AN: Merlin is still not mine.
This chapter is mainly introducing a new character. In my mind, the plot will start to pick up soon. I'm kinda wishing I hadn't created so many characters, but don't worry, only one is really important. The main reason Lord Cyron has so many kids is so that it's harder for Arthur at first to figure out who's the magical one :)
Anyways, enjoy!
"Goood morning!" Merlin sang, ripping open the curtain to allow in the early light, dim but blinding to a certain king who had been engulfed in the darkness of sleep a moment before. "It's a big day," Merlin continued cheerily, as Arthur rolled over in his sheets, grumbling about incompetent servants, in response to which said servant grabbed the end of the monarch's sheets and pulled. Arthur spun in his bed, being extracted from the comfort of his blankets via unraveling, and fell onto he floor.
"Merlin," the king yelped, feeling a bruise blooming on his elbow.
"Sorry sire," Merlin said, in a tone that said quite plainly that he was not sorry. "But you have to get up early today, remember?"
Arthur's mood immediately became tense. Yes, he remembered. Today was the day Lord Cyron would be arriving - as well as his magical family member.
It took a little longer than usual to get Arthur ready, because he was so distracted he didn't notice Merlin trying to help him into his shirt until Merlin snapped "A little help?"
Needless to say, they were the last arrive outside at the palace entrance with the rest of the welcoming party. They had been bickering about whose fault it was that they were late, but Arthur whacked Merlin and told him to shut up when they came within earshot of the others. He put on his diplomat face and nodded to his fellow knights. "They should be arriving any moment now, Sire," Sir Leon informed him.
Just then, there was a clatter of hooves, and a group of about nine people - Merlin counted seven nobles and two servants - appeared, each riding a horse. The man at the front appeared to be the oldest, followed by what appeared to be his wife and five children.
"Lord Cyron," Arthur greeted. "It is a pleasure to have you in Camelot. If you will come with me, my servant Merlin can help your servants tend to the horses, and I will show you to your chambers."
The nobles dismounted, and Merlin stepped forward. The two servants sent him a grateful look as he helped rein in all the horses.
As Merlin showed them to the stables, he leaned in close to one of the servants.
"Just out of curiosity," he whispered, "which one is the sorcerer?"
The servant looked at him suspiciously, and Merlin hastily explained further.
"I'm not going to rat anyone out to Arthur to punish them or anything. I'm just curious, I swear."
The servant, apparently deciding he was trustworthy, answered him. "That'd be Aerysian. She's the oldest. You'll know who she is when you get a good look at them. She's the only one with black hair."
Once the horses where dealt with, Merlin and the other servant, who he'd learned was named Owen, hurried to the throne room where the feast would be that evening. Servants were running in all directions, adding extra chairs and lighting candles set in extravagant holders along the table. Before long, platter after steaming platter of food was carried in.
When it was time for the welcoming feast to start, Arthur was seated at the high end of the table, and Merlin stationed just behind him (holding yet another pitcher). The high wooden doors opened, and the nobles entered in extravagant clothing.
Vaguely aware that Arthur was making a welcoming speech, Merlin zoned in on Aerysian. She looked slightly different from the rest of the family, her dark hair and golden brown eyes contrasting with the sandy browns, blondes and slight reds in the hair of her family and their blue and gray eyes. Merlin wondered if she had a different mother.
Lord Cyron was now introducing his family. "This is my wife Nadalia, my sons Aldin and Benjamin, and my daughters, Ismae, Mirabelle and Aerysian."
Each one bowed as they were mentioned. Just as Aerysian dipped her head, Merlin spoke cautiously in his mind.
Aerysian?
Aerysian jerked her head up more sharply than her family and looked around. Her father tried to inconspicuously send her a stern look.
So she could communicate telepathically. Most magic users he had met who could do that were Druids. Merlin's suspicions that she had a different mother grew - perhaps she was the daughter of a druid.
Merlin glanced towards Arthur, wondering what he was thinking. Arthur appeared to be calm and cheerful, but everytime any of the visitors wasn't looking, his gaze sharpened on Aldin, Benjamin, Ismae, Mirabelle and Aerysian, apparently trying to deduce which one was magical. He looked around the hall. No one else seemed that interested in the matter of magic as Arthur. Gwaine was drunk, as always, and seemed to be trying to chat up the shy Ismae, while Elyan was introducing himself to Mirabelle. Merlin sighed.
Knights.
An hour passed, and still Arthur had apparently not gotten the nerve to ask who was a sorcerer, and it was clearly making him uneasy. He was smiling and joking along with everyone else, but Merlin saw Aldin pass him a basket of bread rolls that was sitting next to him, and Arthur accepted gracefully, but a moment later a conflicted look appeared briefly on his face, as he realized he may have just accepted bread from a sorcerer.
Gwaine caused a momentary distraction by knocking his wine-filled goblet aside in a fit of drunken laughter. The goblet skittered to the head of the table, and Merlin, foreseeing what would happen, thought Great - another tunic for me to clean.
But the wine never spilled on the king. It froze, suspended in midair, right before it could land on Arthur.
Hushed breaths rippled down the table as everyone turned to Aerysian as, eyes still glowing, she twisted her hand and said an incantation. The wine and goblet imitated her motion, turning itself upright and the wine pooled back into it.
It was about then that she realized everything was staring at her. "Sorry," she said unconcernedly. "Just thought you wouldn't want wine all over your tunic." She turned her eyes back down to her plate, apparently hoping everyone would do the same and continue eating.
They didn't of course. Instead, their gazes were now directed at Arthur, waiting for a reaction. Would he call her out? Throw her in the dungeons? Demand that she refrain from doing such a thing again?
He didn't do any of those things. Instead, he cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly and said something Merlin never thought he'd hear come out of Arthur's mouth and directed at a sorceress.
"Thank you."
The feast ended with many intoxicated knights stumbling from the hall. Merlin helped Arthur to his chambers. He would talk to Arthur later, when he was sobered up.
Right now, he wanted to talk to Aerysian.
