Camelot

Seven - Love or Loyalty?

*** Author's Note ***

This chapter contains characters from the 2008 BBC series 'Merlin'. I did not create, nor do I own many of the characters within this chapter. This chapter has been edited in January, 2019. Please feel free to leave comments/suggestions below. 

Seven – Love or Loyalty?

Arthur's face turned stony, backing away until he could move no further. He was only a few paces from me, with his body pressed as hard as it could be against my table. His eyes were wide with fear and his mouth was ajar. I had expected anger and hurt in this moment of truth, but this was far worse. He was afraid of me.

"Please, do not be afraid," I said, my voice wavering. "I am still the same person who stood before you only moments ago. Having this ability does not change anything, you have to understand that. This is what I have been trying to tell you."

I attempted a step forwards, only to have him somehow push himself further against the table, only making me feel worse. I looked to the floor, my vision now becoming obscured by the tears forming at the corners of my eyes. This was worse than I had ever imagined it. I'd rather him be yelling at me.

"Y-you have magic," he said after some time, his voice small.

"I was born with it," I explained, moving my hands to my neck to carefully unhook the topmost part of my dress to reveal my mark. "My Mother was a Druid and her abilities have been passed to me by blood. This is what I have been trying to tell you. Sometimes, we have no choice in our abilities."

"You have a choice to practice it," he snapped, regaining his voice. "I am sure there are people like you who have the same blood running through them and do not realise it. This is treason, Emalia."

I sighed, clasping the hook back together to hide my mark from view. I returned my gaze to Arthur, noticing that he was only a step from the table and now bearing signs of anger and hostility over fear. Clearly, he'd decided I had no intentions of hurting him.

"We always know if we possess the powers of magic," I went on. "As a child, it is difficult to control. Spontaneous fires can burn, there can be tremors or shattering glass, all because a child has lost their temper or been hurt. I have friends who still cause things to tremble when they are angry." I immediately thought to Madeline's most recent outburst but stopped myself from speaking. She did not need to be implicated as well.

"You are friends with more sorcerers?" Arthur asked, his eyes narrowing.

"They pose no threat to you," I said. "Not anymore."

Something flickered in his eyes and I was unsure of the meaning. Perhaps he had seen that there was something to gain in all this. Perhaps he had finally realised that our marriage bond not only strengthened our kingdoms but put an end to the war on magic in a different way that he had anticipated.

His brow creased as he sat himself on the edge of the table, now deep in thought. Whatever his realisation was had pacified him, causing his anger to evaporate before my eyes. I was tempted to ask just what he thought, when he spoke again.

"What of trust, Emalia?" he asked. "How can I marry you when you have kept something like this from me for so long? How am I supposed to protect you from my Father or anyone in Camelot if you are found out? It is too dangerous."

"Put yourself in my shoes, Arthur," I said. "Imagine falling in love with not just anyone, but the son of a King who caused your race to be hunted to the edges of the land and still punishes their abilities by death. Your natural instinct would be to hate them." I took a step towards him gingerly. "I could not help but fall in love with you, Arthur. I believe whole-heartedly that what is between us is not only meant to be for our own good, but for others as well."