing in him. He almost forgot that he was standing in a room full of people who he was to show how perfect of a prince he was, forgot Merlin was still standing there while he watched him, "He was right about that!" The prince exclaimed, throwing his arm out with his frustrations.

Let's forget for a moment that Valiant tried to kill Arthur. Had gone out of his way to track down some long dead magic-users ancient magic and brought it onto Camelot lands. He had then lost control of said shield-which the prince could have told him would happen as magic was volatile at best-and revealed that wicked magic to the whole of the city. Arthur didn't care that Valiant had set two extremely poisonous snakes after him, he didn't care at all that Valiant was long dead. He was pretty pissed off STILL, that the man thought he'd be able to come into his kingdom. That man thought he could 'scare' his consort. Thought he would get away with trying to violate him under his own roof. Not for the first time, the prince wished he could go back to when he'd killed him and do it all over again. Shed all the skin from his bones until he resembled what a monster he was.

Uther seemed to shut down when the prince started raising his voice. He wore a cold and calculated expression on his face, before he was leaning back in his chair with a calming grace that was hard to imitate. The king was waving a hand at him, gesturing for him to go on as he said, "Alright, Arthur. I'll let you have a say in your consort's punishment. But first, I will love to hear your reasoning for why your consort would fabricate a story like this?" He wanted to take his son aside and explain why he should stop this nonsense, by sharing just a few harsh truth's. And one of those truths would be exactly who Merlin's father was and the kind of family he came from. His son was surely not going to be so keen on helping his consort if he knew the boy already had magic running through his bloodline. It was a reality enriched in sadness, how some people never got the chance to be truly free, because they had inherited an affinity for that curse. Uther could only burn their sins away by allowing a fiery feast to settle over them, so he could be protecting the rest of them.

Arthur gritted his teeth. His father might not want to acknowledge the fact that Merlin-an uncouth and uneducated peasant had managed to not only attract the attentions of a sociopath, but was also smart enough to figure out Valiant when he himself had praised him-but Arthur hadn't forgotten any of this. Not by a long shot. But that was not here nor there, his father didn't care and the prince wasn't going to start dredging up any of those old issues when they had newer and more pressing ones.

"Well," Arthur stuttered through his tightly closed jaw, darting his eyes back over to the boy he was fighting so hard to get out of the mess of his own making. "It's…" his eyes shot around the table, looking for anything that'd give him some kind of inspiration. He found it when his eyes landed on Gaius, and he went with it. "It's as Gaius said…" here was where he trailed off for a second. This was probably going to bite him in the arse later on, but that was a problem for future Arthur. "Gaius told me not that long ago, in confidence, that my consort has suffered from a terrible mental affliction…"

Gaius straitened at attention by this, but the one they were all talking about as if he wasn't there at all, felt his jaw dropped. Merlin was in horror, watching all of this playing out before his eyes. At first, the consort had been in this state of shock and confusion. He just could not understand why Arthur had stopped the knights from taking him away. Did he not see what a great opportunity this was for both of them, how everybody would win if Merlin was able to take the fall. Gwen would be free and she could live her life, Merlin being nothing more than a memory of a boy she had once known. Arthur could move on to whatever pretty prince he was sure Uther had in the wings for whenever Merlin finally met his demise. And Merlin….maybe death wouldn't be so bad.

What was he living for anyway? A life full of fear and pain, where just walking down the streets invited more gossip and snooty looks from those who didn't outright assault him. It was fun while it lasted but…Merlin was pretty tired of life right now. Now, if only Arthur was just willing to let him die with some dignity by leaving him to his fate. Because Merlin was finally taking command over his own life, was no longer going to live in wonderment about when he'd get caught. Merlin hadn't been able to decide how he lived. But he was able to decide how he died.

Then the arse had to go on and claim he had a mental deficiency. That stupid lie Gaius had agreed with to get Merlin to live with him was coming back with a vengeance.

"Really?" Uther asked, arching an eyebrow at his son, before turning to look at Merlin. Like he was some kind of interesting specimen he needed to examine under a microscope. "You are telling me your consort is defective?" And Arthur wanted to note down on the inside of his cheek to stop himself from saying another damning piece of business. A consort, or any Royal for that matter, that had something off about them was usually resigned to a life in their room. Cut off away from others who'd see the birth defect as a sign of weakness in the family as a whole.

"…Yes," Arthur said slowly, looking like he had wanted to swallow those words back down in his gullet. Especially since he could feel how intensely Merlin was glaring at him. Now, let's say Merlin did have some kind of magic. Then he would have no doubt he would already be set on fire if that was the case. But he would just need to block that out and 'think'. Come on Arthur, what would be a good thing for his pest to have. Gaius didn't exactly give him a proper name for anything. And Arthur didn't want to admit the stress had been getting to Merlin, Uther would just have him locked off somewhere since he couldn't hack it as the consort. "He's…" Arthur felt his eyes wander over to Merlin, blinking rapidly as to think of something fitting. What kind of sickness was enough to make somebody act irrational. To make somebody storm into a chamber where he was unwanted, and make what seemed to be an outrageous proclamation. What would make someone run straight to their death…an idea hit him and Arthur said it before he could wrap his mind around this being a 'very dumb and stupid' idea. "He's in love!"

Everybody was staring at him now, looking at their prince as if he was some kind of alien he could not even hope to understand. Merlin's jaw had completely came unhinged, dropping so low he could have caught a dozen flies, to which he wouldn't have even noticed.

"…What?" Merlin croaked out, blinking with a dumb fascination at Arthur. He was…in love? No, of course he wasn't. And he would most definitely 'not' be in love with Arthur. If Merlin wasn't so shocked, if he wasn't being held up by the guards still, he would have gone over there and slugged Arthur across the face. He didn't care if he would 'get in trouble' by the king. What was the king going to do about it being done? 'Execute' him. Arthur, Merlin was thinking, had better be going somewhere with this. Or maybe his head really had got to inflated for his body. All you did is give 'one' guy a favor, and the next thing you know, he thinks you're in love with him. What absolute horse crap, please tell him nobody was going to buy this.

Arthur sucked on the inside of his cheek, he was sure he was going to get flank for this in the long run, but he said it anyway, "With the girl, Gwen." and immediately wished he was able to take it back. Now, if Merlin was just a random servant that had came bursting into here, trying to save the fair maiden from her tower, it would've made perfect sense. Most likely would have worked, his father laughing off the incident as a misguided boy just being ruled by his heart. But it didn't work out quite so well when said boy was his consort, when said boy was married to him, and now he just gave the illusion that Merlin was cheating on him.

Utter almost came out of his seat, looking as stupefied as Merlin felt. The rest of those in the chambers were looking between Merlin and Arthur with slackened jaws, as if they did not understand entirely what was going on in the moment.

