King Arthur's Chronicles
A series of ficlets covering various back stories from my multi parter 'King Arthur's Ward.'
These first two chapters are rated K+ but most will be T and some definitely M. No slash, as such, although there will be the usual rumours and hints that I love to include in my fics.
Hopefully, each of these ficlets stand on their own without the need to read 'King Arthur's Ward' but some will probably make more sense if you have. Obviously I hope you will want to read it anyway ;)
The Druids
About S5 in the 'Merlin' time line. Two years before the Prologue of KAW.
'The Druids' tells the story of how Arthur came to allow Iseldir's group to live in The Valley of the Kings, and also relates a defining moment in his and Merlin's relationship.
I dedicate these first two chapters to SpanglePony who gave me the idea. She was thinking about a bridge between The Invisible Servant and King Arthur's Ward at the time but ... it did get those plotbunnies hopping!
Part 1
"Ah, there you are, Arthur," said Uther with a smile. The Prince strode into the hall, with Merlin, his servant, trailing behind. As usual the King appeared to ignore the younger man altogether and only looked at his son. "I have news of the druids that escaped our last investigation. I have reliable evidence of where they are now and so, I wish you to go with a group of your very best knights and put an end to this threat once and for all."
"Ah, what threat?" Arthur asked.
"What do you mean?" said Uther confused.
"I was just wondering what their crime was, sire. I mean, as far as I know, there haven't been any raids, or acts of sorcery in the area for ... at least a month?" Uther gave his son a very long, stern look.
"They're druids, Arthur. The enemy. They must all be brought back to Camelot to answer for their crimes."
It was honestly getting more and more ridiculous, Arthur thought. His father had always been obsessive about the use of magic, but now it appeared that he was planning on executing a whole group of people, just for trying to stay out of his way. Knowing it was impossible to change his father's mind, he bowed and turned sharply, waving at Merlin to follow, as if he were a hunting dog being called to heel. As the boy's head snapped up, the frown he had been wearing immediately disappeared and he looked suddenly enthusiastic, scampering after Arthur in a way that had the prince struggling to resist the urge to say 'down boy.'
"Are you really going to go after them?" Merlin asked as they entered an area of deserted corridor.
"Of course I am. It's not as if I have any choice in the matter."
"I suppose. You do know that very few of the druids actually have magic, don't you? At least, not enough to cast any significant spells?"
"What is that supposed to mean? What would you know about it?"
"Me? Nothing but ... you know. Gaius?" Arthur grunted. "It's just a camp, Arthur … a small village holding a group of people who come from a simpler time. All they want to do it keep out of the king's way."
"I know."
"What?" They'd reached his chambers and Arthur suddenly rounded on his servant with something resembling a growl.
"I said, I know, Merlin. I'm more than aware that my father's requests have been getting more and more ludicrous by the day but … what can I do about it? I tried to take over as Regent after that business with Morgana but … when Father suddenly decided he was 'better' there was really nothing that Gaius or I could do to persuade the older lords otherwise."
"So, what are you going to do?"
"What I always do. What I've been doing constantly these last two years. Continue to play the system, and my father, whilst simultaneously trying to convince him that I'm doing exactly what he wants me to do." Merlin chuckled. "What?"
"Oh, just your latest scam. The one that had you introduce the lady Guinevere to your father and the court without any of them actually recognising her." Arthur gave him a small smile.
"Blind as bats, the lot of them. I expect I could dress you in a gown and wig and convince them you were Guinevere's long lost sister."
"I think I'm a little too tall to be her sister," he replied seriously and Arthur laughed at the ridiculous excuse.
"Amongst other things."
"So …?"
"So, it's just going to be you, me and the Round Table knights. We'll just head off undercover and see if we can … talk to them. Persuade them to move on, or something."
"That might work ... assuming they don't have some pressing 'druid' reason for needing to be where they are now."
"What are you on about, Merlin?"
"Just that they often have their own strange ideas and agendas."
"Which you seem to know all about for some reason." Arthur gave Merlin a long suspcious look.
"Ah ... well, Gaius, you know?"
"Hmm, so you keep saying."
Arthur supposed he wasn't surprised to find the original camp empty when they arrived. Merlin muttered something about druids 'knowing things', their elders foreseeing the future or some such rubbish.
