Rash decisions

Hey anyone :)

This was just a little idea that wouldn't go away until I wrote it down … Sorry for not updating my other story. I will try to get at least one chapter done this week.

This isn't beta'et as I couldn't find anyone, so please write a pm if you find any mistakes ;)

I don't own Merlin

The young, dark haired man looked at the grand castle. The white stones shined in the last light of sunset, making it look almost otherworldly. It was a castle which bards would sing songs about, and parents would whisper the legends to their children in the evening. Even thousands of years after the last war had been fought and the castle had fallen, it still lived on; for its beauty could never be matched, and its rulers forever changed history.

Surrounding the castle were large dark woods, which housed all kinds of animals, groups of bandits and even a few hidden magical creatures. All which made it difficult for a normal traveller to travel through them alone, and one of the reasons for the knights always patrolled them in groups.

Good I'm far from 'normal' then, the man smiled to himself, and continued his travel along the dusty main road towards Camelot. He hoped he would be able to walk the last half mile before the guards closed the gates for the night; he didn't fancy sleeping outside for one more night, when he was so close to his goal.

He didn't have anything against sleeping under the stars, but the ground wasn't all that comfortable and his back still ached from last night were he had been so unfortunate to sleep on a tree root.

He hurried past a few travellers and traders who were on their way home to the nearby villages after a long day of selling or buying goods on the markets place. A few had a horse or a wagon, but most just had a little bag slung over their shoulder, much like he had done.

He managed to get to the gates just as they were about to be closed. Luckily the guards recognised him, and let him in with a role of their eyes, very well knowing his habits. He flashed them a big smile in thanks and half ran up towards the citadel.

The most people had, like the travellers, begun to head home, and so it was easy for him to walk through the markets place and finally arrive in the courtyard. He tilted his head back to look at the towers, and drunk in the sight of his home. He couldn't believe he had only left two weeks ago, it felt like years had gone by.

He walked up the stairs up towards the physician chambers. He was tired and his feet felt much heavier than usually, and the staircase seemed many times longer than he remembered. The only thing getting him to continue was the promise of a warm meal, and if not soft then at least fairly comfortable bed.

That's why he felt more than a little disappointed when he knocked on the door, and after not getting a response opened it, only to see that the chambers were empty.

He wondered if Gaius maybe had gone about on one of his rounds, and decided to stop a maid. "Sorry, do you know where the Court Physician is?" He flashed her a charming smile making her blush slightly. "I think the king called a Round Table-meeting." She answered shyly. He nodded in thanks, before again dragging his tired feet down the corridor, all the while cursing the prat for calling a meeting at this late hour.

After he had married Guinevere, Arthur had finally made the decision to finally rule like he seemed fit, and not like his father had wanted him to. One of his first decisions had been to replace the table in the Council Chambers with a round one, like the one they had sat around when Morgana took over the castle the first time. Gwaine had then called them "The Knights of the Round Table" and the name had stuck.

Through every one of Arthur's knights sat around the table, when he called a "Round Table-meeting" it still only included the original members, an therefor assumed Merlin that the meeting would be held in the king's and queen's chambers instead of the actual Council Chamber.

He finally arriving at the door leading into Arthur's chambers and opened them without even bothering to knock.

His stomach growled and his eyes threated to close, so he thought it was much in his right to be a little annoyed when he caught sight of a mop of golden hair in the other end of the room. He was standing by the fireplace beside Guinevere with Gaius standing a little to the left, and the knights sitting on various chairs around in the room, or in Gwaine's case; sitting with the legs dangling over the side of the bed.

They all looked up as he stumbled through the door. "Ah, Merlin, just in time" the king nodded and turned back to discuss something with Leon. Gaius caught his eyes and gave him a look telling him that something had happened, and that he wasn't going to like it.

Frowning Merlin moved over to Gwaine and sat down beside him while still keeping his locked on the king's back. "What happened?"

Gwaine chuckled beside him, but he could hear the edge to it that just made his frown deepen. This really wasn't the right time for a new threat. Couldn't it have waited for him to get just one full night of sleep? – Apparently not.

"A sorcerer 'visited' princes yesterday, weird bloke that fellow, not your typical evil sorcerer. He tried to attack with a small fireball, but seemingly passed out from exhaustion before even managing to throw it, and is now kept in the dungeons and hasn't woken yet …" the knight explained.

Merlin raised an eyebrow at that. It was rather common these days for such attacks, not something 'big' enough to call a meeting for, and not at all dangerous enough to make Gaius worry.

Most time Merlin managed to deal with these magicians, either by defeating theme or managing to talk them into leaving like he did with Gilli. This guy hadn't even had the power to control his spell, how could he have been any different?

He got his answer when Gwaine continued.

"What has princes jumping around like this; is what he told before attacking." The knight rolled his eyes, before continuing a little more excited, "You know, he started with the typical chatter about revenge and persecution, and princes told him that he couldn't blame all what his father did on him, and that even when magic was still banned, they weren't directly hunted. The man just called him a hypocrite and said something about, if Emrys didn't soon finish his 'job' and brought magic back, then 'they' would do it; but by different means." By the last sentence the knight changed his voice, probably trying to mimic how the sorcerer had sounded.

