Alaia Skyhawk: Sorry to confuse those who have come here straight from Motives, but when I made this decision and picked the title, I knew the incomplete sub-ep "Alliance" was a perfectly themed sub to start this continuation off with. Now, you may be wondering why I've done this, well the answer is this.
Having seen the comment a couple of times, and taken note of just how freaking long Motives is (311,952 words!), I've decided to split Season 4 off into a seperate fic earlier than I was intending to (It was originally going to be about halfway through Season 4). So with that in mind, here it is, the follow on from A Question of Motives... A Question of Brotherhood. No prizes for guessing the theme where that name comes from :P
I will note to those just coming across this fic, that I highly recommend reading Motives, since otherwise a lot of my additions to the plot and cast are going to leave you wondering where they come from. There is also a completed Prequel/Side Story to the show and seasons 1&2, called Whom History Won't Remember, and an in-progress Seasons 1&2 fic called A Question of Destiny (Which admitedly I am now tempted to split off into a new fic "A Question of Resolve", when I get to the ep "The Curse of Cornelius Sigan". I think if I'm going to do one fic per season for 3 and 4, I might as well continue with that for 1, 2, & 5 :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Music: N/A
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Chapter 1: Alliance ~Part 1~
The city was blanketed in white, trails of smoke rising from chimneys all around and up into the chill air. Winter was probably the most peaceful time here in Camelot. A time when farmers stayed in their homes except to go to the market, blacksmiths worked on stockpiling things that would be needed come spring, and servants cut their trails through the snowy streets going to work as they always did.
His arms braced on his windowsill, Merlin looked out over that city with a small smile. The knights only did minimal training during the winter, and only when the snow wasn't too deep on the training field. There had been a veritable blizzard a couple of days ago, one that had left a full eighteen inches of snow covering that area. If the snow was deep enough that it would mean hunkering down in a camp during a military campaign, or holding off during a siege, then Arthur kept his men inside. If the snow was too deep for anyone to attack, then it was conditions the Knights would not be expected to fight in. He'd rather let them rest than risk them injuring themselves.
And the opportunity it presented him wasn't one he was going to let pass him by.
The warlock sighed to himself, stepping down from the table he'd been using as a boost to look out the window. On his bed he'd laid out some of his warmest gear, including a thick, hooded cloak. His staff was also laid out, disguised with an illusion to make it look like the typical trimmed tree branch commoners used as a cheap means of being able to check the footing beneath deep snow. He had nothing else, no bag or supplies. Where he planned to go, he shouldn't need them.
Merlin donned the cloak but left the hood down, picking up his 'stick' and descending the steps to the main chamber. The sight of him clearly dressed to go out, Gaius frowned upon seeing him.
"Going somewhere?"
His ward grabbed a chunk of bread from the table, taking a bite from it before replying.
"It's an errand, an important one. The deep snow means Arthur's going to be stuck doing reports inside the castle for the next few days, so I'm going to do it while I have the chance."
The physician gave him a long look.
"And might I ask what the errand is?"
"I'd really rather see how it goes first before I say anything. I don't want to jinx it."
Noting his ward's grimace as he'd said it, Gaius let out a resigned sigh. Merlin seemed to be keeping secrets again as of late, but he knew the young warlock would speak to him about them when he felt the time was right.
"All right, so long as you're sure what you're doing."
Merlin responded with a grin.
"You know me. I always land on my feet." He started towards the door. "I'll be back sometime today or tomorrow, the day after at the latest. I'm not sure exactly how long this will take, so I'm giving myself plenty of time."
Gaius called out after him.
"Does Arthur know?"
His ward paused, glancing back.
"Don't worry. I asked Gwen to make sure he gets his meals and his bed is made. He's capable of finding his clothes and dressing himself. I'll sort his laundry out when I get back."
"Just be careful."
Merlin gave him a last smile of reassurance before going out the door, that smile fading into a solemn regard once he was out of sight.
