Merlin strode in the direction of the vaults then, more confidently than he usually would. He knew the guards schedules and patrol routes without thinking about it, ducking when it was required, pausing in the shadows when a guard was due to pass by. This time, for the first time he had permission to be there, it was actually fully sanctioned by the Prince. A reality that he hadn't particularly expected until he had somehow proven that he didn't intend to launch a takeover bid. Certainly not so soon.
The iron key felt heavy in his pocket as Merlin snuck out of the passages which had been forgotten by all but a few.
It's weight was a reassuring reminder that he hadn't just imagined the acceptance or command, but he decided using magic would be quieter. The spells for breaking in to anything were so familiar by now they needed no words.
Closing the door behind him Merlin lit the candles, no one would be fool enough to enter here without authorisation of the king. Except himself. Or maybe corrupt priestesses.
Turning to the right he almost leapt out of his skin as he came face to face with Lachlan; the whole situation suddenly seemed a lot more macabre in the eerie atmosphere of Camelot's dark places. Not for the first time in the vaults Merlin felt more like he was walking through a tomb than a cellar.
"That does not get less creepy, no matter how many times you appear inches from my face. You sounded as though there was something important when you sought me out earlier; what do you have to show me?"
"There is, remember Merlin, this chaotic horde and its consequences are not solvable in one night. Consider this a belated introductory tour. Avoid any and all mirrors. Some may be harmless, others may still be linked or active, but that is not what I wish to show you. Do not look at the crystals, I do not wish to lose your awareness and attention with no one in here to break through a trance.
I spent most of the day down here, and it seems that the deeper you go the closer it is to the beginning of the Purge, I recognise some items and sacred objects that I can match to a date and a friend. Collections and stolen artefacts closest to the beginning of the deposits - so furthest from any entry points - are the best organised. Reasonable as there was still enough knowledge left in the early stages to categorise them correctly. Ish. Later on, as you edge closer to the entrance they get less coherent, placed without rhyme and reason as the understanding was evidently lost. Dragonlords were early in the massacres, what was stolen from us is semi-sensibly placed. Not far from a torq that you need and a staff which is yours, or will be, safest to wait a little longer to retrieve that, until you intend to face the council under the full moon. The single Catha item I have seen is further in and should not be touched before they formally confirm you. Just in case. Don't fall into the pit coming up, and dodge the axe- good- now slow your breathing, no panicking or broadcasting alarm, that gives away surprise and the vault reacts to a probable intrusion. Right, not left, the passage that way is collapsed. Seems to be an unnatural rockfall but I've no idea what it's protecting."
He turned sharply, even remembering this time that Merlin required a door instead of just walking clean through walls.
He really should look into whether the was a spell for that, thought the warlock, it would be a pretty obvious one to create so theoretically he could find one if he looked in the correct place. "Ah, there." Exclaimed the ex-dragonlord, drawing his attention back to their actual purpose, "This was mine, a long time ago. You should have been given your own, with your father's crest but where he hid that I don't know and you ought to at least have proper attire. It's not magic exactly, just useful. Made only for our kin. This one isn't short enough for some of your high stakes games, but it'll keep the wind and hail off; gauntlets are yours too. Dragons hated metal ones even if they can't actually cut scales. Worse for human hands too, even if we don't burn normally, those types can heat up when magic passes through the metal; if we didn't notice others tended to sustain avoidable injuries.
Leather or suede are preferred by our kin. We never did manage to convince the magicless knights of the drawbacks of metal…" Lachlan grimaced at the memory of bickering.
Merlin rolled his eyes, he knew that feeling. "Knights are idiots; and they do seem to have a bit of a steel fetish. Are you sure Lachlan. Isn't there-" Merlin cut off. Of course there wasn't someone else he'd rather give it to, Merlin was the only dragonlord. The last dragon Lord. He lowered his tone, "Thank you, Sir. It would be my privilege."
"Ach, don't. Really. Would have gone to my eldest son, as your father's should go to you. Now I have no sons, and you have no father. For our people to take back what Uther stripped brings me some comfort."
Merlin nodded, swallowing. As much as he wished he did not, he understood. The dragonlord would rather it burned than remained here as a trophy for Uther, but like the dragonlords, this was made to fly. "It'll see the sky again. Might even make Kilgarrah smile, or noble arses stop nagging me for my state of dress." Merlin stepped up to the frame supporting the jacket, pulling out all of the laces and realising the thing had a lot more weight in than it initially appeared to. Next to it were the matching gauntlets. Almost as nice as some of Arthur's hunting leather.
