Camelot

Merlin pushed himself up the sandy hill; as he approached the top, his breath was taken away as the sight of Camelot's famous white towers, became visible to him. It was a sight that was to become familiar to him over the years, but the first time, that he saw them he would always remember.

The journey from Ealdor had for the most part been quiet, with him only meeting a few people on the road. As he became nearer to Camelot though all of a sudden he could sense a change in the air. A whole new atmosphere began to take him over. What before had been a quiet secluded journey was suddenly turning into something more chaotic.

Merchants taking their wears into town in carts, people rushing around on horse back. Merlin could hardly wait to enter the legendary lower town, a place where he'd heard many tales about. As he climbed to the top of the hill, he pushed a bush out of the way, and for a moment just stood and stared.

The castle was huge, so much bigger than he had imagined. The towers dominated the landscape. He could see guards keeping watch on top of them. All of a sudden he was desperate to get into the town and to begin to explore, his new home. He took off at an increased pace, his eyes all of a sudden drawn to all the people who where rushing around below him.

As he got into the entrance of the lower town, he took in the atmosphere for a second, before making his first entry. Merlin had never seen anywhere so busy before. Ealdor would have a yearly fate, where people from neighbouring villages would descend on it, but it was nothing compared to Camelot.

As he began to walk into the lower town, he decided he would take it slowly and try and see as much as he could. His eyes where so restless, he hardly knew where to look, as he attempted to take in as much as he could. But the further he moved into the crowd the faster he was forced to move, as he was propelled along by everyone else.

His nose could smell food being cooked in the middle of the square, suddenly making him really hungry. He stopped in the middle of the crowd trying to work out where the smell was coming from. Suddenly a voice took him by surprise.

"Watch where you're going lad."

"I'm sorry." He apologised turning around, but the person concerned was long gone.

The incident had suddenly disorientated him, and he had to shake himself out of the uneasy feeling. Once he was recovered he made for the main square in the castle court yard. Suddenly he became aware of a crowd gathered there, curious he walked along to investigate. He could hear a voice bellowing out as if addressing the people. As he walked into the court yard, he made out a figure on the balcony, suddenly he realised this must be the King. Curious he continued walking into the yard to join the people already gathered there. As he got closer he could hear the words that seemed to echo around the court yard.

As he joined the crowd he looked up suddenly and noticed a girl staring out of a window, she had a blue dress on, and Merlin noticed her face was looking very white and shaken. He looked ahead walking nearer to the crowd, by the time he'd looked up again she had gone.

As Merlin reached the crowd he saw a man being held between two guards. The man looked weary, his head was down, his clothes hanging off his body. He was standing by the gallows, suddenly it dawned on Merlin that the man was about to be executed. He found himself unable to somehow look away, even though he wanted to. The sound of the King's words suddenly brought Merlin too.

"Let this serve as a lesson to all. This man, Thomas James Collins, is judged guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic. And, pursuant to the laws of Camelot, I, Uther Pendragon, have decreed that such practices are banned on penalty of death. I pride myself as a fair and just king, but for the crime of sorcery there is but one sentence I can pass."

The King dropped his hand, Merlin turned his face away at the last moment. The words the King has spoken where still spinning around his head. The man had been executed because he had magic, just like he did. All of a sudden Merlin realised that far from being able to live freely, he was now in an even more dangerous position than when he was in Ealdor.

A cold feeling took him over, and all of a sudden he wanted to get away. But somehow he was stuck to the spot, with the King's words dancing around him.

"When I came to this land, this kingdom was mired in chaos", the King continued, "but with the people's help magic was driven from the realm. So I declare a festival to celebrate twenty years since the Great Dragon was captured and Camelot freed from the evil of sorcery. Let the celebrations begin."

Merlin started to move away, when all of a sudden a horrible scream erupted behind him. Turning in fright he saw a woman with long white hair standing there, her face broken, tears intermingling with her words as she shouted up at the King.

"There is only one evil in this land, and it is not magic. It is you with your hatred and your ignorance. You killed my son. But I can promise you before these celebrations are over, you will share my tears. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a son for a son."

The King pointed at his guards and shouted.

"Seize her."

Before they had the chance the woman had muttered a spell and she was whisked away, leaving only a trail of paper and dust as she went. Merlin looked around suddenly but she had long gone. The crowd murmured and then began to disperse, Merlin was suddenly desperate to make for his new home. Noticing two guards over at the main castle entrance he moved over to them.

