450Okay, I am so sorry that this took so long! I had a terrible bought of writer's block, and ended up having to rewrite half of the chapter.
Thank you to everybody who commented on my question about Morgana last chapter :) I think that I'm just gonna keep the people I have now, and not add Morgana in. Sorry to those who asked, but I think it works better with the people I have now.
Thanks a ton to supermegafoxtawesomehot and DragonflyonBreak for betaing this chapter for me. You two are lifesavers :D
Anyways, enough about me. Here is chapter 11: Excalibur
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Enjoy!
MERLINNILREM
Before she started the next memory, Ella offered, "We haven't eaten in awhile, would you all like some food?"
"Yes!" Gwaine says exuberantly.
"Yeah, don't want the king here getting too grumpy. He can get rather upset when he's hungry." Merlin teased.
Arthur wanted to argue, but unfortunately it was true. Merlin took his silence as a conformation, and couldn't help but chuckle.
Ella giggled softly, and whispered a spell, bringing in a spread of rather delicious looking food. "Enjoy." Ella grinned, waving her arm over as an invitation. The knights immediately crowded the table, fighting for food.
"Don't worry, there's plenty more where that came from." Ella laughed.
Once everybody had some food, Ella started the next memory.
Nimueh stands among the graves of the dead.
"Great, her again." Arthur groaned.
Holding her hand over a particular grave, she chants, "Gehíere mé' wan cniht áwæce. Beo strangra ond steacra for brecþ wáne. úprærest wærc, Uther Pendragon."
"What exactly did all that mean?" Leon asked.
"I judge. Absent knight, arise! I am powerful and unbending, for lamenting grief…Raise up; anguish to Uther Pendragon." Merlin translated. The tomb Nimueh is standing next to cracks and a gauntlet hand breaks through.
"That can't be good." Gwaine comments wryly.
"When is a hand breaking out of a tomb ever a good thing Gwaine?" Elyan asked, shaking his head.
"When it's the hand of a beautiful woman." Gwaine stated. Elyan just shook his head.
In the Great Throne room, Arthur kneels before Uther. Gwen stands next to Merlin in the crowd. "Do you solemnly swear to govern the people of this kingdom and its dominions according to the statutes, customs and laws laid down by your forebears?" Uther asks solemnly. "I do, Sire." "Do you promise to exercise mercy and justice in your deeds and judgments?" Uther asks again. "I do, Sire." Arthur replies.
"What is this?" Percival asks.
"It's Arthur's coming of age ceremony. I remember it well." Gwen replied.
"Well, it was definitely memorable." Merlin quips. Uther holds out a scepter and asks, "And do you swear allegiance to Camelot, now and for as long as you shall live?" Arthur grabs the scepter and states, "I, Arthur Pendragon, do pledge life and limb to your service and to the protection of the kingdom and its peoples." Uther smiles briefly before turning to grab a crown, which he sets on Arthur's head. "Now being of age and heir apparent, from henceforth, you shall be Crown Prince of Camelot."
"So you weren't the prince before this ceremony." Gwaine stated.
"No. I mean yes, I was the prince. This just meant that now I was the crown prince." Arthur explained.
"What, you're father had to make the distinction between all of the other princes?" Gwaine joked.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "No, of course not, Gwaine." The court applauds. Arthur stands up and faces the crowd.
"I still don't get the difference between before and after the ceremony." Gwaine commented.
"Before, I was just the prince. After, I became the Crown Prince, and able to rule." Arthur said haughtily.
"So… you couldn't rule before this ceremony?" Gwaine pushed. "So, if your father had died, or been assassinated the day before this, you would not have been able to become king because you weren't a 'crown prince' yet?"
"What? No, of course not, I would rule after my father." Arthur argued.
"Then what's the point of the ceremony?" Gwaine asked.
"It's the crown." Merlin decided, finally joining in the conversation. "He finally gets an actual crown, rather than just a small band. Hence why he becomes the 'crown' prince."
"Oh! Wow, mate, that does make sense." Gwaine grinned.
"That's not what…" Arthur tried to argue before giving up and rolling his eyes. "Forget it." "So how does it feel to be servant to the Crown Prince of Camelot?" Gwen asks Merlin. "Washing his royal socks will be even more of a privilege." Merlin comments wryly.
"So you admit that it's a privilege." Arthur comments, unable to help the grin that spread over his face.
Merlin just rolled his eyes. "It's called sarcasm, dollophead, look it up." Gwen smiles knowingly. "You're proud of him, really. Even though you complain about him constantly." "I am not." Merlin argues indignantly. "You are. I can see it in your face." Gwen replies. "Those socks are very clean! Of course I'm proud of them." Merlin retorts. Gwen laughs.
"Clean socks. Definitely something to be proud of, mate." Gwaine chuckles.
"How would you know, Gwaine? Your socks are never clean." Percival joked.
With a great crash, a Black Knight on a horse bursts through the stained-glass window. The courtiers begin to scream, and Arthur and the knights draw their swords.
"Well, that's one way to make an entrance." Merlin joked. "What in the devil's name?" Uther says. The horse walks to Arthur and the Black Knight throws down a gauntlet. Uther and Gaius see the crest on the Black Knight's shield with surprise. The helmet of the Black Knight is scratched and cut, leaving large gashes in the metal.
"That knight looks like he has seen some tough battles, judging by his armor." Percival noted.
Arthur sheathes his sword to pick up the gauntlet, but another knight gets there first. "I, Sir Owain, accept your challenge." The knight says bravely. "Single combat. Noon tomorrow. Till the death." The Black Knights states in monotone.
"Isn't there another way to do combat? Why is it always to the death?" Gwen grimaced, remembering the fate of that poor knight. The Black Knight stiffly rides out while the court watches. Back in the physician's quarters, later that night, Merlin heads up to his room while Gaius brews something. Merlin turns back on the steps and asks Gaius, "Have you ever seen this Black Knight before?" "I don't believe so." Gaius replies.
"You didn't recognize his crest?" Gaius finally looks up. "Crest?" "Which house is it?" Merlin asks. "I'm not sure. I didn't see it that clearly." Gaius mumbles, turning back to his bubbling cauldron. "But he's not someone you'd forget in a hurry, is he?" Merlin comments.
"Most definitely not." Arthur agreed. "No." Merlin thinks for a moment. "So you don't think he's from around here?" "That would seem likely." Gaius allows. "Then what's he doing here?" Merlin persists.