He trudged down to the lower town as if heading to the market, only then changing direction and slipping quietly out of the city. Enough people went out to the forest, to collect wood for fires, that one more apparently doing that didn't draw any attention. The difference for him was that he made sure to head well away from the areas where the trees had been coppiced to provide a steady supply for the city's hearths, instead making his way to a clearing he'd used for this purpose many times.
His call echoed to the sky like always, before he huddled down in his cloak to wait. True to form he didn't have to wait long, barely fifteen minutes before Kilgharrah came winging down out of the sky to land amid the snowdrifts.
He regarded the young Dragonlord with resignation.
"You're beginning to make a habit out of these 'errands', young warlock. Where is it you wish to go this time?"
Merlin struggled through the deep snow towards him, accepting a helping talon from the dragon to lift him from it and to the creature's shoulders.
"I'd like to mention that this one is about gaining a little insurance for Arthur. I wouldn't call you if it wasn't important."
Kilgharrah took flight, banking and turning to head north-east, the direction he could sense that Merlin wished to go.
"And for what reason do you wish to go to this place?"
Merlin sighed, pressing himself close to the dragon's scaled neck to avoid the worst of the icy winds blowing past.
"I may have told Liam I didn't want him telling 'them' I know about them, but I never said I wouldn't go tell them myself. 'On my own terms' is how I want this, and he's been good enough to tell me that all the lead members of the Conspiracy meet up for Winter Solstice. To usher out the old year and welcome in the new, by the traditions of the Old Religion, they'll all be in Ulwin for today... I'm just going to be taking advantage of that, to have a little talk with them. Clear the air a bit."
Kilgharrah tilted his head to glance back at him.
"So that would be why you manipulated that snowfall a few days ago, hmmm? I wonder if anyone else will notice that the snow is much shallower once you pass two miles beyond the city walls, in a perfect circle I might add."
The warlock atop his back grimaced.
"And who's going to go walking an exact circle two miles out from the city in this weather? I didn't have time to be fancy with the spell to call that extra snow down."
"Whatever you say, young warlock. Just remember that until the time comes that you can use your magic openly, every time you allow yourself to be lax in hiding it you will put yourself at risk."
"If Uther was of a mind to kill me right now, he'd have ordered it already."
Merlin clamped a hand to his mouth the moment he realised what he'd uttered, Kilgharrah jolting beneath him in such horror he actually plummeted almost a hundred feet from the sky before he steadied his flight again.
"Uther knows about your magic?"
Merlin cringed, the words echoing both in his ears and his mind, before he reached out with his spirit to the dragon to help him convey what had transpired.
"Morgana told him about me, and my spell over him could not stop him believing her. After we took back Camelot, I took him to his rooms on purpose so I could speak to him alone. In light of all I've done for Camelot, he's accepted that my loyalty is to the kingdom and to Arthur. So long as I do nothing to betray Arthur or the kingdom, Uther said he'll make an exception for me." He gave Kilgharrah a small smile. "I admit the situation makes me nervous, but I've no choice but to go along with it, not if I want to stay by Arthur."
Kilgharrah's displeasure rumbled through him.
"No choice? You could place a spell on him to blank out his memories of it. As broken as his mind is right now, I doubt anyone would notice he's missing a few weeks."
"No. I won't undo Arthur's work." Merlin's expression hardened, even as the dragon's eyes widened in puzzlement. "You once told Arthur that if there were any chance for Uther to redeem himself, it would be if he listened to the words spoken by him, his son... Arthur's words are getting through to him. It was Arthur's words, and the realisation that his son knows about and accepts my magic, that made Uther decide to turn a blind eye to me."
Wondering silence fell between them, before Kilgharrah turned his head to face forward and sighed.
"Well wonders never cease... Does Arthur know abut this?"
The warlock shook his head.
"No, I haven't told anyone. Besides Uther and I, you are the only other who knows. I promised the king that if Arthur learnt about it, it would be from him... Because the day he admits to his son that he spared me, I think might be the day he can redeem himself. The day he can say he let me live, and that in doing so he ensured that magic would return. He doesn't know about the prophecy, but I don't doubt he might find out about it someday and realise just who Arthur and I are. When that day comes, and he is faced with a choice of seeing magic return, or killing me and seeing his son doomed to die... He will choose to save his son, I know he will."
