AN: Hey guys, sorry this one took so long. It took me a while to get back on track after falling ill recently(ish). It didn't really help that I wasn't entirely sure where to go with this chapter, but I like where I ended up, so here's hoping you guys do too.
Anyways, enjoy! Send me your thoughts!
Gwaine knew he shouldn't be taking any pleasure in the fact that Arthur looked like he was sporting two black eyes the next morning, but he did. The dark bruising on the underside of Arthur's chin and his haunted eyes gave him a savage sense of satisfaction. He was barely able to fight the manic sneer he felt coming on when he overheard Elyan venture to ask Arthur what had happened.
"I tripped and fell this morning. It's nothing," said Arthur evasively.
Elyan looked at him strangely before deciding better than to argue, eyeing Arthur's stiff posture. 'Your not Merlin Princess,' he thought as they set off. 'That excuse doesn't work for you.'
The next morning Percival was given yet another reason to wonder what was really going on. Arthur appeared looking tousle-haired, punch-drunk and horribly sleep deprived. He was also handling his sword strangely. He noticed Gwaine's fierce glances toward the king, and thought he knew where the bruising on Arthur's chin had come from at least.
But if Gwaine had been angry enough to actually strike Arthur, he was surprised that he had done so out of their sight. He was even more surprised when neither of them seemed very forthcoming about their fight.
He really did not believe Arthur when he told Elyan that he was sporting a nasty bruise because he "tripped and fell" that morning. But he didn't say anything. He figured it would all have to come out eventually, so he stayed silent.
When Merlin walked out of Prana House the next day, he was glad of his decision to forego jumping straight into an apprenticeship with Eldert. Yesterday had been more about sounding out his capabilities rather than actually learning magic, today had been completely different.
During the class, he realised that the magic taught in Prana House was far from difficult for him. In fact, he had been unconsciously using it in some form for his whole life. But he hadn't known what exactly it was he was doing, nor had he understood.
Animals had always been drawn to him. It was one of the reasons why he had always hated hunting, especially when it was just for fun. He knew animals were drawn to him for some reason, that they were always docile around him – 'magical beasts bent on ripping Arthur to shreds aside,' – and the thought that they met their end just because he was there had always made the bile burn his throat.
It was rare that he had any problems dealing with animals. He had gotten more than one laugh at the gapping faces he received when reducing some of Arthur's prized war-horses to nothing more than simpering foals pinning for attention. The animals were never so accommodating to anyone else. It was really no surprise that he was always stuck with stable-duty or looking after the horses.
Now he knew that animals were drawn to him because of the earth magic that was so natural to him; the ability to communicate through magic with animals. Without even trying, he had been taming the creatures around him, speaking to them on a level that let them know he was not a threat to them. He had always spoken to them, and somehow they had always listened.
The class itself he had loved. Learning how to fine-tune and understand a type of magic that felt so natural to him had been wonderful. He had taken to every spell he was taught like a fish to water, but he had found himself asking questions that had made his classmates stare at him. Clearly he had been asking about things he was already supposed to know. His complete lack of proper understanding coupled with his ease in casting had made him a focal point for many stares throughout the class, and all the attention had made him uncomfortable.
'That went well today,' commented Aithusa as they shuffled out the door.
'Yes, it did.'
'So, are you going to go back to Eldert and ask for an apprenticeship now?' she asked as they started walking down the avenue leading away from Prana House.
'No,'
'Why not? You didn't have any problems with any of the spells today. You performed them all perfectly.'
'I know. But I also didn't really understand what I was doing. I was just doing it. I think I'd be better served if I attended at least a few more classes, just to fill out my knowledge of this type of magic. Maybe once I've done that, I'll go back to Eldert, or just talk to the Professor.'
Aithusa readjusted her position on his shoulder, stretching out to get more comfortable. 'I don't think you need to wait that long,' she said after settling again.
He was saved from answering by someone hailing him from back towards Prana House. He turned to find one of the people from the class running towards him, puffing for breath. He was a short man with a round, boyish face and deep ebony eyes. He could tell the man was several years younger than him as he pulled up short just an arms-length from him, fidgeting in excitement, his eyes flicking from him to Aithusa and back again.
He began to fidget uncomfortably as the seconds ticked by without the other man saying anything. "Is there something I can help you with?" he asked when he couldn't take the awkwardness any longer.
The younger man looked confused for a moment before flushing in embarrassment and dropping his eyes. Apparently he hadn't realised he was staring.
"Oh! Sorry, it's just," stuttered the younger man before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. When next he opened them, he held out his hand for him to shake, a hopeful look in his face. "Hi. My name's Aberthol."
He hesitantly reached forward and shook the man's hand, a faint smile gracing his face at the flustered man before him. "I'm Merlin," he said. "And this is Aithusa. It's nice to meet you."
Aberthol beamed at him, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "I saw you in class today," he said. "You've never had any training in Prana earth magic before, have you?"
"No," he said, shifting uncomfortably again, one hand going unconsciously to finger the fabric tied around his wrist. "I lived in Camelot for a number of years. I didn't have many opportunities to properly study magic. Is it really that obvious that I don't know what I'm doing?" he asked a little ruefully.
Aberthol looked horrified at the implication of his question. "No! Well, yes, but, no wait…it's just that you were really good in class and it didn't seem like you had any formal training…"
'Clearly someone didn't think this conversation through before he stopped us,' said Aithusa in his mind. He fought really hard not to burst out laughing.
"…I guess I just…wanted to know how you were able to bond so strongly with a dragon," continued Aberthol as he rambled to a halt looking a little sheepish.
He considered his response carefully before he gave it. "I don't think my bond with Aithusa is because of magic I wasn't even aware I was using," he said. "…I bonded with her because…I'm a dragon lord."
An awed look came over Aberthol's face. "Oh! That's amazing! I thought they were all gone. Well, I guess that explains that then,"
Suddenly feeling a deep ache in his chest, he wanted to be moving on. "Well, if that's all you wanted to know," he said, trailing off as he moved to leave.
Aberthol however, looked a little frantic as he jumped forward. "I'm sorry if I upset you," he said in a rush. "I meat…it's just…well, you're not from here,"
He cocked his head as the examined the younger man. Aithusa sat up on his shoulder to watch him too. Abethol turned beet red when she did.
"…What are you trying to say?" he asked, not unkindly.
"…I've never met anyone from outside Vartee before…" said Aberthol in a near-whisper.
He started at the pleading tone the younger man spoke in. "Well now you have," he said, flashing his signature impish grin.
