The Endelíf
"Careful Merlin!" admonished Gaius. "Watch your step!"
Merlin's eyes flashed and some of his stray laundry scooted itself out of his path.
"Don't worry, Gaius. I spelled the whole stack not to spill. Look! No hands! It still won't fall!"
"Merlin, if you keep using your magic for every little thing you'll get lazy."
"Now you just sound like Arthur. Okay fine. Lïes! ...upps!"
The clanging crash birthed in the warlock's tower room resounded through the castle corridors. The pile of magical objects lately gathered from the vaults now lay scattered in all directions across the floor of Merlin's new chambers.
Gaius sighed.
"Well at least nothing was breakable." Merlin commented sheepishly.
"Honestly Merlin. Why didn't you just use your magic to keep them steady?" asked Gaius with eyebrows raised innocently.
Merlin narrowed his eyes, hands on hips. "Didn't you just say.."
Gaius' blank, innocent expression broke into an amused smile and light laughter. Merlin's attempted scowl disappeared as he laughed too.
Lighthearted moments such as these were becoming the norm in these lovely peaceful days. Gaius smiled and joked much more easily than he ever had and Merlin shared his joy. It seemed the freedom and peace that marked the building of Albion was breathing new life into everyone's souls. People were calling it the "Golden Age" and Merlin felt that it was an appropriate name. The Golden Prince had become the Golden King of Legend, eyes flashing gold were becoming a rather commonplace sight, and the peace spawned wealth. The kingdom was flourishing.
It seemed that all was quiet and happy except for a few of the usual bandits and brigands and some rogue sorcerers who used magic for their own selfish ends, committing crimes with far more ease than criminals employing mundane methods. Arthur sent the knights to root out the bandits and he allowed Merlin to confront the sorcerers and try to talk sense into them before bringing them back to Camelot for trial. Arthur definitely wasn't happy about putting his best friend at risk but had to admit that only Merlin had the power to enforce law and order in the magical community.
In his capacity as Court Warlock, Merlin was also kept busy clearing dangerous and evil magical artifacts from the vaults. Uther had gathered every magical object he could. Some were incredibly powerful, some were simple and innocuous such as a mysterious powder that turned out to be laundry soap that got clothes cleaner and brighter. Merlin was tempted to laugh before he considered the probable fate of a simple laundress. Arthur set Merlin the task to rid the land of evil and harmful items but insisted that he not work alone and that he exercise every precaution, therefore, Gaius' duties as Court Physician were lightened for a time so that he could assist Merlin, he being the closest thing Camelot had to an expert on all things magic. Merlin and Gaius systematically went through a few items each week, taking some back to Merlin's tower to investigate more closely. Gaius researched the objects in his books while Merlin probed them and worked them over with his magic.
After collecting the items from the floor and placing them on the table, Merlin picked up a chain with an unusual gleam to it.
"What about this one Gaius?"
A sadness that was becoming all too familiar entered Gaius' eyes.
"Ah, that's another one I recognize personally. It belonged to an acquaintance of mine, Handred, an accomplished sorcerer. It's quite powerful. It works a bit like the reversal necklace that Agravaine planted on Uther to reverse your healing spell."
"So it's fairly benign, then."
"Yes, he often wore it when he went into volatile situations, in the King's service, ironically."
Merlin thoughtfully hefted the chain a couple of times in his hands.
"Merlin," Gaius intoned warningly. "I know that face."
"I just want to see it in action!"
"It's not a plaything."
"Gaius, this is my job. And if I have a chance to enjoy my job it's not a sin!"
"Oh all right, but please don't experiment with anything to do with your health, blood, heart, lungs, or the solidity of the castles foundations and walls. And no silent spells! I need to know what's happening."
Merlin rolled his eyes, placed the chain on the table and turned toward the mirror.
"Onýwaþ weargbrædan!"
He grinned at his suddenly dappled reflection, then at Gaius.
"Are freckles innocuous enough for you?" He questioned cheekily.
"Yes, thank you." replied Gaius drily.
Merlin disappeared his freckles and wrapped the chain around his wrist. "Onýwaþ weargbrædan!" The chain gleamed curiously but Merlin's visage remained flawlessly pale..and perhaps even a tad clearer than normal, if possible. Merlin regarded himself with an interestedly impressed countenance. "Hmmm. Could be useful.."
A knock came at the door.
"Package for you, Lord Merlin."
"James, if you call me Lord Merlin one more time I'm going to turn your boots an interesting shade of purple."
The servant just grinned at him and handed him a rather small box with a letter bound to the top of it. "Almost ready for lunch? I can send up Eldie.." He smiled slyly.
Merlin waved him off as he detached and opened the note.
"Interesting."
"What does it say?" asked Gaius as he bent over his book with a quill.