"So many questions, Merlin." Elyan laughed. Gaius gives him a slightly annoyed look. "Merlin, your faith in my all-seeing knowledge is both touching and wholly misplaced. Maybe if you've finished your work, you could go to bed and leave me to finish mine."
"A bit touchy there are we, Gaius?" Percival noticed.
"It's not his fault. Merlin excels at annoying people beyond their endurance." Arthur ribbed, giving Merlin an elbow to the side.
"Well, I had to learn something from you, Arthur." Merlin joked right back. "OK, I'm going. Gaius?" Merlin turns back at the top of the stairs. Gaius sighs and straightens. "Merlin." "Do you think Owain can beat him?" Merlin asks quietly. Gaius looks over at him. "We'll find out soon enough." Merlin nods and goes up to his room, leaving a thoughtful Gaius behind.
Arthur shook his head. Sir Owain had been a good knight. Arthur speaks with Morgana and Gwen in Morgana's chambers. "He shouldn't have picked up the gauntlet!" Arthur exclaims. "So put an end to it." Morgana says. Arthur looks angry but resigned to the situation. "The challenge has been taken up. The fight cannot be stopped."
"Is it just me, or is the Knight's Code more of a hindrance than anything in these types of situations?" Merlin commented. "Then fight in his place." Morgana replies. "I can't."
"But you wanted to, didn't you?" Leon guessed.
"Yes, I did." Arthur replied, solemnly.
Merlin, always knowing what was going on in the king's mind, put a hand on his shoulder. "There was nothing you could have done, Arthur." He said softly. "Why not?" Morgana argues. "Owain picked up the gauntlet. Owain is the one who must fight. That's the Knight's Code. He knew that." Arthur turns to walk out of the chambers. "But it's a fight to the death!" Morgana exclaims. Arthur turns back halfway and says solemnly, "I know." In the library, Geoffrey is standing at his desk when he sees Gaius enter. "Gaius. Thank God." Geoffrey says to his old friend. "You know why I'm here?" Gaius asks ominously. Geoffrey nods. "The Black Knight."
"Word travels fast in Camelot." Arthur noticed.
"Especially when something like this happens." Merlin added. "So it is he?"
"So you did know who the knight was, Gaius." Gwen said.
"I had an idea, at least from his crest. But I was hoping that I was wrong." Gaius shook his head. "You saw his crest?" Geoffrey answers. "Have you confirmed it?" Gaius asks. "It is the crest of Tristan Dubois." Geoffrey confirms.
Arthur frowned. "That name sounds familiar."
"He was your uncle, one of your mother's brothers." Gaius reminded him.
"Ah, right! But, he died not long after I was born." Arthur remembered. "And he is the only knight ever to have carried such a crest?" "Yes. According to the records." Geoffrey replies. Gaius gives him an unreadable look. In the council chambers, Uther sits alone with his sword on the table in front of him. The door opens and Uther reaches for his sword for a moment before he sees Gaius enters.
"Bit twitchy, are we?" Gwaine noticed. "Yes?" Uther asks quietly. Gaius bows. "I'm sorry to disturb you, Sire." "What is it?" "The knight, the stranger. He bears the crest of Tristan Dubois." Gaius announces portentously. "Yes." Uther replies quietly.
"So Uther recognized him as well." Merlin realized. "But he's been dead for 20 years." Gaius reminds the king. "I know. I killed him." Uther breathes.
That got a reaction from Arthur. "What? But… That would explain why he was nervous at the knight's appearance, but how?"
"It will be explained later, sire." Gaius assured him. "But how do you explain...?" Uther interrupts. "Dead men do not return." The two men stare at each other for a moment before Gaius bows and leaves.
"And painted snakes don't normally come alive on shields, but we all know how that worked out." Merlin said wryly.
"Your father didn't understand the laws and uses of magic." Gaius told Arthur. "Therefore he tended to look over things he couldn't explain until it was often too late." Tristan Dubois stands on the grounds in front of the castle the next morning. Merlin and Arthur help Sir Owain prepare for the fight. "You've never fought in mortal combat before. It's different. It's not like the training I've been giving you." Arthur advises Owain. "Yeah, I know." Owain replies.
"He doesn't sound like he listening." Leon frowned.
"He was overconfident." Merlin replied. "Because he's a knight, he thinks he can overcome anything in a fight. Unfortunately, pride comes before a fall."
"Just because someone's a knight, doesn't mean that their overconfident, or prideful." Arthur argued. "Knights are merely confident in their abilities. The knights of Camelot are the best in the five kingdoms, and they know it."
Merlin just raised an eyebrow. "That may be true, but unfortunately none of the other knights have had me to cut their ego down to size. Besides, even the knights of Camelot aren't unbeatable." Merlin waved a hand towards the past version of Sir Owain as proof. Arthur grabs his shoulder to get his attention. "Listen to me. The problem is, we've never seen him fight. You have to quickly get the measure of him." "But I have the same advantage. He's never seen me fight." Owain reminds him.
"That's true." Percival noted. "True." Arthur concedes. "You've watched me." Arthur replies cautiously, "Yes." "And?" Arthur is silent for a moment before he puts a hand on the young knights shoulder and says, "And I know no one braver. Remember, all it takes to kill a man is one well-aimed blow." The door opens. Gwen enters and curtsies to Owain. "The Lady Morgana asked me to give you this token. She wishes you to wear it for luck." Gwen offers. "You can thank her, and tell her I shall wear it with pride. But I won't need luck." Sir Owain says haughtily.
"And you say the knights aren't overconfident and prideful?" Merlin said.
"He's not really taking the fight seriously." Leon realized. "Or at least, not as seriously as he should."
"Unfortunately not." Arthur replied. Tristan Dubois waits in the arena. Arthur walks into the tournament grounds with Sir Owain. Arthur gives Owain one last piece of advice. "Now remember, find the flow of the fight; try to control it."
"You sound like Merlin, with his last minute advice." Gwen laughed, trying to relieve the tension that seemed to crop up at the coming fight. The people who hadn't been there the first time may not have known exactly what had happened, but they could tell that it hadn't ended happily for Sir Owain. They enter the arena, Sir Owain and the Black Knight give each other death glares. "The fight shall be to the knight's rules! To the death!" Arthur swallows, before he sidles into the stands. Owain removes his cloak and dons his helmet. Merlin and Gaius watch nervously from the sidelines. "Let battle commence!" Arthur announces. Tristan and Owain fight, swords clanging against swords and shields. The crowd oohs and aahs at each hit. "Come on, Owain!" Gwen cheers him on quietly. After several more hits, and one close call, Arthur yells, "One well-aimed blow!"
