Reluctantly Merlin lifts his legs from their place where they had lay for hours in sleep. Stiff he still forced his body to wake as his mind stirred and he remembered where he was to be. With the prat.
Merlin was walking to Arther's chambers early in the morning, he was a bit late but only due to Gaius needing help after a spill. He had to spend what felt like hours scrubbing to get that nasty smell from the floor. Gaius was saying it could have been worse, Hemlock the poison plant may have ended up flying in his stew. Honestly that might've been better as he would be worrying about staying alive in blissful unconsciousness.
It also wasn't his fault that he stayed up late the other few nights saving the prat's life. Not exactly saving the prats life but preparing to do so if the need should arise like studying the very thing that makes branches suddenly fall or that kills creatures that can only be killed by magic.
By staying up late it had just happened to cause him to be late in bringing breakfast yesterday as well. No harm except well... to Arthur it seemed like the end of the world the previous day causing a tantrum of how he had just missed him waking all on his lonesome. He acts like a boy missing his toy, when he wakes to no food. Much like a tantrum of a boy Arthur he must always insist on, no orders on simple things like breakfast being late warrants for a nice day mucking the stables.
Slowly he pushes the door open anticipating a mad king in his jammies. However much to his surprise Arther wasn't in his room. Strange the sun had come up only moments ago he set Arthur's breakfast down at the table nearby. Suddenly he panics. Arthur's missing! The sudden feeling of dread made its way into him and he instantly sprang into motion, the room had barely been touched. So assuming he wasn't attacked he was elsewhere. Where and why on such short notice. He barely gets up for me what could make him stir. Frantically Merlin jogs down to meet Gwen in a lovely red gown with white embroidered roses on the sides and hips.
Gwen was heading to the throne room just about to enter when he approached and slowly weakened his jog into a walk as he didn't want to run over the Queen of Camelot.
"Gwen have you seen Arther he was not in his room." Merlin pauses to take a sharp breathe, "I fear something may have happened."
"Merlin don't worry Arthur called a meeting with the council, now enough about Arthur you look pale as a sheet are you alright?" As soon as she spoke of Arthur's location the relief was noticeable as Merlin's shoulders were less tense and color began to return to his face. She noticed suddenly a frown was etching onto Merlin's face.
"Good, Good." Merlin replies slowly, still slightly panting .
"Merlin I've bet you ran across half the castle. Take a minute."
"I'm fine but you know it's a shame how he forgot to bring his servant for the meeting. I wasn't that late this time, honest Gwenivere! Just as the sun came I was in his chambers ready."
Gwen only smiles at his remark, "I was with Arthur when a message arrived it was very urgent." She hesitates for a moment, her discomfort showing, "He called a council to discuss it, I suggest you go to him. I have duties to perform, sorry but I must take my leave."
"Thank you Gwen," he bows curtly.
Gwen had already told Merlin of her feelings towards formalities and it had become a joke between her and Merlin to joke around about it. She then shakes her head in disapproval, smiling, as she walks away.
(^O^)
After his encounter with Gwen he knew where to go down another hall to the left then fall down another flight of stairs. He marches down to the council room as he reaches the final turn. Outside the door he hears muffled words, until he pushes the door open and hears Gwaine's comment.
"He's finally gone mad I bet!" Gwaine spoke loudly a tone of laughter in his voice.
The knights were all present, some still in their night clothing specifically Gwaine. None were in their armor, but as they glanced towards the door that just opened I could see their faces pale. The feeling in the room was stiff and uncomfortable. Gwaine must have tried to lift the mood by making that comment but it failed to do as intended. (In fact the night gown on Gwaine in his opinion was much funnier by far.)
"Merlin, where have you been?" Arther asked with sarcasm, "I practically had to do everything myself this morning like grab all the knights and order the council."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there Sire to wake you, and clothe you, but something came up…" Merlin stated eyes dodging Arthurs gaze. Why must this happen today when he was slightly late just a little not as much as yesterday at least.
"Yes we'll something has indeed come up and I believe my news has to be more surprising than yours" Arthur solemnly said.
"You all look as if you've lost a tournament. What is it, is there a beast, perhaps bandits you all are making me wait in apprehension please speak it's unervering." In reality this was true he was very worried after all whatever spooks a king and his men had to take seriously.
It took a moment before finally Leon broke the silence "King Cenred has threatened war against Camelot if we do not meet his demands."
