Title: More than Distance
Summary: Arthur is about to crowned King of Camelot. He's afraid however when he should reveal that Merlin and his wife are both magic. Should he at all? His first order as king is to revoke the law that any magic other than Evil Sorcery will be accepted. Can he get Merlin and Aurora to believe him and let him tell the whole court that he has been hiding this from them…from his father?
Disclaimer: I do not OWN! Never have never will! Only the DVDs box sets.
A/N: NO FLAMES! Not accepted.
2nd A/N: I know Merlin is supposed to be an only child and whatever but I've given him a little sister. She's only a few years younger than him. And they are BOTH magic.
Chapter One
Merlin glanced up from getting water for Gaius and his dark blue eyes settled on a young girl. Raven hair, blue eyes, long neck, freckles clearly visible. The look of complete awe that overtook her face looked out of place but it was still very much her. He'd know that face anywhere. Unmistakeable as it was so much like his own.
"Aurora?" She tore her gaze from the castle and her eyes landed on the young warlock, before a smile lit up her face. Yep it was her.
"Merlin!" She ran forward and flung her arms around his neck hugging him tightly. Some people glanced at them including Guinevere.
"Rora, what are you doing here?" Merlin asked as she pulled back.
"I came to visit my big brother. Is that a problem? Mother said you were doing well. That you were a servant for the Prince but also his friend."
"Sometimes." Merlin agreed, "Other times I'm an idiot and he's a prat." Aurora laughed.
"So…where do you live? Out here or in the castle?" She asked linking her arm through his as he led her away from the crowds.
"My quarters are with the Court Physician. Gaius. So in the castle. I'm sure we can fix you another bed." Merlin told her.
"Magic one up you mean?" She said smiling.
"Keep your voice down please, Aurora. Magic is forbidden by the king. Under pain of death." Merlin implored.
"So…how come you still draw breath brother?" Aurora teased lightly.
"I don't let anyone see that I can use it. Except the people that know." Merlin said as he lowered his voice
"Merlin!" The young Warlock cringed and the pair turned to see Prince Arthur striding towards them a small smile in place. His smile slipped a little when his eyes glanced at Aurora but came right back full force when he looked at Merlin.
"I need you to sharpen my sword and make sure my dinner is brought up to my chambers." Arthur said.
Merlin nodded, "Sure I'll just get this water back to Gaius and I'll be right up."
"All right, just make sure it's done right." Arthur said, "And who is this?" Arthur said holding out his hand to the Aurora.
"My little sister, Aurora. She's come to visit me." Merlin said. Author kissed Aurora's hand. She smiled softly as he did.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Aurora." Arthur said.
"Charmed I'm sure." Aurora replied, her tone only slightly biting.
He gave her a pleasant smile and slowly walked away and once out of earshot, Aurora gripped Merlin's arm.
"Does he know about you?" Merlin looked over at Arthur and nodded slowly.
"Yes. I told him only last week, but he insists that around his father and the guards that I continue to not use it. He doesn't mind that I use it around him. Arthur says that since he knows what I'm like as a person without magic he knows I'll never use it for evil. His father however – well, let's just say that any magic is bad magic." Merlin said. Aurora sighed heavily; Merlin knew that like him she wasn't going to like not using magic. Magic was her life. If she couldn't use magic what else did she have? He knew the feeling.
Aurora was eager to help Merlin with his duties. She would help him wash the floor of Arthur's room, wash his clothes, polish his armour, polish his boots, mend them, and even help him sharpen Arthur's sword. Aurora was a fantastic help, even if Merlin insisted she didn't have to help him. She was careful to stay out of sight form anyone who didn't know she was around. If Uther asked Arthur, he'd say that Merlin was working hard to spend some time with a family member who was visiting. Uther would accept this. He had said he was getting too old to be worrying about such things. Uther had been sick for a long time and Gaius said the best thing was to make sure he didn't over work himself. Uther hadn't been well since Morgana had turned against them. She had revealed who she was truly and Uther hadn't really recovered. Arthur had been preparing to step up as King but he would wait for when his father thought he was ready. Uther had told Merlin that he would remain Arthur's servant. There was something like friendship between the two. Merlin and Aurora after they had finished Merlin's chores would go back to Gaius' quarters and sit up in Merlin's room talking, until Merlin forgot to take Arthur's dinner to him.
"Do you like Arthur?" Merlin asked. Aurora was rolling a small flame across her hand as she pondered this.
"I think so. He seems nice. Why?" She asked.
"He's a prat most of the time. But he's like a friend. I guess." Merlin said.
"Is he anything like Will was?" She asked, Merlin remembered, Aurora and Will had had a relationship, before Will found out Merlin was magic.
"No. Nothing like Will. Will thought that my magic was cool to start with then he resented me for it." Merlin said. Will had told him in no uncertain terms that he didn't want Merlin's 'kind' around Ealdor. But really he's missed him.
"But Arthur doesn't?" Aurora said, her fireball was resting on top of her fingers.
"No. He accepts it, but doesn't seem to think it's something that I should use all the time." Merlin said, Aurora smiled softly.
"Well then – he seems like he's a friend. I think after years, and years of this kind of friendship and camaraderie, you two could be like brothers. I think that would work a lot better than what you're talking about. Just being friends wouldn't be enough for Arthur, Merlin. He'd want someone he can trust with his life and he puts that trust in you. You're like a brother to him, I can tell. You're the little brother who does the older brother's bidding. You know I like I did." Aurora laughed.
"Mother never forgave me for that." Merlin said, he remembered when he'd told Aurora to do all manner of things, because she was so willingly to be just like Merlin. He could have told her to do anything and she would have done it. Immediately.
"Maybe I'm just happy with a sister at the moment." Merlin said.
The stars had always intrigues Aurora. She didn't know what made them so fascinating. They were just stars, bright lights in the sky. Maybe it was fact that you could never count them all. There were just so many of them. She sighed and dropped her gaze from the sky; she knew that somewhere her mother was looking out her window towards Camelot. Knowing that her two children, her two babies, were together and safe. She turned as she heard Merlin mumble in his sleep. He and Gaius had set up another bed in the room. They had put it only about a foot apart from Merlin's and most mornings they woke to find their hands joined. Like they were little kids again. Aurora smiled as she got into bed. Merlin, as though sensing it flung his arm out of bed, as Aurora settled she reached out and grasped his hand in hers. Aurora was happy. She was with family, she was safe, but most of all Merlin would protect her from any monsters or nightmares that happened to haunt her.