Arthur cleared his throat, "What I mean to say is that Gwen has some very strong feelings to my consort. And Merlin here, has grown to be quite fond of her himself. So, this is obviously just the delusional attempt to save her from the flames." He finally looked at Merlin…damn was Arthur gonna get it later. Merlin could've quite literally melted him on the spot with the look in his eyes alone. Merlin was looking like one hot mess. His fluffy hair sticking out with every direction, his clothes askew after being handled roughly-Arthur scowled at the knight doing it-by the guards. Merlin's face was also flushed red, his ruddy cheeks bringing a red hue to the forefront. But his eye's…Arthur did not remember seeing them being so vivid. It was that blue coloring, looking stock when it was compared to the redness of his skin. So, he was 'definitely' going to die when Merlin got himself free.

"I do not have strong feelings for Gwen!" the boy had finally worked through his shock for him to speak up in his own defense. How was it, that they were wasting their time with all of this? They should be taken Merlin down with them to the dungeon and releasing Gwen out of her cell. Not coming up with more gossip fodder that wasn't true. Merlin did have these strong feelings for Gwen, but those feelings were not like anything Arthur had managed to make it sound like. She was his friend, almost like a sister! He…he was gay, for crying out loud! Something Arthur very well knew for sure, especially after he had tried to attack Merlin over that flower Gwen had given him.

"…Yes you do." Arthur butted in, being careful to avoid eyes with Merlin, while giving his dad an 'what can you do' sheepish grin. As if this was a big joke to him and he thought it would somehow be funny that his consort had been making it with another woman. And…Arthur's smile was a little stiff around the edges. This whole thing was obviously just some kind of ploy to get Merlin out of this. But now…he did not think he liked his own idea. The thought of Merlin risking his own life for Gwen…what was so special about her?

Merlin gritted his teeth, "I. Do not. Like her. Like that." He enunciated, clenching his teeth while jerking his arms in the guard's grip. Just let him get one good punch in, and then he'd be happy to go in peace. Maybe he should go and get them all back on track with what they were here for, and show them a real sorcerer of magic. It would even take much for him to do, all he had to do was lift up the very fancy porcelain teapot sitting in the center of the table. That will 'really' give the people a thing to talk about. Like how Merlin tried to 'attack them' with a teapot. Or so the future rumors would start exaggerating.

Arthur pushed aside any thoughts he formed on Gwen, he was gonna punish the living shit out of Merlin anyway for all of this. He would just have to come up with an even worse kind of punishment for the boy. But as for now, he smiled disarmingly at his father, "Well, I can be pretty sure you know how certain people can react when they care about somebody." Arthur honestly wasn't sure at all if his father knew that feeling. The way people would go to the ends of the earth if somebody they'd cared was in trouble. Arthur had never felt it towards individual people, but when directed towards his own kingdom…yeah. He liked to think he knew that feeling very well. "And you combine something like that with somebody like Merlin, who wears his heart literally on his sleeve." Arthur let his father fill in the blanks on that one.

The one thing Arthur had hated when he had first met Merlin was how every emotion that boy had was literally written on his face. He'd never make it if somebody tried getting state secrets from him. But if Merlin was gonna go around looking like a bleeding heart, then the least Arthur could do was use that little detail to his advantage. And true enough, when the prince turned to look at Merlin-bringing even more attention to him then before-his horror and shocked expression seemed to deepen with every word Arthur had spoken.

Merlin felt his chest seizing up at being put on display like this. And all he wanted was to have his magic burst out a few of the fancy windows at the top of the walls and watch as the glass flew in every direction, raining down in small pieces over the men waiting for him to react to Arthur's claims. But his fingers felt cold, no magic to warm them up as his magic buried itself deep into his core. Acting almost like it was separate from himself and needed to hide before he was caught. But wasn't the whole point he was here was to 'be' caught?

But it was one thing to shout that he had the magic in his soul. He had thought that would be all he had to do, that the people would've believed him without question before he was escorted to the cells-those dank, dark cells that seemed to sap his energy right out of his body. He hadn't expected to actually have to 'show' it. And somehow, it almost felt all over again, like he had stripped down to nothing and danced on top of the table while elderly men looked at his young fleshy body.

"I mean," Arthur said with this light hearted laugh and Merlin realized with startled clarity that the prince was now talking 'too' him and not just 'about' him. "I did have my suspicion that you might like her a bit more than you let on. But you couldn't exactly hide that flower I caught you wearing that morning."

Merlin felt the color draining from his face as he heard this. Was Arthur really going to use that flower-the same flower he had pitched a fit about and tried to attack him for-to make a proper campaign about how Merlin must be in love with her. It was like people didn't seem to understand around here what being 'gay', and friends with a girl meant. Sometimes, the girl gave her best gay a flower, and he'd been more than happy to take it. But Arthur acted as if he wanted to do nothing but cause the memory to be tainted. By…by making him out to be some kind of harlot! Was this supposed to be a great master plan, something the only great Prince Arthur Pendragon could come up with. Merlin was going to die any minute now-as long as Arthur stopped opening up his big mouth-did he think the king would go harsher on him if he thought Merlin had been stepping out on his son? Did Arthur hate him so much, he wanted his death to be painful, more-so than being burned alive would be?

Merlin swallowed the sour taste forming into the back of his throat, his eyes looking glassy as he glared heatedly at Arthur. "Well maybe if my husband," Merlin practically spit out the word as if it was acid, his voice coming out in a choked up and raw manner, making Arthur and his light hearted grin drop in an instant. "Got me flowers of my own, I wouldn't have gone and got one for myself."

Merlin tried to Will his magic to come up to the surface, he tried to force it out of him to show Arthur he should have never treated him with such cruelty. To show Arthur if he was still pissed about a flower-a flower he'd only worn once, a flower given to him after Gwen saw that he was sad-then Merlin was gonna give him something new to think about instead. But nothing happened, his fingers never warmed as the magic raced throughout his blood. He probably should have panicked, thinking he had lost his magic-which would have been weird for it to happen now of all times-but he didn't. He could still feel it there inside of him, like a second little glowing beat of his heart, trying to hide itself behind what was his 'actual' heart. It just didn't seem like it wanted to cooperate right now, probably because he was repressing it so far down into himself with all of these people watching him. Like they expected him to do some kind of trick to please them. Things like a harlot-a loose woman which was most definitely not himself-would perform.

You would think, even as he was approaching his death bed, Merlin would be smart enough to stop Arthur from hurting him. If only it was so easy to ignore the ache in his chest.

"I-" Arthur started to say, although he forced himself to go quiet, because he didn't know what to say. How did Merlin not see that all of this was just a means to an end, a way to get his father off their back. He didn't mean to go make the boy weepy! Good god, he really did wear his heart on his sleeve. Merlin would be expecting apology flowers by this point, the prince figured. But Merlin wouldn't be getting any from him. Or anybody else for that matter in fact. Especially not from Gwen. Because she was locked in a cell. And Merlin couldn't go off being special with her. Because he was gay, so Arthur was pretty confident he wasn't going to run off into the sunset with her. But did he have to say what he did in front of his father? Arthur was supposed to be making his consort think he was in love with him! Not alienating him at every turn…

"Am I understanding this correctly?" Both of the boys whipped their heads around to see that it had been Uther who had spoken up at Arthur's pausing. And the sight was an awful thing to see, especially when directed right at Merlin. There was this dangerous and almost chilling look in the king's eye, glinting with the bit of light streaming in through the room. "Is this…boy-" his lip curled up dangerously in a violent manner in Merlin's direction. "Is going around cheating on my son, the prince! With a mere serving girl?"

