Chapter Seven

The Child of Lions 

Merlin woke up early on his first morning back in Camelot. He had spent half the night trying to come up with some plan for how he would earn the King’s trust once again. Merlin scorned himself for having thought he would be welcomed back into the King’s inner fold with open arms. Had he been even the slightest bit perceptive he would have noticed in the dwindling of Arthur’s letters and the tone he took that he was angry with Merlin. Merlin hadn’t really thought about how Arthur must have felt after finding out Merlin would be gone for ten years. Merlin had been so concerned with his own anger he didn’t think to wonder about whether or not his best friend was feeling betrayed as well. 

He would make it up to Arthur. He would do whatever he could to earn his friendship once again. He had to, he couldn’t let Arthur fight this war alone. That would be the death of all of them. He had to force Arthur to see that. He climbed out of his warm feather bed and put his mage robes on. He grabbed Trinity and stepped out of his chambers. He walked slowly towards the other side of the castle until he finally reached the quarters of the King. He opened what was once Arthur’s room slowly. It had barely changed, apart from the lack of Arthur. He shut the door again and began walking towards the large chamber of the king at the far end of the corridor. 

He knocked once and heard a scrambling of two people inside. The door opened only slightly and Arthur’s flushed face was on the other side. “Merlin, what are you doing? You… you can’t just barge in.”

Merlin could smell the sweat of release on Arthur’s body as he glanced into the room to see a young woman dressing quickly. 

“Ah…” Merlin tried to squelch a smirk. “I apologize. I didn’t realize you were… indisposed.” 

“Is there something you needed?” Arthur said quickly, his patience waning. 

“I was sort of hoping we could get reacquainted with one another. It’s been a long time, I’m sure we both have stories to share.” 

Arthur sighed. “Merlin, I don’t know what you were expecting but I’m far too busy for such casualties.” 

“I can see that,” Merlin said quickly relishing in the glare that it earned him. 

“If you would like an audience please request one with Baldrick.” Arthur said quickly. 

Merlin felt heat rush up him before he pressed it down into his chest. “Since when have I needed to request an audience to speak with you?”

“Since you left for ten years and I became King.” Arthur said before shutting the door once again. 

Merlin could hear the woman on the other end giggling and left quickly after that. This would be much harder than Merlin had thought it would. His audience for a conference with the King was schedule to take place the next day. He wasn’t sure what to expect from this conference. He wanted to be able to have a conversation, he wanted to be able to reminisce and speak about their lives together. But he wasn’t sure Arthur would be willing to hear any of that. Merlin also wanted to speak with Arthur about the war. He wanted to tell him all he knew. He wanted to explain all he was capable of. He wanted to prove his worth to Arthur. 

Merlin walked slowly to the Great Hall with Baldrick at his side. “The King is waiting for you,” Baldrick said with a bow as he opened the door the the hall for Merlin to enter. 

There were far more people in the Great Hall than Merlin had anticipated. He realized all to quickly that this was meant to be a formal meeting as Arthur had donned on an embroidered gold and black silk robe. 

Merlin glanced down at his mage robes, they were brown and incredibly drab. Warlocks did not wear bright clothing, their minds were their ornate feature. He stepped forward glanced around at the expectant court. 

Arthur met his eyes and looked him up and down, clearly waiting for Merlin to make the first move. 

Merlin slowly lowered himself to his knee, keeping Arthur’s eyes the entire time. “Your Highness,” Merlin began. “I should say I am surprised at the formality of a meeting between friends.” 

Arthur raised a hand, permitting Merlin to stand once again. “You requested an audience, this is what an audience with the King looks like.” 

“And how about an audience with an old friend? Or have you forgotten the promise you swore to me when we were children?” 

Arthur glanced around the room before landing his glare onto Merlin. “Everybody out. Leave me and my old friend to our peace.” 

“Sire…” his head knight looked at him with concern. 

“I will be fine Fentry. Merlin would do nothing to harm me, I can assure you.” 

“Fentry. Is that really you after all these years?” Merlin asked. 

The knight said nothing but glanced down at Merlin’s staff with concern. “Shall I disarm him, Sire?” 

“Oh you could try,” Merlin responded quickly. 

Arthur chuckled to himself. “That won’t be necessary Fentry. Leave us now.” 

Fentry did as he was told, quite begrudgingly it seemed. But finally the hall was emptied and silent. The two men stared at one another. 

“Is it wise to have a man who once tried to kill you as a knight set to protect you?” Merlin asked. 

