(Disclaimer; A side-side...side character death and the slightest bit of a dead body will be mentioned in this chapter, just FYI.)
Arthur's door opened, with a crash and a bang, he sit by the fire, though it was not on. He was too exhausted to move passed that point, too drained emotionally to go on any further. He didn't look up, because he knew who it was, because Merlin would have just seen what Arthur had seen, and Arthur knew what was coming. he wouldn't look over at him, not meet his eye, because he couldn't. Merlin matched in front of him, coming to stand in between him and the fireplace, forcing Arthur to look at him. He felt the tug and the stab of his heart, as their eyes met, and the kind, caring and very intoxicating look in his eyes was gone now, in it's place was coldness and anger, it didn't fit there, it didn't belong there. Merlin was only ever supposed to be a beacon of warmth and something steady for Arthur to look at and know he was doing the right thing. He looked at him now...and knew he wasn't.
"Do something!" Merlin was demanding of him, pointing a finger at him. As if Arthur were the one in charge here, but he was not. Because if he were he would have stopped this by now, he wouldn't allow this to happen in the first place.
"I can't," he admitted, feeling defeated, and he never liked to be defeated, but this was beyond him, beyond anything he could do. He was not king, only the King could stop this."I'm not the King...I have no power. This is what my Father wanted..."
Merlin's lips turned up, into what might be the ugliest look Arthur had ever seen before, and he deserved it, he knew. "Do something anyway!" demanded Merlin, yet again. "Do something now...or-" Merlin shook his head, taking in a shaky breath. He glare at Arthur. "Do something or I will never speak to you again!"
Something cold, like freezing snow slipped down Arthur's back, he could feel it behind his ears even, and it flushed over his entire body. "I CAN'T!" he shouted in return, standing up now, and nearly knocking Merlin over, as he did so. "DON'T YOU THINK I WOULD?"
Merlin took a step back, shacking his head, but he wasn't saying no, he knew Arthur would, because he had to know that Arthur would. He was shaking his head, and crying now, and Arthur wanted to reach out to him, but didn't. He couldn't. Merlin frowned now, and turned to leave. He didn't say anything else to Arthur, and left. Perhaps he was serious, perhaps he really wouldn't ever speak to him again. But what was Arthur supposed to do? He couldn't go against the King's orders, and Uther was fine with this...
He was allowing Gaius to be tutored for nothing, Uther knew he no longer practiced magic, so why was he allowing this to happen? Arthur didn't ask, because no matter what Uther wouldn't change his mind anyway. There was truly, honestly, nothing Arthur could do, he was lost and hopeless, and Merlin's sad eyes and broken heart were not helping him. Arthur knew everyone's eyes were on him, Morgana's, Gwen's, even some of the Knights, like Leon, even if they didn't say anything. Anyone who knew Gaius, they're eyes were on Arthur, wanting him to do something, him to act, they didn't seem to get that he couldn't. They didn't seem to understand, if he goes against the King? What would it do? That didn't mean Uther would stop, it didn't mean this would end...it would only mean Arthur would be jailed. Jailed and left to rot, like Uther had done to Morgana once before, when she went against him. And Arthur, unlike Morgana had, didn't have anyone who would save him.
It was the very same day, a few hours later actually, right before dinner, that Aredian held yet another court. Arthur went to it, as he was forced to, he didn't want to, he just wanted to be alone and not to think anymore. But yet, here he was, standing behind Morgana's chair again, waiting to hear it, this time. What could it be? Did he find more pretend sorcerers? Did he finally realize he was beating an old horse, literally..in Gaius. But no, no one was that lucky. Aredian walked into the council chambers, striding like he were something special, when Arthur had never thought less of someone in all of his life, that was including his own Father right now. Behind him, two guards dragged Gaius in. He looked frail and thin and too weak to stand, he fell to his knees next to Aredian. Arthur swallowed hard, trying not to say anything, his stomach turned at the sight.
"Speak your truth, Giaus!" said Aredian. Gaius eyes looked around the room, noted Merlin there, which Arthur had too, when he had arrived. Gaius' eyes landed on Uther then, for a long second, glaring, and then he looked down. "Come now, out with it...no need to be afraid."
