Hell Hath No Fury

 

“For you, I would give you the world. I would do anything for you,” Merlin murmured, watching him reverently.

 

“They killed my father, Merlin. Grant me vengeance. Make them all pay. Burn them into hell,” Arthur whispered brokenly, his crown lying beside him as he grasped her hands and bowed his head over them, blond strands tickling her wrists.

 

“As you wish it, my King.”

 

No sooner than he’d requested it of her, did Merlin stand before the group responsible for murdering the former King Uther Pendragon. They were a new nation, thinking to challenge Camelot and making their first move by assassinating King Arthur’s father.

 

Her King asked retribution of her. She would grant his plea.

 

They laughed and asked what one girl could do to an entire army. With no expression on her face, she stared them down.

 

“Officially, I am here to punish you for the assassination of King Uther Pendragon. Unofficially, I’m going to destroy you all for hurting my King.”

 

They all laughed again and she tilted her head and continued watching them.

 

“Maybe we can have fun with this one, men! Let’s grab her!”

 

Merlin’s magic was unmatched by anyone, even in all of Avalon. Her power was unfathomable. With one whispered word…she could bring the world down to its knees.

 

“Burn.”

 

And every single one of them erupted into flames. The screams of the army echoed into the night, the smell of burning flesh filling the air. The ones that tried to escape ran into an invisible barrier, and they pounded against it until their hands bled and then they too began to burn.

 

Merlin took out her glass sword from its sheath, the tip dragging into the earth as she walked towards the wreckage. One man, the leader and ruler, stood in the middle of it all and watched her with horrified eyes. The fire of the created hell around them glinted against the silver crafting of her delicate-looking sword.

 

“Hail Theoden, false King and ruler of Norwal, the forged and frail nation born of treachery and conceit. I will teach you humility.”

 

“I know you,” Theoden muttered in fear, recognizing her craft and the infamous sword by her side. “High Sorceress of Camelot Merlin, devoted servant of King Arthur. Your devotion knows no bounds, does it not?”

 

Merlin allowed a small, cruel smile to cross her face momentarily before it showed nothing once more.

 

“The cold ice queen, one all says is the true queen of Camelot, she who truly is devout and loyal. Too bad you can only be the Sorceress.”

 

The fearful jab didn’t upset her at all, or at least it didn’t look it.

 

“I concede. Just don’t kill me,” he pleaded.

 

“For him, I would do anything. Even damn the rest.”

 

And she lifted her sword and pierced his heart.

 

Merlin awoke sweating and panting. The dream she had terrified her. It had been too reminiscent of her old prophetic dreams, dreams she hadn’t had in a while. And what she had done in it made her question herself.

 

Would she really kill for Arthur like that?

 

Taking a look back at her time in Camelot, she was coming to the conclusion she was reaching that point. She hadn’t meant to kill Mary Collins, but she had when she’d dropped that chandelier on her. Still, it was an accident and she hadn’t meant to do it. Valiant died by Arthur’s hands, even if she had a hand in it. But he would’ve killed Arthur in the battle and she knew the man wouldn’t care if he’d just killed the Prince. The Afanc was a monster and killed without remorse, as was the Gryphon. Edwin had been dangerous. But Sophia and Aulfric…they had been the first she’d killed completely without care or remorse. Too closely like herself in her dream.

 

She’d killed them in cold blood and went on without a care.

 

She shivered and slowly got ready. Gaius was still asleep and when she looked out, she saw that it was still dark. Too early in the morning. She started on her usual chores for Arthur, too upset to do anything else, before taking a cold bath to try to shake off her nerves. It had worked a while, until she’d snuck into Arthur’s room and stared at the Prince. She sat on a chair, watching him until past sunrise and he finally woke.

“Merlin…you’re awake early. Are you alright?” Arthur blinked sleepily, but alarmed to see her already there.

 

She looked at him weirdly, not answering. She began to get his clothes ready, not sure if she wanted to talk to him.

 

“Hey, are you okay?” he stopped her, his hands on her arms as he stood behind her. There was worry in his voice.

 

“I’m fine,” she replied hollowly.

