Hello, friends. I just wanted to let you know that I'm currently looking for a beta reader, so if you have any suggestions/would like to be my beta reader, please let me know!
And here's the second chapter! Discussions are had, everyone is an idiot, Merlin is tired, and a new character is introduced!
Merlin scowled as he watched Arthur, Agravaine and the Knights lounge about Gaius' workshop for a "Very Serious Meeting, Merlin", heedless of his precious portions and equipment. Percival had already dropped a beaker, Gwaine was carelessly fiddling with Gaius' delicate experiments, and Agravaine's mere presence was enough to make Merlin's blood boil. Meanwhile, Gaius just stood there with a look on his face that said "I'm too old for this".
"I don't want to offend the druids when our newfound peace is still so fragile. They barely trust me as it is and I don't want to lose their faith," Arthur was saying, "but I can't simply ignore the fact that there is a sorcerer living in my city. Maybe even in my castle."
He looked like he was about to continue but quailed under the force of Gaius' infamous Raised Eyebrow.
"Sire, I understand your concern, but surely you see that it is completely unnecessary?" Gaius said. At the uncomprehending looks everyone sent his way, he clarified, "Aithne said that Emrys is loyal to you. It sounds like this sorcerer has been living here for quite some time. If he is the most powerful sorcerer to ever exist, as the druids claim, and if he truly meant you ill, then he certainly could have acted against you long before now, and most likely succeeded."
Arthur and the Knights seemed to be absorbing this, seeing the logic of it.
Wait for it, Merlin thought.
Agravaine opened his mouth.
Ah, there it is.
"Be that as it may, I must disagree with you, Gaius," the pest interjected. "He may not have attacked yet but who is to say that he never will? He is a sorcerer; they cannot be trusted." He turned to Arthur, and the look of concern on his face was so obviously faked that Merlin wanted to scream, or shake some sense into Arthur. Or both. "There are no good sorcerers. Have we not seen the corruption and evil that follow the use of sorcery and spread like a plague? If you ignore this, Arthur, what kind of message will that send to our enemies? They would perceive it as weakness." And then, the clinching argument: "Your father never would have allowed this."
Arthur tensed and nodded, his face set. Merlin's heart sank because he knew that Arthur's resolve had hardened; nothing would stop him from searching for Emrys now.
"You're right as always, Uncle. I cannot condone the use of magic," he announced in a hard tone. Merlin heard it all through the ringing in his ears. "We must find this sorcerer before he harms the people of Camelot, even if the druids do not like it."
"Of course, Arthur. Shall I order the guards to bring the druid woman in for questioning?" Agravaine inquired smugly. Merlin wanted nothing more than to rip that infuriating smirk off his face and was in the middle of imagining Agravaine bleeding out when Leon interrupted his thoughts.
"She is the druid ambassador," he pointed out. "Her people will not take kindly to her being treated like a common criminal."
The Greasy Bastard waved away Leon's protests. "The woman is a criminal if she is protecting a sorcerer. We cannot afford to be lenient when it comes to the use of magic, Sir Leon."
"Arthur, please, the druids' faith in you is fragile still," Merlin entreated, looking toward Arthur pleadingly. "They have only just started to believe that you will keep your word and protect them. Hurting this woman, interrogating her... it will undo all your peace efforts."
Arthur was silent for a moment, thinking (and wasn't that a strange word to associate with Arthur), then nodded in agreement. "For once, you may actually be right, Merlin."
Agravaine certainly didn't like that. "Arthur, you cannot tell me you mean to let this druid go unpunished? She is harbouring a sorcerer, and we need her to-"
"No, Uncle. We will find this Emrys without questioning her. The druids will never trust me if I harm or disrespect their ambassador."
"But, Arthur-"
"My decision is final," Arthur stated. "Aithne is an honoured guest and is to be treated as such. Order the guards to begin searching for the sorcerer. We'll start with the castle."
"Of course, Sire." Agravaine swallowed his protests. He walked out of Gaius' chambers and Merlin had to admit that he hid his frustration well, for he seemed completely calm and unbothered.
After Arthur and the Knights left to assist with the search, being as loud and annoying as they always were, Merlin snuck out to find Agravaine. He figured the man would probably be eager to inform Morgana of the day's events. Weaving through the corridors, he made his way into the courtyard just in time to see Agravaine ride off outside the gates. He debated following him for a moment but decided that there wasn't much yet the traitor could tell Morgana about Emrys that she didn't already know. Huffing in annoyance, Merlin turned back into the castle. It didn't matter how much proof he had of Agravaine's betrayal because Arthur would never think ill of his uncle. Really, the smarmy bastard didn't even try to hide his victorious smirks when anything went wrong, or his late night ventures into the forest to visit Morgana, yet Arthur continued to trust him above all others. How much of an oblivious idiot could one man be?
So maybe Merlin was a bit bitter about all of it. Just a bit. And it was completely justified. After all, who had spent years serving Arthur despite his ridiculousness? Who had saved the prat's life hundreds of times? Who put up with his angst and pining when it seemed like he could never be with Gwen? It certainly wasn't Agravaine. And yet, Arthur listened to him rather than Merlin.
