What Dwells Between Heaven and Earth
Proper Introductions
" Your Highness," Gaius began, " This is my nephew, Merlin Emrys."
Nephew? Merlin blinked, shocked. His mother never said Gaius was her brother. He had always assumed that Gaius was her friend.
The prince looked at Merlin, legs still propped up. " Merlin Emrys eh? A nephew? Interesting. How long will he be staying in Camelot?"
He never took his gaze off Merlin, even as he spoke to Gaius. It made Merlin a little incensed, but he held his tongue.
" That has not been decided yet, Your Highness."
" Ah." A moment's pause. " What are you standing there for?"
Startled, Merlin glanced at Gaius. Once more, he felt lost. Thankfully, Gaius ushered him with his hand, " I'll take care of the things you've brought. What are we missing?"
" Ah…the lower half of the list…Uncle…"
" Well? Go get it!"
The prince suddenly chuckled. " Get lost!" He remarked.
Merlin froze at the pun, blinking rapidly.
" Don't have a good memory, eh? Already forgot everything from your tour?"
" I…didn't have one."
" Didn't have one?" The prince scowled at the abashed healer. " Really now, Gaius. Though I suppose this is hardly surprising. You are always so focused on your herbs and books and nothing else. Well, come along Merlin," He enunciated the name condescendingly, as he swung his legs to the floor and headed to the door faster than Merlin had time to think, " Let's get this over with fast. Try to remember at least some of the castle as we go, at least?"
Gaius's face had an expression of shock, but he ushered at Merlin frantically to follow. Merlin was hardly a fool; he knew the privilege of being escorted by the Crown Prince himself was not something to be taken lightly. In the halls, the prince did not look back to make sure the other had caught up. He instantly launched into a series of explanations and comments as they went. They passed by several servants who smiled at Merlin, as they had given him directions earlier. Merlin smiled nervously back, struggling to calm his rapidly beating heart, knowing that now was not the time to be over-excited.
The castle was large, and Merlin had hardly rested from traveling to unpacking to fetching things for Gaius. It was not long before he was exhausted. He was never considered strong, even in the small village of Ealdor.
" Not much for stamina, are you?" The prince observed, not even the least bit tired. Merlin wished the heir would not mock him so much. It was embarrassing enough without his remarks. " Go sit over there."
He leaned against the opposite wall as Merlin sat down. As soon as the boy sat, he was suddenly aware that he should not have. How could a peasant commoner sit down while a royal prince remained standing? Before he could even begin to think of a way to rectify his mistake, however, the prince had already started speaking again.
" So why are you visiting our mad healer? Gaius is a good man, but he's a piece of work."
Merlin blinked. " Well…he is my uncle."
" Fair enough, but he never mentioned having a nephew, or siblings. Not that we asked."
Lips quirking, Merlin replied, " I guess it's because he was too focused on his 'herbs and books and nothing else'."
" Ha!" The Crown Prince pulled himself from the wall. " Perhaps that was just as well. Where did you come from?"
Is it normal for the prince to take such interest in a commoner? " I came from Ealdor."
" That's a good three night travel from here, no?"
Surprised that he would know, Merlin nodded. " Yes…Your Highness." Good heavens. The Crown Prince. As if noble were not enough.
" Small area, I think. Not under Camelot jurisdiction. A wonder that your family did not move here. I suppose your father loved the village too much?"
Merlin's breath caught in his throat as he considered how to answer. He did not have a father. What would the prince think of him now?
" Is this your first time visiting Camelot, Merlin?" The prince had moved on, sparing Merlin the effort.
" Yes, Your Highness." It was easier to say the title now.
" First day in the city, and already rescuing beggars." Said the prince.
Merlin felt his face grow hot. He had hoped the prince would not mention that.
" Are you rested now? Or should we wait another hour for your ladylegs to revive?"
Rising to his feet, with his head bowed, Merlin replied, " I'm fine now."
" Very good." Said the prince. " Because you're not much of a talker, for all the talking you did at the markets. Come along. We still have a great deal of castle to go."
ooooo
" Take him away."
Part of Uther saw Igraine in the weeping mother. In all weeping mothers. Part of him saw Arthur in the son too, condemned to execution. The youth was young, with an honest face and voice, but Uther was not a King because he was overly merciful.
They say the King's heart died with his wife, and it was largely true. Sometimes at night he would dream of curling next to his wife's small frame. Upon learning they would never have a child, his wife had fallen to deep depression, believing she had failed Uther, that she had failed Camelot. He would wake in the middle of the night thinking he heard her quietly sobbing in the next room. He remembered his reluctance when the witch warned that the gift of life must be repaid with life.
Yvonne had not cared. They assumed it would be a random life, perhaps someone not even in Camelot. What was important that she gave King Uther an heir, gave Camelot an heir. One life was a small price to pay for a kingdom.
Except that one life had not been small at all.
" No." The sorcerer's mother sobbed. " No, please, he's my baby—he would never practice sorcery. I know my son! Please, Your Majesty!"