 

“No, you’re not,” he murmured, hugging her close. And she allowed him for that quick moment.

 

“Just promise me something, Arthur.”

 

He nodded, “What is it?”

 

“If you ask anything of me, be careful on what. I don’t think I am able to deny you anything. Or I won’t be able to.”

 

He looked at her confusedly, but happily at what she said.

 

“Go do my laundry?” he smiled goofily at her.

 

“Okay, Arthur,” she smiled softly at him before leaving.

 

She’d already done everything.

 

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She’d passed by a shaken Morgana, who looked at her strangely. The King’s ward even asked if it was possible for Merlin to meet with her later. It was odd, but Merlin thought nothing of it. That is, until she remembered what Gaius had said about her. A Seer. One with prophetic dreams, just like she’d used to have and seemed to be having again.

 

Morgana could have seen what she had.

 

“Something’s bothering you.”

 

She glanced over at Uther before returning to staring outside.

 

“What is it?”
 

“I had a dream.”

 

Uther gestured for her to go on, never mind that she couldn’t see him. But somehow she knew he did anyway.

 

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about me being unable to kill for your son. I think you’ll get your wish soon enough.”

 

Uther scoffed. “You’ve already killed for him. I have no worries.”

 

She blinked and stared at him. With absolute bluntness and insensitivity, he’d managed to completely reassure her and calm her down.

 

“You’re useful,” she muttered in disbelief.

 

“Glad to be of help.”

 

Rolling her eyes, she walked out of the throne room and decided to enjoy the nice day for a little while before she had to go back to Arthur. In the courtyard, she strolled around and then she was shocked to hear a boy’s voice in her head.

 

‘Help.’

 

He repeated saying that over and over, and her eyes scanned the courtyard for any boys that looked like they were speaking telepathically. Which actually sounds crazy, even to her.

 

When she heard it again, her eyes locked onto a little boy hiding but staring straight at her.

 

‘Can you hear me?’

 

Seeing him nod, she spoke again in her mind.

 

‘Come to this entrance. It’s the servant’s entrance, and I will lead you into the castle and to somewhere you can hide.’

 

He nodded again and she counted down to one, where he ran towards her. The guards caught sight of him, yelling to each other and chasing after him. The boy was too quick and ended up reaching her side. Grabbing his hand, she ran inside and automatically ran towards Uther’s chambers. By the time, she realized what she’d done, she was already there and the guards were coming closer. Ducking inside, she panicked and hid the boy under the bed.

 

“Stay here,” she hissed. He nodded and she straightened up, just as the door opened and instead of the guards she was expecting, the King himself entered.

 

“What are you doing here, Merlin?” he raised an eyebrow at her.

 

She steeled herself and looked him in the eye. “I needed to talk to you, Uther.”

 

“Well, go on,” he sighed as he closed his eyes and rolled his neck, unclasping his cape and draping it over a chair. He plopped himself in it and slouched, looking unlike a King at that moment.

 

So trusting and vulnerable around her…

 

“Uther…” she breathed out unsteadily. “After everything that’s happened, you know no matter what that I’m on your side. Right? For Arthur, most of all…”

 

He opened one eye lazily and peeked at her. “Yes. I know that.”

 

Her lower lip quivered and she didn’t know what else to say. She had thought to pretend that she was there because she needed to talk to him, which wasn’t working all that well considering she sounded like she was ready to backstab him, and now she felt like crap and speechless. Not a good combination if one wanted to keep little magical boys hiding under the bed secret.

 

He sighed again, “You look like you’re about to have a panic attack. Is my son overworking you again? Go, take my bed. He rarely comes in here, much less without knocking.”

 

She hesitated, mind working to find how she could use this to her advantage. “You look tired yourself. Aren’t you going to go to sleep?”

 

“Yes. But the size of the bed is hardly an issue. We can both fit.”
 

She hesitated.

 

“Is there a problem? You share a bed with my son whenever you must. This should be no different,” he lightly smirked, teasing.

 

And she was starting to feel even more guilty. But she headed to the bed anyway and went to lie on her side, closing her eyes. Hearing him moving and sluggishly lay next to her, she waited until she heard his breathing even out. Cautiously getting up and watching his sleeping figure, she got off the bed and quietly signaled for the boy to follow her.

