A/N: Ah, just rewatched the series. Still terribly attached. ;-; And now I've set out to fill in the missing holes that the show doesn't quite cover. All in canon, and trying really hard to capture the characters right. Will also contain missing one-shot adventures that likely would've happened between episodes.
[…] - Denotes scenes that appear in the series, to help folks who've been away for a bit follow the story line better.
Series 1, Episode 1 Missing scenes:
1. Hunith and Merlin's last night together before he left for Camelot.
2. Merlin stepping in on the training ground bullying from Gwen's perspective.
3. How Gaius manage to "pull some strings" to get Merlin out of the dungeons.
4. Did anyone else notice Merlin was standing right next to Morris during the feast? Surely the must have talked about the previous day's events. (My assumption is that Morris is in fact Arthur's previous manservant, since he does appear again when Merlin is briefly fired).
5. Arthur arguing with Uther about Merlin and Arthur having to fire poor Morris.
Enjoy!
1.
She knew she had made the right decision. Ealdor had no room for someone as special as her son. The tensions grew with each passing day, and Hunith could little ignore the harsh whispers and the lingering glares of the other villagers. Merlin had a kind heart, but a curious eye and a clumsy way; her son would've been a handful even had he not been born wielding magic as though it were every much a part of him as his very breath. She just knew he was special, far beyond his gifts. She knew Merlin was destined. But not here, not in Ealdor, not with her.
Hunith could no longer help Merlin, and her defenses would soon fail her in protecting her son from the fear of the villagers. It had been with heavy heart that she'd approached Merlin about her plans to send him away. His reaction, to her relief (or perhaps disappointment), had been cautiously eager, hopeful even.
"Camelot?" he said thoughtfully, a familiar smile creeping across his face.
"Yes," Hunith replied gently. "You are to seek out Gaius. He is the court physician, and he will see that you are looked after. I have already sent message of your coming." Merlin's smile faltered.
"But what of you mother?"
"Oh my boy," she smiled, caressing his cheek in one hand, "I am more than capable of taking care of myself. My worry is only for you."
"And Gaius?" he asked, a hint of hope creeping into his voice. "Does he know? I - I mean what I am. Why would he have me?"
Because he's my brother, Hunith thought. Because he was once a practiced sorcerer and would understand. Because he would bend over backwards to protect those wrongfully persecuted, as he had done for Merlin's father. "Gaius is a good man," she stated simply. "He will accept you as his own, I know it."
"So he doesn't know," Merlin sighed. Gaius did not know, and Hunith could never risk sending that information with a messenger. But Hunith also knew her son could little hide his talent, and her brother was a shrewd man.
They had had an unusually plentiful supper that night: lamb stew, a whole loaf of fresh bread, four tomatoes, and an apple each. Hunith had evaded Merlin's protests by insisting he needed the extra energy for his journey to Camelot; it was a gift she could rarely afford him. Afterwards she helped him pack what few belongings he had before retiring for the night.
At first sun, Merlin was already bouncing on his heels at the door. Hunith had carefully tied a neckerchief about his throat before he could escape her grasp, then squeezed his shoulder lightly.
"Be well, my boy," she said softly.
"This is not goodbye," Merlin replied, leaning his forehead against his mother's for a moment. "Take care of yourself while I'm gone." He lifted his eyes to hers and smiled brightly. "Well... wish me luck!" And with that, he turned on foot and walked towards the looming woods.
"Good luck, my boy. God save you," Hunith whispered unheard. Yes, she knew she had made the right decision, but that did not stop the aching in her heart that grew deeper with every step her son took away.
[Merlin arrives in Camlot. Witnesses execution. Saves Gauis. Runs into Prince Arthur.]
2.
Gwen had a massive list of chores to attend to that afternoon for Lady Morgana. Her mind was focused on little else. So as she first began beating out her lady's bedding over the window, she paid little attention to the on-goings of the training ground below. Arthur was being his usual arrogant self, she was sure, bullying Morris to the point of abuse. The prince was never easy on his servants, but there was little she could do to help, and openly gaping at the incident was a form of humiliation she would not readily afford Morris. So she set her mind to ignoring the scene that played out below.
That is, until a strange raven haired young man stepped in. Gwen laughed as she swore she heard the boy call the prince of Camelot an ass. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment for him, a smile touching her lips at the thought of a commoner putting Arthur in his place. But the smile quickly faded as she watched the boy switch from bravado to stupidity and take a swing at Arthur. She could not quell the gasp that escaped from her lips when the prince twisted the young man's arm painfully behind his back.
As the guards hauled the boy away, Gwen made a mentally note to meet him if he wasn't hanged in the morning. Any stranger willing to stand up to her arrogant prince was a stranger worth knowing.
[Merlin and Arthur fight. Merlin is punished.]
3.
"Take this drought before you go to sleep, sire," Gaius said, handing a light green tincture to the prince. "It should help ease the soreness from training."
"Thank you Gaius," Arthur said, setting the little vile on his bedside table. When Gaius didn't immediately move away, the young prince paused expectantly. "Is there something else?"
"Oh, well. It's nothing really," Giaus said, waving a hand. "It's just, I have an awful ache in these old bones and it seems my most recent charge has run off." The older man sagged with the weight of his words, feigning a look of fatigue and frustration.
"Gaius, I didn't know you'd hired on," Arthur said with a smile. "Who's the unfortunate charge?"
