When Arthur Finds Out
No spoilers here. Just my speculation.
Here’s a scenario I’d like to see on Merlin when Arthur finds out that Merlin has magic.
The knights of Camelot, Lancelot, Arthur, and Merlin are away from Camelot, fighting a small army or maybe magical creatures. The knights are losing and Merlin knows he can save them all if he uses magic. Similar situation to that episode about his hometown. Problem is, he’ll definitely expose himself. But Merlin can’t let everyone die so he uses magic, defeats the bad guys, and saves everyone.
Everybody saw it. Everybody is stunned.
Arthur orders two knights to grab Merlin and bring him to Arthur.
“All this time, Merlin?” Arthur says.
Merlin looks at him and nods. “Yes.”
Arthur takes a step back, rubs his hand across his face. “I thought I knew you. I trusted you.”
Merlin doesn’t say anything for a moment and then: “Arthur, look, I’m sorry. I couldn’t tell you.”
Lancelot hangs back, watches both Merlin and Arthur carefully.
“Merlin, all that time,” Arthur answers. “You were in the castle. Close to Father. Close to me. And…”
“And what?”
“I don’t know. What were you doing?”
Merlin stands up straight. “Serving you.”
“Using magic.”
Merlin sighs. “Yes, when I had to so that I could help you. To protect Camelot.”
Arthur shakes his head once and steadies his voice. “You can never return to Camelot.”
“What?” Merlin tries to step closer to Arthur but the knights hold him back.
“The king will have you executed if you do.”
“Arthur–”
“No.”
Lancelot steps in. “Arthur, Merlin just saved all of our lives.”
“With magic.”
“Yes, with magic. He’s a brave man. He knew what you’d think but he did the right thing. And you’re going to punish him for it?”
But Arthur won’t listen. He orders the knights to ride back to Camelot. He tells Merlin not to follow them.
Then Merlin is in exile for a few episodes until he hears about some attack on Camelot and he has to go back to protect the castle. After Camelot is safe, Uther orders Merlin’s execution. Uther questions Gaius to find out if he was helping Merlin keep his secret. Arthur doesn’t say anything in public.
Then it’s up to Arthur to save Merlin, to convince Uther that Merlin did nothing wrong. If Arthur can get over the way Merlin lied to him over the years.
—–
However the show deals with Arthur finding out, I want it to last a few episodes. We’ve seen the measures Uther takes to forbid magic in his kingdom. We’ve seen Arthur question Uther and evaluate the pros and cons of magic. All the while, we’ve seen a friendship between Arthur and Merlin that grows stronger. When Arthur finds out that Merlin has magic, they will have a messy problem. I don’t want to see it tidied up nice and neat in one hour.