Merlin raised his hands and the two men went flying.
“You’ve lied to me all this time,” Arthur said weakly from atop his horse. His voice was filled with betrayal and mistrust.
Merlin was faced away from his king, so Arthur didn’t see the look of pain that flashed through his eyes before he covered it. He turned and climbed on his horse, continuing to lead them towards Avalon.
“You’re a sorcerer,” Arthur continued when Merlin didn’t offer an explanation. Arthur frowned when Merlin remained silent.
They rode for a while before Merlin said, “Warlock.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m considered a warlock,” Merlin repeated. “Not a sorcerer.”
“Whatever. You still choose to practice magic,” Arthur grumbled.
Merlin sighed. “Not really, Sire. I was born with magic. I was moving objects with my mind before I could speak. If I chose not to use my magic, I would die.”
Arthur was silent for a long time before saying, “You have magic.”
Merlin frowned, having thought they had already established that fact.
Arthur was leaned against a tree while Merlin attempted to start a fire.
After the tenth time he huffed in frustration, Arthur said, “Why don’t you use magic?”
Merlin paused and looked over at his king. “Habit, I suppose,” he answered quietly.
Arthur frowned and nodded at the unlit wood.
Merlin hesitated before his eyes lit up golden and he felt magic rush through him. The fire lit. After a moment, he said, “Feels strange.”
Arthur scoffed a little. “Yeah,” he agreed before wincing in pain.
Merlin got up to spread his bedroll.
“I thought I knew you,” Arthur said.
A stabbing pain went through Merlin at the words. “I’m still the same person,” he protested weakly.
“I trusted you,” Arthur said accusingly.
“I’m sorry,” Merlin said, knowing he had lost that trust.
Arthur didn’t respond.
Merlin sighed sadly and walked over to him. He began to take off his boots and laid them beside the fire.
Arthur still said nothing.
“We’ll reach Avalon in the morning and you’ll be healed. You’ll see,” Merlin said, more to comfort himself than anything.
When Arthur still refused to respond, Merlin laid down and tried to get some sleep. His protection ward would wake him if anything were to happen.
He couldn’t sleep. The thought of Arthur now hating him kept him up all night, feeling sick.
When the sun rose, Merlin woke Arthur and helped him to their horses. Just as they were about to climb in the saddle, however, the horses ran.
Merlin cursed and looked out at Avalon in the distance. “We can still make it,” he whispered.
“Why?” Arthur asked, his voice much weaker than before. “Why did you lie?”
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Merlin's Apprentices
FanfictionAfter Arthur died and magic was legalized, Merlin traveled and met plenty of people who benefited from his knowledge before he settled down by the shores of Lake Avalon to wait for Arthur's return. He founded a hidden community and became famous, bu...