 

Taking his hand, they quickly escaped the King’s quarters and she ended up bringing him to Morgana’s. Slipping inside, she almost jumped when Morgana mischievously greeted her.

 

“Have you forgotten how to knock, Merlin?” Morgana said good-naturedly, smile faltering when she noticed the boy.

 

“The guards are after him. I didn’t know what to do,” ‘And for the fact we just escaped from Uther and I’m still frazzled.’

 

There was knocking on the door and Morgana gestured for her to hide with the boy in a niche. Morgana answered the door, talking smoothly and successfully getting rid of the guards.

 

“Well, isn’t this exciting?” Gwen cheerfully said, trying to lighten the mood up.

 

“He is wounded,” Merlin frowned, finally noticing the wound on the boy’s side. “I need a rag or some form of cloth to press down on the wound, to stop the bleeding.”

 

Morgana quickly grabbed one of her expensive scarves and handed it to her, Merlin hesitantly taking it and putting it over the wound.

 

“The King is angry,” Gwen commented, staring outside and seeing Uther getting ready to execute the older Druid, though unknowing to all but one he’d just been woken from his nap adding to his anger.

 

Morgana scowled, “When is he not? The man out there about to be…” she glanced anxiously at the boy, “executed was taking care of this little one. But because they have magic, Uther is out of his mind.”

 

Merlin said nothing, grabbing a hold of the boy’s hand and staring into his eyes. Clenching her jaw, she closed her eyes and lay her forehead against their clasped hands.

 

‘I’m sorry, Uther. Please let this boy be worth it…’

 

At the moment the man’s head was cut off, the boy screamed in horror and the mirror in Morgana’s room shattered.

 

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When the boy was asleep and Gwen was out and about doing her duties, only Morgana and Merlin was left.

 

“I’m worried the boy lost a lot of blood. And he’s said nothing except for that scream, not even his name,” Morgana’s worry was easily seen.

 

Merlin licked her lips nervously, smiling comfortingly. “For a moment, I thought you were going to hand us over to the guards earlier.”

 

“Do you have so little faith in me, Merlin?” Morgana asked in dismay.

 

“It’s not that…You are the King’s ward, Morgana. You are risking much helping a servant and a Druid boy,” Merlin smiled sorrowfully at her.

 

“He’s just an innocent boy. He’s harmed no one. And you are more valuable than you give yourself credit, Merlin.”

 

Touched, Merlin smiled widely in happiness at her.

 

“Uther believes he has magic. In his eyes, that makes the boy guilty,” Merlin’s smile became smaller.

 

“He’s wrong,” Morgana spat out. “Maybe magic isn’t something you can choose. Maybe it chooses you.”

 

Looking at her in awe, and in trepidation thinking she might understand the importance of her dreams after all, Merlin reached over and held her hand, startling Morgana. But she gave a smile as well.

 

“Why are you helping him?” Morgana asked curiously.

 

“Spur of the moment decision,” Merlin winked at her, making her laugh. “He can’t stay here. What should we do?”

 

“Well, I suppose we can find a way to get him back to his people.”

 

Merlin nodded, thinking that was a good idea. Morgana shuffled closer, leaning on her and letting her head rest on Merlin’s shoulder. The sorceress froze.

 

‘Oh no…’

 

She’d already been informed of Gwen’s crush on her by an amused Uther and a teasing, jealous Arthur, both having to drum it into her head because she didn’t want to believe it…but if Morgana was added to the mix…

 

“I had a dream, Merlin,” Morgana whispered. “In it, Arthur had no Queen. But he had a sorceress. She was you, though. And you were so powerful. But you were terrifying too…”

 

Merlin swallowed nervously, “I’m not a female, Morgana. That dream would be impossible.”

 

Liar.

 

“Yeah…you’re right,” and Morgana wrapped her slim arms around her waist and buried her nose into her neck.

 

The boy was awake and staring at her in amusement, watching as Merlin grimaced at him and struggling to see if she could get out of the situation she was stuck in.

 

“I have to go, Morgana. I have to see to Gaius,” Merlin breathed out unsteadily.

