Chapter Nineteen

Arthur and Merlin 

Over the next couple of weeks the war front became a graveyard for Thebe knights. Arthur moved his army further and further back until they were once again safe in Camelot as the Thebes continued pushing forward. No longer able to control the dark forces he called on, the monsters of the underworld began to lay waste to everyone in their path. Many Thebans died, even more deserted to find solace in their own homes. 

On the first day of the winter solstice, the King of the Thebes died. Dragged into the underworld by the monsters he had brought up in front of the army that remained. Terror wracked the Thebes as they watched their ruler get swallowed up by the ground, the deafening screams of hell gaining another voice. 

That is when Arthur and Merlin rode out. These were the moments that would be told for the rest of history, but people would miss the pieces Merlin remembered most. Arthur looking more like a King than he ever has before riding out to meet the terrified Thebe knights. The winter sun glittering off his golden armor, Excalibur a beacon in his right hand. 

“Knights of Thebes!” He called as he and his high knights rode out to meet them after the Earth closed up once again. “Do not attack!” 

The Thebe men held their weapons ready for battle with hesitation. 

“Do not attack!” Arthur said again. “I come in the hopes of speaking freely to you.” 

Slowly the Thebe men quieted and waited as Arthur stood before them on his horse. 

“I have never wished to be your enemy. I was raised in this war as many of you have been. My only goal has been to protect my people. My quarrels have never been with you, but with your King.” Arthur began. “Whatever his motives may have been, the King is dead because of the darkness he could no longer control. I darkness sent to snuff me out of existence.” 

Merlin watched the men slowly lower their guard as Arthur spoke. 

“Now there is an evil in our world that cannot be erased by one man or one army alone.” Arthur said, his voice lowering at the severity of what they were to face. “You and your brothers in arms have witnessed to darkness that has plagued this war at the hands of your King. You have watched your friends and loves perish at the hands of an evil that cannot be stopped.” 

“And now the war will truly begin. There is a darkness that is coming, that has been unleashed by the desire of lordship from your king. This darkness is far too great for just me and my army. I ask you, Knights of Thebe, to join me. Join me in protecting our world and protecting those who cannot do it for themselves.” 

The men did not move, so Arthur continued. “You may think this is no longer your war to fight. You may desire to return home to be with your lovers and your children. I would not fault you, if we do not defeat this evil, you will not see them again. This is not a war amongst men any longer. This is now a war of men against the evils of the underworld. If you will fight, I would have you stand alongside myself and my knights. I would have you stand with us to defeat this great evil. If you will stay, we can rebuild together and our nations can once again thrive.” 

“So knights of Thebe, I ask you now as not a King, but as a fellow man.” Arthur jumped off his horse and stood in front of the men, the determination now brewing in all of their eyes. “I ask for your sword.” 

There was a silence surrounding them for a long time. Merlin waited, watching the men all look around at one another. Arthur stood still, waiting. Finally one man stepped forward. A massive man, twice the size of Arthur. 

“Far and wide we heard of the boy who pulled Excalibur from her prison.” He said, his voice gruff as he looked down on Arthur. “Far and wide we heard the prophecy of a young boy destined for greatness.” He raised his sword towards the sky before stabbing the ground in front of Arthur and dropping to a knee. “It would be an honor to stand beside that boy in battle.” 

Slowly the men the Thebes began kneeling in front of Arthur. Merlin could see it all unfold then. Camelot and Thebes would become one after this war, if they all survived the war. Arthur would be the King of the entire realm as he was predestined to be. Merlin watched as history was being written.

***

“I want the Thebe generals to be housed in the castle. They must be treated well, we must keep them on our side.” Arthur said as a handful of servants followed him. “The knights will be housed anywhere we can fit them. Outfit the stables to house them if we must. They must be kept safe.” Arthur turned to  Fentry and Gawain. “You will be in charge of merging the knights of Camelot with the knights of Thebes. Teach them our tactics, learn theirs. Invite the generals to the next war meeting. We must be as one.” Arthur said. 

Fentry and Gawain nodded and broke apart leaving the group traveling through the castle. 

“My lord,” Baldrick stopped in front of the King. “Do you wish for the dinner to be at your newly constructed table?” 

“Yes Baldrick, thank you. It will be a good show of unity.” Arthur said as Baldrick left. 

Merlin smirked and looked towards Arthur. “Newly constructed table?” 

Arthur stopped and looked at him. “The round table.” His blue eyes glittered in the sunlight pouring through the windows. 

“A show of unity.” Merlin added. 

Arthur nodded. “The Thebe men will become knights of Camelot before the end of this, Merlin. I can feel it. When that happens, I want a massive hall, where we can all be together as one.” 

Merlin couldn’t look away from Arthur’s eyes, Arthur allowed to intrusion. “It’s going to be incredible.” Merlin finally whispered. 

“It is.” Arthur said. They kept eyes for a while longer. Merlin could feel the desire to be close to Arthur welling up in him as the same desire welled up in Arthur. 

Arthur glanced towards the servants than were left. “Leave us.” he said slowly as they all dispersed. Finally they were alone once again. They had not been alone in more than a month, in an attempt to mend the cracks they had made. But here they were once again, begging to be together once again. “Could… could we not just… enjoy the time we have now?” Arthur whispered. 

“It is different for me than it is for you.” Merlin said slowly. 

“You don’t know that,” Arthur said. 

“I do. I yearn for you, Arthur. The flames inside me are only for you.” Merlin said. 

A lovely pink blush crept up Arthur’s cheeks. Merlin used every ounce of control he had to stay rooted where he was. He wanted so badly to reach out and run a finger over that blush against Arthur’s cheeks. But he kept his hand firmly on Trinity. “It will only end in pain, for both of us.” 

Arthur sighed and nodded. “I don’t want it to.” he said quietly. 

“I know you don’t, but I fear that when the time comes, there will be nothing else you can do. You said it yourself, you have responsibilities to this Kingdom.” Merlin said. 

“And can we not… be together until then?” Arthur asked. 

Merlin wanted to say yes. He wanted to badly to say yes. It would be easy, to fall into Arthur, to be close to him once again. To hold each other like they’d done for so long. 

“It would only hurt me more when that time came.” Merlin finally said. 

Arthur deflated slightly, but nodded. “I don’t want to hurt you. I know I already have so thoroughly, but I do not wish to hurt you more.” 

Merlin nodded. “You will always have me here, Arthur. I will always be Camelot’s sorcerer. No matter who you are, or who you are with. I will always be here with you.” 

Arthur nodded and met Merlin’s eyes once again. “I will always be here too, Merlin.” He reached up and grabbed Merlin’s shoulder. “I will always be your friend.” 

Merlin reached up and grabbed Arthur’s hand, allowing their energies to match. It was warm and incredibly sad pulling between both of them. Perhaps they would not get a happy ending, but they would always have a connection that no one else in the world could have. Perhaps that could be enough for both of them. 

“You are perfect,” Merlin whispered. 

Arthur squeezed his hand tighter before finally letting go. He cleared his throat and sniffed before looking away quickly. “Shall we continue on?” 

Merlin nodded and they continued walking the castle. Slowly the servants found them once again and plans were continued for the Thebes introduction to Camelot.