A/N. There was some early confusion about which Merlin we were following, and the nature of this fic means that things are likely to get even more complex. (I'm definitely finding it a challenge in the stuff I'm currently writing). For now I'm going to start most chapters/sections with Camelot #1 (THE Camelot) or Camelot #2 (Alternative Camelot) so you know where we are.
Another issue here is Emrys/Merlin. At the moment I'm calling OUR warlock Merlin because that is what he is known as in his world and how he thinks of himself. Do let me know if this is too confusing and you'd rather I called him Emrys (a) all the time (b) just when he's visiting the other Camelot, or if things are fine as they are.
Chapter 2: An Unexpected Time
Camelot #2
"You can tell Uther, no. I am not going to change my Night Servant yet and I'm certainly not going to adopt one of his choosing. I know only too well what he believes is the 'right' sort." Morgana's voice seemed especially high pitched to Merlin as he drifted up the stairs towards the siblings - like an invisible ghost haunting the castle.
"Morgana, you can't have it all your own way," Arthur replied. "You can't keep changing Night Servants on a whim, not now you're getting to the age where you really should be trying more seriously."
Merlin frowned as he moved closer. Something wasn't right - Arthur seemed … different. He blinked as he noticed how slender the prince was; his hair was longer and his complexion a little poor, and when he turned his gaze towards Morgana his jaw dropped in shock. This definitely wasn't six years ago. This pair were only just adults; Morgana barely fully grown and Arthur definitely not. The warlock continued to half-watch them bicker as his mind tried to work out what he had done wrong. Why had he travelled this far back in time?
"You've already changed yours twenty times anyway," Morgana was continuing.
"Oh, don't exaggerate, I've only had two – after the first official one," the young prince retorted.
"Yes, and you were quick enough to let her go, weren't you?"
Arthur smirked. "Apparently I'm a fast learner. Once I'd had the initial lessons I thought it only fair to ensure that as many ladies as possible got the benefit of my expertise and my other … generous attributes."
"Oh, far too many details, Arthur," Morgana complained with a wince. "You really do not need to share that much information with me."
"Have you seen my latest?" The prince continued, laughing loudly at Morgana's discomfort and looking especially smug in the process.
"Yes, Arthur, she's very pretty, blonde and petite and I'm sure you're feeling quite the man for managing to acquire her as your Night servant but, tell me this, do you really think she'd be so keen to share a bed with a boy if he wasn't the Prince of Camelot?"
"Morgana, you go too far sometimes."
"Do I? Because someone needs to work on that ego and knock you down a peg or two and it's my absolute pleasure to do anything I can to help in that regard." She started to turn away with a smirk.
"Where are you going?" the prince asked.
"Back to my room, Gwen's expecting me."
"You still have just that one Day Servant?" Arthur asked, sounding shocked.
"Yes because, unlike some I could mention, I'm not that much hard work," Morgana replied and Merlin noticed with amusement that both he and Arthur scoffed in perfect unison at her comment. It felt strange when the two Pendragons didn't turn to aknowledge him in any way, even though it honestly felt as if he was standing right next to the pair as they bantered with each other.
As the siblings split up, Merlin hesitated briefly as he decided who to follow but, honestly, there was no real debate as to which way he was going to go. Morgana had already mastered her trademark walking style and the sorcerer smiled at the more pleasant memories that invoked, even if he had never met her when she was quite this young. How young? It was hard to tell – sixteen perhaps? He certainly wouldn't have put her past eighteen.
"There you are, my lady." Merlin grinned broadly as he saw Gwen looking so young - almost three years Morgana's junior if he remembered correctly. "You are dining with the King and Prince tonight?" the girl asked.
"Yes, unfortunately," her mistress replied with a sigh. "Where I'm probably going to spend most of the time finding off numerous questions about my Day and Night servants."
"Oh, will the king ask you to employ someone else?"
"Don't worry, Gwen, I'm keeping you on. Of course, I'm keeping you."
"Oh, thank you, my lady. It's the Night Servants he's worried about then?"
"Apparently he doesn't approve of my choices or believe I'm keeping them on for long enough." Morgana raised her eyes to the ceiling.
"Well, I suppose, now that you're seventeen it's important that you try a little harder and so I can see why he's concerned."
Well, at least now Merlin had their ages all sorted in his mind; Arthur would be sixteen then, with Gwen just fourteen.
"Oh, don't you start, Gwen, I've already had all of this from Arthur," Morgana continued.
"Isn't he going to get a lecture too?"
"Highly unlikely, especially not whilst he's so totally enthusiastic about his role as employer." She sighed. "Bertha's the latest, can you believe?"
