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“He’s already done it twice Arthur, he’s reckless,” Uther sighed, straightening his sleeve as he leaned back in his chair.
“So you think saving lives is reckless?” Arthur spit out before he could stop himself.
“You weren’t here for the fire, you can’t comment on it.”
“Merlin told me what happened, and I believe him.”
Uther frowned and rolled his eyes, “Arthur you are missing the point, if you don’t get your omega to behave things will only get worse.”
“I’m not his keeper! Merlin isn’t my slave or my property I can’t tell him what to do!”
“Maybe you should consider it!” Uther snapped.
Arthur stared hard at his father and hoped his look of utter distain would be enough to convey his feelings on the matter.
“He needs to be mindful, careful of how he acts.”
“I know that father, and I’m trying to make him understand, it’s hard. The servants don’t like him for some reason and he feels miserable having to hide his magic,” Arthur added in a hushed tone.
“Haven’t you figured it out yet? Merlin is a peasant, an omega, one who should have no business being with you. The servants are merely angry. It’s a slap in their faces that I’m letting this continue.”
“No! No, no that’s not it at all,” Arthur countered. “This is you simply looking for another way to break us up. I won’t allow it!”
Uther scoffed, “I’m telling the truth, you’re too stubborn to see it.”
“There is no way they think that! Just because someone like them managed to elevate their position in life doesn’t mean they have to hate them?! That is ludicrous.”
“It’s not like he’s made an effort to get to know them,” Uther offered smugly. “Perhaps if he tried har--.”
“Father,” Arthur growled, “I don’t see you making friends with the servants, why do you think Merlin should?”
“Arthur, he’s already overstepped his position in life by being with you, the best he could do is realize where his true place is. Perhaps we could arrange for him to be a servant and then you could still see him from time to time. We could find you another mate, one that ha--.”
“Shut up! I won’t hear it!” Arthur seethed. “Father I’m warning you, watch what you wish for, I’ll leave with Merlin and never come back if you push him away.”
Sighing loudly Uther glared at Arthur, “You are insufferable.”
“No father, I’m in love and have found my true mate. Why you can’t just accept that is beyond me.”
“Your mate has magic!” Uther yelled, “I can’t let you be corrupted, not after all I’ve been through trying to protect us from the evils of sorcery.”
“Merlin is not evil. He’s kind and caring, and I’m in love with him. Is there anything I can do to make you leave us be?” Arthur asked desperate for a reprieve.
“Aside from banishing the omega, none that I can think of at the moment,” Uther grumbled.
“Gahhh, father, Merlin doesn’t practice magic within the castle because of you, he stays in my rooms because of you, he’s trapped between trying to live a normal life and living in fear of inciting your wrath,” Arthur lamented hoping to get through to the king.
“How does that concern me?” Uther asked coldly.
“He’s going to die prematurely due to depression, and then I’ll become a hermit and hate you forever,” Arthur spit out.
“Very mature Arthur, I doubt that very much.”
“Fuck you! How can you be so cruel?!” Arthur shouted as he stood. The empty council chamber echoed with his voice as he waited for a reply.
None came. The king simply shook his head and went back to rifling through his papers.
“So this is it? You won’t bend and I have no say in the matter?” Arthur asked.
“You need to rest, perhaps in the morning you’ll have a different view point.”
Humming in acknowledgment Arthur stumbled away from the table and left. He had no recollection of how he made it back to his rooms but soon enough a familiar door blocked his path. Pushing it open Arthur was overcome with the calming scent of his omega.
Quickly rushing inside Arthur bolted the door. “Merlin, we need to talk,” he announced turning to look for the man.
“What’s happened?” his mate asked from the chair near the fire, his expression growing worrisome.
“My father is what’s happened. We are leaving this place. I can’t risk your safety anymore.”
Merlin’s eyes went wide as he twisted to see him better. “Are you serious? Shouldn’t we plan something like this?”
“I – I can’t deal with him anymore. I don’t know how you’ve been able to live like this for the past six months with the constant threat of death over your head. My father is wrong about you and I won’t let him tear us apart.”
“Is he spouting anything new?” Merlin squeaked looking worried.
“No, just the typical you’re evil since you know magic.” The mere thought stated aloud made Arthur’s blood boil. Merlin was being persecuted because he had a gift. “I won’t let him ruin our relationship. The way he’s talking I’m fearful he’ll try something brash. We’re leaving tonight.”
--
Merlin was already shaking from the cold as they made their way along the outskirts of the lower town. Arthur hadn’t been kidding when he said they were leaving. Having never seen his alpha so serious Merlin didn’t even think to complain or put up a fight. They’d opted to simply pack their bags and slip out.
The dimming light from the setting sun offered some cover as they rushed to leave Camelot. The realization that Arthur was actually leaving his life behind for Merlin hit him once they’d cleared the city gate. Life was not going to be the same. “Arthur, where should we go? Won’t your father come looking for you?” Merlin asked hoping for clarification on what they were doing.
“We’re going to your village to visit your mum, and then we’ll regroup.”
“Won’t we need more supplies than this?” Merlin asked knowing the journey would take two full days without horses.
“I can hunt for food and you can start fires for us to cook. We have our bed rolls and blankets, what more do we need?”
“Money?” Merlin hedged.
“We can figure that out later, I need to get us away from here. I won’t let my father ruin our lives any longer.”
Neither one spoke again as they hurried along the quickly darkening path. The shock of being uprooting so unexpectedly fueled Merlin as they rushed away. Once the sun had fully set, the moon rose, but the clouds obstructed any light making it almost too dark to see. Without thinking Merlin summoned a blue orb of light and pushed it ahead of Arthur.
The alpha looked surprised but didn’t comment. Arthur simply reached back and took Merlin’s hand to bring him closer.
After what felt like hours Arthur slowed his pace and stopped. “How much farther can you go?” he asked.
“I’m okay to walk a little longer. Where do you think we should stop to rest?”
“When we do stop we’ll need to hide, father will send a patrol out when he realizes I’m gone. The farther we make it tonight the better.”
Merlin nodded and motioned for them to continue on. Unable to really gauge how much time was passing, they both traipsed through the woods until the faint rays of dawn started to appear. Apparently, the threat of Uther finding them had been motivation enough to walk all night. Exhausted and hungry Merlin dismissed the orb and waited to see if Arthur would push them more. He knew the importance of getting a head start, but they would have to stop at some point.
“I know you’re tired, I’m looking for a safe place to rest,” Arthur offered.
It wasn’t long before Arthur had found a fallen tree; the space underneath the massive giant was enough for the two of them to lie down. Merlin watched as Arthur kicked the trunk to make sure it wouldn’t crush them.
“Come on let’s see if we can get some shut eye.”
Following Arthur’s lead Merlin unfurled his bed roll and attempted to get comfortable. Suddenly missing the warmth and comfort of Arthur’s bed he tried to calm his rapidly beating heart. Things would be okay, they were starting a new life together. However, it all felt wrong somehow.
