Merlin woke to the sun piercing the lids of his eyes. Squinting he lifted his head to get a look out of the window before rolling over and burying his face into the pillow and willing himself to fall back to sleep. It wasn't meant to be though, as Gaius came in just a second later. He let out a muffled groan before Gaius could shake him awake, hoping he would take pity and give him a few more minutes.
"Good you're awake, I won't have to push your lazy bum out of bed, again."
"Five more minutes," He whined.
"Up you get, you should respect your elders more. I'm an old man Merlin, the least you could do is add some wood to the fire in the mornings so I don't wake up freezing." Gaius chastised in good nature, as he swiped the blanket off him, smirking as Merlin let out a yelp at the feel of cool air. He guessed pity was too much ask from his slave driver.
"What are you talking about, you're not old, you're just cranky." He said petulantly, earning him a swat on the back of the head.
"Breakfast is ready and you have almost an hour till you have to leave to get Arthur breakfast." Gaius said as he retreated out of the room, closing the door behind him.
. o . O . o .
Merlin thought it was quite a lovely day. Winter was less than a month off and the weather had been truly bleak the past few weeks, so everyone was grateful for the sun finally coming out.
At the moment he was grateful for more than the warm weather. He had just delivered the prince his lunch, and he didn't have any chores to finish for either the prince or physician. Since Gaius was attending a meeting with the king Merlin had gone down to fetch water for the two of them; they were almost out and it was an excuse to enjoy the sun while it lasted.
He was regretting it now as he struggled with the carrying pole having to maneuver deftly between people and up the stairs to avoid spilling any water in either of the buckets. In Ealdor fetching water was not too difficult a chore, so when he'd first moved to Camelot and Gaius had set him with the task he had thought it was going to be easy -not taking into account the large amount of people and small amount of space. He cringed just thinking about all the times he had spilled the water and the few memorable times he spilled them on people.
He got to the entrance of the tower he lived in and gave a large smile to the guard that was standing there leaning casually on his spear giving him an amused smile. Aldwyn held open the door for him before asking with a gesture to the buckets, "Need some help there Merlin?"
"You're a lifesaver," He said gratefully, smiling at the man who was already taking one of the buckets from him, his shoulders were aching from the pole digging into them.
"Oh, there's a woman asking about you and Gaius, I told her I'd seen you fetching some water and that you'd back soon. She's waiting in your rooms, looked like she needed some looking at."
"Is it bad? Should I get Gaius?" Merlin asked, quickly walking up the stairs.
"Naw, she's just a bit roughed up. She knew you though."
"Me?" Who could it be? he wondered. Aldwyn knew Gwen and quite a lot of the servants, so it couldn't have been any of them. Maybe one of their old patients? But then he started to worry about what he was supposed to do. Gaius had let him assist him a few times now while treating patients but he'd never done it by himself.
All these thoughts passed through his mind as he opened the door to his home only to find...
"Mother?" He said in disbelief, before an even larger smile than usual broke out on his face. He set the water down quickly before running up to her and wrapping his arms around the worn looking woman. She eagerly returned the embrace but he quickly remembered what Aldwyn said and pulled himself away, now taking in the black eye he had missed in his shock.
"What happened?" Merlin asked placing both his hands gently on either side of her face. She looked downwards and he could tell it hadn't been an accident. "Who did this?" He asked, his face darkening.
After leading his mother over to a bench, he sat next to her holding her hands in his own, as she told him of the man, Kanen, who was terrorizing their village. She told him how Kanen had come to their village and demanded all of their harvest, and that he had already taken a life.
"You have to tell the king, he will send help." Merlin said firmly already standing up.
"No, I can't. It must be you." She said fearfully, eyes panicked. At seeing his mother becoming distressed Merlin put one hand comfortably on her shoulder to try to calm her.
"I don't think it will be the same coming from me," He said, thinking of all the times he'd embarrassed himself in front of the king, and how he thought him a fool -not that his mother knew any of that. "It's fine, he will listen to you. I'll take you to see Arthur, the prince, he can get you an audience with the king."
"The prince?" She asked, her earlier fearfulness seemed to melt away to be replaced with something almost hopeful.
