Author's Note: I am trying to update more often (I mean seriously, it's the summer and I really don't have much else to do), but we'll see. The reason I haven't been updating that much is a new addiction to a new show (White Collar). If you haven't seen the show, well, you should see it (unless you don't want to become addicted). I am using a lot of parentheses in this author's note. Anyway, read, review, and enjoy!
PS: A lot of dialogue in this chapter.
Shopping was… not as much fun as Merlin thought it was going to be. He had gotten a nice, but slightly worn looking brown jacket, a blue and a red tunic, two pairs of brown britches, and a soft pair of leather boots. He had also gotten four neckerchiefs (two blue and two red) to cover his neck cuff. The group had flitted from stall to stall to find all of that. Arthur had left with some other pirates before coming back with wagons loaded down with food, water, and other necessities. Merlin didn't talk much other than to ask, "Where are we?"
Lancelot had turned to him and said, "We're in a neighboring kingdom called Mercia. You know that Arthur is a Pirate King, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he spends all of his time on the water. We have a land base too. That land base is in a kingdom called Camelot, which Arthur's father, Uther had taken over from the inside, managing to get Arthur named Crown Prince by the King of Camelot. Uther's still alive, but we won't tell him that you have magic. If you think that Arthur doesn't like magic, wait until you see Uther. He's the one that ordered the Great Purge twenty years ago.
"When Uther's wife, Arthur's mother, Ygraine, died, Uther blamed magic for it. He called for an immediate execution of every known magic user in the land. They were tied, four people to a stake, and burned alive. Eventually, they would also hang magic-users and cut off their heads-," Lancelot missed the way Merlin flinched when he mentioned people getting their heads cut off, "-to get rid of them. Almost everyone hates magic and would do anything to remove it. Even if you harbor a sorcerer, you can be executed. I always found it ironic, personally, because Uther spared Gaius, the Court Physician, from the flames. Gaius is Uther's best friend and greatest council, but he is also a sorcerer. Uther spared him because they were friends. There was no other reason." Lance finished quietly.
Merlin looked up at him in confusion, "So, why did you spare me, then?"
Lancelot collected his thoughts before answering, "Gwaine, Percival, and I grew up in places other than Camelot, so we didn't have such a… strict upbringing regarding magic-users. That's why it didn't really bother us that much, but as for the reason the others spared you: I think it's because you said you were born with it. You know Mordred, right? Although I know I probably don't have to tell you this, please don't share this information. Only Arthur and his closest knights know. Mordred is a druid. Druids are born with magic, so Arthur felt like he couldn't kill him. Also, Mordred was only a couple of years younger than us when we first met him and Arthur does not feel comfortable killing children or women. So, he spared Mordred and I guess he spared you as well because you're kind of in the same boat."
Merlin just nodded and said, "Ah."
Lancelot looked back at him and said, "Merlin, I want you to know that if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. I will do my best to understand you and support you." Merlin looked up at him with wide eyes and was about to say something. That was when one of the other knights dragged him to a stall to look at some trinket or another.
When they finally got back to the ship, the knights showed Merlin to his room. They dropped his clothes off and made sure to warn him one more time, "Don't let anyone else on board know about your magic." He nodded and went to sit on his bed.
His bed. He hadn't had his own real bed in years. He had had blankets and maybe a cot or two, but not a bed. Merlin ran a hand across the sheets, which were soft, if a little stained. He looked at the pillow at the head of the bed and let a smile grow on his face. Pillows were even rarer for slaves than beds. Merlin was about to just lie down on his bed and sleep for years, but he sighed and got up instead.
Merlin was putting his clothing away neatly in his drawers (that wouldn't last long) when someone knocked tentatively on his door. He looked up and padded over, pulling the door open. He was surprised when he saw Mordred there, shifting slightly from foot to foot. Merlin smiled at the younger boy and said, "Hey Mordred, do you need anything?" Merlin had to force himself to not look down at his feet.
Mordred tried to talk, but it came out as a croak, so he tried again, "Can… can I come in?"
Merlin smiled again (oh, how he loved to smile) and motioned for Mordred to come in. He pulled out a chair and said that Mordred could sit in the chair, or on the bed. Mordred chose the chair.
It was a few minutes before Mordred spoke again, and Merlin was willing to wait him out. When he did speak, he said, "Lancelot told you that I'm a druid." It was a statement, not a question, but Merlin nodded anyway.
Mordred smiled for a second and said, "I'm sorry that I'm being so awkward about this. I don't mean to, it's just that in normal circumstances, I would never tell anyone about my heritage. It's…hard."