--
A harsh sound woke Arthur, tensing he looked out into the forest. Fully expecting a patrol of knights Arthur was more than surprised when he spotted a group of older men resting nearby. One of the men was repacking his bag, what looked like a collection of metal cups was scattered across the ground. That must have been the noise that roused him.
Staying still Arthur watched from their hiding place. The fallen tree offered enough shadow to remain unseen. If the men ventured closer he’d have to wake Merlin and run. Hoping it wouldn’t come to that Arthur waited and prayed the men would all leave.
After a few minutes it became obvious the group wasn’t going anywhere soon. For once Arthur was thankful Merlin slept like a brick. His omega was still curled into his side and breathing slowly. Loath to make any unnecessary movements Arthur forced his mind to calm. The men at least appeared unarmed.
Thinking a moment about that fact, Arthur was struck with another idea. The group of men could be magic users, maybe even druids. Their heavy cloaks covered them from neck to toe. It was impossible to see if any of them had tattoos. Unsure if that was a good or a bad thing Arthur waited, his right hand already resting on his sword.
Soon the men settled and began talking. Straining his ears Arthur worked to understand the conversation. They had stopped because one of them sensed something powerful nearby. Shit, this was very bad. Arthur had his chainmail and armor but that didn’t mean he was prepared to fight off any magical threats.
Coming to terms with the idea that these men were in fact sorcerers, Arthur began frantically thinking of a way to escape. His father’s conditioning on magic being evil was still there lurking under the surface. Knowing that Merlin had magic was also terrifying but the omega was his mate and that changed things. There was no fear when it came to Merlin. Never had been.
However, other magic users were iffy; Arthur had no way to tell how they would act. Desperately wanting to be open minded towards others like Merlin, Arthur hoped these men weren’t out to cause harm. They didn’t have time to get caught in a fight right now, nor the energy for it either. The meager food rations Arthur had offered when they stopped hadn’t been much, only enough to keep them for a few hours.
Cursing their luck Arthur had no choice but to wait and keep watch from their hiding place. With his eyes locked on who he was sure were druids, he missed the dark storm clouds rolling in from behind. Though, Arthur didn’t miss the flash of light that erupted some time later, he had no time to warn Merlin. Not that he could have done much. The resounding boom of thunder caused his omega to flinch and cry out. All three men in the clearing quickly stood and turned about frantically, unsure of where the noise had come from.
Merlin, still unawares of their unwanted company tried to speak but Arthur clamped a hand over the omega’s mouth and shook his head. Maybe the men would think it had been an animal that made the noise and they’d leave. The second’s drug by as Arthur worked to calm Merlin without actually saying anything. Afraid to push his scent for fear the others would smell him Arthur simply held Merlin tightly. Slowly lowering his hand Arthur silently pleaded for Merlin to remain quiet. Finally, the omega’s eyes landed on the group of men and he froze, his own scent becoming stronger.
Then, to add to their predicament the skies violently erupted. Rain pelted down quickly soaking everything it touched. The men who had been only meters away from stumbling onto their hiding place cried out in surprise and ran back to their things. This time when they spoke Arthur could hear every word, as they were shouting.
“I told you we should have moved on!” one lamented rushing to take shelter under the canopy of a tree.
“I know what I felt and there is powerful magic nearby!” was the reply from another.
“Fat lot of good it’s done us now Marcus! We will have to wait this storm out before we move on.”
The man Marcus, turned to berate his companion and stopped mouth agape. He was staring directly at him; Arthur could feel his heart rate spiking. They’d been found.
Arthur scrambled out from their hiding spot roughly dragging Merlin along. They had to run, he didn’t want to stay and talk with these men he simply wanted to be left alone.
“Our things?!” Merlin asked in a rush as Arthur pulled him upright.
“No time, these men are sorcerers,” he ground out hoping Merlin would catch up with his plan to flee.
“Wait! We mean you no harm!” rang out through the forest despite the rain.
This small statement was enough to cause Merlin to falter, “Arthur I – I think we can s-see what they w-want.”
Seeing Merlin shivering and soaked to the bone crushed any further ideas to run. The overwhelming urge to protect his omega at all costs had set his blood on fire. Deciding to trust Merlin’s instincts Arthur let out a sigh. Slumping his shoulders in defeat, Arthur turned to face the men. He only wanted to ensure Merlin’s safety.
Taking a deep breath Arthur strode forward standing in between the men and Merlin. “We have no money and we don’t want any trouble.” Arthur hoped they would believe him, he was wearing mail and armor, neither of which spoke anything of peace.
“We don’t want any trouble either,” The man Marcus replied. “Come sit with us, it’s drier over here.”
Arthur looked on in shock as he noted that all three men were in fact dry despite the weather. “How? We can’t – I shouldn’t,” he stuttered unsure about how he should feel with such a blatant display of magic.
“It’s but a simple spell, nothing to be afraid of, we are merely shielding ourselves from the rain, come and see for yourself.”
“A-arthur?” Merlin softly whined his tone quiet enough only Arthur could hear.
Nodding minutely Arthur pulled Merlin along behind him towards the men. Merlin’s cold shaking hand in his own gave him strength in a way. He had to take care of his omega; it was his duty, no matter the risks.
“Sit, rest,” Marcus offered pointing to a dry patch of grass nearby. “These are my brothers, Ben and John.”
“M’name’s Merlin, t-this is A-arthur,” Merlin answered before Arthur could think to give them all fake names.
“Very good, I’m so sorry we startled you earlier, we didn’t see you sleeping under the fallen tree.” Marcus replied. “Do you want any water? We have some extra food as well if you need it.”
Arthur was instantly suspicious no one had extra food, that was a lie. “No we’re fine,” he spit out. “We’re waiting for the storm to pass and then we’ll be on our way.”
“Arthur that’s n-not t-true,” Merlin cut in, pulling Arthur down to sit on the ground.
“Yes it is!” Arthur huffed, their current predicament momentarily forgotten.
“No, I meant the f-food you clotpole!”
“Merlin we need to be careful, I’m only trying to look out for our wellbeing,” Arthur answered truthfully.
“We honestly meant no offence, you simply seem like you are in need of assistance,” Marcus interrupted before Merlin could respond. The man had also taken a seat beside them and was rifling through his bag. “Here, we have an apple and some cheese. Perhaps that will make you feel a little better.”
“We’re not –,” Arthur sighed before he caught sight of Merlin giving him the most pitiful look he’d ever seen on his omega. “Gods, fine, yes, we are hungry, thank you.”
“We can perform a spell to dry your clothes off if you’d like, sitting around soaked isn’t very comfortable.”
“No! No—thank you for the offer but I’d prefer Merlin be the only one that casts magic near my person.”
“So you were right!” one of the other men exclaimed, John perhaps. “Forgive me Marcus your hunches can be wrong at times.”
“Yes, I suspected there was another magic user nearby, do you mind me asking who taught you?” Marcus queried with nothing but innocence in his eyes.
“Uh – I was born like this,” Merlin answered leaning in closer to Arthur.
Marcus’ eyes widened at the admission, “Who might your parents be?”
