Ha there I updated see! That wasnt so long to wait was it ? : P
Still what happened the forgotten day continued so not present time yet
My weakness seems to be Merlin and Arthur together, not slash just genuine interacting , how irritating.
I watched how to train ur dragon who can spot the quote :P (its not hard if u seen it :P)
Soz for any update confusion I put it on then realized there were some random words I was useing spell check for still tagged on to the bottom, I got rid of them.
Again sorry!
"Merlin you're late."
The snappish comment was enough to give him a heart attack Merlin almost jumped out of his skin then take it in the usual nonchalant manor. Arthur frowned for moment at how pale Merlin suddenly looked but this train of thought was cut off when the shaken manservant managed a shaky laugh plastering the usual dopey grin back in place.
"Sorry."
"Sorry doesn't quiet cut it Merlin, we have a meeting with my father to go to, come on."
Merlin made his usual show of moaning about boring old men talking around a table until Arthur cracked a smile before promptly threatening him with the stocks. The two carried on to the main hall Merlin's smile now quiet natural as he grinned at the familiar nature of the situation. It was almost enough for him to forget what had happened this morning, almost.
The meeting was boring as usual. Everything was as usual, the day couldn't be more normal if it tried excusing the visit from Morgana this morning. It was eating at him even now as he stood back and to the right of Arthur's chair, he went about filling Arthur's goblet on automatic. Funnily enough he was doing better than when he was fully consontriteing not spilling once and noticing whenever he needed a refill.
He didn't notice at the time but Arthur certainly did and he glanced over at Merlin an almost concerned look on his regal face before it was quickly hidden again. For a moment the prince had to shake himself and remember that he shouldn't actually be worried about his servant doing a good job for once, though it was certainly unusual.
Each tried to put their respected troubles out of their minds and failed miserably. They ended up paying very little attention (though this wasn't actually new for Merlin) and even stressing themselves out to the point they were both irritable by the time the meeting came to a close.
Merlin followed behind Arthur as they left the great hall not really thinking where he was going so of course when Arthur paused in the doorway to the courtyard Merlin slammed in to his back with a grunt before rebounding, blinking back to reality.
"What is it with you today?" Arthur asked turning on him. To anyone who didn't know him he would sound angry but the undertones of concern were still there, even if he didn't fully acknowledge them himself.
"Hu?" Was Merlin's most articulate response. Arthur rolled his eyes gesturing to him.
"You! You didn't spill the wine once, didn't snicker or make a genuine nuisance of yourself once and even now you're being quiet for once and running in to me!" Merlin sent him a skeptical look making his own list.
"I run in to you plenty of times, I'm don't always talk and I never make a genuine nuisance of myself, mostly. I thought doing a good job was a good thing?" Merlin shrugged but Arthur wasn't convinced.
"Right and what about this." He said gesturing at Merlin.
"You just gestured at all of me…"
"Merlin, you look dead on your feet and you've ripped your neckerchief." Merlin's head jerked down and he groaned.
"I like the red one."
"Not to mention you look if possible more a mess than usual, you've lost what little coulor left in your face and this morning when I ran in to you, you looked as if you were about to faint!"
"I did not!"
"You did." Arthur stated glowering at his stubborn servant. Merlin was just opening his mouth to argue back again when a faint cough grabbed their attention and they looked round to meet the eyes of a shy looking page looking sheepish and awkward.
"Sire, Sir Leon is looking for you, he says urgent."
From that moment Merlin could tell his day was going to go downhill from there. He didn't even need the displeased look in the prince's eye to tell him that Arthur had the same feeling.
-M-
There was a witch running around and this time rather than heading straight for the citadel the old crone was running around town's center setting off her own bizarre fire works and doing her best to frighten the majority of inhabitants. Although she hadn't caused any harm yet she had damaged various buildings as well as trapping four guards under and upturned cart.
The knights had been rallied and more soldiers bought in but as of yet no one could get close to her. Which meant of course Prince Prat Head would have to go in sword first as per usual and so Merlin would have to follow, however reluctantly.
Eyeing the crazed which from behind the bakers shop he couldn't help but hear Morgana's voice still in his head.
Still this woman, this short, crotchety, insane looking woman with long flowing matted grey hair, cackling and giggling as she danced around the square. Still he couldn't help but think out of all the things he'd faced, all the times Arthur had nearly caught him out, surely, surely it wouldn't be this cackling old bat to bring the world falling down around him.
Arthur was next to him eyeing the old woman as she burst in to song, a nursery rhyme about a cow and a spoon. The weirdness was tangible but never the less they still had to get rid of the insane woman before she did cause any harm.
"The plan sire?" Leon asked poised just behind the servant and master, the knights splayed out behind them as they watched the witch incredulously.
"She's blocked the other entrances so from this entrance only, we'll have to go straight with the offensive."
And that's different from every other battle how exactly? Merlin grumbled mentally.
"Merlin you stay here."
"What?" Merlin cried. Arthur scowled at him.
"You stay here, don't get in trouble, and don't interfere. We'll handle this."
"But-"
"No buts." And then he was gone twisting off in to the path of a crazy witch. Leon offered him a commiserating smile before following the knights going shortly after Lancelot shot him an uneasy grimace while Gwaine patted his shoulder on the way past.
Merlin hesitated thinking over his options. Just following them wasn't going to cut it, though he could try getting a few spells off from here if needs be. But then seeing Arthur with his game face on (or he imagined as the prince had his back to him) and all the knights following after in regimental seriousness towards the small witch who was spinning around in circles in the center of town not paying them any attention what so ever, then he decided on a new tactic.