 

Morgana reluctantly let go and she retreated out the door.

 

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After dinner, she went to go report to Uther. He’d probably just finished his dinner with Morgana and would be waiting for her in his chambers, so she headed to there instead.

 

He was quietly sitting in front of the fire, leaning on his knees with his elbows. He was gazing at the fire with a blank look on his face. She winced.

 

“You once said to me before, ‘And what if there will come a time where I may have to?’ when I ordered you to never disobey me. And you haven’t really before. I gave you allowances, familiarity. You were rebellious, but you never defied me directly in action, not when I told you not to.”

 

She stayed silent, standing miserably where she was.

 

“You disobeyed me. You know I won’t tolerate any other magic-users other than you, and yet you allow this boy to be free and wreck havoc in my kingdom. Tell me, was he in my room earlier? Is that why you were skittish? Had that boy been hiding in my chambers?”

 

“Yes,” she answered quietly.

 

Uther turned to face her, face still stony. “He is dangerous.”

 

“He’s just a boy.”

 

“He’s magical.”

 

“So am I!” she cried out.

 

“You’re different. You’ve proven your loyalty and allegiance,” he dismissed her claim.

 

“Then let him prove his,” she insisted, growing upset.

 

“And let him run amok and cause chaos by giving him that chance?” Uther growled.

 

“You trusted me not to,” she glared.

 

“Your circumstances are different. From the moment I met you, you were determined to be loyal. He hasn’t proven it from the start like you have. You came and firmly wanted to serve and live for Arthur.”

 

“You’re just being a hypocrite,” she sobbed.

 

He stood up and slowly walked over to her, gently wiping her tears. “But you understand. You’ve always understood me.”

 

She blinked away tears, “Just because I always understand your reasons, doesn’t mean I always approve of them.”

 

“But you understand me still. That is all I can ask, and more than many do. Arthur and Morgana, the two closest people I hold dearest to my heart, will never truly understand me or my reasoning’s, and that will always lead to them opposing me in some way. You are quite possibly the closest person I have since my…wife Ingraine,” he painfully admitted.

 

She looked away, eyes watery and resentment on her face, but she’d already conceded.

 

“I want an oath from you, stating you will not use magic. For a month.”

 

She cringed and looked at him in horror.

 

“If you want to save this boy, you will do it without magic,” he said firmly.

 

Heaving in stuttering breaths, she began, “I swear on my magic, let it be binding, that I will not use it for an entire month, unless I require its use in protecting or helping Arthur Pendragon. So shall I swear by the roots of Gaia, lest I face the consequences as determined by Uther Pendragon.”

 

Uther’s hand landed heavily onto her head, lightly ruffling her hair before he stepped back and gazed at her.

 

“Morgana is involved somehow, isn’t she? That is why at dinner she was as skittish as you were when you were in my rooms.”

 

Merlin tensed, but nodded.

 

Uther sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Then he went back to gazing at her.

 

“You have always been ever loyal, devoted, and honest to me. I will not betray your confidence in me, as you’ve not betrayed mine.”

 

She nodded curtly before sighing in resignation, touching his arm faintly.

 

“To me and everyone else, he’s just a boy. But you see him as a threat. And you’re not willing to chance any danger, because you would not have him take everything that you care for.”

 

He jerked his head towards the fire, staring at it again.

 

“I understand.”

 

So she didn’t question him any more on the matter.

 

“I will kill the boy if I find him, you know that. Don’t let him cross my path.”

 

“I won’t. I will not stain my hands with blood for you.”

 

“But you’ve already had,” he answered back quietly, a strange action.

 

She glared balefully. “Not with this boy’s blood.”

 

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When she visited Morgana next, the boy had gained a fever from an infection from his wound. Gaius would be of much help, but it would be too dangerous. Merlin would have to heal the boy herself.

 

There was knocking on the door and both of them panicked.

 

“Stay here,” Morgana told her, closing the curtains to hide Merlin and the child from view.

 

Arthur entered and she peeked through the slight opening through the curtains.

 

“Arthur, what on earth are you doing?”