“That’s none of your business!” Arthur growled.
“Why?” Merlin asked instead ignoring Arthur’s tone.
“It may be of importance. You may be the one the prophe --.”
“No, it’s not him, don’t go putting things in this young man’s head about destiny and such,” John cut in.
Merlin stiffened at the mention of the word destiny and Arthur could tell he was distressed based off his scent. “Love, what’s wrong?” he asked with worry.
“You said destiny, what kind of destiny? Tell me more,” Merlin begged.
“As you wish, but first you must dry out your mate and yourself and eat,” Marcus gently ordered.
“How’d you know?” Arthur asked bewildered.
“You may not be bonded yet but your connection with each other is very strong. It warms my heart to see two people so young already well on the way to a lasting partnership.”
Stunned, Arthur could only blink stupidly at the man. He had no time to formulate a proper thought before something warm and soft encompassed his limbs. Realizing he was now completely dry, Arthur whipped his head around to Merlin and was greeted with a shy smile and fading gold eyes.
“Sorry, you were starting to shiver like me.”
“Don’t apologize, it’s – I’m not upset.” Taken in by Merlin’s kind smile and swimmingly beautiful blue eyes Arthur nearly forgot they weren’t alone. After a well-timed cough from Marcus, Arthur came back to his senses and turned back to the others. Merlin shared the food they were given and they both sat and listened to Marcus tell the tale of Emrys and the once and future king.
--
Merlin’s mind was reeling; the things Marcus had spoken of made him sound invincible. More to the point, it made him sound capable of the task.
Memories of meeting the great dragon and all that he’d been told came flooding back. It was real, Merlin was meant to be with Arthur and they were to unite all the land. The very idea was ridiculous though, Merlin would be ousted from Arthur’s life if they went back to Camelot.
This destiny wasn’t meant to be, not in this lifetime anyway.
“Marcus, even if I am Emrys, which I don’t believe just yet, and Arthur is the king you speak of we are already doomed. You must know we’ve run away, King Uther means to separate us or kill me. This prophesied future won’t include me unless things change,” Merlin lamented ducking his head.
“Don’t give up hope just yet, sometimes the journey isn’t easy, but that doesn’t mean you won’t succeed.”
“Easy for you to say!” Merlin huffed. “Even the damned dragon living under the castle in Camelot tried to make it sound easy too!”
“Wait? What dragon?” Arthur asked his eyebrows rising slowly.
“I told you, don’t you remember?”
“No, you most certainly did not tell me about a bloody dragon!”
“I swear I mentioned it one night, you teased me about it the next day so I thought you knew already!”
Arthur had gone pale now and was breathing heavily. “Dear gods, the rumors are true?! I thought you were kidding Merlin, I – how – you’re telling me my father has an actual dragon underneath the dungeons?”
“Yes, the thing laughed at me and told me I was the other side of your coin or something. I didn’t understand so I stopped worrying about it, until now.”
“There’s a dragon under Camelot,” Arthur repeated clearly not willing to believe what he’d been told.
“Yes, but can we forget about that for now! We’ve just found out we’re supposed to bring magic back to the land and somehow not die in the process!”
“The fact that there is a living, breathing dragon under the castle doesn’t faze you but this does?!” Arthur asked incredulously.
“I had other things on my mind at the time, like your father attempting to murder me!” Merlin shouted feeling sick even thinking of that horrid day.
Arthur sighed and threw his hands up in surrender, “That’s why we’re leaving, to find a better life, so you don’t have to worry about the king anymore.”
“We could offer you shelter if you’d like?” Marcus added. “If you joined forces with the druids then that would be helpful in recruiting other magic users.”
Merlin couldn’t help but instantly speak his mind after hearing Marcus’ offer. “How can Arthur become king if he’s not back in Camelot? He has no army, no power, he needs to go back,” Merlin lamented. “I won’t be the reason this supposed destiny crumbles away.”
“I’m not leaving you, no matter what you think,” Arthur said taking his hand and squeezing tightly.
Groaning in frustration Merlin roughly pulled at his hair with his free hand. Life wasn’t fair, how was a simple peasant omega bastard supposed to achieve such great things? Still exhausted from walking all night he felt the beginnings of a headache forming and desperately wished he could crawl into a warm bed and sleep. “I don’t want to be apart from you either, but we need to consi--.”
“No, I refuse,” Arthur cut in. “This destiny you all speak of includes us both; I won’t leave you by the way side. I’d rather die with you, than live without you.”
Merlin had never had anyone tell him something so heartfelt in all his short life. Unable to stop his inner omega he keened softly, and quickly leaned closer to pull Arthur into an embrace.
“I understand this is all overwhelming but you are not alone in this venture. Believe us Emrys you will succeed,” Marcus solemnly stated.
“Oi, don’t call him that yet,” John sighed. “The poor boy isn’t even sure it’s his destiny you’re prattling on about anyway.”
“Well, who else could he be?” Marcus replied turning his attentions towards his brother. “He’s even had a great dragon tell him he’s special. I cannot discount his mate being the future king of Camelot. Merlin is Emrys, there is no doubt in my mind.”
“Never mind what you think, Iseldir will need to make the final call.”
Marcus huffed and crossed his arms with a pout, “Of course, but I stand by what I say.”
Pulling Arthur even closer Merlin buried his head in the alpha’s shoulder. He was having a hard time processing all he’d been told. Why did everything always happen at the same time? They needed to survive Uther first and then maybe he could tackle his supposed destiny.
A gentle squeeze to his hand and what felt like a kiss to the top of his head made Merlin look up once more. “Hmmm?”
“We really need to get moving again,” Arthur announced looking guilty. “I appreciate the offer to come with you Marcus, but we already have plans.”
The druid nodded sagely, as if he had already known what the answer would be. “Very well, but do know you are always welcome. I am thankful to see that your past actions have not defined your future Arthur Pendragon.”
Merlin felt Arthur flinch and could tell from his scent that something was wrong. “Love, what’s the matter?” he asked, shoving the alpha gently.
Arthur could only manage to shake his head, his eyes were filling with tears and Merlin was starting to panic.
“I fear I was there to witness your actions, so you’ll forgive me for bringing it up now. I only wish to express my relief that you’ve not let your father continue to corrupt your mind,” added Marcus seriously.
“What actions?” Merlin asked not quite sure he wanted to hear the story.
“I believe that is something your alpha will need to tell you on his own. I merely wanted it to be known that you have been forgiven. The sins of the father are not your own.”
“They should be,” Arthur ground out. “It wasn’t right what I did. I – I made a mistake.”
“Recognizing your errors and not repeating them is a good thing Arthur. Some who have erred cannot even take that step.”
By now Arthur was shaking and Merlin couldn’t help but continue to hold him. Merlin had his suspicions about what Marcus was eluding to, but he’d never dared ask Arthur about that fateful day. Ordering a boy to do a raid on a camp of innocent people was cruel. Having dealt with Uther personally Merlin could only imagine the pressure Arthur had to have been under. It didn’t excuse his actions but at least Arthur was remorseful about it.