Everyone was too into watching the fight to comment. Owain stabs Tristan in the gut. "Yes!" Merlin rejoices.
Gwen and Arthur look confused. "I don't remember that happening." Arthur said, confused.
But to his confusion, Tristan keeps fighting and manages to kill Owain, and the crowd gasps in horror. Morgana's favor flutters on the ground. Tristan faces the crowd and takes off his glove.
"But, how did he keep fighting? He was run through." Leon said. "Who will take up my challenge?" He states. Tristan throws down his gauntlet. Arthur tries to bolt over the barrier of the stands, but his father grabs his arm to stop him. Another knight jumps over the stands and takes up the gauntlet. "I, Sir Pellinor, take up the challenge." The knight says. "So be it." The knight replies. He looks towards Uther before walking off of the field. Tristan exits the arena. Merlin watches him leave. "Should we tend to his wounds? He took a hit." Merlin asks.
"How come Merlin saw it, but nobody else did?" Gwen asked.
"Because of my magic, my senses are better than most." Merlin explained. "I can notice things nobody else does." "Owain didn't land a blow." Gaius replies, looking after the knight. "No, I saw it. The sword definitely pierced him." Merlin argues. Gaius looks over at his ward. "Are you sure?" "My eyes are quicker than yours." Merlin reminds him. He looks after the knight and states, "He should be dead." "Perhaps he already is." Gaius and Merlin exchange glances.
"Duh, duh, duh!" Gwaine announced ominously. Uther and Arthur enter the council chambers, arguing loudly. "Why did you stop me?" Arthur exclaims.
"He was worried about you." Gaius answered. Uther walks quickly. "We have to give our knights the chance to prove themselves." "Have you seen how this stranger fights?" Arthur reminds him "And Sir Pellinor is more than a match for him." Uther states. "He's not recovered from the wounds he suffered at Othanden!" Arthur argues loudly. "I can't help that." Uther replies.
He starts to head out of a door when Arthur replies, "So you send him to his death?"
"He shouldn't have been so quick to sacrifice lives for me." Arthur shook his head.
"He's your father, Arthur. Parents will do anything to keep their children safe." Hunith said, glancing over at her son. Uther turns around and points a finger at Arthur. "It was his choice to take up the gauntlet! I am not to blame." He then turns around and leaves, leaving an incensed Arthur behind. Merlin and Gaius enter the tunnel corridor to the burial vaults. "Are you sure we should be doing this?" Merlin asks.
"When has not being allowed to do something ever stopped you before?" Elyan asked. "You're not scared, are you?" Gaius teases. "No, I love old crypts. I wouldn't be seen dead anywhere else." Merlin jokes.
"Wow mate; that was the best you could do? I need to teach you some better jokes." Gwaine suggested, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "We'll go to the tavern!" The door slams behind them. Gaius and Merlin look at each other. "Must've been a gust of wind." Gaius guesses. We should've brought a torch."
"Leohtbora." Merlin lights a torch sitting in the wall of the tunnel corridor.
"Light-bearer." Merlin shrugged. "Huh. Handy!" Gaius laughs. "Yes." Merlin replies in the same tone. Merlin and Gaius walk among the graves. "What are we looking for?" Merlin asks.
"What were you looking for?" Leon asked curiously.
"Checking a theory." Gaius said simply. "Bring your torch over here." Gaius directs. "We're breaking into someones grave?" Merlin replies, sounding mildly disgusted. Gaius sees the open tomb. "We're too late. I think someones already broken out." He says.
"So Nimueh entered Camelot to raise Tristan?" Gwen asked.
Gaius nodded. As the duo enter the physician's chambers, Gaius begins explaining. "Tristan Dubois was the brother of Ygraine, Uther's wife." "Arthur's mother?" Merlin clarifies.
Gaius continues, "Ygraine died in childbirth. He blamed Uther and came to the gates of Camelot and challenged him."
Arthur glanced down at his feet uncomfortably at the mention of his mother's death. "To single combat." Merlin clarifies again. "Uther won." Gaius informs him. "But in his dying breath, Tristan cursed Camelot to one day suffer his return. I thought it was the ramblings of a dying man."
"So that's what happened to him." Arthur mused. "Father never told me what had happened, just that he was dead." "Men don't just rise up from the dead, though, no matter how angry they are." Merlin comments.
"Sigan?" Arthur mentioned.
Merlin rolled his eyes. "That was a different situation, prat." Gaius opens a book, and opens it to a picture of a skeleton holding a shield and sword. "It's my guess we're dealing with a wraith." "A wraith?" "The spirit of a dead man conjured from the grave." Gaius explains. "So this is the work of a sorcerer?" Merlin asks.
"Exactly how else would a dead man just get up and start walking around, Merlin?" Arthur asked
"I was just making sure!" Merlin replied defensively. Gaius nods. "Powerful magic can harness the grief and rage of a tormented soul and make it live again." "How do we stop it?" "We can't. Because it's not alive, no mortal weapon can kill it." Gaius replies.
"I take it that my father had help, then?" Arthur asked.
"Just watch, Arthur." Merlin replied.
"Surely there must be something." Merlin exclaims. "Nothing can stop it until it has achieved what it came for." "And what's that?" Merlin asks. "Revenge." Gaius says simply.
"Because it always boils down to revenge." Merlin shook his head. "On Camelot?" When Gaius nods, Merlin asks, "What does that mean for Sir Pellinor?" Gaius looks grim. "I'm afraid it doesn't look good." In the arena, Sir Pellinor is fighting Tristan Dubois. Sir Pellinor is doing well and the crowd cheers for him with each hit.
"That knight was good, even if he was still recovering from injuries." Gwaine commented. "Maybe you were wrong." Merlin hopes. "I hope so." Gaius says, although he doesn't sound convinced. After a few more strikes, Sir Pellinor runs Tristan through, but Tristan does not fall. He just stands back and looks at the knight.
"Everyone saw it that time." Elyan said. "The sword went in, I'm sure of it." Gwen comments to Morgana.
"I saw, too." Morgana assures her. Tristan lunges forward and kills Pellinor, to which the crowd groans. Tristan turns to the crowd. Arthur throws his gauntlet down; Uther tries to stop it. "I, Arthur Pendragon, challenge you." Arthur says, his anger seething beneath the surface.