Merlin's mouth felt dryer than even the desert would feel, his heart skipping a beat while the motion made his breath catch in his throat. It was clear that this must have been the secret plan Arthur had been going with. The Prince didn't just want Merlin dead for always trying to defy him, which was something he would happily do again and again. But he also had not counted on Arthur to be so cruel, to be so twisted up about that stupid flower. He'd told him he wasn't going to have Gwen executed! Back when Merlin had tried tackling him, only to end up flat on his backside because Arthur was leaving, and he'd thought the prince was going to hurt Gwen after discovering him with the plant all those days ago. And then Arthur had told him they were 'way past the stupid little flower' when Merlin had demanded to know if Gwen had only been arrested as one way to soothe Arthur's ego. But it must have been nothing more than a trick, a ploy, to get Merlin to stop fighting him. To get Merlin into a position where he could get rid of both him and Gwen.

What a manipulative bastard.

Merlin had 'believed' him. Had actually gone and believed Arthur when he said he wasn't interested in hurting Gwen. That he wasn't to kill her…his stomach lurched painfully inside his stomach so harshly that he thought he'd thrown up all over the shoes of the men that held him in place. Held him so Arthur could taunt him some more, show Merlin how much he got away with, show him how 'stupid' he'd been to believe anything that came out of the prince's mouth.

"Father!" Arthur was the first to get his voice back, quickly before the king could try to do anything rash. He didn't mean to make Uther so angry…he really hadn't thought this one all through. And he needed to make steps to try and correct this. He was trying his hardest to 'stop' Merlin from being tossed out onto the flames. Not trying to be the one to light up a torch and set him on fire himself. "I fear I may have spoken out of turn. I didn't quite mean that 'Merlin's in love…"

At least, he better not be. Arthur squinted out the corner of his eye to check, as if he could tell rather or not Merlin was in love with Gwen even though she was a girl. But didn't Merlin once tell him it didn't work that way, that he'd no interest in 'trying out' a girl to see if he be able to go straight. Or however that particular conversation had gone. There was no actual indicator on Merlin's face that anything about his lie had actually been true, but this may be the one thing Arthur felt was out of his depth. He wasn't entirely sure Merlin was telling him the truth, maybe he wanted to hide what he'd really been doing if Arthur caught him out on the town with a girl and lied to him. Maybe he should do some of his own research, did they even have homosexual relationship like books in the library…no, Arthur was so not be going there. He'd be humiliated if somebody came across him reading one of those filthy books, even if it 'was' just for educated purposes. A grand education he might have had, but it did apparently lack anything concerning…certain things.

Uther's attention seemed to spin toward his son, and Arthur knew why. One of the things a Royal should never do was backtrack, and that was exactly what Arthur had done. He'd said something and then backed up, trying to act as if he hadn't. A Royal needed to know what they were talking about, inspire a strong confidence in the people they were leading to battle and in life. How could one be trusted to rule if said Royal did not know what they were actually talking about, "That is exactly what'd you just said." Uther barked out at his son to show his disapproval, and how much he was going to greatly discourage his only heir from doing it again.

Arthur winced, "You're right," he said quickly to not disappoint his father even more than he already was. "I just think that you might be misunderstanding what I meant." King Uther was narrowing his eyes at him, apparently not appreciating Arthur thinking he was dim as to not understand what 'in love' meant. The king was not one known for listening to that kind of disrespect, and the only reason Arthur was not being taken out to the stocks-which he'd never been in before-was because he is the king's son. But that would only get him so far before he was grounded to his room. So, the prince peddled ahead before the king could do that, and sealing Merlin to his fate, "I just meant that Merlin is in love, but he's not 'in' love. My Consort does love Gwen, but I also believe that love is more of an affectionate kind. My consort is a former peasant, so he's connecting with them." Arthur made sure to appease his father by bowing his head with a respectful manner, "So I do fear I might have spoken out of turn-"

"You are damn right you spoke out of turn!" his consort was yelling from behind, his rage at this conversation controlling him. And the prince whipped his head around to give that consort of his an 'don't screw this up' look on his face. But the damage seemed to already be done, because many of the men sitting at the table looked horrified at Merlin. Some of them clutching their chests to hear such foul language coming from their consort. Arthur was used to the language by this point, and didn't react nearly as much as he probably should have faked it. "Saying I like Gwen like that…"

None of this was making one bit of sense to Merlin. Was Arthur trying to get both him and Gwen executed…? He was the bloody prince of the city! It couldn't be that hard to get rid of somebody you detested! Surely not hard enough that Arthur had to come up with this whole ploy or whatever. And why was Arthur trying to backtrack himself…it would be much easier to just let Uther think whatever it was he wanted. What was Arthur's game plan…?

Merlin growled, low in his throat and with this almost guttural sound, "You and I both know I don't! You, out of all people, should know me enough to at least know that!" Or do you not pay attention to anything, Merlin thought with privacy in his mind. Considering they had this conversation before. Where Merlin had gone literally screaming in Arthur's face about how he was gay and not going to run off with the handmaiden despite accepting her flower as a gift between friends.

Arthur suddenly felt himself flushing red hot since he knew exactly what Merlin meant by saying that. That moment was still very much ingrained in his head, how Merlin thought he could take him on in a fight. Arguing because he refused to respect Arthur's wishes to just get rid of that 'stupid' flower. Arthur, actually, was pretty sure he still had the claw marks on his wrist. The ones Merlin had given him after slicing at his hand with his nails just because Arthur had tried to remove the flower himself since Merlin refused him. But did he have to bring it up now? Nobody else knew the story of what he meant, nobody had seen Merlin's angered red cheeks as he yelled loud enough for anybody to hear how 'gay' he was. Since nobody else had the proper context to work with, it had sounded 'so' much worse than it was. Naughtier…Arthur could see several of the men looking at him now and shifting with awkward abandonment in their chairs.

He was so gonna get Merlin for that. The last thing he wanted was for the people to think he and Merlin…got together…frequently.

"Why on earth then, would he be wearing a flower?" Uther demanded hotly, glaring at his son for daring to defy his consort getting the proper execution he needed. The King most likely had never had a real friend, a real one who couldn't afford to gift people with these expensive jewels to wear and show off. Some people could only afford a flower they picked off the grass, and some people knew when it was too be appreciated. And others-like the king and Arthur-had never worried about the money, or rather they would have enough to even afford a bite of food. They were people who would never understand where Merlin was coming from, or how stupidly amazing a simple flower had felt when he'd been going through so much at the time.

"Father, it's quite a simple explanation," the prince spoke out, making Merlin give him the side eye. Oh, he was going to love what little excuse Arthur planned to give his father. But that was when Arthur turned to him, and the consort felt as if something inside of him had just died.

