Connecting the dots

Switched

With that, they left the confused audiences. The celebrations stuck in their throat. Arthur as well knew that the sudden appearance of Morgana would cause a panic.
Though it would be difficult to explain why he had chained Merlin as well.

"I don't understand. Did something happen, while I was in that cave? Did an impostor appear?
The evil witch? Merlin, you need to tell me?"

Merlin scoffed at her.
"Your soul has turned years ago, Morgana. I'm not going to listen to your lies."

"Why, because you poisoned me?", Morgana asked incredulous. Still disbelieve in her eyes. Merlin? Poisoning her? No way. But Merlin flinched at that.
Clearly he believed it to be true.

"If you truly believe that I'm evil. Why am I alive then? The prophecy states that you will be my doom. Is this it? What are you waiting for?"

Merlin turned at her curiosity. "You feel – different.", he admitted cautiously. Morgana shot him a small smile. "That means you won't kill me just yet?", she asked, eyes flashing with relief.
"If Arthur doesn't kill us first?", Merlin said, but it didn't sound like a confirmation.
Morgana's smile died on her features.

"He won't. If you talk to him. He listens to you. He always does. You are his best friend after all.", she assured. Causing Merlin to look at her, still in suspicion.

Arthur was watching them. And he recognized that look on Merlin's face.
It was the same he shot Mordred most of the time. One that said that he wanted to trust him or Morgana in this case. But he couldn't.

Arthur himself however, he was panicking. And the worst was, he just showed that to the people. He had promised them to make "Emrys" court sorcerer, but as soon as he had used magic to attack Morgana, Arthur had seized him.
He didn't recognize him. This couldn't be Merlin? Or was it? Because apparently he had tried to protect him. Which was just such a Merlin thing to do.
And Morgana? Morgana looked like the girl he knew. She sounded like the girl he knew, but she couldn't be. She should be evil, but somehow she didn't seem the part.

Morgana was scared. Morgana was not supposed to be scared for gods sake!

All this seemed so wrong. There must be some kind of explanation! Just what happened in that cave? What even WAS this cave?

"Sire.", a voice jolted Arthur from his watch post.
Leon was riding next to him, face held high with a stern expression. "I don't think this is the Morgana we know.", he said, barely looking at Arthur as he looked ahead.

Arthur gritted his teeth. "I think she's trying to trick us."

Leon shook his head. "No. I don't think so. The trick would be too obvious. Morgana isn't stupid. I think it must have to do with the cave."

Arthur nodded with relief. "Right, they were both in the cave after all." He kept nodding, as if to reassure himself, but Leon just sighed.
"No. The cave wouldn't have the same effect on Merlin. This is our Merlin."
With that cryptic answer he rode ahead. Baffled, Arthur kicked his horse to catch up with him.

"What are you talking about? This – this Merlin has magic! There is no way he -"

Leon turned his scarred face to Arthur. And for the split of a second he considered if this was Leon at all. Just this morning he had considered asking Leon about his newly appeared old scar. Who was this man?

"Gwaine's game is far more than a game, Sire. He IS connecting the dots.
But Gwaine is also setting the dots in the first place. What he says and does becomes real. Though I'm not sure what rules his prophecies follow, because there are some things that haven't come true or were proven wrong.", Leon carefully started, honesty in his eyes, as Arthur's face crunched at the bare mention of Gwaine.