Merlin One-Shots

Heart as Cold as Ice (Evil Arthur AU)

*Wow, it's been a while since I wrote in this! Anyways, this has been requested by AshFlight1159! I honestly had so much fun writing this and I hope you all enjoy!*

Cold.

Heartless.

Tyrant.

Those whispers surrounded Merlin as he entered the surprisingly quiet, yet bustling, kingdom of Camelot. The young man was on his way to visit his uncle, Gaius, to deliver a gift from his mother. When he volunteered to drop off the gift, his entire home village of Ealdor wished him luck and began to prepare for the worst. Camelot was not a safe place for a warlock like him. Unlike Cenred, the king of the land bordering Camelot, King Arthur did not take kindly to any sort of magic at all. Merlin had heard the stories where, even if you were a small child, if you have magic in Camelot, Arthur would not hesitate to execute them. The citizens of Camelot feared their King, and apparently, whichever poor soul was assigned as his manservant, they never lasted a week, either executed or banished from the land. Merlin wanted to quickly deliver the gift to his uncle before hightailing it out of there, hopefully not coming into contact with the King. Fate, however, had a different idea. Merlin had just asked a guard where Gaius' chambers were, when a loud voice was heard.

"For your incompetence, you are hereby banished from Camelot!"

Merlin turned to where the voice came from, ignoring the shudder that the guard gave. A young man, around Merlin's age, sprinted off in a terrified run right past Merlin. The other man, with light blond hair and cold blue eyes, watched the young man run. His eyes narrowed when he came across Merlin and began to make his way towards the said person, the light gleaming off of the golden crown that was on his head.

"You," the man said, glaring at Merlin. "I have never seen you in this kingdom before. Who are you and where have you come from?"

"I-I'm Merlin," Merlin gulped fearfully. "And I'm from Ealdor, in Cenred's kingdom. I came to Camelot to deliver a gift to my uncle."

"So, you're from an enemy kingdom," the man muttered to himself before straightening himself up to his full height. "I am King Arthur of Camelot. Pray tell, who is your uncle? I can take you to him."

"G-Gaius," Merlin replied, his fear increasing.

Arthur nodded before turning around and walking away, Merlin scrambling after him.

"U-Umm, who-"

"Do not speak to me unless I speak to you first," Arthur cut him off.

"Yes, Sire," Merlin replied as he formed his mouth into a frown.

The rest of the walk was in uncomfortable silence. While Arthur held his head high, Merlin hugged the gift close to his chest and looked down at the ground. The citizens that were going about their daily business sent pitiful glances over to Merlin, their whispers barely reaching his ears.

That poor boy.

Do you think he'll end up banished or executed?

I hope banished. He'll still have his life.

I hope neither and I get to leave and go home, Merlin thought to himself as the two of them entered the castle.

Arthur led Merlin deeper into the castle until they came across the wooden door. Without knocking, Arthur opened the door to reveal a physician's chambers, with an elderly man sitting at a table looking through a book. The entrance of Arthur and Merlin caused the man to stand up and bow.