Arthur was smiling at him. Arthur had 'never' smiled at him. Not unless he thought Merlin was being ridiculously stupid about anything, and Merlin didn't like that he was now. It did seem like an inappropriate moment, and the prince's eyes met his. Merlin felt his heart as it skyrocketed in his chest to a level that was not supposed to be healthy or normal. Arthur may be grinning at him, but it was the kind of grin that said Merlin was in trouble. Then the prince was rounding the table, making Merlin feel as if his spine had just shot straight out of his back from how harshly he had stiffened up. The guards holding him released Merlin's arms, but before Merlin had a chance to step away, Arthur was on top of him.

Or, if one wanted to be more specific, Arthur wrapped his arm around his waist and jerked him into his hood, pinning Merlin's left arm to his side between them. He didn't even have a chance to shove Arthur away, due to the very awkward position he was pinned in. 'This was not happening' Merlin thought wildly, with his eye twitching as he found himself scrunched up against Arthur's broad chest. And he had his hand on Merlin's hipbone, his grip was on just the right side of being too harsh, swiping his thumb in circles around the bone to make his grip more punishing, telling Merlin silently not to move while also not allowing him to go even an inch back.

"I'm waiting, Arthur." The king said bluntly to his son, a disgruntled expression on his face at seeing the display of this false affection on the two boys. A perfect show meant for the ones watching, a perfect example of a happy marriage between two individuals seemingly not knowing what personal space was when it came to themselves. But it was disgusting to the king as well, even if he would approve of the act in any other given situation than an accusation of witchcraft still spurning itself through the air.

"Of course, father," Arthur spoke out quickly, even as he moved his hand away from the sharp hipbone jutting out of his Merlin's side. "I would just like to explain first of the bond my consort and…the handmaiden…have with the other. Like, did you know he kept up with the flower, even though it's probably dead by now. But put away for safekeeping because my consort is so…sentimental." Merlin almost wanted to point out that the flower was most definitely dead since it was the one he'd used to test the water from the pumps for signs of the disease. But he didn't, too busy staring at Arthur as if he had a second head.

His father, Arthur noticed, wasn't looking any pleased by what he was saying. And those in the meeting were starting to share confused looks with each other. Even Gaius frowned at him, obviously confused by him. But Arthur ignored this, so that he could move his hand up to trail along Merlin's arm. For those who watched, it could have been seen as a gentle gesture for those in love, a sign of comfort to say that everything was going to be alright in a few minutes. But Arthur was watching very carefully for Merlin's reaction, but all the boy did was look down at his hand like he thought the appendage was some kind of serpent trying to take his soul. But that was okay with Arthur, even though he should probably have been offended. Because that would mean his consort wasn't flinching, like one would if the guard had left a bruise on him from his harsh mistreatment of his husband's body.

"Merlin here thought he was being so sneaky and cute, the way he practically fainted that flower in my face," Arthur continued talking as his hand continued a path up, stopping for just a brief moment to rub-once, twice, and a third time-along the spot the guard had held in case it had caused Merlin the slightest bit of discomfort. "But I know exactly what he'd thought he was doing." He finally slung over his arm around Merlin's shoulder, pushing the slimmer boy further into the crook of his own chest. Making it really look as if he was used to touching Merlin as much as he liked, even though he also knew he was freaking out as much as Merlin was. Which he knew because Arthur's arm was wrapped firmly around the other boy's neck, keeping him in place just to stop him from trying to wiggle himself away like he liked to do. And this left his hand in a resting place near where the boy's heart was.

Beating fast and thumping harshly against the palm of his hand. Arthur pressed his hand in against it deeper, the sign of a heartbeat a comfort because this meant Arthur would be doing his job as a protector adequately. And when his father demanded to know what his consort had been doing think-sneering at the mere thought that anybody would think a girl no more common than dirt was a better catch than a prince-and Merlin was glaring over at him, Arthur continued talking.

"Well, it's obviously isn't it?" Arthur asked the men there with this charming and disarming grin, as if he was doing the world a favor by being so absolutely 'in love' with Merlin that he thought everything he did was cute. "Well, with this sickness and everything going on, I find myself not being able to spend nearly as much time with my consort as I have been in the past." Arthur grinned sheepishly at Merlin while acting as if this was all his fault. "Merlin just likes to make me jealous sometimes, and clearly Gwen is a good candidate for him to do it with. It's a very cute attempt of course, and this whole thing is just him taking this a step too far."

Arthur finished this off by tightening his grip on Merlin, forcing his consort to slouch since it was the only way for Arthur to fit his arm in a comfortable manner. Merlin was so tall, that it had caused a strain in Arthur's shoulder to keep it around him. But around him he kept it, just in case those two guards made a play to take Merlin under their custody again. If what was happening took a turn for the worse.

"What?!" Merlin exclaimed, finding his voice as he felt his blood rushing to his face. Arthur had not seriously just tried to suggest that he was trying to…make him jealous? There were stares from the other men in the room, Merlin was sure they were all thinking he's nothing more than a petty child at this point, playing mind games to get what he wants. Merlin did not have to play mind games. He'd gone right to Arthur and tried to get his affections to be returned, it hadn't ended so well, and it was the end of that. He didn't…he didn't 'want' to make Arthur jealous! Especially not with his friend Gwen, of all people. Merlin was so over the prince, completely and irrevocably over him and his attitude. "I was not trying to-" his concern was for Gwen, not some misguided prince who misconstructed every little detail to fit the narrative he liked the most.

"It's alright." Arthur interrupted before Merlin could finish, dragging him closer still so that the consort was leaning more heavily on him. The prince got a mouthful of thick hair for his trouble, and the stent of peasant and the way the air would have this lingering smell after a lightning storm had just passed through. The prince craned his neck away to get the scent out of his way so he could think proper. Then he continued his little charade for the people, gesturing towards them with the free arm he didn't have currently strangling his consort to his side. "Nobody here's going to laugh about it, you can admit it freely in here." Arthur even cooed at Merlin when he said this, making it seemed like he thought the other boy wasn't anything more than a cute puppy who'd just did a new trick.

Merlin's face flooded with heat again, but this time with a more humiliated edge to it. "No, I am not!" He exclaimed, feeling the shame of being treated like he was something cute and not an adult trying to do the right thing. Then he tried wiggling himself free with a bit more of his strength, but without using his magic to assist with throwing Arthur away from him, his physical strength wasn't up to par. Arthur just pinned him harsher, the false imitation of an embrace, where it didn't even look like he was trying to escape.

"Maybe this Gwen has set some kind of spell on you." Uther spoke up, looking bored with this now, instead of angry. He was still giving Merlin the side eye, not entirely convinced it was as Arthur said. But figured this was just his son's consort being overzealous again as he was in most things. Both Arthur and Merlin whipped their heads around to look at him in panic, the prince thinking his plan to save the boy had failed, just like he had failed to do a proper job of protecting him when the knight Valiant had been around. The consort, with a look of disbelief, because please tell him the king wasn't actually believing any of this utter bull crap. "Or maybe our consort had cast his own spell over my son."

