AN: Thanks to everybody who briefly viewed this and those who followed/favorited. It means the world to me that you even want to read my writing. :)
Anyway, this fic has sorta turned into a multi-chapter adventure type-thing. However, if anybody wants to read this as a two- or three- shot, then the end of this chapter and next chapter could makes sense as finishing points for the story. However, I am going to continue it, and I hope you will enjoy reading it. I'll let you read now, but there will be a small AN at the bottom. See you there :)
When Gwaine regained consciousness, the first thing he saw was Merlin, with an impish grin. This was normal Merlin, not magic Merlin; not the Merlin who could snap tree branches with a single word and flash of golden eyes. It must have been an hallucination, or a dream. Gwaine wanted to believe that, but he somehow couldn't. Once he did believe it, though, so many things could be explained. How they'd face so many foes and always won, even when the odds were stacked against them. How Merlin did so many things that he did. Gwaine groaned allowed his head to roll to one side, only to find that he was now staring at the bottoms of Arthur's boots. He sat up quick, then reeled from the moment of dizziness. Merlin grabbed his arm and held him up.
"You really should lie down, Gwaine. Let me bandage your leg."
"Come on, Merlin. Would you ever lie back down inches from Arthur's stinky boots?" His voice sounded as though he'd swallowed a toad. Merlin laughed, and handed him a cup of water. Gwaine drank eagerly, though he secretly would rather be drinking in a tavern. There must be one nearby...
Gwaine looked around at the forest.
"Where are we?" He asked.
"Don't know." Merlin said, ripping a piece of cloth of his shirt and tying it around Gwaine's hurt leg. "I had to drag you and his royal highness over there," Merlin nodded to Arthur, who was still unconscious. His tongue was lolling out of his mouth and he was snoring slightly. Both the knight and the manservant laughed at this image of their king. "And we fetched up here." Gwaine took all this in without comment. He was mostly watching Merlin very carefully, waiting for him to do something magical that would give him away. But nothing was forthcoming. Gwaine decided to press the younger man.
"So... there are an awful lot of tree branches falling on our enemies these days." Gwaine began, trying for a casual tone but watching Merlin very closely as he mixed some soup.
"Yes, that one was lucky, wasn't it?" Merlin replied, with perfect timing. Huh. So maybe the manservant was actually pretty good at keeping his secret. Gwaine was almost going to give up and leave the young man alone, but as Merlin turned away he noticed the slight downward curve of Merlin's mouth and the way one hand was fiddling with his neckerchief. So it must be true then, if Merlin was nervous. Maybe I'll just be straightforward, thought Gwaine. I'll just say it.
"Merlin, I know you have magic." Gwaine said. Merlin let out a small, slightly forced-sounding laugh and looked at him. "What have you been drinking?"
"Merlin, it's no use. I. Know. You. Have. Magic. I saw you drop that branch on the bandit. You saved Arthur's life." They both looked at Arthur again.
"Gwaine, you were passed out. I highly doubt that -" While Merlin was speaking, Gwaine had reached over and pushed the pot that was sitting on the hot coals. It started to fall. Without delay, without thought; and almost without notice, Merlin had turned slightly away so Gwaine couldn't see his eyes. The pot righted itself instantly and almost naturally looking. But Gwaine knew what had just happened. Stupid, Merlin chided himself. Now I've ruined everything. The young manservant sighed, and looked back at Gwaine.
"I suppose you saw that." Merlin muttered, and knew he was right from the knight's expression.
"So, you're a sorcerer." Gwaine clarified.
"Sort of. I'm a warlock, which is a type of sorcerer."
"Anything else I need to know?" Gwaine asked, now more curious than anything else.
"Wait, Gwaine... you're not, well... uh..." Merlin fumbled. "You're not, like, scared of me or something?" He looked a little bashful. Gwaine laughed.
