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"It looks like we're at an impasse."
"It sure looks like it."
Merlin and Arthur were staring at each other. Two guns on the table in front of them, an intense gaze between them.
"Can't I get you to step back?" Arthur asked and Merlin smiled in response. "Can I?"
Arthur snorted. "You are a spy."
"Please, I'm the spy." Merlin replied, looking at her fingernails for a moment, her careful gaze scanning every detail of the room before returning to her boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend, "What about you? I can't believe you work in Uther's association. "
"You know my father." Arthur mumbled and Merlin chuckled. "He knows me more, I'd say. I'm just disgusted with your choice of associates ."
"My father is highly respected." Arthur answered, offended and Merlin shrugged. "From a bunch of idiots, I suppose. Nothing impressive, right? You know that too, Arthur."
Arthur stared at her. "The voice on the phone was from a man. Who?"
" Jealous , love?" Merlin asked and Arthur narrowed his eyes. "My lieutenant," Merlin replied, "sometimes, occasionally and when I deem necessary, he takes my place. Your father, in addition to being stupid and poor in strategy, is also extremely misogynist. I certainly could not allow him to doubt my ability just because I’m a woman, right?"
Arthur shook his head. "You must have a spy in our circles. You can't know everything."
"I can. I have eyes and ears everywhere, Arthur." Merlin smiled. "And I don't need anyone in your circle to know what old Uther is up to. Now, however, you have some innovative ideas, Arthur. What a pity the old man doesn't see it as I do, right?" Merlin cocked his head, reaching out and smiling as Arthur tensed, his gaze at his guns.
"How do you know it?" Arthur asked and Merlin snorted. "He ignore your ideas in the company, I don't see why he should listen to them in espionage. I would listen to them."
"I won't work for you."
"Why? Problems with my gender , Arthur?" Merlin asked and Arthur hissed. "I will not betray my father for you."
"Too bad. Well, nice conversation, but I have to go." Merlin pulled herself to her feet, and Arthur felt something pierce his neck.
Slowly, he brought a hand to where the shoulder and neck meet and pulled out a syringe.
"You drugged me." Arthur murmured, feeling his strength slip away.
"No, one of my underlings did." Merlin corrected him, saying. "We'll talk more about it after I dismantle your father's organization, okay? You don't have to betray him, if, well, there's nothing left to betray."
Arthur, as he closed his eyes, thought of the velvet box he still had in his pocket.
And to think that that evening he wanted to ask her to marry him.