50 reviews... *Falls onto backside in shock* You are all to kind!
Hannah Lynn McDonald: Haha. Well, through the duration of my/and Vanilla's stories he might hate us... But at least I/we (Normally) give them(him) happy endings!
Bubzchoc: :D *Grinning*
Mersan123: Yup yup, I think Arthur and Merlin are also hoping that the plan will work! *Smiles* Why thank you! Credit goes to Vanillaj1967 for that, though.
MerlinMorgana1597: ;) Hahaha, well, they'll both be fine in the end either/any way, so, no worries... ;) And yup, of course he was! *Grinning* :DDDD Yep. Not very many, he really loves those things... And his tired mind is exaggerating, but, pretty close, am I right or am I right?
Alaia Skyhawk: *Getting in character... loading...* It wasn't easy to memorize that in an hour! *Throws arms out before they fall back to his sides*
"Gefultuma híe þæt heo onslæpe, Acene slæp swilce cwalu," Merlin repeated, his eyes continually glowing. He stood at the back of the feast, trying to keep his eyes hidden and his words quiet and unheard. So, the plan hadn't been completely thought out. His magic was trying to go haywire, two rings being worn in the same room at one. But luckily, this time, he was able to force most of it into the spell that he was casting over the king and queen.
"Gefultuma híe þæt heo onslæpe, Acene slæp swilce cwalu," he mumbled again, gold flaring brightly. some of his magic was forced past his control by the enchanted rings, going from his spell and into a servants pitcher, causing it to start burning. He tried to get it under control again while still holding the power on the insomnia. The pitcher stopped its heating before it injured the servant, thankfully.
Arthur, from his seat beside his father, was mostly focusing on Merlin. Could he do it without being caught? He swallowed harshly, luckily it went unnoticed in all the talk and laughter around the table. With all the noise, Merlin's voice wouldn't be heard, that was another good thing.
The feast was going all right, from what Arthur could tell. Not that he was actually focusing on the feast... because he wasn't. Once this spell was cast. The following night, the king and queen would likely ask for a sleeping draught. When they were out of it, the crystals that disguised them could be taken easily, and they would wake up as they truly were, and Gaius could give the crystals to the king. Then he would be able to deal with them...
Merlin's head was starting to ache, and the lights were starting to brighten considerably. His magic tried to stray from the spell, and he found himself grinding his teeth in frustration, fingers twitching as he resisted the urge to put his hand out towards them and just let out a burst of power. He leaned his shoulder against a column.
The spell wasn't working, not with his magic trying to go everywhere but to them. So, he decided on a course of action. The only one he could take, releasing some of the magic. He closed his eyes, trying to breath through the head-spinning, eye pressure feeling of his magic fighting him. Oils that could have been mistaken for sweat rolled down Uther's face, and the king absently wiped them away. Merlin breathed again, a quiet, gasping inhale. The spell starting working again, at least, even as the whiteheads starting forming on Uther's face.
Arthur glanced from Merlin, to Uther. His eyes bulged slightly as he watched white bubbles like... pimples... forming on his fathers face. He didn't know whether to laugh or gasp, or shout at Merlin, or all of them. He turned away, finding it too distracting to look at.
He looked at Merlin across the room and mouthed, 'Hurry up!' Merlin shouldn't be in the room with the rings so long, and if he kept adding new... additions to Uther's face, the king would eventually notice.
Merlin repeated the spell one last time, before taking a stumbling step back. Now, how to inconspicuously get out? The warlock backtracked, walking along the darkest areas of the room and holding his palms against his temples. He quickly left the large room as soon as he found the exit, and kept walking, walking until he couldn't feel the pull of the rings any longer. Then he dropped to his knees, fingers clutching at his short hair, hands still pressing against the sides of his head as if he could merely push the migraine away.
The past days were wearing at him. As soon as all of this was over, he was going to sleep, and eat, and hope to never get another headache.
Arthur watched Merlin leave. He distracted the other royals while Merlin 'escaped.' He talked to Andrew and Jezebell... who had also noticed Uther's unusual white spot. Arthur did his best to ignore them. They weren't that prominent. Okay, maybe the one on the center of his father's nose was a bit distracting.
He kept talking, knowing that the feast could only last for a short while now. It didn't have to go on for hours and hours.
Merlin grunted in discomfort, shaking his head. He pulled air into his lungs in a deep breath, and dropped his arms to his sides. He blinked until the colors started returning to normal, then flinched and struggled to stand as he saw someone coming. He was hoping whoever it was would pass. Well, until he realized who it was.
