Yes, yes, I know. It has taken me quite the time to get this one done, my apologies for those waiting. Don't put me in the stocks!
However... wow..! I feel so swept away by all the responses I'm getting to this.. Thank you so much! :'D Keep it coming! makes me float in happy-bubble and type away!
Enjoy~
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A whole castle full of people using magic? - Merlin was amazed; more than that, he was mesmerized. Most he heard of was the druid camps in the forests, even those in hiding and most of the time on the run; never staying too long in one location. But the idea of a whole castle – picturing it to be like a small Camelot – to be inhabited by people who accept and/or use magic.. It was a thought he liked; it was something he felt to be dear. How easier his life would be if he wouldn't have to hide himself. If he could be free. If all magic users could live without staying in the shadows, living with fear. He let his mind wander to grasp it; to savior it. Wondered if Albion will be like that.. To be so free. To be out in the open and not having to hide his secret, because of the constant death threat looming over his head every time he used it; every time he acted like himself. His heart sank, longing for a place like that, and for a second he really hoped Arthur would accept that invitation.
"Why would a castle worth of sorcerers invite Arthur?.." – then realization hit him and he tensed.
It was taking time for the prince to get adjusted to being more in charge and take up more responsibilities, even though he was handling it pretty well – Merlin thought - and he had to admit it did change some things for him as well; he was no longer the prince's manservant, he was the future king's manservant, - because let's face it, Uther didn't seem to be hopping back onto the throne any time soon. Then there was Agravaine who was just becoming overly suspicious, ever since he came around asking Gaius about his alter-ego, Emrys. He even had problems of his own, of that haunting gray glimmer and an illness that was reaching for him deeper and deeper, along with his usual/unusual tiredness, endless chores and skipped meals here and there, and now there came along Orrick and Obert; and Merlin grew more and more uneasy as thoughts just rushed and flooded him of what their plan could possibly be; he was almost hysterical.
"Arthur could be in danger! I have to do something… I have to stop him from going. He could be walking into a trap! Maybe it's Morgana! Maybe she set this whole thing up! And all they are waiting for is for Arthur to be out of the way and then they can strike and take Camelot over or kill Arthur while he is riding towards Crowholdt ..that.. God knows where it is..!" – he jumped up and started pacing; continuously ignoring the hint of dizziness and nausea that reached him once he got on his feet. He just pushed those aside, like everything else when it was about the safety of Arthur. He headed towards the door. – "I have to go tell Arthur!"
"Merlin… Merlin!" – the old man tried to make him snap out of it, but the boy was too worked up over his thoughts and only stopped once another coughing fit hit him in the chest again. He staggered back to the table. Gaius quickly filled a cup with water, and put it in his hand. Merlin gulped the cool liquid down with a rush; which again danced around his stomach.
The burning grip on his throat and lungs convinced him to stay put, so he just sat, crouched, in quiet groans till the caustic sensation eased up enough for him to bare it; and be able to again push in the background with the rest of his thoughts.
Gaius exhaled, lightly caressing his ward's back, looking at him with an un-approving glare.
"Youre paranoid."
"Can you blame me?!" – he snapped; turning his head to the side to look up at the old man.
Truth be told, Gaius couldn't blame him.
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He sat some time crouching on the bench, not looking at anything in particular. Gaius was up and about; decided to make some tea for them; glimpsing at his quiet ward from time to time. He feared recent events have finally started to catch up to the boy. Of what happened at the Isle of the Blessed and even the attack of the Dorocha on him – of which Gaius learnt of afterwards; and pretty horrified of it too – their loss of Lancelot; knowing he and Merlin were good friends, the knight knowing about his magical secret, and now that lake incident, and the obvious worsening of his condition. Adding to that a new possible threat, the old man felt he was growing tired. Could only imagine how the boy felt, being in the middle of it all.
Merlin always had something to do; something to distract him, and the old physician sometimes wondered if that's a good thing. Each event in his life had to be pushed to the background, because each time those instances happened, other, more pressing matters got priority.
"Should.. warn Arthur.." – Merlin spoke carefully not to upset his throat again. He was wondering about the guests from Crowholdt, and saw no other option. Arthur surely will get upset and not believe him, but at least he will know and.. be more careful, or something. No, he will not believe him.
