Drabble: Because he is a good man

[dk323]

Author: dk323
Title: Because he is a good man
Rating: PG
Warnings: None.
Summary: Arthur will defy the king if he must.
Author's Notes: I wrote this drabble for merlin_ldws a while back (changed the title since then). The prompt was Uther & Arthur: secrets.

A floating candle flame had taken to following Arthur around inexplicably. For two days, this was not the only oddity in the castle.

“How is the search for the culprit progressing, Arthur?”

“We are following a lead, sire. Nothing concrete yet.”

Uther made a noise of disapproval and then he peered at his son. “Where is your servant? He’s usually with you, isn’t he?”

Arthur tensed momentarily before saying, “He has been gravely ill.”

“His illness…did it start two days ago? When the curse began?” The king questioned lightly, though his hard gaze told a different story.

“No, it didn't.”

“Arthur,” The king looked at him discerningly.

With practiced politeness, conveying nothing but vague interest, he asked, “Why do you ask?”

“I’ve had my suspicions about the boy. That’s all.”

“I trust him,” Arthur said firmly.

His father dismissed him with a wave. Arthur felt relieved. Merlin was safe. That’s what mattered.

Arthur had come to an understanding with Merlin about his magic. But now the castle was possessed. Any inanimate object had suddenly come alive.

Merlin was suffering from a strange magical illness that left his magic wild, uncontrolled, as the castle dealt with the effects.

“I’m sorry, Arthur,” Merlin said to him that night.

Arthur only pressed his hand over Merlin’s brow. “You’re burning up.”

“Side effect,” Merlin whispered, his voice raspy, as he shifted position in bed. A glass came to him without Merlin so much as looking at it. He drank the cool water from the animated glass. “I’m sorry you’ve had to lie to your father.”

“It’s a price I’m willing to pay,” Arthur said with conviction.

What Arthur was willing to do for Merlin almost scared him. But he simply could not allow his father to condemn a good man.

Comments

[dk323.livejournal.com]

Aw thank you! I'm glad that you enjoyed reading this and thought I did a good job with portraying their relationship -- and Merlin's effect on Arthur that will make him a better ruler than his father ever was. It was a bit difficult for me to convey all this within the word limit (drabbles aren't my strength), but I'm glad that the message I was trying to get across came through.

Thank you for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it! :)

[crazytook.livejournal.com]

yeah, i always thought that was what was interesting about them in the first place. That Merlin makes Arthur think about gray areas he never would have otherwise thought about. and it's not like merlin tries, really, it's just merlin is merlin and he doesn't meet arthur's expectations, and people like that always make us think.

[dk323.livejournal.com]

You do have a good point there. I agree that people like Merlin who challenge Arthur makes him really rethink things and be a better man as a result. :) And yes, Merlin is just being Merlin -- it's just the way he is. ;)

Thanks for friending me by the way. :)