Gosh, is this chapter really that long... Looks like I actually will have to split it into two parts.
Lets hope the rest of the chapters don't turn out to be this long...
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin
The Perfect Disappointment
Chapter 1 – Don't insult the commoners
20 years 9 months and 15 days later…
Uther had a lot to prepare for; there was so much to do before that night. The castle had been thrown into chaos; servants were running around, setting up decorations, organizing rooms for the guests, and already making the huge meal required for that night, the reason being that exactly 20 years ago he placed the ban on magic. Exactly 20 years since that damned sorcerer set in motion the events that would steal Igraine from him. 20 years of no curses, witch burnings, dragon slayings, and bountiful harvests.
As well as nearly 20 years without his dear Igraine, nearly 20 years without having seen her beautiful smile, nearly 20 years without her wonderful singing voice, nearly 20 years of a kingdom without a queen, and a daughter without a mother.
However, Uther wasn't going to linger on the bad things, he was going to revel in the good, his kingdom was thriving, his people were happy, and no one had used magic to kill anyone close to him. Which Uther was reluctant to admit, was something that happened to him quite often.
He had grown up over the course of the years, his brown hair had turned gray in areas and his hairline was receding. He had a scar that moved down his forehead and faded at his eyebrow. His grey eyes were intense, and showed very little of the warm he had once given out freely. His face was pinched hard in what looked to be a permanent scowl. He looked now to be a man who did not smile much, unless it was required of him. It was mostly because of years of grief, of mourning, of anger.
However Uther wasn't thinking about any of that at the moment. He was more worried about where his daughter Merlin was. It was a hectic day, many preparation for that nights feast were under way. However they were nearly running out of time for the execution of the most recently exposed sorcerer. It was scheduled to be happen at midday, only an hour away, however Merlin was nowhere to be found.
He knew that she didn't like to attend the executions, and normally he would never require her to, but after the execution was when Uther intended to formally acknowledge 20 years of his ban on magic. It was no time for the princess to be running off like she usually did. Uther thought that maybe he should assign a knight to follow her around and keep a close eye on her. Gods knew how much trouble the girl could get into, and she did have a knack for sneaking way from her maidservant.
"Hunith!" The king's voice could be heard across the castle, calling for his daughter's caretaker. He hoped that maybe she would at least have an inkling about where the young princess ran off to.
Just as Uther called for his daughter's caretaker, she appeared from behind a corner, lifting her skirts so that she could walk faster without tripping over them but also so that she didn't show too much by revealing her ankles.
His daughter's caretaker was a woman who looked as if she had aged quite gracefully. Her hair was still a lovely brown, which caught the light and showed that it was tinted red. Her eyes were of a lovely light blue color which showed her age, yet displayed an innocence of a girl. The lines of which had formed on her face only made her look even lovelier, they showed that she smiled often, and laughed freely. She looked to be the kind of woman of which one would get along with perfectly.
"Yes Sire?" The older woman bowed to Uther in respect, but also in a way of which dictated she was a woman who had served the royal family for years. She was perfectly capable of standing beside his daughter and making sure she turned into a fine young lady. As it was her duty.
"What has happened to my daughter? She was to come to the council room to join us about half an hour ago!" Uther shouted, clearly irritated that his daughter would disobey his orders. She was far too spirited, which tended to cause problems for Uther, as she seemed to be at that age of which she liked to rebel and cause trouble for him.
The caretaker let out a sigh before looking up at Uther with a look of exasperation and agitation that seemed to match Uther's. Uther couldn't help but think that his daughters tutor was acting like a mother would when her child has run off.
"She seems to have disappeared Sire, I have no idea where she might have run off to this time."
Oh bollocks.
…
The clang of metal against metal was a soothing sound, it gave you the feeling that someone strong was nearby, ready to jump into action if someone were in need of assistance.
To Merlin however, it more so sounded like someone banging their metal cups against the prison bars, waiting for the guards to decide to feed them. To Merlin it sounded like the people who would not hesitate to kill her if they found out what she could truly do.
However that wasn't the entire reason Merlin hid behind the racks of swords, trying her hardest to remember the spell of which Gaius had taught her. It was a spell meant to change her appearance and make her look like nothing but a servant. She was trying to keep herself from having to attend the execution; she wished not to see another of her kin killed before her eyes. She knew exactly the spell that would help her with that, make others look at her, and see no noble traits about her what so ever.
Although it didn't seem to be doing her any good, as her brain simply refused to remind her of the spell.
She was drawing a blank.
A complete.
And utter.
Blank.
What good was learning a spell if you couldn't remember it? Gaius would probably end up berating her for her incompetence later; after all he had every right to berate her, for everything that he has done for her.
Merlin a tall gangly girl, with large ears, long raven hair, and stunningly deep blue eyes, was the only daughter to Uther Pendragon, the king of Camelot, and most well-known person within the five kingdoms. Known widely for his profound hatred against magic, and immovable attitude about how all who practiced it should be slaughtered.
