We found love in a hopeless place

[ayoungboy]

It's been 5 years since this whole nightmare began, and both sides had sustained incredible casualties. The whole of Europe was fairly decimated, but England was definitely the worst. Perhaps the worst of it all was the fact that Merlin didn't know if Arthur was dead or alive. Yes, he thought about him often. How stupid they'd both been. Merlin was willing to fight for what he believed in, but it hadn't been about him - it should have been about them, about working it out together. It should never have come to this.

He still wears the engagement ring on his finger. He's almost lost it once or twice, but it's still there - and he makes sure to take care of it and clean it, repair it. But that's not what this meeting it about; he's been selected to represent the magical community in the negotiations. All they wanted was their freedom back. Magic wasn't inherently evil; it was people that used it for nefarious purposes, people that mistreated it. They were willing to help put those people in jail. If only the non-magic users would understand.

They're meeting on what used to be Parliament, reduced to rubble, now. Merlin's fiddling with his hands, twisting the ring nervously. They've set up wards already; there are a few other magical delegates and guards there, but Merlin is to do the central talking. Still, there's only so much they can guard against, and if the non-magic users decide to attack…well, the magic users weren't going to be too keen on reopening negotiations after that.

Comments

[ayoungboy]

"We can help. We can help more than non-magical doctors. We have healers. We were willing to offer our services." Merlin shakes his head. "I have an entire camp on the east side of town full of teenagers, Arthur. Run from their homes for their magic. They just want to go home."

[royalpratness]

"Well, we don't want your help." Arthur narrows his eyes. "I have a camp full of orphans because their parents were slaughtered by your kind."

[ayoungboy]

"My - " Merlin takes a deep breath and stops himself. "We're all the same kind, Arthur. Contrary to popular belief, we're all human."

"They were killed as soldiers. If not, they were casualties of war, and I think we've already established that we want a court system to try the people responsible, magic and non-magic alike."

[royalpratness]

"I can't kill anybody with a flick of my wrist. We are not the same and we never will be." Arthur taps his fingers on the tabletop. "Yes, regardless, we'll need trials."

[ayoungboy]

"It's not that simple, Arthur. If you're going to negotiate, you have to remember that we're people." Merlin frowns. "…I thought you'd remember that."

[royalpratness]

"I used to think so too, until I saw what you're capable of."

[ayoungboy]

Now he's upset, and Merlin has to close his eyes for a second and breathe. His eyes are gold and he has to calm down and be reasonable. "People are capable of many things. You have to be willing to give, here, if we're going to accomplish anything. We have so much to offer. Please."

[royalpratness]

"I've already told you that the safety of my people is my main concern right now. And that means, keeping your kind away from them." He leans forward slightly. "I'm sorry, Merlin. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but this is the reality. We need to pull back and rebuild."

[ayoungboy]

"Stop saying that like we're animals." He has to duck his head. "We want to help."

[royalpratness]

"We don't want your help." Arthur knew from the very beginning that they wouldn't find much common ground here. "How about for now, we settle on the terms of the access to your resources in the city? That's quite urgent."

[ayoungboy]

"Then what do you want?" Merlin finally looks up at him. "Our resources. Otherwise, stay away? Segregate yourselves? Is that it?"

His thumb brushes over the ring again. "If we don't leave here today with acceptable negotiations, we're going to have an even bigger problem on our hands. There's a faction of dark magic users that are getting desperate. Kids that want to see their families are going to side with them in droves if they promise to get them home."

Merlin takes another deep breath and runs his fingers through his hair. "Look, you need to give me something to work with, Arthur. I can't just hand over resources without something to give the people in return."

[royalpratness]

"Then I strongly suggest that you keep these dark magic users under control, unless you want to start another war." Arthur grinds his teeth. "Yes, fine, I get that. What do you want in return? There isn't exactly much that we can offer." They've set up a large camp in the countryside, in London's outskirts. They have barely enough tents and other means of shelter to keep everyone safe and warm.

[ayoungboy]

"That's harder than you think." Merlin frowns. "Fine, just - how about this?"

He's focused on the ones that want to go home, that are tired of this whole war. And it's really a shame the non-magic users aren't willing to accept help - people will die for this stubbornness. Whatever medicine they have, treatments, is nothing compared to the healers, he's' sure. "I'll get a list of people who want to see their families, alright? If they're still alive. We can meet at middle ground, like we are here, neutral area."

"And while we may not be welcome on your land," Merlin says quietly. "You will be welcome on ours. If they don't wish to part, I won't be the one to force them to."

[royalpratness]

"Yes, that's acceptable." Arthur nods. "They should decide for themselves whether they want to stay with your people or find some other place to go."

[ayoungboy]

"I'd also like to request a published list of the dead and the living/missing." Merlin asks. "From both sides."

[royalpratness]

"Yes, I agree." Everybody has the right to know whether their friend and family are alive.

[ayoungboy]

"Right. Well." Merlin nods. "What are your people in need of? Resource and supplies wise?"

[royalpratness]

"I have a list." Arthur pulls a folded piece of paper from the inside of his coat and hands it over to Merlin. "Mostly food and things like blankets and water filters."

[ayoungboy]

"I know you don't trust us," Merlin unfolds the list, scanning it over. "So I must inform you that the majority of our food is grown with magic. Our water is also purified with magic. We can spare the blankets, too. And...medicine. You already know our healers are beyond this. We can give you what we have."

[royalpratness]

"I would appreciate that." Arthur looks over at Merlin. "Anything else we need to discuss?"

[ayoungboy]

"So, if you want food and water, we can provide it but - just so you know." Merlin nods, pocketing the list. "Yes. You've already denied our healing offer, but I invite you to reconsider in the case of magical ailments. It's come to my attention that some of the magic users were using rather damaging and debilitating spells, and if you have any survivors that are suffering, we are willing to heal them. Other injuries you may be able to heal yourselves but - not the magical ones."

[royalpratness]

"I will bring it up at our next council meeting. I doubt that many people will be willing to take you up on the offer though."

[ayoungboy]

"Then they will die in terrible pain." Merlin shakes his head. "I'll come heal them myself if I have to. But any deaths that occur will no longer be on our hands. We've offered a solution. The offer stands."

[royalpratness]

"Yes, I got that. Thank you." Arthur stands, offering Merlin to shake his hand. "Let's meet again once we have drafted those lists."

[ayoungboy]

"You're welcome." Merlin's voice is a little softer, and he rises as well, shaking Arthur's hand firmly. There's so much he still wants to say, but only to Arthur. "And the prisoners. A list of the war criminals as well."