Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Wow, it's already 10th chapter! I would like to say 'thank you' to all those who reviewed, favourited and followed. Also to the Guests, to whom I cound't answer. If I didn't answer any other review - let me know and I will improve :)
I want also to express my gratitude to ProcrastinationIsMyCrime, who stayed with me for all those chapters as a wonderful beta. If not for her, your eyes would have been exposed to mistakes, but hopefully not sore from them :)
Anyway: thank you and enjoy!
Merlin and Arthur were the first to arrive for the council meeting. The king at once took his place at the head of the table leaving the warlock, who was not sure where to sit, behind.
When the monarch noticed his friend hadn't joined him, Arthur turned and motioned to the chair on his right.
Merlin inhaled and tried to oppose, but the king only looked at him and said firmly. "This meeting is about magic, so you are right now the most important of them all." The warlock sat reluctantly, still protesting and knowing that it wasn't a good enough reason. However, Arthur was pertinacious and got his way, at the same time hiding a smirk at the thought of what he had really planned for his friend.
Any further of the advisor's objections were terminated by the councillors that started to flood the room. Each of them stopping as soon as they noticed Merlin, who had clenched jaw and for all the purposes looked as if there was nothing out of ordinary and that he belonged where he was.
When lords wanted to protest they were met with Arthur's stern gaze, daring them to say something. Only Geoffrey and Gaius smiled and nodded to the warlock, knowing very well his competence.
After everyone took their place, Lord Vimor decided he had enough of an audience and potential support, so he stood up and voiced what everyone else wondered. "My Lord," he said as he turned to the king. "Could you perhaps tell us why your manservant is sitting at your right hand?"
Arthur had expected trouble from him, since Lord Vimor was a conservative council member and a staunch supporter during his father's reign, so answered without batting an eyelid. "I don't know what you mean. It would have been totally unseemly and I would have never done such a thing."
Lord Vimor along with the rest of the councillors were confused but tenacious. "But, my Lord! I can see," he continued but stopped after a moment as he looked around and corrected himself, "we can see him sitting there."
The lords around the table nodded in agreement with Lord Vimor and started murmuring. Waiting until it was quiet again, Arthur looked to the right, as if making sure of who sat there, and finally answered with incredulous expression. "You can't possibly mean Lord Merlin, can you?"
The statement caused another wave of whispers and glances directed at the king and his friend, making Merlin use all of his willpower not to fidget, grimace at the title, or show in any other way he was uncomfortable.
"Lord Merlin?!" exclaimed Vimor. "But he is a known fool and a bastard peasant..."
He was interrupted when a fist hit the table. The lord looked into the angry face of his king who had risen from his chair. "You will restrain yourself from such comments, since I won't take lightly to any offending of my new First Advisor." This information made most of councillors gasp, Merlin barely managing in not joining them and keeping a straight face.
Angry himself, but fearful of his monarch's fury, Lord Vimor apologized and took his place. Arthur, having made sure there would be no outright protest, followed him. After a moment of silence one of the more brave councillors, Lord Ramiro, inquired.
"My Lord, could you perhaps tell us, why you have chosen Lord Merlin for such a prestigious position?"
The king couldn't, and wouldn't deny an answer to this politely phrased question, especially considering Ramiro was one of the most receptive lords towards changes during Arthur's reign, including knighting and marrying commoners.
"Of course, after all it is no secret." Arthur replied, glancing briefly at his friend, who stopped studying the opposite wall and looked curiously at the king. "Merlin has already been unofficially, and with success, fulfilling this role for some time, so I decided to make it official and give him a title."
Some of the councillors looked incredulously at the warlock, not comprehending how they could have missed it. However, it seemed that Lord Ramiro still wasn't satisfied.
"It's understandable that you wish, Sire, to have at your right hand a man that you trust, but are you sure that Lord Merlin" he seemed to have no problem with addressing the warlock with his title "is qualified enough to, if need arises, take over your duties, my Lord?" Then Ramiro turned to Merlin. "No offence intended."
