Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
A/N: So this is not only very late, but also very short. But I decided rather than making you wait any longer to end this chapter here and hope moving on to a new chapter will make me able to write again.
Chapter 14: A Fate Questioned
Arthur wasn't used to feeling so nervous when meeting with potential allies. Then again he'd never had a meeting quite like this one. As he and his companions were led to a tent by one of the Druid elders, the others following behind them, Arthur observed the others in the camp. Some of the Druids glared at him when he met their eyes, but most seemed as if they were unable to decide whether to be in awe or terrified of him.
He also couldn't help noticing the reaction of the Druids toward Merlin. There was no conflict in their feelings toward him. In nearly every face, Arthur saw awe and respect when they saw his servant. Several of them bowed. Arthur was utterly bemused. This was Merlin, after all. His clumsy idiot of a manservant. Yet the Druids treated him like a king.
Arthur wanted to ask Mordred what he had meant when he called him the "Once and Future King" and Merlin, "Emrys" (he remembered that Morgana had referred to Merlin by the same name), but there was no time as the three were led into the tent and everyone was seated.
Alun regarded Arthur with a piercing gaze, "I watched you as you made your way through our camp, Arthur Pendragon. You don't know what to make of the way our people react to you."
Arthur nodded silently, hoping he would receive some explanation.
"They see two things when they look at you," Alun said, "They see the son of Uther Pendragon, and they fear you, but they also see the Once and Future King, and they do not know how to reconcile the two."
"What does that mean?" Arthur asked, "The Once and Future King?"
The explanation the Druid elder gave left Arthur's mind reeling. There were prophecies about him? Him and Merlin? But at the same time, there were things that suddenly made sense. All the strange things Merlin had said over the years, things about his destiny. And it explained the way the Druids treated Merlin.
"There are also prophecies that you will meet your death at the hand of a Druid." One of the other elders spoke up, giving Arthur a challenging stare. Arthur recognized him as the same one who had told Mordred that he couldn't be both a Druid and a knight.
Mordred, who was sitting beside Arthur, stiffened suddenly at the words.
Before Arthur could react to the man's declaration, Merlin spoke up, his voice calm and level, "That particular prophecy no longer applies."
The elder held Merlin's gaze for a moment, and then looked away, as if he dared not question him.
Arthur, having no such qualms, turned to Merlin to demand an explanation, but before he could, Eiriana darted into the tent, "Iseldir's here!" she informed the group, then darted out again as quickly as she had come in.
A few moments later, a man entered the tent. The Druid elders rose to greet him, and Arthur and his companions followed their lead.
"I know you," Arthur said in surprise when Iseldir turned to him.
Iseldir nodded, "We have met twice before, Arthur Pendragon. Once, many years ago, when you brought young Mordred home to us," he nodded toward Mordred as he spoke, "And once when you came seeking the Cup of Life."
Arthur had to force himself not to shift awkwardly under Iseldir's gaze, recalling how he had held the young Druid boy hostage in order to force Iseldir to give him the Cup. As well as the fact that if they hadn't taken the Cup, it may never have fallen into Morgause's hands as it had. Nevertheless, a king should not behave like some child who had been caught doing something he shouldn't.
He was relieved when Iseldir's gaze turned toward Merlin. The Druid nodded to him in respect, "Hello, Emrys."
Merlin grinned sheepishly as he said hello. He seemed a bit uncomfortable with the way the Druids treated him, but not, Arthur realized, particularly surprised by it.
He would have a lot of questions for his manservant when all this was over.
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