Beneath him, the dragon sighed again.
"I have said this before, young warlock, you are far too kind-hearted. It is your greatest weakness." He snorted. "But it is also your greatest strength. Your heart is what has shaped Arthur in the man he is today, the man who will unite all of Albion."
Merlin smiled, patting the side of Kilgharrah's neck.
"And you wouldn't have me any other way."
They spoke no further for the remainder of the flight, the pair of them eventually touching down in a woodland clearing about a mile from the town of Ulwin.
Merlin left the dragon there, with the promise he would be inside the town for a couple of days at the most. He pulled up his hood before proceeded to trudge in the direction of the main road, having decided he wanted to enter Ulwin unnoticed. While he could hide himself with an illusion, and there was no sun to make him cast a shadow, he could not hide his footprints. The easiest way around that was to follow the already churned up track from where it left the band of woodland and headed to the town's southern gate.
It was a hard slog, taking him easily an hour even with his staff to help him balance in the icy conditions. Finally getting through the gate was a relief, and meant he could switch to his second disguise. It was a young, invisible warlock who ducked into an empty alleyway, and an old man propped up by walking stick who came out. It wasn't another ageing spell, he wasn't stupid enough to cast one in this situation even if he'd had the materials with him to do it. No, he'd opted for another simple illusion. He just had to make sure no one saw his far-from-old reflection.
The walk through the town was far easier, with much of the snow having been cleared out of the way by the locals, and many of them happily allowing the 'old man' to pass unobstructed. The guards at the manor gates were equally helpful when they asked him his business, and he told them he wished to see the physician about a remedy for his aching joints. The guards immediately let him pass with sympathy, one of them even guiding him to the physician's door.
When the guard left him there, after Merlin had thanked him kindly in an old voice, the warlock had to suppress the urge to start chuckling before he went into the converted former stable. With the right magic and information, this was far too easy.
The workroom within hadn't changed much in the over three years since his brief visit here, that time he'd followed Arthur against orders when the prince had come to Ulwin on the state visit. Forwin hadn't changed much either. He still resembled a bristle-haired irate goat, and the man he now knew to be a former druid clearly believed he had a patient when he saw the 'old man' standing just inside his door.
Forwin strode towards him, his expression thoughtful and businesslike.
"Come in, sit down. How is it I can help you?"
Merlin lowered his head to cast his face further into shadow, even as he straightened up from his elderly stoop and thumped his staff on the floor. The illusion over it and himself vanished, revealing it to be a blatantly magical staff, but his face was hidden in the depths of his hood and his voice not familiar enough for the middle-aged man to place it.
"I come seeking the leaders of the group who call themselves the Conspiracy. To suggest an alliance in the name of the bright future of Albion."
Forwin came to an immediate and shocked halt, surprised to hear the Conspiracy's code phrase, but still extremely wary and tense. His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"And who are you to barge in here suggesting such a thing? That you know our password tells me you were pointed to us by one of our number, but that does not mean you can remain hidden. Those who will not show their face, are those who cannot be trusted."
Merlin paused for a moment, taking a deep breath, before reaching up with his free hand to throw back his hood. There was no going back now, his face exposed as he made himself smile slightly at the physician.
"I am Merlin Emrys... but then I believe you already know that."
Merlin watched Forwin carefully in the moments that followed, unable to think of a word to describe the amusing array of emotions that played across the physician's stunned face. Forwin was literally speechless, on the verge of gaping before finally he found his voice."
"Y-you?"
Merlin was starting to feel a bit more sure of himself now, his smile widening.
"From what I've heard of you, and been able to guess of your activities regarding me, you probably weren't aware that I've known full well my destiny since shortly after I first arrived in Camelot." He took a step closer. "And I hear from Liam what it is that you do, the Conspiracy and their task force, the Aering Knights. His vow to the Old Magic is fully sundered, his memory of telling you where to find me, resurfaced. He's already told me all that he knows about you all, although I can tell that he doesn't really know that much... So I decided that there was no point in acting like I didn't know your group exists."