"His name is Merlin," the physician said slowly. Arthur's face contorted into a sour, annoyed expression, confirming Giaus' suspicions. He had heard rumor of a commoner attacking the prince, and he couldn't shake the feeling all day that his new ward was involved. When Merlin had not returned from his deliveries, Gaius had decided to set out and discover why. He'd only had a day with the boy, but his knack for trouble was already becoming readily apparent.
"Your charge has been sent to the dungeons," Arthur spat. "I hate to inform you of it, but it seems you've hired an insolent, disrespectful idiot."
"Quite," Gaius sighed. "The boy is not from these parts, sire, and I'm afraid he does not think before speaking." Arthur scoffed. "Surely you could grant a little clemency."
"I will not be spoken to in such a way by peasants, Gaius. He is lucky I don't have him hanged for it." Arthur's hands went to his hips, face stern. "No, I think a good week in the dungeons will teach him a much needed lesson."
"Very well, sire. It's just your people that concern me."
"My people?"
"Well I am an old man, Arthur. I can't keep up like I used to. Without Merlin, I'm afraid my work may suffer."
Arthur raised a brow, calculating the physician's words for a moment. "He must be punished Gaius, I can't just let him free. I would look weak."
"Oh of course, sire," Gaius said. "I'm not saying don't punish him. I'm just saying there must be a punishment that's a little more... time friendly."
"You had something in mind?" Arthur asked. Gaius smiled, though he felt a pang of guilt. Merlin really was not off to a very good start in Camelot.
[The mother of the man executed in the beginning murders and takes the form of Lady Helen. A feast is thrown in her honor]
4.
"Merlin." Morris jumped at the outstretched hand, preoccupied with the prince's wine. He traced the hand back to the face to which it belonged and found himself face-to-face with the man who had stood up for him the previous day on the training grounds. Morris was relieved to see he had been released and appeared for the most part unscathed.
"I'm Morris," he said, shaking Merlin's hand. "Sorry about, you know, yesterday," he fumbled awkwardly.
"Oh yes," Merlin replied cheerily. "You should've told me I was insulting a prince. I would've come on much stronger." Morris shot an eye towards the head table, but Arthur was too engaged with the feast to notice much of anything else, so he let an easy smile fall upon his lips.
"I half expected to see you on the executioner's block this morning, truth be told," Morris replied. He was trying to be lighthearted, but the truth of the statement lent too much guilt to his voice.
"Ah, well," was all Merlin really had to offer, tilting his head with a smile. He stood with his arms clasped behind his back, surveying the room.
"Are you... supposed to be doing something?" Morris asked, uncertain of Merlin's presence at such an elaborate event.
"Working." Merlin said, matter-of-factly.
"Working?"
"Working," he repeated with that full-faced grin. "Extra hired help for the feast. Though... nobody seems to notice, so nobody's given me anything to do really."
"Ah, lucky," Morris replied, looking morosely at his master.
"Are you Arthur's...?" Merlin trailed off, not certain how to address the servant.
"Slave?" Morris joked. He sighed and added, "I'm his manservant."
"Ah, I don't envy you friend," Merlin said, patting Morris on the shoulder. He seemed like he was about to say something more, but was interrupted by the booming voice of the king.
"We have enjoyed twenty years of peace and prosperity," Uther said, standing before the ceremony. "It has brought the kingdom and myself many pleasures, but few can compare with the honour of introducing Lady Helen of Mora."
Morris pulled Merlin back towards the side stairway, an acceptable distance from the nobility of the room, while Lady Helen's voice rang through the banquet hall.
["Lady Helena" enchants the hall. Nearly kills Arthur, but is stopped by Merlin.]
5.
"Father, I must insist," Arthur argued, throwing his hands in the air in frustration. "The man's an idiot, even if he saved my life."
"I wont hear another word of it Arthur," Uther spat. "I will not see that boy's debts unpaid."
"Did you hear how he spoke to me. He attacked me in public for goodness sake!"
"Oh, and I'm sure he was unprovoked." Arthur rolled his eyes, opening his mouth to protest but Uther cut him off, "That is enough. The boy is your servant, whether you like it or not. Am I understood?" Arthur rested his hands on his hips, mouth twitching as if eager to continue the argument. Instead he let out a sigh.
"Yes father."
"Good." Uther said curtly, storming out of the prince's room as Morris entered carrying a basket of Arthur's freshly laundered clothing.
"Morris," Arthur said dispirited. "I am sorry to inform you that your services are no longer required."
"My lord?" Morris asked in alarm. "Do I do something-"
"No, no," Arthur replied. "My father has seen fit to assign me a new manservant." He sat on the bed, fuming.
"But sire, I-"
"You will still be a welcome servant of the castle. You'll have to report to the steward." Arthur cut him off, reading the fear in his servant's eyes. Morris had not been his servant terribly long, but Arthur had never had any complaints against him. He hadn't had many compliments either, but at least the man attended his duties in a respectful manner. Arthur groaned internally.
"Thank you sire," Morris said, setting down the laundry and turning to leave.
"Morris?" Arthur called, before the boy was out the door.
"Yes sire?"
"One last task, fetch me Merlin and make haste. I have a healthy list of chores for him already." Morris gave his prince an odd smile before leaving the room. Arthur sighed and laid back on his bed, feet still on the floor, ticking off the most tedious chores he could think off. He grinned slightly. This actually might be a bit of fun.