A/N Well it's not been two weeks so I must be doing well. I seem to have my writing Mojo back at least. Lets just see how long it lasts shall we?
I must say when I started this I did not realise I was writing a novel. Oh well it has kept me out of trouble for a little while. And I don't own anything about Merlin. Just my version of Bedivere and Mari and my other minor characters.
...
Chapter 52 To serve a king.
Odin had not had the most comfortable evening. Castle guest chamber rather than dungeon notwithstanding, the pain of his ankle and head had prevented restful sleep and he was now feeling less than cheerful. There had been no communication with anyone as yet. Even the castle servants had yet to appear and his mood was hardly improved by the lack of breakfast and medical care. So when the knock came he was hardly in the best frame of mind to be polite.
The blistering tongue lashing he was all set to deliver however died before it was uttered as he registered the man staggering under the weight of the loaded tray. This was the pet sorcerer? Acting as a servant and his clothes looked if anything even more dishevelled than they had the day before, creased and skewed as they were. Odin had never held with Uther's policies regarding sorcery and he had several magic users as valued members of his court. None of them would be seen dead in this mans get up and would be horrified if asked to serve breakfast to any visiting guest, even if said guest were not being held under house arrest.
This man looked like nothing so much as a lowly serving boy. He would never have guessed at his having any magic at all. Perhaps that was it, Odin had seen this man performing the shield but that may be all he could do. Kept on only because the shield was useful. He didn't even look all that intelligent and Odin scoffed. Arthur had probably made him learn such a spell in order to make himself look better when Morgana had come to call. It was the kind of deviousness he would expect of a Pendragon. Although there had been that curious exchange yesterday just outside of his cell, that spoke of an attachment from the king towards this man. It was just too confusing.
One of the knights had accompanied the boy into the room and stood by the door looking round with an insolent roguish grin. This was the same man who had been fighting him when he fell if he were not much mistaken. At the realisation a wave of humiliation and anger flowed through him and he couldn't help the harsh yell, pointing his finger at the knight in ill concealed fury. "You! Get out, now!"
"Sorry m'lord no can do. There are to be two people in the room at any one time. Arthurs's orders!" He patted the hilt of his sword rather fondly as he said it, almost daring the king to try something. And all the while that grin never wavered. The servant just carried right on laying the breakfast out though he did dart a glance at the knight that Odin couldn't interpret fully. It was almost as if the man was annoyed and frustrated in equal measure.
As he turned back to Odin however the mask of subservience slipped back over his features and he bowed respectfully taking a step back and asking politely if there would be anything else. "I wish to speak to my men boy. And I need something for this damned foot."
"I'm afraid my lord that until King Arthur has had a chance to speak to you, it will not be permitted to communicate with your men. But I will endeavour to arrange the court physician Gaius to see to your medical needs." Another short bow and the man left. The knight by the door's grin had gotten wider and seemed to grow slightly evil when the servant paused slightly by the door and muttered something to the man.
Just who was he. His assessment of his intelligence was far out it seemed, his speech and vocabulary were far superior to most servants he knew and his tone though polite had been very firm and no-nonsense as if he expected to be obeyed.
"Who was that man?" The knights grin if anything just got wider and even more insolent.
"That?" His thumb hooked over his shoulder. "Oh that's Merlin. The king's personal manservant."
"His manservant?!"
"Who also happens to be his most trusted friend and advisor and one of the most powerful warlocks you'll ever meet!" His laughter was mocking as he shut the door firmly on the invaders shocked face.
This kingdom was utterly mad. Just what the hell had he signed up for with this treaty?
…..
Arthur was being overprotective again.
And Gwaine could clearly see how annoyed Merlin was by the gesture. But oh it was amusing watching him grind his teeth. It was about time the princess started looking out for the man. From what he had worked out about Merlin's use of his magic over the years there had been so many instances of Merlin looking out for him, the warlock was now well overdue for some care of his own. No matter that he was still playing at being manservant to their king, it was clear it was only because Merlin had asked to stay there that he was being indulged. It had rankled that Merlin hadn't been promoted and all the knights had told the king in so many words, until Arthur had made it clear that Merlin was calling the shots in this. Honestly Merlin seemed to have an aversion to getting the recognition he so deserved. Anyone else would have bitten Arthur's hand off to become his official advisor, and it wasn't as if it was a new position either. He had been doing it in an unofficial capacity for years.
It had been even more amusing to tweak Odin's nose. And though he would probably pay dearly for it later, when Arthur got wind of it, it had been worth it to see the smug git's face when he realised he had been served by a man who could have killed him with a thought. And had the complete trust and friendship of the king no matter how lowly he looked. It would be even better if they followed pattern and had a banquet to honour both the fallen warriors and to mark the end of the negotiations for lasting peace. The knights had a plan to ambush Arthur and make him give Merlin a place at such a feast. Their victory was mostly assured by the warlock and it wouldn't be right for him to be serving rather than enjoying. After all what kind of message would it send to the rest of the kingdom if the man they owed their lives to had to stand in the background once again, overlooked and disregarded despite his valiant efforts to defend them?