Merlin had to fight not to facepalm. "You sure don't make it easy to keep you alive, you prat." Merlin shook his head. "So be it." The knight replies. "Single combat. Noon. Tomorrow." Uther enters the council chambers, where Arthur is waiting at the head of the table. "How could you be so stupid? I'll revoke the challenge." Uther fumes. "No. The Knight's Code must be upheld. That's what you told me." Arthur replies, looking calm. "This is different." Arthur continued. "Once the challenge has been laid down it cannot be rescinded."
"You sure look calmer than your father does right now." Merlin noticed. "You are Crown Prince." Uther replies.
"Cause apparently you didn't realize it." Gwaine joked. "There cannot be one rule for me and one for all the rest." Arthur argues, still looking calmer than his father. "I forbid you to fight." Uther orders.
Merlin chuckled. "That will never work with Arthur. It just makes him go and do whatever it is faster." "You want me to prove that I'm worthy of the throne. I cannot do that by being a coward." Arthur reminds him "No, Arthur, this will be your death!" Uther exclaims. Arthur gives his father an unreadable look. "I'm sorry you have so little faith in me, Father." he says before he leaves. "Arthur!" Uther exclaims after him. In the physician's chambers, Merlin is pacing back and forth. "You were right."
"When has he been wrong?" Elyan asked. "I wish I wasn't." Gaius replies. "If Arthur fights that thing, he'll die." Merlin says. "He is Camelot's strongest warrior." Gaius reminds him. "If anyone can defeat it, he can."
Arthur stood up a little straighter, looking smug at Gaius's words.
Merlin noticed Arthur's reaction, and reminded him"What part of undead knight did you not understand?"
Merlin holds out a hand. "You said yourself, no mortal weapon can kill it. Which means we have to find a way to defeat the wraith ourselves." "How do you propose to do that?" Gaius questions.
"Magic?" Percival guessed.
"If no mortal sword will kill it..." Merlin runs to his chamber to fetch his magic book. ",then I will. With mortal magic." "Merlin, it's too dangerous." Gaius tells him. "We don't have a choice." Merlin reminds him, before turning back to his book.
"When do we ever." Merlin muttered quietly to himself. Tristan Dubois stands motionless outside, while Uther paces the Council Chamber. Gaius enters and bows. "Gaius." Uther says formally. "There is a matter of great urgency, which I must discuss with you." "Then spit it out." Uther says impatiently. "Tristan's tomb is empty." Gaius says dramatically. "I believe he's been conjured from the dead." "How is this possible?" Uther questions.
"Good evening, Sire."
"Does everyone just forget about magic?" Merlin wondered.
"I believe he's a wraith." Gaius informs him. "A spirit?" Uther clarifies. Gaius nods. "He has come to take vengeance for Ygraine's death." "It was magic that killed her, not I." Uther denies vehemently.
Merlin and Gaius exchange looks at that statement. "Nevertheless, it was you he blamed." Gaius allows. "You cannot allow Arthur to fight. No weapon forged by man can kill a wraith. It will stop at nothing till it has accomplished what it came for. Arthur cannot win, he will die." "He will not listen to me." Uther says quietly, leaning back against one of the council room's pillars. "Then you must tell him who the knight is." Gaius suggests. "No." Uther argues immediately.
"Why is he so strongly opposed to telling me the truth?" Arthur asks. "I might have listened if he had just explained it to me."
"There were parts of his past that he tried to keep buried." Gaius explained carefully. "He didn't want anyone, let alone his son, to know what had happened." "You cannot hide the truth forever." Gaius replies. "I am the King. You will not tell me what I can and cannot do." Uther orders. Gaius just gives him a look. "That is your choice, Sire. You tell him, or let him go to his death." "No one but you or I will ever know the secret of Arthur's birth." Uther replies.
"Secret?" Arthur asks, starting to get suspicious. Nobody says anything. "The boy is of age, he should know." Gaius says "Never!" Uther exclaims. "You made an oath. I warn you not to break it." The two men stare at each other before Gaius finally speaks. "Very well, Sire." "Leave me." Uther orders. Gaius bows and walks out of the council chambers. In the outskirts of the castle, Merlin approaches Tristan. He inches closer and raises his hand towards the knight. Swallowing loudly, he chants, "Cume her fyrbryne."
"Come here, conflagration." Merlin translated. A stream of fire approaches the knight, setting Tristan on fire. The fire fades and Tristan remains standing, unscathed. Tristan looks at Merlin and growls. Merlin turns and runs. Merlin bursts into Arthur's room to see him practicing with his sword. "Merlin, you know that conversation we had about knocking..." Arthur says.
"Like I've ever listened anyways." Merlin laughed. "You have to pull out." Merlin pleads breathlessly. Arthur scoffs. "And why is that?" "Because he'll kill you." Merlin says. "Why does everybody think that?" Arthur exclaims.
"Maybe because he's an undead knight who can't be killed?" Gwaine offered unhelpfully.
"Not helping, Gwaine." Arthur huffed. "Because they're right!" Merlin exclaims back. "Just pull out. You're the Crown Prince. No one wants to see you die over some stupid challenge." "I am not a coward." Arthur states.
"Nobody said that you were." Elyan pointed out. Merlin gives him an understanding glance. "I know that. I've stood there and I've watched you overcome every fear you've ever faced." "That's what's required of me." Arthur replies. "But you are more than that. You're not merely a warrior. You're a prince, a future king! You've proved your courage, but you must prove your wisdom." Merlin advises.
"That's good advice." Leon said.
"Wise Merlin makes an appearance." Arthur chuckled. "I'm not backing down." Arthur says, giving his sword an experimental swing. "Please, Arthur, listen to me. This is no ordinary knight." Merlin walks towards the window. Arthur ignores him to keep practicing with the sword. "Look at him. He doesn't eat, he doesn't sleep. He just stands there, in complete silence. Doesn't that tell you something?" "No one is unbeatable." Arthur says.
"Yes, but that includes you, Arthur." Merlin reminded him. "If you fight him, you will die." Merlin tells him. Arthur is starting to get annoyed. "I'm not listening to this." "I'm trying to warn you, Arthur." Merlin says fervently. Arthur turns sharply and swings the sword at his neck, only stopping a couple of inches away. "And I'm trying to warn YOU, Merlin!" Arthur yells. Merlin gives him an annoyed look, before turning and walking away.
"He was just trying to help." Gwen said softly.