The Consort and the Prince had been far too involved with each other before this, too busy dealing with each other and the constant pull and push between each other to even notice the king all but dismissing them until he had spoken up. Merlin seemed to pale, because he was pretty sure Uther had suggested he used some type of 'love spell' on the prince. Merlin didn't even have that type of magic in his one spell book, and he would have never used it even if it did. That was…that would've been completely unethical! Merlin had to be able to draw a line in the sand somewhere to determine what was 'okay' magic and those that are 'not' okay magic. He was still trying to learn though, which was why he hadn't realizing using magic to fix Gwen's father was not okay because of the extra heat that came along with it. What, with all of the politics that came with a city, and all of the extra people waiting in the wings to report even the tiniest odd comings they saw…it was confusing! But Merlin didn't need the extra learning to know a love spell was…it was basically assault!

Using magic to make somebody love you? It was no different than a man in a bar getting a woman blackout drunk so he could have his way with her, knowing she would never agree if she were awake and in her right mind. Even when Merlin was at the strongest point of his crush, he would've never stopped to trying a 'love spell' to get Arthur's attention. He might be a monster, but Merlin wasn't that kind of a monster.

"…Father?" Arthur asked with this uncertainty when nobody was stepping up to try and rip his consort out of his arms. He was positive it had backfired, and his father was just waiting to give the order. But he didn't. And then the prince saw the half amused twinkle inside the king's eye, the smirk barely on his face after his own joke. The other members inside the chambers started to chuckle and laugh about it among themselves, clearly taking the king's amusement as their cue to laugh along with it, rather or not they actually thought it had been funny.

Arthur wasn't entirely sure what was actually happening right now, but his father seemed to be in a better mood now. Maybe the king was happy Arthur was taking his job as being a husband seriously…happy he was putting on a proper act for others? Because being a real husband, Arthur wouldn't have just gone and let his consort be arrested without some kind of fight back. It was only coincidence his plan had actually worked in preventing Uther from ordering the guards to take Merlin away anyway. Or maybe the king genuinely didn't believe Merlin was a 'sorcerer' because of the explanation Arthur gave…? The prince did not know which one it was, but he wouldn't be looking a gift horse in the mouth.

"Merlin is a wonder," Arthur agreed, smiling at the audience for the show they had crafted to a point, before grinning at Merlin. His consort was looking just as confused as Arthur felt at the moment, and no longer trying to break off from Arthur's grip on him. "But the wonder is clearly how far he'll go just to save a friend to risk his own safety like that." As Arthur said it, he worked his arm away from where he had it wrapped around Merlin's neck, but he didn't move from being plastered at Merlin's side. A surprisingly pleasant burn was in his shoulder after having his arm forced up due to Merlin's height, kind of like the strain he would feel on the training field after he had finished up with a particularly grueling but satisfying session.

Merlin blinked dumbly when he felt the prince worming his fingers up the nape of his neck, in which caused an involuntary shiver to roll down his spine. And those same fingers went into the back of his hair, probing around the base of his skull. Merlin immediately tried to pull away from this false display of genuine affection, not entirely sure what the hell that prince thought he was doing now. Or why he thought Merlin would sit here like a good little puppy and be petted in front of all of those weird old men, which included his father-in-law and his uncle. Merlin didn't get very far though, before those fingers working up into his hair suddenly grabbed a fist full before he was jerking his head back. A gasp had been literally ripped out of Merlin's throat, his neck being pulled back enough to cause strain out of the awkward angle.

"But there's no way," Arthur hissed behind his consort, his breath ghosting across Merlin's sensitive earlobe, speaking with a harshness that surprised even Merlin. Talking just loud enough for the rest of the council to here, but it was clear he was talking sorely to Merlin at this point, Arthur's chest pressing so tightly against Merlin's side and back that not even a piece of parchment could have fit in between their bodies. Arthur was sounding harsh, like he would do something extreme if Merlin did not comply to his wishes, his hand tightening in Merlin's hair hard enough to be borderline painful. But all it did was make Merlin's mouth drop open in a silent gasp, blood returning to his face so quickly he felt like he had a head rush, and the heat…there was a strange heat forming somewhere in his stomach, below his belly button. "He's a sorcerer."

Arthur kept him in that position for a second longer, forcing the boy's head further back so that he was bent back far enough for his dark hair was resting against his shoulder blade. It was only when he thought he'd gotten across the message, did Arthur loosen his grip long enough to sweep his thumb across the spot, as he figured he'd at least soothe the ache he had probably caused. The things people did to make sure their pets were comfortable…it would clearly have been no effect if all Arthur had done was brush the boy's hair gentle like he had been considering earlier. Sometimes, a person just needed more of a form hand to be tamed than others did.

"Arthur," his father called out to him from his spot at the head of the table, reminding their prince of where he was. Arthur dropped his consort completely, stepping away as to put a bit of distance between them. Merlin nearly fell off his feet, harshly exhaling to himself as he slumped over, staring at the floor in shock as he tried to regain his bearings. His head is hurting from where Arthur had grabbed him, although it…tingled not so painfully. His face was still red hot and he was sure he wasn't breathing properly, a bit more raggedy than he normally would be. Merlin had never had a reaction like that to somebody yanking at his hair. But then again, the last time somebody had, he'd been ten and gotten into a fistfight with the neighborhood boy. The rolling along the ground trying to hit anything they could reach kind of fight, before their mothers had managed to pull them off of each other, "I do hope you are aware that your consort's been wasting my time, as well as the time of these other members of my council. As entertaining as it was, do be sure that it won't happen any time soon again."

"Of course, father." Arthur bowed his head to the king to show his respect. Considering his father wasn't having Merlin burned simply for the way he had busted in here, the respectful manner was certainly earned. Arthur though, was also surprised that it seemed like they'd be getting away with this. "This won't happen again. I know that it's not the norm, but may I ask for an allowance of time be given so that I may speak to my consort for a moment. I will return promptly, of course."

Merlin blinked, coming back to himself as the prince took him by the arm, ready to jerk him off to some secret alcove to give him a really proper dressing down for getting involved in things again. Merlin scowled, harshly digging his heels into the ground to make it harder for him. Arthur probably thought he was some big hero now, having come to slay all of those demons in Merlin's way. Arthur wasn't a hero, he had just made things so much harder. And short of throwing one of the decorative vases along the wall at his head via magic, he would seriously doubt anybody would listen to him now that Arthur made him out as some child who didn't know what he was talking about.

"I did not dismiss you, Arthur." The king said from his chair, looking calm and collected as the two boys had barely made it more than a foot away from the table. Which caused both of them to freeze in their steps, and look with surprise at him. After all, they were done here weren't they? Even Merlin, who didn't want to go with Arthur, wasn't sure if he wanted to be staying here with Uther. He would just have to come up with another plan to get Gwen to safety, an escape plan maybe, instead of full on taking her place since that play had gone drown the river after Arthur's interference. "I believe I would like to have another word with your consort because I dismiss you."