Forwin, still struggling to regain his composure, suddenly moved towards the door to the narrow passage outside the workroom.
"Put your hood back up and follow me."
He hurried out, the young legendary warlock forced to scramble after him. Forwin led him deep into the manor itself, to the inner area presided over by the Ulwin Guard, the personal guards of the Lord of Ulwin. Merlin glanced at them as they passed, knowing that every one of those men were supporters of magic. Knowing that, and being inside the area they guarded, he had to admit he felt the safest he'd ever been in a long time.
Forwin left him in a guest room, Merlin moving to the hearth and noting it was already prepared with tinder and firewood in case of guests. Idly propping his staff against the wall, he lit the wood with a spell and removed his damp cloak, settling into the chair closest to the fire to wait. While nervous about this before, he now found himself somewhat amused at being treated as an important and honoured guest. When before now, as a servant, he had always been the one doing all the bowing and seeing to of such individuals.
Merlin sat there watching the flames, tapping his fingers on the chair's arm rests as the minutes passed by. It was just about fifteen minutes after the physician had left him here, when the door of the room opened to admit an ageing noblewoman and a middle-aged servant.
Lady Jancine, for he recognised her from Liam's description of her, regarded him with wide eyes and a nervous manner.
"I bid you welcome to Ulwin. I am Lady Jancine."
Merlin rose to his feet, smiling to reassure her even as he started to feel unnerved. Since when had he ever made people nervous to be in his presence?
"You can relax. I spend a lot of my time in Camelot scrubbing floors and carting dirty laundry around, when I'm not spying for Arthur. There's no need to stand on ceremony with me just because of who I am."
Jancine, gesturing to the servant to set the hastily arranged tray of food and wine on the nearby table, nodded slowly.
"So Forwin was telling the truth. You know that you're Emrys."
Merlin sighed, running a hand over his face.
"I've known for years, ever since the incident with the druid boy that Morgana tried to help escape from Camelot, and who Arthur got out of the city instead. The boy knew me on sight, and called me by that name in here." He tapped his forehead. "Gaius told me all that he knew about the prophecy after that, and what it meant. Since then, I've just done what I always have since I arrived in Camelot. Protect Arthur and the kingdom from the things that would threaten them. There's no glory to it, just hard work. No 'doing it because I have to'. I do it because I believe that it's the right thing to do."
He moved to the table and sat, Jancine sending the servant out of the room before joining him. The food was of the quality he was used to getting for Arthur, not being presented with himself.
"I had Tabar bring food for you, with it nearing noon. There's wine as well, if you would care for some."
Merlin eyed the pitcher, able to smell the potency of it even from where he sat.
"I find that alcohol doesn't mix too well with my magic. The last time I got drunk, I blew a torch out from a distance of twenty yards with nothing but a sneeze. I make a habit these days of not drinking it unless I feel like treating myself, and even then I watch my limits. I think that wine might just be a bit strong for me to risk it."
His wry smile had her staring for a moment, before she relaxed and started to chuckle.
"I will admit that this wasn't what I was expecting. We all believed that a meeting like this wouldn't happen until after magic had been returned to the land, and Arthur was king."
Merlin, having conjured some water into his goblet, looked into it and twirled the stem between his fingers.
"Arthur doesn't know I'm here, and I'm not going to tell him what my 'errand' was. Not yet. He's got too much to worry about right now, with it looking like he's going to have to take over as regent. Something inside Uther has just... broken since Morgana's betrayal. The more time that passes, the deeper the wound seems to get. It's been nearly three months and he's still in no condition to rule. And despite Arthur asking, both Gaius and I are reluctant to try using magic to aid in a recovery. While we're capable of doing it without the king being aware, there's no telling if it would help or harm him in the long run. Magic can't mend what emotions have broken, only coming to terms with them can."
Once again the noblewoman was staring at him, but this time for an entirely different reason.
"Arthur knows about your magic?"
Merlin set down his goblet and looked at her solemnly.
