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“Gaius, how is she?” Arthur asked before returning his thumb to his teeth, a nasty nervous habit that cropped up in the most inopportune times.
“The smoke has entered her lungs, but in time she will heal,” Gaius said. “Though, she is lucky to escape with her life.”
After the fire, the way she was knocked out…none of it made sense. Arthur listened to Merlin prattle on about this being the work of his father, but Arthur couldn’t hardly believe it true. “I’ve always known my father to be cruel, but why would he do this to Guinevere? He knows I love her,” he said to Merlin, hoping for some sort of sense to this ridiculous situation.
Merlin said nothing. Of course not.
“Gaius,” Arthur called before the man could slip out of the room. “What do you know about ghosts?”
“I know some things, sire. I know we must return Uther’s spirit to the other world before he does more harm, and for that, you must return him,” Gaius explained. He lead the two into the main room of his chambers and gathered the ingredients he needed. “You will need to use the horn to send him back, Arthur.”
“How am I going to do that if we can’t even see him?”
“I will make a potion that will allow you to see Uther’s spirit form, but it will take some time.”
“In the meantime,” Merlin started with a shrug. “We should probably try to figure out who Uther might go after next. He targeted Percival when he was alone. Percival was a commoner that you knighted. He went after Gwen because he never approved of a maid sitting on the throne. Who next?”
“Well, Elyan and Gwaine were both commoners I knighted…” Arthur said. “Not to mention they both question me and make their opinions known, but maybe he just used Percival to make an example…”
Just then, Merlin’s eyes widened with realization.
“What? I don’t like that look, Merlin.”
“Mordred.”
“Shit…” Arthur grabbed his sword and was out the door as fast as possible, Merlin not too far behind. “Mordred!” Arthur shouted once they reached the boy’s door. “Open up, it’s Arthur!”
The door swung open, and poor Mordred looked terrified. “What is it, my lord?”
“I don’t want you to be afraid, but you might be in danger, now come on!” Arthur explained, grabbing Mordred’s hand and dragging him out toward his chambers.
“What is going on?”
“Arthur accidentally released Uther’s spirit and he’s wreaking havoc all over the castle,” Merlin said. “He’s already attacked Percival and Gwen because he doesn’t approve of them. You, a druid knight as Arthur’s ward, are in grave danger.”
They barreled into Arthur’s chambers heaving breaths. “You just…need to stay with us…” Arthur said between breaths. “It seems like he only attacks those who’re alone.”
“Why did he attack Percival and Her Majesty?” Mordred asked, still thoroughly confused on why he was yanked from his room. It was night, and he was almost ready for bed. In fact, standing in Arthur's chambers in only his nightshirt made this whole situation humiliating.
“Percival was a commoner who Arthur knighted, which goes against tradition and the knight’s code. Gwen was a maid that Arthur fell in love with and married instead of him marrying strategically,” Merlin explained. “Uther disapproves of both, just as he disapproves of the round table.”
“That was Uther?” Mordred did think there was something odd about the chandelier falling on the round table.
“Unfortunately, it seems to be the case…” Arthur finally said. “We have to send my father back to the spirit world. Gaius is putting together a potion so we can see him, and then we just need to find him…”
“What do you need me to do?” Mordred asked.
“Stay safe,” Arthur said. “Merlin and I can handle this; you need to stay away from him.”
“Please, sire, you know I can help.”
“Arthur, he can hold his own,” Merlin chimed in. “If he doesn’t jump in, Uther might have an easier time sneaking up on him.”
“Damn…” Arthur groaned, dragging his hands down his face. “Okay, fine, Mordred can come with us, but please just…be careful.”
Mordred nodded, trying to suppress the grin growing on his face.
The door opened, then, as Gaius came in. “Here we are, Arthur,” he said, holding up three bottles of potion. He handed a bottle to each of the boys, who grimaced at the smell.
“Is this safe, Gaius?” Arthur asked, holding the bottle away from his offended nose.
“I’m…not actually sure.”
“Oh, great.” Arthur sighed, looking between both Merlin and Mordred. “Well…here we go, I suppose.”