"Father…!" Arthur started to protest, his hand flexing around Merlin's bicep. He feared that maybe things hadn't worked out like he was thinking it had. But obviously his father didn't believe Merlin was the sorcerer any longer…it was entirely possible that Uther wanted to be the one to discipline Merlin himself. Although that responsibility should have fallen straight to Arthur only, as Merlin's husband. But that wouldn't stop his father if he thought Arthur wasn't doing an adequate job of keeping him out of trouble. And Uther didn't even know all of what Merlin had been doing, he definitely didn't know Merlin had moved out. But then again, Merlin had also done plenty in front of his father that he wouldn't approve of.

"Now, now Arthur." The King stopped his son in his tracks, leaning back in his chair before giving his son's consort a cold and assessing look. "Your consort has expressed himself an interest in getting involved in matters of the court. I believe it's only right that we test just what he can do, while we are all still here. I'm sure the other members don't mind the brief pause in our discussions." He made a gesture towards the ten men sitting up and down the table, as if to offer any of them to speak now if they didn't approve. But nobody made any move, probably knowing it wasn't an actual request and Uther would have them booted out if they tried. But he didn't have to worry about any of that, because the council men, except for Gaius frowning worriedly, looked as if they were eager to see Merlin making a fool out of himself.

Arthur swallowed down the protest trying to make it's way out of his throat. Like the men, Arthur recognized that this wasn't a request, it was an order. Merlin was looking at him in confusion, but Arthur didn't say a word about it, couldn't even bring himself to look over at the consort. Arthur just frog marched Merlin back into position in front of the table, to be all but put on display for their pleasure while they took the mickey out of him. Only when he was positioned properly did Arthur let him go. The prince stepped back so that he was a foot behind the consort, his own feet a good shoulder width apart and his hands tucking behind his back. Waiting for his king to make the next move.

And make his move he did.

Uther leaned back in his chair even further to look the picture of sophisticated grace, like a silken cat lounging among the treetops while just waiting for his prey to appear out of the weeds. He studied Merlin for a minute more, taking his time to really up the anxiety factor, before finally speaking. "Men," he called out, not looking at any of them as he was making himself known. "We've been presented with a rare opportunity here. A chance to see what our 'esteemed consort' is able to do during a time of crisis." He used this statement as an opening to call this meeting to order.

Uther was quite eager to have this matter get handled with the proper care. He had thought he'd made himself perfectly clear to Merlin to not get himself involved in any matters of the court. Humiliated in front of all the peers who were watching, forcing an apology to a dear knight turned traitor for Merlin's serious lack in judgement and tack with handling that kind of situation. Most would have turned tail and run, which is exactly what Merlin had done, to be confident in only knowing the place they had in society. Never to again darken Uther's doorstep now that the message was made to be very clear to them. But Merlin hadn't gone and hid his face in shame. He had returned to the council chambers to relieve what had to be a humiliating moment for him, Uther had made sure it would be. So clearly, he needed to enforce the lesson a bit more. If humiliation wouldn't work like it should, then maybe the king just needed to try a different approach of the matter. To show him how stupid he'd been behaving to get involved. To ask him a few questions he could not possibly know the proper answers for with the lack of any kind of proper education, Uther had made sure to do that on purpose nowadays. Keep the boy in ignorance would prevent him from trying to get involve. Merlin needed to learn to 'never' speak up. To never think him or what he said was important enough to voice. To stand in the background and wait to be spoken too, if somebody deemed they needed to hear any kind of joke, like a fool the boy was.

Uther would make sure, after today, the boy would know not to interfere. Would know to allow the 'real' nobles control the situation, to not cause distractions away from any of the real work being done.

"Our people are dying in the streets." Uther said in an impassive voice, speaking only the facts of the matter. According to the count he had brought to him earlier that day, there was a reported seventy five peasants who'd done submitted to the disease. Weaklings. "And we have the Witch responsible down in our very cells right this minute. So tell me Merlin, what do 'you' think should be done in the situation like this. If you were, of course, the one that was making the decision.

This was obviously some kind of test, Merlin thought dumbly, and he wished he could've said something witty. Something smart. That would have the king ordering Gwen's release from the cells right this minute because he'd been right and they knew it. But it was pretty hard to say anything of substance when his brain was rattled. Merlin was ashamed just thinking how emotionally drained he was, he couldn't even think of something that would make the king let her go. Other than saying it was him again, but the king would have him thrown out on his arse. And Merlin would've accomplished nothing!

And he was even more ashamed when the prince-having seen Merlin's hesitance with answering-stepped forward to once again 'save him' from his big bad father. "Sire, I do not believe that my consort has been readied enough to make such large decisions when it comes to the safety of the kingdom!"

Arthur stood a little in front of Merlin now, so that his shoulder would block him from view. What he needed to do was get Merlin out of here as quickly as possible without damaging his reputation. Merlin didn't know about the laws, or the procedures, or what can and can not be done in regards to prisoners. He didn't know the words to use when speaking to the king, and he didn't know how things needed to be addressed a certain way to not cause an offense. Something like what his king was doing could only lead to disaster. Probably for Arthur, who would be left behind to try to do damage control.

Uther held up his hand, indicating to Arthur that he wasn't interested in hearing his heir do the talking for his consort. He wanted to hear the consort talk on his own, and access just how dimly aware Merlin was of what was going on around him. Arthur snapped his jaw shut with a clank of teeth, knowing he would only disappoint his father if he continued with this. "Then maybe," the king spoke, not even trying to mince his words for his son's sake, being as cruel and as unforgiving as he would have been for any stranger off the street. "It was you who should've taken responsibility and taught him what happens when he dares to speak up during a council meeting I've not personally invited him too."

Arthur didn't speak up after that, knowing it would do no good, even as he felt the shame for not preparing Merlin any better-or at all-then he had. Merlin's status as consort-and his father's need to humiliate him further-was the only thing stopping Merlin from being put in the cells right next to Gwen. All Arthur had to do was take five minutes out of his day to teach Merlin a few essentials he would need to know one day. Rules and etiquette or even exceptions which needed to be follow right to the letter. Things like: he wasn't allowed to go speaking up without the king's permission, it was something usually done when Uther was calling the meeting to order. But his consort hadn't been there the first time, so him trying to speak up at all would have been seen as completely inappropriate to the court. There were a dozen or so other things Arthur could have listed, but it would have been a waste of time since he knew for sure that Merlin knew absolutely none of them. Hell, he could even have had a book sent over, like when he had needed Merlin to learn proper etiquette for the tournament. It hadn't done any good as Melin had rarely used any of the information in it, but it would have been something! Other than just starting out with nothing to help or gain from this…

Uther seemed to take pity on his side, even if the eye roll was a little juvenile for the king, as he waved his hand at him. "Oh, do calm down Arthur. This isn't anything all that serious, do you not remember when I would do the same to yourself? How I would take you out back to get your view on things, ask your own opinion for how things needed to be handled? This is nothing more than a learning experience, just a teaching moment for the boy since you've lacked in initiative to do it yourself."

