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Arthur stabbed the man and let him fall to his feet. Another one attacked him behind his back the next second, but he didn't go far. His sword stopped in mid-air and then he was pushed back with an incredible force. Arthur watched as the bandit was mysteriously dragged back by invisible hands.
But those hands were not so invisible, for Merlin was standing behind the bandit, his arm outstretched and his gold as the sun. Arthur stared at him for what seemed like a few minutes, before his manservant was stabbed in the back, the sword piercing his stomach, the other end being visible even to Arthur. The sword then disappeared and Merlin fell to the ground like a rag doll.
Arthur saw the man who stabbed Merlin and he didn't waste a second. He ran to him and before the man could say a word, Arthur raised his sword and cut his head. The headless man fell to his knees and then onto the ground, at Arthur's feet. The blonde was covered in blood, but he quickly tried wiping it away, before kneeling next to Merlin.
Merlin was spitting blood and he was letting out some awful noises, of a man in so much pain that you would've thought he was on the verge of death. And then it hit him. Merlin was on the verge of death. He was dying right before him.
Without a word, he picked Merlin up and placed him carefully on his horse's saddle, then Arthur climbed on his horse behind him. He held Merlin with one hand and with the other he held the rein. He thought for a second about where he would take Merlin. Camelot was out of question. It was too far away and Merlin wouldn't resist such a long trip.
And then it hit him. The druids were not far away and maybe they could feel that Merlin is a sorcerer and would help him. He truly hoped that they would help him, for he didn't know what else he could do to help Merlin, to save him from certain death.
"Arthur...", Merlin said, and Arthur looked at his dark head.
"I'm here, I'm taking you to the Druids. They can help you", Arthur told him, without being even asked.
Merlin shivered and Arthur pulled him closer to his body, hoping that his move would warm Merlin up.
"I never...wanted you...to find out...like this", Merlin said, his voice breaking. It hurt Arthur, because seeing Merlin in such pain was unbearable. "But please...don't kill me...just yet...I owe...you...an explanation", he continued, struggling to breathe.
"You owe me nothing, Merlin", Arthur said, his voice darkening. He had to hurry up, or else Merlin would surely die in his arms.
He rode for a couple of hours before he saw some fire lights in the distance. He recognized the Druid camp and he sighed relieved. Merlin grabbed his hand and mumbled something that Arthur couldn't understand. Still, he talked to Merlin like he actually understood him.
"We're almost at the druid camp, you're gonna be okay", Arthur told him and he kissed his hair, now wet with sweat.
"No", Merlin said, squeezing his arm. Arthur frowned, confused, but he definitely wasn't going to listen to a feverish Merlin who had no idea what he was saying.
He started riding again until he got to the camp. A druid appeared in front of his horse and Arthur tensed, suddenly becoming protective of Merlin.
"We need your help! My...",Arthur stopped for a few moments, because he wanted to badly to say 'lover', but finally decided against it, "...friend needs help. He's hurt, he was stabbed in the back and the blade pierced his stomach!"
Arthur dismounted and then he picked Merlin up in his arms, just then realizing how light he was. He took a step backwards when three druids carrying an empty wooden gurney approached him. He was scared of letting him go, because he couldn't trust the druids. But Merlin was a sorcerer, so how could he trust him? Why did he save a sorcerer? Why did he take him to the druids, men who could asasinate him in his sleep, begging them to save his life?
Because you love Merlin. Because you don't think he is evil. Because you knew him better than you knew yourself and you always felt like there was a part of him he refused to speak about. Because you shared a bed with him. Because you told each other multiple times that you love each other. Because no matter what, you will always trust his word first.
He reluctantly passed Merlin to the druids and tried to ignore the other man's painful moans. The druid who appeared in front of his horse looked at him and signed him to follow him. Arthur tied his horse to a tree and followed the Druid into the camp.
"I must ask, King Arthur, why did you save him, when you knew he's a sorcerer?", the Druid asked.
"How did you-"
"Know about him being a sorcerer and you knowing about his true nature? Well, he happens to be the greatest sorcerer ever to walk this earth and we can communicate in our heads. We heard his voice, telling us that him and the King of Camelot were approaching the camp. We thought at first that they were attacking us, but then he told us that he's hurt and that the King knows and that he's taking him to the druid camp in hope for help. He begged us not to tell you about-", the druid stopped and looked away.
"Tell me about what?", Arthur asked, looking at him suddenly curious.
"I cannot say, my lord", the Druid told him, wearing an apologetic look.
Arthur sighed and let it go, hoping that the Druid would change his mind soon. He thought about his words. Merlin, the greatest sorcerer ever to walk the earth? It wasn't a small part Merlin was hiding from him, but a big one.