"Yeah but don't expect anything grand of him, he's a prat." He grinned, causing Hunith to smile back before swatting him on the shoulder and reprimanding him for speaking of the prince like that. Behind them a laugh was covered with a cough, Merlin turned around, cheeks flushing in embarrassment as he looked at over at Aldwyn who was setting down the water bucket and smiling kindly at them.
"Um, mother this is Aldwyn, he's a guard here at the palace, Aldwyn this is my mother Hunith."
"It's always nice to meet friends of Merlin," Hunith said as she stood and offered her hand to Aldwyn. He instead gently held on to her hand and bowed so he could place a light kiss upon her knuckles.
"It's a pleasure, my lady," He said causing her to blush.
"Aldwyn!" Merlin chastised, scandalized. "That's my mother!"
"I know a beautiful lady when I see one, how could I not be a proper gentleman."
"Oh please, I'm no lady." Hunith says smiling, amused at their antics, but then winced and brought a hand to the blackened eye to sooth the hurt. Seeing this, Merlin quickly starts to gather supplies to help and thanks Aldwyn for his help, who then leaves to return to his post but not before reassuring them that if they need anything he'd be happy to help.
"He's seems like a nice man," Hunith says to her son as he applies a cream lightly around her eye. "Seems like a good friend to have."
"Hm," Merlin hums, focusing on his task. He doesn't know Aldwyn very well, but he supposed that they could be considered friends, but not close at all. Since arriving in Camelot he hadn't had much time to make friends with anyone what with being Arthur's manservant, saving Arthur's life, practicing magic, doing chores for Gaius, and training as physician (not that he got much time to do that) he didn't have much down time to talk and get to know people.
Besides Arthur, and Lancelot whom he'd been able form a quick and strong bond with, the only person he'd really been able to make friends with was Gwen, and he was closer to Morgana than he was the other servants, but that wasn't much of a surprise since it seemed like many of them were bitter towards him. The position of royal servant just being given to a complete stranger while others who had been working for years and had not been given the same "honour" did not put him on anyone's good side.
After he finished putting a paste on the bruise, Merlin lead his mother through the castle pointing out different sights, and telling her different stories about his times here -making sure to leave out all the magical and dangerous parts of course. When they finally got to Arthur's chambers Hunith was laughing and smiling fondly and wistfully as she watched him and looked around the castle.
He knocked politely on the prince's door, for one because he didn't want his mother to get a bad impression of him and second because he thought it would make Arthur more likely to help him if he was in a good mood.
After being given permission to come in the first thing he saw was Arthur sitting at the end of the table with papers and books around him and his lunch pushed off to the side half eaten. When Arthur looked up he seemed surprised to see it was him, before his face changed and a smirk grew on his face. "So Merlin, you finally started knocking instead of just barging in, have you?"
"What are you talking about, I don't do that." Merlin replied too quickly, his face reddening. Then, before Arthur could say anything to embarrass him he moved to the side so his mother could step into the room. "Anyways, Arthur, I'd like you to meet my mother, Hunith."
She smiled brightly and curtseyed deeply. "It's a pleasure my lord."
Arthur stood, back straight and arms behind his back. "Greetings, Merlin has mentioned you before, I hope you enjoy your stay in Camelot." Looking cautiously at the bruise around her eye.
"I'm sure I will, sire."
"Merlin," Arthur said still smiling but he could hear the threat underneath. "May I speak with you?" He asked, but Merlin knew an order when he heard one.
"Yes sire," He said, hoping using the appropriate addressing would help lessing his temper, as he followed Arthur to the far side of the room.
"What do you think you're doing?" Arthur accused him in a whisper.
"Uh..."
"These are my rooms, they are not a showing room, people without given permission aren't even allowed in this part of the castle."
"I know, I know! But it's important, my village is being attacked, my mother came to ask you for help." Arthur's eyes widened and then straightened up and went back to using a normal voice.
"Why didn't you just say so Merlin." He said in his usual pompous tone, already walking back to Hunith.
"I was trying to," Merlin muttered behind his back.
