The Unexpected Gift

"Arthur?" Merlin knocks on his chamber doors.

Arthur flinches at the sound and a vase on the table shatters. "Stay there!" He yelled, all too quickly. He drew his knees up to his chest as he sat against the headboard of his bed, his breaths fast and shaky.

"Arthur!" Merlin says louder and with more concern in his voice, "what was that?"

"Nothing!" He yelled, and the door of his wardrobe flung open. Arthur flinched again.

"C'mon, you've been alone in your chambers for two days. Let me serve you breakfast." Merlin looked down at the nice breakfast platter he had acquired from the royal kitchens.

"No! I'm still - sick!"

"You don't sound sick," Merlin chuckled. "And why don't you have Gaius take a look at you?"

"No!" Arthur demanded. A bowl of apples on the table shook and the apples jumped out, rolling all over the floor.

Merlin was very worried now. He ignored all of Arthur's orders at this point and opened the door, shocked upon seeing the giant mess that had magically accumulated over the past two days.

"Merlin! I told you not to come in!" Arthur's breathing was faster now and he anxiously shook.

Merlin slowly walked in, setting the platter down on the table. He approached Arthur and sat, facing him, on the edge of the bed. "What's happened?" He put a hand on Arthur's knee.

Arthur breathed deeply as soon as Merlin did so, but it was still shaky. His eyes filled with tears. "I--" he shook his head and tried to get the words out again. "It's magic, Merlin. It must be." He buried his head in his hands.

Merlin furrowed his brow. Magic? How could Arthur have magic? "Hey," he said comfortingly, "it's okay. When did this start?"

"Two days ago. I had a nightmare and when I woke up - that pot," he pointed towards his desk, "just - exploded." The realization of it seemed to hit Arthur again, and his shakes got worse as he cried. "It keeps getting worse. But you can't tell anyone. Father cannot know, or Gaius. Or anyone else." He croaked, "I can't control it, Merlin. If I leave my room I could do something in front of everyone."

"Surely you don't think your father would kill you over this, right?"

"No, no I hope not. But - he could disown me, he could relinquish my claim to the throne. How am I supposed to live now? I can't control it at all! The prince of Camelot cannot be known for having magic. And I didn't even ask for this!" The empty bowl on the table shook again, both of them glancing at it. "See!?"

Suddenly, Merlin puts it all together. Three days ago, Arthur was saved from a bite of the Questing Beast by water from the Cup of Life. The cup is powerful, and it's even said that drinking directly from it can make a man immortal. So, maybe, drinking water that once touched the cup can give a man powers that he never asked for.

"Merlin." Arthur said, bringing him out of his thoughts, "my life is ruined."

Merlin sighed, placing his hand on top of Arthur's. "No, it's not. I know how you feel."

"What?"

He sighed again, not believing that he was actually about to say this. "Look, Arthur. I can help you. To control it, and stuff."

"What do you know about magic?" He sniffled.

"Here." Merlin cupped his hands together and said something that Arthur couldn't understand. His eyes glowed gold and he opened his hands. Two beautiful blue and gold butterflies emerged and danced about the room. Arthur's eyes were huge. In disbelief, in awe, in shock - Merlin couldn't tell.
He looked down.