AN: This story came about as wanting to expand on the backstory I hinted at in "TV Magic". It grew much bigger than expected. You do not need to read the other story, but you may enjoy. The largest change from canon is that Merlin lives with William, the librarian, and a surprising amount of things are affected by that. I hope the story stands on its own, but ask if you have questions.
I also encourage you to read this story on AO3 because I will have more formatting control there and I have a separate story with the map and other references.
I hope you enjoy Twin Tales.
"Rise and shine!" Merlin said brightly as he flung open the velvet curtains in Arthur's chamber. The sunlight shone onto the body sprawled on the large bed, mouth slightly ajar, left foot hanging off the side. Hardly a groan.
"You're going to regret that," Merlin muttered. He grabbed Arthur's leg and pulled. Now, he moved.
"Merlin! What are you–oof!" He hit the floor. "Merlin!"
With a grin, Merlin skipped out of arm's reach. "Time to get up, sire. It's a beautiful morning, the sun is shining—" He flicked the plate on the table. "— and the food is still warm. Up and at 'em, Arthur."
Arthur narrowed his eyes and Merlin felt his smile fade a little. "If it's such a nice morning, as you say, then why don't we go for a hunt?"
"Oh, it's not that nice of a—"
"Yes. A hunt sounds perfect." Now Arthur was the one with the smile. "Go and get the horses ready, Merlin. And pack us a lunch as well. I won't have time to eat all of this breakfast if we are to get an early start to the day." He stood from the pile of bedclothes on the floor that had slid off the mattress with him. "Help me get dressed and then you are dismissed."
"Yes, sire," Merlin replied glumly, striding over to the dresser to grab Arthur's riding clothes.
In truth, Merlin didn't need to be so glum. They didn't do any hunting. Arthur didn't even take his crossbow out of his saddle bags. Instead, he led them to a hilltop, hidden by trees from the path but with a panoramic view of the valley. They sat in silence for a while, both enjoying the stillness of the midmorning. It was Merlin who broke the calm.
"Is something on your mind?" he asked.
Arthur looked sharply at him and Merlin knew he had guessed right. He held Arthur's gaze, waiting for Arthur to lower the walls within himself. "It's my father."
Merlin said nothing, waiting for Arthur to continue.
"He's been giving me more responsibility. Saying that someday all of this—" He gestured to the rest of the world. "—will be mine to rule over. It sounds like he thinks he'll die soon. But he's not ill. The physician would've told me if he was." He looked down at his hands. "Unless Father ordered him not to tell me. I don't like this feeling."
"It doesn't necessarily mean he's dying," Merlin soothed. "You've told me you admire his mind for strategy; what is this if not preparation for when he will die? Every ruler has to think of his successor. You've been crown prince for over a year now, officially able to inherit upon his death. Maybe he's decided you're ready to start learning in earnest."
"Why not sooner then? If this is just to prepare?"
"Well, I wouldn't have thought you ready to rule two years ago."
Arthur looked over to see Merlin's twitch of a smile.
"Even if Prince Prat has a certain ring to it."
Arthur scowled and shoved Merlin's shoulder. Merlin shoved him right back.
"And I suppose you want to take credit for that?" Arthur asked.
"Well, it was less than two years ago that I decided it would be a good idea to save your life. But Gwen must get some credit as well. She'll make a good queen."
Arthur snorted. "My father would never allow that. Whoever it is I do end up wedding, the marriage will not be for love."
"And you love Gwen.
Arthur nodded. "Very much."
"Well, keep faith. Keep delaying your father until he dies." Arthur gave him a look. "I don't mean I'm going to kill him, you dunce. But no one lives forever. And once he's gone, you're the highest power in the land. You can choose your own queen."
"You know, Merlin?" Arthur asked. "Sometimes, you seem almost—"
"Wise? Brilliant? Like the gift of a god come to bless you and guide you?" Merlin suggested when Arthur broke off.
"Trouble."
"What?" Merlin gasped, overplaying the hurt. "How am I trouble?"
"In many ways, but I was actually talking about that." Arthur pointed to the east where a column of dust was rising in the distance. "No one rides that fast unless there's trouble."
Unfortunately, this was the bad kind of trouble. True, all trouble was bad. Sometimes, Merlin spilled wine on Arthur's white tunic right before a feast. Sometimes, William spotted a rat in the library and for fear of the books, Merlin was up all night trying to catch it. And sometimes, mercenaries were handed a small bag of gold on the king's orders in exchange for ten druids who had been captured, chained together, and quite obviously not fed in some time.
Merlin was forced to stand in the throne room and listen as Uther announced that they would be burning tomorrow.
