Small size warlocks
Summary: "That's new." It was indeed new. Arthur expected a lot of things when Merlin went playing with magic and dealing with magical objects. He was not at all expecting Merlin to somehow turn himself into a child. A child who has fear of Camelot knights. (One-shot)
There was a loud bang coming from Merlin chambers and Arthur knew something had gone wrong.
He expected a lot of things whenever Merlin went playing with magic. Wondering if daises would pop up out of the ground just from Merlin mere step. Or, the time where Arthur turned into a frog. Merlin would say that wasn't his fault that time. Arthur said otherwise.
There was also that time where he made Camelot walls bright pink. The pink had stayed there for at least two years before it started to fade. Since, Merlin had no idea how he caused it or how to fix it and there wasn't anything in Merlin spell books that mentioned about. How to fix pink walls that was caused by magic, 101, book out there. Although, Merlin did try.
Which, is why when he heard the bang coming from Merlin chambers in the room beside him and when he saw the look on Gwaine face. Arthur knew just at that moment his Court Sorcerer had done something foolish, reckless and downright awful.
It did make him wonder.
Maybe, this was the real reason why Uther band magic. His mother death might've only been a small factor. Maybe, it was because magic really was more of a pest than anything else especially in the hands of Merlin.
Arthur never did understand why the druids pretty much saw Merlin as their King.
Maybe, the druids we're looking at the wrong warlock? It's possible.
"Gwaine, what happened?" Arthur asked the moment he got up and turned to Merlin room.
"Magic."
"Yes, I know."
"Magic, not too sure what happened. Merlin was trying out some new spells then he mentioned something was off. Next thing I know it goes bang right in front of him. Merlin magic must've known something was off because it pushed me right out of the room before it explored in his face."
Of course, of course it did. Only Merlin magic would do such a thing.
Uther had always taught Arthur that magic was evil. Merlin was not.
A fact Camelot learnt soon after because even Merlin own magic would do everything in its power to keep someone safe.
Arthur opened the doors only to frown.
Merlin room was normally a mess most days.
Floor covered in books and that if they weren't floating in air, but the explosion only made it more messy than normal. It was a good thing Gaius was down at the lower town otherwise the old man would've lectured Merlin about keeping his room clean.
"Hello," Arthur called out. "Merlin. Merlin where are you?"
Please, don't make him ant size again.
Like last time when something magical had happened Merlin somehow ended up no big as an ant. Arthur, Gwen and the knights had worried far too much that week if Merlin was nowhere near them fearing he would be stepped on and killed.
"Maybe, it made him go poof," Gwaine said.
"I highly doubt Gwaine that it made him go poof."
Gwaine raised an eyebrow.
"It possible, but no. Merlin. Merlin where are you?"
Nothing.
The knight and the King started to look and Gwen soon came in along with her brother both looking rather worried.
"We heard a bang. What is it? Is, oh dear."
"What happened here?" Elyan asked looking around.
"Merlin," Gwaine said checking under the bed. "Ah, Princess I found him. And, you might not like it."
As long as he's alive, Arthur thinks rushing towards the bed followed by the Queen and a knight. The adults in the room look under and their eyes widen at the sight.
"Merlin?" Gwen asked.
There was a child.
A child that looked far too much like his Court Sorcerer in clothes far too big for him, but that was Merlin.
Merlin didn't have a child.
Sure, the man had Freya a woman that lived in a lake, but one can't really have kids if your girlfriend is living in a lake. Which means the only logical answer that came to Arthur mind no matter how ridiculous it made sound.
That was Merlin.
His Merlin.
His Merlin turned himself into a child and oh for the love of Camelot.
"Merlin?"
"Who are you?" child Merlin asked no bigger than six.
Hunith had once told Arthur that Merlin was always small for his age. So, for all the King knew is that maybe the child before him was ten and not six, but he wasn't too worried about ages right now. He was more worried about the fact that was his Merlin in the body of a child.
"That's new," Gwaine said.
Yes, it was.
It was very new.
He's never done this to himself before.
Arthur expected a lot of things because when it comes to Merlin magic anything could happened. He just wasn't expecting this.
"Merlin, do you know where you are?" Gwen asked.
It was a good thing that she asked because right now Arthur was at a loss for words and his mind was still rambling about the fact that Merlin was a child.
Camelot protector a child!
Then he remembered how much trouble the man would find or get himself into and then suddenly Arthur understood how Hunith had been when raising him the first time.
