Barely looked over…. Double sleepover. ….Royal wedding….. So tired.
Looks alright-ish at glance… Need sleep….. Left this too long
Here you go
*Collapse*
It took a while standing before the court as Arthur described the alteration with the 'incredibly powerful sorceress'. It took all of Merlin's will not to snicker but when the court had finally ended he left before the others could catch him ,planning to head to Gaius's before he could get mixed up in any more potentially magic revealing situations.
He'd made it down one hallway when he heard someone calling to him. He turned just as footsteps began to echo through the corridor and he turned to see Prat face himself.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" The Prince asked in his usual arrogant tone Merlin rolled his eyes completely missing the way Arthur sized him up as if checking him for injuries.
"I'm not in a hurry; I'm going to see if Gaius needs any help." Merlin stated turning back to walk down the corridor as Arthur caught up to walk beside him.
"Good, I'll come with you I need some more information on this Emrys."
Emidietly Merlin gulped glancing cautiously over at the prince.
"You think the witch was telling the truth about this guardian?"
"Not just a guardian Merlin, a Warlock. I need to ask Gaius what she meant by that, I mean Warlock, Sorcerer what's the difference?" Merlin glanced away uneasily unfortunately he did so at the exact moment Arthur turned to look at him. The prince's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"You know don't you?" He asked. Merlin almost jumped out of his skin.
"What?"
"You know the difference, well come on then Merlin, astounded me with your vast knowledge on magic." Arthur said sarcastically. Merlin glanced his way nervously before hardening his resolve and staring forward.
"A Warlock is different to a Sorcerer as a Sorcerer has magic but they must learn spells and practice to keep the power under control to use it. A Warlocks magic is inherent, they have a natural ability from an incredibly young age and don't always need spells to focus their power."
"They're born with magic?" Arthur asked skeptically. Merlin simply nodded keeping his gaze focused ahead, "How do you know all this?" Arthur suddenly asked suspiciously. Merlin didn't even think about it as the lie skipped from his tongue.
"Read it in a book."
The rest of the journey was dispatched in silence as the pair made their way to the physician's quarters. When they finally reached the narrow door Arthur pushed through quickly speaking before the door was even most the way open.
"Gaius."
The elderly physician looked up from where he was busily mixing herbs.
"Sire, I trust the meeting went well?"
"Not exactly." Merlin said before The Prince could reply. Arthur narrowed his eyes at him.
"That's enough from you Merlin." Arthur growled still irritated with his servant's strange mood. He turned back to Gaius, "Gaius what can you tell me about a Warlock by the name of Emrys." Gaius stiffened in place.
"Who told you about that?" Gaius said head snapping up emidietly to glance between the prince and his ward. Merlin gazed back levelly for a moment before turning to tend the small herb garden in the window. Arthur's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"The Witch, she claimed she was looking for my 'guardian angel' and went to say he was a Warlock by the name of Emrys." Gaius stared cautiously at the prince eye brow raised as high as it would go, "Gaius you must know something, and according to Merlin here a Warlock is different to a Sorcerer as they have magic from birth.
"Yes," Gaius acknowledged eyes once again flickering to Merlin cautiously, "Warlocks develop their abilities from infancy, the last known Warlock was recorded to be able to move things across the room before they could even speak."
"And this Emrys?" Arthur prompted eyes fixed on the physician. Gaius turned back to his mixtures as he answered carefully keeping his voice level and professional.
"Emrys is a Warlock prophesized by the druids hundreds of years ago. It is said he is to help The Once and Future King in uniting all of Albion, the latest change to the legend is more resent, in uniting the lands in peace Emrys is also expected to return magic to the land ushering in an age of peace and prosperity under the care of The Once and Future King."
"That's a lot for one person." Arthur replied eyes distant as he seemed to process what he was being told.
"The responsibility is great but Emrys is extremely powerful, and extremely loyal. It is said he will be the most powerful magic user that ever lived."
"The witch said he was protecting me?" Arthur said disbelief tinting his voice, "Even if there were such a being why would he help me?" Gaius stared levelly at the prince then sighing as he put down his vials.
"That is something you will have to ask him."
Arthur narrowed his eyes at the physicians tone eyeing him defiantly.
"Magic is evil Gaius, if this person is born of magic as you say they will no doubt be corrupted by the power. This Emrys could be worse than any Sorcerer we've even encountered before!"
Merlin flinched at Arthur's words glad to have his back to the enraged prince. He believed every word he was saying and the force of that certainty ripped a gash in Merlin's heart a mile deep as growing despair clouded him.
"Or," Murmured Gaius staring deep in to Arthur's light blue eyes, "He could be the most powerful ally you shall ever encounter."
"That's treason." Arthur spat Gaius stared unblinkingly at the Prince hands folded calmly in front of him.
"If you say so, sire." He said quietly.
Arthur's eyes were burning with fury before finally he turned on his heels and stormed out through the open door. Without sparing either of them a second glance.
Closing his eyes tightly Merlin literally sagged where he stood dropping all pretence of actually doing anything with the small box garden.
"You shouldn't have done that Gaius." Merlin stated wearily, "There's no telling what he'll do now."
"The Prince will do nothing Merlin." Gaius said in a certain voice, "Or nothing where his father or the dungeons are concerned anyway." The physician turned back to his work with a neat swish of his cloak.
"What am I going to do?" Merlin sighed in a despairing voice, "he's been this way since Morgana's betrayal, no mercy or tolerance for anything concerning magic. It's like he's reverted back to how he was in the beginning but worse, it's like he's become-" Merlin's voice choked to a stop as he faltered in voicing his worse fear.
