Metanoia

"It Was As If Nothing Happened"

Arthur

Merlin huffed dramatically as he entered my chambers.
"You alright?"
"I'm tense."
He seemed to fume that emotion off persistently lately.
My eyebrows furrowed when I turned to see Merlin. A quill along with ink and a rolled document were in his grasp. Maintaining a composed posture, I let my mouth open in slight amusement. "Planning to write a book?"
Merlin cocked an eyebrow with a playful smirk. "Yes; and you and I are the main characters." His lips continued to ramble off excessive information as I quietly laughed at his dedication to the joke.
"I was planning to take a stroll. You're joining, I suppose?" I cut him off suddenly, tilting my head to witness his reaction.
Merlin bit his cheek, eyes dancing about my chambers, giving a soft shake of the head. His lips twitched, as a grimace then washed over his face for a quick second, before returning to his former expression. Merlin lifted his eyes to face mine. "I need you to come with me."
I raised a brow. "Where?"
"I can't tell you."
Rolling my eyes, I readjusted my jacket with aggravated ease, thinking of a retort to his answer. "Am I supposed to be a distraction while you do something crazy with that addled mind of yours?"
"Precisely." Nonchalantly glancing to the doorway for unexpected visitors, a incoherent sigh of what seemed to be relief blew from his mouth, as he then looked back with a grave gaze.
My smile lowered upon seeing the expression. "Oh gods, Merlin; what are you up to?"
A grin was now planted on his face. "You'll see."
Biting my lip, I watched as he began to stride to the door, gripping delicately on to the objects he held discreetly. "You know I'm getting real tired of your vague answers, Merlin!" I yelled to him once he exited the room. A crisp, wholehearted laugh escaped Merlin's lips from outside the door. The sound was euphoria to my ears. Exhaling loudly, I tripped to the entrance of my chambers, soon following him.