Because that's Merlin.
His Merlin is a child.
Arthur mind was working overtime.
"No, where's mama?"
Dead. Arthur mind thinks.
Hunith had died seven months ago a death that still had an impact on Merlin because that was Merlin's mother. Merlin had gone off on his own and Arthur wondered where he had gone to until he got a letter saying Hunith had passed in her sleep.
It rained for days after that. Merlin would only cry and rarely ever ate it was like walking on egg shells because nobody was too sure what to do. Since, nobody had seen Merlin this broken, but Merlin recovered. Merlin always recovered and slowly, but surely his best friend came back sometimes he would bring her up every now and again. Telling stories whenever the room would go still. People would listen because that's Merlin and they would let him tell them stories after stories.
There wasn't anyone in Camelot now that didn't know Merlin's mother name.
The child though.
The child who clearly did not at all know what had happened wouldn't understand the fact that his mother had died. Then it dawned on him and it dawned on the child.
"Your Camelot knights."
"We are," Elyan said.
"You're not here to burn me, are you?"
Shock.
Followed by anger.
Arthur could feel it in the room started to boil. He knew Gwaine was close to yelling not yelling at Merlin. No, doubt to yell at Uther.
"Gwen, can you stay here for a bit?"
Gwen nodded her head. Sitting on the floor as she started to talk to Merlin about how he wasn't going to be burnt. While Arthur dragged his knights out thankful that he wasn't wearing his own uniform.
"He afraid of me," Gwaine said. "He thinks I'm going to burn him."
"Gwaine. Merlin doesn't know who you are at the moment. He doesn't remember any of us at least that's what it sounds like."
He didn't remember Arthur.
"Merlin grew up during the time my father was King. His kind we're being killed left to right. I want you two to find the other knights of the round table and Gaius. Tell them what happened, but also tell them if they want to see Merlin not to wear their knight's uniform. At least not for now."
"How do we tell him about Hunith?" Elyan asked. "Adult Merlin didn't take it well. I highly doubt child Merlin would take it well."
"We won't at least not yet."
"We're not hiding this from him, are we?" Gwaine asked. "He would know something up the moment he sees druids. Magic is allowed now and I'm not having him raised in fear again because of it."
Arthur frowned. Gwaine did make a point.
"We will see how this plays out, but for now just tell the knights."
Elyan nodded along with Gwaine and the two walked of while Arthur poked his head through the door.
"Your safe Merlin," Gwen said. "You really are."
"Camelot doesn't like me though. They'll burn me thinking I'm a monster."
"Oh, dear no they won't. Come on, why don't you come and see it? Camelot would love you."
Just like Camelot loved older Merlin Camelot would love child Merlin to.
"To burn me?"
"You won't be burnt dear even the King won't allow it," Gwen said.
Merlin was still hiding under the bed. Still had fear in his eyes and Arthur just didn't know what to do.
He recalled the day Merlin used magic to save them. Recalled the day he saw his friend eyes flash gold. He recalled the day where Merlin started to cry. He recalled that fear.
It took so long for them to adjust.
It took Merlin so long for him to trust. Gwen had begged the man for days to use his magic to let them see it, but Merlin never did. The whole of Camelot knew Merlin had magic, but nobody had ever seen him used it. Not once.
He feared them.
Just like Merlin feared him now.
"I want my mama," child Merlin said. "Where my mama? You won't hurt her to. Would you?"
Gwen turned to Arthur her eyes asking what to do. What to do with Merlin who thought they would hurt him.
Arthur bent down to meet the child eyes under the bed.
"Merlin your safe here. Really you are," Arthur said.
"Are you the King?" Merlin asked.
Did he know?
"I am. I'm not going to burn you."
"I know that now. That's what the voice said."
"Voice?"
"There's a voice," Merlin tapped on his head. "I know that not good, but it sounds like me only older. He's telling me about you. Telling me that your King and you won't burn me."
Merlin.
Arthur mind goes to Merlin. His Merlin. His friend was still there just trapped in a body of a child.
"What else does this voice say?" Arthur asked.
"You're a prat."
Gwen flashed a smile because they both knew. Both knew Merlin was still there.
"You can trust that voice."
The child titled his head.
"I can?"
"He's a friend of mine."
"Your friends with a voice? That a bit odd."
He snorted. Merlin was odd in general.
"I supposed, but finding a child in my friend room is also odd. Why don't you come out from under the bed?"
"Promise you won't burn me?" the child asked.