"No, you clotpole! You're my best friend. In fact, you were one of my only friends. Plus, I've only ever seen you use your magic for good. So it's fine. You're a warlock." Gwaine shrugged it off. Merlin smiled. He had never thought Gwaine would be the first to know, but it seemed like a good thing. Now he had someone on his side, something that hadn't happened since Lancelot. Gwaine was happy that Merlin had finally admitted to it. Now the fun can begin, he thought.
"Merlin, can you show me?" Asked Gwaine. Merlin was about to say something, probably yes, but he glanced at the sleeping form of Arthur.
"Don't worry. He doesn't look like he's going to be coming round any time soon." Gwaine reassured him.
"That's what I'm afraid of." Merlin muttered, so quiet Gwaine barely heard. "But alright." He said in a normal voice. "We have to break camp anyways."
"Are we going back to Camelot?" Asked Gwaine. Merlin muttered something and the soup ladled itself into two bowls. The rest of it dumped itself out and the cauldron and other supplies packed themselves up into Merlin's bulging backpack. Merlin's eyes glowed for a second longer, though Gwaine was not sure why.
As soon as they were done inhaling their soup, Merlin got up.
"Yes. But I have to find a clearing... we need to get back quickly. Let me first revive Arthur." Merlin walked over the still-snoring king and put a hand over his heart. With a few muttered words, the young Pendragon gasped and sat up.
"Arthur?" Gwaine asked. Arthur looked around confusedly.
"Where am I?" He asks. Merlin smiled and Gwaine smiled too, but then something dawns on him. I have to tell him, Gwaine thought to himself. As soon as he thought this, Merlin's eyes widened and he cried "No! Gw-" But Gwaine's comment was far louder.
"Merlin has magic!" He cried excitedly. Arthur didn't gasp or anything, he just rolled his eyes. Turning to Merlin, he said, "Has Gwaine been on the cider again?" Merlin just stood there, fuming.
"No, I'm serious." Gwaine says. "He really does have magic. Tell him, Merlin." Finally, Merlin rolls his eyes.
"Well, it's not like Gwaine would have been able to keep it a secret for long." He mutters to himself.
"I take offense at that." Gwaine retorted. Arthur was looking between them. He was thinking that he was crazy, that maybe he was having a dream...
"No, it's not a dream." Merlin rolled his eyes again and they ended up falling on Arthur. Arthur opens his mouth but has trouble speaking.
"Merlin, please explain yourself." The king demanded.
"Fine, but let's walk. There is a clearing over there." Arthur didn't object, assuming that this was Merlin's way of agreeing to explain some things. Had Gwaine been serious? Was Merlin really... magic?" Again, as soon as he thought this, Merlin smiled impishly, and spoke again to the unspoken question. The group rose and Merlin picked up all the stuff.
"Gwaine was serious. I have magic. Are... are you OK with that?" Merlin looked, again, a little nervous; but also happy to have the secret out. Arthur was contemplating his reply very carefully, and so there was an awkward moment when the only sound was their feet treading through the underbrush. Arthur was walking normally, though he had to stop every so often and sit down because of a throbbing headache. Merlin knew they would need help if they wanted to get back to Camelot soon enough that their absence would not be suspicious. Just as they were coming into the clearing, Arthur spoke, having calmed the raging storm of thoughts and emotions.
"So that means you've been reading my mind for the past few years." Arthur says. Merlin laughs, actually laughs, before answering.
"Only when you annoy me."
"And have you - besides that - ever used magic directly on me?" Gwaine laughs this time, and Merlin smirks.
"All the time." Merlin replies. Arthur's eyes widen, and he stops walking. Merlin hurriedly explains himself.
"Mostly to save your life. You realize I never actually spend any time at the tavern, don't you?" Merlin asks.
"Are you kidding? You spend all your time at the tavern!" Arthur protests.
"You sure you're not thinking of me?" Gwaine puts in, making all three of them laugh.