_________________

"You still haven't told me what we're doing here, Merlin."
Merlin waved me away, turning his face to concentrate on the multiple pieces of parchment below him. Lacing his brows, he then picked them up.
I rolled my eyes. "Merlin-"
"Here." A stack of papers and scrolls were tossed into my arms.
I leaned in to several different positions to make sure none were to fall to the floor. With a bewildered expression plastered on my face, I eyed him warily. "Merlin; what on earth-"
"Go through them," he spoke calmly, cutting me off once again. Merlin's a madman.
"Why?"
Merlin sifted through several papers, his eyes cautiously skimming over the pages with an attentive gaze. "Search for a document with the name 'Royal Taxes' on it," he replied, avoiding my previous question.
I released a sigh, deciding not to argue with him. I, too, interchanged papers with Merlin, as we both checked over for the same title. Long, silent moments passed, as Merlin and I were on the floor in a room going through documents. Merlin had shooed the guards away, telling them to keep an oath of secrecy to our entrance. I had questioned the entire thing, ofcourse. I still am.
"Found it," Merlin suddenly breathed, pulling a worn page of parchment up in the air for my view. Then, in a nonchalant fashion, he stuffed it in his jacket, soon patting the clothing down to remove any blemishes noticeable.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't just see you steal an important document," I commented, speechless on his act of deviance.
"That's because we're going to switch it," Merlin's reply came, pulling out another paper. "Quill and ink?"
Reaching behind me, I took the items that Merlin had placed on the floor into my grip, then handing them over to him. I watched silently as Merlin guided the inked quill to the new document, scribbling his signature with shaking hands.
"What's the document establish?" I questioned, raising my head slightly to see him fill in blank spaces with fresh ink.
"All royal taxes will be discontinued due to our movement towards a democracy."
I widened my eyes. "You're keen on making this become true."
Merlin silently nodded, heaving an accomplished breath, handing the quill and ink to me. Then, sliding the paper in front of my hand, he gestured to it. "Sign it."
Whipping my face to meet his, I gave him a perplexed look. "Merlin-"
"C'mon; it looks unprofessional with only one signature," he joked in reply, biting his lip in wanted approval.
"Merlin."
A quiet moment passed through the room, as the tension in the air grew thickly. Then, clearing his throat to speak, Merlin twiddled his thumbs anxiously, staring in my eyes intently. "The council wouldn't ratify the suggestion."
My brows laced. "And you think by doing this that it will cause a new law to be affirmed?"
Merlin's eyes left mine, cracking an awkward smile on his face. "I'm the King. Technically I'm allowed to do this..." His voice trailed off, eyes gazing to the strewn papers on the floor as a temporary distraction.
I shook my head in disbelief. "You are actually insane."
Exchanging a chuckle with him, I then ended the scene with a smile, straining my eyes on the new document, then deciding to write my name on the bottom. Dropping the quill, I blew the words over with escaped air. "Done."
Merlin's face washed over with a broad smile. "Thanks-"
"Now that I did something for you, you'll have to repay the favor."
His eyes squinted, a grimace now on his features. "What is it?" he questioned softly, moving about to gather the array of documents along with the new one into a neat stack.
"My father knew I was attached to you," I started, shifting to try to meet his gaze. "Why did he attack you?"
Merlin paused, hunching solemnly from the memories. Eventually his lips cracked to speak. "He thought I was the blame to your death," came his soft reply. Then blowing a distraught exhale, he shook his head, unable to deny the truth. "And he was right."
"Merlin; you don't remember what went down," I countered with sympathy.
His eyes met mine, a glossed coat of tears covering his orbs. "You're right. But I know you and I were very close. And if I somehow let you die without me coming with you, then I messed up." Giving a pained sniff, Merlin wiped his eyes lazily, standing up with the recently formed stack of papers, placing them back in their original positions.
It was as if nothing happened.
My head suddenly whipped about. "Merlin!" I called. Rushing after him, I left the quill and ink in the dust, continuing to trudge after the man.
"Why are you following me?" Merlin spoke in a sharp tone, the question rhetorical. His feet sped faster than before, dodging in and out of hallways and people, trying to loose his trail to my sight. I wasn't stupid, though. Although Merlin was agile, people would move aside for their King—me included.
Time passed, and eventually I found myself face fresh air. Hitting the entrance to the nearby forest, Merlin suddenly stopped, giving a flustered huff. He turned, a flushed face tracked with dried tears now in my view.
Blinking slowly, I sighed with fatigue. "Tell me what's going on."
He shook his head.
Throwing my hands up in exasperation, I gave him a pointed look, shock written on my face. "Merlin, you can avoid it, but you can't deny it. What's so terrible that you can't tell me of?"
Merlin was silent. After a long moment, he eventually decided to stride over to me with an emotionless gaze. I then felt my body tense up in sudden heat as Merlin's hand grazed against mine. It was gentle—an invitation. My breaths fell irregular, as I strained to keep focus. Gripping his hand, I let him take charge. "Show me," I croaked.
He then turned without a word, beginning to maneuver us both through the grove.
"I'm sorry I didn't show you this earlier," Merlin mumbled after a few minutes of silent walking, guiding me throughout the depths of the forest. The air was crisp; and combined with the newly formed petrichor along with Merlin's warmth made it complete bliss.
Eventually, the two of us made it to a gigantic clearing. My eyes popped from their sockets, an expression of pure surprise, exhilaration, and fear etched onto my face.
"Merlin..."
He continued to guide me, his hand clamping to mine with anxious sweat. I stopped breathing once Merlin stood by me, stopping in front of what was the most petrifying thing I've ever had the courtesy of witnessing. I gazed queasily as two large eyes met mine. The sight was beautiful in an utterly terrifying way. I was glued to my spot, paralyzed by the foreigner's presence. A sharp intake of gold hit my vision like a stone wall; the color of onyx black a major contrast against the other hue.
For there, staring at me with an vehement gaze, was a dragon.

A/N: Hello everybody! If y'all have enjoyed this book so far, a vote or comment would mean a lot! Thanks! Bye!