"I know. I was just tired of people telling me that I couldn't do it." Arthur ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't know then that they all knew something that I didn't." In the council chambers, Uther drinks alone. The candles blow out and Uther turns to see Nimueh. "I should've known." Uther says quietly. Nimueh gives him an evil smirk. "It is more than I'd hoped for, Uther. Soon Arthur will be slain. You will have sent him to his death."
"Okay, ignoring the fact she obviously still wants me dead, my father did know her." Arthur stated. "He lied to me. I'm starting to see a pattern here." "Haven't you tired of revenge?" Uther asks quietly.
Merlin snorted at that. "He should be asking himself that question." "Haven't you?" Nimueh retorts. "You began this war when you threw me from the court and slaughtered all of my kind."
"You brought it on yourselves. You practiced evil." "I was your friend, Uther! You welcomed me here." Nimueh reminds him. "You betrayed that friendship." Uther states. "I did as you asked!" Nimueh exclaims. "I used the magic you so despise to give your barren wife the son you craved."
Arthur froze at the mention of his mother and magic. That sounded almost exactly like what Morgause had once told him, using the illusion of his mother to try and get him to kill the king. But Merlin had told him…
Realizing what he had just been about to think, He looked sideways at where Merlin was standing. The young man was standing rigid, looking back at Arthur much the same way.
Recognizing that Merlin knew exactly what had happened with his mother, Arthur had to greatly resist the urge to walk over and force the answers from him, or maybe to punch him in the face for lying once more. But he managed to get a slight hold on his anger. He knew what Merlin would most likely say, that he would try to hold off explaining for later. Or worse, he would just lie to the king's face once again.
Another wave of anger pulsed through him, and he had to fight to focus through the red haze. Fine. He would let Merlin bide his time. But Arthur would get his answers, and this time, he wouldn't stand for anything less than the truth.
"Don't ever speak of her in that way. She was my heart, my soul. And you took her from me." Uther glares at her. "She died giving birth to your son. It was not my choice. That is the law of magic. To create a life, there had to be a death. The balance of the world had to be repaid." Nimueh states.
Noticing all of the brewing questions from the people around them, Merlin muttered under his breath, "Not now, please." Uther leans against the table. "You knew it would kill her." "No, you're wrong." Nimueh argues. "If I had foreseen her death, and the terrible retribution you would seek... I would never have granted your wish." Uther straightens up. "I wish you hadn't." he replies quietly.
That statement got Arthur off track with a dejected "What?"
Hunith hesitated for a moment, before she made her way over to the king's side and touched his arm. "Arthur." She said softly. "Look at me." Arthur turned her way, wearing a vulnerable expression, his blue eyes full of pain and anger. "What you are thinking is not what he meant. He loves you; you are his son. But he also loved your mother with all of his heart. Losing someone you love like that… It's terrible, and leaves a scar on the mind and heart that never goes away. From what I've seen, he has never been the same since she died." She put a hand on his face in a motherly gesture. "Don't let his regret for her death make you think that he loves you any less, or is any less proud of you because of it." She assured him.
The pain in Arthur's face lessened minutely, and he gave Hunith the barest impression of a smile. "Thank you, Hunith." "You wish you didn't have a son?" Nimueh asks, looking briefly confused. "Well, your wish will come true tomorrow." "I will not let you take him." Uther states. "I have watched so many people I love die at your hands, Uther Pendragon." Nimueh replies, her voice full of buried resentment, anger, and hurt. "Now it is your turn."
Uther looks away for a moment, and Nimueh disappears. In the library, Merlin is searching through old tomes when he drops a book. Merlin bends down to pick it up, and sees shoes. When he looks up, Geoffrey is looking down at him. "How did you get in here?" Geoffrey asks, frowning.
"Through a door?" Gwaine replied humorously.
"I don't think that's what he meant, Gwaine." Percival shook his head. "The door was open." Merlin lies.
"Well, it was open when I went through it." Merlin revised. "It may or may not have been locked it before that."
The knights chuckled at that. "I can definitely see the uses of knowing that you have magic, mate." Gwaine said, lightly throwing an arm around his shoulders.
"Free ale?" Merlin asked wryly.
"No!" Gwaine grinned at Merlin disbelieving look. "Okay, well maybe. But you're thinking too small!" Gwaine waved an arm like he was showing Merlin around his home. "Think of all the possibilities!"
Merlin chuckled and shrugged out from under Gwaine's arm. "Something tells me that's the kind of idea that's going to get me in a lot of trouble." "No, I locked it." Geoffrey argues. "Well, someone else must've opened it, then." Merlin replies. "And you thought you'd come in and help yourself?" Merlin picks up the book. "I was looking for a book. For Gaius. He thinks the Black Knight is a wraith." "Then Arthur is in grave peril." Geoffrey says ominously.
"So Geoffrey knows a bit about magic?" Leon asked. "He obviously knows enough to know what a wraith is."
"He is old enough to remember the time before the Purge." Gaius reminded him. "Plus, he's a historian and librarian. He's probably read quite a bit about magical monsters, with everything that we have faced." "Which is why I'm here." Merlin replies. "I need to find a weapon that will kill something that's already dead." "Well, I've read of such things in the ancient chronicles." Geoffrey states. Merlin gives him a hopeful look. "Really? What did they say?" "Well, several fables speak of ancient swords."
"That can kill the dead?" Merlin interjects. "The swords the fables speak of could destroy anything, alive or dead." Geoffrey says.
Arthur wordlessly looked down at the sword strapped to his side before looking back up at the memory. Although the whole pulling an ancient sword from a stone thing was interesting and all, having a sword that would kill even the undead would be extremely handy. He'd have to talk to Merlin about that later.
Then he remembered that he was still furious with Merlin at the moment. "Can you show me one of these fables?" "Well, let me think. Yes. Mm..." Geoffrey searches a shelf. After a moment, Merlin says impatiently, "I'm sort of in a hurry." "Yes, you young people always are."
"You really are." Gaius muttered. Geoffrey flips through a book. "This is the Chronicle of Beltain. Now then... Ah, here we are." Merlin looks up in interest. "'Sir Marhaus looked upon the great sword, begotten in the dragon's breath and found it passing good.'" "What did you say?" Merlin asks. ""Sir Marhaus..."" "No. No, no. No, no. Not about him. The dragon." Merlin says.
"Oh, like the dragon below the castle. You got him to help?" Elyan asked. ""The great sword begotten in the dragon's breath..." Merlin takes off. "...and found it passing good."
"And Merlin disappears once again." Percival chuckled.
