A Forgotten Destiny (Merlin)

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Confrontation

"But this has gone on long enough, we have to tell Caden the truth." The Queen spoke as she looked at her King who nodded in agreement.

Before anymore could be said the throne doors slammed open and two figures were at its threshold.
"Finally. We agree on something!" Caden yelled exasperatedly.

The Camelotian's eyes went wide as they took in the sight before them, Caden stood wearing a Camelot knight's chainmail and underarmour, with a now conscious Gwaine infront of him. Caden had Gwaine's arm held behind his back in a position which if shifted slightly would dislocate or break the knight's arm. Whilst in his other hand he held a sword which was pressed up against Gwaine's neck.

Upon seeing this Arthur, Leon, Percival and Elyan all reached for their swords and withdrew them before moving forward to make sure Hunith, Gwen and Gaius were safely behind them.

"Caden?" Arthur asked almost in disbelief, "what are you doing?"

"No, you don't get to ask the questions here." The Malkos knight replied.

"Don't mind him, he's just having a tantrum." Gwaine tried to lighten the situation but immediately regretted it as Caden twisted his arm further causing the knight to let out a cry of pain.

"Caden, just put the sword down, let's talk about this." Elyan, ever the calm knight spoke.

"No" Caden snapped as he looked at everyone in the room, his supposed past friends, the people he was supposed to love and care for. They all portrayed expressions of hurt and anger mixed into one.

"Think about what you're doing" Leon spoke with a high level of aggression in his voice.

"You're outnumbered." Percival warned as the Camelot knights formed an almost semi circle around the Raven.

"Stay back or I swear I'll kill him!" Caden shouted as he tightened his grip on the sword and brought it closer to Gwaine's throat. The shaggy haired knight's eyes went wide as the pressure increased and let out a groan of pain.

Everyone in the room could see the already battered state of Gwaine, Caden was not messing around, Gwaine's life was in danger. The knights stopped closing in on the boy but still stood their ground.
"Okay, you've got our attention, what do you want?" Arthur queried, his eyes continuously flicking between Gwaine and Caden.

The King felt betrayed... again, all those close to him had betrayed him at some point: Morgana, Aggravaine, even Gwen and Lancelot had but he had never expected it from Merlin. Merlin had been his best friend, his brother, but now here he stood, aiding a prisoner to escape, killing Camelot guards and now threatening to kill one of his friends. Leon was right, there was no Merlin left in Caden, Merlin would never have done this.

"What I have always wanted! THE TRUTH!"

"What are you talking about?" Arthur played the clueless card in hopes of trying to get the situation over as soon as possible.

Caden let out a laugh as he allowed his sword to drop from Gwaine's throat but still not moving his grasp off of the knight's arm. Arthur thought he might have diffused the situation, that was until Caden pointed his sword out at all the men in front of him.
"STOP LYING! THATS ALL YOU EVER DO! ALL EVERYBODY DOES! FOR ONCE WHY CAN'T YOU JUST TELL THE TRUTH!" All the anger built up inside of Caden was flowing out of every pore, he had been reining in so many feelings over the last eight months that he just couldn't handle it anymore. But despite all the anger, the  brokenness and sadness Caden felt broke through into the words as he teared up and his voice cracked whilst shouting. Only adding to the guilt his friends felt, Caden was the youngest of them all, he was just a boy.