It was extremely ironic.
Having been born with magic Merlin herself was one of the creatures of which Uther thrived to destroy. She probably would have been executed years ago, more than likely when she started to display her magical talents when she was only an infant. She'd been told once that she sneezed and made the fireplace flare, and when she hurt her nose she shattered the vases.
It was a miracle Uther didn't know about his daughter's magic, seeing how little control she had over it when she was small.
Merlin was more than just a little lucky for the fact that the nursemaid who had attended to Merlin had been someone who hid magical being's and their families. Her nursemaid had made sure to hide Merlin's talents, only telling a few trustworthy people in the castle about Merlin, and setting up a system with which they could make sure the king never found out. They all did this for two main reasons. 1. Merlin could not be blamed from something of which she was born with and 2. Uther would be crushed if he ever found out.
They all knew that the king was not evil; he was simply scarred beyond repair. His pure heart crushed, and soul tainted forever more. He was still a good man, and a fair king. They would simply have to wait, wait until Merlin grew older and took over the throne. They would simply have to lay low until then.
Merlin couldn't believe how much she felt as if she were disappointing them. Really, this was a simple spell, and Merlin had such powerful magic. You would think that because she was born with such powerful magic that she would be good at remembering spells! You would think that she would already be making new spells, and thinking up new ways to turn people into frogs, and break curses.
But, no.
Merlin couldn't do any of that.
Yes she was born with magic.
Yes she could send a grown man flying without even batting an eye.
Yes, she could easily cause the horses to run away and the cats that snuck into the castle to float down to the ground.
But she couldn't seem to remember one stupid little spell, which left her hiding behind a rack of swords, not even daring to breathe in case someone found her.
It was at that moment which she heard rowdy laughter, and taunts from behind the sword stand, as well as a voice of which she knew very well.
"You mean like this sir?"
Peeking from behind the sword stand Merlin looked to see where the voice was coming from. After which she cursed in a most un-princess like manner and moved behind the sword stand again.
It seemed that some of the knights had decided that they wanted to pick on the servants again, well to be more specific; they decided that they wanted to pick on one of the servants who knew about Merlin and her magic, a boy about the same age as Merlin by the name of Will. And at that moment in time they were throwing daggers at the poor boy while he ran around with a wooden shield, trying his best not to trip. While the knights joked and laughed, one particular knight, throwing the daggers while the rest watched.
Merlin being the kind soul that she was simply couldn't allow this to continue, hissing under her breath she suddenly found that she could remember the words to the spell.
"Āhýde min æðelu"
A tint of gold clouded over her vision before she stood and stalked over to the battlefield with purpose.
…
Arthur found that he wasn't enjoying himself with the knights as much as he would have imagined he would. He had only recently come to Camelot, and already he was finding that the Camelot knights weren't all they were cracked up to be. Most of them couldn't even last 5 seconds against him, which was something even his manservant back home could do. The knights that could last against him however were arrogant and treated their status as if nothing could ever take it from them. Although Arthur truly did not like them, he did respect them enough to give them a chance. However Arthur was ashamed to say that the knights antics were childish, games raunchy, and their behavior all around unpleasant and brutish.
Arthur fit right in with them.
Arthur was the kind of person who you would admire from afar, and sneak glances at from the side. He looked every bit like a noble, and acted every bit like one too. With his blond hair, blue eyes, and overall sturdy build, he acted rather cocky. Although none could argue that he was anything but an excellent swordsman. Arthur had earned every right to be cocky and arrogant, and could very easily back up any claims he laid down. However it did tend to make many believe that Arthur was nothing more than a bully flaunting his skills. Which did have some truth to it, Arthur was a complete and utter show off.
The physician's assistant Will was probably one of the more frequent targets, of the more skilled knights. With his brown hair, blue eyes, scrawny build, cocky attitude, and tendency to sneer at the nobles when he thought no one was looking. He unwittingly incited anger in most of the knights, even some of the more humble knights who treated servants graciously. Arthur felt as if for some reason he needed to be the one to cause him grief, Arthur may be a prat but he didn't want to see the servant boy get hurt, so he took it upon himself to make him run around with that shield in hand so he could throw daggers at him. He knew for a fact that he wouldn't miss, and could make sure the servant didn't get roughed up by the more violent knights.
Will dropped the shield and it rolled to the feet of another. Arthur couldn't help but frown at the boy; he looked to be no more than a mere commoner, what in the world was he doing here?
"I do believe that is enough." The boy said, offering his hand to Will and lifting him to his feet, before bending to pick the shield and hand it back to Will.
A fit of laughter came from the knights around Arthur, and even Arthur himself couldn't help but to smile. He couldn't help it, it was funny.
"Excuse me?" Arthur replied, approaching the boy in a condescending manner, crossing his arms over his chest as he towered over the two boys.
