Work Text:
"Don't be an idiot, Merlin, nothing's going to happen," hisses Merlin vehemently. "I mean, every time we've travelled through the Valley of the Fallen Kings we've been captured or nearly killed, but I'm sure this time will be different. Why do you never listen, you clotpole?"
"Shut up, Merlin."
He quiets down to a low grumble of complaints about dollopheaded princes and their obsession with hunting.
After a bit of this, he feels a hard slap on the side of his head. "Shut it, boy." Merlin sends their captor a glare.
Arthur glances at him just before they enter Camelot's gates. "I know that look, Merlin. Whatever stupid and suicidal thing you're planning, don't."
Merlin ignores him, head ringing.
--------
When they reach the throne room, Merlin and Arthur are pushed down beside the knights. A few servants are dotted around the hall.
In front of them, King Vortigern lounges on Arthur's throne. He laughs.
"So this is the young king. I have to say, you look much less formidable kneeling at my feet." Arthur glares up at him. His eyes drift to Merlin. "You're not a knight. Everyone's got to eat, I'd bear you no ill-will for working for the Pendragons. What do you say about working for me instead?"
Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Lancelot shaking his head at him in warning. But this is the opener he was looking for, and as far as he can see there's no other way to get them out alive.
He nods. "Alright."
Vortigern raises an eyebrow. "That's it? I was expecting more protest from King Arthur's most loyal servant. Why would you switch sides so easily?"
There's only one thing he can do now. It was bound to come out eventually, and he steels himself, not looking at Arthur, not wanting to see the betrayal on his face.
His eyes flash gold and the bonds on his wrists drop away. He holds out a hand, palm up, a small flame dancing on it.
"Because why would a sorcerer ever serve Uther Pendragon's son?"
Vortigern laughs. "Very good. The irony, a sorcerer at the heart of Camelot. Appointed by Uther himself, no less. Well, up you come."
Merlin stands up, dusting himself off, and turns around, scanning the knights. Arthur looks heartbroken.
He makes eye contact with Lancelot, who nods resignedly.
"Traitor!" He yells. "I trusted you!"
Merlin raises an eyebrow. "Well evidently, you shouldn't have."
"Yes, I should've known better than to trust a bastard. I'd challenge you here and now if I could."
Vortigern smirks. "What do you reckon? Think you can take him?"
Merlin shrugs. "Might as well demonstrate my power. Anyone else care to join?"
Gwaine snarls. "I will. I'll kill you."
"Very well then," says Vortigern. Merlin snaps his fingers and their bonds are untied. "Give them back their swords. They'll need them."
Gwaine and Lancelot get to their feet, advancing on Merlin. They've played out this routine before many times, though not for such high stakes, and it's easy enough to step into that rhythm, dodging their strikes, sending attacks just where they can avoid them.
"I thought you were demonstrating your power? Get on with it!"
They circle round each other. When they've cleared enough space around them, Merlin's eyes flash gold and the doors to the hall lock. He waves his hand, erecting a shield in front of the other knights.
"Now!" he yells, and the three of them turn round, back-to-back now.
Vortigern growls. "What are you doing?"
Merlin rolls his eyes. "Did you really think I'd switch sides so quickly? I thought you knew I was loyal to Arthur. Forbaerne ácwele!" He shoots a fireball at an approaching soldier.
"But why would you fight for a Pendragon? His father wiped out your people, and I haven't seen much different from him."
"Ástryce! He's my friend. And he is a far better man than his father ever was."
"Have you ever heard the prophecy of Emrys?" adds Lancelot. Vortigern pales.
"You?"
"Me."
Gwaine smirks. "I like it when you bring that up."
"Shut up, Gwaine."
"Never."
Arthur watches, awestruck, as Merlin, Gwaine and Lancelot move in a kind of dance, swords flashing and fireballs flying at Vortigern's soldiers.
He's still stuck on Merlin having magic. Merlin? The same man who trips over crooked pavestones and cries at unicorns is a powerful sorcerer?