"Hunith, Merlin tells me that your village is in trouble, what can you tell me?"
And then Hunith told him the same thing she told her son, only this time she was asked how many men there were, how many horses they had, what weapons they had, and where there base was. Arthur sat at the table across from her and listened intently, nodding and encouraging her to continue.
"This needs to be taken to the king immediately, I'm sure he will send a troop to help after hearing this."
"Thank you so much."
He looked out the window and then nodded. "His meeting should be coming to a close soon, I'll take you down to him now."
"What?" Hunith said hands clasped tight in front of her. "You want me to speak to him? I thought you would do it."
"It wouldn't be the same for me to tell him he needs to hear it from you." Arthur explained already putting on his jacket, Merlin was right there fasting his belt with his sword around his waist without even thinking about it. And they were on their way Arthur in the lead as usual, his back straight and face as serious as if he were going to the battle himself at that moment.
When they made their way to the throne room, it was clear that the meeting had just ended people slowly trickling out into the hall conversing with each other. Arthur told them to wait outside and went in to speak with his father.
He was sitting on his throne speaking with a noble when he walked to his side and excused himself, explaining he had something important to discus. As the other man bowed and moved away his father looked to him frowning, clearly not happy with the way he had been rude with the other man.
He bent down so only his father could hear, and quickly explained the situation.
"Ealdor? I don't believe that it's within our borders."
"Father you know how king Cenred is." Uther was quiet for a moment before answering.
"You may let her in but I can promise nothing." He knew he wouldn't be able to send men to help the raided village but it was important to keep up appearances to the common people. Besides men like this didn't just satisfy themselves by raiding one little village, it would only be a matter of time before they got stupid with their greed and traveled over borders, and it would be best to be prepared.
"Thank you father." Arthur bowed and signaled the guard to let Merlin and his mother in. The few politicians that were still left talking to themselves in the room looked on in interest, moving to each side of the throne creating an audience for the two peasants.
As the two of them stood outside the doors while Arthur spoke with his father Merlin tried to comfort his mother, who seemed to be incredibly nervous and more distressed than he had seen her in years. She started to pull her hair down to cover her face, and fidgeted with her clothes.
When they were signaled to come in Arthur gave an encouraging nod to Merlin when he looked up to him. He guided his mother in and once they both stood in front of the king they bowed, then Merlin went off to stand by Gaius, who was looking incredibly surprised and distressed himself. Merlin couldn't tell what would have him so upset, but he put it down to seeing Hunith here in this setting, he must have realized that for her to be here meant something bad happened.
Uther sat on the throne, elbows resting on both arm rests, and fingers wrapped together by his chest. Hunith stood as far away from the king as she could while still being heard, keeping her head bowed. She started repeating everything she had told Merlin and Arthur about Kanen and his men when Uther suddenly straightened up, eyes widening. He held up his hand to signal her to stop speaking, causing her to immediately snap her mouth close.
"What did you say your name was?" He asked, his voice somewhat strained. Hunith opened her mouth again but it seemed like nothing would come out, so Arthur spoke up.
"She said her name was Hunith."
"It can't be," He spoke only in a whisper but his voice carried clearly through the room. Standing up, he slowly made his way forward till he was right in front of her. Gaius seemed to tense, holding his breath, and Merlin watched the interaction becoming more bewildered by the moment. "Hunith is it really you?" He asked again lifting her head up. Finally seeing the woman's face drew a gasp from him and the next thing Merlin knew the king was drawing his mother into a tight embrace that she was, in fact, returning.
Merlin looked around to see if there was anyone as baffled about this as much as he was. To his relief it seemed that he wasn't the only one, Arthur looked deeply startled and confused, by what he was seeing, so was as Morgana and her maid Gwen. The others that were from Uther's court seemed to all be gasping and whispering hurriedly to each other. Merlin looked to his right to see Gaius looking grim.
"Leave," Uther addressed everyone as he pulled away from Hunith, his gaze never leaving hers. "Leave us."
And with that everyone was evacuating the room, Gaius tugging Merlin away from his mother not even bothering to bow as they made their way out. The doors closed behind him, and all Merlin could do for a moment was stare at the wood before turning to Gaius, Morgana, Gwen, and Arthur.