 

“I’m searching the entire castle for the Druid boy. Don’t take it personally, Morgana. I just have to search everywhere in the castle. It’ll only take a few minutes,” Arthur lazily glanced around.

 

“I won’t have you in here messing my things up,” Morgana hissed out, glaring at him.

 

He scowled at her, “I don’t care for your things. I’m only looking for evidence of the Druid boy.”

 

Merlin spotted the boy’s boots and her eyes turned gold, performing a hidden illusion charm on the boots. Turning her attention back to the duo, she watched as they continued to quarrel.

 

“Maybe the boy is in your room. It’s usually so messy, you would never know.”

 

“It’s not my fault my lazy servant can’t do his job.”

 

“Merlin does his job fine. You’re the one who keeps messing up your room so you can be nearer to Merlin for a little while longer than is required of him,” Morgana shot back, surprising and dismaying Arthur. And Merlin, while they’re at it.

 

“I don’t have to listen to this,” he growled, looking away. “I’m just going to get this over with.”

 

“Why don’t I save you the trouble? He’s behind the curtain,” Morgana said in a bored tone.

 

With aura sight on, she could tell Morgana was trying to mock and tease Arthur.

 

“I don’t have time for this,” Arthur spat out, glaring at her before stalking out the door.

 

Morgana and Merlin both breathed a sigh of relief.

 

“I’ll be back, Morgana. I need things for the infection,” Merlin passed her on the way out the door.

 

“Be quick,” Morgana gave her a small smile. She returned it hesitantly.

 

As Merlin looked through Gaius’ books, she found what she needed and put them in a small bag. She was about to close the book when Gaius entered, seeing her.

 

“Oh, you’ve finally have interest in my craft, do you?”

 

She smiled weakly, “Yes, it’s all very interesting.”

 

“You must sit! There is plenty to teach. We can start on human anatomy.”

 

Merlin winced and thought quickly, “I’m sorry, Gaius. His Majesty needs to see me right now.”

 

Gaius looked at her strangely before he nodded, “Well, it’s hardly a good idea to keep the King waiting. But when you come back we must start immediately!”

 

When she came back, she began tending to the boy’s wound as Morgana fetched water.

 

‘Thank you, Emrys.’

 

“Why do you call me that?” Merlin stilled, staring at the boy.

 

‘It is your name.’

 

‘I’m pretty sure I was born Merlin,’ she thought back.

 

‘Among my people, Emrys is what you are known as.’

 

‘How do you all know who I am?’

 

But the boy didn’t reply, and Merlin was left troubled. Night came, and Merlin traveled to under the castle, seeking the Great Dragon. She stared at it, not speaking for a second. The dragon stared back, waiting patiently.

 

“The Druid boy called me Emrys. He says it is my name amongst his people. How can that be?” she frowned heavily at it.

 

“You have many names, young sorceress.”

 

“I don’t understand how that is possible.”

 

The dragon sighed, smoke billowing from its nostrils. “Many things have been written about you, things you’ve yet read. You mustn’t protect the boy.”

 

Merlin raised an eyebrow, questioning. “And why not?”

 

“You and he are as different as night and day.”

 

She furrowed her eyebrows, “What does that mean?”

 

But it just flew away without answering, frustrating her.

 

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The boy was getting sicker, Merlin’s help having done nothing. With no choice, she went to Gaius. Furious though he was at her involving herself, he reluctantly helped anyway. But they knew it was time to try smuggling the Druid boy out.

 

But they needed a key that only Arthur had. So Merlin watched for an opportunity, letting Arthur eat. Gritting her teeth, she reminded herself that this was for Morgana and the boy. Slowly, crossing over to him, she hooked her arms around his neck and nuzzled his neck, feeling him stiffen up.

 

“M-Merlin?”

 

She let one hand discreetly reached down near where his keys were dangling from, and focused on getting the right key to float off without making any noise. Distracting him with her actions, she made sure the key was already hidden in her sleeve before moving away and flitting back to her spot.

 

“What was that for?” Arthur asked, flustered.

 

“Morgana dared me to find out what you smell like,” Merlin widened her eyes, and faked innocence and naivety.