His alpha was different know, willing to stand up to Uther. Though running away wasn’t exactly making a stand it was delaying things. Shoving that thought aside Merlin tried to push out calming pheromones to help Arthur relax. What little energy he had was now gone. “That means a lot that you would say that Marcus, I can’t imagine it’s an easy thing to forgive.”
“How are we to better ourselves if we cannot see the good in this world?”
“I don’t think my father got that notice in life,” Arthur murmured.
“His rage is fueled by grief, perhaps one day he may see the truth of things and let go of his hate,” Marcus replied.
“Not anytime soon I’m afraid,” Merlin added woefully. “Arthur is right, we should head out, I wouldn’t want Uther to catch us and you.”
“I’d fight back this time,” Arthur sighed still clearly drowning in his own headspace.
“Let us not have that fight today; I do believe you make a good point. It’s been enlightening to meet you both. I know we will be seeing you again soon,” offered Marcus.
The rain had thankfully stopped coming down in droves when they all stood to bid each other farewell. Both parties packed their things in relative silence and with a simple wave and kind smile they parted ways.
--
With the rain now mostly gone, all that remained was mud. Arthur was forced to watch his footing more than the path ahead as they walked. Still thinking about all that Marcus had told them, he wasn’t in a very talkative mood. The raid on the druid camp his father had ordered was a blight in Arthur’s memory. Something he wished he could take back.
It had been several years since that fateful day and he’d like to think that he’d changed, gotten better at determining what was right, but Arthur wasn’t sure. Had he done enough to repent? Having a mate with magic was a start, but Arthur was worried he’d have the stigma of making the wrong choice stuck to him forever.
Vowing right then and there, on that muddy path with Merlin by his side, to right the wrongs committed Arthur knew his place. He was going to bring magic back to the lands. Merlin wasn’t evil and Marcus and his brothers had been kind. It wasn’t fair to lump all magic users in the same category. They weren’t all bad, no matter what his father thought.
Feeling better about his choice to leave, Arthur stopped abruptly and took Merlin by the shoulders. “Everything is going to be alright, I promise,” he said with a small smile.
Merlin raised an eyebrow and tilted his head, “What makes you say that? We’ve just found we have a pretty big job ahead of us and you’re suddenly okay with it all?”
“Mostly, maybe, not exactly?” Arthur rambled with a shrug. “We may even die in the process but I feel like this is the right path.”
“Are you sure? We may have to go back and face your father if we are too succeed.”
“I’m working on that, for now let’s rest at your mum’s house and come up with a plan. All I know is that I’m not leaving your side and I won’t let father dictate what I believe anymore.”
--
What could only have been a knock at the door brought Hunith out of her slumber. Living alone, with Merlin gone off to Camelot, meant she had to be on guard. Cautiously slipping out from the under the covers she grabbed a fire poker and approached the front door to her tiny one room hut. It was near midnight and who ever had come to pay a visit was being abnormally subdued.
“Who’s there?” she asked with as much bravado as she could muster having just risen from bed.
“Mum, It’s me, Merlin,” was the muffled reply through the worn door.
Barely having enough presence of mind to set the poker aside Hunith unbolted the door and threw it open. The fire in the hearth was the only light available, but it was enough for her to see her son and another man. They both looked exhausted and filthy.
“Get inside!” She ordered grabbing Merlin by the sleeve and pulling. “Don’t wander off just yet,” Hunith added once both men were out of the cold and she’d shut the door, re-bolting it. “We need to get you both out these muddy clothes and more comfortable.”
“S’okay mum, I can use magic,” Merlin replied tiredly. Without uttering anything aloud Merlin’s eyes glowed gold and a slight breeze swept through the room. Distracted momentarily Hunith gasped when she looked again and noticed a sizeable pile of dirt on the floor surrounding their feet, the dirt didn’t exactly disappear when Merlin cleaned it just relocated. “I forgot about that part,” she sighed.
“Darling, what are you doing here? Is everything alright?” she asked carefully leading Merlin around the dirt and towards the hearth. The other man followed and kept looking around the room like it was a wonder of the world.
“Sort of,” Merlin replied.
“What have you done and why did you need this poor knight to escort you?” Hunith asked gently pushing them both down onto a bench. “He’s just as worn out looking as you,” She added.
“Oh, he’s not – well he is, but that’s not the point,” Merlin sputtered.
Hunith nearly cried at how much she’d missed her son. The boy was brilliant but he sometimes tripped over his thoughts like a jester. “Take your time sweetheart, Let me get you both some water to drink and you can tell me all about it.” She’d only made it two steps before Merlin found his voice again.
“He’s my mate mum, he’s my alpha.”
Whipping around so fast her neck cracked Hunith raced over and pulled the Merlin’s neckerchief aside. “Your neck, it’s not, why didn’t you tell me?!”
“That’s part of the issue, Arthur, my mate,” Merlin motioned to the young man sitting beside him looking like he was about to pass out, “is a prince, and his father happens to be King Uther.”
Hunith could feel the blood leaving her face, she needed to sit down. Stumbling to find a stool she fell into it and stared at Merlin. “The king, who persecutes all magic users for no good reason is his father?” she asked pointing to Arthur who looked miserable.
“Yeah? It’s um – not ideal but we’re working on that.”
“That’s part of the reason why we’re here,” Arthur added softly.
“Merlin, did he find out about your magic? Are you on the run?”
“Oh, he’s known for a while but he’s not managed to kill me yet,” Merlin grumbled seemingly more upset than scared.
Hunith was going to faint. “Don’t give me a premature heart attack; do we need to pack our things and leave? Is it safe for you to be here?”
“He doesn’t know where I live, unless you told him?” Merlin asked of Arthur looking worried.
“So far as I’m aware, Gaius is the only one that knows and I don’t believe he would tell my father,” Arthur supplied stifling a yawn.
“You two look exhausted, you need to rest first,” Hunith admonished. “Your bed is still made, why don’t you get out of these clothes and lie down. I’ll reheat some broth to help you both sleep and then we can talk more in the morning.”
Neither Arthur nor Merlin verbally responded, they simply nodded and looked like they’d fall asleep right then and there.
“Merlin, can you gather more blankets while I help Arthur out of his armor.”
“You don’t need to, I can do it,” Arthur replied trying to reach one of the buckles.
“Nonsense, you sit and relax,” she chided batting one of Arthur’s hands away. It didn’t take long and Hunith had amassed quite a pile of metal at her feet. How this poor boy walked around with all that extra weight was a mystery. “Merlin’s nearly done, go and lie down,” She urged pulling at Arthur’s arm to get him moving.
The alpha obliged and trudged over to the little bed on the far wall. It had a curtain for privacy and was slightly wider than her bed. Hopefully, Merlin and Arthur would fit without issue. Merlin came over after a minute with their bags and had taken out two blankets. That, combined with what she already owned would make the bed cozy.
