Full Description: Life goes on in Camelot after the intense war against Morgana and Mordred. Arthur survives the mortal wound dealt by Mordred's blade with the help of Merlin's magic and all is well. However, now that Arthur knows about Merlin's magic, how will life in Camelot change for the young sorcerer?
Hello, all! I'm hoping to do episodes of this 'new' series of Merlin. Each episode may consist of two to five parts, but no more, no less. Thanks to all who may have the kindness to review and I hope you all enjoy the first part of the first episode of Merlin Series 6.
Episode 1: Life Goes On (Part One)
In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young man. His name, Merlin.
"Merlin!"
The voice tore through Camelot like a knife slicing warm butter. Nearly every housekeeper and cook and maid and knight froze mid-step, confused and surprised. Even the crow that had perched itself on the tallest tower stopped squawking with wide eyes. Underneath the beating sun, Camelot grew weary and agitated, especially with the King out for a servant's throat.
"Merlin!"
The voice continued and through the corridors of the castle, a pair of loud, menacing footfalls echoed. Merlin was so engrossed with polishing the knights' shoes that he didn't hear Arthur yelling for him. He was humming a tune that was popular in the lands of Camelot and it resembled a light, playful period of peace. He was sitting on a step that connected the hallway to the weaponry room, blocking the doorway with a row of dirty brown boots. The sorcerer scrutinized his twelfth pair of polished boots and smiled, proud of his work. He was picking up the thirteenth shoe when a dull pain rippled through his back and he tumbled forward onto his knees. Angered, Merlin turned his head quickly to find Arthur standing at the doorway, his foot in the air, and a really ticked off expression on his face.
"What was that for?" Merlin asked loudly, trying to rub the spot on his back to ease the pain. However, his non-pliable arm just couldn't reach it. Merlin was wearing his normal attire, as well as the King, who was garbed in a red tunic with brown pants. Although, something seemed odd about his clothes, so Merlin expressed his thoughts out loud, "Your clothes look kind of… different."
Arthur scoffed and pointed to the area around his torso, "Could it be, perhaps, this giant, gaping hole in my shirt?"
Merlin narrowed his eyes at the spot Arthur was pointing to, and the sorcerer almost laughed. There was the tiniest hole near the waist that seemed to have been ripped open. "You're kidding, right? I have holes in my clothes, too, but I don't complain." Merlin pulled up his neckerchief to reveal a large rift in the neckline of his blue tunic.
"I'm the king of Camelot, you idiot!" Arthur looked ready about to kick Merlin again, but both feet remained on the ground. "I can't be walking around with ripped clothing! If anyone from neighboring lands visited, what do you think they'd think of Camelot after catching a glimpse of this piece of rubbish!?"
Merlin smiled and set the unpolished boot down. "I'm sure they'd think that it is humble to not throw away something that can still cover your skin."
Arthur shot a menacing glare at the sorcerer, who just chuckled and stood from his crouched position. He walked heavily over to his king and raised his hand, hovering it near the torn part of the tunic. Merlin whispered in the familiar ancient language and his eyes shimmered gold as the fabric wove itself back together. Almost immediately upon completing the spell, Merlin's arm was whacked away by the back of Arthur's hand.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Arthur whispered loudly and angrily. Merlin stared at the king with a confused look, but then bowed his head, unable to look at him in the eyes.
"I'm sorry, but, I can never pass up the chance," Merlin explained solemnly with a sad smile on his face, though it was barely visible as he was facing the floor. "Doing magic in front of you, without the worry of my head being lopped off, well, it's a really good feeling."
Arthur formed his mouth into a tight, straight line and sighed heavily, though the anger had dissipated in his voice. "I'm sorry, Merlin, but I'd like you to still keep it confidential. My mind may have changed, but for everyone who has lived under my father's rule may not. Not until I can convince them. However, we must take this a step at a time."
Merlin looked up to reveal a creaseless face. He looked as innocent as one could be. "But, you're the king, Arthur. You are the one to rule them."