"That's just a cover Gaius seems to favor. I don't tell him to tell you I'm at the tavern. Generally I'm either saving you, protecting Camelot, fulfilling my destiny, or off dying somewhere." Merlin sounded a little angry about the whole destiny bit, and Arthur didn't really know what he meant. He would ask his manservant about that later. Arthur was about to fire off another question, and at the same time Gwaine was opening his mouth to speak; but Merlin cut the both of them off.
"Would you two just hold off for a moment? I have to call our ride." He strided out into the field, and in a low, guttural, un-merlin like voice, he spoke nonsense words that neither knight understood.
"O Drakon! e mala soiftengometh tesd'hup anankes! Erkheo!" Then, smiling once again, he walked back over to the two - slightly stunned - older men sitting in the middle of the clearing.
"What did you just do there?" Gwaine asked.
"Called a friend." Merlin answered.
"Another sorcerer?" Arthur asked.
"Not... exactly." Merlin seemed a little nervous about giving up more information. Gwaine and Arthur dropped the subject. Arthur had questions about many other aspects of Merlin's magic.
"So can you demonstrate?" Arthur asked. Merlin rolled his eyes.
"You knights are all the same." He complained. Gwaine smirked, Arthur looked confused and a bit huffy.
"Fine, then; if you won't demonstrate then at least tell me how long." Arthur demanded. Merlin looked confused.
"How long what?"
"I think Arthur is asking how long you've been practising magic." Gwaine clarified. Arthur nodded.
"Well, since I was born. I was moving things with my mind before I was talking. And I don't practice it. I just... know it." Merlin shrugged his shoulders helplessly. Gwaine adopted a slightly mystified look, Arthur focused on his raging thoughts, trying to sort them out.
Since he was born... moving objects... like - wait.
"Yes, Arthur. Like when we 'practiced our mace-work' the day after we met." Merlin answered his thought.
"Will you stop that!" Arthur sputtered. "I am tired of having my thoughts poked through!"
"Oh... well sorry." Merlin said, humbly. There was a mischievous glint in his eye, though.
"You and Gwaine were thinking the same thing, although he didn't know about the mace debacle." Arthur and Gwaine both glance at each other. It was an odd feeling for both of them, having their thoughts revealed by someone they had known extremely well and trusted. Gwaine still trusted Merlin wholeheartedly, but for Arthur it was harder. He trusted him, but would also keep a closer eye on him in the future.
"Anyway." Arthur began. "Will you please refrain from reading our minds while we aren't aware?" Merlin smirks again and nods. "Sure." Arthur and Gwaine look marginally relieved, but only for a moment. Just then, a huge beating sound echoed across the clearing, and a gust of wind rustled the trees.
"Our ride is here." Merlin said. Arthur and Gwaine followed his gaze up above the trees to a huge shape. It was just coming down, landing more gracefully than seems possible, in the clearing. The Great Dragon. Merlin rushes forward. Gwaine looks at Arthur for his reaction, waiting for orders on how to handle this situation. Arthur starts to get up but feels dizzy, and as his head clears he recalls Merlin's words. Our ride is here. This is the ride Merlin, that bloody warlock, was talking about? What was that idiot thinking? Meanwhile, Merlin had approached the dragon. Arthur still had the urge to stop him, but again he held back. Merlin must be in control of a situation, as impossible as that seemed where a dragon was involved. Anyway, hadn't Arthur killed that very dragon?
"Hahaha. Yes, Arthur Pendragon. You were told you killed me." Arthur groaned. Another mythical being reading his mind in the past two minutes? What is the world coming too? Merlin appeared to be conversing with the dragon.
"Hello, Young Warlock. Been awhile since you summoned me." The dragon had a wry tone to his voice.
"Hello Kilgharrah." Merlin turned back to Gwaine and Arthur, who were both a bit speechless.
"Summoned him?" Gwaine asked.
"Told I killed you?" Arthur said simultaneously.
"Yes, and yes. Now why don't you say hello?" Merlin implored, giving them a be polite now glare.
"Hello... Kilgharrah? Gwaine said tentatively, and Merlin acknowledged that he had said the name correctly.