If necessary Gwaine would use his trump card and tell him that none of the knights would show if Merlin did not. He hoped he had to use that one. He couldn't wait to see Arthur's and Merlin's faces when they realised all the knights who had defended the city with them had now accepted him. Admittedly there was still token grumbling about not knowing people they had been living beside for years, and the sight of him performing magic still made certain ones uncomfortable. But after seeing him fight for them so tirelessly and then trying to heal them after the battle despite being given more than one cold shoulder, and still happily serving their king in the same position he had held from the beginning he had gained considerable respect (even if the serving aspect caused several raised eyebrows). It was a rather significant victory on the road to the ban being repealed and Gwaine was not the only one glad of it. Now they just had to work on the relationships between the servants, nobles and citizens. It was fine. Gwaine always did love a challenge. Especially when there were so many odds stacked against them.
…..
As soon as the towers had come into view Sir Bedivere had mounted his horse spurred it to a gallop and gone ahead to inform the king of the druid delegation's imminent arrival.
He found Arthur going over the damage and progress reports on the town buildings and checking the details for the funerals to be held the following evening. The pyres were being built by volunteers outside the city walls. The fallen men of both sides were to be remembered together in an act that was unprecedented but would hopefully help the talks toward peace. Arthur only prayed that it would be seen in the spirit in which it was meant and there would be no acts of revenge upon the invading army for the losses suffered by the defenders. The knights would be a visible presence throughout and surely act as a deterrent.
The sight of Sir Bedivere was a welcome one. The details of the solemn rites now complete. "Sir Bedivere what news? Have they accepted?"
"They have sire. They are nearly upon us. I came ahead to inform you they would be here within the hour." The two servants stood at the side of the room were beckoned forward and the first dispatched to make rooms ready for their new guests. "Have them all placed together, I'm not sure they will be entirely comfortable if separated." A bow and the servant scurried away. "Could you find Merlin? Tell him we have guests and I need him here now." The servant audibly gulped but nodded anyway and ran off to do as his king commanded. Arthur looked after him till he disappeared from view, pensive frown on his face and then shaking his head turned back to his knight. "Tell me, how did he seem when Mari delivered the news and the letter?"
"He seemed very surprised and a little worried to learn that Merlin had revealed his magic. Kept saying they were not expecting it to happen yet. Also said something about paths deviating that we didn't really understand." The king sighed and closed his eyes, wincing at the memory of Merlin telling him the path the gods had worked at preventing would have led to his early death. No Bedivere wouldn't understand. He didn't understand most of it even when it had been explained. The information that magic could be used to tell the future was an uncomfortable knowledge even as he realised he would never have to experience such an ability. No wonder Morgana had woken screaming on so many nights before everything went to hell. He didn't know how she had managed to stand it for so long, knowing things in advance and having to watch helplessly as they played out in front of her. It was what had driven him to not seek her out and kill her since her betrayal.
Quite apart from his inability to separate the mad witch from his loving, if sharp tongued, friend and sister in his mind. They all bore some measure of blame for her decent into the depths. Uther for his stance on magic of any kind and his dangerous secrets. Gaius for keeping the knowledge of her heritage and magic from her. The terrible damage Merlin had unwillingly caused when faced with such horrendous choices. And his own wilful ignorance and gullibility for believing everything his father ever taught him with very little real evidence to back it up. He had been blind to so many things. It made him wonder once again how people could hold such faith in his leadership if he could not help those closest to him when they needed him the most.
"Sire?"He had paused in his reverie too long. His face bearing the marks of strain these last days had caused. Bedivere shifted uncomfortably.
"It's fine Bedivere all is well. I know of what you speak. Tell me of the delegation. Who do they bring?"
"It is a small party sire just seven if you include the young woman Mari. Iseldir brought his son Cene. Two brothers Toben and Marten, elders from what I can gather though they don't say much. Another woman Selma, very strict and upright though has a wicked humour. And her nephew though I don't think he is to be part of the negotiations, he's only 14. The woman Selma is his Aunt." Arthur waved that piece of information away. There had been many instances of young people accompanying family members to peace treaties over the years. At 14 it was unlikely he would be part of the talks and the would just have to find him something to occupy his time and keep him out of trouble.
"Well whilst he is here he will be your responsibility to look after and keep entertained. Just make sure if he does have magic to remind him to be careful. The nobles especially have been very unwelcoming of Merlin's abilities and they have been acquainted with him for a long time. There is no telling what they would do with an unknown boy." Bedivere nodded. He didn't mind. The young lad had been good company on the way here, chatty but mature for his age. It would be no real chore to show him Camelot and he had seen no evidence of magic from him. Either he was exceptionally good at hiding it, and therefore he didn't really need to remind him the ban was still in place, or he just didn't have any.