"None taken" assured the former manservant, who had already gotten over the shock and sole wish right then was to strangle Arthur for dumping this on him like that. "It's after all a fair question."
"Yes," agreed the king, unaware of Merlin's murderous thoughts, "My right hand man must be competent at his job and I can assure all of you," Arthur made an eye contact with each one of the councillors, "that Merlin is. For five years he had been observing and helping me with my duties, was widely educated by our Court Physician" Arthur nodded at the mentioned man "and sought knowledge on his own. The present here Lord Geoffrey may attest to that."
"Of course," confirmed the librarian. "Lord Merlin," Geoffrey smiled at him, "is a brilliant young man with great knowledge gained so far and even greater potential. He is currently one of the best educated people in the city."
Hearing Sir Geoffrey talking so strongly about the situation persuaded most of the councillors, but some were still reluctant. Arthur decided it was time for a little demonstration.
"Lord Dalton," the mentioned man turned to the king "You are said to be interested in ancient culture and philosophy, especially Greek."
"Yes, my Lord" he confirmed.
"And you are well versed in their language, isn't that right?" Arthur was persistent.
"Yes" answered Lord Dalton, not sure where that questioning was heading.
"Perhaps you would like to talk about it with Merlin?" Seeing that the man didn't understand, the king specified. "In Greek."
That again caused murmurs, but the selected lord finally managed to say something in Greek and was surprised to hear First Advisor answer. However, he soon got over the shock and a heated discussion flared up, forcing Arthur to stop it from going on for too long, but still having intended effect.
After the display all of the objections towards Merlin, deriving from his possible incompetence, were quenched and Arthur could go to the most important topic, which undoubtedly would also arouse controversy.
"Recently I realised that when it comes to magic," at the word councillors became wary, but Arthur continued as if nothing had happened "Camelot is greatly vulnerable. We know nothing of it and when the attack comes the victory is gained by the skin of our teeth or by pure luck. We can't continue this way." The gathered lords nodded in approval. "That's the reason we need someone who will look into it and supervise the use of magic."
The last sentence seemed to make the councillors speechless.
"The use of magic, my Lord?" inquired Lord Vimor somehow managing to include his disapproval in this short question.
"Yes." Arthur looked at him sternly. "All of you know," the king looked around the table, "that I stopped the persecution of Druids, since they were peaceful people and had nothing to do with the attacks on Camelot." The lords looked grim but none of them objected. "I decided to go even further and allow them to practise healing magic not only in their camps, but also in the city."
The silence that fell was short lived and soon followed with protests, disagreements and general chaos. Arthur let it continue for few minutes, before finally making a demand.
"SILENCE!" he exclaimed and everyone became quiet. "You, who are supposed to be the wisest of all the citizens of Camelot, are squabbling like children." The councillors at least had the decency to look ashamed. "It's unbefitting of your station. The aim of this council is to support and advise the King, not to try to outshout one another and see who can be heard the best!" Arthur's fury was cold, almost emotionless, which made it so much more terrifying.
"I, as the King, am supposed to consider every possibility and chose the option that is the best for my people. Do you think I haven't thought over the matter carefully before announcing it to you? I have been brought up to believe that all magic is evil, but have seen the instances, no matter how scarce they were, suggesting that it isn't all that there is to magic. Some of you remember the time before Purge and that in that time some illnesses or wounds that are now considered deadly or crippling, used to be cured." The older councillors hesitantly nodded.
"I can't ignore the facts and put my misgivings before the good of the people. That's why I made such a decision." By now lords felt scolded and didn't dare to say anything in opposition, so Arthur turned to the men sitting on his right and left. "Lord Merlin, Lord Geoffrey, please continue."
The mentioned men started to present a list filled with instances of helpful use of healing magic; each of which was later discussed by the Council. They had managed to find incredible amount of such cases, so towards the end lords didn't even argue and just kept on listening and nodding.
Upon agreeing to the new law, the councillors, when they were presented with Merlin as the new Advisor of Magic, didn't even object and took it in stride.
So, what do you think?