Chapter Eleven

The King 

Arthur was difficult most days. Where Merlin was always eager to learn, Arthur was pensive and stubborn. Merlin had tried now almost every day to read to Arthur the finer points of the prophecy. 

“I get it, Merlin. Together we can beat anything. Do we really need to continue going over it?” Arthur groaned as he paced the war room. “In three days time we are meant to ride back to the battle field. And all you want to do is study ancient scrolls. We need to be preparing and strategizing.” 

“Knowing the intricacies of our shared prophecy is preparing. You don’t know the details. It would be useful for you—“

“No, what would be useful for me is if you knew how to hold a weapon or protect yourself.” Arthur interrupted. 

Merlin stared at him for a long moment. “You don’t need to worry about me. You need to worry about yourself. We need to learn how to work together, Arthur.” 

“I know how to work with you.” Arthur said quickly. “I’ve known you my entire life.” 

“You don’t know how to work with me as your partner.” Merlin said. 

Arthur looked at Merlin for a long while. “We are not partners when we’re on the battle field Merlin.”

Merlin threw his hands up before raking his fingers through his brown hair. “You still don’t get it.” He stood up grabbing the ancient transcribed prophecy. “Have you ever actually read it?” 

“I don’t need to read it to know my destiny.” Arthur was getting defensive. 

“You are hopeless.” Merlin pulled open the scroll and began searching for what he was looking for. “They will be like fire and ice. The sting of sword and the burn sorcery. Paired together as a single unmovable force. The King and the Great Sorcerer.”

Arthur met Merlin’s eyes for a moment before stepping away. “I’ll be training. If you’d like to join me you are welcome.” 

Merlin turned away as Arthur left the war room. This was getting old,  he hadn’t expected Arthur to be this stubborn. But truly Merlin had never really tried pushing against whatever Arthur had wanted to do all their lives. It had always been Arthur’s way. 

Merlin looked out to the courtyard where Arthur appeared after some time, flipping his practice sword this way and that. His way would not work this time. Merlin left and slowly began walking towards the courtyard. Trinity in hand as a plan began to form. As he finally opened the heavy doors into the courtyard he raised Trinity to the sky, the sun immediately was blocked shrouding the afternoon sky in blackness. Arthur and his knights all paused and looked around. 

Merlin stepped down the stairs, raising Trinity to the sky once again as lightning pierced across the sky. 

Arthur jumped at the rolling thunder that came after before glancing towards Merlin.

“What are you doing?” He asked, his voice harsh. 

“Fight me.” Merlin demanded. 

Arthur laughed and set his eyes on Merlin, they were cold and filled with determined destiny. “Do not try telling me what to do Merlin.” 

“Fight me.” Merlin said again. “I swear to you that we will do things your way if you can land a single point on me.”

“I do not have to fight you to force you to see things my way.” Arthur said quickly. 

“Fight me!” Merlin yelled pointing Trinity towards Arthur. His blasts were tame, not meant to burn him, but he leapt out of the way. 

“This is your last chance, Merlin! Stand down!” Arthur said. He held a hand to ward off his knights. 

“You were the one who wanted to train. But you understand nothing, nothing of my power, and nothing of your own. Fight me!” Merlin said sending another blast his way. 

“You cannot fight.” Arthur said. 

“Can’t I?” Merlin said. “Prove it.” 

He watched the smirk toy at Arthur’s lips before he took a step forward, swinging his practice sword in his hand.

He began running towards Merlin, his footwork deadly for the eyes of any normal man. 

“Sloppy!” Merlin said stepping away and sending another blast Arthur’s way. 

Arthur turned quickly, aiming for a hit to Merlin side before Merlin clasped Trinity an leapt over the sword, getting behind Arthur’s back. He pressed Trinity against Arthur’s chest, knowing Arthur would feel the warmth. “You see Arthur, if you knew anything about what I am capable of… you would never have agreed to fighting me.” 

Arthur growled out a swear and shoved his way out of Merlin’s hold. “Don’t flatter yourself. This is just the warmup. Lest you forget who I am.” 

“I know exactly who you are.” Merlin yelled leaping forward before springing off Trinity to reach Arthur’s back once again. 

“Zionide!” he whispered, the shock forced Arthur to his knees. 

“Bastard.” Arthur said throwing his practice sword. He turned to Fentry. “Get me Excalibur.” 