"Can anyone explain what just happened?" No one spoke for a moment, all looking between themselves, before Gaius spoke up.
"I think I should shed some light on the situation, but it is a private matter. We should move this conversation to my quarters Merlin." Merlin nodded. "Arthur, you should hear what I have to say as well, it does have to do with you. I'm sorry Morgana, Gwen, but it is private." The ladies nodded understandingly, but before leaving Morgana gave Arthur a sharp look that needed no words to explain. He would have to tell her everything.
Gaius led both Arthur and Merlin to the physician's rooms, Merlin uncharacteristically quiet. It was best to be sitting for this, Gaius told them when they arrived. Once they were all seated, Gaius didn't seem to know how to start so Arthur spoke up first.
"How does my father know Merlin's mother?" Gaius looked into each boy's eyes gathering his words.
"Now this may be hard to believe, but Hunith is Uther's sister."
. o . O . o .
Down within the throne room a brother and sister stood reunited.
Uther held on tightly to the woman in his arms as if afraid she might disappear, Hunith in turn buried her face into the shoulder of the king, her tears falling onto richly made fabric. Uther slowly pulled away but didn't let her leave his arms. He brought his hands up to her face, his thumbs brushing away the tears, smearing the dirt on her face.
He looked into her bright blue eyes, it had been twenty years since he had last seen them. Even though her face had gained wrinkles from age, and lost its softness from living as a peasant for years and had bruising around her eye, her eyes still hadn't changed from how he remembered them. They looked up at him with the same love and kindness that they always had, as she wipe away his own tears with her calloused fingers.
"Sister, I've missed you so, I thought you to be dead, killed by that sorceror, Balinor." He said, his voice cracking with an old deep pain. "Where have you been? Why haven't you returned to me?"
As he asked this though Hunith tore her gaze away from his own, bringing her head down in shame. "Hunith, what is wrong?" He asked again tilting her head back up. She was crying again but this time not in happiness.
"I ran away." She emitted. Uther frowned, his eyebrows coming together in confusion.
"Why?" She took a deep breath, gathering her strength. She was a strong woman, she had faced worse things than this since she had left her first home.
"I was afraid to shame you." She said, somehow preventing her voice from cracking, but not able to make eye contact with her brother.
"What do you mean?" Uther not understanding what his beloved sister could have done.
"I gave birth to a son out of wedlock." Uther was at a loss for words for a moment, not knowing how to handle the situation, it all was so sudden and there were too many emotions going through him.
"I have a nephew?" He asked even though he knew the answer, Hunith nodded. "We must bring him to camelot immediately. I will send knights to fetch him." He was already stepping away from her to walk to the door.
"There is no need," Uther looked at her expectantly. Hunith took a deep breath, what she said next could anger the king, depending on the view he had on his son's manservant. "He is your son's manservant, Merlin."
"Merlin?" Uther asked incredulously.
"I know he may seem strange, but I promise he is a very intelligent boy. I taught him everything I know, well everything besides the workings of the court." She could never had taught him that, it would have been to suspicious, besides she had never meant for Uther to ever find out he had a nephew.
"He is a very-" Uther paused not wanting to offend his newly found sister, "Odd." He finally settled on. Hunith couldn't help but smile at the description. "But he is Gaius's apprentice, and he saved my son's life, so he must be a fine lad. You were always the smart one out of the two of us, I'm sure you were a great teacher."
"Thank you Uther." She said gratefully, flashing him a bright smile. How he had missed that smile.
"He will of course have to be given tutors, and the two of you will have to be... wait," He stopped himself turning to look at his sister again, speaking his next question consciously. "His father was of noble blood, correct?"
"Of course!" Hunith said looking insulted. "His father was my betrothed, Lord Moran. It was right before," She trailed off looking downward, looking ashamed, before she got ahold of herself. "Before he left for battle, he was afraid he would not make it back, and then, well, he didn't."
Uther nodded in understanding, thinking of Morgana. He walked back up to his sister, and kissed her forehead in reassurance.
