Merlin's magic (Oneshots) 1

Regent (part 5)

Leon only allowed them to rest, when the sun had already set and the last beacons of light disappeared behind the tree lines. Camelot had never seemed so distant before. It seemed oddly artistic, considering that Camelot's history had always been rather dark and shadowed.

But perhaps Arthur only thought this, because this wasn't his Camelot. His kingdom. This was not his home. Not the place he associated with the light of his life.

Arthur remained quiet for the evening. He lay against a tree, his eyes wide open, he remained unable to sleep. It was hard to get rest, when his head was still hurting from being knocked out, as well as overwhelmed by all those facts he was confronted with.

On the plus side, he was allowing himself to believe that his current situation was not a dream. What gave him this certainty, you may wonder? Actually, Arthur should have gotten to this conclusion a lot sooner. How silly of him.

He hadn't seen Merlin once!

Be it a dream, or real life. Arthur always saw Merlin at some point. Either in the morning, or the evening, or somewhere in between. But never, not even in his nightmares, could pass a day without him. Which could only mean that this was real. And Merlin simply didn't exist.

(Before you ask, of course Merlin exists. But Arthur is a bit dense.)

While Arthur came to this realisation, Leon was sitting at another tree, just a few feet away from Arthur and watched over the unconscious Druid. Whose name was, apparently, Gary. It was a stupid name and Arthur didn't believe it really was his name. He would bet that Leon just made it up to either mess with the Druid or with Arthur.

"How come he's still unconscious?", Arthur finally decided to ask, which made Leon pause in... whatever he was doing.

In the dark, Arthur could barely see. But it seemed the knight was carving at a wood piece. At least, Arthur would guess it by the sound.

"He doesn't like my deaths.", Leon gave the same blunt answer he had given Arthur only a few hours ago. He accentuated that answer by sliding his knife through the wood, almost like a threat. Then Leon paused. "I suppose, seeing your deaths on top of mine and also hearing his granddaughter die, might have been too much for him." He shrugged without any hint of empathy.

"I guess he passed out."

Arthur waited for another explanation. Something more. But nothing came. "That's all? You've got nothing more to say? You could have saved her, you know!" Arthur was well aware of how accusing he sounded, but he couldn't help it. He had heard her screams as well. And they, too, kept him awake. They were part of the reason why he panicked in that cell, in his attempt to get out. They were even part of the reason why he wanted to get out in the first place. To either help her or at least himself.

Leon paused in his carving and looked up. Arthur had never noticed it before, but Leon's eyes were surrounded by darkness. The moonlight made the shadows even deeper. "Careful there, future king. You're speaking of treason." He sounded pleased.

Arthur scoffed. "I am not my father. I don't let children burn on a pyre!" The thought alone was more than disgusting. The Druid's words then echoed in his mind: 'you seem a bit young to be in for practicing magic.' If a Druid said Arthur was too young to be accused for magic.... what were these children actually burned for?

A cloud danced away from the moon and that made it seem like Leon's eyes were glistening with interest at his words. "Those are strong words coming from a Pendragon. Tell me, what is Camelot like, when you're king."

"Why do you want to know?", Arthur crossed his arms, feeling slightly rebellious. For reasons unknown to Arthur himself, he wanted to impress Leon. Make him proud, somehow. But he also didn't want to give in so easily to his demands. After all, this Leon seemed awfully calm about dying children. Or maybe he was just hiding it well.