Merthur - Love in the Time of War

Chapter 29 - To Kill or Not to Kill

Arthur's POV

"I want to know... did you kill them? Did you kill my mother and father?"

I stare, wide eyed, up at Merlin. His face is calm, still. There is not a hint of aggression in his features. All the rage I had seen when we had fought was gone. Instead, there is curiosity, a need for answers.

"I thought you were certain I killed them," I say, looking away from his eyes.

"I'm giving you a chance to give me your side of the story. I suggest you take it."

I sigh before beginning, "I didn't kill them. My father did. I tried to stop him but I couldn't. I was too slow and I regret it every second. I'm sorry... Merlin. I'm sorry I could not save them."

I turn my gaze up towards him, expecting to see... something, anger perhaps, or maybe disbelief, but what I find is Merlin with tears appearing at the corners of his eyes.

"Don't cry..."

I approach the bars, reaching out a tentative hand to wipe a tear from his eye. He brushes me away.

"So your father was telling the truth. He did kill them."

I nod, not bothering to defend my father's action because there was nothing to defend. He had killed the couple without so much as a single thought of remorse.

I hear Merlin scoff. His hands ball into fists at his sides and his teeth clench in anger. I can see his shoulders tense. Rage boils inside him, threatening to explode from within as he glares down at the stone between his feet.

"Are you-"

"I'll be fine," Merlin cuts me off, and turns his back on me. I can see him take a shuddering breath before continuing, "you know I will have to execute him."

My eyes widen at his words, not wanting to believe what I had heard. "What did you say?"

He turns back around to face me. His eyes not leaving mine. "You know I will have to execute your father for what he has done and I don't just mean what he has done to me."

I grab at the bars, my knuckles turning white from my hard grip. Panic envelops my mind, reducing me to a shaking mess. I bring my face closer to the bars, hardly caring that I'm practically begging. My father would be ashamed if he saw me now, "No... please, I beg you. Please, don't kill him. Please..."

Merlin's expression turns sad but he doesn't reply.

"Please! I'm begging you! Can you not find it in your heart to show him mercy? I promise, w-we will leave Camelot and never return, I will do anything but please spare his life!" I hear my voice crack from the desperation. I sound pathetic, like a cowardly criminal but I no longer cared, so long as my father lived I would do anything.

I can see the hesitation in Merlin's eyes as he considers what I said. He thinks for a moment, eyes shifting from the floor to me and back again. I wait anxiously, my hands clenching and unclenching the bars as I wait for his reply. Finally, he turns his gaze back up to me.

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Merlin's POV

I consider my options carefully. I want to kill Uther. He has brought too much pain upon not only my family but my kin as well. Besides, I'm also certain quite a few of Camelot's own citizens would rejoice in his death as well. He ruled with an iron fist. Fear was his weapon of choice. He was a powerful but unjust king.