“Good,” Merlin said stepping away. “It was foolish of you to think you could even touch me with that useless piece of steel.”

Fentry raced back with Excalibur and Merlin felt the flutter of excitement as Arthur pulled the beautiful sword from it’s sheath. “If I win. You stop this constant battle between us.” 

“And when I win, we do things my way.” Merlin said removing his cloak and leaning forward on his toes, Trinity poised for battle. 

Arthur fighting was a thing of beauty. Arthur using the weapon he was destined to wield would always send Merlin’s heart racing. He moved as if he was in a dance, every point of his sword an extension of himself. He truly was deadly in battle. But Merlin had been given the gift of sight.

“Do you wonder why you cannot touch me? You with all of your many years of training?” Merlin said after pinning Arthur again. Arthur shoved him away and began the battle once again.  

Arthur lunged forward, almost scraping Merlin with Excalibur before he adjusted at the very last moment, reaching for Arthur’s arm and pinning it between them, Trinity poised at Arthur’s neck. “Do you wonder why I best you every time? You with all of your war meetings and generals to teach you strategy.” 

“Shut up!” Arthur yelled flipping himself out of the hold and rushing Merlin. Arthur was far more athletic, and as Merlin pushed more and more, Arthur got angrier and angrier. He pressed Excalibur against Trinity, the clash of their weapons sending electricity through both of them. 

Merlin released a heavy blow that resounded through both of them causing Arthur to fall back. 

“If you understood the intricacies of our shared prophecy you would understand.” Merlin stood over Arthur, Trinity pointed at his chest. “I see everything. I know every next move before you do. I could kill you where you fell and you could do nothing to stop me.” 

Merlin heard the rustling of swords being unsheathed all around them. 

“Don’t come near us.” Arthur barked at his knights. “Merlin…” Arthur met his eyes. “Have you really forgotten who I am?” He flipped them quickly, Arthur straddling Merlin’s torso, Excalibur poised at his neck. “Yield.” he demanded. 

Merlin smiled before shaking his head. “Think again, your highness.” Arthur turned his head to see Trinity pointed towards his head, the tip of the staff burning at his hair. 

“That’s not fair.” Arthur said quickly. 

“Isn’t it? You chose to use the weapon you were destined for, as did I.” Merlin lifted himself up off the ground in one fluttering move before Trinity came back to his grasp. “My staff will protect me even when I am at disadvantage. As will Excalibur. You do not understand this, and because of that you will always lose. Stand up.” Merlin said quickly. 

Arthur looked up at him, but did as he was told. 

“Face your target.” Merlin said turning Arthur’s body towards the metal suit of armor he trained again. “Take my hand.” 

“Are you joking?” Arthur said quickly. 

“Take my hand.” Merlin commanded again. 

Arthur grumbled but did as he was told. Merlin felt the energy of Trinity pulse through him as he closed his eyes and opened himself up to Arthur. 

Arthur gasped and ripped his hand away in shock. “What was that?”

“That was my power. Take my hand.” Merlin kept his eyes closed and outstretched his fingers for Arthur once again. 

Arthur grabbed his hand tighter this time. He could feel Arthur’s shaky inhale as he felt the energy course through his veins. 

“Let me in, Arthur.” Merlin said. 

“I don’t know how.” Arthur admitted. 

Merlin felt Trinity’s energy well up in him as he allowed it to pass through Arthur. 

“It hurts.” Arthur breathed. 

“It does. Allow it to hurt.” Merlin said. “Point Excalibur and force the energy through you.” 

Arthur raised Excalibur towards the target and Merlin pressed his power into Arthur. Lightening struck from Excalibur connecting with the metal target and rising upwards. 

Arthur let out a guttural yell through the pain of Merlin’s energy before the lightening finally extinguished. 

They both fell to their knees as the blackness of the sun finally extinguished. Arthur looked at Merlin, his eyes wide with something close to fear. 

“How did you do that?” he asked. 

“I can show you. You just have to let me.” Merlin said. 

Arthur took a few ragged breaths in before nodding his head. “I’m sorry I doubted you, Merlin. I won’t do it again.” 

“Together we will be unstoppable.” Merlin whispered. 

“Together.” Arthur replied. They met eyes once more and Merlin could feel the electric currents ripping through him as he saw the fire in Arthur’s eyes. Together.