“I’ll leave you to get ready while I go get the broth.” She pulled the curtain closed and rushed to make them something hot to drink before they fell asleep. The sounds of hushed voices reached her ears as she worked. It didn’t take long and she’d poured two steaming bowls of broth out. Turning Hunith noted the two sets of boots, neatly placed to the side, peeking out from underneath the curtain. Smiling at how domestic it seemed she cleared her throat and walked over. “Can I give you this, are you decent?”
“That’s debatable,” Arthur instantly replied, his tone joking.
Hunith heard a smacking sound and assumed Merlin had hit his alpha. “Merlin, be nice to your mate, he’s only teasing. “
“Mum, don’t take his side,” Merlin whined right before the curtain was pulled aside.
Carefully handing off the bowls Hunith watched as the two greedily slurped the broth down. “I know it’s nothing compared to the meals in Camelot but it should settle your stomachs until tomorrow.”
Arthur finished first and was already nodding off still holding the bowl. Laughing at the sight Hunith sat down on the edge of the bed, and reached over Merlin to snatch the empty container before it fell to the side.
“Sorry for showing up unannounced, we left in a hurry,” Merlin said quietly.
“You are always welcome, you know that. I’m simply happy you’re here and with a mate no less.”
“Arthur’s amazing,” Merlin added looking more like a love struck teenager than a man on the run.
“As long as he treats you well, that’s all I care about. Now, enough chatter, finish up your broth and we’ll talk more in the morning.”
By the time Hunith had set the bowls aside and pulled the covers up, both men were fast asleep. Reaching out she gently brushed Merlin’s hair to the side, her sweet boy was home. Hoping the story she’d hear the next day wouldn’t sadden her further; Hunith leaned over and kissed Merlin on the forehead. He hummed softly at the gesture and let out a content sigh.
She could do nothing more, not until the sun had risen at least. Overcome by a sudden wave of tiredness, Hunith closed the curtain and promptly went back to bed. She’d get the full story soon, for now they all needed to sleep.
--
Leon had never been to Ealdor but he and Gaius suspected that had to be where Arthur and Merlin would go first. They’d need a safe place to rest and Merlin’s mother was the only person that could provide that at the moment. Keeping Uther from finding out about his own trip to the small village hadn’t been easy. Bless Morgana, she’d done a good job dropping as many names of villages she thought Merlin might be from. None of which were Ealdor. All of which were the opposite direction.
Having her on their side was a great benefit. Hopefully, with her meddling Leon might have a few days head start over the king. Uther would send scouts out until he found his son; nothing was going to stop his quest.
It only took a day and a half to reach the small hamlet. It was a simple place full of fields and tiny thatched huts. The moon was bright the night prior and allowed Leon to ride most of the night. He was tired but in good enough spirits. The sun had just risen and the little sleepy village was slowly coming to life. Now all he had to do was see if Arthur and Merlin were actually there.
Barely having ridden past the first house, Leon was surprised when a young man came out to stand in the middle of the path.
“Can I help you?” he asked his tone not exactly friendly.
Taking a deep breath Leon pondered how to ask his question without seeming threatening. “I’m looking for some friends of mine and I heard they might be staying here,” he said.
“Oh, this place isn’t one where folks come to visit, you best be on your way.”
“Could I at least tell you who I’m looking for before I leave?”
“Doesn’t matter, they wouldn’t be here anyway,” the man answered cheekily.
“Right, well just in case I’m here to try and see if my friends Merlin and Arthur need any help.” Looking for any change in the man’s expression Leon was disappointed when his face remained neutral. “It’s very important, if they are here, for me to see them. I mean no harm,” Leon tried again.
“Do you need help finding the main road again?”
Sighing in defeat Leon wasn’t sure how to placate this man. He couldn’t readily leave without checking for the prince and Merlin. Thinking of any stories Merlin might have told them about his home Leon remembered one name. “Are you Will, by any chance?” he wagered praying this would work.
“And if I was?”
“Then I’d say it’s a miracle you and Merlin didn’t get thrown out of the village as youngsters considering all the shenanigans you got up to.”
The man laughed and shook his head, “Did he really make it sound that bad? We were only having fun.”
“Is he here? I do need to see him.”
“You’ll have to wait for them to wake up, Hunith says they are still sleeping, but you can try,” Will offered with a shrug. “I went over this morning like I always do and heard they’d only arrived last night.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Leon replied nodding towards the village. Will took the cue and turned to lead the way. It didn’t take long before they’d stopped at an unassuming little hut. Dismounting Leon motioned for Will to go first. “If you’re with me then maybe the lady of the house will be more likely to believe me.”
“Or not, she’s pretty headstrong like Merlin.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Leon added with a chuckle.
Will knocked on the door and after a minute it opened a crack. Leon could see a woman peering out. She carefully took in his appearance; the armor was a dead giveaway to his affiliations.
“What do you want?” she asked finally.
“I need to see Merlin and Arthur, I’m their friend and they need to know the king is out looking for them.”
Her eyes widened before she looked at Will and waited until he nodded his head slightly. “Will can you be a dear and look after this man’s horse while we have a chat.”
“Sure thing, you holler if you need me.”
The door was opened wider and Leon ducked to go inside. The single room smelt of herbs and a fire was crackling brightly in the hearth. Stopping just inside the threshold Leon waited for Hunith to give further instructions, this was her home after all.
“They are still sleeping but do sit and rest; I can offer you some cider while you wait.”
“That would be lovely thank you,” Leon replied in a hushed tone. He’d already spied two pair of boots in the far corner of the room; Merlin and Arthur were here, thank the gods. “Might I take a peek?” he asked kindly pointing to the curtain.
“Leave your sword by the table and I’ll permit it,” Hunith answered.
Raising his hands in surrender, Leon carefully unbuckled his belt and left his weapon. Once Hunith had given him a smile he turned and crossed the room. Pulling back the curtain Leon was unprepared for the surge of emotions he felt at seeing the pair. They both looked slightly worse for wear but they were alive.
In a testament to their obvious exhaustion they appeared to have not moved an inch since bedding down. Each one was still on their back and sleeping soundly. Shoulder to shoulder and foreheads nearly touching they looked so peaceful. Almost as if the world could do nothing to them. Loath to wake them any earlier than necessary, he backed off and let the curtain slip closed again.
“I was so worried,” he whispered coming back over to the table. “They didn’t tell anyone a thing, just up and left right before dinner.”
“How long do you think we have before Uther arrives,” Hunith asked cutting to the heart of the issue.
“A week at most, a few days if he gets lucky, it’s hard to say.”
“Do you know his intent once he finds them?”
“No, I cannot determine what his plan is, I wish I knew but for now I thought it best to come and warn them. This was the only place I could think to visit. Otherwise, they’d be out there alone.”
“I won’t let Uther ruin more lives, he’s done enough damage,” Hunith huffed. “Now, sit down good sir and tell me all about Camelot. Merlin hasn’t written me more than two words about his life there. I’d very much like to know more.”