"I do believe you've had your fun my friend." He said, looking up at Arthur with hostility in his eyes. He had a hat on his head that shaded his face, but his eyes were clear. Arthur couldn't help but be a little enthralled with the boys eyes; they were of the deepest blue Arthur had ever seen. His ears were rather large, he had a small figure, almost like a woman's, his skin was pale, and he looked as if he didn't spend much time outside. Arthur stared for a while before shaking it off, feeling ridiculous for staring at a man as if he were a woman.
"Do I know you?" Arthur asked the boy, still in the condescending tone. He did note however when the boy tensed a little before he turning away.
"I don't believe so." He replied, turning his back to Arthur, and leaning towards Will and pushing the servant away. The servant boy, nodded before running off. Arthur couldn't help but growl a little, who did this boy think that he was?
"And yet you called me friend?" Arthur replied, hand resting on the boys shoulder and turning him around. He frowned a little at the feel of the boys shoulder, not much muscle, and soft.
"My mistake," The boy said, making Arthur feel just a bit better and as if he had no need to teach the boy some manners. "I would never have a friend who could be such an ass."
The smile on Arthur's face disappeared, as the boy smirked and the knight behind him snickered. Arthur felt the need to defend his honor. He was one of the most powerful nobles under King Uther; the only ones who could outrank him were the King, the Princess, the Kings Ward, and Arthur's father. This boy wasn't Arthur's father, nor did he look like the King, so there was no reason why Arthur should sit there and take any shite from this boy.
"Nor I a friend who could be so stupid. Tell me, do you know how to walk on your knees?" He asked while drawing his sword. The boy's lips pursed at his question and Arthur couldn't help but notice the way he drew back a little, confused.
"No."
Arthur grinned a little and continued. "Would you like me to help you with that?" The knights laughed hard at this, and Arthur noticed a hint of a blush on the boys cheeks, before he stood straighter and his hands went to his hips.
"I wouldn't if I were you." The boy replied, his tone full of warning and what sounded like a threat, Arthur couldn't help but laugh heartily.
"Why? What're you going to do to me?" He noted the way in which the boy sighed, and stood up straight.
"You have no idea." He stated, deciding that he wished to piss Arthur off more by being as vague as possible.
Arthur laughed a little before moving forward. "I severely doubt that you could do anything to me?' He stated poking the boy at the chest, but stopped, his face falling, he poked the boy's chest again. Watching the boy-no GIRL suddenly turn beat red, and turning away harshly, her hat falling off revealing long curly locks of hair that fell down her back and made it stupidly obvious that Arthur had just severely hurt her honor by poking at her chest. He bristled a little and stuttered.
"Oh-ah, u-u-u-umm…" He watched as she turned around again, and looked straight at the knights, who Arthur had noted, all tensed before going deathly pale. Arthur briefly wondered for a moment who he had insulted.
"Take him to the stocks…"
Arthur frowned for a minute as the knights all grabbed him with pitying looks, he was a little shocked. "Wait a minute, who do you think you are? The Queen?"
He watched her face fall a little as he said this, and then dreaded his words when she spoke up.
"No but I am her daughter, Merlin."
…
Merlin couldn't believe that she actually ended up attending the execution, especially after she had taken so much effort in trying to avoid it at all costs.
"You just HAD to confront that prat, DIDN'T you Merlin?"
She mentally berated herself for her stupidity, as she watched the sorcerer Thomas Collins being led to the platform, where the executioner was waiting with an axe. Her fists clenched at her sides, at this sight, she didn't want to see another person who she couldn't save die. She didn't want to see another brother die.
She could already feel the tears building up in her eyes. Unclenching her fists she pinched her thigh to hold them back. She closed her eyes and took deep calming breaths, centering herself enough to hold back her tears. Her tears wouldn't help her any in this situation, they would only look suspicious.
Opening her eyes she listened to her father explain to the masses how Thomas Collins was accused of using enchantments, and conspiring to use sorcery. He went on to explain how he would not show any lenience to those who practiced magic, nor would he allow any lenience to sympathizers. This comment caused Merlin to flinch; she looked down at the masses, trying her best not to give into her urge to run away. She was a princess; there was so much pressure on her to act right, despite the circumstances.
She blamed that prat for this, if he hadn't been messing with Will, she wouldn't have been forced to go and defend her friend. Then the guards who had been searching for Merlin would have never caught her, she would have been able to sneak into the dungeons and help Thomas escape
"Stupid Prat." She thought, planning on making the prat pay for making her watch this. It was a small comfort, being able to blame someone beside her father for the pain she felt, a break from blaming herself for not being able to save Thomas, a comfort for not being able to help him escape. After all, that WAS the main reason she was sneaking around the castle, she was trying to make her way to the dungeons to free the poor Thomas Collins.
Once more she glanced down to Thomas Collins, sending a message to him with her mind, something she had been taught by a few druids she'd met when she was small. She remembered those druids fondly, they had taught her many things about herself, and prompted her to meet with all those in the castle who conspired to save as many magical creatures as possible. So that she too could help to save as many as possible. It was unfortunate that it had taken the death of those druids to get her to move to help so many others in their same situation.
