Prologue…

Most of the court was assembled. More than it would have been any other day at any rate. For such an occasion it would have to be. It was not often the Court Magician named her successor. No one had thought the great Nimueh would have found someone so quickly. She had barely served Camelot for fifteen years when the boy had shown up and that was the real talk of the town for the one currently taking his vows to serve Camelot was but a boy of ten. However there lay an even greater scandal because when the boy—this Merlin—had first appeared in court, he was hardly more than a snarling beast, unwilling to serve anyone, much less the king who had made magic the weapon of Camelot. A few short months ago, this boy would have bowed to no one, now he stood quiet and obedient.

Questions buzzed in everybody's mind. What had she done to him? How powerful must he have become that Nimueh was confident enough to name him her successor so soon? And the biggest question of all…Could he be trusted?

"Magic is the ilk of the earth and like the earth, it grows. It bequeaths its gifts, but as all things, it has its time. Mountains wear away and mighty Kings leave their thrones to their sons," Nimueh's lilting voice echoed throughout the hall, her eyes dancing quickly from Uther to Arthur and back again, "My time has not yet come to an end, but the earth, the same earth that Camelot was built upon, has chosen its new guardian. I present my successor, the wizard Merlin. I drink to thee."

She met her pupil's gaze as she drank from the ceremonial goblet. The exchange revealed nothing to the watching crowd, but one could not help to think that it practically crackled with concealed meaning. Nimueh gently released the cup and it drifted languidly through the air to finally set down on the table before the king.

Uther took it in one hand and stood. "You have been vouched for, but before we here can accept you into this noble court, you must first pledge your service. Upon your honor, do you pledge to serve and uphold the ideals and laws of Camelot and in doing so, pledge your life and service to me, Uther Pendragon, King of Camelot?"

Merlin stepped forward, hand placed over his heart. "Forthwith, I swear to serve and uphold the ideals and laws of Camelot with all my power and with my life if it is required—"

Uther smiled and began to raise the cup. Merlin reached out to receive it, fingers curled around its stem.

"—but not for you, Uther Pendragon," the young mage whispered and removing the cup from Uther's slackening grasp, he emptied it upon the stone floor. With precise movements he set the now empty glass before the stunned prince. "I pledge my life and magic to Prince Arthur. I will serve no other."

"Merlin, this is not—!" Nimueh's choked protest rang across the hall.

Merlin turned, crystal blue turning to ice. "You cannot control me anymore, Nimueh."

His nimble hands moving up towards the iron collar that stood out in stark contrast to the pale column of skin it encased. It was barely loose enough for him to wedge his fingers around it. For a moment he closed his eyes, murmuring under his breath and when he opened them, blue eyes flashed golden before the solid metal collar melted into a wisp of grey smoke. As it dispersed like it had never existed, Merlin finally faced the now stone-faced prince and offered him the cup.

"The only one who can command me now is Arthur."

The two stared at each other. The body language between the two resembled that of a coiled spring and an impenetrable wall. Gaius, Court Physician and Chief Healer, waited with bated breath for a moment that had been years in the making, which had begun just a short time ago and took place in a scene much like this one…

-o-O-o-

A/N: Chapter updates—for now at least—shall come every weekend. Either on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. At the very least I can vouch for the next two weeks as I have Chapters 1 and 2 completed. Merlin rocks. If this is received well I may be persuaded to post Ch.1 sooner (also because I realize this chapter has little substance). At any rate, review please. Thank you.