Arthur hated that fear.
As a child he used to look up to his father, but whatever awe he had for Uther was long since gone because Merlin feared him.
It was still there just faint, but it was there. Just now that Merlin is a child the fear is visible.
"I promise Merlin."
He promised to the moon and back that Merlin wouldn't be burnt.
"Why don't you come out of the bed? Hmm."
Merlin does so. It's cautioned but he's there in clothes far too big for him and no longer hiding under the bed.
"I'll go see if there are clothes that fit him." Gwen said. "Don't worry little one I'll be back before you know it."
Merlin watched as the Queen goes off before child Merlin frowned at the room.
"Is this your room? It far too messy."
Arthur smiled because those we're his words to. Merlin chambers we're always far too messy.
Gwen came back with George who had child clothes in his hand and Merlin went off to dress. Frowning at them.
They we're after all the best of the best money could buy.
"There not like my old clothes."
Merlin was raised in a poor small village where his clothes we're always handmade and that very sentence brought Arthur back to the past. Where Merlin was forced to where his new clothes that we're fit for a Camelot Court Sorcerer and Merlin protested saying his old clothes we're better. As if Arthur and Gwen would allow him to just wear his old clothes.
"And, there red to," Merlin said.
"You normally wear red," George eyes widen the moment he said that.
"George," the King warned.
"It alright," child Merlin said. "The voice is explaining everything to me. Is magic really allowed now?"
"The voice?" Gwen asked. "Your other you. What else is he telling you?"
"He told me about mama."
There are tears in Merlin eyes and whatever anger Arthur had was washed away when his wife took Merlin in for a hug and let child Merlin cry. He was just thankful that his best friend was still there. Trapped in a child body, but still there because at least Arthur didn't have to explain about what happened to Hunith.
Merlin spent the rest of the day hugged in Gwen eyes crying like he had once did when he first found out about Hunith death. When, both the King and the Queen along with the knights set out to Ealdor to find Merlin crying alone in the hut that was once his home.
It would be during this moment when both Leon and Percival entered the room.
"At least you're not wearing the uniform," Arthur noted.
Just typical clothes one would wear outside of knightly duties.
"Gwaine told us not to," Leon said. "Is it true Sire?"
Leon heard the child cries and noticed right away that it was. Gwen was humming a soft tune combing through Merlin hair with her hand.
"It true. Who else knows?"
"Almost everyone in Camelot," Percival said. "The moment the word Merlin was mentioned talk happened fairly fast after that. Everybody heard that bang. I was down in the lower town when it happened. By the time I got half way up here Gwaine told me the news."
Arthur nodded his head expecting just as much.
"Go see him them. Be gentle though he still…"
Arthur did not like the word fear.
"Fears us?" Leon asked. Arthur nodded his head.
Merlin had later on fell asleep in Gwen arms with dry tears on his cheeks.
By the time the child woke up he was in a big bed far too big for him with Arthur beside him.
"Is this your bed?" Merlin asked.
"No, it yours."
"Oh. I never had a bed before not one this big."
"You are kin Merlin. It would be a crime for you to sleep on the floor?"
"Kin?"
Arthur nodded and the child Merlin noticed Percival.
"Your very tall," the child asked.
Percival ruffed up his hair.
"Hello, Merlin."
"Are you really a friend? The voice said you are."
Percival nodded his head.
"I am."
"I never had a friend before as tall as you."
Leon cleared his throat.
"I'm a friend to."
"Really?"
The knight nodded.
"I supposed you won't burn me then?"
There was pain in Arthur knights at the thought. Arthur did not blame them.
"We won't Merlin," Leon promised.
Getting Merlin to come outside was a challenge in its own because Camelot had not been the place for magic users when Merlin was young and the child knew he was in Camelot.
Merlin clung onto Gaius the moment he was outside and the moment he saw knights.
"It alright my boy. They won't harm you."
As if any knight would harm Merlin.
This was Merlin after all.
Merlin though still feared them. Feared anything that was red because red meant Camelot and Camelot was bad, but slowly Merlin adjusted just like adult Merlin had done soon after Camelot knew about his magic.
The first time Gwen catches child Merlin uses his magic he had stopped water from hitting the floor. His body moved without a second thought his eyes flashed gold and the water was suddenly returned like nothing had happened.
Gwen was used to this.
Merlin had always done this.
Either saving lives or stopping things from breaking without a second thought.
Child Merlin though was not.
He started to cry.