The old man turned around with the pot and looked at him. The boy was still leaning forward and staring at the edges of his spell book. He walked back to the table and poured the tea into their cups and sat down to face the young warlock.
For once, the tea had a welcoming smell, rather than some medicine or odd herb (or bathwater) and the steaming cup caught Merlin's attention away from his pondering.
He took a small sip and just stared at it; the heat felt a little odd against his strained throat, but there was something calming about it.
"And tell him what? You know very well you can't just walk up to him and start accusing people. It never got to anywhere in the past either and we don't even know what the two of them want."
"We'll just have to keep a watchful eye then."
"I suppose." - Gaius sighed, not really liking the idea.
"That shouldn't be to hard. I mean, what could he do? There are just too many people around, don't think he will attempt anything here, with all the guests and the feasts and such." – Merlin said but immediately reconsidered, remembering all the times a villain had actually used the feast as distraction to attempt killing the king; or the prince; or even him. He looked at Gaius; and the old man's lifted eyebrow said the same thing.
"As if that never happened."
"Right." – he mumbled, and just nodded.
"But if Orrick would want to kill him, why go through all the trouble of bringing an invitation? Doesn't make sense." – Gaius asked.
"Not, unless they want to lure him away from the castle."
"Or actually get him to Crowholdt.." - this was the moment when the old physician noticed the topic becoming uneasy for the warlock.
"Arthur.. still thinks like Uther, Gaius." - he said bitterly - "I don't think he will he overly happy when he finds out what that place is actually like.. Or what will he do to Orrick and Obert, if he finds out.."
"You can never know, Merlin.. Arthur has changed. He is very different then Uther is many aspects already."
The boy just nodded quietly, not looking up.
"We'll see.." - he mumbled then and idly rubbed his eyes. Each inch of his body yelled for sleep; even his stomach had given up the idea of demanding food. He wondered if it had anything to do with the tea.
"What are these people like?" - the elderly man asked, taking another gulp of his drink.
"Well, nothing out of ordinary, I suppose. I didn't sense anything in them, nor their belongings. Orrick seems to be of noble birth, quite friendly and Obert, his servant is ..just a servant. He cant speak though."
"Oh.."
"What? Does that tell you something?
"No, no."
"Gaius?"
"I was just wondering, that maybe sometimes Arthur would value that in you too." – the old man snickered into his tea.
"Thanks." – Merlin gave him a glare.
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"But, first thing's first though!" – Gaius raised his voice and set the cup down – "Finding out more about our guests can wait. Let's focus on your illness now."
"I'm not sick!" – Merlin exclaimed. Gaius lifted an eyebrow – "I'm being haunted.." – he added, but had to admit it didn't sound any better.
It seemed absurd in a way. Few days ago he was thinking how he had fought various magical creatures and got out of some really really big messes, catching a cold seemed.. almost childish. – However, seeing the dark blue paste-looking potion Gaius had waiting for him, he was considering, maybe a cold would've been a better option. But then again, Merlin never had that kind of luck since he set foot in Camelot.
He looked a bit weary at the potion.
"Does it suppose to have that color?" – he asked.
"Yes." – Gaius looked at it, him too a bit uneasy. – "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Merlin sighed and stood up, reaching for the small bottle.
"No choice Gaius.. either I find out what it is or die. Ugly."
Gaius handed him the potion and continued to look on.
Merlin glimpsed one last time at the page in his book and pulled the cork out of the vial.
"Well.. For Camelot!" – he raised the vial as a toast then downed the suspiciously foul smelling liquid. The taste wasn't as bad as he expected, but it was bad enough to make him grimace. He then set the vial down and closed his eyes, then began to chant the ancient words.
"Berbay odothay arisan yeldo. Ablinan." – His eyes glowed gold for a second as the boy opened them. He felt a warm shiver run though him, even easing that burning feeling in his chest slightly. Then... nothing.
"Notice anything?" – Gaius asked in a whisper a few moments later.
Merlin cautiously looked around the chamber, but he couldn't spot anything that he didn't already know was there. He even tried to force a small cough and look attentively if any gray glimmer shows up anywhere, but the room remained as it was. Vials, herbs, books, furniture.. nothing showed any signs that should alarm the warlock.
"No, nothing.."
"Perhaps it needs more time."
"Perhaps.."
