AN-before I give you the next chapter I would like to apologise for this being a tad late-I'm working with once a month updates. I know, seriously slow, but I'm always making sure a I have a few chapters in the mix to dish out of I don't have any inspiration (this is a Drabble series anyways :D). I wrote this particular chapter after posting An Ending Ascent, but I realised I had to edit it a bit (AKA lots to rewrite); the writing was a bit iffy, so I hope I've corrected my errors and that its actually coherent this time ^^. If not, let me know ;D

I also want to say a big thank you to everyone who has followed and favourited, but especially to those who have taken their time to review. I like giving reviews, but honestly it is amazing receiving them. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you ever so much :D

I've kept you long enough, on with the story!

Title: Idiots and Jesters

Summary: Merlin and Arthur ride to Caerleon to renew the Peace Treaty between the two kingdoms. However, Merlin meets Drahaus, Caerleon's Court Sorcerer who has a particular dislike for our beloved warlock.

Rating: K+

Characters: Arthur, Merlin, Annis, OC (Drahaus), Gwaine

Genre: Adventure, Friendship, Humour

Contains: BAMF and show off Merlin, bromance

IDOM

Merlin sat in Queen Annis' court, moving the food on his plate around nervously, not feeling that hungry; nausea creeping in and very hyper butterflies forming in the pit of his stomach.

He had travelled with Arthur to Caerloen, updating and discussing the peace treaty with her and her kingdom; the ban on magic had been in the treaty, and has caused no amount of trouble trying to eradicate it within its laws and guidelines in both kingdoms. It made the whole ordeal a lot easier, Merlin thought, that Annis has similar views to Arthur on allowing magic to flow freely. It was almost simple.

Easy.

Except it wasn't. It never was.

The thing that made Merlin lose his appetite was that he had met Annis' Court Sorcerer when he arrived and had a sudden dislike of him. Merlin rarely formed an instant dislike to people, but when meeting Annis' Court Sorcerer, Drahaus, while escorting their party to the castle, Merlin had the bitter taste of hate in his mouth.

"Hello, Lord Emrys. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Drahaus, milord, Court Sorcerer of Caerloen," he said bowing, his chest puffing out slightly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Drahaus. Please, just Merlin. I hate all the titles."

"Why? A title shows your importance in the world!"

Merlin shook his head at the time. "I may be important, but I was just a servant a few months ago."

"A servant!" he screeched. "Well! How in all of Albion did you get a title like that?"

Merlin decided to ignore this man, a frown working onto his face; he reminded him of Arthur when he first met him. "Hard work honours those who earn it."

Drahaus spluttered and spurred his horse on to talk to Arthur, who, at the time, was riding in front.

Ugh, just remembering that conversation, no matter how short, filled Merlin with displeasure, but he had had another conversation with the man while they trained that very afternoon after Merlin turned away a servant, saying he could make himself presentable for the day after their long journey.

Merlin was shown to the training grounds by a different servant when he asked for directions and saw Drahaus showing off to other magicians, creating basic shields, which didn't impress Merlin as much as the crowd seemed to be with this so-called 'Court Sorcerer'.

For goodness sake, he brought everyone who died for Albion's sake over the course of a year, in matter of minutes, saving Arthur and Gwaine, but also bringing back a number of friends that had died for their cause.

Of course a few shields weren't going to impress him, The Emrys, prophesised warlock.

Merlin joined the crowd, wanting to see if he could do anything worth showing to people.

The answer came quickly.

No.

Drahaus finally spotted Merlin in the crowd.

"Ahh, Lord Emrys! Do you like my performance?"

No, but he reminded himself to be polite.

"Impressive," Merlin replied, a fake smile plastered on his face as he crossed his arms.

"Well, thank you. I know I'm talented-my mother always said so. She even said that I was Emrys, but then you showed up and proved me wrong."

Merlin gave a tight smile.

"Would you care to show us what you can do?" Drahaus asked cockily.