This makes more sense than Merlin betraying him, but still. Has the world turned upside down without him noticing?
He watches as Lancelot ducks and Merlin shoots a fireball at the soldier approaching him. They work well together, and dimly, Arthur realises they must've done this before.
Vortigern stalks forward, sword raised, and Merlin steps out of the circle to meet him, Gwaine and Lancelot closing ranks behind him.
Merlin raises his hand as he approaches Vortigern. He doesn't go on the offensive yet, parrying Vortigern's strokes, stalling him.
He notices the rest of the room has gone quiet, and he glances at Lancelot, who's stopped fighting. He brings the fight over towards him, circling until Lancelot's at Vortigern's back.
"Hathian!"
Vortigern lets out a curse and his newly red-hot sword clatters to the ground. In the distraction, Lancelot's sword pricks the back of his neck.
Merlin stretches out a hand and Vortigern freezes, wide eyes focused on it.
"Arthur," he calls, "what do you want to do with him?"
Arthur stares. For a minute he can't say anything. Merlin's more powerful than anyone he's ever seen and he's still deferring to him.
He says, a little more uncertainly, "Arthur?"
Arthur shifts his hands, finding that the bonds fall away easily. He walks towards Vortigern, picking up a discarded sword along the way, and Merlin shifts slightly to allow him direct access.
He levels the sword at his heart. "King Vortigern. Withdraw the remainder of your troops from Camelot and arrange a truce."
"Or? You don't have the stomach to kill me."
"I don't have to kill you."
Vortigern scowls, looking from him to Merlin.
"Very well, since you leave me no option. But don't think this makes us allies, Arthur Pendragon."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
Suddenly, by his side, Merlin stumbles. Arthur reaches out an arm and grabs him. "Are you injured?"
Merlin shakes his head. Gwaine cuts in, "he's overused his magic again. He does it every time."
Merlin narrows his eyes. "For that slander, Gwaine, I'm telling my mother you don't like her apple pie."
Gwaine puts a hand over his heart and gasps. "How could you! You'd make an excellent evil sorcerer."
Merlin nods. "And don't you forget it." And then he slumps, passing out.
Arthur looks up at Lancelot and Gwaine. "He'll be alright?"
"It depends what you're planning to do with him. But for this, he just needs to sleep, princess."
It takes a minute or so for Arthur to understand the meaning of that sentence, and then--
"You think I'd punish him for this? I'm not my father, Gwaine, and he's my best friend."
Gwaine nods. "Good."
--------
Merlin wakes to see a red canopy above him.
"You're awake finally." He looks in the direction of the voice to see Arthur sitting next to the bed. "Don't think that just because you defeated a king and took back our kingdom that you're getting out of your chores." Arthur sounds fond though, and just like that Merlin knows everything's going to be ok.
"What am I doing here? I remember collapsing, but--"
"Apparently, word spread quickly about what you did in the throne room, and people kept making up excuses to see Gaius to come and look at you. I thought you'd get more rest here."
"Oh."
He reaches out and brushes a piece of hair off his forehead. "You've been out for two days."
"Two days?"
Arthur nods. "What you did took a lot out of you. Gwaine said you often overuse your magic, and you're not to do it again. After all, I can't have my court sorcerer passing out all the time. It sets a bad example."
"Your court-- court sorcerer?"
"If you accept." He passes a scroll of parchment across, settling Merlin up against the pillows so he can read it. Merlin opens it, scanning the paper. It takes him a couple of tries to process what he's reading, and when he does his eyes fill with tears.
"You're legalising magic? I'll be free?"
"Yes, Merlin. I don't want you to live in fear anymore. And anyway, there's no case for keeping it illegal anymore, not when you saved us all." He clears his throat awkwardly. "So. Do you accept your new appointment?"
Merlin beams at him. "Of course I do. Thank you, Arthur."
And Arthur lunges forward, pulling him into a tight embrace.