Chapter Text
1
The truth of the matter was, Merlin had suffered through one close call too many of Arthur almost discovering his secret. He’d not even been in the castle for a year, and he’d lost count of how many times Arthur had nearly caught him in the act of doing magic. All it would take was one slip, and his head could be on the next chopping block. That was a chance Merlin was not willing to take.
So in his free time, Merlin dedicated himself to search through the magic book Gaius had given him and any other scrap of magical lore he could find looking for some way to fix his problem. It took months of searching, but eventually the solution presented itself in the form of a memory spell.
It wasn’t the most powerful spell, it could only erase a few hours at most, but that was all he’d need. Besides, it was an emergency measure. It wasn’t like Merlin was going to be using it all the time. Or you know, the very same day he memorized it.
The whole thing had been an accident. Really, it had. How was Merlin supposed to know that Arthur had as little manners in other people’s rooms as he did in his own? He had been minding his own business, on his own free time, in his own room, and Prince-Fancy-Boots just walked right in without knocking.
“Merlin! I can’t find where you put the…” those were the only words out of Arthur’s mouth as he stared at the magical books spread across Merlin’s bed.
Throwing the books may have not been intentional, but it also wasn’t useful since Arthur had already seen them all clearly. Still, Merlin stood by the action as it quickly got the evidence out of the way.
“Arthur!” Merlin’s voice came out way too high and way too squeaky. He coughed to clear his throat. “What can I do for you on this fine day?”
“Were those?” Arthur blinked once…twice…three times before returning his glare to Merlin. “Were those books on sorcery?”
“Sorcer—? What? No! Of course not. Those would be outlawed and highly illegal and I would never have such things. I’ve never even seen a book in my life!” Alright, that was a lie too far, but wasn’t like any of the others that had come out of his mouth had been any more believable.
Arthur glared harder if it was possible.
Merlin gulped.
This was definitely not how he had thought the day would go. He should have known the law of Merlin, anything that could go wrong, would go wrong, and very wrong.
“Are you practicing sorcery in here?” Arthur damned when Merlin remained silent for too long.
Merlin honestly couldn’t help but roll his eyes at that. “Would anyone answer yes to question? Like really?”
“Merlin!”
“Look, it’s not what it looks like.” He tried to protest.
“It looks to me like you’re in here learning spells, Merlin. Even though magic is illegal.”
Merlin bit his lip. “Okay, maybe it’s exactly what it looks like. But despite what you believe not all magic is bad, and I would never do anything bad. You know me.”
“I thought I knew you, but obviously I don’t!” Arthur snapped.
“I’m still the same person just…” Merlin paused for a second. “Hey, wait? Why haven’t you run me through already?
As Arthur had obviously just come off the training grounds, his sword still strapped to his side, it would have been easy enough for Arthur to just stab him and be done with the trouble. No messy trail needed. Instead he was just standing there lecturing Merlin like a teacher who had caught their student skipping class.
Arthur threw up his hands as if that question had been the final straw. “How could you even ask me that, Merlin? I’m not that much of a cold hearted bastard, am I?”
“Well, no, but, you were taught to hate magic and you don’t even trust me all that much yet. I was supposed to have years to silently stand by your side and protect you, and show you how magic can do good things, and sneak peaks at your ripped bod—I MEAN NOT THAT FORGET I SAID THAT! But like I just wanted to serve at your side and watch you become the King you are destined to be and now I’ve ruined it and…”
What the hell was he doing fumbling around for excuses when he had literally just finished learning a spell for exactly this occasion.
“You know what, just forget about everything I said. I’m just going to cast this little forgetting spell and everything will go back to normal easy-peasy.”
“Wait!” Arthur began to protest, but Merlin had already said the spell.
Merlin’s eyes went gold and Arthur stumbled back holding his head. For a moment he seemed dazed until he looked back up at Merlin. “Merlin? What am I doing in your room?”
“You were eh… just asking for my help to find something in your chambers.”
“I was?”
“Yep, totally what you were doing here.” Merlin didn’t wait for Arthur to protest. “Come on. Let’s go!”
That one was too close. Merlin was going to have to be a lot more careful and a lot more vigilant in the future. Gods he was screwed!