When the Kingdoms' Come
Rated T for violence, language, and sexual thematic hinting
Will be changed to M later for Merthur smut
I own nothing of Merlin, BBC does. Yes, the plot is very, very similar, but there are some significant differences.
Because of his magic induced conception, Arthur was born with a peculiar sixth sense: the ability to detect and feel magic. However, Arthur has told no one of his ability. So when Merlin arrives fresh from Ealdor, Arthur notices his presence immediately, but keeps Merlin's secret from his father. Together, they grow and mature into their intertwined destiny, the two kings of different realms uniting to save Albion.
Chapter 1: Arrival
The raven-haired boy crested the final hill, sharp gaze coming to rest upon the majestic sight of the enormous city below him. Camelot. He had made it. His face split into a huge grin as his feet took him onward, into the heart of the kingdom. Stopping by the gates of the town, the young warlock asked a guard where he could find the medicine man, Gaius. After receiving the seemingly simple directions, he made his way into the town. The sights and sounds were nearly overwhelming to his senses, coming from the small farming village he called home. Stalls lined the dirt-packed streets, offering food, jewelry, clothes, and exotic wares. Merlin wanted to stop and look, but he knew he must find Gaius. Eventually, he came to a small tower with a sign proclaiming "Medicine" and pointing down a hall. There were two doors; he knocked on the first and was greeted with a slightly hunched, grey-haired old man.
"Can I help you?" the elder inquired.
"Are you Gaius?" he asked eagerly.
"Yes, come in," the silver-haired man said, albeit somewhat warily. The large room he stepped into was lined with shelves stuffed full with an assortment of objects; old tomes, potion vials, strange ingredients, spare bedding. Merlin remembered the note his mother had given for him to take to Gaius. He pulled it out and handed it to him.
"Hunith said for me to give this to you."
"Hunith?" The old man looked up sharply at the boy before quickly opening and reading the letter. "So, I'm guessing you must be Merlin." The former nodded. "Well, I suppose I could use an apprentice. I'm not getting any younger. There's a spare room back there that you can use." Gaius nodded in the room's direction and Merlin went to drop his pack on the floor inside. When he came out he accidentally nudged a full bucket of water off the table with his arm. Merlin's senses sharpened and time seemed to slow as the young warlock turned toward the bucket. It fell slower and slower, and then stopped about a foot from the floor. He panicked and looked straight at Gaius. The older man's eyes were wide in surprise. Merlin heard the bucket hit the floor and its' contents slosh out. Gaius walked briskly to Merlin. "How did you do that?"
He had come to Camelot to escape from the wary glances, the harsh whispers, the shunned acceptance. His village was deeply suspicious of him, and Hunith had told Merlin to leave, to start afresh. He was young, he would do well in the city. His mum had warned him not to practice his magic in front of anyone, or not at all really. Yet here he was, barely an hour into this new world, and he had already slipped up. "I don't know," Merlin replied honestly.
"You do realize magic is illegal here, boy. If anyone sees you perform, well, anything, the King will have you burned at the stake without so much as a guilty trial." Merlin swallowed fearfully at his uncle's explanation. He nodded his head vigorously in understanding.
The old man sighed. "Get out of here and go explore the town. Be back for dinner, and stay out of trouble!" Glaring eyes bored into Merlin's.
"Yes, yes, I will. Thank you!"