« In a land of myth and a time of magic … » I would own Merlin's rights and be able to use english like my maternal language. Sadly neither of those things are true.

This is a fanfiction inspired from both Merlin and historical characters, which means I may (and will) possibly change some facts (dates, characters, etc...) and use anachronism. All in all there is very little you will recognise of King Louis XIV's reign (appart from Versailles). Also, Arthur will be his grandson (son of the first heir apparent and Marie-Anne Christine of Bavaria), there will be no Louis XV and magic is still very much present in XVIIth century Europe.

I hope you'll enjoy though. Snapepotter.

PS : The idea which inspired my fic comes from french author Pierre Pevel and his marvelous « Lames du Cardinal ». In his story the Cardinal Richelieu uses magic to protect Louis XIII and he even has dragons as pets ! If you're interested give it a try you won't regret it !

The Coming of Merlin

Merlin arrived in Versailles as the sun was setting and she quickly (with the help of Charles the gardener) made her way to Gaius's appartments and knocked. Receiving no response she knocked once more, frowning before opening the door and allowing herself in. The room she stepped in was like nothing she had ever seen. There were shelves covered in books everywhere, long tables crumbling under the weight of strange objects and artefacts – some of them even letting smoke escape – and finally, an old man sat with his back turned on her as he poured some powder in a pot next to a candle.

« Hum, hello ?! Gaius ?! », she asked and as she broke the silence the pot escaped from his grip and the powder touched the flame, creating a reaction.

Not allowing herself time to think she let her magic take charge and created a bubble around the rapidly growing fire, while putting the man out of harm's way.

« What...What happened ? », he asked jumping to his feet and she was shocked to discover alert kind eyes instead of the usual sleepiness that came with age.

« I... I don't know », she exclaimed nonetheless, knowing magic was forbidden in Louis XIV's realm.

« Don't lie to me girl. I won't tell anyone but don't lie to me.», the old man snapped. « Who taught you magic ? »

« No one », she replied quickly sensing his irritation. « I was born like this. »

« That's impossible ! », he shot back with incredulity. «And who are you ?! »

« Huh...I have...huh... a letter », she stuttered a little frightened as she rummaged through her bag, smiling triumphantly when she put her hand on the carefully written letter. « There ».

« I don't have my glasses », Gaius replied with a frown.

« Oh...huh...then. I'm Merlin », she replied with a tentative smile.

« Hunith's daughter ? », he asked. « But you're not due here 'till wednesday ! »

« It is wednesday », she replied softly. Was he mad or something ?

« Oh well », he said. «Come with me then. I'll show you you're room. »

Following him she climbed some stairs and arrived in a corridor where several men were talking distractedly. Coughing softly at their smell – Did they really have to stink so much ? A bath wouldn't kill them for heaven's sake ! – she carried on her way until Gaius stopped in front of a little wooden door.

« This isn't much », he said, «but you'll see soon enough that it is highly difficult to get a room in Versailles. Thankfully, old Viger was dismissed last month and the King allowed me to take his quarters. »

« It is perfect », Merlin replied, awed to have her own room for the first time as she discovered a bed, a chest and a writting desk under a window.

« I'm glad you like it », Gaius replied. « Just...hum...remember to lock your door when you come to bed. The men here could wish to take some liberties... »

« I will », Merlin promised, her cheeks suddenly feeling very warm as she recalled what Marie and Will had been doing regularly last summer in Broceliande while no one was looking.

« And Merlin ? », Gaius called as she was about to close the door. « Thank you. »

While Merlin was happily getting used to her surroundings – and cleaning herself in the only bathroom the building offered – Gaius took his glasses and began to read the letter his sister had writen.

My dear Gaius,

I turn to you, for I feel lost, and alone and don't know who to trust.

It is every mother's fate to think her child is special, and yet I would give my life that Merlin were not so. Ours is a small village and she is so clearly at odds with the people here that, if she were to remain I fear what would become of her. You know the ancient beliefs as well as Alifreagh and I do. You know Prince Arthur is the one. I believe Merlin to be the other and Alifreagh seems to be persuaded that it is the case. The signs have been there all along, and I was too afraid to pay them any mind. That is why I put Merlin into your care. She needs a hand to hold, a voice to guide...Someone that might help her find out a purpose for her gifts... I beg you. If you understand a mother's love for her daughter, keep her safe, and may god save you both.

Hunith

And indeed, if what he'd witnessed tonight was only the beginning, they would need god to save them both, thought Gaius as he snuffed out the candle and went to sleep.

It didn't take long for Merlin to realise Versailles was all she needed and when Gaius asked her to deliver remedies for Mademoiselle de Blois's nightmares and Monsieur Olwin's hurt shoulder, she accepted readily. Singing softly she delivered the first potion to Master Olwin who drank all of it at once – Really she hoped Gaius' remedy wouldn't make him sicker – and she quickly made her way out of his chambers and into the gardens where several noblemen were gathered, their laugh boisterous as their leader, a blond tall young man, teased a serving boy.

« Where is the target ? », he was asking, his voice so haughty it made Merlin cringe.

« There sir », the boy replied frightfully. He couldn't be more than twelve years old Merlin noticed with a gasp.

« It's in the sun », the other replied, his arm grasping a musket.

« But the sun's not that bright », the boy said.

« A bit like you then ? », The blond snickered, in a way that made Merlin want to take that musket of his and shove it up his...

« I will put it elsewhere », the boy squealed, already running towards the target.

