Wrap Your Arms Around Me (merdred)

2: Nightmares

    MERLIN HAZILY MOVED HIS EYES towards the blurry figures to his right. He couldn't make out much, but well enough to see Mordred thrust a dagger into Morgana when she wasn't looking. The sorceress fell to the ground and gasped as she turned to see her former ally with an expressionless look on his face, holding the weapon.

Mordred had stabbed her to save Arthur. Why? Why would he do that after he'd allied himself with her? Why did he allow Merlin and Arthur to leave during their escape that night? Why had he given him food? He didn't understand! If he was destined to kill Arthur, why was he saving him?

Darkness began overtaking Merlin's vision. The last thing he saw was Mordred taking Arthur into his arms and walking him out of the cave before his eyes flickered closed.

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Mordred was being knighted before him and it was truly a scene he never thought he'd witness. Mordred had proved that maybe, just possibly his heart wasn't made of cold, hard ice and that part of him was a good man. But still, he knew that he couldn't let his guard down. He had to be ready for the day he tried to kill Arthur.

He wanted nothing more than Mordred's destiny to be proven wrong; a lie that Kilgharrah had planted in his mind. He wished he could trust the young man. He hated the fear he felt in his chest when he stepped into the same room as his king. He wanted to trust him, but destiny couldn't change and it wouldn't. If Mordred was meant to kill Arthur, he'd kill him. And that was just a risk Merlin wasn't willing to take.

"Rise, Sir Mordred of Camelot."

The warlock watched as the brown-haired man rose to his feet, Arthur smiling in pride at his new young night.

He heard the large crowd of people surrounding him begin to clap and cheer. But Merlin couldn't bring himself to it. He was too worried that the man destined to kill his king would be walking the halls of the very same castle he ruled.

Merlin looked at Mordred in time to see that he too had been staring at him. The druid sent him a small smile before turning back to Arthur and nodding. He wanted to smile back but a blank expression remained on his face.

Once the ceremony had ended, Arthur and Merlin walked to chambers. He closed the door behind him and began picking out his nightgown from the cupboard.

"Arthur," he mumbled apprehensively.

"Yes, Merlin?" The king answered from behind the changing screen. The servant handed him his gown and a moment later he walked out and took a seat at the table.

"Do you trust Mordred?"

"He saved my life."

"But do you trust him? How do you know it wasn't a one-time thing? How do you know he won't betray you?" It was an honest fear of his. Arthur liked to see the good in everyone, which came with its disadvantages.

"I made him Knight for a reason, Merlin. I don't think he'll betray us. He seems like a kind-hearted young man," he replied, picking up an apple from the table and taking a bite into it. "It sounds like you're the one who doesn't trust him."

"I want to but I can't," the warlock sighed, taking a seat next to Arthur.

"And why's that?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Tell me," the king laughed, "what wouldn't I understand from an idiot of a servant?"

Merlin rolled his eyes and shot up from his seat. "There are things you don't need to know. Now, shall I do anything else or may I return to my chambers?"