"I am sorry I could not save you Thomas." She sent, a tone of care, sorry, anguish, and regret present in her minds voice.
She met his shocked eyes with her own sorrowful ones, nodding at him, sending him words of comfort.
"Be brave; don't let any of them see your weakness."
Merlin watched him briefly smile at her, then standing up tall, a look of defiance showing in his eyes, along with hope, before he replied to her, with a message of his own.
"There is hope for this Kingdom yet, Princess."
He lowered his head down to the chopping block, as a hood was placed over his head.
"Look away princess."
Merlin swallowed, she didn't want to look away, she wanted to be able to honor him by witnessing his death, and appropriately mourning it.
The executioner raised his axe.
Thomas tensed.
Merlin tensed.
Uther looked down with anticipation.
The axe fell.
The sickening sound of bone cracking and skin separating could be heard.
The crowd gasped.
Merlin flinched.
Uther grinned.
Thomas's head rolled away.
Merlin's mind screamed, while her heart cried.
Merlin clenched her fists to her sides, staring at the guards as they gathered Thomas Collins remains, and the black hood that held his head. She wanted to badly to run, but she wouldn't, she had made a silent promise to Thomas Collins that she would appropriately mourn him. She would stand tall, and listen to Uther, she would be brave.
…
Uther was stupidly happy, another sorcerer was dead, and another bearer of magic was wiped from the earth. His magic couldn't harm anyone now; his magic couldn't taint the people of his kingdom again. His magic couldn't reach Merlin now either.
Standing up taller than he had before, Uther moved to address the people.
"People of Camelot 20 years ago, this kingdom were in chaos! 20 years ago magic ran rampant, causing strife, and chaos! We lived in constant fear of those who would use their magic to do us harm! Today, I move to acknowledge that 20 years ago a ban was placed on magic! Changing all of that, we no longer live in fear, we no longer worry about those who use magic to instill fear in us!" Uther smiled widely looking over his people.
"20 years ago I announced a festival to celebrate this! And tonight we will formally acknowledge that we have lived 20 years, in peace, without the evil of magic!" Uther lifted his hand in a flourish, signaling that his speech was finished. The crowd erupted into cheer, and the two girls behind him, Merlin and Morgana both started clapping as well. Although Uther noticed that they weren't as happy as Uther would have thought they would be.
Uther turned to confront the two girls and ask what was wrong. Although he already knew what they would say, they were displeased with having had to sit through the execution; they were displeased that ANYONE had to die. Even if that person was a sorcerer, the girls were both so caring like that; he wished to keep it that way.
He watched the two of them rise at the same time, and opened his mouth to inform them of the necessity of the execution. However he was stopped by a mourning wail coming from behind him. Uther frowned and turned around to see who had let out such a mournful wail.
He turned sharply, a glare in his eyes; this was no time for someone to wail. It was a time to cheer. He moved to call out and demand to know who was insulting him with such, but stopped when he heard the sound of an old voice full of sorrow.
"There is only one evil in this kingdom, and it is not magic! It is you!" He heard someone cry out, causing Uther's temper to flare, who would dare criticize him? The King!
His eye fell on an old woman who stood out in the crowd, being singled out in a circle, as those around her, moved away warily, wishing not to be associated with someone who would dare to speak out against the King.
"It is you with your hatred, and ignorance!" The old hag spat out, shuffling forward a little to approach the elevated ground where the execution had taken place.
"You killed my son!" She screeched, causing the crowd to gasp a little and Uther to truly understand why the woman would dare speak up against him. A mother's grief was something that would bring out the fiercest of beast in women. He'd seen it many times, mothers whose children were in danger simply transformed, and became fierce enough to take down 20 trained knights. It allowed them to become so enraged that they would even challenge a King.
"He did you no harm!" She screeched, glaring at Uther, tears spilling from her eyes.
Uther spoke up, knowing the pain and being able to sympathize with it. "He was a sorcerer!" He stated simply. "I cannot tolerate those who would practice magic." He stated, holding absolutely no regret in his voice.
He could physically see the old hag inflate, anger ever prevalent on her face. "I promise you Uther Pendragon; before the celebrations come to an end you will share my tears!" She screeched, pointing her glare to Uther's right where Merlin was sitting, her face turning as white as a sheet.
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," She screeched, pointing to Merlin while her glare penetrated Uther, causing his fury to boil over, and his protective instincts to come out. "and a child for a child!"
"Merlin Pendragon will die!" She screeched, causing Uther to call out to his guards.
"Seize her!" He boomed, before he watched in both amazement and anger as the old hag spun around and shouted out ancient words of which Uther would know anywhere.
The witch disappeared in a flurry of rising smoke, and blowing winds, evading his guards, and causing Uther's heart to sink.
"Double the guards! And make sure that at least 3 guards accompany the princess at all times!"
