Merlin's magic (Oneshots) 1

Dragoon and the three of us - part 1

A.N.:// 
Relationships: Merlin/Gwen/Arthur - Mergwenthur

This is based on the very first Dragoon episode and goes canon compliant to a certain degree ... Then it diverges. Originally, I wanted this to be more tragic, but I promised to do happy endings, so I'll stay true to that. :)

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"WAIT!" The old man turned around, grinning like he'd been playing the long game all along, as if he'd been making a fool of Arthur, and by extension, the King. "There are other crimes I wish to confess!"

Dragoon was an irritating man, Arthur had long decided. He had appeared out of nowhere, putting a poultice under Arthur's pillow to- make him fall in love with Guinevere? It was fortunate that Arthur had caught him but it didn't seem like the man had much of a plan. Or if he did, it was terribly executed. Otherwise he would not be here, down in the dungeon, minutes away from being burned at the stake and Arthur remaining as unenchanted as he'd been 24 hours ago.

Arthur felt a bit sorry for him, especially since his stupid enchantment had been completely unnecessary. He and Gwen were not enchanted to be in love, it had been too gradual a change to be induced by magic. So, he'd either enchanted two people who already were in love, or he was shoddy at magic... Arthur would exclude the latter, since he'd seen his magic in action. (Arthur's head still hurt from where Dragoon had magically thrown a water pitcher at him.)

"What's the point?," Arthur asked, a little confused by the man's talkactiveness. Sorcerers usually liked to remain silent. "You've already been condemned. We can't execute you twice."

At that, the sorcerer's expression fell as if the thought hadn't even occurred to him. Or he hadn't thought Arthur was very smart. Or he hadn't thought that far ahead at all. At this point it was impossible to tell. Then his eyes fell to the guards. "Perhaps," Dragoon began slowly, his expression twitching like he was searching for another way out. For that, Arthur couldn't blame him. "But would it not be beneficial for you to know who committed the crimes that you couldn't yet solve? It could end some of your searches."

Arthur frowned. That was a good point actually. "And why would you help my father? You already expressed your hatred of his rule. Besides, I would expect you to lie, you ARE a sorcerer!," he countered.
The sorcerer seemed to still yet again. Arthur wondered why the man didn't just try to attack the guards with magic. He had managed to knock Arthur out for a second, after all. Yet, the sorcerer didn't make a move to fight his way out. If this was a scheme to stall, then why was he so calm? Why was his resistance limited to witty remarks, shoddy insults and lame excuses?

The sorcerer closed his eyes for a moment. "Can you not grand a dying man a last favour?"

Arthur paused, humbled by the request. He sighed, feeling somewhat empathetic for the man. Arthur didn't know why this particular sorcerer made him feel for him. He was rude, loud, and probably insane. Yet, there was something about him that told Arthur that this man was no danger to him or Camelot. Arthur liked to think he had good instincts, so he didn't understand why this man, who was clearly a sorcerer and therefore clearly evil, left him completely unaffected.
Under normal circumstances, Arthur would not have granted Dragoon his request. Under normal circumstances, the last wish of a criminal was honored the night before their death, but that excluded sorcerers. "I suppose," Arthur gave in. What were a few more minutes when the man would burn anyway? "You may confess your crimes. I'll pass it on to my father, if it means that much to you."

The sorcerer beamed at him, then looked at the guards again. "Would you mind?" He spat at them as they tried to grab him, snarkily as ever.

Gosh, what a temper. Athur rolled his eyes. He already knew he would regret this. "It's alright," he said, addressing the guards. "You two wait outside, he has two minutes to confess. Then you may get him."