Merlin cleared his throat and read, "Emrys, word has reached us of your efforts in sorting objects of power and determining their magic. We have safeguarded this item, but the knowledge of its purpose was lost when many of our people died in the Purge. We wish to entrust it to your keeping. May its purpose be revealed in your hands.'"
Merlin lifted the top from the box and found, nestled inside, a block of metal with the raised carving of an old man's head. The man's beard trailed from the face of the cube down the other side. Curious, Merlin held his hand above it sending his magic to explore it.
"There's definitely magic there."
"What is it?" Gaius asked idly curious as he recorded the details and effects of Handred's chain in the catalog.
"Oh. Looks like there's another note beneath it. It appears to be a block of metal with a picture of an old man's head...and he's got quite the beard."
Gaius' head shot up at Merlin's words and he shouted "NO, DON'T!" just as the young man reached in and picked it up.
Gaius stared aghast as powerful magic swirled about his ward like thick, brown smoke. Merlin yelled as his magic rushed forward and battled the force trying to invade him. The chain on his wrist sparkled and sparked. The swirling vortex around Merlin seemed to squeeze him and then Gaius was thrown backward and the windows and doors blew outward, raining debris into the corridor and the courtyard below as the magic exploded.
Arthur met the returning patrol in the courtyard as he strode from the direction of the stables.
"Gwaine, any trouble?"
"Only a serious lack of taverns." grinned the knight.
An almighty explosion cut the conversation short as rubble and glass rained down from above. Screams issued from people in the square and horses bolted. Knights and guards ducked and covered their heads with their arms for protection from the stone and shards of glass showering them. Arthur and the knights looked up seeking the source of the destruction.
"Merlin's tower!" cried Percival. Gwaine and Arthur were already racing up the steps.
The corridors were filled with knights, servants, nobles and guards milling about in terrified reaction to the concussion that had rumbled through the castle. "MOVE!" the king bellowed as he and the knights frantically dashed up the stairs and through the halls toward the Sorcerer's Tower.
Arthur skidded to a stop as he saw Merlin's scattered, mutilated possessions littering the hallway in front of the lopsided doors that had obviously been violently blown open. He cautiously but quickly approached the doorway and surveyed the destruction. Glass, books and odd items littered the floor. Loose papers were still floating about, and, of all the furniture, only the bed remained on its feet.
A strange sort of terrified crying sounded from behind the upended table where the king spotted a pair of buckled boots. Arthur ran to Merlin as others began to gather. Merlin's eyes were wide with fear and he reached desperately for the king as soon as Arthur came within reach. Arthur gripped his friend's face between his hands searching for any injury or clue as to the cause of his distress. Merlin's cry changed and he burrowed his face frantically into Arthur's chest and pressed against him as though seeking safety from a nightmare. Bewildered, Arthur embraced him firmly.
A deep groan was heard from the floor beneath the fallen dressing screen.
"Gaius!" The knights hurried to rescue the old man. Percival and Gwaine lifted the wooden screen off him while Leon knelt beside him.
"Gaius! What happened? Are you hurt?"
The old man groaned again and struggled to sit up with Leon's assistance.
"Merlin" he murmured. "Where is he?"
Arthur shouted above Merlin's continued cries. "He's here Gaius!"
Gaius began to fight his way to his feet but Leon tried to gently push him back down.
"Gaius, sit still a moment. It looks as though you had a nasty fall."
"I'm alright! I'm right enough! Let me see my boy!"
Merlin was still crying in the strange, panicky, high pitched way as he pressed himself tightly into Arthur's chest. Gaius crouched beside him and pried one of his hands away from Arthur's tunic in an effort to get a look at his face and the crying impossibly increased. After a moment of struggle Merlin chanced a look at Gaius. Gaius took in the desperate tear filled eyes of his ward and caught a glimmer of recognition. Merlin now fisted a hand tightly into Gaius' robes, his body shaking fit to fly apart. Arthur gathered him back into his fierce embrace rocking slightly in an effort to calm his friend.
"What's happened to him Gaius?!" he demanded, beginning to panic himself as Merlin's sobs turned into gasps and he began hyperventilating. Suddenly the overwrought warlock went limp and quiet.
"Take him to my chambers quickly while he's unconscious. If I am right he will need sedation." Gaius replied without answering the question.
Gwaine and Percival moved to help Arthur carry Merlin's lanky form to the physician's chambers. Hesitating with their burden, they watched as Gaius hastily scanned the debris scattered about on the floor, scooped up a box, pulled a piece of parchment from it, then turned the box upside down over a block of metal, trapping it inside and slid it across the floor and underneath the bed.
"Seal these chambers, Sire! No one is to touch a single thing!"
The king gestured to several guards who were among the curious onlookers gathering in the hallway.
"The three of you remain on duty here until I return and order otherwise. You heard Gaius. No one - absolutely no one - may enter."