…
Arthur could already feel the sun burning his back. His back felt raw and stung whenever a rotten piece of vegetable or fruit hit his back. He grimaced when a potato landed on his back and scraped the bare skin of his back uncomfortably.
He really regretted having opened his big fat mouth to try and teach that commoner some respect. Although in his defense, he had no idea that the princess liked to dress up in men's cloths and sneak around the castle. It was a piece of information of which he would remember the next time that he decided he wanted to mess with a peasant in a hat.
He didn't want to end up in the same position twice.
Being forced to bend so that his head and arms could be shoved into small holes on a stupid wooden plank was not pleasant, especially when he was forced to take off his shirt and sit baking in the sun for an extended period of time. That wasn't the worst of it however, as at some point or another; the children had decided that it would be fun to throw rotten vegetables and fruit at the stupid noble who insulted the princess.
Once Arthur was free, he was going to hunt down every one of those brats and make sure that they found themselves submerged in horse manure.
"Stupid brats, you'll get yours, just you wait and see"
After what seemed like hours, Arthur couldn't help but to notice that the little brats had finally run out of vegetables, he breathed a sigh of relief, allowing himself to relax for a moment. Although he didn't let himself get to use to it, as he simply knew that the little rats would be back with something harder to throw at him. No one would deny them anything to throw at the knight; it was a guilty pleasure of which they all had they all enjoyed. Watching people being humiliated in the stocks.
"Tough crowd isn't it?"
Arthur jumped a little, snapping his eyes to look around at who had said that. His eyes landed on a gangly, cocky, grinning servant boy. In fact, his eyes landed on the same gangly, cocky, grinning servant boy whom Arthur had thrown daggers at earlier. Arthur groaned a little at him, sending him a glare that could kill.
"What do you want?" Arthur spat, looking truly undignified and silly glaring at the servant boy as if he could do something. At this the servant boy grinned, and Arthur swore that once he got out he was going to strangle him.
"I just came to see if you wanted to get out of the stocks early. But it looks like you don't want to so I guess I'll just-" The servant trailed off as he turned to leave, before Arthur's eyes snapped open and he shouted at the servant.
"Wait!" He shouted a little too eagerly, causing the servant to turn sharply and send an amused grin at Arthur.
"You could get me out of the stocks?" Arthur asked, although, now that he said it out loud, it didn't seem likely that a mere servant would be able to get him out of the stocks. Especially since Arthur was there under the Princess's orders.
Arthur caught the self-satisfying smirk that crossed the servants face.
"Of course I could." He stated turning to Arthur with a grin on his face that dictated Arthur would regret listening to this servant later.
"How?" Arthur asked, simply out of curiosity more than anything else.
The servant boy held up a finger and waved it back and forth like a metronome. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. First things first. You must tell me you're sorry."
Arthurs jaw ticked at this little announcement, he wanted to shout at him that he didn't need to apologize. Arthur had actually done the servant boy a favor. The things that the other knights had suggested doing to him were far worse than making him run around with a shield. The servant was luckier than he realized, Arthur throwing daggers at him was much better than allowing all the knights to gang up on him and use him as a practice dummy. Arthur would have never missed the target. The servant would have gone around with little more than heavy limbs. While if he had allowed the knights to do what they wanted they would have surely caused him much more harm than they had intended. All was fun and games until someone got hurt. No one knew that better than Arthur, which was exactly why he had done what he did.
Swallowing the urge to scream at the servant Arthur closed his eyes once more, before taking a deep breath and speaking. "And then what?" He asked, simply knowing for a fact that this servant boy would want something more than just an apology.
The servant boy's eyes widened a bit, as if he was surprised that Arthur would ask a question like that.
"What makes you think that I would want anything else?" He asked, sounding far too innocent to "actually" be innocent.
Arthur snorted a bit. "Please, you don't strike me as someone willing to do things for something as simple as an apology. You'll want something else, like a favor."
The servant boy smirked. "Very perceptive and absolutely correct. I do want a favor."
"I knew it." Arthur thought to himself, before continuing. "So what is it?" He asked, wanting to make sure that it wasn't something too bad. He didn't want to be subjected to something worse than being in the stocks.
The servant shook his head again. "I haven't decided that bit yet." He stated, moving over to lean on the wooden plank of which Arthur was secured into.
"Bullshit." Arthur thought to himself. "You just don't want to tell me you little prick." Arthur thought bitterly.
Swallowing a little at the prospect of being stuck in the stocks for much longer, he spoke up. "If you don't tell me I'm gonna have to say no." The servants face fell, before he sighed.
Arthur saw out of the corner of his eye that the children had returned, with baskets of what looked to be-
"Oh no…" Arthur cursed under his breath at what the children had in their hands. They had what looked to be harder, MUCH harder, very rough skinned potatoes that would rub against his sunburnt back, and leave bruises all over his body.
The servant grinned at the children, before turning back to Arthur. "Are you sure about that? Your fans look a little too eager to see you, and judging by the look of your back, I don't think those potatoes will feel too nice."
