A/N: I'm still working on my other multi-chapter story, "The Summit and the Sorceror", but this one just sort of took over my brain. Apparently I have a thing for AU reveal fics! This fic will (hopefully!) be set between the end of S3 and beginning of S4.
CHAPTER 1
"Rise and shine, sleepyhead!"
Arthur's groan is muffled in his pillow. It has been two days since they reclaimed Camelot from Morgana, and he is exhausted.
Since the defeat, everything has been a blur. Assembling the remaining council members, organising repairs, gathering the names of the dead and arranging their burials... The euphoria of freedom from Morgana's brief but terrible rule is tempered by the undeniable sorrow for all they have lost.
"Don't be like that. I have good news!"
Arthur's blanket is ripped off of him and he groans louder, slitting open his eyes to glare angrily at his far-too-cheery manservant.
They had both found each other when the undead army disappeared, a quick grin and confirmation of "So, you're not dead then?" before work got started. But Merlin has his own duties on top of serving the prince and as physician's apprentice he has been busier than ever, helping Gaius treat those wounded during the attack. For the last two mornings Arthur's breakfast and clothes have been laid out for him, Merlin come and gone, before he has awoken. This is the first time he's seen his servant in person for what feels suddenly like an age.
"What good news?" Arthur sits up slowly and looks to where bright sunlight streams through his window. He slept longer than he intended. "They've finished repairs on the council chamber?"
"Er, no." Merlin presses a plate of food into Arthur's hand, bustling around the room and picking up the clothes Arthur had flung carelessly onto the floor the previous night. "I think that'll be quite a long job, actually. But they're bringing Gwen back today!"
And that is good news. Fantastic news. Suddenly energised, Arthur shoves a piece of bread into his mouth and springs up, going to pull on his clothes.
"I knew that'd cheer you up," Merlin smirks. "I've made sure your schedule's free until this evening."
Arthur doesn't question how Merlin managed to wrangle that. Some things he's better off not knowing.
They wait for Gwen and the knights on the Courtyard steps. The Courtyard is quiet, quieter than Arthur has known it outside of an execution. He has been told about the terrible events which took place here, townspeople shot down by Morgana's undead soldiers in demonstration to the knights of what would happen if they refused to swear their fealty to her. Arthur pushes the thought away, not wanting to dwell on thoughts of his newly-discovered sister.
"Have you seen the state of these boots?"
Merlin doesn't even glance in Arthur's direction. "Yeah."
Arthur falls back into the old banter easily. "Well go and get something to clean them."
"Why?"
Arthur looks to Merlin with a feigned sternness. Merlin meets his gaze with a knowing smile.
"They're your boots."
"Have you lost your mind?"
And Merlin looks away again, smile growing. "I thought you believed in equality."
"I'm sorry?"
"At the Round Table, you said-"
"Shut up, Merlin." Arthur is smiling now too, can't keep up the act. He is proud of what he said at the Round Table, glad that Merlin has remembered. He nudges the manservant with his shoulder and the two chuckle quietly. Soon though, a sense of solemnity sets in.
"How's your father?"
A loaded question. Arthur has been avoiding his father beyond the bare minimum, can't face the empty husk of the man he used to know.
"I don't know. All this. Morgana. It's hit him hard." Arthur is certain it will hit all of them hard when they have a spare moment to reflect. Morgana, their friend; Morgana, his sister; Morgana, Camelot's betrayer.
"Perhaps we're heading for a new time."
Arthur isn't looking at Merlin, can't see his expression, but he hears something in his voice. It sounds a little like hope... a little like fear.
"You may need to take charge. Become... become king."
Arthur doesn't want to think about that. Doesn't want to lose his father when he has already lost so much. "Who knows what the future will bring."
"Arthur..."
The Prince takes a deep, steeling breath, preparing for what he expects will be a very rousing speech; Merlin has gotten good at those recently. He does not expect what Merlin says next.
"I have magic."
A few moments pass, as Arthur lets these words sink in. Part of him wants to laugh. Merlin? Magic? Magic is Morgana and danger and evil. Merlin is...