Arthur frowned and replied quietly, "I am a single man, Merlin. If I am not a good king, I will be usurped and my throne will be taken. Those who believe magic should still be outlawed will consider me weak and unfit to rule. I must take the time to change the few minds there are to change."
Merlin raised an eyebrow quizzically, reforming the tune of their presence from a dark and dreary one to a light and playful one. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
Arthur scowled and turned away, obviously having not expected such a question. Regardless, he answered strongly, "Well, I'm sure a series of events where sorcerers are needed will prove their worth, correct?"
Merlin shrugged and a touch of a smile rose on his face as he replied, "Well, only one way to find out."
[ cue Merlin opening introduction ]
Merlin glanced up at Arthur in a determined manner and forced a nervous grin. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Arthur swallowed and licked his dry lips. "If it means proving sorcerers aren't godforsaken things, then I suppose. And are you sure this thing won't hurt anyone?"
Merlin tightened his grip on the latchet of the box and grinned sheepishly. "Of course! Gaius said it's still just a baby."
"Well," Arthur began, frowning, "off with it, then."
At the King of Camelot's orders, Merlin unlatched the chest and instantly, the top of the box burst from its hinges and a creature no bigger than a breadbox shot straight into the air, beating it's tiny wings, but was powerful enough to support its un-proportioned body. The creature clung to a bookshelf near Gaius's bed and let out a high-pitched screech that made Merlin and Arthur shield their ears. A baby griffin had the voice of finger nails on a chalkboard. The griffin released its claws from the bookshelf and leapt off it, sending the tall mountain of literature to the floor in a theatrical crash. Arthur and Merlin had just barely missed the collapsed furniture.
"I thought you said it wasn't dangerous!" Arthur yelled over the squawking and crashing of the mythical creature, still covering his ears.
"It's not!" Merlin protested, trying to persuade the King that it was indeed a good idea to let loose a baby griffin in Camelot. "It's harmless!" As if on cue, the griffin launched itself at Merlin and cracked its forehead with Merlin's skull, sending the sorcerer to the ground near the bookcase.
Arthur couldn't help but burst into laughter at his servant's expense, but upon his cackling, the griffin attached its claws to Arthur's shirt, narrowly missing his skin, and flapped about as if in an attempt to tear the clothing off of his body. Arthur swung his arms around blindly, stumbling back only to trip over Merlin's torso and collided with the ground next to his best friend as well as the bookcase. The miniature griffin released Arthur's clothing and flew away, right out the window of Gaius's chambers. Merlin was still rubbing his wounded forehead to ease the pain when Arthur leapt to his feet, looking flustered and bewildered.
"What the hell was that about? The creature is most certainly dangerous!" Arthur decided angrily, setting his red tunic back to where it was supposed to be. However, in the midst of righting it, Arthur glimpsed not only the first hole he had complained to Merlin about, but there were sets of eight new holes, each having been created by the claws of the baby griffin. Arthur's pale skin was easily visible through his tunic. Arthur cursed loudly and plunged his foot onto the fallen bookshelf, but it collided much more painfully than he had thought and another curse slipped from his mouth as he yelped and bounded backwards, knocking into a table with many potion bottles, sending them rolling and crashing onto the ground and therefore sending the King to the ground with it, bludgeoning his head onto the edge of the table and knocking him unconscious.
Merlin had gotten up early enough to watch it all happen and he cried out in concern, "Arthur!" The sorcerer then stumbled forward to retrieve his fallen King, but instead slipped on the liquid that had seeped from the broken potion bottles. Merlin clung to the curtains in a desperate attempt to stop himself from falling, but his weight proved to be too powerful for the curtain rack to hold and it unhooked from the wall, clonking Merlin right on the top of his head and the sorcerer fell to the ground in a dead faint, right beside Arthur.
The time it took the 'harmless' baby griffin to indirectly knock both the King of Camelot and the most powerful sorcerer to have ever lived out cold was a mere two minutes. The baby griffin certainly wasn't dangerous.