--
Uther knew where his son was, he didn’t know the exact location but it was obvious they’d fled to Merlin’s village. However, it was shocking how many people were attempting to halt his progress. Leon had left on an errand for Gaius the morning after Arthur had been reported missing. The knight stayed long enough to bear witness to Morgana attempting to misdirect Uther’s own search efforts. Over breakfast no less. His ward must have been looking up every random village in the kingdom all morning.
Uther was no fool; he ordered Sir Leon followed the moment he left the castle. With any luck he’d have news within a few days. Arthur was not going to be allowed to ruin his life over this wayward omega. Merlin had to go away. The past six months had been trying at best, but Uther was tired of dealing with the drama. Magic was evil.
The scout returned two days later, Leon had traveled to a small village named Ealdor. The name seemed vaguely familiar but Uther couldn’t place it. It didn’t matter he needed to leave immediately; if Arthur left he’d be harder to track.
Taking a small band of knights Uther rode out. Careful to keep an eye out Uther easily spotted Sir Leon coming down the path towards them on the evening of the second day. The mystery errand for Gaius couldn’t last forever, that wouldn’t have been believable.
The poor knight seemed shocked to see him when they came to a halt on the road. “I see Gaius has sent you rather far from home.”
“Yes Sire, I was just heading back now.”
“Oh, where from specifically?” Uther asked smugly.
“A small hamlet near the border, uh --.”
“Save it, I thought I could trust you,” Uther growled. “Return to Camelot I’ll deal with you later.”
Leon looked like he’d been struck. Bowing his head he moved aside and let the others pass by. Uther didn’t care to check if he was following or not. There was nothing Leon could do now to help. Urging his horse on at a faster pace, Uther hoped he reached the small village before lunch. Whatever confrontation they were all to have wasn’t going to be pretty and he was loath to spend the night in such a place.
When a roughly planted field appeared around a bend in the road some twenty minutes later, Uther knew he’d reached Ealdor. The tiny village came into view soon after. In hind sight arriving with an entourage of twenty knights may have been overkill. The first peasant that laid eyes on him ran off screaming.
Carefully watching Uther rode further into the village. He didn’t know which dwelling belonged to Merlin’s family. Hoping for a visual cue he was almost grateful when a young man came to stand in front of his horse. “See now boy, I’m here for my son, the Prince of Camelot,” he announced gruffly. “Do tell me where I might find him and you shall be pleasantly rewarded.”
“Who? I dunno anyone by that name,” the man answered with more snark than Uther was expecting. “Why don’t you go try a different village?”
“Heathen, I know he’s here, stand aside!” Uther ordered.
“Sorry mate, I really can’t do that. You’ll have to believe me when I say he’s not here.”
Deciding he didn’t have to answer to the likes of this peasant Uther reared his horse and quickly went around. The man’s spluttered protests died in the wind as he rode away. Uther would check every hut if it came down to it. Arthur was ruining his life and that couldn’t be allowed to happen.
Riding over to the nearest building Uther spied a glimpse of red fabric in the distance. Jumping off his horse he went off in the same direction. The unmistaken figure of a knight was visible for a split second before disappearing into another dwelling. Already angry, Uther was fuming now, the knight he’d just seen was Leon, so much for loyalties.
Drawing his sword he ran forwards and stormed through the door, inside stood his son, that blasted omega, his traitorous knight, and a woman who could only have been the omega’s mother.
“This ends now!” Uther shouted as he pointed his sword towards the omega. “I will not let you ruin Arthur’s life.”
“He’s not ruining anything, you are!” Arthur screamed in response, his face turning red with indignation. “I left for a reason; I left because you are a tyrant! I will not stand for it any longer.”
“Nonsense, there is nothing this simple omega can offer you that can’t be found elsewhere,” Uther seethed.
Arthur shook his head and glared at him. The room, though small, felt cavernous after Arthur had expressed his true feelings on the matter. Everyone was carefully out of reach, and Uther wasn’t sure what his next move should be.
“Leave us alone, please,” the woman begged moving forward slightly to stand in front of their small group. “Don’t rip another family apart because of your hate.”
In that moment Uther remembered why the name Ealdor sounded familiar. He’d chased a sorcerer out this way nearly eighteen years prior, a very powerful one, so much so, he could control dragons. The idea that this woman was eluding to that incident made Uther’s head spin. Why would she even care about that unless, “You knew him didn’t you,” he breathed out in disbelief.
The woman didn’t deny the claim and seemed to stand taller at the mere mention of it. All the questions Uther had about Merlin’s magic clicked into place. His father had to have been the dragonlord. How else could the omega have been born with magic? No one ever mentioned the boy’s father, he was either dead or in hiding. Suddenly realizing all his reservations were finally gone regarding Merlin, Uther knew what he had to do. No son of a dragonlord could be allowed to live, their legacy had to end. Magic cannot be good.
“There is no other way,” he growled lowly before rushing forward, sword at the ready, aimed straight for Merlin’s heart.
The room erupted in a deafening cacophony of shouts and screams as Uther prepared to strike Merlin down. Then, as if time had slowed Uther watched in horror as Arthur appeared before him, the once easy path for his weapon was now blocked by his only son.
Crying out in shock he tried to shift his weight to deflect the blow. Instantly dropping his sword Uther instead ran straight into Arthur and they both fell to the floor in a heap. An anguished yell sounded from below him and Uther realized he’d been too late, he’d actually struck Arthur. The poor boy was clutching his ribs and writhing in agony.
“No!” he hollered trying desperately to see if he’d landed a mortal blow. Pawing at Arthur’s tunic he attempted to see underneath, to check for a wound or blood. However, he wasn’t alone in his efforts. The omega, Merlin was there shoving his hands aside to rip Arthur’s shirt away.
“L-love, let me—let me see,” Merlin pleaded in a panic, his hand hovering over where Arthur was holding his side.
“Sor—sorry I – I couldn’t let him – hurt – hurt you.” Arthur managed in between pained breaths.
“Shut up! Stop –stop being a prat and let me see, please, I can help.”
Arthur took his hand away after a few seconds and Uther knew he’d done serious damage. The wound was small but there was a patch underneath the skin that was growing darker and spreading. Something inside had ruptured. Uther had driven the tip of his sword in far enough; he’d struck down his own son. Near hysterical at the sight he could barely think straight. “We must get you back to Camelot! Gaius can – he will --,” Uther trailed off, Arthur was getting paler by the second, things were happening too fast.
“There is no time!” Merlin shouted right before his eyes glowed gold.
Seeing the boy perform magic so close should have made Uther feel something, but he was simply too numb to handle his emotions. Watching with baited breath Uther counted the number of times Merlin had to repeat the spell. After the fourth utterance Merlin stopped and pulled Arthur up into his lap to hug him fiercely.
The ominous dark coloring was gone from Arthur’s midsection. His face no longer held traces of pain as he lay there in Merlin’s arms. The small unassuming, but deadly wound was all but gone save for a small pink line directly underneath Arthur’s heart.
Leaning forward to touch Arthur’s arm elicited a threatening growl from Merlin. “Don’t fucking touch him,” he hissed.
“Merlin, s’alright,” Arthur cut in, patting Merlin’s arm gently. “M’okay, you saved me like you did Sir Kay.”