Arthur glowered at Will before squirming a little in the stocks. "Fine, fine! I'll owe you one! Now hurry up and get me out of here!"
The servant boy chuckled a little before continuing. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Arthur let out and exasperated sigh. "I'm sorry for making you run around with that shield while I threw daggers at you. NOW HURRY UP!"
Chuckling, the servant nodded and moved over to Arthur, pulling a key from his pocket and undoing the chains and locks that kept Arthur in the stocks. He helped Arthur stand upright before handing him a shirt. Arthur couldn't help but look at the guards warily as they simply watched the servant boy let Arthur out, they had amused smirks on their faces, and didn't move to stop him. Arthur frowned, was this boy some sort of noble as well? Had he been insulting someone who was a higher rank than him by accident? Was there another person of higher rank than him that he didn't know about? He wouldn't be surprised if that were the case. If the day he was having was any clue.
Standing up to put his shirt on, Arthur ignored the hisses that the children were throwing at the pair. He shrugged his shirt, grimacing at the rotten juices on his body, before sending a sideways glance to the servant boy.
"I never got your name." Arthur said, wanting to make sure that he would always be able to put a name with the face of the servant who had freed him from the stocks. Or possible to make sure that he was indeed a servant and not a noble in disguise.
Smiling a little, the servant returned the key for the chains to his pocket before, patting Arthur on the back, purposely hitting his sunburnt back rather hard.
"The name's Will." He grinned at Arthur's show of discomfort at being slapped on his sunburn, before adding something else. "Sir Arthur."
…
It can be said that Will does not do things for charity. He never has and never will. His number one rule in life is to look out for himself, before even thinking about looking after someone else. It's been that way since he was a child and his father was killed in Essetir's army.
His father had been his role model, he was someone who fought for others and protected the weak, even going as far as to protect a prostitute who was being harassed. He never left anyone in need, and it was for exactly that reason he was killed. During a war between Essetir and Camelot, a fellow knight was knocked from his horse; Will's father had been unwilling to leave a comrade, so he rode back to help his fellow knight, which had resulted in his untimely demise.
He watched his mother grieve the loss, and watched as she appealed to the King to somehow compensate for the loss. He learned that no one would care for him when King Cenred laughed in his mother's face, and left them to fend for themselves.
Will blamed his father for his mother's grief. Will blamed his father for leaving them to fend for themselves. Will blamed his father and his unlimited charity.
Will wouldn't do things for charity.
But he also wouldn't be completely self-centered.
Which was the reason Will hadn't simply left Arthur to suffer after letting him out of the stocks, he would made sure to get the knights back treated before leaving him to his own devices. After all, the knight was new to Camelot and didn't really know his way around. The very least that Will could do would be to take Arthur to the physician Gaius to have him look at Arthur's back. It looked pretty badly burned.
Gaius, the court physician was a wise, blue-eyed, white-haired old man. He had been in service to the kingdom for many years, and was well-known for being a confidant to the King as well as the long time physician.
Will had known the physician since he was 7. They met during a particularly dreadful summer when he and a handful of villagers had come to Camelot to be treated for a strange sickness that had spread through their village. His mother had been one of those to contract the sickness. She was also one of the few who hadn't made it, even after Gaius had managed to find a cure. No one else from Ealdor was willing to take Will in, so instead they left in him Camelot with Gaius.
Will had thought at the time that he would just have to leave and start to make his only living. That he would just have to leave and fend for himself. However, every time Will got his tiny knapsack together and moved to leave. Gaius would saddle the young boy with some sort of chore or send him off on an errand that would tire him out and require him to stay another night.
It had flustered Will to no end, and confused him. Why didn't Gaius let him leave? Surely he didn't want to take care of some snot nosed brat who always got into trouble for sneering at the nobles?
Will didn't address the issue until one day, when Gaius had asked him to clean his leech tank.
"Why are you doing this Gaius?" Will had asked, all 45 gangly inches of him sending a glare at Gaius that looked neither menacing nor threatening.
Gaius being the kind (and infuriating) man that he was, feigned ignorance. "Doing what, boy?"
Will huffed at this response before continuing, acting every bit like the 7 year old that he really was, instead of the "adult" that he so desperately tried to be. "Why do you always stop me from leaving?"
Cocking his eyebrows Gaius looked down at the 7 year old. "Why wouldn't I?"
That simple statement didn't make much sense to Will, since he was only 7 years old. "What's that supposed to mean?" He cried out, his voice rising and foot stamping.
Rolling his eyes at the naïve little boy, Gaius exerted the effort to kneel down to the boy level. "Listen Will, I am not going to let a child simply go out into the world by himself. You have no way of getting food or making money. No one would take you seriously. What kind of person would I be if I left you to take care of yourself?"
Will wasn't satisfied with that answer; he thought that for sure he would be able to care for himself! Gaius was wrong! However Gaius had decided that the conversation was over, and left it at that, refusing to talk any more about it. He simply let Will stay with him, acting as if Will had been there his entire life. He assigned Will chores, asking him to run errands for him, and taught him all about medicine and the scientific process.