« I will teach him a lesson », the blond said, aiming the musket towards the boy who carried the target and firing it.

« Hey ! », the servant protested. « Wait ! »

« Run. I need to practice my firing. Move ».

It lasted for a while Merlin wincing everytime she heard the weapon fire, barely noticing the crowd that had gathered around her. Suddenly though, the target flew from the boy's hands and rolled towards her, closely followed by the frightened boy. Just as he was about to catch it however, Merlin lifted the hem of her skirts and put her foot on it, her head held as high as she could while she said :

« Enough. »

« What ?! », the blond one exclaimed, so surprised the haughtiness was gone from his voice.

« You've had your fun my friend », she replied, her foot still firmly planted on the target.

« Have we been presented ? », he asked, haughty once more. Well, he had a point. The custom was to be presented to a man before you talked to him. But he was so infuriating she wasn't going to let him win this round.

« My name is Merlin », she replied her chin raised defiantly as she met his blue gaze and curtsied careful not to bow enough to be stricktly polite.

« So I don't know you », he replied.

« No. »

« And yet you called me friend », he smirked.

« Yes », she replied, wincing. « My mistake. »

« « I think so... »

« I wouldn't have a friend who could be such a prat », she replied, unconcerned by the gasps of shock it provoked. In front of her the man's gaze widened.

«And I one that could be so stupid », he shot back as she was about to turn around and leave him there. « Tell me Merlin », he added getting much closer than the etiquette commanded. « Do you know how to walk on your knees ? »

« No ! », she replied, her cheeks now red with fury and shame. How dared he ?

« Do you want me to teach you ? »

« I wouldn't do it if I were you », she retorted.

« Why ? What could you possibly do to me ?»

« You cannot begin to imagine », she whispered acidly.

« Well then go on », he laughed, making her blood boil. « Hit me ! »

« What ? », she asked. Was he so stupid ?

« Hit me », he ordered and she aimed to slap him only to have her arm wrung behind her back, the rib of her corset digging painfully in her breasts. « I could have you thrown in the Bastille for that. »

« Who do you think you are ? », she spat. « The king ? »

« No. His grandson. Arthur. »

So shocked was she by his answer that she stopped fighting against him. Just her luck. She had to go out and commit lese-majesty on her first day here. What would Gaius think ? Worse yet, what if Arthur had her condemned to death because she had tried to hit him ?

Thankfully, the Prince did nothing of the sort and merely told his guards to have her thrown into a locked room until he could think of the right punishment. As if the cold wasn't punishment enough Merlin thought as the night fell, trying to get some sleep in spite of her shivering body. She hated Arthur. She hated him with a passion !

It seemed at some point, she might have gotten some sleep because she was woken up the next morning by a cold hissing voice that was calling her name.

« Go away », she muttered before jumping up as she realised the voice was coming from inside the building. « What the... »

« Merlin ! », Gaius' voice exclaimed behind her as the door was opened.

« Oh Gaius », she gasped, wincing when she noticed the anger in his gaze.

«You... You... You are unbelievable », he said. « The only thing you should think about is not being noticed and what do you do ? Have a jousting match with the King's heir ! »

« I am sorry », she replied bowing her head.

« You are lucky. I've managed to pull a few strings to get you released. »

« Oh thank you Gaius ! », she exclaimed.

« Don't thank me », he replied. « There was a condition ».

Really, Merlin should have thought about it twice before putting Prince Arthur into his place, she thought to herslef as she cleaned her fourteenth chamber pot, trying not to throw up. Suddenly though she heard the sound of footsteps behind her and paused to discover a young girl watching her.

«My name is Gueneviere », she said curtsying. « Most people call me Gwen. I am Mademoiselle de Blois' maid.

« Oh », Merlin replied. « My name is Merlin. But most people call me idiot. »

« No ! », Gwen exclaimed. « I saw what you did. You were so brave. »

« It was incredibly stupid though... »

« Well, I'm glad you walked away you weren't going to beat him... »

« You know I could have », Merlin replied before she cold stop herself.

« You think ? Because you're not one of these muscled kind of fellows... »

« Thanks... »

« Oh no ! I didn't mean it like that. I'm sure you're stronger than you look», Gwen said. « But Arthur is a rough kind of men... and... »

« What ? »

« You're a girl. You don't look like that... »

« I 'm in disguise », Merlin replied with a mischievous smile that made Gwen laugh.

« It's great what you did », she said. « Prince Arthur's a bully and everyone though you were a real hero. »

« Really ? »

« Yes ! Anyway I should get going ! »

« And I should get back to my huh... proteges », Merlin replied with a grimace. « It was nice meeting you. »

Finally, after a whole morning of washing up chamber pots, Merlin was fred and made her way towards her rooms in the Grand Commun and took a bath before running downstairs to dine with Gaius.

« Eat », he said.

« I know you're still furious against me », she replied.

« Your mother asked me to look after you », he shot back.

« Yes », Merlin whispered. It was still hard for her to accept that her mother had sent her away like this.

« What did you mother say to you about your gifts ? », he whispered.

« That I was special », Merlin replied.

« You are special. The likes of which I have never seen before. Magic requires incantations, years of learning spells... What I saw you do was... elemental, instinctive... »

« What's the point if it can't be used ? »

« That, I do not know. You are a question that has never been posed before Merlin. »

And how she wished he had the answer to it, Merlin realised, tears forming in her eyes.