"He's very good at that." Gaius grumbled. Gwen opens Morgana's door to see Merlin standing outside. "Merlin." Gwen says with a smile. "What are you doing here?" "I've come to ask a favor." Merlin says. "Yes?" Gwen asks. "I'm not sure how to ask it." Merlin replies sheepishly. "Ask, Merlin. You know I'd grant you anything." Realizing what she said, she begins to stumble over her words, saying, "I mean, not anything. Obviously, not anything. What is it you want?" "I've come to ask for a sword. The strongest sword your father's ever made." Merlin says. "What for?" Gwen asks.
"I had thought it was a rather unusual request." Gwen said.
"But that's not what you thought he was going to ask?" Gwaine asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What? No, of course not. I… I don't know what you're talking about." Gwen insisted. "To save Arthur." Merlin replies. The group watch as Morgana pleads with Arthur to withdraw, but to no avail.
Uther enters the physician's chambers, where Gaius is washing his hands. "I'm sorry. You knew that one day this business would come back to haunt me."
Gwaine snickered. "The past is literally haunting him, except it's a wraith rather than a ghost." "Not quite so literally." Gaius replies. "I should've listened to you. You said that no good would come of using witchcraft at Arthur's birth." Uther says. "You wanted an heir. You thought it was the only way." Gaius remembers. "Nimueh told me there would be a price to pay." Uther says. Gaius shakes his head slightly. "You weren't to know that that price would be Ygraine's life."
"So he really didn't know." Arthur murmured.
"No, he didn't." Gaius told him. "I cannot let Arthur die." Uther says quietly. "Then you must stop the fight." Gaius tells him. "No, I will take his place." "Do you know what you're saying?"
"Did he know that the wraith could not be killed by mortal weapons?" Elyan asked.
"I'm not sure. But he knew that the knights had been unable to kill it. He also knew that if he were to be killed, that the wraith would be stopped." Gaius explained. "Ygraine gave up her life for him. So must I." Uther says. "Uther..." Gaius says simply. "I have no other choice." Uther replies.
"There's always another choice." Gwen murmured under her breath. "There must be another way." Gaius argues. "My death will stop the wraith and Arthur will live. But it means you are the only person left who knows the truth about Arthur's birth. I want you to swear to me that you will keep your oath." Uther asks. Gaius stares at him for a long minute before he says, "I will take it to my grave." Uther smiles gratefully, and puts a hand on Gaius's shoulder. "You have always been a good friend, despite my temper." "I always thought that would be the death of you." Gaius jokes weakly.
"Their friendship kind of reminds me of you and Merlin, Arthur." Gwen noticed. They both laugh quietly. "I have one other favor to ask." Back at her house, Gwen pulls a sword out from under her father's bed. "My father's been saving this. He's always said it was the best sword he's ever made." "It's perfect." Merlin grins.
Gwen puts her head on her crossed arms. "He'll kill me if he finds I've taken it."
"He definitely wasn't happy with me, although it did help that it was going to a good use. You never did tell me what happened to that sword, Merlin." Gwen remembered.
Steadfastly refusing to look at the current Excalibur at Arthur's waist, Merlin nodded and replied, "You'll see." Or you have seen. Merlin added in his head. Merlin stares at the sword. "He'll understand. You did it for Arthur." "I knew you were proud of him really." Gwen teases. The two exchange glances before Merlin wraps up the sword and takes it away.
"When he's not being a prat, I am proud of him." Merlin smiled, which the king returned. Merlin immediately takes the sword to the Dragon's Cave. "Merlin!" the dragon greets him. "Do you know why I'm here?" Merlin asks. "It may surprise you, Merlin, but my knowledge of your life is not universal." The dragon says humorously.
"I was starting to think that damn dragon knew everything." Arthur said wryly. Good to know that's not totally the case." "It's to do with Arthur. His life's in danger." Merlin kneels to the ground, and begins to unwrap the sword. "He will die, unless I can make a weapon that will kill the dead." "So what do you come to ask of me?" the dragon asks. Merlin floats the sword in front of Kilgharrah. "Will you burnish it, to save Arthur?" "The dead do not return without reason. Who has he come for?" the dragon asks.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Is he avoiding the question?"
"Swords burnished in a dragon's breath are powerful weapons. He didn't want to introduce that kind of power without being sure that it was totally needed." Merlin explained. "Uther."
"I doubt he's going to mind that." Leon figured. "Then let him take his vengeance and the wraith will die without my aid."
"Yeah, that's about what I thought he was going to say." Leon shook his head. "But it's Arthur who's going to fight him. You have to save him." Merlin says. "That is your destiny, young warlock, not mine." The dragon states. "But if Arthur fights the wraith and dies, Camelot will have no heir. I will have no destiny."
"Good point!" Arthur agreed. The dragon's eyes narrow. "A weapon forged with my assistance will have great power." "I know." "You do not know." Kilgharrah exclaims. "You can only guess. You have not seen what I have seen. If you had, perhaps you would not ask this of me."
"What had he seen?" Percival wondered
Merlin shrugged. "Who knows?" "What do you mean?" Merlin asks. "In the wrong hands, this sword could do great evil. It must be wielded by Arthur and him alone." "I understand." Merlin says. "You must do more than understand. You must promise." "I promise." Merlin swears. Merlin stands back, and Kilgharrah breathes fire on the sword. When he is done, the sword has beautifully been transformed.
"Wait a minute. That looks just like…" Arthur pulled out Excalibur with a shing, and compared it to the past image before them. "They're the same sword!" He swung the sword around and pointed it at Merlin, forcing Gwen to step back and Gwaine to duck to avoid being hit. With a narrowed gaze, he took a step closer to Merlin. "I take it that this sword wasn't but in a rock by an ancient king, then."
"Arthur, I…"
Arthur nearly growled. "No! I don't want to hear any of your excuses. I may understand why you lied about having magic, even if I don't have to like it. But just how much of what you ever told me was a lie? Lying about a sword? How about lying to me about my own mother?" Arthur took a deep breath as a flash of pain and anger faced through his heart. "I'm sick of the lies, Merlin. And something tells me that this is just the beginning."
A flicker of pain sparked across Merlin face, and he said, "Arthur, do you think that I wanted to lie to you? I had no choice."
Arthur laughed harshly. "No choice? The situation with my mother had absolutely nothing to do with your magic, Merlin. You could have told me the truth about something that important to me, rather than just lying to my face."