It wasn't until much later in his life that Will truly realized that Gaius had been right. If Will had left at that age, he would have never been able to survive. Gaius had saved Will's life, and he was truly grateful.
Will says that he only cares for himself, but the truth is that he would gladly put Gaius before himself. He would gladly provide selflessly for his only family.
However he would have to get compensation from Arthur.
Will guided the sour knight through the castle, past indifferent guards, and amused servants. Everyone they passed took one look at the indignant (tomato covered) knight and knew exactly who he was. Gossip spread like wildfire in the castle. So by now, everyone knew about how Arthur had mistaken the princess for a simple commoner. It was the talk of the castle, and would probably continue to be the talk of the castle for some time afterwards.
Never mind that the princess had been dressed as a man, or that she had carried herself like a commoner. He should have known better. He deserved it, for acting like such a bully towards the servants. After all you really never knew which noble or royal was dressing up as a commoner in this city.
Don't insult the commoners.
It was a definite rule here.
Will was no exception to the fact that he wished to humiliate the knight as much as possible. Seeing as he simply did not like nobles in general. Plus he had witnessed the way of which Arthur had spoken to Merlin in disguise, and saw where the prat had poked her. He was going to give Arthur so much grief, and the prat wouldn't be able to do a thing about it. No one was allowed to insult his best friend like that.
Absolutely no one.
Merlin and Will had known each other ever since Will had arrived in Camelot. The little princess at that time had been sweet, kind, loving, and probably sneakier than anyone Will had ever known.
When they had first met, Will had just been exploring the castle after being shooed away by Gaius while he treated Will's mother. Will was bored, and there was a big castle to explore. The guards didn't seem to notice Will as he snuck into the kitchen and took some food. Nor did they notice him as he hid behind the sword racks in their armory while he ate it. It seemed the guards didn't notice a lot of things, since it was behind that sword rack where Will had met the Princess. It was also behind that sword rack he made a friend of which he would have for the rest of his life. A friend named Merlin.
Merlin at that time had been running away from the guards, trying to wriggle her way out of attending a tournament by hiding until it was over. The winner was to receive their prize from a 6 year old Merlin, as well as being given the honor of being allowed to escort Merlin to the banquet being held in their own honor.
Merlin had expected to be hiding and camping out for a few days, so she had brought a knapsack, and dressed herself in commoner's cloths. Merlin had been quite upset with her father for promising things of which Merlin hadn't agreed with. So she had decided simply to sneak out of the castle at nightfall and return when the tournament was over.
Merlin didn't really see the appeal in sitting through an event where grown men threw each other around with sharp metal instruments. Nor did she feel like having to kiss a sweaty man on the cheek. So she hid in the one place where no one would image she would hide; behind a big rack of "sharp metal instruments."
Will had been surprised at that moment, when a little girl suddenly sat with him behind a sword rack and claimed to be the princess. He hadn't believed her at first, and started to play along, saying that he was a prince of Essetir. She seemed to be delighted at this, and started asking him all sorts of questions like; what was it like in his kingdom, and if he had just as many knights running after him as she did? Will answered her as best he could, wondering what kind of princess she was pretending to be if. After all he didn't know of any girls who would pretend to be a princess who runs away from her knights and catches frogs instead of kissing them. Merlin was very strange to Will, and he enjoyed her company immensely.
It wasn't until much later when two knights heard the two laughing behind the sword rack did Will learn that Merlin really was a princess, and that she wasn't trying to play some sort of game. It had shocked Will, and enraged Merlin to know that Will had pretended that he was some sort of prince. It took a lot of explaining to both of them before the situation fully sank in. It was a source of gossip and laughter for weeks after that, and an entertaining story they retold between themselves often. It was the story of how they had become friends.
Will and Merlin tried to spend as much time as possible together. They were good at keeping each other's secrets, and even better at causing mischief together. Will personally couldn't recall the number of time where Merlin and himself had taken chairs apart together, or hid underneath the king's bed to spy on him. He also couldn't remember the number of times he had been thrown in the stocks and Merlin locked up in her room for their mischief. The two were the terrors of the castle in their younger days.
Will took himself out of his thoughts and looked back at the knight. After his little trip down memory lane, he felt as if he really had no right to judge the prat for not knowing about Merlin's tendency to dress up as a commoner. After all, he'd made the same mistake when he met Merlin.
Granted he was much younger at the time.
And she didn't have breasts then.
Will continued to guide the knight through the castle, trying to take as much time as he could. Until after spending a little time with the noble prat, he had discovered that he was not so bad. So he decided to give the prat a break and lead him to the physician through the less travelled halls. After all, Will thought he had embarrassed him enough. He knew what the knight was going through. No one liked to be the topic of gossip.