As Merlin brought the bottle to his lips, he fussed for Arthur not doing the same. “Are you just waiting to see if it kills me?” When he got a yes, he fussed even more, but Merlin still downed it first.
“Well, at least we know it doesn’t kill you instantly…” Arthur said before drinking his. “Oh, that is the foulest thing I’ve ever tasted!”
“Oh, did I forget to mention that?”
He’d get Merlin back for that later.
At least Mordred was the smart one. He pinched his nose before he downed the potion. Still, it wasn’t pleasant, but at least he did better than Merlin and Arthur with it. “That’s awful…”
“Alright, come on, let’s go find my father…”
(They at least made a pit-stop at Mordred's door so the poor boy could get some trousers.)
Against Arthur’s better judgement, the three of them split up in an effort to find Uther. Merlin and Mordred stuck together to search the halls while Arthur darted off toward the throne room.
Then, Mordred felt a gust of wind. “Did you feel that?” he asked, whipping around to face whatever was there.
The torches along the wall blazed higher, and Merlin grabbed Mordred by the shirt to drag him along. “Come on, we’ve got to keep moving!”
The door slammed shut in their faces, and Merlin groaned as he tried to get the damn thing to budge. “Come ooooooon!” he yelled in frustration, shoving his shoulder against the door. “This is ridiculous!”
“Merlin…”
“Hang on, I’ve got an idea-”
“Merlin, seriously.” Mordred grabbed at Merlin’s shoulder and shoved him around.
“Mordred, give me just a second, I promise.”
“Emrys!”
Merlin finally turned around to see Uther walking toward them. “Shit, shit, shit, shit!” With a flash of gold in his eyes, Merlin got the door open, and he grabbed Mordred’s hand as he ran away. “We’ve got to get to Arthur!”
Mordred screamed, and Merlin felt his hand ripped out of his own. “Mordred!”
The boy slammed hard against a wall, and Merlin followed suit.
Arthur stood in the throne room when he felt a gust of wind run through him. He sighed, readying himself with the horn. “I know it’s you, father.” When he received no response, he turned around slowly to see Uther sitting on the throne. “It’s time for you to go, you’ve had your turn.”
“So long as you try to destroy everything I built, I will not leave,” Uther said as he stood. “I tried to raise you to be a great king, to follow in my steps and continue our legacy, but you choose to throw away everything I worked for. To throw away Camelot.”
“You’re wrong, father,” Arthur said. “I’m making peace, making my people happy. They respect me because they believe in me, not because of fear.”
“I will not stand for this!”
“Then it is time for you to go, father.” As Arthur raised the horn, Uther sent him flying, and Arthur crashed into the wall.
“Arthur!” Merlin yelled, running in. He slid down beside Arthur to check his injuries.
“This is for the good of Camelot. I cannot let anyone, not even in my own son, destroy my legacy!”
Mordred ran in behind him, eyes wide and fear on his face. The very man who killed his only family- the one who ordered himself to be executed…
Mordred, get out of here! Merlin shouted into his head. But, Mordred didn’t move. He couldn’t. And, slowly, Uther turned around to face him.
“You…” His voice dripped with venom as he drew closer. “You’re the druid boy who’s ruined my son. A druid as a knight of Camelot!”
“Mordred, get out!” Merlin shouted, and Uther jerked his head back toward him. “Leave him be, Uther, he’s a boy. Arthur cares for him more than anyone, does that mean nothing to you?”
“He has magic,” Uther growled.
Arthur stirred, so Merlin knew he was coming back around. He only had a little bit of time left to wait this out.
“Magic has no place in Camelot!”
Merlin settled Arthur on the floor and got to his feet. He stepped in front of Mordred, putting himself between him and Uther. “Yet there’s always been and always will be magic in Camelot.”
For that, Uther launched a bench at them, and Merlin dropped it to the ground.
“You have magic…” Uther said in disbelief.
“I was born with it!”
