Merlin's magic (Oneshots) 1

Dragon knights

"There can be no place for magic in Camelot."

Arthur had the feeling there was more to this than Merlin let on. Thinking about it for the rest of the night, watching Merlin tremble, he knew something was wrong.
Well, for one, something was very wrong with that statement. Arthur had seen what magic had done. Magic had killed his father, after all.

But it was also a sorcerer who had tried to heal him. The sorcerer had every reason to kill Arthur's father. He had made that very clear.
Arthur would never forget the distraught look in the old man's eyes. It hat struck something inside Arthur.
At the time, he had been too mad to consider it. Talking with Gaius had cleared things up a bit.
The old man had not lied. He did try to safe his father's life.
Apparently, he even knew of some encounters that Arthur had survived because of magic.

What to make of it? Arthur wasn't quite sure.

However, Merlin's reaction made him wonder even more. Had not Merlin's best friend been a sorcerer? Had said sorcerer not risked his life for Arthur? Why would he do that if he was evil?
Merlin had almost seemed lifeless at the dying body.
Hopeless.

Not to mention all these times Merlin had tried to help magical creatures. The unicorn for example. He had warned him that his actions would have consequences.
For god's sake, the man had told Arthur to go to the Dissir unarmed! If anyone – really anyone – would trust a sorcerer ... it would be Merlin. Would it not?
There was more to it. Though Arthur didn't see what it could be. Did Merlin want Mordred dead?

Questions over questions.
Arthur had the feeling that the decision was getting more and more complicated, the more he thought about it. And asking Merlin to make that decision for him? That was out right cruel.
Arthur sighed, as he tried to sleep once more.

And then – he thought of the orb. It was practically one of his first encounters with actual magic. An orb, bright blue, had helped him, when Nymueh had tried to kill him. While Arthur had tried to safe Merlin. That sorcerer had never reappeared. He had never asked anything of him in return.
The orb had just kept him alive. Somehow, Arthur felt, that this orb had never left his side. Protected him. Like a guardian angel.
That as well was magic. For this small shimmer of hope -
Was there no place for that orb?

_________________________

Okay maybe it was a complete mistake. Arthur was panicking, while Merlin stared at him with wide eyes.
"You agreed to return magic to Camelot.", Merlin said, deadpanned.

"Yes, Merlin. Very observant. I always thought you were deaf as well as dumb. Turns out you're just the latter. Don't take it to heart. It only took you what, two weeks to figure this out?" Arthur had no time for this banter. He was holding his sword as though it was is only life line.

"Arthur -", great that was worrying. Merlin wasn't even returning the insults.

Two weeks ago, Arthur had bowed to the triple goddess. Two weeks of calm and quiet.
Two weeks of writing and rewriting laws with the help of Merlin. The servant had surprisingly wise insight on the whole thing. Odd – as though he had been thinking of this for a long time.
Even odder – Merlin wasn't even mad at his solo decision. He had not asked, not questioned it. Merlin looked relieved – somehow.
He didn't look this calm in months. Arthur knew. Not that he was counting the days between Merlin's smiles of course.

One could almost think it was Merlin who made the decisions for this country. He just looked that relieved.

Well – except now of course.
Whatever the triple goddess had done, Arthur feared for his life. And the life of his men. Well, maybe they would at least let their fingers – or claws – from Mordred. After all – he had been their deal.