"It's stained dark. Are- were they all like that?" Merlin asked, wondering if it was common even then to fly at night.
"Mostly. Depended on the colours of the dragon you were closest to and the symbols of your House. Most often they were similar to the hide of whichever dragon you were closest to. This should work reasonably well with Kilgarrah."
Merlin nodded, tracing long fingers in the candlelight over the intricate designs on the coat that was somehow elegant and tough. "What was mine?"
"I can't draw. Your family were the first, the oldest Dragonlords we know of, your House was first ranked; it reflects that. The Druids can show you. Just ask. Don't run from it."
Merlin closed his eyes. "Sure. Anything else I should know about?"
"Yes. The High Priest's ring is further in, and there is a blood spell set up next to the corresponding sacrificial knife taken from a priestess. Don't go near it until you have slept and have a spare day. Don't approach or disturb it in any way until you have identified it. That has been set for a very long time., a few days will not make a difference."
Merlin blew out a measured breath. That was very mixed news. "Do we know who might be responsible for something so serious?"
Blood spells were always strong, usually complex, and tended to involve dark magic, which he didn't want to be interfering with on his first known visit down there. Despite the problems they had found, the lack of injury this time was a definite advantage over any of his previous visits.
"I have suspicions but nothing confirmed. I had no idea this was down here until today. The priestesses are gone, but for two. All of their bloodlines ended- or at least they believed so. You don't have the experience to solve this properly alone so don't try, use the resources at hand. It does not appear to be harming Arthur though, whatever the intended purpose. The catacombs continue and I will go further tomorrow, but there are ways of capturing spirits-as you well know from Sigan.
Couldn't take the risk of going into the more dangerous places without reporting back first, Emrys. Nothing here is beyond your skill to use, but some should not be touched, and the priestesses sometimes added spells to Discourage men from contaminating particular sacred items. Not unfairly, but really, look and don't touch unless you're willing to spend a long time singing soprano."
Merlin instinctively winced, "Yeah, I get why you that would be an effective deterrent. Only a mistake you'd have to see made once to get the point. Morgana would be proud. OK then. Lots to think about. Much, much more than I was hoping for… and also more of an heirloom than I ever expected to have. Thank you for helping me; and for the rest."
Lachlan bowed slightly, he'd watched long enough to develop a healthy respect for Emrys lowering his guard.
"I'd give you a sword but we uh- we didn't bring them into Camelot that time if the blade had been bathed in dragonfire, but for one; there was a late warning, and it's a fucking godsend that we didn't.
An armed squad of trained knights with those weapons would have razed the kingdom. When Uther realised it was magic he threw it in a mass grave. It should remain there for eternity. That must never be found." He sighed, a lingering habit from his human life that not breathing hadn't seemed to change.
"Go home Merlin. You need to think and you can't do that here. I'm not about to disappear on you. Eileen has Uther handled for the night, he's not going to be looking for you at dinner tomorrow."
Merlin pressed his lips together, almost visibly receding into the non-threatening servant part of himself, "Any idea what she plans?"
Lachlan shook his head,"Not a clue. She looked angry though, so whatever it is I am glad she's not messing with me. You know some cultures have female warriors? Not here, but in the North they do, and in Dalraida. Right at the edge of the world, where the sun's heat can barely reach they ride to battle. Our not having them is a mistake; I think that they make more efficient fighters. If a man had looked at me with the same expression she was wearing tonight, I would have surrendered or fallen on the mercy of a sword. Eileen's uncle was a keeper of books, he told her stories from the crib, trust me, she has plenty of material to draw on with you occupied."
The man cringed, remembering Arthur's fight with Morgause, "Eesh. Nope, never going to underestimate based on the fact an enemy is female. In my experience they are the most deadly."
"Irrelevant." Growled the ghost, "Anyone can kill. Uther's men were more than enough with our magic subdued."
Running his hand through his hair, Merlin sighed, "I know. You're right. I have to think about it all, calmly and rationally. It looks and feels like a trap but it's old. Gods I want to tear this apart, and if I do without identifying it first the breaking could kill them."
Lachlan snorted, "You are in Camelot kid, good luck finding calm and rationality. We could make a fortune selling that on the black market. I'm very glad to see some forethought, you really have come on." The warlock wished it wasn't true; and that his lessons had brought less pain to himself and to others.
