Chapter Text
Arthur couldn't believe what just happened.
Uther had lied to him before. Then Morgana had collaborated with Morgause and Cenred against Uther and Arthur himself, and finally Agravaine had revealed himself to be a traitor.
And now Merlin too.
Emrys, as Agravaine had called him, a name that didn't confuse Merlin at all.
Sorcerer.
Merlin had magic. Merlin had betrayed him.
"Arthur?"
The king looked at Merlin, his gaze turning to ice and fire. “Have you been lying to me this whole time?”
"Arthur, I…" Merlin, the sorcerer , tried to speak, but Arthur cut him off.
He had learned a lesson from his father.
Never trust a sorcerer.
His sword was drawn and pointed at Merlin. "You have no right to speak to me, traitor ."
Arthur had seen Merlin hurt many times during their life together.
But he had never seen him turn to stone like he did now .
"Are you pointing the sword I've cared for, polished, and cleaned at me? You won't even let me speak, Arthur?"
"You don't deserve to talk. And if I were to even see you..."
Arthur couldn't finish his sentence.
Merlin growled, and Arthur took a step back.
"You really look like Uther , Arthur." Merlin growled, his eyes turning gold, "and since I don't have to protect myself from you, I can go do what I should have done all along."
"And that would be?" Arthur asked, destabilised. The comparison with his father was unexpected.
Merlin had made it clear what he thought of Uther many times and to be compared to him in that moment… it wasn't what Arthur would have expected.
"Save my family and the people I love." Merlin replied.
Then, his servant turned and walked back the way they had entered, back towards Ealdor.
“Wait, where are you going?” Arthur asked.
He hated Merlin for lying to him. But he wasn't going to hand him to Morgana on a silver platter.
Arthur wasn't that cruel.
The man ignored him, sowing it between the curves of the cave and leaving him there wondering when everything had gone to pieces.
Why had Merlin allowed himself to be corrupted by magic? He had to know how dangerous she was.
They had both seen how dangerous she was.
Arthur swallowed.
What would he say to Ginevra now ?
With a sigh, he turned and decided to walk back to the rest of the group, wondering why he would ever look for Merlin in the first place.
He was a traitor now, Arthur thought, that he went together with the other traitors.
***
Merlin was furious.
How dare he treat him like that? After all he had lost in Arthur's name?
A growl made its way into Merlin's throat.
Never again, he promised himself, he would never allow anyone to control him again.
When he reached Arthur's chambers, he wasn't really surprised to see Morgana sitting there occupying them.
“I would tell you I'm sorry about Agravaine, but we both know you didn't really care about him.”
Morgana turned, surprised before looking enraged. " You !" Then, a ferocious growl as she spoke. “Have you come to beg for Camelot? What makes you think I would spare you, Merlin?”
“I came to tell you why I did it.” Merlin said instead. “It occurred to me that we were fighting for two different sides, but that we were never honest with each other.”
“What are you talking about, Merlin?” Morgana asked, eyeing Merlin carefully and suspiciously.
“You see, Morgana,” Merlin said, “do you remember the sleeping curse? You were the only one who didn't sleep, didn't you ever wonder why ?”
“My magic kept me safe.” Morgana responded quickly.
"Plausible." Merlin murmured. “Then why would I poison you?”
“Because you hate those who have magic!” Morgana exclaimed. “Like everyone else here!”
“That's what Morgause told you, right?” Merlin asked, raising an eyebrow at her. “And how did she save you?”
“My sister was a very powerful witch, a Priestess of the Ancient Religion!” Morgana stood to her full height, glaring at Merlin with disgust and anger. “There is no limit to her powers.”
“Well, I can't agree with that, I remember contributing to her inevitable death at that point.” Merlin shook his head. “Morgause had cursed you, Morgana, to put everyone around yo u to sleep. It would have allowed her to enter Camelot and kill the knights and Uther rather easily. And I had to poison you to lift the curse and I convinced Morgause to lift her spell that kept the knights of Medhir alive in exchange for the antidote for the poison I used."
“Morgause said it was my magic that kept me awake.” Morgana hissed. “Prove to me she was lying.”
“You remember I was going to sleep, right?” Merlin asked, tilting his head.
"Yes, and?" Then Morgana looked betrayed. “Did you have magic? You have magic and you didn't tell me?”
“I wanted to do it.” Merlin murmured. “Gaius told me not to do it and I… Morgana, I've been scared my whole life .”
“Your whole life?” Morgana repeated, tilting her head. “I… were you born with magic?”
“I'm Emrys , Morgana.” Merlin told her. “And here and now,” he added, seeing her frightened expression, “I swear I wil l never hurt you again .”
"Why?" Morgana asked warily, watching Merlin as if he might attack her at any moment. “Why leave Arthur?”
“I thought he was better than Uther.” Merlin looked down, swallowing. “I… I really meant it, Morgana, please believe me. I… thought he knew that not all sorcerers were evil. He helped us with Mordred, didn't he? He ignored the fact that Will was a warlock, even though he obviously wasn't. I… I just saw that he was giving a chance to prove that we are good to everyone, magic or no magic, and I saw that there was something more than Uther. How he was willing to risk his life for me and for Gwen, for example.”
“Did he see you use magic?” Morgana deduced.
“He called me a traitor .” Merlin whispered, clutching the torso with arms. “And he threatened me with his sword.”
Morgana approached Merlin, and Merlin felt her arms around the boy's shoulders.
"I understand." Morgana whispered to him. “I didn't betray Arthur because of what you did, Merlin. And, despite all Morgause's promises and words, I never managed to kill you. I didn't want to kill you."
Merlin dropped his head into the crook of Morgana's neck, letting her hands soothe him as they were dragged thoughtfully and tenderly through Merlin's hair.
“I still haven't forgiven you for what you did to me.” Morgana said. “And I don't know how long it will take for me to trust you again, but… I will, at some point.”
“I'll be here as long as you need.” Merlin said. “Whatever you need, Morgana.”
And, with a smile exchanged and a promise to keep, Merlin felt a spark of hope to return alive.