"We will tell everyone that the two of you married in private, due to the war. Lord Moran has no family to deny this. His lands have already been given away though, to another family years ago when his mother died of old age.
"As for you being missing for all these years," He rubbed his chin as he thought up a lie. "We will tell all that you were taken by the sorcerer Balinor, and that when you escaped from him he cast a curse causing you to lose your memory. That the people within the village you've been living -what was its name?"
"Ealdor."
"Yes, that the people of Ealdor took you in and helped you raise your child." Hunith just nodded in agreement. It was best to let Uther do this, best for Merlin, no matter how it angered her to hear Balinor blamed, to hear magic blamed and to be the one causing it to be shown in such a bad light. "That you returned to Camelot because your memories were just starting to return."
"I agree that is best, my lord, but what of Ealdor?"
"What about it?"
"They are in danger, Kanen and his men want to take our harvest. The winters are harsh in Ealdor, and there are many children. Some of them just won't be strong enough to survive. They barely have enough food as it is and if Kanen takes their harvest, the children won't live to see another summer. Please, they need your help, and they took care of me for years."
Uther seemed to think about this for a few moments, before looking into his sister's eyes. "And was it this Kanen that did this to you?" He asked gesturing to her bruised eye.
"Yes, and he killed the man that tried to protect me."
"Then of course. A troupe of men will be sent to deal with the man who dared to lay a hand on a princess of Camelot." Hunith smiled at Uther in gratitude, the king smiled back before going to the doors of the throne room and calling out to the guards. "Call on the court, fetch my son as well as the Lady Morgana, I have urgent news."
Uther sat on his throne, Hunith standing by his side, her hand clasped within his as if he were afraid if he didn't hold onto her she'd disappear again.
"I missed you my brother," She confessed for the first time since she had left her home all those years ago. Something she never could have before, lest she allow herself to drown in misery. The king looked up at her quiet words and smiled bringing up her hand to place a light kiss to it.
There was a small part of her that felt bad for lying to her brother, and having him lie to all of Camelot for her, but it was needed. She would have never come here in the first place if it weren't for Ealdor being in trouble, but she had little choice. And no one could know the truth, her son came first, he came before anything else, and besides it wasn't like she lied about everything. Merlin's father was a lord after all, just not the lord she had told Uther.
He was a Dragonlord.
. o . O . o .
It was silent. No one spoke. Gaius looked between the two boys to gage their reactions. At the same moment Arthur and Merlin glanced at each other before then breaking out into laughter. Both boys couldn't seem to get a hold of themselves, Arthur turning red, Merlin tearing up while Gaius just glared at the both of them.
"Will the two of you get a grip of yourselves."
"I'm sorry Gaius," Merlin apologised. "It's just so ridiculous."
"Yeah, you could have come up with something more believable." Arthur agreed, trying to hold back his chuckles as he asked again. "So how does my father really know Hunith?"
"I was being completely serious." Gaius said in the tone of voice he used when discussing a threat to the kingdom. That shut both men up, there humorous grins gone. The two of them looked at each other again, but this time with a dawning horror.
"B-b-but how can that..." Merlin stuttered.
"She ran away about a year after Arthur was born." Gaius explained.
"But Merlin can't be..." Arthur denied, waving his hand hopelessly in Merlin's direction. But even as he denied it, he couldn't help but remember how the woman's eyes seemed familiar. An old memory suddenly came to him.
Arthur wandered the halls, doing his best to dodge out of the way whenever he saw a guard or servant coming. He had sneaked away from his tutors and didn't want to be caught. The day was too nice to stay inside and go over proper dinner manners, so he was exploring the castle.
Richard, the man in charge of the stables, had told him stories of secret passageways that sorcerers used to sneak around in. He was determined to find one and then catch himself a wizard. Father said he was quite the talented hunter, he was sure he could get one. Then his father would be so impressed he wouldn't make him take anymore boring classes.
All thoughts of catching witches left his head though when he came across an ornately carved and painted door. His father, as well as everyone else, had always told him that he was never allowed to go in there, just like he wasn't allowed into the dungeons, until he was older. But that was before, he'd just turned nine last week, surely that meant he was old enough.
