A Forgotten Destiny (Merlin)

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Bargains & loss

~~~Previously~~~

"You're right." Gwaine mumbled in defeat, "He doesn't remember us at all."

"How is this possible?" Percival spoke up.

Arthur looked from Merlin to his knights and then up to where he knew he would be recognised: to the King and Queen of Malkos and their closest knights.

He was right, all of the people in question were stood up in stands, looks of horror and shock evident on their faces. They knew they had been found out, they knew that Arthur had found out about their little secret. He had found Merlin.

"I don't know but I intend to find out." Arthur answered sternly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whilst Caden and Isobel were busy talking to one another with masses of crowds surrounding them. Arthur and the Camelot knights looked in the opposite direction to the approaching Malkos Knights led by their King and Queen.

Once a few metres away, James came to a stop and rested his hand to the hilt of his sword.
"King Arthur. It's a surprise to see you here."

"I bet." The blonde returned.

"And as knights of Daira no less." James spoke skeptically.

"Yes well, I tend to find people put on a show around those they wish to impress or deceive." Arthur slyly replied.

"So that is why you're here? To assess my morals without me knowing?" The King of Malkos questioned, not knowing whether to believe his own suggestion or not.

"Amongst other things."

A deep laugh came from the other side of the battlefield, the Camelot and Malkos knights both looked over to the source, Caden stood with Isobel laughing at something some villagers had said.

Arthur felt his heart drop, Merlin wasn't dead but more than that he was happy, happy without him. The blonde had been lost without Merlin but Merlin seemed absolutely fine without him. At the thought, anger bubbled within  Arthur as he turned back to face the Malkos royals and knights,
"Is that him?" The Pendragon spat.

The King and Queen had already looked apprehensive but at the question their eyes displayed much more fear. But no one, not even the Malkos knights, provided any answers.

"Answer me! Is that him?!" Arthur took threatening steps forward as his anger surfaced.

Alec and Thomas both moved forward to protect Rani and James from the threat Arthur posed.

Arthur ignored this, his next words were both aggressive and broken in sadness.
"Is that Merlin?" He spoke whilst pointing backwards at Caden.

James sighed and gently pushed his knights back,
"Yes..." The Malkos King forced his gaze up to the blonde, "it's him."

Dropping his hand, Arthur's eyes seemed to almost tear up, he had believed it to be him but the actual confirmation brought up the emotions he had been holding down.
"Why? Why did you do this?"

"To hurt you." James answered truthfully, that had been the original reason of keeping Caden away from Camelot.

Arthur scoffed, "You came into my home, tortured my best friend and kidnapped him to get back at me? What wrong had I done you? Cedric's death was nothing to do with me!"

At the raised voices, tense atmosphere and daggers being glared between knights, Caden and Isobel approached the men undetected, with a clearing of Caden's throat everyone looked to him,
"Is everything alright here?"