"I..." muttered Gaius, and then paused for a second. "I am a sorcerer. It was I who conjured the Royal crest in the smoke, I who conjured the toads and the...well, I forget the rest."
"I don't believe it," sad Uther, then, in a surprised voice, but isn't this what they were after in the first place? Torturing Gaius until he confesses...? "I trusted you, Gaius! I believed you had changed!"
"Once a sorcerer, always a sorcerer" said Aredian, calmly. "I'm afraid they never do change."
"No, I suppose you are right," said Uther, but at least his eyes looked not with hatred, but with sadness, and so then, Arthur thought, maybe his heart was not completely cold.
"There is only but one good thing left to do," said Aredian, as he smirked, and turned toward Gaius. "Tomorrow at dawn, this man shall pay for his many crimes against the Kingdom of Camelot, he shall be given a death fitted for a Sorcerer. He shall be-"
Aredian stopped then, because suddenly, someone was screaming, and Arthur knew who, before the words "No, you're a liar!" came from his mouth, and Arthur dodged around Morgana's chair, and ran forward, in time to grab Merlin around the middle, before he took a swing at the Witchfinder, who only stare at him, in mild amusement. Merlin struggled against Arthur, trying to get free from him, as Arthur dragged him out of the council chambers. He dragged him down the hall a bit, until Merlin got free and spun around, trying to hit Arthur in the face, with his fist. Arthur had to admit, beyond all that was happening, it was kind of endearing. However, no use, because Merlin had no fighting background, and Arthur was able to block his hit and spin him back around, pinning his arm around his back. He pressed himself against Merlin's back.
"Let me go!" Merlin demanded.
"No," said Arthur. "So you can be thrown in a cell?" Merlin growled, and tried, lamely, to get out of Arthur's grip again, but it didn't work this time. "Calm down..."
"GO TO HELL!"
"Merlin," said Arthur, sternly. "Clam down," he said it again. "I know you are upset...I am, too." Merlin grumbled, but didn't say anything else right then. "I don't want to see Gaius dead anymore than you do. I have known him all my life...and I know he is like a father to you...that's why-"
"That's why you won't stop it..."
"You know I can't," said Arthur, and Merlin heaved a deep breath. "Come with me." He let Merlin go then, and he was ready, should Merlin try to hit him, should Merlin try to run, but he didn't, he just stood there, stood up right, now, looking at Arthur. Arthur look back, for a moment, and he wanted to smile at him, to make him feel better, but he couldn't. He turned around and hoped Merlin would follow.
"What are you doing?" asked Merlin then, as he did, indeed, follow.
"Breaking the law."
They didn't say another word, as they walked down to the cells together. Gaius was on heavy guard, no one was allowed to see him or talk to him, except for Aredian. But when Arthur arrived there, and stare, glaring deeply at the guards, they didn't argue much. They only looked the other way, as he and Merlin walked through. Arthur didn't make eye contact with Gaius, when they arrived at his cell. He only looked to the right the whole time, as he unlocked the door with his keys and allowed Merlin inside.
"I can only give you a few minutes."
Merlin flung himself at Gaius, and Arthur felt he were intruding on something personal, so he walked away, allowing them to talk. He waited five minutes, and was almost ready to go tell Merlin that they needed to go, but then Merlin was walking toward him. He looked lighter than before though, almost like he had hope once again, when it had been lost before, and Arthur stare at him, for a long moment. He didn't say anything though, as he walked back and went to lock Gaius' cell once more. Gaius was standing there, looking at Arthur. Arthur felt like he was standing in front of a ghost. It was strange and eerie, and he just wanted to leave, as horrible as that might be.
"Arthur..." said Giaus, and Arthur sighed, before looking up, and meeting the older man's eyes. "I need you to do something for me." Arthur look at him, this man he had known all of his life, and felt his eyes get watery and his bottom lip stick out a bit, but he refused to do it, he refused to start crying. He steadied himself.
"Anything, Gaius."
"I want you to look after Merlin, whatever might happen tomorrow," said Giaus. "He needs someone there for him, to watch over him...to make sure he does not do the incredibly foolish things he so often likes to do."