"Let this serve as a reminder that I am the king and my word is law. Sorcerers like those before you only bring evil into our world. Camelot has triumphed over such evil and will continue to send a message to devil-worshipers like the druids that their kind are not welcome in Camelot. The flames of the pyre will be a reminder that sorcery is not tolerated in this kingdom. A reminder that there is no safety in numbers. The Old Religion has been defeated and only the law of the king rules this land."
Uther believed there could never be enough reminders of his power.
The druids were thrown in the dungeon, and Merlin followed a silent Arthur back to his chambers. He tidied as the prince stared out the window, watching the preparations that had already begun. Merlin could tell that he wasn't pleased with his father's decision either. He hadn't said anything recently, but Arthur hadn't attended the last five burnings.
"Arthur?" he began hesitantly. He wasn't sure what he was going to say.
"Leave me. I won't need you until late morning."
With a shallow bow to Arthur's back, Merlin left the room. He immediately broke into a run, heading for the library. He crashed through the doors, and Sir William sighed. That wasn't entirely unexpected. Merlin knew he exasperated his guardian quite often. He often said that the day Merlin came to Camelot was the last day the library was a peaceful place for study.
"What is it this time, Merlin?" he asked, not bothering to look up from his book on the plants of Greece.
"You haven't heard?" Merlin answered even as he ran to his room in the back corner. "Uther is burning more druids. I need to get them out."
"Need I remind you that you can't bring them out of the city yourself? You have duties. Arthur will be suspicious."
Merlin dashed down from his room, hurriedly folding a piece of parchment. "Arthur is always suspicious. Besides, he gave me the night off. If I'm quick, I can catch the last messenger before he leaves and I won't even lose sleep." And just as quick as he came, he was gone.
Night had fallen on Camelot and the guards in the dungeon had fallen asleep in their game of dice. Merlin balanced one of the die on Drake's head as he crept by. His bald head was good for that.
All but one of the druids had also fallen asleep; it was one of the three children. She was sitting by the bars, watching him approach. Merlin didn't know if she had telepathy so he put a finger to his lips and the young girl copied him with a nod.
He held a hand over the lock and muttered a muffling spell followed by an unlocking spell. The lock unclasped without a sound. Merlin and the girl gently woke up the others, also motioning for them to be quiet. Only a couple of the adults seemed to recognise him as Emrys. He wondered if the others even had magic at all.
Regardless, they trusted him out of desperation and followed him out of the cell. They looked to him to lead them out of the dungeons, but he wordlessly asked them to wait for a moment. He carefully looked over each of them. It was dark, but he knew Uther hadn't paid much attention to what they looked like anyway.
Turning back to the cell, he raised a hand and spoke an incantation in a low voice. Ego creo vultus his Druidibus proditum dicunt. Motus isti respondere volo. Ut det illis conscientia mea.
To the amazement of the druids, another version of them was now sleeping in the cells. It was uncanny to see themselves asleep, chests rising and falling gently. Merlin lowered his hand, ignoring the huge energy drain that the duplicate spell required, and motioned for them to follow.
Merlin lead them past the sleeping guards and through a narrow tunnel that widened to a stone staircase which descended deeper into the hill. It was a warm summer evening, but as they went deeper, the air was chilly. The red light Merlin had summoned to guide their steps floated gently above their heads until they reached the bottom of the staircase. It then split apart and flew up to light the ring of torches on the walls.
The druids gasped at the large space around them. It was mostly bare, just a large stone platform jutting out from the wall of the cave, but the adventurous ones who looked over the edge saw the distant river flowing beneath that was born from the waterfall they could hear but not see. The light of the torches glinted off the water far below as it rushed past.
Merlin guided them along the narrow ledge, reassuring them that it was safe, and onto another larger platform, tucked further in. It looked large enough for a full size dragon to lay down on, but there were no dragons there now. Instead, there was a small work desk and some shelves, cluttered with jars. Along the wall there were five cots.
"Please, rest here for the night," Merlin said. "It's not much, but I know it's more comfortable than the cells. I'll return in the morning to lead you to Iseildur's camp."
"And they won't look for us here?" One of the men asked. He was tall and held the hand of one of the children tightly, protectively.
"What's your name?"
"Samuel."
"Then Samuel, let me assure you that they will not. You saw the illusions I made. It'll be those illusions that are burned in the morning, not you. They won't be able tell the difference. Uther will make sure everyone in the city is gathered, so the streets will be empty of guards to ease your escape."
"The people will still believe that Uther has burned more of us though," Samuel said with a frown. "And I don't think your illusions are good enough for my copy to yell at the king while it burns."
"Unfortunately not," Merlin agreed. "But it does guarantee that no one will hunt you down for escaping. It's the best I can do for now."
"And we thank you for it," one of the women said, stepping forward to clasp his hand. "If that illusion truly will convince them, then I'm sure you must be exhausted. We'll sleep and wait for you in the morning. I hope you get sleep, too."