Uther hurled an iron rod toward them, and Merlin dropped it to the ground. He forced Merlin against the wall, and Mordred had to deflect a second rod heading straight for Merlin’s head. Merlin shouted a spell that held Uther in place as Arthur got to his feet unsteadily.
“Father!” Arthur shouted, and Mordred spun Uther around with his magic as Arthur raised the horn to his mouth.
“Son, no, wait!”
Arthur blew the horn, and Uther finally disappeared. Merlin and Mordred heaved breaths, shooting each grins in relief.
“Good job…” Merlin managed out, patting Mordred’s shoulder. “You actually fought back with magic, I’m impressed.”
“Merlin,” Mordred called as Arthur stepped right behind Merlin.
“I was beginning to think you’d never actually do it, but it would’ve been stupid to do this with, y’know, a sword.”
“Merlin.”
“What?” Merlin turned around to see Arthur standing too close, arms crossed and a scowl on his face. “Oh.”
“When were you going to tell me you have magic, Merlin?” Arthur asked.
“…When the time was right?” Merlin shrugged with a nervous grin. Arthur rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t ready to tell you, Arthur. It’s only been recently that I’ve even felt like magic might be safe, but I couldn’t face your anger…”
“I’m not angry…” Arthur grumbled.
“You look angry.”
“I’m not, Merlin.”
Arthur stomped off to his chambers, clearly angry.
Merlin stood off to the side of the training field while the knights worked. He watched them beside Percival, who pouted about not being allowed to join. “Pretty sure Gaius would have both our heads if you went out there, Percival.”
“I’m bored, though. Gaius doesn't have to know.”
“Fair point. How about, instead, you behave?” Percival shot him a glare, but it did nothing to lessen the grin on Merlin’s face. “It’s just until the end of this week. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
“Merlin, are you just going to talk with Percival all day, or are you going to actually do your chores?” Arthur fussed.
“I’m just keeping him company so he stays out of trouble, sire!” Merlin tried.
“Get your ass over here…”
Merlin made the (most likely) stupid choice to actually do as Arthur said, and he made his way over to the king. “Yes?”
“Ah, so you can listen,” Arthur said.
“Occasionally,” Merlin said with a shrug. “The rest of the time, I just cherry pick words I’ve heard you say and hope I put them in the right places.”
Mordred snickered, and the two looked over to him with raised brows. “How long are you two going to act like this before you talk about Merlin’s magic?”
“Merlin?” the rest of the knights said in shock.
Arthur sighed and dug his sword into the ground before looking at Merlin. “So..you’ve had it since you were born?”
“I have,” Merlin said. “It is my destiny to protect you and help you unite Albion, so…”
“So what you’re saying is when Arthur was born, the gods knew he was too stupid to survive on his own, so they gave him a magic bodyguard,” Gwaine said with a laugh. He had to laugh harder when Merlin gave him a shrug and nod.
“Not far off, I suppose.”
“Ha ha, very funny…” Arthur grumbled.
“So is that why you and Mordred are always in that little…clubhouse in the woods?” Leon asked.
“You have a clubhouse in the woods?”
Merlin couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s removed enough from Camelot to not be easily seen, but close enough that we can be back quickly if something happens,” he explained. “We have the hideaway so I can help Mordred with his magic…”
Arthur gave a look to Mordred. “Is that true?”
“Merlin is my mentor, yes,” Mordred said. “Since I spent so long hiding my magic rather than learning to use it, I’ve not much control or skill with it…Merlin has been helping with it.”
“Merlin is skilled enough to teach someone to use magic?” Arthur asked, completely in shock.
Can I tell him? It’ll be funny.
Merlin snickered, which earned him a look from Arthur. Go for it.
“Do you remember when I told you about Emrys?” Mordred asked.
“Yeah, some great sorcerer that the druids treat like a god…why?”
Mordred could hardly hold his laughter in. “That is Merlin.”
“What?!”
“Surpriiiiiiise!”
Arthur made Merlin muck out the horse stalls for that one. Merlin made sure Arthur’s pants dropped in front of his men.
Mordred knew this would get exhausting fast, so he told his kitten all about the ridiculous two.