Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“You have no right to the throne!” Uther yelled at Morgause as her men shoved him down to his knees in front of the sorceress. 

“No, she does not.” Morgana said, coming up behind her. “But I do. I am your daughter after all.” 

From their position in the belfry, Merlin watched Arthur. Arthur’s face was full of shock and hurt before rage overcame him and he shifted as if he intended to charge down and stop the takeover by himself. Merlin put his hands on Arthur’s shoulders barring him from going anywhere. 

“No! It’s too risky. We need to get you out of here.” Merlin whisper yelled. 

“He lied to me. All this time?” Arthur asked brokenly. Merlin longed to put his heart at ease, but he knew he was holding an equally shattering secret of his own. 

“I need to get you out of here.” Merlin said and pulled Arthur down the steps towards the woods. They met Elyan and Gwaine in the stables. Guards had seen them and Merlin pushed the Prince at their friends. “Protect him, get him out of here. I’ll join you as soon as I can.” Merlin said. Arthur reached for his arm and held tight.

“No! I won’t leave you.” Arthur was getting frantic. Merlin leaned forward and pulled Arthur close, touching their foreheads together. They stood like that for several moments. 

“You must. I will buy you time and I will meet you. You are the hope for Camelot. For me. You must be protected.” Merlin whispered. “Even if you are a dollop-head.” Arthur chuckled. Before he could do anything else, Merlin pressed his lips to Arthurs, fearing he would never get the chance again. Arthur melted into it, surprising Merlin. He never wanted the moment to end, but it had to as the sound of the approaching guards got closer. Merlin pulled back and smiled. He hadn’t expected Arthur to kiss back. “Go. I’ll see you again. I swear. There are some caves in the Darkling woods near the Valley of the Fallen Kings. Go there.” Merlin directed this last part at Gwaine who nodded and pulled a stunned Prince Arthur behind him. Merlin turned and darted out of the stables towards the courtyard where Morgause’s men were gathering the Knights of Camelot who had been taken prisoner. He scanned the area, making sure he couldn’t be seen, and directed barrels to roll into the soldiers and a few gargoyles to collapse on top of others. Some of the captured Knights were able to get away, but before Merlin could help the rest, something bashed into his head. As he fell unconscious, his last thought was that at least Arthur was safe for now. 

Chapter Text

Arthur stumbled numbly behind Elyan and Gwaine as they made their way through the woods. Once they made it to the caves, Arthur simply sat staring unseeing at the walls. Gaius, Gwaine, and Elyan were unsure of what to do to get Arthur back to himself. The only one that would know what to do, had sent them all away. Merlin. After a few days, it became clear that Merlin must have been captured since he hadn’t joined them. Arthur barely moved or ate. Gaius was at a loss as to what could be done. He had a pack that had some belongings in it that Merlin had sent with him. The vial of water he had received from the Fisher King was in it. Gaius had no idea what he could do with it. He approached Arthur with it. Arthur looked up at him confused when he took the vial.

“Sire, this was given to Merlin by the Fisher King when he followed you on your quest. He was told it would help him in a nearing danger. We aren’t sure what it is supposed to do, but maybe, maybe it will show you?” Gaius said putting a hand on the prince’s shoulder.

“Thank you, Gaius.” Arthur said softly, voice gruff from lack of use. Arthur got up and moved further into the cave, away from the others, clutching the vial. He stared at the vial, unsure what to make of it. Gaius said that Merlin got it from the Fisher King. But the Fisher King was dead. Thinking back, he remembered how off Merlin had seemed when he and Gwaine finally got through the door to the throne room on his quest for the trident. And he had been in the middle of the room, looking at the throne. He wondered if Merlin knew more than he was telling. At some point he had fallen asleep and when he shifted, he dropped the vial and it shattered on the ground. Arthur was horrified. As he watched, he saw what looked like light running through the water to gather in a puddle. A girl’s face appeared in the puddle, looking up at him with sad eyes. He recognized her as the girl who had turned into a bastet.

“Prince Arthur.” She said smiling softly at him.

“I killed you”, was all Arthur could say.

“It was not your fault. I was cursed by an angry sorceress. You set me free. I’m here because as I was dying in Merlin’s arms, I promised that one day I would repay him for his kindness.”

“I’m sorry” Arthur told her.

“We don’t have long. You must come to the lake where Merlin sent me to rest. There is a weapon I can give you that will allow you to defeat those who are already dead.”

“What do you mean already dead?”

“The moment they placed their blood in the cup of life making them immortal, they became the living dead. Come to the lake and I will give you the weapon. You must get it to Merlin. He can defeat the army with it.”

“I will come.” Arthur promised her.

“Merlin is special. More so than you can imagine. He cares for you deeply. You must let him know that he is worthy of love. Show him. And…thank him for me. I had hoped to see him again one day, but I’m glad to see he has you.” Arthur just nodded, unable to say anything. There was a noise behind him as Gwaine had come back in the cave and unsettled a rock. Arthur turned quickly, afraid it was an attack, but relaxed when he saw what it was. When he turned back, the girl was gone.