"Seriously?" Gwen asked, a look of genuine surprise on her face. "He's not after an heir with any brains then?"
Morgana burst out laughing and the watching Merlin joined in too, as Gwen grinned at her mistress' enthusiastic response to her comment.
"Well, joking aside, Arthur's not going to get any grief from Uther, I can promise you that," Morgana continued. "But this whole Night Servant business is annoying enough for me as it is. To be honest none of the men here appeal to me in any way. I was happy enough with Sir Leon though, he wasn't at all demanding and a perfectly pleasant conversationalist. I don't know why that had to change."
"You know that isn't how things work," Gwen replied quietly but firmly. "You can marry a Lord if you want and if you have their child then that's all well and good but, to really increase your chances you need to cast your net wide. Anyway, Sir Leon's family wanted him to marry Lady Carys."
"Yes, I know," Morgana said with a sigh. "I understand that he was just my instructor but, to be honest, I'm not suffering from the curse that badly yet and would much prefer it if I could just … go it alone for the time being."
"Well, I can understand that," Gwen replied quietly. "And, I have to admit that I'm not especially looking forward to next year myself."
"No, I imagine not. Well, I'll continue to answer any questions you might have – try to make it easier for you."
"Thank you, but that's not what's really concerning me. Unlike you, I'm not going to have any choice at all and some of the Lords have been showing an interest already."
Morgana looked up, suddenly shocked. "What! They're not allowed to do that. Not when you're only fourteen."
"Who's to stop them? Some have decided to claim me already. As one of the miracle babies, I've already been earmarked as someone who's more likely to have children of my own."
"Well, that's just silly. There's no evidence to prove that."
"No, Gaius said the same and he should know." Gwen sighed. "I know I should be grateful that I have such a good life here, but it would have been nice if I had someone I quite liked. Someone that was at least fairly pleasant looking and one who was not old enough to be my father!" She pulled a face and then, fairly typically looked embarrassed at her outburst. "Sorry."
"Well, I don't care what the rules say, Gwen. You're my Day servant and I need you to be happy and relaxed. I shall use that as an excuse and seek out someone more appropriate for you."
"That's good of you, my lady, but I don't think it'll be that easy."
"Nonsense, of course it will. Just you leave it with me."
Camelot #1
The sound of a knock on his own door at home pulled Merlin pulled out of his vision and he blinked hard, a little disorientated. It really had felt as if he were actually in the other world and, as such, it took him a while to get his bearings and pull himself back into the here and now.
"What in the world are you doing, Merlin?" Gaius asked as he entered, quickly taking not of the paraphernalia that was surrounding the young man on the desk.
"Practising," Merlin replied calmly.
"Practising what, exactly?" Merlin sighed, he was sure Gaius hadn't noticed just how old he was now.
"Something important. Do you need any help?" He asked the question kindly, genuinely worried about his mentor, even as he tried to change the subject. Really, their roles should be reversed now – he should be the one looking after Gaius.
"I do, as it happens. If you don't mind? Are you sure Arthur doesn't need you tonight?"
Merlin raised an amused eyebrow. "What? At this time of evening so soon after his wedding? What do you think?"
"Merlin!" Gaius admonished, but the young man just grinned, no longer embarrassed by such things.
"Actually, he did ask me to call in to see him to complete a few chores, but that won't take up too much of my time. I should be able to fit both jobs in easily enough."
The warlock rushed through the rounds as quickly as possible that afternoon, before going up to the royal apartments to attend to Arthur. So impatient was he to get back to the crystal and have another attempt, that he was even prepared to use some subtle magic to aid him in his chores; something he hadn't taken the chance on in recent years, after one too many close calls for comfort.
So, Merlin was back in his room much earlier than usual that evening and quickly set his desk in the same way before, putting his hands on the crystal and scarf as he tried again to direct his thoughts to almost six years in the past, hoping that this time it would work properly.
~o~0~o~
A/N – another one, sorry. I don't usually put notes at the top but I think that information was more helpful up there than down here. Also realised that I probably won't be putting 'next time' on this fic from now on because it sort of gives away what Merlin's going to see and that's half the fun :P
This fic was inspired by numerous different things that my reviewers wanted to see, and finding a way to put all of that into one story was quite a challenge. So some of you may have to wait a bit for your particular story line to appear. As usual I have most of the fic mapped out already but your comments and requests can still influence its direction to a certain extent. I will respond to all questions in reviews and Pms (Note - 'respond' not necessarily 'answer' – lol! Because I'm mean like that! :D)
14th September 2012