"Oh, it alright dear. Your safe, you are safe nobody going to hurt you."
If they did, they would have to get through the Queen first.
Child Merlin once more cried and begged.
Gwen once more hugged him and comforted him the best she could. Telling him that everything would be okay. Telling him he wasn't bad, or evil, or a monster and never ever call yourself a monster again Merlin.
The knights of Camelot stared at the small child that followed the King. They pictured a man.
They pictured a man that always stood beside the King. They pictured Merlin, but this was a different Merlin. Still the same just smaller than ever before.
The boy had yet spoken a word. Adult Merlin would've talked their ear of, but child Merlin still feared them they could see it.
It was written in his eyes as he watched the red capes flow behind them, they could see the fear.
That's when it happened. Gwaine tripping over his own feet only to be caught by Merlin magic and the fear in the child eyes still there as he hid behind the King leg for protection.
That was their Merlin.
Just smaller, but still there because only their Merlin would use his magic to stop people from falling over their own feet.
"It's alright Merlin," the King said. "They don't hate you."
They also do not fear him so please for the love of Camelot don't fear them.
Child Merlin though refused to remove himself from hiding behind the King leg and staring them with fear.
"I want to go back inside."
There was hurt in the King eyes, but the King picked up the boy and took him back inside the castle. Gwaine was seen sulking for the next three hours after that.
Merlin liked flowers. Elyan thought.
The child like the woods. Either because it was far away from the buzzing city that was the Kingdom, or because the child felt safe Elyan did not know.
He knew child Merlin liked flowers picking them of the ground and asking Elyan what they we're.
He wasn't very good at flowers. Adult Merlin knew more when it came to flowers. He knew about herbs, and flowers, and what sorts would cure what poison. He was there defended after all, their healer, their protector and anything that helped them in the long run Merlin knew about it. If he didn't, he would find out.
"You know what my friend does whenever there's a celebration?"
"What?" the child asked.
"He uses his magic and does all sorts of tricks with it."
"Really?"
"Really, he uses the flame from the fire to turn it into a dragon. A friendly one at that which dances around everyone that there's before he goes away in sparks."
"Oh. In Camelot?"
"In Camelot," Elyan nodded. "He sometimes stops storms to. Mind you though he doesn't do it all the time. Always goes on about letting nature do her thing, but he stops storms sometimes if he needs to."
"He sounds powerful."
Elyan smiled.
"He is. He's very powerful."
A bunny hopped towards them. Sniffing the air and turning to Merlin who giggled when he caught the animal.
"He's also very good with animals to."
The child blinked and laughed as the bunny played with his hair and Elyan found himself staring because for the loved of Camelot like behind the child was a unicorn.
Didn't Gwen mention a unicorn once?
Arthur could only blink as Gwen giggled behind him.
"Can I keep her," child Merlin said pointing to the unicorn.
He turned to Elyan who had a bunny on his head.
"I supposed. George, teach Merlin how to look after horses."
Adult Merlin would know, but child Merlin didn't and if child Merlin was going to keep a unicorn than the King demanded the child would look after the animal properly. Unicorns we're like horses, weren't they?
"Elyan you know there's a bunny on your head?" Leon questioned.
Elyan just frowned. There was indeed a bunny on his head.
"Are you a knight?" child Merlin asked Gwaine.
Gwaine didn't know how to answer he did not want to see that fear.
"It alright if you are," child Merlin said. "The nice King said that his knights won't hurt me."
Gwaine never thought he will hear the day where Merlin called Arthur nice. It was normally prat.
The unicorn behind the child looked to Gwaine apple.
Gwaine liked his apples.
"I am, but I won't hurt you, Merlin."
"I know. You're a friend to. Right? The voice in my head says that you are."
Gwaine smile knowing his Merlin was still there.
"Yeah, I am."
There was silence.
"Are you going to give her the apple?" child Merlin asked.
The unicorn just took it without his permission. This is why Gwaine like the dragons more because they didn't take his apples.
"Leon."
Child Merlin isn't so fearful of everything that moved now.
He more opened. Talk a lot more too and that fine by Leon because that means there doing something right.
"Yes, Merlin."
"How come things don't float around you like they do with me?"
He blinked at the question.
Adult Merlin had asked that once as will when magic returned and magic was allowed. Merlin slowly used it to a lot more. Only to end up with books, or with swords floating in the air as he walked and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't get it to stop.
"You we're born with magic Merlin. It wants to be let out."
