Truth under spell (Merthur)

Chapter 13: day 3: Dragons Advice

Alternate title: I reached down and finally pulled you off the cliff.

........

"What did you just say?"

Merlin tried to keep his mouth shut. He really tired, but it seems that the spell has progressed. He didn't even get the chance to feel the burn before the answer was forced from him. "Because I love you."

Arthur stared at him stunned. He knew it was true, he knew Merlin couldn't lie. "Say it again."

Without it being a question Merlin wasn't forced to answer. He shook his head and stepped back. Tears fell down his cheeks. He was scared, embarrassed and hurt. Hurt that Arthur would force him to say this. He turned to leave, to get away from the questions and to get away from Arthur. however, the prince reached out and grabbed Merlin's arm. 

Arthur looked at him and realized why he didn't answer. "How do you feel about me?" he said oblivious to his pain.

"I love you." Merlin answered and sobbed. 

Leon looked between them and knew that Merlin was hurting. He didn't understand everything that was happening, but he did know that the prince was being needlessly cruel. 

"How do you feel about me?" Arthur asked again. 

"I..." Merlin was crying and he wished he could run away from it all. "I love you."

Leon saw that Arthur meant to ask again and he reached out and grabbed his shoulder. "Sire that's enough."

Arthur looked at him and was about to tell him to piss off but that's also when he was brought out of his own bubble and heard the broken sobs. He looked at Merlin and saw his face covered in tears, and red blotches. "Merls.."

"Don't call me that!" Merlin tried to look less broken. "Don't...let go of me."

Arthur did as he was asked. He let go of Merlin's arm. When he was freed, the servant wiped his face and ignored his breaking heart. The one thing he didn't want the prince to know, and he was forced to say it over and over again. It hurt and he felt violated. It wouldn't have hurt so much had Arthur not known about the spell, but he did. He did and he used it against him. He walked over to the dragon. "Thank you for helping us. You can leave now."

Kilgharrah had been standing by watching the scene but not interfering. "Young warlock may I give you advice?"

Merlin looked at him. "you're going to if I say no anyways so why ask?" 

The dragon looked at him. "The heart grows fond of the people it's around. It's not wise to love the prince. A relationship between you two will be doomed from the start. The king will never accept it. Many others won't either. It is not meant to be." Merlin frowned and looked away from him. Kilgharrah turned and spread his giant wings. Before he left, he spoke in the dragon's tongue. "However, you never do take my advice and it all seems to work out anyways," then he was gone.

There was left a warlock, a prince and a knight, who all watched as the great dragon disappeared into the blue sky. Merlin was the first to move, he started walking back the way they came. Arthur watched him and he stepped forward to grab him again when Leon stepped in front of him. "Sire with all due respect you've hurt him enough." 

Leon looked at Merlin's retreating back. "I don't know what's truly happening but what I do know is that Merlin would never harm you or Camelot. He's a good man and he's loyal to you like none other. Punish me if you wish but I have to say you were a right ass today. The dragon killed those people not him. You had no right."