At one point in Will and Merlin's lives, they were probably the topic of most gossip in the castle, with the way they constantly snuck out of the castle, and hid from the guards. They often received scandalous looks, and disapproving glances from the nobles. Merlin had just reached the age of 13, while Will was a little bit older at the age of 14. It was a strange time for both of them; they were just starting to fill out their bodies, and were becoming all around awkward. It was a time when most children were just starting to discover the opposite sex. Everyone had started to believe that the two were sneaking out for romantic rendezvous. When in reality they were just going out to the creek to cause some mischief.
No one liked being the center of attention.
It wasn't long before Will and the knight had arrived at the physicians chambers. They found that Gaius wasn't there, so Will took it upon himself to sit the knight down while he retrieved some salve to apply to the knights aching back.
Will approached the shelves, leaving Arthur to sit at the table with which Gaius and he use to eat breakfast and mix up potions on. He rifled through the shelves, searching for a salve that was particularly foul-smelling to apply to the knights back. It wasn't because the salve was particularly effective; it was honestly just because he wanted to make the knight smell bad, all the while thinking about his friendship with Merlin.
More specifically, he thought about the incident of which he discovered Merlin's secret.
Will and Merlin had been swimming around in the river. They had snuck out of the castle while the servants were scurrying around to prepare for a banquet.
Merlin had managed to escape from her caretaker Hunith while Will had managed to finish all his chores for Gaius. The two decided to sneak out with Will to their secret spot by the creek.
At the time Will had been further down the stream, spearing fish to cook. He had just speared a trout and was wrapping it in leaves to dry before he set it over the fire, when he had heard Merlin scream. When he heard her scream he immediately shot up and ran further up the river to where he knew she was swimming. What he saw changed the way he saw Merlin and everything around her forever.
Merlin was just fine; she was standing in the river, in breeches and a tunic, staring up at something in the sky. At first it had struck Will as odd, why was she staring upwards? Until of course Will looked up as well. The 14 year olds eyes widened impossibly at what he saw. The bandits were unconscious and floating up 10 feet above Merlin's head, silent and unmoving. The thing that came to Will's mind first was; Magic. The second thing that came to his mind was; RUN!
Will automatically moved to Merlin's side, taking her by the arm and attempting to pull her away from the floating bandits. He was scared out of his mind, so coherent thoughts and reason weren't really reaching him. He hadn't noticed that there was no one else around, and he also hadn't noticed that Merlin was saying things in a strange language.
"C'mon Merlin there's a sorcerer nearby we need to leave!" He shouted, tugging Merlin in the other direction, stopping when he noticed she didn't want to move. Will looked back at her confused, and about to yell at her for being stubborn.
He stopped when he saw Merlin's eyes. Usually they were a deep tantalizing blue, but at that moment in time, they were a shimmering gold.
Will jumped, letting go of Merlin's arm and stepping 3 feet away from her. He felt extremely alarmed and afraid of his friend. His friend the "WITCH?"
He didn't know what to say, he was too shocked for coherent and reasonable thoughts to form in his mind. It was all gibberish, flashes of memories, random words, and screaming in the 14 year olds mind.
Merlin was trying to say something to Will her eye still that golden color. Will couldn't seem to hear her however, as blood was pounding in his ears, and his mind was still screaming at him. It seemed to be too much for the boy, as the next thing he remembers is falling.
At this memory Will chuckled a little, the situation at that time had been so strange. It was odd to find out that your best friend was a witch. It was even stranger to discover that your sovereign's daughter was a witch. It really was no wonder that Will had fainted at that information.
Will could remember trying to avoid Merlin for weeks after that, still far to overwhelmed at the thought of his best friend being a witch. He never told anyone, since she was still his best friend, and was also the king's daughter. If he threw that accusation around he would probably end up in the dungeons. No one would believe that the princess was a witch unless they saw it with their own eyes.
Will also recalled being cornered by the princess one day, along with her caretaker Hunith, Gaius, Sir Leon, and two servant who he didn't recognize. They all demanded of him that he keep it a secret, scaring Will half to death in the process. However it didn't really take much convincing to make Will agree. He'd had weeks to think it over, and had already decided that there was really nothing wrong with Merlin having magic. She was still the same person.
It was just one more secret that the two would share.
It wasn't long until Will found the salve he was looking for on one of the higher shelves in Gaius's chambers. It was where Will hid potions that Gaius tended to forget even existed. After all, Gaius tended to only used truly effective potions. If he ever made a potion that wasn't very effective, he tended to leave it on the side of a table until it fell over and broke onto the floor. Will really didn't see the point in wasting these potions, so he simply squirreled them away, and sold them to people who were too embarrassed to go to the physician for help.
Mind you he always made sure to consult Gaius first. He wasn't going to be responsible for someone's death. Nor was he going to be responsible for giving someone the wrong potion and making their ailment worse. He wasn't irresponsible.
Potion in hand, the physician-to-be quickly returned to Arthur only to stop and stare at what the knight was doing.
"Arthur, why in the world are you purple?"
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