"I expect they just have very good scouts," he said with a glare at the boy. Merlin grinned again. The group were not dressed in Camelot's colours today, although the knights were still wearing their chain mail. For once Arthur had insisted that Merlin wore some too, but he was now regretting his decision - his servant constantly grumbling about how heavy it was and how hot it was making him feel in this weather.
"Where to now, Arthur?" Gwaine asked, interrupting his servant's latest complaints.
"No idea. What are you pulling that face for, Merlin?"
"Ah, can't you hear something? Voices?" he asked innocently. The group all stopped and listened.
"No," said Arthur.
"Ah, this way I think," he said moving away from the group,
"Now what? Merlin."
"Perhaps he did hear something? Perhaps we should follow?" said Lancelot.
"I'm sure he must have those ears for a reason, eh, Arthur," Gwaine said with a grin and he and Elyan burst out laughing at the comment before following. By the time they caught up with Merlin he was crouching down behind some bushes with a hand held out, much like Arthur did when hunting. He turned around slowly with a big grin … pointing ahead. Much to Arthur's amazement his useless servant was right, for once. There were the druids, obviously setting up a new camp, erecting their tents and starting their central fire. Arthur twisted his lips in a nervous grimace before making sure the whole of his group were close. He then lifted his sword for his men to see, before making an obvious show of putting it on the floor. Any objections were not obvious on his friends' faces as they copied the move and, that task accomplished, he caught their eye again and raised his hands above his head. Slowly and surely he moved forwards … making sure that he was one in the front of the group. There was a cry from the camp as all turned to face the intruders.
Arthur stood still, hoping the others would copy and waited until the situation calmed a little. No one drew any weapons – in fact it didn't look as if they had any – with most backing away or huddling together in nervous groups. Arthur found himself frowning as he thought of his father's orders to round these people up for their crimes, when most appeared to be unarmed women, children and old men.
A grey haired man started forward and Arthur frowned again, convinced that he recognised this druid.
"Arthur Pendragon," the man said.
"Ah, yes. We've met before, I think?"
"Yes. My name is Iseldir and you came to deliver the druid boy to our safe keeping five years ago."
"Of course." His eyes automatically flashed around the camp. "Is he here?" He was quite sure he heard Merlin scoff behind him. The old man's eyes flashed up to his servant and Arthur was sure Iseldir's eyes widened as he saw him. For some reason the man now seemed far more nervous than he had been whilst addressing the prince.
"No, I'm afraid … he is no longer part of our group. You have come unarmed … I admit that I am surprised. Come to the fire and have some food."
"Ha, they didn't foresee that, did they, Merlin?" he said as an aside as they followed the man a few steps behind.
"A-apparently not." It obviously wasn't surprising that the group eyed them warily, but Arthur was sure he saw other emotions flick across the faces, and these looks were almost always directed at Merlin. He saw one young lady, grip the arm of another and point, smiling whilst her friend giggled. Arthur was used to that reaction himself and couldn't quite work out why Merlin seemed to be getting far more female attention than he was. In fact, as bowls of stew were handed out to them, a small dispute even broke out over which young lady would serve his servant - the other, far more impressive knights ignored completely.
"Ladies, mind your manners and remember we have the prince here." Iseldir seemed to be trying to make a point although it totally escaped Arthur. "So, why are you here, Arthur? Not to kill us, apparently."
"Well, my father did send us to arrest you, but I thought … it might be better … if you simply moved on."
"That is what we always do," he said with a sigh. "Unfortunately Camelot is not the only Kingdom that treats magic and druids with suspicion. There are fewer of us with each passing year and less places we are able to settle in."
"Is there nowhere you can go that is safe?" Merlin asked kindly.
"Only one place - it is our last resort but, we cannot take the chance that Uther will discover us there."
"Where? Or can you not trust me with that information either?" Arthur asked. To his annoyance Iseldir turned his gaze to Merlin instead who, nodded firmly in response. Arthur stared at his servant in disbelief. There was a confidence there, an authority that he had only recently started to notice. Those rare times when he pretended to be wise, only now - here - it didn't seem like an act. His face had been serious, confident … Arthur fought with the word that flitted on his tongue. Regal. The image of the girls fighting to serve him surfaced again and Arthur quickly shook the very strange notion away.
"There is a place of magic nearby. An old, sacred place," Iseldir explained. "It tends to have it's own protection but … if it's location was known to someone like Uther, I doubt even it's magic would help to keep it safe."
"Are you talking about the Valley of the Kings?" Arthur asked and was pleased to see genuine surprise on Iseldir's face.
