27Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
A/N: Thank you, jaqtkd, my beta as always. :) It's only like been a week since I updated last. Yay! Thank you my lovely readers and reviews. Now, onto the story.
Morgana watched from behind the trees on the other side of the clearing as Arthur emotions played across his face from worry to hate. The most prominent emotion being betrayal. She could always read her brother like a book. She could not help but feel glee as Arthur walked away from Merlin. She had to admit that she would much rather have him dead, but that would happen eventually. Her plan was coming together nicely.
The moment Arthur disappeared, Merlin's shoulders slumped and his head drooped. As she left her hiding place and approached the warlock, he spun to face her, his eyes awash with pain and unshed tears. He looked very much alone but then, a moment later, all signs of weakness were gone, even if she was sure he still suffered. His eyes are hard and cold as they stared at one other.
She stepped forward and made to grab his arm but he stumbled away and demanded, "What are you doing?"
"Relax, Merlin. I'm not going to hurt you." Morgana smiled disarmingly.
He eyes widened skeptically, "Do you really think me such a fool?"
"Of course not. What I meant to say is I'm not going to hurt you yet." She could see that Merlin was trying to be stoic, but he visibly gulped. She reached out to grab him once more and he nervously moved away again.
"Stay still," she ordered, glaring at the the servant.
"Why should I?"
"Because," she said, taking a firm grip on his wrist, "I wouldn't be able to do this otherwise." He glanced at her eyes which were suddenly burning a bright gold. She spoke ancient words that sent chills down his spine. At first, Merlin felt nothing. Then, there was a tingling sensation throughout his body that increased until Merlin felt like he was being torn apart.
After what seemed like an eternity, he was released and staggered away, swaying unsteadily on the spot. Once his vision stopped spinning, he looked around and was startled to see that they were no longer in a forest. Instead, they were inside a large stone passageway.
"Where are we?" Merlin asked warily.
"Your new home." She had that vicious grin on her face again and he was starting to hate it more than her smirk, "Follow me." She lead him down the hall, turned right, and guided him down a corridor to a door. "This is where you will be staying here." The door opened slowly. The room was larger than his room back home. There was a proper bed and a small cupboard. Other than that it was empty. "Rest now, for you are going to be busy come tomorrow. There is much to do." With that she closed the door behind him, not bothering to lock it.
Merlin stared at the door for a long time. It had happened so quickly, this change, and his life would never be the same again. Arthur knew. Gods, Arthur knew. He never thought it would go down this way. He had hoped that one day he would be able to sit down and tell the prince his secret or maybe he would find out when Merlin was forced to save him with no choice to reveal himself. He even would have preferred Arthur finding out in some foolish way, like walking in on Merlin magically doing his chores. But, never, ever, had he wanted him to find out like this.
What was even worse was that Arthur hated him. He saw it in his eyes, the contempt for magic and the betrayal of a friend. He felt like he was going to scream. There was nothing he could do, no plans that he could make. He was trapped.
Merlin finally got the courage to move. He staggered over to the bed, lay down, clutching the pillow to his chest, and willed himself not to cry.
Arthur crashed through the forest, shoving tree branches out of his way with reckless abandon. He was so mad, he thought he might explode. Grabbing his sword, he smashed it against a hapless tree, again and again until he fell to the ground, his rage depleted. He couldn't believe he had been such an idiot. He should have seen through the facade to the evilness that lurked below. He didn't know why the sorcerer hadn't killed him while he had the chance. Well, he wouldn't have another chance.
Arthur picked himself off the ground and started for Camelot once again. Usually, the sight of home brought a rush of warmth but right now it brought more anger. He stomped through the streets of the lower town. People parted for the prince. He didn't miss the concerned looks on their faces. He could only imagine what he looked like. He wanted answers and there was only one place that he could think of that would give them.
Arthur burst into Gaius' chambers, "Did you know?"
The old man rose from his table, worried at the prince's abrupt entrance, "Know what, sire?"
Arthur's eyes were wide and stormy and he demanded, "Did you know Merlin had magic?"
Gaius' face and voice became alarmed and his body rigid, "What?" Arthur couldn't tell if that was the shock of the knowledge or the fact the Arthur knew. Either way, Arthur felt the anger grow.
Arthur slowly stepped closer, "I said, did you know?"
Arthur didn't get the response he desired, "Where is he?" Gaius asked.
"Who, Merlin? Hopefully dead."