 

Arthur gaped before turning back to his food and eating with a suspicious pout. She went back to leaning casually against the wall and watching him.

 

Unfortunately, the boy and Morgana were caught. She also heard among the servant gossip that Morgana and Uther had a huge fight, where she accused the King of being overcome by his hatred of magic after he’d accused her of conspiring with the Druids against him. No doubt Uther would call on her later that night to rant to her.

 

Sure enough, she was summoned and she arrived at his chambers to see him angrily pacing. He wasted no time in starting his rant, as soon as she walked through the door.

 

“The nerve of her! She just doesn’t understand. All she thinks about is that I am irrational when it comes to magic, and doesn’t look to see why that is so. She doesn’t see how I cannot chance anything.”

 

Merlin silently listened, but looked on as Uther grabbed one of his chairs and threw it, the chair clattering to the floor at a distance away.

 

Uther suddenly deflated, going over to the fallen chair and setting it upright, before sitting in it and cradling his head in his hands.

 

“Magic is a powerful and dangerous thing. It is to be respected and feared,” Merlin started out. “But people are inherently weak and likely to abuse the power in their hands. You cannot trust magic when the people wielding it cannot be trusted.”

 

He chuckled darkly, “Logical, but you know I am more selfish in my reasons. You know why, don’t you?”

 

“Speculations. You’ve never told me the story and I never pried. I drew my own conclusions, from what I can, though I am unsure at how accurate they are,” Merlin shrugged.

 

The King sighed, “And yet you are still able to understand me…” He took a deep breath, before continuing, “My wife had trouble bearing children. I desperately sought a way through magic. Gaius, on my behalf, sought a witch named Nimueh to help grant my wish. On the day of Arthur’s birth, my wife died and I blamed magic for her death.”

 

Merlin looked away uncomfortably before reluctantly turning back to face him. “The Old Religion is selfish and unbiased. For a life, another life must be taken. Like the first rule of the fabled alchemy, humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is the law of Equivalent Exchange. There is always a balance, and it must be preserved and upheld without reservation or consideration. The Old Ways are not empathic. They are indifferent and unsympathetic. For you, it had been personal. For it and Nimueh, it was a restoration of balance and nothing more. She may have felt some remorse as she saw you and Ingraine as friends, but she is a creature of the Old Religion and the balance comes first. While she may not have chosen Ingraine to be the life lost, she justified it as fulfilling the balance.”

 

Uther stared at her, his mouth slightly dropped.

 

“What?” she asked defensively.

 

“It is…rare to hear such wise words from you. You are helpful and informative, but I’ve never needed such…wisdom.”

 

She shrugged again uneasily.

 

“I…want to learn. I don’t want to learn magic or anything. But I need to know. I need to understand my wife’s death.”

 

She refused to comment, but he knew she would teach him that much.

 

“Morgana doesn’t understand how much that pain from Ingaine’s death has affected me, that I cannot take a threat likely. Not that I’ve ever trusted her or Arthur with the truth. She sees ideals and beliefs, always with hope and sees the brighter side. But she doesn’t understand that I am not like her, that I’ve tried that and I’ve been left to suffer for it. And I refuse the chance to let it happen again, even if I am unmerciful.”

 

“Protective,” she muttered softly. “You’re not willing to take chances, even to the point of cruelty. You keep your trust close and do not lightly part with it to just anyone.”

 

“You’ve dissected me well,” he smirked lightly.

 

“I see your reasons, but I do not agree.”

 

He scowled, but she continued. “Because it’s such a lonely existence and pushes all away.”

 

Uther studied her closely, “But not everyone.”

 

She sighed and nodded, yielding. “But not everyone.”

 

And he leaned back satisfied.

 

“Can I say how reluctant I am to be the only one you consider unwilling to pull away from you?”

 

“It’s your fault for understanding me so well and not faulting me for my reasons, even despite your disagreements.”

 

“My fault?” her eye twitched.

 

He nonchalantly ignored her, pretending to read a scroll he’d picked up from the table.

 

“The boy will be executed regardless. I am assuming you’ll try to break him out?” he asked, eyes seemingly scanning over the parchment.