“It’s not okay!” Merlin vehemently responded. “He nearly killed you!”
“I’m okay, please – uh, m’so tired,” Arthur mumbled before closing his eyes. “Can everyone just leave us alone, I’m so tired,” he whispered just before he passed out.
“Arthur, stay awake,” Uther demanded. “We don’t know what the magic did to you and it might--.”
“Have saved his life?!” Merlin roared, “You are such a selfish – conniving – toad! How can you not see the benefits of magic?! Why do you hate it so much?!” he fumed clutching Arthur even tighter.
“Magic destroyed my family you foul, horrid, imp!” he shouted back.
“People without magic destroyed my family and you don’t see me running around murdering them all do you?” Merlin spit out, his cheeks now covered with tears. “I will not show you mercy any longer Uther Pendragon, you crossed the line today. I will fight you until my dying breath. Now, get out of my bloody house.”
Uther was so stunned at being spoken to in such a manner that he remained frozen in place. How could an omega no less, sound so authoritative? Clearing his throat Uther carefully choose his next words. “I will not be leaving this place without my son, but,” he quickly added when Merlin took a breath and outstretched his hand in a threatening gesture. “Given what happened I – I – could -- perhaps,” Uther stopped and winced, he couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.
This was all wrong, magic did not have a place in Camelot, it was never meant to be. After all these years, how could he simply turn back to the old ways? How could he change? The day Ygraine died had been the beginning of the end.
“You’re not leaving are you?” Merlin asked after a beat. “You still want to fight after all this?” he sounded so heartbroken at the very idea.
The way Merlin phrased the question gave Uther pause. He most certainly did not want to keep fighting, it was exhausting. “You won’t leave Arthur will you?” he asked instead.
“Never, he’s my mate.”
“I already know the lengths he’s willing to go to concerning your safety. I want my son to come home and you won’t leave him so --,” Uther waited to see what Merlin would say.
“Can I – are you saying that I can come back with him?”
“I’m considering it.”
“Will you leave us be? Will you let us have a proper bonding ceremony?”
“I can’t answer that right now Merlin, I’ve nearly killed my only son let me – let me process that first.”
“I think I understand,” Merlin answered finally lowering his hand to rest back on Arthur’s chest. The boy was still unconscious but the color had returned to his face. Arthur was alive, that’s all that mattered.
With Merlin standing down the two other occupants in the room sprang to life. Merlin’s mother who’d been kneeling on the floor a few feet behind her son crawled over and hugged him. Leon was clearly torn between duty and his personal feelings. The man was standing a few feet away but looked utterly miserable.
“I trust you will keep what happened here between us all?” Uther requested looking to Leon.
“Ye --,” Leon stopped abruptly and sighed deeply. “Sire, I will do as you ask but I’m – I cannot believe what I have seen today.”
Uther hummed in agreement but didn’t say anything more. Deciding it might be more kingly to stand up instead of kneel, Uther slowly clambered to his feet.
“He’s no ordinary peasant, you of all people must recognize that,” Merlin’s mother supplied as Uther backed away towards the door.
“Yes, he has magic that alone makes him different.”
“Merlin’s father is where he gets his gift from,” she added with a hard look.
“As I have gathered,” Uther grumbled.
“I think we need to have a chat, alone.”
“Mum, no, I won’t let you go anywhere with him by yourself,” said Merlin in a rush.
“I wasn’t planning on it, Sir Leon, might you be able to accompany me?”
Leon nodded held out his arm for Merlin’s mother to take. Uther briefly wondered when Arthur had become Leon’s king instead of him.
“Mum, don’t,” Merlin whined.
“I will be fine; you stay here and look after your alpha. I’ll be back before you know it,” she offered with a smile.
Merlin was clearly unhappy with this new development but he didn’t have time to protest further when his mother herded them all out the door. Turning quickly Uther spied one last glimpse of Arthur before the door shut.
“What could you possibly have to discuss with me that Merlin shouldn’t hear?” Uther sighed as he took in the sight of all his knights standing guard around the tiny hut.
“It is in regards to his father, the dragonlord.”
Uther heard Leon gasp softly at the mention of the title. “Yes, I assumed he was the boy’s father. Merlin’s age fits and I remembered chasing him down all those years ago. I take it Merlin doesn’t know?” he asked.
“He thinks his father his dead, I didn’t want to get Merlin’s hopes up and after your actions condemned Balinor to death I only wished for his safety. That of course meant we couldn’t be together and I didn’t even get a chance to tell him he had a child.”
“Perhaps it was for the best, magic is ev--.”
“Magic is not evil!” She interrupted. “Listen to me, you vile man, I will not tolerate you abusing my son any longer. You must make your decision about Merlin now. The boy is not just a simple peasant, he has the blood of a dragonlord coursing through his veins.”
“That is exactly why I cannot allow this to continue, you daft woman!” Uther fumed. “Merlin will be Camelot’s downfall if I don’t stop him now.”
“Did you ever consider that you may be the key to its downfall instead?” she asked stone faced.
“Enough!” he bellowed. “Leave me be.” Walking away Uther sought solace under the shade of a nearby tree. His mind was reeling from all of the day’s events. How could he reconcile all of his feelings, all magic was evil, wasn’t it?
--
Hunith didn’t realize she was shaking until Uther had stepped away. Faltering slightly Leon grabbed ahold of her arm and guided them back towards the door. She’d just told the King of Camelot some not, nice things. Balinor didn’t even try to fight him why on earth did she think she could?
“Leon, I’ve told him to leave Merlin alone or else, that was very stupid,” she panicked. “We are very much outnumbered,” she added under her breath.
“He’s still shaken from what happened with Arthur, I can tell. Hopefully he doesn’t do anything else rash.”
“Oh, but what if he does? I’ve signed our death warrants with my outburst,” worried Hunith.
“I don’t think you are alone, Merlin already threatened him,” Leon whispered as they stood outside the hut. “I know Arthur would fight on our side so really it’s not totally bad odds,” the knight offered.
“I’ve made things worse, Uther will never change. Let’s go back inside I need to sit down.”
Leon nodded and pushed open the door, Merlin and Arthur were still on the floor. Her son, upon hearing them was already in a defensive stance, hand outstretched and eyes faintly glowing gold. He quickly lowered his arm when she smiled. “It’s alright dear heart, it’s just us.”
“This is the end isn’t it?” Merlin asked quietly once she’d gotten closer.
“No, don’t say that, don’t give up hope.”
“He almost killed his own son; he’ll never accept me being Arthur’s mate. I don’t know – what will we do? We have no choice but to live a life on the run,” Merlin lamented lowering his head around shaking shoulders.
“Oh love, don’t cry it’s going to be alright,” Hunith offered getting down on the floor to hold him. “Uther said you could go back to Camelot I did hear that correctly.”
“He – he was in shock – he didn’t – he didn’t mean it,” Merlin sobbed. “Why can’t he leave us a-alone?”
