Chapter Text
“How was your wine?”
There was something wrong with the way the diplomat was leering at him, relaxed over his chair in a sunless corner of Arthur’s chambers. A strange malice sparkled in his dark eyes. Merlin let the wine trickle back through his lips into the goblet and wiped his mouth. The diplomat chuckled. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and smiled at Merlin with pointy teeth.
“And where is your king?”
“Arthur won't be long,” Merlin said, involuntarily reaching for his scarf.
“Such a good servant you are…”
Merlin took a step back into the sunlight, but it only felt blinding.
“I bet you’d be willing to die for him.”
Sweat trickled down Merlin’s back. His heart felt heavy and too fast. Was he paranoid or was there a haze in the room?
“...Merlin?” Arthur’s voice.
A shake of his shoulder.
Laughter from the darkness.
“Merlin!”
Cold water splashed across Merlin’s face and he snapped back, shaking himself.
“Been at the tavern, have you?” Arthur scowled, waving his hand in front of Merlin’s eyes as he put his water pitcher back down on his desk.
“Uh..” He looked around.
It was just the two of them, alone in Arthur’s chambers while a morning honey glow came in through the window. He looked to the shadow in the corner, but it was only sunlight shifting. He felt cold all over, but his palms were covered in sweat. He wiped them on his jacket and tried to focus.
Arthur was looking at him, bemused.
“Sorry, go on.” Merlin blurted out, “You were saying?”
Arthur stared at him a moment longer, raising his eyebrows. He looked like he was going to say something, but changed his mind at the last second.
“Yes. What was I saying? You would know if you were paying attention.”
And Arthur went on speaking, but Merlin was busy staring at the corner of the room. The shadows kept twisting around, shifting, swirling. Sometimes they formed a man, sometimes it was nothing.
Merlin felt sick. His palms were covered in sweat again. A chill was forming in his breast. What’s wrong with me? What am I seeing? Is it really there?
Laughter from the shadows again. Voices.
There was a haze descending down on the room. Sticking to his skin, clogging up his lungs.
The shadow twisted into a snake with shiny eyes that slithered across and wrapped itself around his legs.
“Are you willing to die for your king?” said the snake, with the same pointy teeth. “Are you willing to die?”
It moved to strike.
“Merlin. You still aren’t listening.”
Arthur’s voice sounded so far away and Merlin could only focus on the snake whose fangs were sinking in through his trousers. It sounded like water was rushing past his ears and the whole room had gone very dark. Like a storm had rolled in. He tried to turn, to look at the window and the light streaming in but he very suddenly found himself pitching forward towards the ground. Strong hands caught him by the shoulders and pulled him back up, only to set him down very gently. The whole movement made his head spin.
On the ground, the haze cleared immediately and suddenly the world was back in full force. The sudden volume hurt his ears. He could hear Arthur beside him, breathing, but not saying anything. And he could feel warm hands resting on his back.
“Sorry.” He mumbled, licking his dry lips.
“Are you ok?” Arthur was looking away, out the door, probably thinking of calling for help. That wouldn’t do.
“I’m fine.” Merlin forced out and scrambled onto all fours, trying to stand. Everything started moving around. He closed his eyes and tried to breathe.
“I think you should lay back down.”
“Really, I’m fine.”
Merlin forced himself to open his eyes and tried to stand, but it was too much.
He fell back to his knees and retched, leaning on his hands. God damn it.
Arthur danced back, holding a cushion between them like a shield.
“You should go see Gaius.”
“Arthur, I’m fine.” Merlin coughed.
“Hardly.”
Merlin looked up from the floor and found himself glancing at the corner.
“Why do you keep looking over there?” said Arthur, following his eyes.
“It’s nothing.”