Namely 'to hell with it', if Arthur wanted him out of it, fine. He should probably be more careful anyway with Morgana's warning fresh in mind. So he leaned against the wall and watched crossing his arms over his chest. Besides it's not like the old crone had much power besides setting off flares of light.
"Sorceress cease your actions!" Arthur bellowed standing a few feet from the deranged woman. The witch span to a stop with a slight wobble as she smiled dazedly down at the prince and his knights.
"How charming toy soldiers! Awwww and lill blond prince how adorable!" She squealed. The knights stared at her while Merlin fought back laugher.
"Sorceress-"
"I'm not a sorceress!" she squeaked wrinkled skin flushed slightly, "you little darling! you should be careful what you name, could get me in all sorts of trouble that way! Thought it's very charming of you to say."
"You are in trouble already, magic is banned in Camelot!" Arthur replied angrily. Merlin watched amused as the old woman stuck out her bottom lip in a pout.
"Hardly my fault deary take it up with my mother she the one who gave it me." The old woman skipped down from her place where she stood on the well. "Oh you are hansom, I've been hearin about you big oll prince with a heart of gold and a moral blind spot large enough to fit in an entire world of magical peoples. Just charming."
"If you do not surrender we will take you by force." Arthur growled only for the witch to continue as if he'd never spoken.
"I have traveled a great distance to see Camelot again but I must say it was nicer when magic was around. I've been keeping an eye out for your little guardian angel but he has not made an appearance. According to some he is the mighty Emrys the Warlock! I was rather hoping he would make an appearance now actually…"
"What are you talking about?" Arthur growled. Merlin gulped heart beat rocketing in his chest as he stared at the loony women.
"Oh of course you don't know either do you? How dull, poor Ems working for a graceless master who would damn him so," Her tone turned disgusted, "Despicable."
"This is your last warning." Arthur growled sword raised. The witch lifted her chin gazing off in to the mid distance and sniffed irritably.
"I tire of this nonsense, he obviously doesn't see me as a threat great enough. Very well I shall ferret him out through other means."
Raising both arms palm up and staring skyward the woman began to chant. Arthur and the knights charged as Merlin watched on with wide eyes. Arthur's sword came down on the old woman but before it could even touch her purple smoke exploded from her form in every direction throwing the Prince and his knights back off their feet and filling the square with thick smoke.
Merlin ducked back behind the wall wincing and preying the witch had kept to form and done no harm. When the shockwave passed Merlin looked round the corner to see the square entirely consumed by smoke. Cautiously he whispered a quick spell feeling the air turn at his calling, it whisked through the square taking the smoke with it.
It took a moment but the first thing that became clear was that the witch was gone. The knights were sprawled over the floor groaning faintly and he could see Arthur at the very head blinking dazedly. Content that everyone was reasonably ok Merlin strolled forward twisting around the knights
"You stay here Merlin, We'll handle this Merlin." He called loudly as he stepped around splayed limbs making his way to the Prince, "We'll just go and ask her nicely and hope she hands herself over for execution because that's what going on 'the offensive' means these days!"
"Shut up Merlin." Arthur growled as Gwaine began laughing as he propped himself up on the floor.
"He has a point." The scruffy knight conceded ignoring the ugly look Arthur sent his way.
"She was a powerful sorceress." Arthur growled angrily pushing himself to his feet. "we'll catch her next time." Arthur straitened himself pridefuly but paused when he caught sight of Merlin snickering desperately trying not to laugh, "what is so funny?"
"You just got downed by a hedge witch!" Merlin chuckled, "she was no sorcerers."
"Oh and what would you know about that Merlin?" the prince snapped striding up to the servant. Merlin leaned back at an angle to avoided having his nose pressed against Prince Prat's forehead.
"Well she didn't kill you, neither did she kill anyone else. She barely caused any damage and that purple smoke was from smoke bombs that she threw just down there." The prince's head snapped round eyes quickly picking out the small broken bags surrounded by bright purple powder. Arthur glared at Merlin.
"That doesn't prove anything she's obviously in disguise." Merlin glanced round at the various scorch marks marking where the witches' fireworks had hit.
"Obviously." Arthur didn't seem to have a response for this opting to cuff him round the head instead before moving off towards his knights, most likely to come up with a less embarrassing cover story. Gwaine though ambled over to Merlin smirking.
"Well aren't I proud to be part of the famed knights of Camelot now?" He laughed draping an arm around his friends shoulders and ambling away, "Come on if we walk away slowly we may just get to the tavern without his royal highness noticing."
"Gwaine!" Arthur called before they had even made it a few feet sighing the knight twisted them round glaring at the prince.
Merlin laughed feeling the tension drain from his shoulders as his heart finally relaxed back in to a calmer rhythm. Maybe Morgana was playing games after all, trying to scare him for her own sadistic pleasure.
Gwaine felt the tension drain from his friend's shoulders and grinned widely at him. Everything would be fine, it was over and everyone was safe.
Standing on the roof of a nearby by building the small witch smiled clapping her hands gleefully.
"Emrys is near, Oh I'm going to have such fun!"
This is much lighter then I originally planned I was gonna have this whole big war buut my last attempt at writing a war stressed me out so going for the light side…. For now mohahaha!
….yes XP
I tried to make this less of a cliff hanger as over the last few chapters some of the reviews sounded a bit… stressed, panicked? : P not all of you of course but here is a more light hearted ending-ish, less cliffhanger-ee. Next chapter on the way :D
Hope you enjoyed (and please tell me what you think! XD)
SQ