"He's known for most of a year. He knows he is the Once and Future King, and has already sworn to usher in the return of magic as soon as the right time comes. But I know that Morgana is still out there, maybe Morgause as well if she survived what I did to her. They'll be plotting revenge, plotting to destroy Camelot, and we are going to need all the allies we can get. If a time comes that I need the Conspiracy's aid, I want to know I can count on you to answer that call. That's why I came here."
Jancine nodded gravely, her manner becoming entirely serious. She had a core of steel beneath her kind manner, he could see it.
"Then you can count on it. My son is the leader of group now, but I know I can speak for him when I say that every one of us will agree to an alliance. Our group exists for the sake of the peaceful return of magic, and you and Arthur are the only hope for that. If you need us, we will come."
Merlin took a sip of his water, pointedly not looking at her, his tone faintly warning.
"Just make sure none of you spy on me ever again." When she stiffened, he glanced at her. "I know you've done it, you'd have had to for some of the things I can remember to make sense. I can make a rough guess of when you started and stopped before now, but I want to make clear that me knowing about you all is no excuse for you to pry into my life again. I'm going to have a word with Georg and Catherine when I return to the city, and I will warn that if either of them try to keep tabs on me, as I'm sure they did during my first few months in Camelot, I will make things uncomfortable for them. I won't hurt them, but that doesn't mean I won't be unpleasant." He narrowed his eyes. "I accept and understand why you did it back then, but now I have enough pressure on me already without my privacy being violated again. Even if it's done with the most altruistic of motives."
Jancine bowed her head, apologetic and shamed both at the same time.
"You have my word, we've not had them watching you since the time of the accord with Cenrid being signed. We realised then that you and Arthur were strong enough to stand on your own, and didn't need our protection any more like you had while you were still children. The only reports that come from them now are the general ones about what has been going on in the city. If they had been spying on you, your revelations today would not have been such a shock, and I can say that neither of them are aware you have magic. They didn't watch you that closely, and we didn't tell them. They were too close to Uther to risk it."
Merlin snorted, setting down his goblet again.
"Point taken, and understood." He got to his feet. "I wasn't sure how long this was going to take, or if there would be any formality involved in it, so I gave myself plenty of time. But if that's all agreed, then I supposed I might as well head back now."
She stopped him with a hand on his arm, getting up also.
"Please, at least stay and dine with us, and attend our Solstice Ceremony. To cement our alliance, and... our friendship, if you want it."
Merlin gestured to his slightly shabby servant's clothing in response to her suggestion, his expression a bit wry.
"I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm hardy dressed to be dining with the Lord of Ulwin and yourself. This was never meant as a social visit."
She released his arm, straightening her dress and holding herself upright. It reminded him of Gwen when she got it into her head to do something.
"Nonsense, I have a number of outfits in storage that we had made for Nellan. He's only worn a couple of them, at previous solstices, and I think I know just the one that will look good on you. So, will you stay the night?"
Merlin, realising how much his presence tonight would mean to her and the rest of her co-conspirators, sighed. It looked like he wasn't going to get out of this, not if he wanted to make a good impression.
"I guess I can. I warned Gaius I might not be back until tomorrow or the day after, and I know Kilgharrah won't mind waiting for me. He knows to expect it too."
Jancine smiled warmly, pleased by his acceptance and joyous at it.
"I'll have my maid bring the outfit as soon as it's been checked and freshened up. Make yourself comfortable, and if you need anything just ask Tabar. He'll be waiting outside." She headed briskly for the door, pausing at it and glancing back. "But if you would stay in here, that would be helpful. I've warned Forwin not to tell anyone about your presence except my son, and Clara won't know who you are. The fewer who know before this evening, the less chance there is that curiosity will give rise to someone 'stopping by'."
Merlin nodded, glad of the reprieve.
"I think I'd prefer that too. Thank you."
She left, closing the door behind her, and as soon as he was alone Merlin let out a shuddering breath. This was undoubtedly the strangest and most unnerving thing he'd ever done, and he hadn't even endured the worst of it yet.
Now he had to dine with all the leaders of the Conspiracy...
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Alaia Skyhawk: Again, apologies for confusion this may cause. I'll see about updating part 2 of this sub-ep tonight to make up for it :D