Merlin Alternate Ending

Chapter 6: Arthur

"The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is."

                                                                                                                                     -Winston Churchill

Arthur' POV

I am so confused. I don't know what to think, what to feel. Merlin. A sorcerer. It doesn't seem possible. How could I have trusted him? He had magic the whole time. A small voice in my head reminds me that my Father's irrational hatred of sorcery has almost killed so many people that I cared about: Gwen. Gaius. Merlin.

He's not your friend. I remind myself. He's a sorcerer. He can't be trusted.

Then why is he helping me?

I cup my face in my hands and rub my eyes. A wave of pain, sharp and hit, flares in my chest. I wince. When I look up, my view is blocked by the huge Dragon. Kilgharrah. I gasp.

Kilgharrah says nothing, just stares at me, the intense golden glow of his ancient eyes piercing me like Mordred's blade.

I try to ignore him, hoping that he will leave me alone. I'm not in the mid to have a conversation with the giant Dragon that I thought I had killed. I can't imagine why not. But he just sits there, waiting.

My patience runs out before his and finally I speak. "What do you want?" I snap.

"What I want, Arthur Pendragon, is for you to start acting like the great King you are foretold to be." He replied, his trapping voice sounding sad.

"Oh, I'm sorry I've disappointed your Great Dragon-ness." I snap again. "Seems like I've disappointed a lot of people lately." I add, softer.

Kilgharrah sighs. "Don't sulk, Arthur. Self-pity does not become you."

A short bark of laughter breaks from my mouth and I wince as the movement and a sharp pain through my chest. "I suppose you know what does become me, then?"

"Yes. Forgiveness. Kindness. Understanding. Love." Kilgharrah replies.

I sigh and look away from his piercing golden glare. "You want me to forgive Merlin."

"Yes."

"But how can I?" I explode, ignoring another stab of pain that burns in my chest. "He is a sorcerer. Like Morgana. Like the man that killed my Father. And my Mother! Sorcery killed her! My Father spent his whole life fighting magic, trying to cleanse Camelot of it! And now you ask me to accept it? How can I?"

"Because Merlin is your friend!" the dragon growls. "Sorcery is neither good nor evil, young King. You should know that. How often in your Father's relentless pursuit of magic do you think an innocent man, woman, or child was murdered by his unfounded hatred of them, when their only crime was being different? How often did you yourself stand up against his ruling when you saw that it was wrong? And now, your truest, most loyal servant has revealed to you guys deepest, most dangerous--to him--secret, has refused you to judge him fairly, without the blind fear your Father had, and how do you react? With the same rash, unfair hatred. Just like Uther. I am ashamed of you, Arthur Pendragon. You do not deserve the live Merlin has for you." Kilgharrah pauses for a moment. "And as for your Father's death; that sorcerer did not kill him. He was honestly trying to help, to heal Uther. It was Morgana who killed him."

"So magic can be evil, too. Isn't it better to protect the people from those life Morgana by..." I trail off, feeling like a petulant child unable to accept defeat under the dragon's disapproving stare. I struggle belligerent for something to say, some way to defend my position, but find nothing. I know Kilgharrah is right, but still I refuse to admit it.

I am still struggling for words when Merlin breaks into the clearing, his hands empty of firewood,a look of horrified terror on his face.