Work Text:
TikTok PROMPT FROM AO3 AUTHOR @Lil_gaes :
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“You’re late…” The exasperated tone didn’t escape my attention. It never did. I place the basket of clean sheets on the chair by the door.
“Sorry sire, I’ve been really busy. Honest!” It was true, being The-Once-And-Future King’s servant and running around the woods for Gaius isn’t easy. It’s all-consuming, never time for a break.
“How could you possibly be so busy that you're this late?” Frustration was thick in the prince's tone. Gods, if he knew half of the things I do to simply keep him breathing.
I sigh.
“I’m doing everything I can-“
“You’re not doing enough ! ” His loud booming voice cuts me off…Anger rises, and my skin becomes an ugly blotchy red as my blood boils.
“Not enough? I do EVERYTHING you couldn’t even BEGIN to comprehend exactly how much I do!!” My tongue loosened through pure fury.
“Oh please enlighten me! Oh, great and powerful Merlin! What someone like you could have to do that’s so important!”
“ Someone like me ? I’d like to see you try to do half the things I do for you! Without me, you wouldn’t even be able to button your shirt much less survive!”
“That’s rich coming from you! You have two left feet and can’t fight worth a damn! Believe me , I would THRIVE !”
“ Thrive ? Just two days ago I saved your life ! I continue to save your life practically EVERY DAY ! You’re just so thick-headed! If I wasn’t a sorcerer it won’t be humanly possible to do the things you ask me to!” The words just tore out of my mind and spat out like I didn’t just kill myself.
Arthur backs away, hand instinctively reaching for his sword. Confusion and fear swam in his eyes.
“ Sorcerer …?” The prince's voice became uncharacteristically small.
“I shouldn’t have said that,” My shaky hand flies to cover my loose lips. I back away towards the door, trying my damnest to make no sudden movements.
“ Merlin? What do you mean by ‘sorcerer’…” My heart thumps like a war horse, I can feel the cold hardwood against my back. Arthur is still frozen, his white-knuckled grip on the sword not once letting up. Teeth gritted he spoke.
“ Answer . ”
“ I-“ Nothing came out, I can’t explain this away. Where will I go? I can’t go to Gaius’, it would only incriminate him. I can’t say goodbye to my friends. My lungs are fighting for every breath.
“ Merlin!” My name is like acid on his tongue.
“I’m sorry, I have to go” I pull the heavy door open and run.
“Where are you going!?”
My footsteps echo loudly through the castle, where should I go? Where can I go where Arthur won’t find me…
My mind feels like I’m underwater as I run without a destination in mind. Gods he hates me doesn’t he?
“ MERLIN !”
Arthur’s voice rips me out of the water, his voice is far from close.
“ STOP RUNNING!”
Tears cloud my vision, where am I going? Suddenly a hand wraps around my wrist, he caught up to me…
“ Please I’m sorry! Let me go, I won’t come back I promise! Have some mercy!”
“ Merlin shut up! Someone will hear you!”
“ Gods please , I’m sorry! I’m sorry ” I couldn’t stop apologizing. The words came out all jumbled but I meant them. With my whole being, I meant them.
“ Just come with me”
That’s it, he’s taking me to the dungeons. He will burn me for my crimes. He drags me by my sleeve, giving my wrist relief from his iron grip.
Stumbling on every step, we make it.
To his chambers…?
“We’re not-“
“ Shut it, just let me THINK” The prince pushes me into the chair by his desk.
Think…think? About what? How could he not hate me? His father wouldn’t stand for his son to have a sorcerer as a servant. Being so close to the heart of his kingdom, practically built on the blood of slain magic users. It would be the ultimate insult, Arthur wouldn’t have it. He wouldn’t betray his father for a servant.
“You have magic… and you’ve been keeping it from me.” There’s nothing I could say even if I wanted to. I simply nod.
“So… all those times I marched into danger with you by my side, you used magic to help me?” I shrug, it was more or less true. I wouldn’t be able to stand it if Arthur got hurt and I could do something about it. I guess today doesn’t count.
“How long have you been practicing magic behind my back?”
“I was born with it. Magic is as much a part of me as I am of it. I am magic…” I rub my face of any trace of my tears. “I could use magic before I could talk or walk.”
Arthur who had his back turned toward me spun around. His face had an expression I couldn’t quite place.
“Am I going to die sire?” Was all I muster up after my confession.
“Show me.” He ignored me…
“Sire?”
“I am permitting you to show me your magic, so show me.” A telekinetic spell would be mostly unthreatening.
“Inbringe cume mec” My eyes glimmer gold.
The nearby laundry basket floats gently into my arms. I place it next to me, to keep my hands ready, ready for what, I still wasn’t sure.
“I permit you to use magic , and that’s what you show me? “ The incredulous look on Arthur’s face would be priceless if we weren’t in this situation. But here we are and Arthur is being too carefree about this.
“What would you have liked instead?”
“I don’t know, something more…magical?”
It was meant to be a rhetorical question.
A deep sigh escaped my lips. He wants magical I’ll give him magical. Nothing I do could make my sentencing worse, right?
“ Forhwierfan docga ” My eyes glow gold once more as fluffy ears perk up on my head.
“Is this better?” The ears twitch, and the amplified sound is something I didn’t account for.
“Much” The prince stares at the top of my head in what looks an awful lot like awe, “Can I touch them?”
“No,” I will the ears away. “What going to happen to me sire?”
“ Nothing ”
Nothing?
“ Nothing is going to happen to you Merlin “
“But the king-”
“ Will never find out.
The blonde's assurances seem so genuine.
“I thought that you hated magic, hated sorcerers, warlocks, druids. Anything magic! You- you said it was evil, that you agreed with your father! You’ve made quite clear time and time again that you -“
“I am capable of changing my mind,”
“Changing your mind!? You’ve practically lost it!”
“Merlin…when you said you saved my life, what did you mean?” Here he goes again changing the conversation.
“I shouldn’t have told you about that,”
“But you did and here we are so tell me.”
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The prophecy was a lengthy topic, but Arthur deserves to know since he is to become the king of kings. He would bring about The Golden Age.
Arthur seemed less surprised than I had expected. He told me that he knew (more like he had a feeling) there had to be someone helping him, the prince just didn’t expect it to be me.
He told me about his plans for when he is to be king. The plans entailed a lift on the ban on magic, setting laws in place. He even planned on sending correspondences with other kingdoms that didn’t outlaw magic.
“So… who else knows?”
“Um, a very small amount of people.”
“Gaius? ”
“Yes”
“Anyone else?
“Not really…”
“We should keep it that way”
“Yes sire”
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