Annoyance flittered across Merlin's face, and he opened his mouth to explain, but Arthur cut him off with a wave of his hand. "I don't want to hear it, Merlin." With that statement ringing with finality, Arthur resheathed Excalibur and walked a couple of steps away before purposely turning away to watch the memory unfolding before them.
Gwen, noticing the hurt look on Merlin face, took a step towards him and put a comforting hand on his arm. "Just give him some time, Merlin." She murmured, before walking back to Arthur's side and grabbing his arm.
Merlin seems entranced. "Heed my words. The sword was forged for Arthur, and him alone."
"Aw, so does that mean I can't have one?" Gwaine appealed, trying to relieve the sudden tension in the group.
"No, Gwaine. You get into enough trouble as it is, without throwing a powerful sword in the mix." Elyan chuckled.
Gwaine cocked an eyebrow. "Arthur gets into more trouble than I do." He pointed out.
"Not by much. Besides, he's the king, so that means he gets all the cool weapons." Percival said.
In his chambers, Uther stares out his window at Tristan.
Gaius knocks on Arthur's door. "I've brought you something that might help you to sleep." Gaius enters.
"Uh-oh. Never accept anything like that from Gaius unless you want to get drugged." Merlin shook his head. "I'm fine. I don't need it." Arthur argues. "Here. It'll relax you, take the edge off your nerves." Gaius assures him.
Current Arthur shot Gaius a glare. "I still can't believe you drugged me!" Arthur drinks it, and grimaces at the taste. "I wouldn't drink it for pleasure." "Why don't you sit down for a moment?" Arthur walks numbly towards the bed. "Mind you, if you...forget about the taste, the, er, after-effect is quite pleasurable." Gaius nods with a slight smile. "Just lie back."
"Not very subtle, Gaius." Gwen giggled. Arthur passes out on the bed. Gaius leaves the room and locks the door. Tristan Dubois waits for Arthur in the arena the next morning. In the armory, Merlin unwraps and picks up Excalibur. Uther enters the armory and sees the sword. "That's a fine blade." Merlin grins and puts the sword down. "It's for Arthur." "He won't be needing it today. I will be taking Arthur's place." Uther states.
Arthur grumbled something under his breath that sounded like "Should have been my fight." "But Sire..." Merlin tries to argue. "Prepare me for battle." Uther orders.
"I wonder why he had you prepare him? It's not like he didn't have any servants of his own." Leon wondered.
Merlin shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe because I was already there, and there was only a limited amount of time before the fight?"
Merlin looks troubled. "Arthur should be the one that fights today." "The grievance was with me, the fight is mine." Uther states. Merlin tries to nonchalantly cover the sword. "I don't have your armor."
"Unfortunately, I don't think that's going to work." Arthur said shortly, knowing his father. "That'll do." He says, motioning to some stacked in the corner, his full attention on the sword. "It's likely to make little difference." "Erm, I-I'll get you your sword." Merlin says when he sees Uther's attention is on Excalibur. "This will be fine." Uther says, picking up the sword.
"Oh yeah, the dragon is not going to be happy with that." Elyan shook his head. "No, Sire. You don't understand. Erm, That one was made specifically for Arthur." Merlin says, picking up the armor.
"Awkward." Gwaine grimaces.
"Tell me about it." Merlin replied. "He was totally fascinated with that sword, a sword that I swore only Arthur would use. I was caught between a merciless king and a fire breathing dragon." "Who made it?" Uther asks. "Erm, er, Tom, the blacksmith." Merlin replies, fitting the armor.
"Even if he didn't realize it at the time." Gwen adds. "It's worthy of a King." Uther comments. "You would be better off with a sword you trusted." Merlin tries again. "No. It has almost perfect balance." Uther swings the sword around once. "Tom's not the Royal swordsmith. I'm surprised Arthur went to him." "Oh, that was me." Merlin replies. Uther gives him a look, and Merlin adds somewhat sheepishly, "I felt he needed a better sword." "You show him the most extraordinary loyalty." Uther says disbelievingly.
Merlin gave Arthur a sideways look. "I believe in the king that Arthur is, and will be." He said. "He deserves my loyalty."
Arthur met his eyes wordlessly for a moment before turning away once again. "That is my job, Sire." Merlin says. "But beyond the line of duty." Uther adds. "Well... You could say..." Uther turns to look at him fully, "that there is a bond between us."
"He must have had a lot on his mind. He certainly is acting strangely." Arthur commented. "Usually, the idea of a bond between a prince and a servant would have had him at least scoffing, if not ordering Merlin to the stocks for it." Uther just looks at him and says softly, "I'm glad. Look after him." He picks up a helmet on his way out of the armory. After he is gone, Merlin lets a slightly panicked expression cross his face as he runs a hand through his hair and lets his breath out loudly.
"A bit awkward?" Gwaine repeated.
"Just a bit." Merlin chuckled slightly, remembering his unease. "Being stuck in a room by myself with Uther Pendragon and a magic sword isn't exactly the most comfortable place for a secret warlock." Uther enters the arena, to which the crowd murmurs in surprise. "You can have what you came for. The father, not the son." Uther states to the knight. A guard removes Uther's cape.
Arthur sleeps on in his chambers as the fight begins. Arthur wakes in his bed to the sound of swords clashing, running his hands through his hair in an almost drunken sort of way. Arthur hears the sound and goes to the window. The fight continues. Arthur tries to get out of his room, but it's still locked.
The fight continues. Arthur struggles against the door. Uther knocks off Tristan's helmet to reveal the mummified face. Nimueh watches in the crowd. Uther loses his sword. Tristan has him on the ground, but his sword gets stuck in Uther's shield.
Uther kicks his shield at Tristan, grabs Excalibur and runs him through. Tristan explodes. Nimueh leaves angrily. Uther gets up and removes his helm and the crowd cheers. Uther tosses Excalibur on the ground. In the council chambers, Gaius tends Uther's wounds. "I thought you said a wraith couldn't be killed." Uther comments.
"You're lucky that he didn't trace it back to you and magic." Percival commented.
"Yeah, well the Pendragons aren't exactly known for being the most observant of people." Merlin said.
Arthur scowled at that statement that reminded him of the reason for his anger. "Yes, it was remarkable." Gaius notices Excalibur on the table. "Is that a new sword, Sire?" "It's the best I've ever fought with." Uther says. "May I have a look?" Gaius asks. Uther hands it over, saying "I was intrigued by those markings."
"I had wondered that, as well." Arthur added, putting a hand lightly on Excalibur's hilt.