"You're heard of it?"
"I've been there, well through it. Merlin and I both have."
"You were able to walk through the passageway – knowing what it was?" The man sounded incredulous as he stared at the prince.
"Ah, yes?"
"What did you sense there?" he asked Merlin, curiously, but the boy shook his head, apparently unwilling to answer.
"He didn't like it much," said Arthur with a smile. "Said it was cursed." Another one of those long, annoying looks passed between the two of them. "What?" Arthur suddenly felt as if the pair were having some sort of conversation that he was unable to hear or understand.
"By having gone through such a place, knowing what it was, but not wishing it harm, you have proved yourself a man who can be trusted."
"And Merlin?"
"He does not need to prove anything to us."
"Because he's not a prince?" Iseldir's gave him a long, knowing smile and then, just as quickly, whipped his head around to Merlin who was actually glaring at the man. To make matters worse, Iseldir almost appeared to bow his head as if apologising to his servant for something. Arthur clenched his jaw in frustration.
"So, you're asking for my permission to live there, as it's in Camelot's territory, and then I need to ensure that you are not disturbed, so that these natural defences are able to shield you?" He continued, forcing himself to sound calm.
"It is usually you that rides patrols, is it not, Arthur? Is there any reason why your father would come here?"
"No, but he does appear to have people nearby willing to spy for him and seek you out."
"Such people are not a threat to us and … I believe that once we are in such a place, we can ensure the magical defences with hold." Arthur hadn't missed the slight emphasis although he found himself quite unable to interpret it.
"Do you wish to move there now, then? Before you're too well set up here?"
"Yes. We shall travel there in the morning and would be grateful for your company but, we would rather it was just you and … your servant. Will you and your men accept our hospitality for the night?"
"Thank you, we would be honoured."
"Iseldir," said Merlin. His firm voice still in place. "We did not journey unarmed as that would not have been safe for us, but we left our weapons in the bushes back there. May we have your permission to retrieve them – you have my word that they will not be used."
His word?
"Of course Em … Merlin." There was another one of those strange exchanged looks, but Arthur was tired of trying to interpret them and simply sent the others off to collect the swords.
"So, it looks like you've met these people before, Merlin," he said when they were alone.
"Ah … yes, you know, near Ealdor."
"They seem to like you. The girls especially, I notice."
"Ah … I don't think so … I mean ..."
"Well, as long as you, at least, have their trust, I'm certainly not complaining."
The following day they made ready to set off - the rest of the knights agreeing to stay behind and wait for their return. It seemed that the population of the camp had suddenly doubled in size since the previous evening and so, with all the new druids around, Arthur continued to be stared at but nowhere near as much as Merlin. His servant was starting to relax into this company though, happily employing his wide, happy smile when people talked to him, although he did sulk a bit when a couple of small children actually screamed at him as he bent down to look at the toy they were playing with. He jumped up as if burned and could be seen frantically apologising to the mother who, luckily, just seemed amused about the situation.
"What was all that about?" Arthur asked him as he returned with a serious pout on his face.
"No idea, but I never have been that good with small children for some reason, although the older ones seems to like me." They had moved out a little further when they bumped into a family who seemed to have just arrived. To old ladies, one gentlemen a couple of adults and a boy of about eight. The whole group just stopped in their tracks and stared at Merlin wide eyed.
"Emrys," said the man is an awed voice.
"Oh my, it is. Your time has finally arrived, just as the elders predicted." The woman grabbed a long slim hand and looked as if she was about to kiss it.
"Ah no, you see. Y-you must be mistaken … M-my name's Merlin." The family stared at him as if he was mad whilst Merlin seemed, yet again, to be trying to tell them something with his eyes. "Look, ask Iseldir .. he'll - explain - it – all." Arthur thought that was a strange thing to say. 'Explain it all,' rather than, 'tell you who I am.' Arthur grabbed his servant by the shoulders and roughly turned him to face him.
"Merlin, will you please tell me what's going on. Why are these people treating you as if you're some sort of … royalty?"
"I-I don't know I … Arthur."
"No, you do know. I've seen it in your eyes."
"He's Emrys … the immortal." The boy had followed them, leaving his family talking together in a huddle. "He is the greatest sorcerer … ever!"
Next: The Druids Part 2: Arthur has to re-evaluate everything he thought he knew about Druids, Magic and Merlin. The decisions he makes now will determined the course of his, Merlin's and Camelot's future.