" The evidence is irrefutable." Said Uther. " Take the woman to Gaius and have him give her something to calm her. This court is adjourned."
He could sympathize with this wretched woman. He had been a victim of sorcery too. Nimweh had seemed almost a saint at the time, a miracle from God, blessing his Yvonne with a child and Camelot with a future King. He had foolishly believed her good faith, believed that she had told him everything. How he hated her now, for all her sinister schemes, but not more so than he hated himself, for being the fool, the royal, desperate idiot that had been blind enough to trust her. Like this mother, who no doubt hated herself for producing such a son. Leaving his throne, he stopped in front of the distraught mother and laid a hand on her head to convey what small comfort he could give.
" We all make mistakes, good woman." He said to her. " It is when our hopes and dreams are taken from us that we must take strength. May God grant you peace in harsh times to follow."
He turned, and left her to her grief.
ooooo
By evening, Merlin was thoroughly exhausted. He was so tired that he could barely keep his eyes open. Arthur glanced at him, amused.
" I thought peasants in the rural areas are supposed to be hardier than this."
He had been trying to goad Merlin into the character he knew existed in the boy all day. The Merlin he met in the market had been brave and dignified, whereas Merlin in the castle had been more of a meek, submissive, boring thing. He had seen a defiant light flash in the other several times, but each time the youth kept his silence.
Once again, he saw an annoyed glint in those blue eyes, but Merlin once again remained silent.
" Did you come to Gaius for some kind of medicine to make you less of a girl?"
Merlin looked at him with bleary eyes.
" Come along." Giving up for now, Arthur led the way back to the healer's quarters. " It is high time for supper, and I won't be wasting that time leading you around. Hopefully Gaius gives you something to bolster your wit beyond that of feeding beggars more money to gamble."
He was a little disappointed. Maybe this Merlin character was too soft-tempered. Maybe that display in the market had been a one-time event.
" As I said before," Merlin's words almost startled him, " He can do what he feels he must with the money, but I do not regret giving it to him."
" Only because you don't believe me." Arthur replied knowingly. " Naive peasant folk. Both endearing and frustrating. A few days in the city will wean you of your ignorance, assuming you even stay that long."
" I'm already weaned." Merlin responded, his tones snappish. " I thought Camelot was supposed to be a wonderful place."
Arthur abruptly stopped and whirled around to face him. " And now you think differently?" He demanded.
Merlin blanched visibly. He clearly did not mean to remark out loud. He wavered a little, though his eyes remained on Arthur's—a gesture of defiance that would normally not be tolerated from commoners—before suddenly heaving a sigh.
" Pardon me, Your Highness. I just…had a rough day."
" Rough day! You were with me all day. What are you trying to say?"
" I'm not trying to say anything."
" You're saying I am bad company?"
" I just—I don't know." Merlin rubbed his head. " It's just—people here aren't mean, exactly, but they aren't friendly—it's stupid. I'm sorry. I've never been in any city before, and it's just very intimidating." This was followed by a growling sound so loud that it echoed in the hall. Arthur stared at Merlin's stomach.
The boy blushed. " I haven't eaten since breakfast." He said defensively.
" Well why didn't you say so?" Arthur exclaimed. " And here I thought you were a complete pansy, falling all over the place." That was not quite fair, since Merlin had only stumbled every once in a while. " Let's get you to Gaius before your stomach breaks the windows."
They went quickly through the halls, silent all the way, but when Arthur arrived at the healer's door, he pressed his hand on it instead of opening it and faced Merlin.
" Listen to me," He said, to the peasant commoner that intrigued him so much. He could not deny that he liked the other youth, naive though he might be. Merlin looked at him with wide eyes, exhaustion sagging all his features. The lad had a long day, to be sure, and Arthur could afford a little sympathy. " You're in Camelot, Merlin. Not whatever village you came from. Camelot isn't the way it is because everyone's a spineless pansy. If you want to stay here for any length of time and not get crushed by others, you have to stand up for yourself. You have to take care of yourself, and you have to protect yourself. That means holding onto your change and not giving it to thieving beggars who play on sympathies the way that man did to you earlier today. That means not depending on others to take care of you for you. People here are busy. I'm busy. I had time today, but I won't every day, and everyone here has way too much to do for themselves, let alone worry about a clueless chap like you. We all have our responsibilities. You will too. If you want to thrive in Camelot, you have to stop acting like a girl." He thumped Merlin on the arm. " The reason why Camelot is the greatest city in the world, is because it forces you to do your best. Do that," He pushed himself off the door, " And you'll also see the best of Camelot."
He knew he did not misjudge Merlin when the youth nodded, the gesture filled with purpose.
" Thank you, Your Highness." The boy murmured, fully understanding the worth of Arthur's advice.
The prince hid his smile as he walked away, intent on his own supper. " Get inside!" He called out without looking back, " And fill that stomach of yours before it brings down the whole castle!"
