500 Days of Freya (Merlin)

Warning

Chapter 40

Warning/s: None.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

A/N: this is terrible

Prompt: ruapilot02 - "Merlin tries to stop Arthur from banishing Gwen by warning him of the pain that comes from losing the woman you love."

The castle was buzzing with news of the betrayal. Curious servants and lords alike tried to stop him as he ran past them, determined to get more gossip from the King's servant who must surely know something, but Merlin's sole intention was to get to Arthur and stop him from doing something stupid.

Gwen had been taken to the dungeons, he knew, to await her sentence. Arthur was said to be a mix of angry and destroyed, stomping around the main hall and alternately smashing his fist against the wall and having to squeeze his eyes shut so that the tears would not escape.

The guards knew Merlin so well that they did not even try to stop him from racing into the Main Hall, but merely stepped aside and uncrossed their spears. Merlin slowed his breathing as he shut the doors behind him, glancing around to spot Arthur.

He was sitting on one of the table used for feasts, his head in his hands. "Arthur," Merlin called, hurrying over to him. "Please, be sensible in what you do."

Arthur looked up. "Merlin. Why I am still surprised?" he spoke with a bitter amusement. "You always turn up like a bad penny."

"That's me," Merlin said awkwardly, and perched on the table next to Arthur. "Don't banish her, Arthur."

"Why shouldn't I?" Merlin had known Arthur for long enough that he could sense the muted anger in his tone, even though he was trying to hide it.

"You love her, don't you?" Arthur nodded. "Which makes this even more painful. But when you lose the love of your life, in whatever way...a part of you dies forever, you know."

"She has betrayed me," Arthur choked out.

"Yes, but you love her and she loves you," Merlin insisted. "You two...are so lucky with your love, and if you really allow one mistake to push it apart, you're an idiot. Because I am not lying when I say that if you lose her, you will never truly be happy again."

Arthur looked across at his manservant, who seemed to be having one of his 'wise' moments. He saw truth and pain and anguish in his blue eyes, and his heart stopped just for a second. He wanted to take his advice so badly, because now he could see the damage done to Merlin's heart, but he knew he could not.

He said as such to Merlin. "I am the King, and I cannot be seen to be weak-minded at all. And...keeping Gwen here in Camelot, that would be far more painful than never seeing her again. Ever."

Merlin nodded. "I understand, Arthur," he said softly. "But please – it will hurt more than you know, and it will never stop. And you'll never get used to the constant ache."

A/N: leave me prompts?