A/N: This story is currently being published on AO3. But I thought I'd publish it here as well. I will publish one chapter a day until I catch up with what is already published on AO3. I'm not very familiar with this site so I apologize if my formatting is wrong. Anyway, this begins in Season 2 Episode 1 when Gwen goes to save Arthur from the Gargoyles animated by Cornelius Sigan.
Chapter 1: Prologue
Arthur was laying on the ground, exhausted from battling the gargoyles. Another gargoyle was about to finish him off for good when Gwen pulled him out of the way. She had just saved his life. He had already long since liked her, but now something more was simmering to the surface. That was when the gargoyle tried to attack him again. Gwen pushed him out of the way. But she was not so lucky. The gargoyle had injured her severely. She was bleeding. Arthur, when he was just starting to realize his feelings for a mere servant, was about to lose her. He carried the wounded and bleeding maid to the citadel. Gaius immediately placed her on a bed and tried to diagnose her. But, after a moment, he said in a resigned manner, "There is nothing I can do." Arthur immediately retorted, "There has to be something. She means more than you know." Gaius said, "The gargoyles are animated by magic. Nothing medical can save her now." Gaius then moved on to the next patient. Arthur went to Gwen's side and held her hand. She said to him, "You'll make a great king one day." Arthur was taught not to cry for anyone, but he couldn't help himself then. But then his grief turned into rage, and he said to Gwen in her ear as she started to lose consciousness, "I will avenge you." Then she finally breathed her last. Arthur now knew what he must do. He would destroy magic and all those who possess it. That would be his life's work. No matter what, he would avenge his first love.
The next day, after Cornelius Sigan was defeated, Merlin came to wake Arthur up. Both Arthur and Merlin were sad for similar, albeit different reasons. One had lost his first love, and the other had lost his first friend in Camelot. Arthur saw that Merlin was also sad, so he said, "I am going to avenge Gwen, you know." Merlin said slowly, "Sigan is already dead." Arthur replied, "But magic isn't. If it were a normal wound, Gaius would've been able to heal her. It was magic that killed her. I will avenge her by destroying this evil and all those who use it." Merlin nearly gasped but stopped himself and then nervously nodded. Arthur noticed this and became worried, but then concluded it was nothing. It was Merlin after all. But then Merlin said, "Only Sigan killed her. Magic was just ..." He was cut off by Arthur, who said, "Don't you dare say that! Nothing but magic could drive a man to kill an unarmed innocent woman and try to destroy Camelot." Merlin opened his mouth to argue, but he stopped himself. Again, Arthur noticed. He was now going to be more vigilant around him. It appeared that his "innocent" servant was sympathetic to sorcery.
Merlin thought to himself as he left the room about what he would do. Arthur was now set on destroying magic. How could he ever reveal himself to him now? He remembered the great dragon's words. He had said that it was perhaps his destiny to change Arthur so that he might become the once and future king. He surely had made some mistake. Maybe he could try to change Arthur's mind, but that would be impossible if he blamed magic for Gwen's death. One thing was for sure, he wouldn't trust the great dragon's word again.
A/N: Please review if you have any thoughts, positive or negative.