"This time I know I'll be able to return to fix it properly, and not have my absence cause problems. 'Night Lachlan."
"Goodnight Emrys."
As much as it felt unnatural to rush out of such a place Merlin tried - he could feel it, all the different magics, some tingly, others passionate, and a couple clawing at him making it harder to concentrate. It was getting foggier when he felt another presence intrude and provide an anchor, the familiarity drowning out the other magical distractions. "Go Home Young Warlock. We will speak soon enough, leave this place."
The shock worked, spurring Merlin to move faster and leave the vaults, feeling slightly overwhelmed. It hadn't been so bad before, but maybe it was because then he he a clear goal, and a focus on not being connected to music. This time the threat of execution was less. Kilgarrah must have known, having been so close to it all for so long. "Turn off the lights." Merlin blushed and snapped his fingers.
"Thanks 'Garrah."
Tempted to lean against the wall and collect himself Merlin resisted, forcing himself to move away, towards his new chamber.
It smelled different and didn't feel like home yet. How strange would everyone think it was if he started hanging herbs to dry? Pickling fish eyes.
Once he thought that one of the greatest benefits of not living with the court physician would be the absence of the weird smells. Some were fragrant or exotic, and others were noxious or toxic. Often a bizarre mix of both competing; especially when there was a patient or three there.. As it turned out it was their very absence that reminded Merlin that his old home was no longer his own. How whatever he did during the day he would come home at night to an empty room. For so long Merlin had made a point of never considering personal details when he thought about the future, he had stopped considering a partner beside him or the implications of there not being one. The reality of being alone had hit him with hardly any preparation as a result, and even Merlin could appreciate that being left alone wasn't actually good for him given the stress he lived under, and his tendency to periodically neglect self-care. Irritating as it was to be reminded by Gaius and Gwen, or Lancelot on occasion, he couldn't call it needless. Gwaine didn't 'gently remind' him to eat or pause and took a more similar approach to Gaius' standard drugging when Merlin didn't sleep. The room was cold when he entered, no one waiting who'd set the fire earlier or kept it going, Not a particular problem for him, as he whispered and a roaring fire sparked to life in the grate, but a tangible and symbolic reminder that stung and made the leather suddenly feel so much heavier. Laying it on his bed Merlin sighed, stripping and lying down to try and sleep.
The dilemma of storage plagued the man and made it difficult to drift off, for one night it only really needed a glamour for concealment, but he intended to find a better storage solution- which the vaults definitely weren't.
That night his dreams were violent and disturbed, though not visions of possible futures; he woke sweat soaked with a racing heart, hoping he hadn't been making any noise, without anyone close enough to wake him, certainly not with the door locked. A silencing spell was a priority for this room. The cortisol and adrenaline began to ebb away when he saw his preferred early-morning ghostly visitor. "Morning sunshine. No, that's not right is it?" She frowned, "I haven't been paying attention long."
Merlin rolled onto his side, "I'll take it. Better than 'idiot' for a welcome. Long night? I gather Lachlan is staying out of your way."
"The last one was hard, I'm feeling better now, but he deserves a lot worse than this. I let the giant spider get Uther this time.I'm not angry at Lachlan, just didn't want him to ask if I was ok."
"Fair enough. Try not to have him dream-eaten, that would kick his paranoia up further and it's already ridiculous."
There was a chap on his door. Merlin ignored it. The chapping didn't stop when Merlin grumbled at it so he gave up for self preservation, pulling on loose breeches. The rest of the tower did not start work this early. "Ah fuck, who even calls on other humans at this time of day? What, what is it that can't wait." Unlocking the door he opened it a crack. The brick behind Gwaine began to smoulder. "What are you doing here you sadist?"
The knight ducked past him, slumping into the chair by Merlin's desk before sliding a loaded plate and a jug, pulling a small bag out of his pocket and dropping it there.
"I'm Being diligent. Responsible and shit."
"But...Gwaine, the sun isn't up yet."
The knight looked at him as though he was wondering how Merlin even laced his boots alone. "No, but you are, and I refuse to be the one to tell Princess I broke you or had to tie you to the saddle on the return ride. I brought food. You are going to eat it and not faint by noon. Don't look so guilty, I'm losing maybe an hour of sleep max by staying up to force you to have breakfast. Much less than if you keeled over and Princess decided to keep me in the cells until his Merlin-Sulk finished; and you've got to admit there are worse ways to wake up than handsome men delivering fresh food directly to your chamber." Gwaine grinned winningly at Merlin and got a shove and half hearted glare for his efforts. "You got me. Can't disagree there." Merlin smirked at him, "But you were already beaten by a pretty girl."