Hunith wanted nothing more than to make life easy for her boy, he deserved so much more and it was heart breaking to see Merlin so upset. Trying to think of how best to provide comfort Hunith was taken by surprise when Arthur’s arm moved suddenly.
“Love? M’okay, why are you crying?” Arthur asked as he reached up to grasp Merlin’s neck.
Merlin couldn’t seem to find the energy to speak and settled on a letting out a soft whine.
“Hey, hey, it’s alright, you can still magic us out the window if need be, right?” Arthur asked lightly.
Merlin huffed by did at least smile, “Yeah, I think I can manage that.”
“Help me up, would you?”
“Let’s get you a new shirt as well,” Hunith offered while Merlin gently pushed Arthur upright.
“Agreed, now who wants to fill me in on what happened after I passed out?”
--
Most of the knights had left him alone, but Uther knew they were anxious. He’d gone out in search of Arthur, and now here he was sitting on a bench under a tree staring off in the distance with no sign of the prince. Would they forget this place if he ordered it, was that even a viable option? Arthur wasn’t going to leave Merlin and the omega wasn’t going down without a fight.
Magic had torn his family apart so many years ago and it was threatening to do it all over again! Angry at himself for not teaching Arthur any better Uther continued to stew. Though, something Merlin’s mother had said wouldn’t leave him alone. Was he going to be Camelot’s downfall? The kingdom was prospering under his rule, the people were fed, what else did one need?
Uther thought Arthur would make a good king one day, but what he really didn’t know was whether Merlin should be in that future or not. The world had played a cruel trick on him if this was true. Losing Ygraine to magic and now he was losing Arthur as well.
He already understood that he couldn’t have Arthur in Camelot without the omega. Uther would have to accept one to have the other. The overwhelming weight of this issue wasn’t something Uther was looking forward to dealing with much longer. It was readily apparent that when Arthur became king he would bring magic back. What kind of legacy was he leaving if Arthur was going to immediately overturn it?
The unspeakable amount of carnage Uther had been part of was not something one could simply walk away from. It was part of him, without his hate he was nothing.
Starting anew wasn’t an option; no one would forgive his actions. Uther would never stop blaming magic for his wife’s death. However, deep down he knew Merlin wasn’t responsible. The poor lad wasn’t even alive when Ygraine had died. Things would be so much easier if Merlin hadn’t been born with magic, Uther would know what to do.
There was no logical argument for Merlin being evil simply because he could use magic. It was infuriating not being able to condemn the boy. Left with so many more questions than Uther wanted to deal with, he realized with annoyance that he’d have to change tactics.
Formulating a new plan of attack Uther stood up and trudged back over to Merlin’s little hut. Knocking once he waited. Leon answered after a moment and looked alarmed.
“My sword is still inside Sir Leon, I’ve come to discuss things,” Uther said waving his hand dismissively.
After some confusion about whether he was actually allowed to come back inside, Uther entered the unassuming dwelling once more. Merlin’s mother was standing on the far wall holding his sword, she looked scared. Merlin and Arthur were sitting on a bench by the fire and it was clear the omega had been crying. Leon was hovering and most likely fearful of what would happen next.
“I have something to say, I do ask that you let me finish first before asking questions.”
“Go on,” Arthur replied calmly.
“I cannot willingly accept magic in Camelot,” Uther paused when Merlin made a noise before Arthur gently jabbed the omega in the ribs. “However, I understand that I cannot have Arthur in my life without magic. Therefore, I must choose between my legacy or my son. The only way I can reconcile the two is by ignoring the one for the other,” he supplied.
Looking to his son, Uther could tell he was trying to decipher the true meaning behind his words. “So, what does that mean exactly?” Arthur asked.
“This is my proposal. Merlin will return with us and become Gaius’ apprentice; the old man used to practice magic so he should be unafraid of Merlin. Regarding the business of your partnership, we will bend the truth regarding his lineage to allow for you both to court officially with the hope of a future bonding ceremony.”
The room was deathly silent when he finished speaking. Merlin appeared to be going into shock, Arthur’s mouth was hanging open, Merlin’s mother had lowered the sword, and Leon looked relieved.
“What’s the catch?” Arthur asked after a moment.
Proud of his son for realizing there was more, Uther continued, “My one condition is regarding Merlin’s magic. No one must know, well, no one else must know about it. I want Merlin to continue to keep the magic hidden and I will leave you be.”
“This – this isn’t a trick, right?” Merlin queried nervously. “Providing I do as you ask you’ll stop your campaign to break us apart?”
Uther was loath to admit it, but all that he’d said was true. He would stop his ruthless efforts to find Arthur a different mate, if it meant his son would stay in Camelot. “I am sincere in my offer,” he replied.
“What about – what about if I need to use magic for something and I – I’m careful and no one sees, will you allow that?” Merlin was visibly shaking by now; the subject matter clearly moved him.
“I assume you’re referring to my earlier threat regarding burning you at the stake.”
Merlin’s mother gasped and stepped closer sword held upright once more, “You did what?!”
Holding his hand up in a calming gesture Uther attempted to ease her mind, “Nothing came of it and I’d rather not discuss that at the moment. Let us get back to the negotiations at hand.”
The woman scoffed but remained quiet.
“In answer to your question, I will turn a blind eye as it were, but be warned omega I cannot explain away massive displays of magic. Choose how you use your evils carefully.”
“Father!” Arthur barked.
Raising an eyebrow at his son, Arthur pursed his lips and didn’t say anything more.
“How do we all know you won’t become unhinged again and try and kill my son,” Merlin’s mother asked.
“I can’t promise anything, but I feel I’ve handled that issue for now.”
“Um, maybe I should get this out in the open, but I did meet that dragon under the castle already,” Merlin offered sheepishly.
Surprisingly Uther wasn’t shocked, of course the damned dragonlord found the dragon. “Anything else you’ve done that I should be aware of? I’ve already determined you were the reason Sir Kay survived his wounds from that trip a few months ago.”
Merlin shook his head and let out the breath he’d been holding.
“So that’s it, you won’t try and tear us apart anymore?” Arthur confirmed with such a hopeful look Uther nearly smiled.
“As I said earlier, I will leave you be. Now, I must rest before I journey back home. I trust you will find your own way back, in a timely manner?”
“We’ve not agreed yet father.”
“My offer is very amenable; do be careful what you ask for next.”
“My one request of you is to stop the executions,” Arthur levied.
Uther wasn’t expecting that, he should have all things considered. Thinking fast he answered as best he could. “There will still be trials; you do understand our dungeons will fill up instead.”
“I understand, but no more killing, Please,” Arthur requested.
“Very well, I will do as you ask.”
“Excellent, we have a deal then,” Arthur replied before his eyes went wide and he turned to Merlin. “You are okay with all of this right? Sorry I forgot to check.”
Merlin nodded and rested his head on Arthur’s shoulder.
“Sir Leon, make sure that woman doesn’t steal my sword,” Uther ordered before turning and going to leave. He couldn’t stay in that little room any longer, things were changing and he needed time to process what he’d just done. Magic was coming back to Camelot.