He pulled on one of the doors, it's hinges groaning from not being used in so many years. He slid through the opening and found himself in a hallway filled with paintings. He looked on in awe as he walked down the corridor. Every picture had a name of the person below, and he recognized some of them. These were his ancestors. He came to stop at a painting of a person that looked very familiar. He looked on in admiration at seeing his father, so much younger than he was now, with all of his hair still a dark brown.
There was a painting on each side of his father's, but these ones were covered with black curtains, and he couldn't help but let his curiosity get the best of him. He walked over to the painting on his left and lifted the curtain to find a painting of a young woman behind it. She was very beautiful, and had kind blue eyes.
He hadn't gotten to look very long, because the next thing he knew his father was jerking him away and yelling at him.
He'd gotten punished so badly after that, that he hadn't dared skip any more lessons for the rest of the year. And to this day he still hasn't been given permission to enter the room, no one has. And though now knew that in the portrait he hadn't gotten to see was his mother he had always wondered who the girl with the kind eyes was.
It was hard to believe that it was the woman who had come to his chambers just an hour ago. It was hard to believe that Merlin was the son of such a person as well. And if he was having a hard time believing it, then he knew Merlin was having an even harder time.
"Yes he can." Gaius said patiently. The two men sat silently before something occurred to Merlin.
"You knew, you knew this whole time." The words came out quiet at first, but then, feeling himself fill with anger and betrayal, stood suddenly the stool underneath him falling over. "Why didn't you tell me?" He yelled.
"I swore an oath to your mother that I wouldn't tell a soul."
"Screw that. Uther could have helped us, do you know how many years we didn't know whether or not we would make it through the winter, not knowing if it was to be the year one of us would starve to death?" Arthur looked at him in horror.
"Merlin calm down." Gaius said smoothly.
"I am calm!" Merlin yelled.
"Merlin she was worried about what would happen to you." Gaius explained speaking slowly and intently. Merlin stopped, realising what Gaius was getting at. His mother had been worried about someone finding out about his magic. Which would most definitely have happen in a castle where there was always someone around the corner. His mother had told him that even when he was a baby he would do magic accidentally. There would have been no way to hide it while being in the middle of Camelot. Ealdor would be the safest place for him, both far away from Uther and isolated.
"Why would she be worried about Merlin?" Arthur asked looking between the two of them. Gaius and Merlin shared a look before Merlin sighed, then picked his stool back up and sat back down on it again.
"Because Arthur," He took a deep breath. "My mother never married." He said not looking at the prince.
"Oh," Arthur seemed to not know what to say. "So your, your, a..."
"A bastard, yes." Merlin said bluntly, causing Arthur to blush in embarrassment and look away. No one spoke, trying to accept the events that just happened.
"I still can't believe it. It's so absurd." Merlin said again.
"Yeah I can't even imagine how this must be for you." Arthur agreed.
"Oh god, if Uther is my uncle that means," He looked over at Arthur his nose scrunching up in distaste. "That you're my cousin."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Arthur accused.
"How could I be related to such a prat?"
"You should be honored to be a cousin to the crowned prince of Camelot." He protested, but he was barely holding back a grin. He would never tell him, but he always enjoyed their banter.
"Yeah, there you go being a prat again."
"At least you don't have an idiot for a cousin." Merlin was about to shoot back another insult at the prince but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in." Gaius called out, already standing up. The door opened to show one of the knights standing there.
"The king requests all of you to arrive to the throne room promptly."
"We will be there soon thank you." Gaius said, the knight nodded to the physician and then to the prince before closing the door behind him as he left. "It seems that it is time." Gaius spoke wearily.
Both younger men looked as each other before nodding and standing up, readying themselves for events that would change both of their lives.
. o . O . o .
Thanks for reading!
Q: Do you think Merlin should become good (not as good as Arthur ofc) at fighting with a sword, or that he should learn how to use a different kind of weapon (weapons don't just have to be like swords, knives, maces, etc...)? Or do you think he should stick just to magic? If so, are there any kinds of magic you would like to see him use or be used by others, I already have a few ideas.
Edited 8/13/2017