"Well played Eileen. I'll win one of these days." His friend called amiably to the ether.
"Good morning crazy one."
"She uh- She says good morning."
"She's very polite for a ghost." He arched an eyebrow at Merlin's obvious hedging.
"Not everyone is as dissolute as you Gwaine."
"Good thing too. One is enough."
"Yeah. So why is that one in my bedroom this early, cluttering it up and playing nagging wife- which doesn't suit you by the way."
"Told you. Making sure you don't faint like a maiden from not eating, or trying to run on only magic for fuck knows how long; and really Merlin, at least let me be a nagging husband. What time did you get to bed last night?" Gwaine leaned back, showing no intentions of leaving and Merlin sighed at his unruffled approach, knowing full well that the man wouldn't go now and could sleep upright.
He waved a hand at the door to relock it, noticing the reluctance of his muscles to move smoothly this morning and scowling. "No idea. It was dark."
There was the eye roll.
"Not for much longer. You might want to finish getting dressed first mate, not that I'm complaining, but it's pretty chilly and you've rounds to do. Have some bread and apple at the least though and I will vouch to Kilgarrah himself you are trying to keep yourself standing." Merlin squashed down the nerves as he turned to find fresh clothes remembering the lack of a magical mask. They did not belong here with a trusted friend anymore.
"As long as you don't try to lie to him you should be OK. He doesn't like lies." Merlin smiled as he pulled on a decent tunic and tried to remember the simplest silencing spell he knew, smiling when he found one. It would only be temporary until he could set a long term one, he whispered in the old tongue, letting the magic warm him.
"Riiight. So. How was your thing last night?"
"Fuck, I forgot. Thanks for the reminder. I'm in trouble with Gwen, and have to take her flowers. Percival has joined her minions."
Gwaine chuckled at his friend's misfortune, "Again? How did you manage that? Already?"
"Shut up. Like you haven't been in trouble with mum before. I might have accidentally been a wee bit tactless in warning Percival… and got caught."
"OK. No sympathy for you, it was a lesson you earned. If you are going to bitch about Court Ladies, don't get caught. If she catches you calling her 'mum' you're a dead man. Gaius got his meeting with me last night, so don't have concerns about that. He was the one who sent the bag of meadowsweet. I figured boiling water was probably on your list of mastered skills so only brought cold, you can heat it up quicker than the kitchens could."
"Are you sure you're a scoundrel, Sir Gwaine? I think you may be going soft, with all this chivalry; all that saving the day is going to your head."
"Yes Merlin. I had a revelation last night. My calling is in fact embroidery and pastry making." He deadpanned.
"Gods Gwaine, please never cook something that requires skill, and if you do, don't torture us by trying to feed it to anyone, poison is a terrible way to go. Trust me on that."
Gwaine folded his arms and smiled, "Aww, it's sweet when you worry about them. Nae fear. This is strictly a non-chivalrous act of self preservation I'll have you know. Princess doesn't like to share you you know."
Merlin made a disgusted sound at the obvious lie and ignored the jibe, "Fine. Shut up. I'm eating, I'm eating already."
"That's a good All powerful Warlock." Gwaine grinned wickedly, "Oh, I also have proper oil and am supposed to force you to be sensible and have stiff muscles massaged so that training works instead of crippling you. Something about efficiency of servants. So. Since it's a demand from the Princess, who should I send up? I would happily do it, but if you'd prefer Lance or Percy I can send them over whenever you need. Even Leon, but y'know… it might raise difficult questions." Merlin hadn't really expected a choice. They were still something of a new concept for him, and it was discomfiting that Merlin being treated as Arthur's equal seemed completely reasonable to Gwaine; even if it was only in private so far.
"Uh- You I guess. You've seen me, it's the shortest lecture on common sense and safety. I've heard Lance's too many times already. Gets boring after the second recital. Ugh, common sense? Like he's the expert and the knights have any to spare."
"Nope," he agreed cheerily, "Not even a little. Except maybe Leon."
"Hey, that's unfair. Lancelot has some." Merlin sounded offended on his friend's behalf.
"Sir Lancelot has been pretending he doesn't know about a sorcerer while sharing a campfire with a Pendragon, left the free life for one bound by the rigid rules of a Noble, and attacked a city by going up against an army of the undead. Save it."