Arthur's throat tightened, hearing the snide remark in his father's words. Uther wasn't all that wrong though. This was exactly how he had used to teach Arthur during his teenage years. And it was bloody awful, to the point where Arthur had been starting to develop an anxiety every time his father would go calling for him. Arthur had always given the wrong answer to whatever the situation was going on the time. Peasants arguing over a goat: he had suggested they work for the right just to keep the goat. The one who backed out was usually the one trying to take it from the real owner, and didn't want to bother putting the extra effort in to keep it. The right answer had been to just take the goat so they would not bring such trivial matters to the king, and use the goat for slaughter. Two nobles had some kind of conflict because they wanted to have their married children produce an heir within the next year: Arthur had suggested they see Gaius for some kind of fertility potion to help the woman conceive. The right answer would have been, as stated by Uther, well…he was still disturbed by it and didn't like thinking of it. But the answer have involved sowing good relations between the crown and more noble families to foster the strength inside of their community and kingdom. And there were a dozen other situations or scenarios the king would want to go over with it: saying all of the same things a dozen different times just to show Arthur how to watch one's words. And how everything had a double meaning tied in somewhere.

It didn't matter the scenario: crisis during the planting season, farmer up in arms with each other, rations amount if the city went had to go into lockdown-like it was right now. How to react during a drought. Or if a war showed up on their doorstep, things to say that might prevent a war from happening, things he had to do if an enemy of the kingdom tried their hand at invading. Arthur had to have the right answer for it all, and Uther was never pleased unless he gave it. Arthur had only started to please his father when he stopped thinking of what he would do, and think of what the king would have done.

"You're consort," Uther continued to talk as he waved one of his hands around in a bored manner. "Has made it very clear that he does intend to make his own personal opinions on the matter-unwanted as they are-a habit. So, now we are going to test his ability to make a proper decision. And we are all are going to give him this moment to talk. Merlin," Uther turned to the consort before repeating the question he had asked earlier. "Tell us, what would you decide to do about the witch if we left the decision up to yourself?"

Arthur had hated every bit of doing these tiny 'tests' back then. And he hated watching as it went down just as much. But knowing when a dismissal was spoken to him, Arthur had very little choice but to step back and watch the proceedings as they happened. Watch rather or not his consort would have any future here in Camelot, because something like this was enough to make him or break him. A council like his father's wouldn't be so forgiving if the consort failed to impress him.

And impress him…Merlin did not.

"You…you just have to let her go, Gwen…she is innocent!" Merlin blurted out the first thing that had came to mind, his wide eyes were darting around frantically to find some kind of common grounds with these people. It was a simple answer to him, the only one that made sense. Why kill somebody that was innocent of what they were being charged with? But it was easy to say this when he knew more of the details than he was letting on. It was easy to speak about letting her go and dealing in the fallout of those thinking a witch had gone walking free. Anybody with half a brain could have realized Gwen was innocent though, all anybody needed to do was visit her and see the tear stains on her face. Somebody who'd use magic to start up a plague wouldn't be sitting around in her cell, crying into the folds of her skirts.

Merlin was met with unimpressed faces from the entirety of the council, all looking at him in a bored manner. No longer entertained by what they thought would be something good instead of droll. There, Merlin realized, wasn't a single face among them. Not one person he could turn to for encouragement, because he knew nobody here cared about Gwen. Merlin even saw his uncle, the only one he might be able to trust, reach a hand up to rub tiredly at his face. Clearly, he thought what Merlin had said was just as bad as all the rest, groaning under his breath the way he was. And from a harsh burning he could feel embedding into the side of his skull, he was pretty sure his husband was glaring daggers at him. It was quite obviously, probably, the worse answer he could have given the king. Who compared to his men, was smirking at Merlin as if he'd gotten what he wanted. Merlin's ultimate and unbecoming humiliation.

Things seemed to start back up when one of the council men scoffed loudly. He turned to his fellow councilmen, as if he was telling the secret everybody wanted to know, but doing nothing to hide the volume of his voice. "He is clearly too addled in the brain to give us a proper answer." He said, as he turned back to Merlin to give him the same look of disgust or contempt that everybody had taken to giving him upon sight. Obviously, Merlin had failed, as the only correct answer would have been to burn Gwen alive before she could cause anymore damage with her trickery and with her 'magic'.

Arthur suddenly grabbed Merlin by the bicep, jerking the boy slightly behind him. "Father, I do have to apologize for the scene Merlin has caused you. It was a grave error in my part to not see to his education. I'll be sure that this will not happen again." Forget about Merlin as a dirty and unwanted pest Arthur needed to keep under lock and key. He had clearly been upgraded to being nothing but the dirt and the crust underneath Arthur's bolts. Capable of getting underneath Arthur's skin and into every nerve or crease he had in his body.

"See to it that this holds true." Uther said in a cold manner. He had at least thought Merlin would have been able to provide the proper entertainment, suggestions that Uther could have ripped apart to sheds until Merlin would have been nothing more than a former shell of himself. Then the king turned to one of the men sitting at his side and started up their oh so important conversation again, dragging all of the other men into as well. As if Merlin was never even there to disrupt them.

Ignoring Merlin's protest, Arthur started to drag the boy across the room towards the corner. A quiet place where he would be able to hiss quietly/yell, at him for what humiliation he had just done. It was so frustrating how he never bloody well thought about anybody but himself. Did Merlin seriously not realize how everything he did-despite Arthur having told him as such several times-reflected back on him. Every mistake Merlin had ever made was one more mistake forced upon Arthur as well. As much as Arthur hated to admit it, the two of them were a package deal now. And Merlin being moronic would only have people start to question Arthur's sanity.

"W-wait!" Merlin's voice suddenly rang out in the council chambers, strong and true. Then, before the prince had even realized what was going on, Merlin had managed to slide out his much smaller and bonier wrist right out of his hand, leaving the prince to be grasping at not a thing but air. Arthur spun around, eyes wide with panic at what Merlin thought he would be doing. But Merlin was already gone and he was out of reach before Arthur could latch on to him.

This…Arthur thought in disbelief as he was watching Merlin ramming himself back into the table, his hips pressed harshly against the stone edge of it, and his hands slamming hard enough to make a clapping sound while getting everybody's attention on him…could not all be because of Gwen? Sure, Gwen was a nice girl. But not somebody Merlin should be trying to get himself killed over for…Arthur felt a bubble of something ugly growing into the pit of his stomach. Why was Merlin doing all of this…for Gwen?

"I would like to try again!" Merlin spoke, voice much stronger than it had been the first time, when he had been running off adrenaline and fumes. He knew full well that he had already failed Uther's test the first time moments ago but this time, he was ready. To do this whole thing with logic-which might not be a strong point of his-rather than emotionally. And this wasn't the first time Merlin had failed a test given to him by Uther. He'd failed back when the king had demanded he do all the talking when he'd accused Valiant in front of those in attendance at his last council meeting. None of them had listened to him then. And not any of them were listening to him now. But Merlin also knew the stakes were so much higher in the now then it was in the then. Merlin, during the last time, had been the only one who was truly at stake, the one caught up in all of the crosshairs of Arthur had lost his fight against Valiant. But Arthur had also chosen to go out and fight him. Whether he won or lost, Arthur at least had the skills and strength necessary to put up a decent fight. Gwen was the exact opposite: she was an innocent girl who had no chance in fighting against men that were so much more powerful than she was. Merlin wondered if he himself would be powerful enough to break this cycle of abusing one's power.

