The Truth about Merlin

The Consequences of Magic

Leon examined Merlin's wound again to be sure and informed Arthur that Merlin was going to make it. He nodded. The knights had bandaged Merlin's wound and he was now resting against a tree stump. Elyan had reheated the breakfast over the fire and everyone ate quietly.

"Now what?" Gwaine asked. Arthur lifted his head up. He was sat the furthest away from Merlin and hadn't spoken in several minutes.

"I don't know" Arthur simply replied.

"Morgana's still out there" Leon reminded everyone.

"We can't leave without Merlin. Unless one of us stays behind whilst the others fight off Morgana" Gwaine suggested.

"It's too risky" Arthur said. "We need all the men and strength we can get. Besides, Merlin can look after himself...you saw his magic." Everyone sat quietly as they remembered what happened. "How could I have been so stupid?"

"He fooled us all Sire" said Leon.

"Who knew that Merlin, a servant, could be a sorcerer. I... I just can't believe it" Arthur said in disbelief. "Sometimes he would act in a way that wasn't normal but that was merlin. That's who he is." He looked down at the ground again and covered his face with his hands. They were all still in shock. Was that real? Maybe this is a dream, a nightmare. Merlin would never abuse my trust like this. He's the stupid one, he's clumsy, he's messy and he's incapable of performing simple tasks like polishing my armour on time, Arthur thought. Then everything in his mind became clear. "There's only one thing to do" Arthur announced as he sat up straight again. "When all of this is over Merlin will be sentenced to death. He will be put in the dungeons on arrival to Camelot where he will await his fate." Gwaine stood up in shock and anger.

"You can't be serious Sire. He's done nothing wrong!" he yelled.

"He's a sorcerer Gwaine. He has magic. He has broken the law and should be punished for his crimes" Arthur replied in a serious tone.

"No" Gwaine simply said.

"No?" Arthur repeated. "Are you going to disobey an order?"

"If it means saving Merlin then yes." He looked over at Merlin's limp body resting against the tree stump. "He doesn't deserve this. Ok I'm shocked like everyone else but don't you see, he was using it for good, he was protecting us? That's not a crime! Why can't you see that?"

"Because sorcery is wrong. I lost both of my parents to it."

"What about Merlin. He has watched so many druids, so many people of his kind die right in front of him by your commands" Gwaine yelled. "And your father's" he added.

"Don't you dare bring my father into this!"

"I never agreed to condemn so many people to death. They could have been good"

"Magic is never good. Look at Morgana" Arthur interrupted.

"She was corrupted by power" Elyan said, joining in. "She was good from what I've heard. Gwen told me that it was Morgause's influence that changed her. Merlin isn't like that."

"How would you know? Maybe he is similar to Morgana. She knew for a while that she was my sister and that the throne could be hers. How do we know that Merlin is not secretly plotting as well? He has enough magic, he knows the castle well and he knows us. His friendship could be a lie. Besides, he has enough reasons to want vengeance; I banned magic and punished anyone with it."

"You don't honestly believe that Sire" Leon said. "Merlin has always been loyal. Surely if he was a threat he would have acted by now."

Arthur sighed, "I guess you're right. He has always been there...but he still can't be trusted." They all nodded. Although the knights hated to admit it, he was right. After all, Merlin had kept this secret for many years and had lied to all of them.