"Of course I will," said Arthur, that seemed like a foolish request, and not what Arthur had been expecting, but Gaius loved Merlin, as if he were his own son, so Arthur supposed it made sense. "I care about Merlin, I wouldn't let him do anything too stupid."
"I know you do," said Gaius, and he smiled at Arthur, and Arthur wanted to cry again. "Thank you, Sire, for allowing him to see me it shows a great kindness, that is your greatest strength, Arthur.."
And Arthur had to walk away then, because he didn't deserve that respect, or to be thanked or be given those words. He felt a painful tug on his heart, as he all but run away from this man, who his own Father was all but killing. When he returned, out of the cells, Merlin was gone, and Arthur wondered where he had went, but right now...it was probably better Arthur was alone. He returned to his chambers after that, where he could be alone. Merlin never came, even if, deep down, Arthur kind of wanted him to. Arthur didn't want to be alone in this grief, but he also knew he had no right to be feeling this way. After all, Arthur should be strong enough to go against his Father, instead he was only afraid...
There was a knock, and halfheartedly, Arthur hoped it was Merlin, but he never knocked. Instead, Morgana walked in, tear soaked cheeks, it was as if she wore a blue dress to match the mood. She stand there, eyes leaking, staring at Arthur.
"Before you start, Morgana, I can't stop it," said Arthur, and Morgana just continue to stare at him, she shook her head.
"He won't stop, questioning me..." she said, instead, and this struck Arthur. He stood up then, and walk closer to her, now he could see not only the sadness in her eyes, but the fear. "He has called upon me again, just now...I don't know why, I haven't done anything, I-"
"Morgana," said Arthur, not sure where he was going with this, but he didn't like seeing her this way. He liked Morgana strong and rude and heated, not this, not this scared and teary Morgana, like after one of her dreams. "I'm sure he just wants you to give more detail about Gaius, so he can come up with more nonsense..."
"But this time he didn't ask about Gaius at all," cried Morgana. "He only asked bout my dreams...he thinks they're not normal, that there is something wrong with me."
"There is nothing wrong with you!" argued Arthur. "You have bad dreams...everyone does, you just have them more often."
"But they come true, Arthur," Morgana said, in all but a whisper. "I had a dream about ravens, and then Sigan happened, and his emblem is a raven, I had dreams about a dragon...and then the Dragon attacked. I have these dreams and so often they come true..."
"That doesn't make you a sorcerer, Morgana," said Arthur, and Morgana sniffed, falling into one of his arm chairs and cried into her hands. "That is all by chance, it doesn't mean anything."
"Suppose it does?" she retorted, looking up, into Arthur's face, with a cold anger, not her normal fiery one. "Suppose the Witchfinder tells your Father I am a witch because of these dreams...I'll be joining Gaius in the flames!"
"My Father would never let that happen," said Arthur, Morgana frowned.
"He is blind when it comes to magic, Arthur. He won't care if it is true or not..."
"Morgana, said Arthur, as he came closer and keeled down next to her, to look at her, very seriously. "I will not let anything happen to you, I promise you."
"How can I be sure?" she asked then, and it was so honest that Arthur wanted to fall over and die right then. "You are allowing Gaius to meet that fate." And she was right, of course she was. He looked down then, and shook his head. "I want to trust you, Arthur."
"I would give my life for you any day, a million times over," said Arthur, and he shocked even himself at these words. They never spoke to each other like this, and would probably never do so again, Arthur would see to it personally, he didn't like this at all, but he meant every word. "Even if it means defending you from my own Father...I would do it."
Morgana stare at Arthur then, for a long moment, blinking away a few tears, and she flung herself forward and pulled him into a hug. He wasn't sure they had ever hugged before, and he was't sure he liked it very much, but he hugged her back, all the same. Morgana left soon after that, and Arthur readied for bed, not looking forward to the morning at all. Merlin still had never turned up, Arthur supposed he understood why, but he wished he would have. Arthur barely slept that night, and he was already awake when the sun started to rise. He got up and got dressed. He felt something in his stomach that felt like a rock, just laying there, cold and dead. He didn't want to think of the word dead though.