Arthur was an idiot.
As he walked past the guest wing, a frightening thought made Merlin freeze in place, his face paling dramatically (which was saying something, considering how pasty he normally looked. A certain Clotpole mocked him endlessly for it). Fawn, a sweet-tempered servant who worked in the palace kitchens, saw Merlin and stopped next to him, looking around to see what had him looking so alarmed.
"Merlin? Is something the matter?" When she got no reply, Fawn continued, "Are you ill?"
Merlin shook himself and faked a smile in her direction. "No, no, I'm fine." She looked at him doubtfully. He was still dreadfully pale. "Really, I just... remembered something. I'm alright."
"Hmm..." She didn't seem convinced but decided not to push the matter just then. "Well, if you do need to talk about whatever it is, let me know. I just managed to sneak away some meatballs and cheese from the kitchens."
"Thanks, Fawn," Merlin said with a more convincing grin. Despite her apparent meekness, the servant was one of the few people in the palace who dared to make fun of the more obnoxious nobles with him, particularly Arthur. She, Gwen and Merlin often met up to gossip about the painfully embarrassing scandals and drama surrounding Camelot's aristocrats.
As the girl left, Merlin returned to his previous line of thought and he hurried to Aithne's chambers. If Arthur refused to question the druid about Emrys' identity, would Morgana have Agravaine kidnap her and do it herself? She had taken Gaius to torture the information out of him just a few weeks ago, after all. Merlin knew it would be too risky for Agravaine to kidnap the woman the same day she arrived, and right after he'd insisted on interrogating her, too, but he couldn't help but worry anyway. Morgana wasn't exactly sane these days so he could no longer predict her actions, and Agravaine would do anything she asked of him. It was a bit pathetic, really, that these two were currently Camelot's greatest enemies.
He reached Aithne's room and knocked quietly. After a few moments, a soft voice called for him to enter. Pushing the door open, he stepped into the room and had to pause for a moment, disoriented. Aithne had somehow already managed to decorate her new room, and it seemed her homesickness may have caused her to go a bit overboard. Merlin counted no less than six potted plants and one that seemed to be growing out of the wall somehow (he suspected the druid had used something Very Illegal to make that happen...), as well as countless little shells and bits of leaves that were arranged artfully on the shelves. He wouldn't be surprised if he found a hamster poking its head out the druid's dresser any second now.
A dramatic gasp interrupted Merlin's examination of the room. He turned away from the Suspicious Dresser to find Aithne falling to her knees and staring up at him, eyes wide with awe. Oh, God. This couldn't be really happening.
"Please, don't do that," Merlin said desperately, his face flaming. Hell, his entire body. "You don't need to bow to me; I'm just the King's manservant."
Aithne gasped again at that. "My lord, I would never presume to be so disrespectful! You're- Not even the King- I wouldn't- Emrys-"
"Please, stand. I'm no better than Arthur, or any other man." Remembering what he had come for, Merlin added, "There is something I must speak with you about."
"Of course, Lord Emrys," Aithne replied as she reluctantly rose, "I would be honoured to help you."
Merlin winced. "Could you please call me Merlin while you are here?" At her horrified look, he explained, "It's just that the Knights are now searching for a sorcerer named Emrys. You must pretend not to know me, or I will be caught."
"The King would harm one who has served him so faithfully?"
"The King doesn't know what I've done for him," Merlin sighed. "All he knows is that Emrys is a sorcerer, and therefore could not have saved his life so many times. Not without an ulterior motive."
The druid woman nodded her understanding. "I will not reveal you, Emr- Merlin."
"Thank you," Merlin said with relief, amused despite himself at how uncomfortable Aithne seemed about calling him Merlin. After a moment, he added, "I must leave soon, but there is something else I muse ask of you. Lord Agravaine, Arthur's uncle, is a traitor allied with Morgana." Aithne gasped, and Merlin had to suppress a grin. She really did that a lot. "Morgana wishes to find out who Emrys is and she will stop at nothing to get that information, so you must be cautious. Less than a month ago, she and Agravaine kidnapped Gaius to force him to reveal my secret and they will not hesitate to do the same to you."
"Do not fear for me, Merlin. These cowards will find me tougher prey than a helpless old man," Aithne replied stonily, her eyes like chips of ice. Merlin almost felt bad for Morgana and Agravaine. Almost.
"I know you can take care of yourself, but there's no harm in being careful. Don't go anywhere alone. And I'll do my best to keep an eye on you and Agravaine."
The woman bowed low, pretending not to hear the embarrassed noise Merlin made. "Thank you, my lord- Merlin," she corrected with a wry smile.
Merlin nodded back appreciatively, satisfied. Aithne was warned and, for now, the danger was minimal.
"I look forward to seeing you at the feast, Aithne." He bid the ambassador farewell, leaving the room as silently as he'd entered it, and he never noticed the slim figure slipping away quietly as he walked past.