“Fentry has proven himself ten times over. He was sentenced to my protection as punishment for what he’d done, and has become a friend.” Arthur said curtly. “Now, what are you hoping to ask of me?” 

Merlin shrugged his shoulders and took a few steps forward. “Can we not speak as we once did, Arthur?” 

Merlin could see the walls Arthur had built around himself lax only slightly. “Is there anything to speak about?”

“What was it like here? Without me I mean?” Merlin said, he’d meant it to be a relaxing start to an conversation, but he could see the darkness of betrayal once again in Arthur’s eyes. 

“I survived.” Was all Arthur offered. 

Merlin took a deep breath and stepped forward even further. “Arthur, I know that you feel betrayed by my absence. I wish you’d understand that I had no choice.”

“You had a choice, Merlin. You could have said no.” Arthur began quickly. 

“I couldn’t have said no any more than you could have said no to your destiny.” 

“My destiny was to become King of Camelot.” Arthur said quickly. 

“And my destiny was to help you succeed.” Merlin said, he regretted it immediately. He knew it would not be well received. 

“I do not need your help in succeeding. I’ve done fine on my own. I’ve succeeded thus far without you. Do you think I cannot do this on my own?” Arthur stood now. He and Merlin were practically eye to eye. 

He knew what Arthur was waiting on, but what could he possibly say to appease him that wouldn’t be a lie. “Neither of us can succeed without the other, Arthur. Our fates are tied together, our destinies rely on one another.” 

“I don’t accept that.” Arthur said quickly. 

“You cannot only accept the pieces of a prophecy that you agree with and leave the rest.” Merlin said quickly. 

“Can’t I? I can do whatever I please, Merlin.” Arthur said. He scoffed and turned away. “For a moment I thought you would just be pleased to be back at your old home. That you would see to do things my way.” 

“Your way is not what is prophesied.” Merlin said quickly. 

“Fuck the prophecy! It will not control my life further! And fuck you for believing I cannot do this on my own!” Arthur yelled. 

“Arthur!” Merlin yelled grabbing at his shoulders. “You cannot do this on your own! Do you not see that! Are you so rooted in your fear that you cannot even see the outcome if we fail!” 

“How dare you speak to me like this!” Arthur shoved Merlin away. “I am your King! And it is not we! It is me.” Arthur pulled Excalibur from it’s sheath. “I am the wielder of Excalibur. Not you! I am the prophesied King that will lead Camelot through darkness. Not you. You are no one, Merlin. You have always been no one.” He grabbed Merlin by his robes and pulled him closer. “Do not try to speak to me like this again. No one speaks to me with such disrespect.” 

Merlin scoffed and met Arthur’s eyes. “When did you become so afraid, Arthur?” 

Arthur’s eyes widened as Merlin stared into him. “Can you…” he didn’t finish his sentence. He didn’t have to. “While you were away playing sorcerer I have been here, fighting a war that has taken men worth twice of me. I watched it take the King. I watched it take his strongest knights. It almost took me, if you haven’t noticed.” Arthur pointed to his scarred face. “While you were busy hiding I have been busy fighting. I know what darkness lies in this war.” 

“You don’t know what darkness will come Arthur. I do. I have seen it. Camelot will be ruined and we will die if we do not stop it. Us together. Just as was prophesied.” 

Arthur finally let go of Merlin and looked at him and Merlin could see all of the pain Arthur had experienced over the last decade alone. He had only been a child, alone and afraid as he trained endlessly for a war that he was far too young to have commanded. He had watched many die. He didn’t want the same to happen to Merlin. 

“You’re trying to protect me, aren’t you?” Merlin whispered. “You’re afraid of what will happen if you allow the prophecy to be fulfilled?” 

“Are you not?” Arthur said slowly. His voice barely above a whisper. 

“I am.” Merlin admitted. “Fear can drive us to danger, but it can also fuel us to be great Arthur. Trust me, please… trust me like you once did.” 

“You are no fighter, Merlin.” Arthur said, bitterness harsh against Merlin’s skin. 

“I am not. But I am capable of much more than I was when I was a child, Arthur. I’d like you to see that.” Merlin said softly, trying his best to melt the ice that had formed around his old friend. 

Arthur was silent for a while before shaking his head slowly. “I won’t have you die for this war.” Arthur turned away. “I have a war meeting. I must go.” 

“I’ll die whether you like it or not unless you trust me, Arthur.” Merlin called after him. 

Arthur paused for a moment before stepping into the hidden stairway up to the war room. He was not ready yet.