But Merlin didn't think about it. Instead he gave a high pitched yelp, "WHAT?!" effectively closing any other conversations in the room and shifting their attentions on him. He could feel his face heat up a little with shame and agitation, the only thing he could think was, No. This isn't happening! Now is not the right time! His breath left him in small gasps and his eyes didn't seem to be able to focus on anything. This had to have to be a dream, no a nightmare. This just couldn't be real! After all there hiding, of acting from the shadows without anyone (well, nearly) not even Morgana finding out, and then this random sorcerer (if you could even call him that) would be the one to reveal him.

He was brought back by the king's sarcastic voice. "Thank you, Merlin, for enlighten us with your thoughts on the matter. Now, if you would be so kind to allow the rest of us to actually find asolution?"

The king ignored the heated glare from his manservant, and turned towards Gaius instead. "So, Gaius, can you tell us anything about this 'Emrys'?" they all looked him hopefully. Gaius met Merlin's panicked eyes, before starting a little hesitantly, "Well, Emrys is known to most of the magical community through the druid's prophecies ..."

"Prophecies?" Leon asked, frowning, but Merlin could see the curiosity in his eyes. His first reaction was shock. Of all the knights he had thought Leon would be the one being against magic the most, as he was the only one of the knights serving under Uther, but then Merlin remembered that Leon's life had been saved by druids. Maybe the knight's view had changed a little after that?

"Yes …" the physician shot Merlin another nervous look. "The druids have always spoken of a powerful warlock. He is said to bring magic back and unite the lands of Albion under the rule of The Once and Future king. Not much is known about them other than they are said to have a bound stronger than blood."

"So you don't know who Emrys is?" the king asked while running a hand through his hair.

"For all I know they could just be a myth, my lord"

"But this sorcerer truly thinks this Emrys exist, and that he is in Camelot. He wouldn't have spoken this threat in the throneroom if he didn't think Emrys would hear it." Leon spoke up a little unsure, but Arthur nodded in agreement and the knight relaxed again.

"Leon is right. If this person who calls himself Emrys is the person the druids speak of is not the most important thing right now. The thing is that a powerful sorcerer is right now in Camelot, hiding right under our noses, and he must be found!"

All the knights got determined glint in their eyes, ready to protect the castle with their life, but before Arthur could give the orders, Gaius spoke up once again. This time more calm, through Merlin could see that his hand still shook a little.

"Maybe it would be better to leave him alone, my lord"

Arthur looked as shocked as the others at that, but his expression quickly changed to puzzled. "And why would that be?"

"Emrys is also called 'the protector', as his only job is to guide and protect. This man thinks he is protecting Camelot, so maybe it would be better to let him do his job?"

The king sighed. "But you could be wrong and he could be a treat, and I can't live with the thought that I could endanger the kingdom and its people. I can't take the risk."

It was clear that the king wouldn't back down.

For a moment Merlin was tempted to let him go. He could trick the king into following wrong leads; maybe, if he looked long enough he would give up? Or Merlin could even use his 'Dragoon' disguise again? - Morgana already knew him as such anyway … But who was he really trying to fool?

He knew his friend. He knew how proud and stubborn he could be; if he had first set it as his mission to find out who Emrys was, then he wouldn't stop before he got his answer. He would follow the tracks, how small and seemingly unimportant they may see, or he would slip up, or someone else would slip of; soon or later Arthur would find out that it all would lead back to him.

The realisation left him numb.

He was thrown back into reality when the king moved a step forwards towards the door.

In the next second Merlin made his decision. In that moment he would probably called it the only right thing he could do, later he would probably blame the lack of sleep, food, and the fact that he was still very annoyed at the prat for denying him it.

So for the second time that evening Merlin interrupted with a shout. "STOP!" It had the desired effect as they all again turned their attention back to him, and Arthur paused mid-step. The king looked even more irritated than before, but even he didn't have the time to react before his manservant had stood up and run towards the door.

This time Merlin didn't have enough control of his emotion to even think about being embarrassed with his outburst, not that he thought that he should have been in the first place.

"It's me. I'm Emrys" the words left his mouth before he could stop them. His heart felt like it tried to break out of his chest and his harsh breathing drowned out all other sounds. He felt disconnected to his body and more alive than he had ever felt before at the same time, but still his words didn't show any of his tumult. They were said calmly and in voice that couldn't possibly be his.

Then he let his eyes glow gold and an equally golden dragon, not unlike the one on the crest of Camelot, appeared over their heads, bathing the room in it golden light.

It all happened so quickly that the door had already snapped shut and the footstep nearly faded before just one of the ones left in the room had even managed to snap their mouth shut.

"Well, that was some surprise … Anyone got any ale?"

Please leave a comment and say what you think.

- Anything good? Anything I should have done differently? :)