Dragon Hearts

A senseless quarrel

The most momentous decision in Merlin's life was made without thinking. In the blink of an eye he let his magic lash out at their attackers. The five ragged men were thrown against the nearest wall of the ancient castle ruins with horrible ferocity. Their breaking bones made a sickening sound while their swords and knifes clattered to the rocky ground. Suddenly it was very quiet.

Arthur still was where three of the attackers had pinned him down with their swords at this throat and back. Obviously shocked he stared at his companion. Merlin stared back, unmoving. The moment of truth Merlin had hoped for as well as been afraid of for more than two years held the two of them frozen in time for a very long second.

Finally Arthur pulled himself on his feet and took up his discarded sword. Merlin tensed and recoiled from him, if only a step or two. Wary of the weapon he watched Pendragon's hands until the Prince looked up and met the warlock's gaze. "So that's why you never told me. You really think that the moment I know you have magic I will take up my sword and kill you. You really think that of me." While he kept his voice even, his face betrayed him. Insult, anger and loss were plain. Actually he had never been as good at hiding his emotions as he thought he was. He sheathed his blade and turned away from Merlin. "You know" he continued over his shoulder "I am not as stupid as you think. I had some close calls too many in the last two years. I know I am not alive on natural causes alone. When I heard you talk to the Great Dragon who didn't call you 'young warlock' for nothing I had all the confirmation I needed. So I waited. I waited for you to come to me and talk to me, but no." The strong and slender hands, usually so purposeful, fumbled uselessly with the horse's bridle.

Haltingly Merlin went forward to close the gap between them. "Arthur, I….You must understand ….." The Prince jerked around as if to attack the younger man. "Oh, but I do understand. I understand perfectly. I am not your master and I am most definitely not your friend. And I never will be. I am not to be trusted. After all I am just a hare-brained puppy that forever and a day will do what Daddy says, without ever having a thought of his own, let alone an opinion. I am just the stupid brat whose arse you save from time to time. Tell me mighty warlock, is it rewarding to shuffle behind me when I play the powerful warrior while you know all the time that you could have me completely at your mercy? That you could end my life with a minor gesture of your little finger?"

Merlin was aghast at the very idea. He felt his face grow hot with anger. "You think I laugh at you? That I feel superior and have my fun at your expense? For how long…" When Arthur turned once more to the horse the enraged magician forced him to turn back. "For how long have you been thinking I laugh at you behind your back? When we were out hunting together? When we bantered and laughed together? When you taught me how to handle a weapon? Was that all a lie?" "It was you who lied to me! Every time you played the clumsy idiot, you lied to me. Every time you let me make a big show of myself, pulling you out of tight spots with my sword skills you lied to me. You have been lying to me for more than two years!" Both breathless now they stared at each other. Then, with an abrupt movement that almost ended with a kick into Merlin's face the Prince mounted his horse and took up the bridle. "Anyway, it doesn't matter any more. As of today you are relieved of all duties as my servant. You will come back to Camelot with me and after a week or so we will make up a pretext that will satisfy my father. You will go back to Ealdor and then you will simply forget to come back." Merlin felt real fear well up inside him. This wasn't going very well. "Arthur, it's not that simple. Not even you can ignore that I had to fear for my life every day since I first met you. You know your father would have me executed if he ever found out about me having magic!"

"My father, yes. Now, here's news for you, magician. I am not my father! And now leave me alone, for heaven's sake." The Prince spurred his horse into a gallop towards home. The young warlock gazed after his friend until he disappeared in the forest, hoping that he would turn back. Much later he sadly collected their camping gear and the hunting weapons Arthur had left behind. He didn't touch the bodies, though. There was no doubt that King Uther would want to examine them for hints at a possible deeper motive behind their unlikely attack on the heir to Camelot's Crown that near to the Royal Castle. He packed the stuff on his horse and made out for home himself. On the ride he fleetingly cogitated since when associated Camelot Castle with the word 'home'. As assumed he met the soldiers who came to collect the bodies a few minutes after he had left the ruins. They passed him by without a word but with some curious looks.