"Oh, but I'm still not bad?"
"No, Merlin you're not bad at all."
He noticed his cape flying behind him. Not because of wind, but because of magic and Leon knows that feeling.
The warmth, the comfort, the wonder, the love, the protection that Merlin magic brings. Merlin was not bad. He was just different, but different in a good way.
Percival heard the laughter before he saw the boy.
He turned his head.
Nothing.
Laughter was heard to his left.
He turned again.
Nothing.
"Merlin?" the knight asked.
All he heard was Merlin laughter in the air.
He saw something moved.
He turned again.
Once, more nothing.
"Merlin?"
"Boo."
He smiled as Merlin stood before him arms opened and the big knight took him in for a hug and place him over his shoulders.
"We're you just playing hide and seek with me using your magic?"
The child just laughed in respond. Percival took that as a yes.
"A reset Sire," Gaius said.
"Pardon?"
"I think this is Merlin magic restarting?"
"What do you mean Gaius?" Gwen asked.
"Merlin lived in a time where he had only known fear. Even though his magic moved without his control there would still be some form of block. I think Merlin own magic is behind this. To try and restart it to unblock this fear."
"Are your suggestion Gaius that Merlin would be stronger after this?" the Great King asked.
"Indeed."
"Merlin was already strong though," Gwen said.
"Yes, but that block might've been enough to hold him back and in doing so hold back a small percent of his power. Magic is now returning to the land and in doing so resetting Merlin power. No longer, is Merlin raised in fear to hold back or to try and control. He's raised with being opened and welcomed. Magic is returning Arthur and Merlin would only get stronger."
"What of Merlin?"
What of his friend? Was left unsaid.
"Merlin will return Sire at least I'm sure of it. He will still be the Merlin we know. Only now a lot more things will float around him."
Watch out for your head, Arthur thinks because Merlin always caused things to float only now, he might cause more things to float.
There's laughter coming from the halls and the three poked their heads out of the chambers to see child Merlin laughing and twirling around with Gwaine keeping up with him. Ducking every now and again because books and strange other objects floated around the pair.
Was that Gwaine cape floating behind him?
George didn't like Merlin before. Not really, the man did have the most honorable position in the castle and seem to have openly disliked it. That was George view of the man before he got the job and found himself spending a lot more time with adult Merlin to know.
No. Merlin was nothing like that. Only now he's spending time with child Merlin.
"Lord Merlin could you at least pass me my cloth?"
The child looked up at him with a tilted head not at all noticing George cloth flying over him.
"Why do you call me Lord? I'm not a Lord."
Some things don't change.
"I'm sure that voice has told you that you are a Court Sorcerer. You are also seen as a brother to the King. To call you anything else would be an insult," George lectured.
George lectured adult Merlin to.
"But I don't want to be called Lord. Can't you just call me Merlin?"
The lecture didn't work on adult Merlin either.
"As long as you pass me back my cloth."
The child frowned looking up at the objects floating around him.
"What one your cloth?"
That one right there.
George frowned when another cloth appeared.
Or, was it that one?
"That's a very good question Lord Merlin."
"Merlin," the child corrected.
"Merlin," George said. All those years off training to be a good servant just screamed at him.
Queen Annis finds herself welcome in Camelot once more.
She also finds a unicorn.
"Your very pretty."
She also finds a child.
She took a few stepped back as books floated in the air.
"Why thank you lad? Where is your King?"
King Arthur stepped out with his Queen beside him and Queen Annis wonder where their warlock was who was normally beside the royal pair.
"Merlin," Gwen said gesturing the boy to come to her. "Come on Merlin. We can go play in the garden while the pair talk."
"Okay."
She watched as books, swords, plates, and cloths fly around Merlin as Gwen took the boy aside.
"Did your warlock get into trouble again King Arthur?"
"In a sense, yes."
She smiled at the thought.
Merlin wakes up one morning with a blanket over his shoulder walking down the steps in Gaius chambers that he hadn't walked down for a long time.
"Why do I have a blanket over me?" he asked. "Am I in shock?"
He was not expecting to find the knights of the round table, Arthur, Gwen and Gaius sitting in the chambers with moving objects around them.
"What happened?"
"Nice to see you're an adult again Merlin," Arthur said.
"Glad to have you back mate," Gwaine said ducking his head as plates moved around him.
"Did I go somewhere?" Merlin asked not at all remembering what had been going on for the past three weeks.
Also why was a unicorn trying to come into Gaius chambers?