Chapter 1
Aredian's smile is venomous, bordering on a sneer and Arthur takes a step back, appalled at the suggestion that has just been made.
"Think about it," the witchfinder spreads his arms, "I'll never bother you or your dear little sorcerer again. Just once and then I'll be on my way."
"No." Arthur's voice shakes and he swallows hard, refusing to let Aredian see how weak this is making him.
"Alright then. Tomorrow, the sorcerer shall be convicted and I shall make sure he burns at the stakes. If you change your mind, you know where to find me," Aredian turns around to leave.
"You're wrong." Arthur says, confident for once. "You're never going to be able to prove that Merlin is a sorcerer. He's gonna be safe, I myself shall make sure of it."
"That remains to be seen, princeling."
The witchfinder's steps echo through the empty hallway.
Arthur leans his head against the wall and looks up at the ceiling lit by the morning sun. His eyes slide themselves shut and he tries to wrap his head around the fact that Merlin, his very own manservant, has magic.
Arthur knows he should be angry, upset. He should be confronting Merlin right this very second, asking him why he's lied to Arthur for so many months. He can't be angry right now. Not when his manservant's life is on the line. Merlin may be an idiot and may have lied to him about having magic but Arthur knows he doesn't deserve to die. He's the most beautiful soul Arthur has met and regardless of his loud mouth and pratty ways, Arthur knows that he can't let him die.
That day, Arthur's hands don't stop shaking. Not when he's training with the rest of the knights, not when he drops the tumbler of water to the ground during lunch, nor when he's writing the speech in the evening.
Arthur has to stop Aredian. He can do it, after all. He can let Aredian take what he wants from him and no one will know. And yet, the nagging voice at the back of his mind asks him What if Merlin finds out? What if he thinks I'm disgusting?
Merlin and the knights laugh at him the first time his hands shake during training. Arthur pays them no heed. He focuses on breathing and not angrily blurting something stupid. Merlin has the nerve to laugh at him despite being the object of his worry, despite having hidden his magic from Arthur for so long.
Then he thinks about Aredian's condition. Finding out Merlin has magic was a slap to the face but Arthur knows that the idiot sorcerer is incapable of wearing his own breeches right, let alone killing someone. He deserves to be saved.
The moonlight is dancing across the floorboards, flooding in from the window and Arthur watches it intently, his mind devoid of thoughts for once. He doesn't touch the food in front of him.
"Stop playing with your food, you clotpole."
Arthur doesn't find it in himself to reply to the insult. He pushes away the plate and stands up. Ignoring Merlin's worried look, and steps behind the changing screen. His sleep tunic goes safely over his head without assistance. Merlin raises an eyebrow at him from where he's clearing the dinner table.
"Out with it." Merlin isn't looking at him but his tone is commanding, insistent.
"What?"
"Something's bothering you, isn't it? What is it?"
Leave it to the sorcerer to try to be a smartarse.
"I'm fine."
"No."
"I'm just tired, Merlin. I need rest and you're not exactly helping me do that by prattling on with your nonsense."
Merlin gives him one last long look. "You'll tell me if you need anything? Is this about the witchfinder?" He still sounds so unsure, so wrong footed and Arthur feels guilt tug at him.
"No." He grits his teeth, "It's about nothing."
"Right." Merlin's tone is clipped. Arthur swallows against the urge to come clean. Merlin has hidden his secret from him for so long, Arthur shouldn't be feeling guilty about his.
After Merlin retires to Gaius' rooms for the night, Arthur makes up his mind. He'll give Aredian what he wants.
---
"Come in," Aredian's gravely voice sounds from inside his personal chambers.
The scent of burnt paper fills his nose and Arthur has to blink through the smoke, waving his arms before his face to see his surroundings. The smoke clears after Aredian opens the windows.
"Ah, Prince Arthur. And here I was thinking you weren't going to accept my offer."
Arthur took a deep breath. "I'm here," he says simply. If he wants to make sure Aredian trusts him completely, Arthur has to do everything he says first.
Aredian nods slowly as he sets the strange equipment in his hand down. "Alright then. Take off your clothes and lie face down on the bed."
Arthur's heart has begun to thud in his chest, adrenaline filling his veins.