He rubbed his eyes a few times, whether it be from sleep or sadness, he didn't know for sure, as he waited, by the pyre. He was to over see the burning, because that was something Arthur really wanted to do...glad Uther could be so lucky as to get to leave, once he said his sentence. Arthur didn't know how it happened, but anymore he hated his Father, and he never realized it, until right now. He hated Uther! He was unfair and cruel and did not deserve the respect he was given. Arthur would never rule this way...
Gaius was brought out, in a cage, Aredian making a real show if it. It was disgusting. These were still people, still humans, it was like Aredian and Uther forgot this. Arthur stomach turned, as heat filled him, a heat like rage. As they dragged Gaius from the cage. "Show some respect!" Arthur seethed at them, but it went ignored, it might as well have been a wall speaking, a dog...Arthur was no more important to Aredian than a dog. Uther said his words and then left, the utter bastard, and Arthur just stood there. He couldn't look at Gaius again. He couldn't because he hated his Father, hated his Father so much...because he was a coward, a coward who hid behind a throne and pretend he knew what was best...
It was the same with so many before Gaius, Gwen's Father, the Dragonlord...countless, nameless people. And for what?
"ARTHUR!" someone screamed and it scared him, he looked around, and then someone touched his arm. it was Gwen, he looked down at her, and she stare up at him, with large eyes, worried eyes.
"You have to stop this, Arthur!"
"I can't, Guinevere!" he argued, feeling angry, not that he meant to be angry at Gwen, she was too nice, she didn't deserve it. "You know that I can't..."
"Merlin has proof Gaius is innocent!" she shot back then, and he stare at her for a second, confused. How could that be? He did not..
"It's too late," he told her, and he wished it didn't have to be him who told her this. She had far too much hope in her eyes. "There is nothing I can do."
"You could trust in Merlin, you could have a little faith for once," she shot back, once again. "Or you could stand here and watch an innocent man die!"
"Guinevere..." he trailed off, in a warning.
"It happened once before...to my Father," she said, coldly, and Arthur already knew this, he wished he could have stopped it then too. "Are you really willing to allow that to happen again?" she argued and he stare at her. "And you can stop looking at me like that, I know I am just a Servant, but I thought you were a Prince, so maybe you should start behaving like one!"
Arthur continue to stare at her, his eyes wide, for another second, before he turned and held his hand up. "STOP! he shouted, and Aredian froze, as he was about to light the pyre. "Stop!" Arthur demanded again, Gwen smiled at him. "There has been a change of plans..."
Only a few minutes later, Arthur was standing next to Uther, as he and Catrina sat in their chairs, in the council chambers, Gaius had been once again hauled off to the cells, but at least he was alive. And now Merlin stood in front of them, holding several different things, like a book and flower petals. Along with him, where two people, the girl who Aredian had brought to the King when he had first arrived, she had claimed she saw a sorcerer walking through town, spitting toads out of his mouth. Arthur had found that a bit stupid at the time, but then Merlin was blamed for it..and then Gaius, so the truthfulness of it got washed away with Arthur's worry. There was also another man there, who Arthur had seen around town before, he normally made and sold things for girls, so Arthur had no business with him really.
"Sire," said Merlin then, in a serious and forged voice that Arthur had never heard before. Probably because Merlin never normally said anything very important, unless it was to Arthur himself, and then he didn't have to act like anyone special, just himself. It was how Arthur liked him. "The witnesses saw nothing but hallucinations, induced by the Belladonna," Merlin held up something in his hand, to show the King. "Found in these eye drops!
"This is ridiculous, Uther," said Catrina now, tutting at Merlin and rolling her eyes, dramatically. "Gaius is guilty, should we really be wasting our time with these silly, boyish, games?"
"Your wife is right, Uther," said Aredian. "Why are we wasting our time?"
"Because, suppose Merlin is right?" offered Arthur then, he tried to ignore the smile Merlin sent his way. "If we do not at least hear him out...we could be sentencing an innocent man to death."
Both Catrina and Aredian rolled their eyes, because clearly they didn't care who was guilty or not, as long as someone burned. Uther looked at the girl, the witness, who looked pink in the face. "Do you use such eye drops?" he asked, she nodded. "And who did you buy them from?" She pointed to the other man Merlin had brought with him and Uther turned to him. "And where did you come to find these eye drops, who was your supplier?"