"I've had magic since I was born," Merlin's purposeful composure makes Arthur want to shake some sense into him, because there's no way Merlin has magic. "I've wanted to tell you before, but I couldn't. Now though..." Merlin looks out to the courtyard, where the knights have just rounded the corner on horses, Gwen in the middle. "Things are changing, for the better. Commoners are knights, your consort is a maid. I believe in your integrity and your judgement, Arthur. I trust you to do what's right."
Arthur can't process what he's just heard. This is a joke. Some sick, twisted, horrifically ill-timed joke.
"You don't have to decide anything now." Merlin rises to his feet, and Arthur watches, still reeling from the revelation of his magic. "Go, see Gwen. We can talk later."
"But I- how do I..." How do I know you won't try and escape Camelot? You won't leave me just like Morgana did?
Merlin looks oddly disappointed. "Why would I tell you who I am, just to run away?"
The servant disappears into the castle and Arthur goes to help Guinevere from her horse. The rest can wait.
After a long afternoon spent in Guinevere's company - and how peculiar that he was now able to court her freely, openly - Arthur returns to his chambers. The room is spotless, a fire blazing merrily in the grate, and Merlin sits waiting for him at the table.
"You can ask me whatever you want, Arthur. I will reply truthfully, I give you my word."
Arthur scoffs. "Your word? What use is that? You know I should have you arrested."
Usually his servant is restless, fidgety, annoying, but now he is dead still. "And will you? Have me arrested?"
Arthur slams a fist down on the wooden table, so hard his knuckles throb painfully afterwards. "Damn it, Merlin!"
Merlin lurches back instinctively, chair legs scraping beneath him. Arthur feels regretful in spite of himself. At a complete loss, he finally drops into a seat.
"You helped save Camelot. We would never have won against Morgana if not for you. Why help defeat her, when you both want the same thing?"
"Morgana does not want what I want," Merlin disagrees fervently. "She wants power and revenge. All I want is to serve you, Arthur. I am only loyal to you."
I am happy to be your servant until the day I die.
"I can't put you on trial." And Merlin knows why, must know why - but Arthur explains anyway. "The sentence for sorcery is death. No exceptions. And if I tried to change my father's law for your sake, the council would think I was enchanted." Arthur frowns then. "I'm not, am I?"
Merlin laughs tremulously. "No."
"Would I know if I was?"
The laugh fades. "Probably not..."
Arthur sighs again and rubs his eyes. "I don't know what to do. I don't- I don't want to see you die, Merlin."
"Yeah, I'd kind of like to avoid that too..." The lingering fear in Merlin's countenance undermines his attempt at levity.
"Am I the only one you've told?"
Merlin hesitates. "No."
"Your mother? Gaius?"
Merlin purses his lips.
"So you won't tell me the entire truth then."
"You're not being fair," Merlin snaps, and Arthur laughs incredulously.
"I'm not being fair? You tell me you've been keeping secrets for as long as I've known you, and I'm not being fair?"
"My secrets could have gotten me killed!" Merlin half-yells, then looks nervously to the door where a guard is stationed outside. He lowers his voice, turning back to Arthur. "I meant what I said. I will tell you everything, answer whatever you ask me, and I will do it all truthfully. But I won't give up the names of anyone else. That's not my place."
Arthur has questions. He knows he has questions, a thousand questions he could ask his manservant, but he doesn't know where to begin. His mind buzzes with thoughts of betrayal and Morgana and his father's ill health and the speech he must prepare to address his people the next day.
He stands abruptly. "You will continue your duties as usual."
Merlin stares, hopeful. "Does that mean..?"
"It means that, for now. I will reserve my judgement. But if you lie to me again Merlin..."
The threat remains unfinished, but Merlin nods his understanding. On his way out he bows, deep.
"I will not lie to you again, Your Highness."
It feels wrong having Merlin treat him with his due respect as Regent King of Camelot; Arthur suspects everything will feel a little wrong from now on.