"It... HE! He has a name?" Arthur asked, quickly correcting himself. Kilgharrah's nostrils began trailing little wisps of smoke, but Merlin reached a hand back and calmed him down. Amazing! Merlin the king of Camelot's bloody manservant had just placated a dragon. Gwaine seemed to be thinking thoughts of a similar nature (though he was happy neither Merlin nor the dragon had pointed that out), and his wide eyes met Arthur's, mirroring his expression.
"He lived under your castle since you were born, and you never learned his name?" Merlin asks, just to tease Arthur. He and the dragon shared an amused glance.
"Anyway, something about a ride?" Arthur asks. Gwaine nods. "I'm hungry." He says. What useful information, though certainly not surprising. Merlin cleared his throat.
"Uh, right. Kilgharrah, would you mind flying Arthur, Gwaine and myself back to Camelot?" Both knights paled slightly at the thought of riding a dragon.
"We have discussed before: I'm not a horse, young Warlock." The dragon complained.
"Yes but Strength - or Gwaine - and Courage (or Arthur) are both wounded. So unless you want us to trek through the forest, fighting off bandits as we go and getting even more wounded..." Merlin trailed off. As though to prove the point, Gwaine stumbled slightly. Merlin ran over and helped him regain his balance. The dragon sighed. Arthur found it a terrifying sound.
"Fine, get on." Merlin clambered up the side of the dragon and settled in between where the two great wings met the armored-looking back.
"But I'm only going to land in the clearing just outside the castle where we often have our discussions." Arthur shot Merlin a look, thinking how he had not noticed a dragon as big as that landing just outside the castle. Both the knights were still on the ground.
"Well?" Merlin asked. "Get up here." He beckoned with his arm.
"Um, well one of us can barely walk and the other gets dizzy when he tries to stand up. You want us to climb up the side of a... dragon?" Gwaine explained their hesitation, though having difficulty with the word dragon.
"Well even a bloody dragon isn't as bad as what Merlin probably could have summoned." The dragon retorted to Gwaine's unspoken jab, having read his thoughts again. Gwaine looked annoyed.
"Fine, fine. I'll help you up." Merlin reached his hand out towards Gwaine, and with a whispered incantation the knight began to rise with Merlin's outstretched hand. Gwaine could actually feel Merlin as though he were grabbing him around the waist. It was unnerving, especially when he looked down and saw the empty space where the ground should have been. However, sensing that movement or complaint might break the warlock's concentration, he stayed both silent and motionless (quite a feat for Gwaine). With a swift motion Merlin brought his hand, and the knight along with it; over till he was hovering just above the dragon. Then Merlin allowed him to drop, a bit unceremoniously, onto the huge sloping back.
"You could have warned me!" Gwaine complained, but Merlin was already doing the same to Arthur.
"Oh and Kilgharrah, they don't like it when we read their minds without permission. Just thought I'd let you know." Unbelievable, Arthur thought. Merlin had just referred to him and the dragon as 'we'. Just as these thoughts were pounding around inside Arthur's skull, the dragon took off. It was unexpected, the great rushing whoosh and the hard beats of the wings. The Knight and the King didn't relax until they had safely returned to Camelot, but Merlin was completely at ease for the whole ride, making little bursts of fire or light appear in his palm. Soon enough, they were landing in the very field where Arthur had killed - or thought he killed - the dragon that deposited them. Merlin bade his scaly friend farewell, and with a powerful beat of his wings the great dragon was gone.
AN: Hello again. Hope you enjoyed this last chapter. Just in case you skipped the AN up there, a brief recap: This has turned into a multi-chapter fic, so please continue with me!
In other news, there are some explanations. In this fic, Merlin can randomly read Arthur's and Gwaine's minds, because I find that fun. Also, in terms of timing, this fic is pre-Aithusa and pre-sovereignty, but after Gwaine has become a knight, and Uther is probably in his disabled state (he won't come into the story much, neither will Morgana). So it's practically AU, but not totally crazy.
See you on the other side!