The man's eyes moved to Aredian, but said nothing. Aredian growled and shook his head. "This is nonsense, Uther!" he argued. "Why would I need to sell him anything? I have my fair share of money..."
The man shook his head and looked down, Uther noted this and turned back to him. "Speak your truth, no harm will come to you here." The mans eyes began to water and he mumbled something. "Speak louder!"
"He said I had to take 'em and sell 'em, or he'd have me head!" said the man, with wide eyes at Aredian. Uther looked appealed at Aredian then, and Aredian threw his hands in the air.
"This is absurd, Uther!" he shouted. "This boy has clearly concocted this whole story, just to save his master!"
"I have not!" argued Merlin then, with a proud sort of smirk on his face. Arthur bit his lip, to keep from grinning at it, he was almost proud of Merlin for figuring this all out, but this was not the place to confess that. Not yet, anyway. It still had to be proven. "If you're not worried then you won't mind if the Guards search your chambers?!"
"Silence!" seethed Catrina then, standing up now, and glaring harshly at Merlin. "You have no authority!"
Uther eyed her, and then he eyed Aredian, and his eyes lingered then on Merlin, and he looked like he were confused, for lack of better word. It was as if he were torn. He knew what his wife wanted, what Aredian was telling him, but Uther was also friends with Gaius, and so perhaps that was aiding in his belief in Merlin's story, when normally Uther would not think twice about it.
"We shall search his chambers!" he turned and said to Arthur then, and Arthur nodded, without a word, and headed off. A few Gaurds followed after him, along with Merlin and Uther, along with Aredian himself.
Arthur had to admit, after searching his room for a moment or two, that Merlin might have been full of something, and it was not the truth. It seemed normal, normal clothes, normal boots...but then Arthur noticed a chest, one not in the room before Aredian occupied it. He walked over to it and pulled open the doors. When he did, hundreds of jeweled bracelets, just like the one found in Gaius' chambers fell from inside of it, and pooled and landed on Arthur's feet. Underneath that was a bowl filled with the same flower petals Merlin had been holding, along with other strange things, but Arthur couldn't careless about them. He turned back, and Aredian's eyes were wide.
"Those are not mine!" he shouted, and Uther glare at him now.
"You lied..." he said, simply. "You panted these on Gaius!" Uther walked over and picked up one of the bracelets and shoved it into Aredian's face. "You would have me murder a friend..You treacherous snake!"
"Oh, I will have you do much more than that, Uther Pendragon!" seethed Aredian, and with quick work, drew a dagger from beneath his cape and grabbed Arthur around the middle, and held the blade to Arthur's throat.
"Let him go, Aredian!" yelled Uther, as suddenly Merlin was rushing forward, at the same time. Arthur rolled his eyes, and simply elbowed Aredian in the stomach. He doubled over, almost at once, and began coughing violently. Arthur took several steps away, and stood next to Merlin, just in case Merlin tried to do anything rash again. Aredian continued to cough, hard and loud, his face was turning red from it, like he couldn't breath...and he mist not have been able to, because his face went from red to blue pretty quickly, and he fell to his knees, behind his desk. Uther and Arthur both urged forward, finding him face first on the ground, mouth hung open. But the coughing had stopped. It looked as if his breathing had stopped as well.
Arthur hadn't hit him that hard. Uther kicked him in the shoulder and rolled him over, he was still and then suddenly, out of his mouth...came a rather large frog. Arthur jumped back, in shock, and Uther seethed. "SORCERER!"
Arthur walked over to Merlin then, and grabbed him by the arm, pulling him back, toward the door, very ready to leave now, all of a sudden. "Let's go get Gaius," he said, Merlin smiled at him and nodded. They left then, as Uther shouted to the Guards about getting this 'filth' out of his castle, Arthur really couldn't agree more.
(A/N: Hello, and just like that...the Witchfinder arc is over, I told you all I didn't want to write about it long. In other news, I will be taking the night off from writing, as it is my Birthday and I want to go to bed early, not that it really matters much, but I did still want to get a chapter posted. I hope you enjoyed it, thanks so much for reading!)