The One That Sets My Shadow Free
Arthur is surprised at just how well his talk with Uther goes.
Of course, Uther is so against the idea to begin with that his eyes are in danger of popping out, once he's stopped laughing and realised that his son is being completely serious. Then he comes up with a hundred and one reasons why it would be a bad idea, most of which Arthur agrees with but doesn't say so. Then he pulls the 'because I'm King and I said so' card, and Arthur is so unimpressed that Uther doesn't pursue that avenue.
Then he pleads with Arthur not to follow this through, and it's the only time that the Prince almost considers withdrawing his appeal.
He asks his father again, with no pretence.
Uther concedes.
**
"Merlin?"
"Up here!"
Arthur passes Gaius and goes straight up to Merlin's room, where he frowns at the mess on the floor before looking at the warlock.
"Good book?"
"Fascinating."
Merlin puts down the magic book and swings his legs over the edge of his bed, making room for Arthur as he crosses the room.
"I have a proposition for you," he begins, deciding not to beat about the bush, and there's just a hint of trepidation in Merlin's eyes at the statement.
"A proposition?"
"Of promotion."
And yet again, he's managed to silence Merlin. He ought to try startling him more often, if just for the look on his face and the shock that thunders through their magic.
"Promotion? To what?"
"Court Sorcerer, as it were. Something that will mean you can use your abilities to help people, prove to my father that he was right to lift the ban on magic."
"A ban that was only lifted two weeks ago," Merlin remind him, and he shrugs.
"I've already checked with him, and he didn't like the idea at first but he's agreed. If you agree, that is. You'll not be my manservant any more – you'll be closer to my equal. Not quite on the same level though. Of course. That wouldn't be on."
Merlin casts him an amused glance, then his face suddenly lights up.
"So I don't have to clean your ceremonial clothes any more? At all?" he asks, and there's just a little bit too much relief in that comment. Arthur scowls.
"They're not that dirty. But no, you won't."
"And I'll get my own chambers?"
"Unless you want to stay here, of course."
Merlin seems to consider this possibility, and looks through the open door at Gaius, whose head is engulfed in brightly-coloured fumes. There's a distinct smell of burning wafting through up the stairs towards them.
"You'll be a much higher member of the court. You'll not be expected to attend on anyone but the King, and only when he requests it. You'll be an advisor, of sorts."
Merlin frowns, and Arthur feels a shiver of anxiety rise in the warlock.
"But… surely, there are people better suited to it, people who deserve it more?" he points out, and it's the sort of self-depreciating comment that Arthur never expects to hear from Merlin. But then he realises that the other man is talking about Gaius, who's been serving the royal family for so long and has only just been made a free man, and he takes hold of Merlin's wrist.
"You do deserve it. You're probably the most powerful sorcerer in the country. Gaius is happy as he is; he'll be happy for you. I promise."
"You're sure?"
"I'm quite sure. Go tell him, ask him."
Merlin stands and the bed bounces slightly, and Arthur is forced to let go of him, magic sparking between them as they break contact. The warlock gets halfway to the door, nearly tripping over a pile of clothes, before turning back to Arthur. He's barely restraining a smile.
"If Gaius doesn't mind… I'd love to be your advisor. I really would."
Arthur feels his own face break into a grin as his friend descends the steps, and begins making plans in his mind. He knows what Gaius will say.
**
The promotion a week later isn't a showy affair, but it's still a formal occasion, so Morgana enters the room dressed in a deep blue robe that she'll surely catch a chill in and Gwen lingers at the back with a smile so wide it could light up the whole room, and Gaius is there as a guest of honour. And when Merlin finally enters with Arthur the buzz of conversation immediately dies because both young men are glowing.
It's a figurative glowing, though Merlin's eyes could be gold at that moment. Arthur had tried to persuade the warlock that he had to wear his ceremonial robes again but stopped when he realised that Merlin could sense that he was lying through their shared magic, and instead admitted that he could wear whatever he wanted. And Merlin had glanced down at his own clothes but before he could say anything, Arthur had whipped out the magic book and within five minutes the warlock was dressed in clothes befitting a court advisor.