The young warlock nodded seriously at the druid and paused before saying, "If you ever need to talk to anyone, about anything, magic or otherwise, you know where to find me." For some reason, Merlin had a gut instinct that he needed to be Mordred's friend. It was such a driving need, one that made him feel as if people's lives were at stake if he didn't do this.
Mordred, however, just smiled brightly, his whole face lighting up. Then his smile curved back down into a frown and he said, "Thank you. You said you were a warlock, right? And that, so far as you know, you are the only warlock alive, right?"
Merlin nodded, not quite sure where this conversation was going. Mordred took a deep breath and said in a rush, "The druids have a prophecy that says when magic is outlawed from the land, a warlock will be born. The Warlock will be born. Our people call him Emrys. He will be the most powerful magic wielder to ever walk the land, before or after his life. It is said that he will protect the Once and Future King and guide him to bringing magic back to the land and uniting Albion."
This time, Merlin reared back a little bit, unsure. "You think I'm this warlock, don't you?" Merlin asked slowly.
Mordred nodded and answered just as slowly, "You are the only warlock I've seen and you seem to be just the right age. Many druids speculate that King Arthur is the Once and Future King. I can't tell how powerful your magic is because of your neck cuff, but I assume it's very powerful. All of the pieces fit the prophecy."
Merlin put his face in his hands and rubbed them up and down. He was not at all prepared for this. This was not going as he expected it to. He couldn't possibly be this Emrys person. It just didn't make sense. Mordred looked down at his hands and said, "I'm sorry."
Merlin looked up and said quickly, "No! No, don't apologize. It's not you. It's not even me, evidently. It's just how it is. Thank you for telling me this." To make it more convincing, Merlin smiled at the younger boy. He smiled back. Just then the bells rang signifying supper.
Supper that night was the best that Merlin had tasted since he was taken as a slave. The other pirates had watched in amusement as Merlin practically inhaled his food, taking seconds and even thirds. The others had complained about their food at the beginning of the meal, but watching how quickly and enthusiastically Merlin ate his made them reconsider. Merlin could tell that each of them were wondering what he could have eaten before to make this taste good.
After supper, Merlin had gone back to his room, Lance following close behind. They talked about the prophecy and about Merlin's magic and life. All of that was something that Merlin had never shared with anyone before. One the one hand, he felt like he was stripped bare for everyone to see, but on the other hand, he trusted Lancelot. Trust was something that Merlin did not give easily and he was apprehensive that it had taken Lance less than two weeks to be the most trustworthy person Merlin knew.
It wasn't just Merlin sharing either. Where Merlin told about his life and magic, Lance talked about his life and his swordsmanship. He talked about the castle in Camelot and what it was like serving King Arthur. He even shared the fact that he was in love with the Queen. It was almost midnight by the time they were done sharing information and they went separate ways, knowing that they had just become brothers in all but blood.
After Lance left, Merlin couldn't sleep and he decided to go up on deck and watch the sea for a little bit. Water always calmed him and reminded him of Freya. She was always gushing about the lake at her old home. They had said that they were going to find a lake like that and build a house there, but fate took her away too soon.
He was so lost in his memories of Freya that Merlin didn't notice Arthur come up next to him until Arthur shattered the silence, "Can't sleep?"
Merlin jumped and his balance was off, causing him to start to topple over the railing. Luckily, Arthur caught him and dragged him back onto the ship. Arthur laughed uproariously at Merlin and Merlin smiled shakily in return. Eventually, Merlin answered, "Nope. You can't sleep either, or is this just your shift?"
Arthur smile to himself and looked out over the waves, "The Captain always gets the first shift because it's the best one. So, I can't sleep either. I'm excited to see my wife tomorrow or the next day. That's when we get to a dock city near Camelot. From there, it's only a quarter of a day long ride for the knights and me. You'll be coming with us. We always leave before the rest because we don't want to be held up by the caravan."
Merlin made sure his voice didn't betray his jealousy of someone else having love where he didn't and said, "You really love her, then?"
Arthur's sigh could only have been described as dreamy and Merlin smiled. Arthur proceeded to tell Merlin everything about her. Merlin listened and struggled to keep his melancholy off of his face. The young warlock was surprised at everyone's openness with him, but he figured it was because he had become a part of their 'elite group' when Arthur told them to protect him with their lives.
Eventually, Arthur's stories tapered to an end and he yawned loudly. Merlin smiled at him, but Arthur just scowled back. When he said, "Get some sleep, Merlin," the scowl turned into a slight smile. Merlin grinned back and went down to his room to sleep. Hopefully, he would see Camelot tomorrow and find out why so many people loved it so much.