"Yes, I'll come down in the morning." Merlin turned to leave before remembering one last thing they might want to know. "Don't fret about others finding you. There are magical barriers to keep everyone out of the cavern unless I specifically approve them."
True to his word, Merlin delivered Arthur his breakfast in the morning and went directly down to the cavern. He knew Arthur wouldn't make him attend the burnings, not when Arthur didn't want to attend himself. But Uther had insisted he attend. No patrols or diplomatic duties to hide behind this time.
A dropped rock at the end of the corridor distracted the prison guards long enough for Merlin to dart down the last flight of stairs and into the tunnel. The druids were awake and waiting for him, one of the adults spinning his own spheres of coloured light to entertain the children. Merlin told them they were leading the illusions out to the courtyard now.
"How do you know that?" Samuel asked.
"Because I'm in control of the illusions," Merlin explained. "If I concentrate, I can see what they see."
Even Samuel was impressed by that. One of the children asked when they would be leaving and, with a smile, Merlin took his hand and began the parade out of the cavern. He led them down another set of stairs to the bottom floor of the cavern. They crossed an old bridge over the underground river and then entered a tunnel that lead away from the city and up through the hill. The tunnel ended with a few short carved steps out into the dappled sunlight in the forest.
Merlin went up first; thankfully, the forest was clear of people. Well, clear except for one. "Glad you made it, Gilli," Merlin greeted.
"You're lucky I did." He clasped arms with Merlin. "The message caught me on my way out of town but I will always change directions for you."
Together, they shepherded the druids deeper into the forest. The light of the sun was gradually filtered away as the trees became thicker. They were nearly silent, even the children taking care where to step. Suddenly, Merlin inhaled sharply and stopped in his tracks. Gilli grasped his shoulder to give him support.
"You alright?"
"Yeah," Merlin replied, clearly not alright. "The burning's started. This always takes a little more energy out of me." He shook his head. "William made me study at least seven different books on human anatomy before he let me perform the spell. Apparently, a realistic burning is very tricky."
"You can't just increase the flame height so no one can see?" Gilli asked.
"That's what I asked!" Merlin exclaimed. "But apparently not. I think it was just an excuse to make me study something other than my spell books. Anyway." Merlin turned to the rest of the group. "Gilli will lead you the rest of the way. I need to go back to the castle."
"Thank you for getting us out of there," one of the women said, the others echoing the sentiment. "If there is ever a way we can repay you, don't hesitate to ask."
"Oh, speaking of payment," Merlin reached into a pocket and pulled out a small sack of coins. "Take these with you to the camp. Iseildur will know how to use it best."
"Where did you get that?" Gilli asked.
"Off a certain individual who thought he could trade people for money." Merlin grinned and then skipped backwards a few steps before jogging back to Camelot with a wave.
It wasn't a long walk to Iseildur's camp. Merely two hours away. And as they got farther from the city, the tensions eased and the children even picked some flowers along the path.
"Do you do this often then?" one of the women, Elizabeth, asked. "Sneak people out of the city?"
"Thankfully not too often," Gilli replied. "It's not often that people are captured anymore. Most people are able to stay far enough away from Camelot to avoid the constant patrols on every road and forest path in Camelot. But we've developed a system over the past year. It works much smoother now than it did before."
"Is there anyone else helping you?"
"A few. It's small at the moment. If you're ever in need of a friend, look for someone wearing this ring." Gilli held up his left hand and they could see a small braided ring on Gilli's third finger.
"Are there many people with these rings?" Samuel asked. "What are the chances that I can find someone to help if I need it?"
"No, not many. I know Merlin wants to expand the network more though. At the moment, primarily it exists to smuggle people like you from Camelot into Iseildur's camp and to be Merlin's eyes and ears outside of Camelot."
"How are all the druids fitting in one camp?" Elizabeth asked. She held her daughter's hand tightly in her own; it was clear that as long as she had her daughter with her, she would do whatever it took to keep her safe. "I wouldn't think a camp so close to Camelot would be that large. Don't they need to be ready to move at a moment's notice?"
Gilli smiled. "At one point they were, yes. But Merlin's the type to create massive changes wherever he goes. In this case, it was more literal. You'll see."
Another half mile of walking and they were welcomed by two druids from the camp. Brief greetings were exchanged before they were led into a small tent hidden by a circle of trees. The escapees were puzzled at the tent separate from the rest of the tents in a cluster. Yet, it became clear when they walked inside and realised it wasn't a tent that belonged to a family. A plank of wood in the otherwise sparse tent was moved aside to reveal a hole in the ground.
The children were delighted, climbing down the ladder after the first guide. Before them was a sight they had never seen before. It was clear where the inspiration had come from. The giant underground cavern could be considered a small town in and of its own right.
