Chapter Text
After the battle for Ealdor, Kanen challenged Arthur one-on-one. It was over with quickly, but Arthur hardly seemed to care. He took murderous steps towards Merlin and Will and demanded, “Who did that?”
He had seen. Merlin had turned the battle’s tide with magic, and Arthur saw.
Merlin felt his heart drop, but he put on his best confused voice. “What?”
Arthur looked insulted. “Wind like that doesn’t just appear from nowhere,” he growled. His lip curled as he looked between the two. “I know magic when I see it. One of you made it happen.”
Merlin looked over at Will, who wouldn’t meet his eyes, nor Arthur’s. He leaned forward, then took a step towards his prince. He looked up. “Arthur.”
Arthur’s head swung from Will to Merlin. “Well?” he challenged.
“Merlin, don’t,” Will warned.
“It’s alright, Will.” Merlin glanced back at his friend. Then he looked directly at Arthur and said, “Things were desperate – I had to do something.”
“It was you. It was you?” Arthur shifted his weight forward, his tone incredulous. “You’re a sorcerer?” There was sick rage in his voice.
Merlin tried to meet Arthur’s eyes, but settled for looking past him – and that’s when he saw Kanen, barely hanging to consciousness, raising his crossbow. “Look out!” Merlin gasped, shoving Arthur aside.
There was a click, and then a whistle, and then Merlin felt like he’d been punched in the side. He stumbled as the edges of his vision went gray. He heard his mother gasp.
“Merlin!” Will bellowed.
Merlin’s knees gave out, and he made a thud in the dust. Will lunged to catch him as he collapsed. “Gotcha, gotcha,” Will said.
Arthur looked behind him to ensure Kanen had finally died, then knelt beside Merlin. His face was pale. “You –“
Merlin only stared at the gray sky and shuddered.
“Come on!” Arthur shouted. “Get him inside!”
Two men hurried at Arthur’s order. They knelt beside Arthur and Will, and together they all lifted Merlin into the air.
Merlin felt himself fading, and his eyes slid closed. He felt a jostle to his shoulder. “Stay with me, Merlin,” Will begged, his voice cracking.
But Merlin didn’t have much of a choice.