I do not own Merlin.


Chapter One

King Arthur was already up and pacing the floor when I entered the room to wake him up. He legalized magic yesterday, and today he was going to interview people for the position of Court Sorcerer. I understood the pacing. I'd done a fair bit myself.

"Sire?" I asked. Arthur turned to me, just noticing my presence, and stopped his pacing. "Are you nervous about the interviews, my lord?" I was polite as always, addressing him properly—unlike his last servant.

"This is a time of great change, so much could go wrong," Arthur confessed his worry.

"But everything could go right," I said as I helped him get dressed. Arthur must have sensed my nervousness.

"Is there something you wanted, Robin?" he questioned.

I fidgeted a bit, "I—err—I wanted to ask you something, Your Majesty."

"Well, spit it out!" Arthur ordered.

"Since magic is legal now and I can't get in trouble for it, can I—" I cleared my throat before I could continue rambling. "That is, will you allow me to try for the position of Court Sorcerer?" I braced myself for yelling or throwing, possibly laughing. Arthur astounded me by agreeing; he probably thought I'd be terrible at magic and thus entertaining.

"As long as you don't shirk your chores, I don't see why not."

I smiled, "Thank you, sire!" Arthur nodded in acknowledgement and proceeded to the throne room to conduct his interviews. He sat next to Lady Morgana and I stood to the side with the Knights of the Round Table, Guinevere, and Gaius. The king directed the guards to bring the first hopeful in.

The man who stood in front of Arthur was certainly impressive-looking; he was obviously rich, clothed in fine leather. Arthur asked him about himself and to demonstrate a bit of magic—that's where the man's impressiveness ended. He nearly hit the royals with fire if I hadn't conjured a shield to protect them.

Arthur instructed the guards to have the man taken away. A woman came in next, introducing herself as Meredith. She answered each of the king's questions politely and intelligently. When asked to demonstrate her magic, she filled the room in a shower of sparks. Meredith was approved and sent to one of the guest chambers.

The guards ushered in a man wearing a blue cloak with blonde hair and striking blue eyes. He bowed low, "My name is Emrys, King of Druids and magic incarnate." I nearly snorted in indignation at his claim. Nevertheless, the rabbit he conjured from flames won him a spot in the trials.

I had to conjure five more shields as the day wore on. Finally, druid named Roland was accepted and escorted to his chambers as the last candidate was brought in. The entire room seemed to gasp as he walked in, blue eyes twinkling beneath raven hair.

"Merlin?" Arthur inquired. For, indeed, the man looked exactly like the king's former manservant, if a few years older than when last seen in Camelot. He smiled and bowed, handing Morgana flowers he'd conjured.

"Yes, sire, I've returned."

"But—where have you—I can't believe it," Morgana gasped, clutching the beautiful violets. This time I really did snort, and I hoped no one noticed. I snorted because that man was definitely not Merlin. He was far too polite, and besides...I'm Merlin.

After I'd escaped the dungeons I'd spent several months with the druids until I could decide what to do. In the end, I disguised myself with magic and returned to Camelot. I'd told Gaius who I am, and he'd helped me get the job with Arthur, but no one else knew. I changed my hair to a chocolate brown and grew it a little longer. My eyes changed to hazel and I had to forgo my familiar attire. I stopped wearing as much color, no blues or reds, no neckerchief. I've had to act and appear as little Merlin-like as possible. I didn't even insult Arthur anymore, which took no small amount of self-control.

I still longed to have my old life back, but as long as Merlin was slated for execution, he couldn't protect Arthur, and so Robin must. I became the perfect servant, never insulting or complaining to my master, because only and idiot like Merlin would be otherwise.

"Robin," Arthur called and I was dragged out of my reminiscing.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"I suppose I don't have to ask you to demonstrate your magic. I saw you making those shields," Arthur smirked. "Did you think you were being subtle? Well, you may report here tomorrow to take the trials with the other sorcerers."

"Thank you, sire. Will that be all?" I asked politely.

"Yes, you may go," Arthur dismissed.

-o-

Besides my servant's duties, I spent the night deciding what to do with my impostors. Not one, but two! I came up with nothing, short of just coming clean about my identity. I wanted to win this position by my own abilities, not because of my friendship with the king. Plus, the whole execution thing. So, I decided, I'd just have to win.

In the morning, the five candidates for Court Sorcerer met in the throne room with the king, Lady Morgana, and the Knights of the Round Table.

"Your task," announced King Arthur, "Will be to create a life-size statue of the Lady Morgana and me to test your skills at conjuring an object. Roland, you are first."

He is such a prat. I watched as Roland muttered some words and held his hands out, creating of very detailed statue of the king and his sister. Arthur looked impressed and nodded to Meredith to take her turn. Her statue was nearly as good as Roland's, but he clearly had her beat. The first fake me, "Merlin," was next. His statue was just as good as Roland's and he looked very pleased with himself.

I rolled my eyes, I'm not that arrogant! Fake Me Number Two came after. He looked at Roland, who was glaring at this so-called Emrys. Well, I suppose a druid would know he's fake. His statue was, well, pathetic. It barely even looked like Morgana and Arthur. So much for magic incarnate!

My turn came last and I conjured a statue so life-like (and I was very proud of myself for resisting the temptation to give Arthur a big nose or something) it had everyone staring. Until Roland's temper boiled over and he grabbed "Emrys" by the collar, that is.

"How dare one with such feeble magic impersonate Lord Emrys?!" he shouted at the man.

"Wait, so he's not this Emrys guy?" Gwaine piped up.

"Of course not!" Roland looked ready to kill the man.

"Stop, Roland," I spoke into his mind. "No harm came from his deception, let Arthur deal with it." Roland's eyes widened as he looked at me, then to Fake Merlin, and back to me, realization crossing his features. "Yes, I'm the real Merlin, not him. Don't say anything, please."

Roland released the Emrys impersonator with a shove, "As you wish, my lord."

And awkward silence filled the room until Arthur broke it, "Well! This man is clearly neither who he says, nor the right person for the job. Get him out of here." He gestured to the guards who took the man away. "Meredith, I'm sorry, but you're also dismissed." She respectfully bowed her head and left the room, disappointed but not angry.

One impostor down.


Alright, so Merlin's magic was discovered during season three, soon after he met Gwaine. Uther sentenced him to death, but Merlin escaped Camelot's terrible dungeons (seriously, they're completely awful. Remind me never to send a prisoner I actually want to keep to Camelot) and left the city. No one has seen him since. Morgan never went evil (because it's my fic and I felt like it). This is pretty similar to The Court Sorcerer Tournament, but you know what? I can't be bothered to care.

-Vi