Chapter Text
Uther, Bedchambers
Uther sighed. He had just gotten done having a conversation with Morgana, who reacted quite negatively towards the execution.
"Why doesn't she understand that everything I'm doing is to protect Arthur? To protect her! Magic is evil and only I can keep them safe." Uther thought, annoyed as he picked up his cup of wine.
"Hopefully she calms down soon and sees reason." Uther took the last sip of his wine and placed the cup on the table.
But before Uther could think anything else, he suddenly fell asleep.
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Arthur, Outside
Arthur chuckled as he made his way to the training grounds.
"I wonder how he'll hold up." Arthur thought as he glanced to the servant beside him. The boy— Arthur didn't bother to ask him his name— was assigned as his servant today.
"I doubt he'll even last a week." Arthur thought, a grin pulling at his lips.
"Might as well make it fun for myself." He thought as began to plan on what to do to the boy.
Luckily for the servant, Arthur was soon on the ground sleeping.
Said servant stared at Arthur's unmoving body. "Should I... get someone?"
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Morgana, Bedchambers
She paced around her room, feeling nothing but anger and disgust.
"I can never understand how he could do something like that. How he can be so cruel and not care about the pain that he causes. Why does he hate magic so much? He's just giving himself more enemies! More enemies for Arthur and for Camelot!"
Morgana sighed before walking over to her bed and sitting down.
"I promise myself I won't ever turn out like him."
Was the last thought she had before suddenly falling asleep.
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Hunith, Hut
She sat on the edge of her bed, not moving.
She knew it was for the best to send her precious boy away but she has no idea what to do with herself now that he's gone.
She's spent all her life keeping him safe.
It just made her sad that she had to send him away to do so.
"Is he going to be alright? Hes never ventured anywhere beyond our village. Camelot is sure to be large, bustling with people." Hunith thought.
Her eyes then widened. She had a thought that didn't occur to her before Merlin left. "What if someone is rude to him? Or hurting someone else. I know my boy will act rash. He'll snark back. Uncaring of the consequences. But what if he offends someone powerful? What would they do to him?"
She shook her head, "Gaius will keep him safe... won't he? Yes, yes he will. Gaius would never let Merlin get hurt."
Hunith sighed. "I pray to the God's above that he won't be discovered. Maybe if I—"
Hunith's anxious thoughts were cut off by her slumping backward against her bed.
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Balinor, Forest
He grumbled a bit as he tried to start a fire.
"If only I could be with her right now."
Despite himself, Balinor could never stop thinking about her.
He thought of the way her eyes light up when he would bring home gifts. The way her cheeks pulled into a smile.
He thought of her laughter and her warm presence. How she would giggle if he told a bad joke or looked at him amused when he tried— and failed— to cook.
He wondered how she aged.
She was gorgeous when he left and he had no doubt that any age lines she acquired only made her more beautiful.
If he had stayed, what would have happened?
"Would they have been properly married? Would they have kids running around? Boys and girls filling up their house? What was the name she liked?"
Balinor frowned as he thought back to the late nights, when the two of them were cuddled in bed. His eyes lit up when he finally remembered. "Merlin! She said she loved the name Merlin. I remember laughing because it was a name I had never heard before."
Balinor chuckled. "Instead of being angry at my laughing, she asked what I would name our child. I told her I wanted Elora for a girl. Could we have had that? Little Merlin and Elora running around."
Balinor shook his head. "No, If I had stayed Uther would have found me. Would have cut me down and her along with me. I'm grateful to have no children, they will never have to know the pain of fearing for their life. Fearing Uther."
His melancholy thoughts turned to anger.
"Uther."
The person who had brought him so much pain. Who ruined his life.
"If only Uther was dead. If that man had his head on a pike then—"
Balinor's grim thoughts stopped as he sagged and started to snore.
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Gaius and Merlin, Physician's Quarters
"Are you lying to me, boy?" Gaius asked with a glare. "Who is this boy? Why is he here? And more importantly, why is he a practitioner of magic?"
Before he could say anything else, he suddenly slumped to the floor.
"Gaius!" Merlin said, alarmed as he rushed to the old man. He may not know him well but he already cared for him.
Before Merlin could throughly check over Gaius or even try and wake him up, he too fell asleep.
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Gwen, Servant Chambers
Gwen smiled at another servant as she began to tie an apron around her waist.
"I hope Morgana is doing well this morning. I know how much she hates executions... Maybe I should bring her something?"
Gwen took a few steps only to black out. The servants around her rushed towards her limp body, all of them panicked.
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Elyan, Smithy
He was in the process of working on a sword, slamming the hammer down to make the shape of the blade, when he suddenly felt tired.
He put the hammer down and shook his head, hoping for the tiredness to go away.
"Everything alright?" A voice, similar to his own, asked.
Elyan turned to see his father.
He gave a small nod, "Yes. I'm fin—"
Tom rushed forward to catch his son. "Elyan? Elyan!" He called when his son refused to wake.
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Lancelot, Remote Village
He shifted on the bed he was laying in.
He didn't have much coin on him so he was glad the innkeeper let him stay.
"I bet knights never have to deal with this."
But then Lancelot shook his head. "I shouldn't think about that. I'll never get to their standing. It will forever be a dream."
Lancelot didn't think it was weird when his eyes slowly closed, he's had an exhausting day after all.
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Percival, Leon, Training Grounds
The two were at the training grounds, leaning up against each other. They had just gotten done sparring so no one batted an eye when their bodies relaxed and their eyes closed.
Everyone else had just assumed that the two were tired.
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Gwaine, Tavern
He laughed as he got shoved out the tavern.
"I'll be back tonight darling!" He shouted with a wink.
He was flirting with a young lady— very close to taking her to bed— when a guy came up to him, looking upset.
Gwaine just assumed the old guy was upset he had taken the young woman away before he could flirt with her and hope to relive his youth.
So he told the old man to go away and when he didn't, he called him a "balding pile of horse shit" (and among a few other insults.)
But apparently, that old guy was the owner of the tavern— How was he suppose to know that?— and the young lady he was flirting with was his daughter— Honestly, those two need to work on their introductions.
Gwaine huffed, "Let's fine another place."
He took one step and immediately face planted into the ground.
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Mordred, Druid Camp
He was sitting near the fire, his father next to him, when he felt something. It was prickling underneath his skin.
Something told him that he would need to lay down for whatever was going to happen.
"Dad?" The boy waited for a hum of acknowledgement. Once he got one, he continued. "I'm going to lay down."
His father turned to stare at him. He seemed to search for something before nodding. "Rest well, I'll be here when you wake."
Mordred nodded and went towards his designated sleeping spot.
Soon, his eyes were closed.
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