Title: The Taste of Ash
Rating: PG-13
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur
Summary: Merlin has to watch another innocent burn.
Warnings: none

The taste lingered.

Another innocent who'd not escaped Uther's madness, screaming on the pyre, burning, melting, then awful silence. Merlin wanted to vomit, to cover the flavor of burnt meat and despair on his tongue, but instead, Arthur's hard grip held him captive.

A moment later, released, Merlin was free to scurry away, to wash his mouth with bitter herbs and guilt. He should've found a way to help, but too much of a coward, he'd stood there, watching.

Tomorrow, next week, next month, there would be more fires. More meat roasting, more ash on the wind.

The taste lingered.