Merlin shot his friend a scandalised look, "Well everything sounds bad when you say it like that."
"Never said it was a bad thing. One of his best attributes if you ask me." Gwaine's expression softened. The pair had occasionally clashed over their wildly different approaches to life and philosophy, and their shared loyalty to the future king and Merlin was where they initially found a real bond.
"One of the many reasons I never have. Go back to the part where you stated as a fact that he has been pretending not to know about a sorcerer."
"You lot are unbelievable!"
Merlin snorted and Gwaine threw out his hands in exasperation, "No really. You are literally unbelievable. He has too many tells to lie safely, he's been there when some seriously unsubtle shit went down, even if I didn't notice at the time. The man has backed you on utterly atrocious excuses- you should know that we still have the ode to Arthur's socks you claimed to be composing, drunk, at the tavern where you weren't."
"You! You complete prat! That's where it came from!"
Gwaine winked, "Call it the price for my silence on you never being there. Lancelot worries about you more than as just a servant on patrols and quests, surrounded by good knights. He insisted to the Princess- who he rarely challenges on anything- that you were the bravest of us and should have been knighted. The only ones he watches more than you individually are Lady Gwen, and the Princess… and like me an' Percival, he's travelled outside the borders. Ran into him a couple of times in exile and someone mentioned a sorceress; the stupid man asked 'Actual sorceress or witch?' If he knows there's a difference, he's encountered someone who couldn't choose. I only remembered it because it was a weird thing to hear from someone heading out alive from the city."
"I'm going to strangle him." Merlin said very calmly.
Gwaine smirked, "You're already in trouble with Gwen. Strangling Sir Lancelot would be unwise mate."
Merlin grimaced around a slice of apple "Oh goddess I cannot deal with that shitstorm this early."
Gwaine nodded thoughtfully, "I take it you've noticed the tensions then; you got any personal opinions on that?"
The warlock grimaced, "Not that I'm willing to share, it's very dangerous to even think about tat triangle too much. It would be so much easier if Morgana hadn't pushed her away, hardly helped mend the rift between Uther's kids that she moved from one onto the other." Even Merlin had winced at that, and he was the one most involved in facilitating it and encouraging Prince Arthur to pursue someone he actually wanted as a person. Arthur had been trained to reject emotion as weakness and had to consciously override that first instinct still.
Shaking his head Gwaine sighed, "Fuck, Morgana and Gwen? Are you sure?"
Merlin shrugged. "I don't know how equal the devotion was, but I know exactly which ladies I delivered preventatives and emergency backups to, and the ones I didn't- or don't.
Those two were something of an open secret then anyway, at least among the servants, and I delivered her draughts very early, and after most people were in bed. Too much was seen that cannot be unseen. If it distracted her from the visions though… Uther either wouldn't consider it, or regarded it as an acceptable way of avoiding any almost-royal bastards. Who knows what his thought processes ever were."
"Gaius?" The half- suggestion was his first thought too but that made him feel nauseous.
"Maybe. Sometimes. Another thing that hurts to focus on. I don't think he had solid confirmation of MorGwena, though he knew she didn't regularly take anything that we deliver under the label 'women's problems' to stop men getting pushy or asking invasive questions."
Gwaine stared at him, shaking his head, "Wow. The men here are idiots."
Merlin shrugged, "I've not much basis for comparison, raised by mum on her own, but yeah. They really are, still, it seems to work on those from foreign courts just as well."
"And suddenly I pity the women of this city in a whole new way. So is Arthur's love unsuitable for her tastes?"
"Oh no, she definitely is uh- She told me she likes ordinary men like me once," Merlin's lips curled wryly, "And used to watch training with me when we were trailed along. She's flexible, like you and I. Not like Edwin in the stables." Another not-open thing shared he thought, even if it wasn't as secret as his magic, and again Gwaine hadn't blinked.
"Well I guess there's that at least, and you don't have to deliver or ease into that particular news."
"Honestly at this rate it might be less complicated than some of what I do have to discuss. If you're not busy after supper I suppose I could do worse for company."
"I'll be here. First though, I have to sleep. There's this guy I have to torture after doing my own training, by order of The Princess, and since his work's about to start It's more'n time I found my own bed." Gwaine winked at his friend, walking towards the door, "If my next victim'll let me out that is." He gestured at the lock.
"Go on you git," Merlin dragged on a neckerchief and his jacket and unlocked the door, extinguishing all of the candles and fire as it swung open.