 

“Morgana will not allow the boy to die. She will most likely come to me for help, and I will probably agree to her,” she answered truthfully.

 

“Don’t get caught. If he is still within my grasp, his execution will go on as planned.”

 

She bowed and left.

 

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Roping Arthur into helping her and Morgana, Merlin decided she needed to see the dragon for answers.

 

“Why should the boy not be protected?” she immediately asked.

 

The Great Dragon lightly growled. “You ignore my counsel. Why continue seeking it?”

 

“The boy?” Merlin firmly asked.

 

“If he lives, your destiny will cease to exist.”

 

“He will kill Arthur?” Merlin asked sharply.

 

“You have your answer, Sorceress.”

 

“Is it certain? The future isn’t set in stone, Dragon. There must be another way,” she gritted her teeth.

 

“It is in your hands to prevent a great evil. It is up to you. You must let the boy die.”

 

Merlin left in the usual upset Pendragon way, striding to the dungeons and gazing at the sleeping boy prisoner. She glared at his form and snuck in, using magic to unlock the door, glad no one was there. Guards were lacking in their duties, it seemed…She should report it to Uther later…

 

She gazed down coldly at the boy, the scalpel she’d swiped from Gaius on the way there slipping into her hand. With a flick of her wrist, it reversed and was held in an attacking position. Holding it in her grip in the air, she used her other hand to reach down and lightly press against his throat. When he’d stirred, she pressed harder and he awoke and stared at her with frightened eyes. The scalpel plunged down.

 

‘EMRYS!’

 

She stopped within an inch before the scalpel was to pierce his heart, eerily like her vision –only with the difference in weapon choice.

 

Merlin stared into his eyes and he stared back, her eyes cold and his terrified.

 

“You’re going to kill Arthur,” she growled.

 

“No, I’m not,” he sobbed out, speaking for once.

 

The sound of his voice startled her and she looked more closely at what she was doing. She hesitated and stared again at the quivering boy, watching more consciously and with consideration.

 

“Your name?” she asked breathily, feeling shaken.

 

“Mordred,” he answered with teary eyes.

 

The scalpel dropped from her hand and she used both hands to grip his front and pull him close, burying her head into his chest as she cried.

 

“I’m so sorry,” she wept.

 

When it was time to break him out, she was having second thoughts again, wondering if she should let him die.

 

‘Emrys. Emrys. Where are you, Emrys? Emrys, help us. Please. They're coming. I'm scared, Emrys. They'll kill me. Don't do this. Don't ignore me. I know you can hear me. I thought you were my friend. We are the same. I don't want to die. Emrys. Emrys! EMRYS!’

 

Mordred’s telepathic voice haunted her and she practically flew out of her bed, rushing to finally give them aid.

 

It was her choice. The future will come as it will come. She will not let Arthur die. When the time came, she will prevent the dragon’s warning from happening. When the time came, then she’ll kill the boy. It’ll be her responsibility. Until then, her hands will be clean of him.

 

Yes, she’ll let him live. But when it is time, she’ll prevent Arthur’s death and take responsibility for this.

 

‘We will see each other again, Emrys.’

 

She watched him calmly.

 

‘I know. Do not make me regret this.’

 

For it will be your death, she added silently, knowing he’d heard anyway.

 

+
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“Death? Isn’t threatening Morgana with that a little too much?” she drawled.

 

“Perhaps, but she never takes me serious. For once, even if with fear, maybe she’ll listen to me,” Uther was irritated, she could tell.

 

“The boy will kill Arthur in the future,” she sprung on him suddenly.

 

Uther looked questioningly at her, though he didn’t question how she came about that information. “But you let him live.”

 

“When or if that future arrives, I will not allow it to pass.”

 

He nodded and returned to sharpening his sword.

 

“That is it? No reprimand in failing my job to prevent a threat?” she asked confused.

 

He looked back up at her, “From the moment you have stepped into Camelot and into the Pendragon’s service, you have been judge and executioner to all those who have posed as threats. I trust your judgment in this. If you say you will take care of it, then you will take care of it. I have no worries.”

 

She gaped comically for a few seconds before shaking her head. Uther just smiled mysteriously.