"Excuse me how do I get to the court physician?"

The guard pointed behind him to some stairs. Merlin nodded and quickly got on his way. Once he'd got to the top, he noticed a sign and followed it. Eventually he came to the door. Taking a deep breath he knocked on the door, waiting for an answer. Hearing none he carefully opened the door and had a quiet look in the room.

The room was square, with a workbench which was full of various items. There where pots, bottles and books strewn around the place. To Merlin's eyes it looked completely chaotic. As he entered the room and had a proper look around, he noticed some steps up, which lead to another room. Feeling puzzled about what to do, he suddenly noticed there was a balcony which had hundreds and hundreds of books. Suddenly he noticed a figure on a ladder attempting to reach for a book.

What to do he wondered to himself.

"Hello, Gaius, ahem." He said, not wanting to frighten the man.

Too late all of a sudden the man fell from the balcony breaking the aisle as he fell. Without thinking Merlin's eyes glowed orange and suddenly the man's fall was slowed. Looking around frantically Merlin suddenly noticed a bed in the corner, he moved it over swiftly guiding the man onto it.

Before Merlin had time to say anything the man had jumped up and coming over to him said sharply.

"What did you just do?"

"Erm." Merlin said suddenly wondering what he was going to say.

"Tell me boy." The man demanded.

"I just, I just, I had no idea what just happened." Merlin meekly said knowing he was now in a pickle.

"Supposing someone had seen that." The man continued squinting at Merlin.

"That was nothing to do with me, that was." Merlin stuttered.

"I know what it was, I'd like to know how you know magic."

"I don't." Merlin lied.

"I know what I've just seen with my own two eyes." The man said. "I know magic, where did you learn it?"

"I don't know anything about magic." Merlin said desperately wishing suddenly he was far away from here.

"Where did you study it?"

"I don't know what do you want me to say." Merlin said his eyes pleading.

"I just want the truth."

"I was born like this." Merlin said simply hoping the man would now let go.

"That's impossible, who are you anyway?" he asked suddenly.

"Oh I have a letter in my bag." Merlin opened his bag handing the letter over to the man.

"I can't see I haven't got my glasses." The old man tutted.

"I'm Merlin." Merlin said relieved to have changed the subject.

"Oh Hunith's son? You're not suppose to be here until Wednesday"

Merlin gave a little smile as he said, "It is Wednesday."

"Oh." Gaius said, "So it is. You'd better put your bag in that room over there." He said pointing to the room over in the corner.

As Merlin went over to the steps he turned around with alarm saying

"You won't tell anyone about the ."

"Oh no of course not." Gaius agreed. "Though Merlin I should say thank you."

For the first time Gaius smiled at Merlin, and the atmosphere between them calmed down. Merlin made his way up the steps and came to a little room. There was a window on one side with a bed in the middle and a cupboard. There was a chair underneath the window Merlin climbed on top of the chair and looked out.

It was starry night and Camelot shone underneath it. Merlin smiled as he took in his first view of Camelot at night. It was a breathtaking sight, he stayed there for a few minutes watching people come and go in the court yard below. Suddenly it hit him this was his new home, the place where he would hopefully come to finally understand all about his magic and why he'd been given it in the first place.

It was both exciting and frightening as he briefly remembered the execution that had happened below not long before. All of a sudden he felt incredibly weary. Jumping off the chair he laid down on his bed, within a few moments he was fast asleep.

********

While Merlin slept, Gaius studied Hunith's letter. He wondered how she was, it had been a while since he'd last seen her. He remembered briefly about taking Balinor over to Hunith. He had admired her courage in agreeing to help the dragonlord, but then Hunith had always been courageous. He opened the letter and began to read.

Dear Gaius,

I am at my wit's end, and I really don't know what to do anymore. Our village is very small, and Merlin is having trouble fitting in now. I feel he needs some one who is able to teach him, and guide him to use his gifts the way they where intended. I pray that you are able to help him, please keep him save, and I pray for both of you.

Gaius took his glasses off, and sighed. Never for one minute did he think that at his age, he would end up looking after a young boy. In fact in a way it actually scared him. Could he really manage to guide him he wondered.

His magic also intrigued him, the young man must possess very powerful magic to of been able to do what he had done today. Gaius had seen all sorts of magic in his time. But never had he seen someone use it so instinctively as Merlin had before. He was something that Gaius had never come across before. As he waited for Merlin to join him for something to eat, he got hold of one of his books and began to read.