"How long will it take to heal him?", Arthur asked, looking in the direction of the Druids who were carrying Merlin.
The druid looked at him and responded with honesty, "It might take a couple of days. You can return to Camelot, your people might think you died. We'll take care of Merlin and when he's healed, we'll send him back to Camelot with one of our horses".
Arthur suddenly looked terrified at the idea of leaving Merlin. He was going to stay at his side, just in case anything happened. He shook his head violently and cleared his throat.
"I'm staying until he gets better.", he said and the Druid smiled.
Arthur followed him inside a small house, where a bed was already prepared. He sat on the bed and sighed, looking at his bloody hands and clothes, stained my Merlin's wounds. The druid started to leave, when Arthur gathered up the courage to ask him the question that was nagging him ever since he discovered Merlin's magic.
"Do you know anything about Merlin and his magic? You said that he's the greatest sorcerer ever to walk the earth, so your kind probably knows about him", Arthur said, swallowing his saliva hard.
"I do know more about your...friend's...magic. Meet me at the lake next morning, my wife will take you there", the druid said, and with that he left Arthur with his own thoughts.
***
The druid didn't know everything, but he told Arthur enough to get him to make a decision. He returned to the small house and spent the next twp days there, thinking about Merlin, his lies and his motives. He tried putting himself in his shoes and realized that Merlin must have been scared all of his life. Scared that he might discovered, scared of his own powers.
But things had to change. It was a decision that required time, but it was achievable. He was going to lift the ban on magic.
"My lord, Merlin is awake", a Druid woman told him, giving him a slight smile. "He might be a little jumpy, but give him time."
Arthur ran to Merlin like his life depended on it. He stepped into the small house and he looked at Merlin, who was laying in the bed, awake, looking to his right, away from him. He didn't seem to notice Arthur, so the blonde sat next to him, on his left.
"What are you looking at?", Arthur asked curiously, and Merlin jumped, turning his head to him.
His eyes grew wide with fear and he pushed himself backwards, almost falling off the bed. Arthur lunged forwards and caught him just in time. He pulled him back on the bed and Merlin forced himself out of Arthur's grasp.
"It's alright, it's just me, Arthur", he said, smiling a little.
"Are you gonna kill me?", Merlin asked right away, making Arthur frown.
His heart shattered to pieces when he heard him.
"No, of course not. Why would I kill you?"
"I used magic, Arthur, and that's against the law", Merlin said and cleared his throat.
Arthur noticed that Merlin was shivering, even though it was the middle of the spring. He was not fully healed. He covered him better with the blanket and kissed his forehead. Merlin closed his eyes slowly and leaned into his touch, his lips.
"I'm the king, I can bend the rules", Arthur said smirking and Merlin snorted, smiling a little.
Arthur sat next to him on the bed and pulled him in his arms. His body was cold as ice and he didn't think he wanted to know why. He kissed Merlin's head and then his lips. Merlin smiled a little more and closed his eyes.
"I'm never gonna hurt you, I swear to you. In fact, quite the opposite", Arthur confessed at last, stroking his hair.
"What do you mean?", Merlin asked, his voice tired.
Merlin moved his head and looked at Arthur. The blonde kissed him and then he took off the ring he was holding around his neck on a string. He showed it to Merlin, took his hand gently and placed the ring in the palm of his hand.
"This is my way of assuring you that I will always protect you. Also, it's my way of asking you to marry me", Arthur said, blushing slightly.
Merlin widened his eyes and struggled on his words.
"Marry you? But, but, I'm a sorcerer. And I'm a peasant. AND I'm a servant. I'm not fit for the royal family", he argued, stuttering.
Arthur snorted, "Trust me, a few lessons from Morgana and we'll make a king out of you. You're a quick learner".
Merlin tried to imagine the lessons with Morgana and frankly, he preferred the pyre. Alright, maybe he was exaggerating, but nonetheless, Morgana was scary and she wouldn't leave him alone until he was perfect.
"Arthur, if I was also a royal, I would say yes, but I'm just a peasant", Merlin said, looking away, "I feel like I would be taking advantage of you and I hate that feeling".
Arthur made Merlin look at him and cupped his face in his hands, "You don't and I promise you that you'll do a great king. Yes, you'll have to work on your character, but you'll see that it's not that hard. Just marry me, please".
Merlin thought about his future with Arthur. It was bright and beautiful and he wasn't going to throw his happiness off the window. He nodded and put the ring on his finger. Arthur smiled brightly and kissed him. Merlin smiled and kissed him back, rolling them on the bed.
The pain in his back and stomach made him hiss, but the pain could wait, because he had Arthur in his arms and he never wanted to let him go.