Secrets & Magic || Arthur Pendragon

41

Mira sat at her desk one night going through some papers, it had been a few months since Arthur had become King, and everything was finally starting to settle down. She knew he still found the loss of his Father hard, of course she could understand that in losing her own, but it was more difficult for him seeing as he'd just become the most important person in the whole Kingdom. She tried to be there for him as much as she could, he seemed grateful for it as well.

Over the past few months Mira had fallen even more in love with him, if that was even possible.

There was a knock on her door. "Come in!" she called without looking up.

The door opened and closed, then she saw that it was Arthur. A smile spread on her lips and she stood and walked over to him."Arthur!"

The new King gave her a weak smile and kissed her lightly. She noticed that he seemed tense.

"Are you alright?" she asked while he took her hand in his, while brushing his other hand across her cheek softly.

"Maybe we should sit down." he started and they sat down on the edge of her bed.

"Arthur, what's wrong?" she asked when he stayed quiet for a moment.

"There's been...an incident, I only found out an hour or two ago," Arthur replied slowly,"I'm afraid it's quite serious," Mira stayed quiet waiting for him to continue. "Mira, I'm so sorry" he said shaking his head, now taking both of her hands in his.

"For what?" she asked.

Arthur was silent before answering. "Osric escaped."

Mira couldn't speak, she couldn't breathe. Only repeat the words in her head.

"Osric escaped."

"How?" she whispered.

"It looks like he had help, the door was intact, a few guards knocked out. Other than that it was completely quiet."

She nodded. "Help..."

"Mira, I'm sorry. I promised that I'd never let him hurt you again and I've failed." Arthur said sadly.

"It wasn't your fault Arthur" she replied,"And you didn't fail me. You've kept your promise, he hasn't hurt me, has he?"

He looked at their hands. "I have people out searching for him."

"Do you think he'll come here?" she whispered.

"I give you my word, Mira, I will not let him anywhere near you," Arthur wrapped her in his arms,"If he's in any way smart he'll stay away from you and Camelot."

She closed her eyes and took comfort in his embrace.
"Thank you, Arthur."

"As long as I live, I swear I'll keep you safe" whispered Arthur,"I love you too much to let him hurt you."

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"I found this, in his cell, it's addressed to you, so you should read it." Arthur said handing it the folded piece of paper to Mira.

She carefully opened it and began to read.

I said it once and I'll say it again: he can't protect you forever.

Especially if I go to the right people. You are not safe.

She will help me.

Mira handed the note to Arthur and he sighed when he finished reading it.

"She...I'm guessing Morgana." said Merlin who had read it over Arthur's shoulder.

"I'd heard before I came to Camelot that he'd sided with Morgana when she took Camelot, it was only a rumour and died as quickly as it began, but thinking about it now I think it was true." explained Mira, more recovered after hearing the news the day before.

"He won't get away with this" growled Gwaine, beside Mira.

"We'll make arrangements for a search party immediately" said the King. With a small smile to Mira (not seen by anyone else), he left with Merlin, Gwaine and the Knights.

"They'll catch him, won't they Gaius?" soothed Gwen.

"Of course" he smiled, but a little unsure.

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There was a knock on her door and Mira jumped. She sat up on her bed and called for the person to enter. Gwen, understanding that she needed to be alone, went to do some washing; Gaius to see a patient; Arthur and the Knights had gone to make arrangements for a search party as well as going themselves.

She was afraid of who it was who would come in but she sighed in relief when she saw Merlin. "Hello Merlin" Mira greeted.

"I wanted to see how you were" Merlin smiled,"And so did Arthur."

She laughed. "I'm fine, really."

He sat down beside her. "Seriously?"

She shrugged. "To be honest I don't know what to think, scared and upset I guess. All I know is I'd rather have him go free than have anyone else risk their lives looking for him."

"They know what they're doing, it'll be fine." Merlin replied putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Why aren't you with them?" she asked.

"We just got back, Arthur let me off to see you."

"Thank you."

"No problem," then Merlin started slowly,"Your Uncle, does he have...magic, or is he involved in it somehow?"

"No, not to my knowledge," she replied, more calmly than he'd expected,"Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering why he sided with Morgana, if he didn't have any magic."

"Power, I guess, he desires it. Morgana had an immortal army, he thought it to be invincible." Mira explained getting up to get a drink of water for both of them.

"What's your view? On...magic...I mean." Merlin asked quietly.

"It's a dangerous topic Merlin." Mira warned, taking the water over to him.

"I know."

"Well, I suppose...I've never really thought of it as evil" she blushed, afraid of what he'd think,"To be honest with you, I think that magic isn't evil, its only the person who uses it for evil that is. I mean look at the Great Purge, they have reason to hate some of us. But you can't judge an entire race on what a few people have done. What if some people without magic did something terrible, which we have done, and because of it those with magic banned all people without; just based on the actions of some people.... I don't believe that everyone with magic is evil, I think they're just like us. There are some bad people and some good people. I don't think that they should be condemned."

"You really think that?" Merlin whispered, as he gaped at her.

She laughed. "And it stays between you and me....What's your view?"

"You just covered it" he chuckled.

Merlin was so glad to know that at least one of his friends didn't believe that magic was evil.