Arthur burnt the old clothes personally.
He himself has pulled out his best, most formal garments – besides his coronation ones, of course – and he can feel the gazes of the gathered people upon them, almost as heavy as his crown. He doesn't care. This was what Merlin deserved. This is what they both deserve.
He stays firmly by Merlin's side throughout the ceremony, never more than two metres away despite his father's disapproving looks and even if he were on the other side of the castle he'd be able to feel the joy and relief and gratitude rolling off Merlin in waves. He hopes that Merlin can feel his own pride. Neither of them have ever been very good at hiding their emotions from each other.
**
Merlin's chambers are right next to Arthur's. This comes as a surprise to nobody.
Gwen helps them move his belongings, and Arthur thinks that he sees something resembling jealousy lurking in the handmaid's eyes as she takes in the new room, but then he checks once more and discovers that she's happy for Merlin. And he's glad, because his advisor needs friends like her.
Uther startles everybody by granting Merlin a grace period of three days to settle into his new chambers and sort himself out before beginning his official duties (a list of which he had provided) and all in all, the King seems to have rather come around to the idea. He's certainly being more enthusiastic about it than most other things, though Arthur reflects that this isn't a particularly good indicator.
"I guess this means you'll be getting a new manservant then?" Merlin asks, almost nonchalantly, as they sit at Arthur's table eating dinner. They were out riding and the food should have gone cold three hours ago. Arthur showed off when they got home and felt a burst of pleasure and amusement from Merlin.
"For what?" he asks, reaching for his goblet, and Merlin shrugs.
"Well, everything that I used to do. Or are you expecting me to continue with my original duties alongside those as Advisor?"
"Of course I'm not, you idiot," Arthur snaps, setting his goblet back down and fixing Merlin with a glare. "I wouldn't presume you to do that. But I'm not being too hasty about replacing you; I'd only just got you trained."
Merlin successfully diffuses the strained atmosphere by laughing, warm and golden, and Arthur can feel the corners of his mouth quirking upward. He's missed this sound.
"As if anybody else could be as hard to train as me!" Merlin scoffs, and Arthur nods in agreement.
"You were terrible. Let's hope you make a better Advisor."
"I don't think I could be any worse at it."
Arthur chuckles and looks down briefly, hesitating for just a second before continuing. He can discuss this now that Merlin has eased the conversation.
"There's a banquet for the mid-winter solstice in three weeks. I want you to attend as Advisor."
"Does that mean I get to sit at the table?"
There may be a sneer creeping onto Arthur's face, but it's an amused sneer, and he knows that Merlin knows this.
"Yes, you will, on my left side. You're not a servant any more, Merlin. You do have some privileges."
"Brilliant!" he exclaims, his wide grin looking slightly out of place now that he's dressed halfway between a servant and a nobleman, but it's Merlin and he's always been out of place. "Hang on though, you want me to? Is Uther not OK with this?"
"He'll be OK with it."
Merlin just looks at him, then nods slowly. He's content.
"And you're telling me this early because…?"
"Because I have only three weeks to teach you how to behave at the dinner table. These are high-ranking people coming to this banquet, and I'll not have you embarrass me in front of them. Some of them will even bring daughters in hope of me wanting to marry them."
There's a flash of something then, in Merlin's eyes and in his feelings but it's gone before Arthur can put his finger on it.
"So you're to make me presentable, it is?" he asks, almost cheekily, and Arthur nearly reprimands him. But he's not his manservant any more. He's his Advisor, his friend.
"I'm to make you acceptable to the public. Your training begins tomorrow."
"You make it sound like it's going to be dangerous."
Merlin seems to realise what he can feel coming from Arthur as soon as he's spoken, and his face falls. Arthur just smiles, a glinting smile.
He's going to enjoy this.
Reap reward and clear our sins
This is where our
life begins