Securing it behind him Merlin forced his body to cooperate, abused muscles protesting every movement, the walk down to Gaius' chambers alone had them screaming. He chapped and entered the locked room without waiting for a reply. His old mentor would assume it was him, and it was still early in the morning; Merlin wanted to build up the fire before forcing the old man to give up the warmth of any blankets. He was still bloody angry, but he was also an apprentice physician who wanted no patient to develop complications.
The hearth was cold, and the infusions set out on the desk last night were ready, but the table was not as organised as he expected, books and scrolls that ought to be hidden when anyone could see them. It wouldn't exactly be the first time Uther yelled 'sorcery' and tore the physicians chambers apart, and Gaius was always extremely cautious. Making the oversight unusual.
Quickly raking the fire and adding a couple of logs Merlin set it alight just as Gaius came out of his room in heavy robes. "Good morning m'b- Merlin. It's good to see you again; I miss you, oh I know, you can't, but still, I wanted you to know. There's food if the ruffian didn't catch you this morning."
"Gwaine? Yeah, he came by, said you managed to talk to him last night, not much about it. What are these?" Merlin pointed at the very illegal pages open on the table, squinting at the barely legible script in one."
"They are legends. Not your legends with Arthur. Old ones. Things thought lost from the past I thought some might be of benefit to one or both of you. That one on the right is about your people, not much was known of the Dragonlords, and it's hard to know how much is truth and how much myth- or indeed the result of a night in a tavern with the author. Either way, it is rightfully yours. I wish there was more for me to give you but Balinor declared it must all be hidden. That which he could not destroy. You must understand Merlin, he did not anticipate you. Neither of them expected to have a son to receive any legacy."
"I do. It doesn't ease things; is there anything here about their rituals around death?"
Gaius hesitated and his apprentice growled, "Don't look at me as though you expect horrors like he does." Merlin forced his voice to soften. "I simply need to be sure that I have not neglected an important thing for his spirit's peace. Your promise of showing me where the mass graves and dark places made me think. Well, that and the ghosts." His thought was that Gaius should show Arthur too, but he was well able to do that after, and they still couldn't risk the old man catching on to exactly what was happening, what they were engineering.
"Oh, of course it did, I can't show you today, or tomorrow as there's council and it means a higher risk of being followed then, the day after should be safe."
"I can be late for work for that." Merlin set his jaw.
"Not for the first time Merlin. Are you sure? The Prince has been under a lot of stress recently."
You have no idea thought the now less secret warlock.
"It has already waited far too long. I can organise cover for the morning easily enough. George will be insufferable after, but at least he won't argue."
"As I understand it the Prince has become somewhat accustomed to the complaints of manservants."
"I won't deny he prefers that over brass jokes. You should hear them. Perhaps one day when you can't slip awake we'll tell them to you. Anyway, rounds to do. Please tell me that somewhere under the books and scrolls a list is to be found for restocking."
"You are looking at it, that is the pile for you, including the list." Merlin sighed, seeing the pile and wondering how he could subtly carry them. Looking around the room he spotted an old pack for collecting. It wouldn't be too odd for him to carry one, and in the absence of better options he grabbed the books and lists, dumping them into the bag and tried to look innocent enough to stop by the kitchens to collect Arthur's breakfast.
"Alright. I will see you tonight Gaius. As long as I survive the knights help."
Talking to Gaius these days seemed to leave him with more questions than answers and there was a new awkwardness that had not existed between them before. He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. "Be careful Gaius, you still do too much. Can't save anyone if you work yourself ill. We need another pair of hands-and legs, for when I'm serving the Prat."
Merlin left the room with a burning desire to find a corner and immerse himself in the new information, and also to go back and shake himself for trying to be natural with his old mentor far too soon.
Merlin distributed the first lot of medicines quickly, relieved that they gave out any that wouldn't spoil in bottles and jars to last several days now. He managed to avoid eye contact with all but the head cook on the way to Arthur's chambers. As usual she brandished a ladle at him and yelled something he couldn't discern over the heat noise, and bustle of the castle kitchen. He made the usual noises of agreement they all did and wondered where to start, and what destiny would blindside him with today. If Gwaine had worked out that Lancelot knew had Arthur? He didn't think the Prince would take that well if someone else told him. Maybe destiny was in a good mood today. Or busy fucking with some other 'chosen one'. Ach, who was he kidding, Destiny was never a chilled out type; she could probably handle all of them at once.