But he knew he was going to try. Merlin was not going to walk out of here, knowing that he had failed her, without using every piece of information he had. Knowledge was power and Merlin already had all the pieces from the stuff he'd learned in these last two months. It just needed to be put together.

And then Arthur was standing right behind him as if he had somehow teleported himself across the room, "What are you doing?" the prince hissed furiously in Merlin's ear. It was getting ridiculous, Arthur thought. Did Merlin not have enough of a brain to realize this was a losing battle. Innocent or not, Gwen was a serving girl. Nobody was going to try rocking the boat and making waves for a commoner. So, what was so bloody special about 'Gwen', that made Merlin act as if he was some kind of deranged lunatic. If Arthur wasn't already confident that Merlin didn't like girls-he was that confident, wasn't he?-then he would've thought his consort had caught feelings for her. Arthur turned to his king with a slew of apologies who would only ever give towards his father already brimming on his lips.

Arthur's hands came up mid-apology, and he grabbed onto Merlin's shoulders, just ready at this point to wrestle Merlin straight out of the room before he had the chance to go and do anything else that would embarrass and shame Arthur to be tied to him in marriage. It was Uther who stopped him though, raising a silent hand just as Merlin once again jerked himself out of Arthur's grip.

"I believe I'm just curious enough to hear what the boy has to say." Uther said cooly, as he lowered his hand back to tap on the table top. It wasn't everyday somebody had came back after being throughly humiliated in front of him and his men. And if Merlin had enough in him to come back, then he clearly had not learned enough of a lesson.

Arthur froze, blinking stupefied. It was bad enough that his father probably realized that Arthur wasn't able to keep Merlin on a strong enough leash. The consort was more willy in his movements than Arthur had given him the credit for. But his father also wasn't the type known for giving others a second chance. To do so now…he was honestly worried now. He doubted this would end well.

Uther waved a hand at the boy, giving him a second start that he desperately needed. So, Merlin took that as his cue to ignore Arthur in the long run. The prince already hated him so he might as well go all out to cement the kind of hatred they had for each other. And what better way to do it than to draw the attention to himself. It was the one thing Merlin would happen to be good at, it seemed: being the center of attention.

The first thing Merlin did was straighten up the way he had seen Arthur doing when they had something going on. Because Merlin was 'always' watching, taking in what he was able to, learning and dismissing what he thought h could get away with. There was a hardness in Merlin's eyes that hadn't been there moment before. Anybody worth their salt would have recognized Merlin's determination, but very few was paying him that closely attention.

"Gwen is a citizen of Camelot," Merlin started to speak, trying to sound more political than he had the first time, his brain racing with all of the other things he had learned during his time in Camelot. The things he'd seen, things he picked up, the things Morgana had taught him when they used to meet up everyday for lunch. It was there, he just needed to find it and be able to utilize it for his own good. For Gwen's own good. "Does she not deserve to live freely in the home she has done no harm in, the home she grew up and thrived in after all these years. You have no actual proof that Gwen is anything more than what she says she is: a simple handmaiden loyal to the king and to the crown. And yet, you are all willing to condemn her to something irreversible, to turn your backs while acting as if her death is not happening because it isn't happening to you."

Merlin refused to let his eyes waver, knowing that this was too important to allow himself to falter in front of this group. The people love a good speech, was one of the few things that Morgana had stressed to him during one of her teaching moments. Merlin hadn't really understood it at the time, but he thought he was getting the gist of it now. He just wasn't sure if his little 'speech' was going to be any good for the king. Although, it might not even matter whether or not his 'speech' had gone any good. Nobody here cared about what he had to say. This was just another moment for the king this time, inside of his son, to try and put him down in his place. Just one more way to make him know that he wasn't one of them and that he wasn't welcomed. Well, he would be the first to say that he was tired of it.

Tired of being unwelcomed. Tired of being the odd one out, the one nobody could stand just because he didn't know how to do a job he didn't want and was never taught to do. It was enough. He wasn't leaving this room, not unless he could do 'one' good thing for Gwen and her innocence. He didn't care if he got himself dragged out, he would just fight and/or sneak his way back in.

Uther though, seemed to be ready to prod and poke holes in whatever Merlin came up with, because he looked bored already, "You say there's no proof of her wickedness. But your husband found a poultice hidden away in her home. How do you explain that one, 'Consort' Merlin?" He finished off the name with a mocking undertone.

Merlin gritted his teeth, already knowing that they wouldn't believe him about the poultice. Not if he said that he was the one that made it, they'd already decided he wasn't any kind of sorcerer. So he'd be back to square one, although there was a list of possibilities that he could go with inside. The first idea would have been the most likely-Gwen wasn't the only person who lived in that house, so who is to say the poultice wasn't her father's-but that would defeat the purpose of this. Merlin hadn't saved Gwen's father just to throw him underneath the carriage a day later. The one thing Merlin had learned from being apart of the two council meetings he'd been in, was to be careful with his words. Morgana had also stressed how important presentation as well as keeping one's cool during otherwise very stressful situations.

"The poultice could have been there for any reason." Merlin went with, braining running on the wild side to figure out how to finish that statement. This was his chance to take a firm stand against the council, and to let the men know that he would not be bullied into silence by them. What was it that Morgana had told him during one of their talks…ah, yes. Always keep control of the conversation, do not allow others to get off topic or act like they thought they were the ones in charge instead of the other way around. Of course, that principle was only implied when the king himself would not be the one he was up again. But Merlin figured it was similar enough to work out, he just had to keep the conversation going in his favor. Not breaking in his stride for any single moment, Merlin finished off his words with a suggestion for the king to look into, "Maybe, the real sorcerer had it planted there just to distract you all, so that we could completely tear ourselves apart from the inside out, and pretty much doing her work for her. She's out there, watching the city destroy itself while all of us are in here, debating over rather or not Gwen deserves a chance."

Merlin knew this was an obvious lie, but none of the councilmen knew this. Considering the witch was killing people off by the dozens, as they were literally falling over in the streets, it wasn't a bad feeling he got by pinning behind the poultice he'd left on her.

Behind him, Arthur was listening to every one of Merlin's words very carefully, practically going through them with a fine tooth comb to see what his father would prod at next. But it didn't stop the ugly feeling from returning to his stomach. Gwen…what about her was so important that Merlin would return straight to the council to fight for her. Why…did Arthur suddenly want to be the one to throw away the keys to her cell. Who in their bloody right mind would stand up to the most important men in their kingdom just for one peasant girl when there were dozens of the same out on the streets?

And why did Arthur suddenly have the urge to demand answers from Merlin. Demand to know what made 'Gwen' so bloody special to him…