It's like he's finally become his father
"I know what you're thinking Merlin and you can stop it emidietly. Arthur is bound to be angry and for now magic is all there is to blame for Morgana's betrayal."
"Isn't that how Uther started out?" Merlin replied miserably, "Choosing to blame magic for his wife's death rather than take the responsibility himself."
"Hush now Merlin," Gaius scolded, "There is no use dwelling on these things. Now haven't you got some chores to be getting to?"
Merlin sighed deeply pushing himself away from the table and ambling towards the door mumbling in a flat tone.
"Oh how could I forget."
Gaius chuckled weakly at this but still as he watch the drooping shoulders of his retreating ward he couldn't help but sigh deeply at his troubles. Merlin had gradually been sinking in to despair over Arthur's newly hardened beliefs and the physician could only watch on as every hated word from the prince's mouth dulled the spark of life that was usually so ever present in Merlin's eyes.
It was almost as if he was watching his ward dying inside, the man he was most loyal to slowly killing him with every word he spoke. Slowly Gaius sat down heart weighed down by his thoughts. He was a physician and what Merlin currently suffered from could not be healed physically, he was helpless in the face of his wards pain. All's he could do was wait, and hope for the best.
-M-
Merlin sat in silence on the floor in the Princes chambers slowly and methodically shining his armor. His eyes were hazy as he worked in the silent room mind miles away while his heart beat a painful rhythm in his chest, almost as if it were out of time, angry words echoed in his head all from the very man he strived to protect.
He remembered a time when he'd been upset before, sitting at the base of Arthur's bed shining an army of boots that honestly the prince couldn't possibly need. Arthur had settled down next to him and eventually, rather painfully, cheered him up in the only way Arthur knew how.
Now though…
The room was empty and silent, the door standing open as if Merlin hoped to catch sight of his missing friend. Arthur didn't come and if Merlin didn't know any better he would say the prince was avoiding him. Usually he would at least have remained to remind him of the mountain of chores, something that previously had been one of his favorite pass times.
He could see what had happened though. Merlin had been roped up in Gaius's words standing with him in defiance to the prince's beliefs as if he had said them himself. Closing his eyes against the rising misery as if that simple action would block everything out Merlin breathed in deeply.
Arthur wasn't going to come this time and he may never accept magic again. He would just have to get used to the idea… the idea that Arthur may not be the man he thought him to be.
"Merlin?"
Merlin's head instantly snapped up to the figure in the doorway managing a faint smile as his eyes fell on a concerned looking Gwaine.
"Hey." Merlin croaked after being silent so long and he winced at the sound in the all too quiet room.
"You alright?" Gwaine asked crossing the room quickly before landing with crossed legs on the floor next to Merlin. Merlin smiled lightly.
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
"Come on mate, I know something's bothering you there's no use bottling it all up."
Merlin's eyes fell to the armor on his lap as he slowly began polishing its surface once again.
"It's nothing Gwaine." He murmured hating himself for not being able to tell his friend.
"Is it Arthur?" Gwaine murmured before lowering his voice and glancing around with mock caution, "Cuz if it is I'd be happy to teach him a lesson on your behalf." Merlin laughed at that, smile a little less false.
"Now that I would like to see." He chuckled quietly. Gwaine grinned reveling at least in the success he'd got his friend to smile.
"Now why don't we go get a drink I'm sure the Princess can deal with looking a little less shiny than usual."
"Wish I could but I have more work to do." Merlin sighed. Gwaine scowled obviously still not happy with the situation then seemingly making up his mind he leapt to his feet making for the door again, "Where are you going?" Merlin asked suddenly suspicious of the knight's behavior.
"To go get Arthur to give you the night off." Gwaine said before his scruffy head disappeared through the doorway.
"No! Gwaine wait!" Merlin shouted taking off after him leaving Arthurs armor in a pile on the floor. Gwaine didn't wait, instead bolting down the hallway laughing as Merlin took after him.
-M-
Arthur was sitting on the steeps hands pressed against his face as he considered all that had been going on. Emrys this supposed guardian for one. It made sense in a way, he'd had the feeling before that someone was looking after him, watching over him in times of need.
He'd never found out the source of the glowing blue orb that had saved him in the cave all that time ago. Then there were those other instances when luck was pushing it just a bit, the fire when he'd been fighting with Gwaine, all those missing chunks of his memory or the times when branches seemed to mysteriously fall in the nick of time. It made sense but at the same time it didn't.
Why would a Sorcerer, Warlock or whatever, want to help him? Had it really been Emrys saving him all those times? What confused him the most was why someone so powerful would simply live with being the second in charge; why not take the power for himself if they're so great.
He was still mulling over this irritably when Gwaine dashed out of the door behind him stopping suddenly as he spotted the prince.
"Aha! There you are!" Arthur blinked glancing back just in time to see Merlin, who hadn't seen Gwaine stop, crash suddenly in to him from behind sending them both flying down the steps beside the prince.
Arthur watched in mildly irritated amusement as one of his best knights and his manservant landed in a cluttered pile of flailing limbs not far from his feet. They groaned and the Prince could faintly pick out Merlin's muffled voice already bickering with his friend.
Rolling his eyes the prince stood, striding away without a backward glance.
"Merlin, have the night off." He barked over his shoulder ignoring the faint cheer from the knight behind him. He barely heard Gwaine's next comment but it sounded roughly along the lined of,
'Easier then I thought'
*Wakes up*
Wooo too tired to be overly enthusiastic.
Reveal next chapter with the whole beat up scenario and the witch… this was mainly just angst huh
Felt guilty and too tired to realize what a bad idea it is to put this up without triple reading it…
Hope it wasn't… too bad… ZZZZZZZZZZ
Night night
SQ
*Snores*