Frey walked forward, heading toward the figure kneeling on the floor. It was Merlin. The thirteen-year-old walked forward and stopped in front of him. "Are you okay?" she asked, glancing around as if looking for someone who might over hear.
Merlin put his hands on the ground in front of himself, getting his feet underneath of him and wobbily standing up. "I'm all right," he smiled reassuringly, waving a hand. He winced.
She rolled her eyes. "Yup, let me guess... inspecting the sweeping job?" She nodded, huffing out a laugh and putting a hand on his shoulder to steady him. "Right."
"Actually, I was checking for cracks, you know, just in case - be awkward if the king of Camelot tripped over a crack. Funny if the prince of Camelot did it, though," Merlin said jokingly. "Thank you," he said despite, and waited out the wave of diziness.
Frey snorted and nodded. "I think it would be funnier if the king slipped and fell on his royal nose-I'm sorry, but it would be funny," she stated with a chuckle. "Okay, I suppose I'm not all that sorry."
********ARTHUR*********
Arthur's focus was split. He would smile and talk to people at the table, then look across the room, toward the door. He didn't really want to be at this feast. The food was good, the company... not quite so much. Oh, and he was still having a hard time looking at his father... whose nose still held the... pimple. Oh how he wanted to laugh... it was just so... odd. But he didn't laugh.
Uther laughed at a joke the other king told, before putting a piece of fruit into his mouth, smiling as he chewed and looking over at his son. "This was an excellent idea, Arthur." He picked up his goblet, and stood from his seat, getting everyone's attention. "I would like to make a toast - to the fight against magic, and new allies."
Arthur nodded, smiling the 'this isn't really a real smile' kind of smile. However, Uther didn't seem to notice, and stood to make his speech. Arthur listened, paying very little attention to the words spoken by the king. He blinked rapidly and drank from his goblet, trying to look interested-but it was difficult. All his mind would allow him to focus on was the plan... would it work? Would they be able to get the crystals from the king and queen? Would Uther believe them? And then the last... most important bit... How would they get the rings from Uther?
Uther drank from his glass, as did the others, before he sat down once more, taking a bite from the food on the plate laid before him. That was when the Queen spoke in a loud voice, holding the hand of her husband. "We have an announcement to make. We wish to bring a sorcerer to Camelot for a public execution."
Uther swallowed loudly, nodding and setting down his goblet as he motioned with his other hand, about to speak. "Of course. When will the sorcerer arrive?"
"Mid-day tomorrow, unless our jailer's are set back." There was an unspoken 'again' in Andrew's words.
Arthur choked on his wine, but quickly regained composure. He hadn't missed the expression that passed on the faces of the king and queen. So... the absence of their old jailer had been noticed. Arthur clapped along with everyone else, smiling-feelinglessly. He felt out of place now... like he didn't belong with the royals-hunting-seeking out those who possessed something that they were born to have. It wasn't as if they chose it-practiced it to harm people... certainly some did, but not as many as Uther had claimed.
Uther nodded to the other monarchs, and nodded yet again as several of Andrew and Jezebell's groups, Lords and Ladies, excused themselves for the night. By his side, the Lady Morgana did the same, and gracefully stood, exiting the large room with Gwen following. Uther sighed contentedly, leaning back in his chair, gloved hand still holding the cup filled with wine.
Arthur stayed, along with several others who were not yet finished. The prince turned to Andrew. "So... this sorcerer, what makes him so special that you would have him brought to Camelot for execution, if I may ask?"
"This sorcerer is... a bit different. He goes by the name 'The Finder'. We believe he was alive during The Purge."
Arthur frowned, intrigued now. They said the rings they'd given Uther were made by The Finder. How did they get them, AND the sorcerer? A thought struck him, and he was not hasty to dismiss it. What if the king and queen had convinced the sorcerer to make the rings for them to find others like him, not for evil, but for good... and then they double crossed him? Arthur tried to keep himself from speculating, but still...
"Very well. You have done Camelot a great service," Arthur stated, forcing the words to come out at least SOUNDING like he meant it.
"Indeed," Uther agreed, stately. Jezebell and Andrew both put on smiles.
"It 'twas our pleasure." Andrew said.
Jezebell spoke up again with a stifled yawn, "You must excuse me for the night, 'M Lords." Andrew smiled at her.
"Of course," Uther said.
"Goodnight," Jezebell said, elegantly starting off towards their room.