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Heavy is the Crown (Harry Potter) Chapter 2: Dreamscape
🕑 Added 2025-04-09 21:00:07 +0000 UTC[Third Person's PoV]
Later into the Night…
“What a shameful display…” Merlin muttered to herself. “I let his emotions overpower me,” she continued as she prepared for bed.
'It's been a while since I used Legilimency. I was worried he didn't have any emotions left, considering how he was handling his family's death,' Merlin thought to herself.
She snapped her fingers, extinguishing the candles around her. Just as she was about to settle in, a shy knock echoed from her door.
“Come in…” Merlin called out, a bewildered expression on her face.
As the door creaked open, Arthur stood hesitantly in the doorway, looking both shy and embarrassed. He was dressed in striped white and blue pajamas, complete with a nightcap that had a cotton ball at the tip. In his arms, he held Cosmo, gazing down at the floor.
Merlin's lips curled into an amused smile as she took in the sight. “May I help you?” she asked, her tone gentle.
“I, uh, um… Cosmo didn’t want to sleep alone with just me tonight,” he mumbled, his face turning a shade of red in the moonlight streaming through the window.
Merlin chuckled softly, the sound light and teasing. She patted the bed beside her, signaling for him to join her.
Arthur bashfully approached and climbed into bed. Merlin pulled the sheets over him, offering a warm, “Good night.”
“Good night,” Arthur whispered in return.
A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by Arthur's soft murmur. “Thank you, Merlin…”
Merlin smiled, running her fingers gently through his blond hair. “Just go to sleep. We’ll discuss what to do going forward tomorrow.”
Arthur hummed in agreement, his exhaustion catching up with him. With a full stomach, the comfort of a real bed, and no fear of imminent danger, he drifted off to sleep quickly.
Merlin remained awake, watching over him with a look of concern. 'I need to see how bad it is… If the damage is too severe, I may have to seal his memories until he can handle the trauma.' Her violet eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, casting an ominous aura. She pressed her forehead to his and entered his dreams.
…
Merlin found herself in Arthur's dreamscape, her expression focused.
Standing on violet tiles, she snapped her fingers, raising her hands to the skies. A violet mist surged around her, converging overhead to form a blue book. As the mist was absorbed into the book, it descended into her hands with the title "Arthur's Memories."
Flipping through the pages, Merlin's eyes widened in astonishment. “These memories span far beyond 5 or 6 years… There’s so much more than a child should have. Could it be…”
Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind her. “Merlin?”
She turned to see Arthur standing there, hands in his pockets, looking at her with confusion.
“Arthur?” she called softly.
His gaze fell on the book in her hands, and he grimaced. “How much did you…”
“Enough,” Merlin said, closing the book. “I’ve seen enough.”
Arthur groaned, “I was afraid of that.”
“A reincarnator, huh? Aren't you just full of surprises,” Merlin teased with a smile.
“I must be the worst reincarnator ever, getting discovered so quickly,” Arthur muttered, exasperated.
Merlin simply smiled, saying nothing.
“You don’t seem surprised or… weirded out,” Arthur said, his embarrassment evident.
Merlin shrugged. “In a world of magic, anything is possible. Though I must admit, learning that this world is from a book… Harry Potter… is enough to give anyone an existential crisis.”
‘Well, that fully confirms the world I’m in,’ Arthur thought. “You don’t seem that affected by it,” he added.
Merlin scoffed, waving the book in front of her. “Oh please, like this little bit of knowledge is enough to send me into hysteria.”
“...”
A heavy silence settled between them, broken only by Merlin’s apologetic gaze. “I’m sorry for looking into your memories without your permission.”
Arthur offered a soft smile, shaking his head. “I know you had good reasons. You were probably worried about my mental state… but I’m alright, after all—”
Merlin interrupted him, her expression serious. “Just because you’re a few years older mentally doesn’t mean you don’t experience trauma. Even with your past life’s memories, you’re still a five-year-old child.”
Arthur looked down, a sad smile forming on his lips as he bit them to keep from quivering. “This is probably something you’re going to hear a lot from me, but thank you…”
Merlin nodded, leaving the book floating in the air. Noticing Arthur’s gaze, she sighed and conjured a white metal staff with a blue, circular top. She tapped it on the ground, and the scenery around them shifted.
Grass sprouted beneath them, and suddenly they were in a glowing meadow. A flowing river sparkled under the shining sun, with butterflies flitting around. They found themselves on a hilltop beneath a large tree providing shade.
Merlin smiled at Arthur’s astonished expression and sat down in the shade. She patted the ground beside her, inviting him to sit.
As Arthur settled beside her, he began to ask, “Am I related to him? Am I him? Was our meeting meant to be? I didn’t just find you by coincidence, did I?” His questions spilled out in rapid succession.
Merlin closed her eyes and asked, “Who are you referring to?”
Arthur paused, staring at her before laying sprawled on the grass. “King Arthur… Am I related to King Arthur? The King of Camelot? At first, I thought my parents just loved the story and named me after him since they named my little sister Morgana. But now, meeting you… I’m questioning everything!” He stood, looking at Merlin for answers. “In the legend of King Arthur, it was prophesied that he would return when Britain needed him most. Is that what I am? His return?”
Someone with Arthur’s memories, upon discovering they might be King Arthur, would likely be thrilled. Who wouldn’t want to be a king? Merlin, however, noted the fear in his eyes, despite his attempts to hide it. Inwardly, she smiled, though her expression grew serious.
Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “Let me ask you this: if I told you that you were, would you run from it? From your destiny to be king, once again? You know how it ended for him—killed by his own son, betrayed by his wife and best friend. He didn’t have a very good life. Knowing all this, what would you do with that knowledge? Would you try to avoid it, to escape another bad end?”
Arthur stared at the ground, deep in thought. After a moment, he closed his eyes and let out a sigh. “I wouldn’t… or rather, I couldn’t, could I?”
“What do you mean by that?” Merlin asked curiously.
“In situations like this… when someone tries to avoid or outsmart fate, fate tends to strike back even harder. I feel like a lot of innocent people would suffer because of my selfishness. So, no. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t run away if that’s truly my destiny. But,” he added with a determined look, “I would definitely aim to have a good life, one I can be proud of.”
"Hmm," Merlin hummed, impressed by Arthur's determination. "Well, it's a good thing you're merely his descendant and nothing more." She smiled.
"Oh, thank god!" Arthur said, placing a hand on his chest in relief. "But wait, I still met you, didn’t I? That couldn’t have just been a coincidence, could it?"
"It wasn’t," Merlin confirmed.
Arthur froze, anticipating her next words.
"If anyone from your specific lineage ever truly needed my help, they would know where to find me. The situation had to be a matter of life or death. In that forest, if you had stayed, you wouldn't have survived for long," Merlin said, her expression serious.
Arthur slumped onto the grass. "I see… Then I suppose I should be rather thankful."
"I suppose you should be," Merlin retorted, leaning back against the tree and closing her eyes.
‘Forgive me for lying to you, your Majesty,’ Merlin thought. ‘However, I believe you deserve a chance to be happy, even for a little while—a chance to experience an innocent childhood once again without the weight of the crown looming over your head.’
Comments
Bryan Vargas
What's worst is that he doesn't even hate them and understands why it came to that 😔
Morg535
I aways forget that poor king arthur got cucked by his best friend