Vaulted ceilings removed any claustrophobic feelings and doorways were set into the walls. Hundreds of candles glittered in cut out windows and orbs of different coloured light hung above their heads. A promenade spiralled along the walls, providing a gentle slope down through the earth with a spiral staircase at two ends in case one did not wish to take the scenic route down five levels.
With a quick glance at the adults for permission, the children ran off to join the other children on the lowest level who were playing a game of catch with seemingly convoluted rules.
"Welcome to Praetorium Repromissionis—The Hall of Promise."
Chapter 2: Flickering Flames - Part 2
Merlin stumbled back into the cave and struggled up the stairs till he got to his room. He had been able to drop the illusion before he made it back to the citadel, but the spell was far more exhausting than he had let on. As it was, he firmly planted his face onto his bed and that was how Sir William found him an hour later.
He gently roused Merlin with a shake. "I know you are exhausted but Arthur will be wanting his lunch soon."
Merlin groaned. "One of these days, I'm going to give it to him from the comfort of my own bed."
"One day maybe, but if anyone saw a tray floating through the castle now, sleep would not be the only thing you would lose."
Merlin rolled his eyes at the poor attempt at levity and left the room. He truly didn't mind waiting on Arthur. It had taken some time, but the two had formed a fast friendship. Along the way, both had matured, although if you asked Merlin, he would say Arthur had changed the most.
With a good-natured greeting to Audrey, the head of the kitchens, Merlin lifted the lunch tray already prepared over his head and maneuvered his way back out of the crowded area. Dodging the other servants come to fetch lunch for their masters, he turned a corner and entered the servant's area of the castle. The stairways might be narrower, the walls more bare, but it allowed him to arrive in Arthur's chambers five minutes faster than he would've otherwise.
He opened the servant's door with his hip and found Arthur staring out the window. Sensing the mood, he set down the food quietly. He said nothing.
"Sometimes I wonder if this is the only way, Merlin," Arthur spoke without turning from the view of the city square. "Must they die in such a horrific way? They were silent, but something in their eyes..." He paused. "It's probably just my imagination." Turning from the window, he strode to the table. "What's for lunch today?"
Perhaps if he'd looked Merlin in the eyes, he would have noticed the same look he saw in the eyes of the druids he witnessed burning. Perhaps they would have spoken about it.
Merlin plastered a smile on his face. "Only the best for his royal highness."
Now, Arthur looked up at him with raised eyebrows. "A slice of ham and a roll is what you consider the best?" He sniffed his goblet. "And water?"
"There are fresh strawberries, too, if you look closely," Merlin teased.
"Ah yes, very filling."
"Well, you do have training with the knights in twenty minutes and your father requested that you join him for an early supper. I know you wouldn't want to be too full from lunch and have to turn down all of the good food."
"Oh, so you admit that this food isn't the best?"
"I said no such thing. Any food fit to grace your plate is good food." Merlin finished laying out Arthur's chainmail. "But if you don't want it..."
"Nice try, Merlin." Arthur stabbed an especially big piece of ham and slowly raised it to his mouth, savouring it sedately.
Merlin only shook his head. "I trust you can get ready for training by yourself. William had another shipment of books come in yesterday, and he'd like me to sort them. Then, I need to take your dogs out. I'll send someone to collect the tray from you."
Arthur nodded and waved his hand, gesturing for Merlin to get on with his own duties.
Merlin nodded in return and left with the basket of Arthur's laundry to drop off. Really, William didn't need him to sort the books, but at least three books were for him–books of sorcery from distant lands where magic had evolved differently. He had just finished picking up the basis of archaic French, and he was looking forward to setting aside an afternoon to study one new book in particular. On the History of Forest Magic in France was the translated title. He knew not all of it would be useful, not every plant grew in Albion, but perhaps he would learn something that the druids did not know. He would have the chance to teach them something for once.
However, as he walked through the silence of the library, putting each new book in its proper place and adding it to the catalogue, his mind was free to wander. Last year, he had nearly been caught sneaking just one druid out of Camelot. The guards had noticed the escape sooner than he'd thought and had mobilized a search party before they had gotten far enough away.
The hobbled gait of the druid had slowed them down, but thankfully the druid had known a place to hide nearby and used some camouflage magic. The dogs had found them, but Merlin had them trained long ago to listen to him.
At the time, it had seemed wiser to eliminate the searching altogether; no one would look for druids escaping if they thought they were watching them burn. And yet, what did this do to the image of the druid community? The citizens of Camelot watched them burn and die without a word of protest. Maybe it made them look complacent, resigned to their fate, as if they accepted that having magic made them guilty. But even Arthur was starting to show doubts about the burning. Surely the people of Camelot might also be persuaded that escape was better.
He sighed, sliding the last book into place. He would ask Lancelot later. For now, he had dogs to play with.