"They were runes, the language of the Old Religion. Luckily, Uther knows next to nothing about magic." Gaius explained. "On one side it says, 'Take me up,' and on the other, 'Cast me away.'" Gaius interprets. "What does that mean?" Uther asks.
"What does that mean?" Arthur repeated, unable to help himself.
"'It's a powerful blade, and in the wrong hands it can do great harm. It means, take up the sword, let the rightful hands use it. But then when you are done using it, then cast it away where none can find it." Merlin explained. "May I ask who made it, Sire?" Gaius avoids the question. Uther tugs his shirt on. "Merlin gave it to me. It was forged for Arthur." Arthur enters the chambers, looking furious. "Well, that should heal pretty quickly. I'll re-dress it tomorrow." Gaius says, quickly picking up his medical kit and leaving.
"And Gaius makes a fast getaway." Gwaine chuckled. "Thank you, Gaius. Thank you for everything." Uther replies. "You had Gaius drug me! I was meant to fight him!" Arthur bellows. "No, you weren't." Uther argues. "But the Knight's Code is very clea..." "Be damned!" Uther argues. "I believed you would die. And that was a risk I could not take. You are too precious to me. You mean more to me than anything I know, more than this entire kingdom, and certainly more than my own life."
"He never said anything like that to me when I was growing up." Arthur said softly. He may still be angry, at his father and at Merlin, for all of the lies but it still had been nice to hear his father say that. Arthur looks flummoxed at that. "I... always thought that..." he stammers. "What?" Uther encourages. "That...I was a big disappointment to you." Arthur finishes. Uther puts a hand on his shoulder. "Well, that is my fault, and not yours. You are my only son. And I wouldn't wish for another." Both men clear their throats when Uther drops his hand. "I heard you fought pretty well."
Merlin chuckled. "Like father, like son. Both hate to talk about their feelings." "Thanks." "You should join us for training. Sort out your footwork." Arthur finishes dryly. "I'll show you footwork!" Uther exclaims, and he gets up and playfully kicks Arthur, who runs away.
Hunith watched the scene sadly, wishing with all of her heart that her son could have had that when he was younger; that he could have known his father growing up. In the physician's chambers, Gaius stares at Merlin while they eat. "You know why I'm looking at you." Gaius intones. "No." Merlin denies.
"He usually only looks at me like that when he knows I've done something wrong." Merlin said dryly. "Uther told me you provided him with his sword today. It must have been a very powerful blade to slay the dead. Did you enchant it?" Gaius asks. "No. I didn't." Merlin denies quietly. "Who did then?"
"A dragon." Gwaine answered. "Wasn't me." Merlin says. "Shame. It saved the King's life, I'd have been very proud of you." Gaius replies.
"Trying to tease answers out of him, are we?" Hunith laughs. Merlin smiles slightly, "Well..." "Never mind." Gaius says teasingly, putting a spoonful of food in his mouth. Gaius gives Merlin a knowing smile, which Merlin copies. The Great Dragon calls to Merlin in his sleep, jerking him awake. "Merlin! Merlin...Merlin!"
"I was seriously not looking forward to that conversation." Merlin grimaced.
"What did he want?" Elyan wondered.
"The sword." Merlin said simply.
Merlin goes down the Tunnel Corridor to the Dragon's Cave. "So, does Arthur live?" the dragon asks.
"Wouldn't he know already if I was dead?" Arthur asked.
Merlin shrugged. "Probably." "Yes, the sword worked. It was incredible, amazing." Merlin replies.
"As I promised." The dragon replies. "But..." Merlin continues hesitantly. "Yes?" "Things didn't quite go according to plan. I mean they did, except... It wasn't Arthur who wielded the sword." Merlin takes a breath and says, "It was Uther." "NO!" The dragon lifts his head and roars.
"He definitely didn't take that well." Leon shook his head. "I tried, but he just took it!" Merlin yells. "ARGH!" "Uther's the King. I couldn't stop him!" Merlin argues.
"Especially without him finding out that the sword is magic, or punishing you for crossing him." Leon added. "The sword was born of the old magic. You have no idea of its power. In the hands of Uther, it will bring only evil." The dragon tells him. "I'll get it back." Merlin assures the dragon. "You have betrayed me. You are not ready to be trusted." Kilgharrah says depreciatingly.
Percival raised an eyebrow. "It's not like you gave it to the king on purpose."
Merlin rolled his eyes. "He had a bit of a fiery temper, and he had expressly told me that only Arthur should wield the sword. But it does make me wonder if he would have reacted that severely if it had been anyone other than Uther who had wielded the sword. " Looking upset that he had angered the dragon, Merlin offers, "I'll bring it to you. You can destroy it." "What is made cannot be unmade." The dragon growls. "So what do you want me to do?" Merlin asks, desperate to fix his mistake with the dragon that he considered a friend. "Take the sword far from here and place it where no mortal man can ever find it." The dragon then takes off and flies further into the caves. Merlin goes to the armory in the morning and takes Excalibur, examining the sword in the morning sunlight. He exits Camelot carrying the sword and walks to the Lake of Avalon, where he throws the sword into the lake.
"You threw the sword into a lake? Seriously?" Gwaine asked incredulously.
"Well, it seemed like a good idea. Nobody was likely to find a sword at the bottom of a lake." Merlin retorted. Glancing over at Arthur, Merlin realized that anger and annoyance were still predominantly written across his features. Hopefully sometime soon he would give Merlin a chance to explain.
Even after all this time, he still felt terrible about lying to Arthur about his mother, and the truth about his birth. But he really had had no choice. He couldn't have let Arthur kill his father like that; it would have destroyed him and most likely the kingdom. Although he could understand Arthur's anger. Merlin had lied to him plenty of times over the years that they had known each other, and unfortunately he had done even worse than that. He had known that there were some things that Arthur would be angry about.
All he could do was hope that when everything was said and done, and Arthur had seen everything that he had done, that he wouldn't hate him for it. That he might even understand why Merlin had done what he had.
Holding onto that hope, Merlin turned around when Ella started to talk.
"All right, if you all are ready, we'll continue onto the next memory: The Moment of Truth." Ella announced.
MERLINNILREM
Hope that everybody liked that chapter. And I know I took a terribly long time getting this out, but if you all feel kind, please review. It makes me happy, and actually does make me want to write faster (believe it or not!)
Up next, one of my personal favorites of this season: The Moment of Truth!
Until next time!