"I would rather not, Drahaus. I'm saving myself for tonight's little performance." Liar, Merlin thought, I just want to show you up to everyone, including your employer later and you're not getting out of it by me showing some decent tricks now!

Drahaus gave Merlin a tight, and very fake, smile and nodded. "Of course."

Merlin nodded back and then left, annoyed by him even thinking he was Emrys! He huffed under his breath. As he did so, he swore he distinctively heard a muttered "Coward" under Drahaus' breath.

So here Merlin sat, annoyed with one arrogant prat and nervous about doing a 'magic show' for the crowd of gathered nobles, who, like Drahaus, were sceptical of a servant becoming a noble. In Camelot he still had that skepticism, but Arthur protected him like the big brother he had always wished for and batted the sceptics away with some choice words (or more like some threats paired with some gestures with his sword).

Queen Annis, at the head of the table, with Arthur to her right and Merlin on Arthur's right, stood up, putting her hand on Drahaus' shoulder who sat to her left, and addressed the crowd. "Lord and Ladies of Albion and distinguished guests, let me introduce you to my Court Sorcerer, Drahaus!"

Drahaus stood up fluidly from his seat, sweeping his green cloak with him, walking confidently into the centre of the tables, where a space was set up for the performances.

He didn't do anything extraordinary. Apart from the people from Camelot, everyone had awe written on their faces.

He had conjured a few glowing balls and made them morph into animals and go round the room.

It was beautiful, but Merlin felt like these people had been cheated in some way.

Applause echoed around the room as Drahaus bowed with a smug smile plastered on his face and walked back to his seat, challenging Merlin to do better than him.

Arthur stood from his seat once the applause died down. "That was a very... impressive performance there, Drahaus. Let me introduce to you, Lords, Ladies and distinguished guests, my Court Sorcerer, Lord Merlin Emrys!"

Arthur smiled encouragingly as Merlin stood up from his seat, walking into the space that was previously held by the phony sorcerer.

Merlin stood, nearly a hundred, if not more, noble faces looking at him with curiosity as he pulled out one of his hairs on his head. The black hair formed a black rose. He breathed on it, his breath wafting the petals gently; it turned into the most startling shade of gold, glinting in the candlelight as if made of tiny crystals plucked from the Crystal Cave itself. He picked a petal from the rose and walked to a stunned Queen Annis, offering it to her, still silent and not producing a whisper of incantation. The Queen took it and gasped as it formed another rose, but this time a startling emerald, once again glinting in the candle light. Merlin picked another petal from his rose and walked to every lady in court offering her her own rose coloured by their aura, until he had only but one petal left to offer.

He walked to Gwaine and smiled cheekily. Gwaine rolled his eyes, putting his tankard of ale on the table, and smiled at his friend's antics; the knight complied by holding the petal and saw that it produced a rose of startling red colour. Merlin picked a petal off of Gwaine's rose and tossed it above his head, it bursting into flames to form a brilliant red dragon. It flew around as Merlin used the stem of his rose that he had and he too, tossed it into the air to form a golden dragon. Both dragons circled the room, small embers of fire floating down as they circled; the embers drifted with the air currents as if they were snow.

Deciding that he would embarrass Arthur just a teeny bit, Merlin made both dragons collide together in the centre of the performing area to create a crest.

The Pendragon crest.

Bowing, Merlin let the picture made of fire burn out, and he walked back to his seat, feeling fairly smug with himself, glancing at Drahaus' face to see his mouth agape.

The next day saw Drahaus walking out of Annis' castle walls, finding himself fired and to leave the castle before midday.

Merlin and Arthur had a little high five before they went into Annis' court once again.

I hoped you all enjoyed that-I loved writing about the magic. I could just see it in my head; I hope you saw what I imagined :D

Drahaus- 'arrogant' in Welsh. I absolutely hated him with a passion.

Thanks for reading.

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Insanity x