"Yes" Arther spat "He claims we harbor a sorcerer and he says we must meet in three weeks' time with him present. Cendred's message also said if we do not meet if I deny or delay his request he will declare war on us immediately." Arther's anger showed in his eyes and one of his fists were clenched on the table.
"He wants to meet a sorcerer, he has to know that sorcerers are weary of Camelot? You may have slightly changed the laws but that does not comfort a sorcerer who has lived in fear of Camelot finding them. Doesn't he know our past laws? Why would he say we harbor a sorcerer that it makes no sense!" Merlin held confusion in his voice as he spoke.
"We can only guess his intentions ," Percival mentions.
It was confusing, why would Cendred imply that he wanted a sorcerer with Arther and to demand to meet? Arther must be feeling horrible I mean impending war all the risk of something you don't understand. No wonder the knights faces portray defeat.
A war with a kingdom as big as Cendreds? The outcome was not easily determined.
Lancelot spoke up and eyed Merlin, "They want a specific sorcerer named Emrys; they say he resides here in Camelot under our protection. None of us know of a person by that name, so Cendred must be mistaken."
"That's why he's gone crazy. I say, we must reason with him, perhaps he sent this threat to the wrong person or possibly he just wants war. This is such a strange demand especially to Camelot." Gwaine put in.
"Gwaine threats should not be given nor taken lightly; he's not mad!" Leon mentioned quickly.
"He gave us three weeks too. If Cendred wanted war he could have simply surprised us with an attack not alert us of one or an upcoming war. Which means he must want something most likely it's something to do with the sorcerer Emrys." Lancelot slowly stated.
"Your right if he was a deranged madman and craved war he would not alert us in advance I'm sure he is serious about this threat, not to mention I have met him years ago when my father was on the throne." Arthur spoke with a grave look on his face.
"Ok so he's not mad, but associating Camelot with a sorcerer that's odd in many ways and to go to the king the very person who had an unpleasant past with sorcery is even stranger." Gwaine finally gives up on his madness.
"Going back to Lancelot's idea, King Cendred thinks we know this Emrys, if we claim to not know him or refuse to bring him we might as well be starting this war." Arthur stated with authority.
Arthur began hiding his doubt he was a king and if there was any hope to be found, it would be in him as a king it was another one of his jobs to keep the hope alive. He was to be an example and would be one as he leads them through this dire circumstance.
"King Cendred has demanded no delay or refusal so we will not refuse him a meeting if he wants to talk so be it. We will however ask when we accept his demands he bring only a few men, his trusted knights and advisors only." Arthur states profoundly.
"The only problem is we need to find Emrys." Leon mutters.
"What if he doesn't even exist!" Gwaine shouts.
"Enough we will find him, even if we must simply make Emrys, I think Merlin can play the part if worse comes to worse, he can simply throw powder in the air feinting magic." Arthur chuckles to himself, and Merlin stiffens, but luckily nobody's eyes were on him.
"Hi do we go about finding him though?" Lancelot ponders.
"Perhaps... Emrys is not in the heart of Camelot but in the lower area, that could still be considered harboring him." Percival shrugges while he speaks his wisdom.
Arthur looked at Percival with joy at that moment and annouced his agreement and command.
"Brilliant idea Percival, we must find Emrys immediately; we will search the outskirts of our territory then go inwards to the heart of Camelot until he is found. I want him to be a guest in Camelot if he has committed any crimes, he must confess and may have to be punished at Cendreds hand if he fled from there before. As you know the laws have changed, we no longer persecute anybody for crimes of Magic unless dome with ill intent so unless he has any of that do not kill him. I will send you all out with some other knights as soon as you are geared up, this council is over." Arther stood and quickly exited the room followed by the knights.
As the knights quickly dispersed, including Gwaine who was yelping for somebody to help him get some clothes, only Merlin and Lancelot remained in the chamber.
"Merlin why do I feel like you are involved in this?" Lancelot moans.
Merlin hid his shock. How did he know about my involvement? Maybe I was a bit stunned at the news but I didn't show it. Lancelot just has an extra sense or perhaps this was just him trying to confirm a guess.
"I didn't do anything Lancelot! I have no idea what this is about honestly." Merlin says quickly sputtering.
"Alright then I believe you Merlin," he puts a hand on Merlin's shoulder, "but you seem to know something, I trust you know what you are doing and I want you to know that I am here if you need me, even if I'm out asking for the sorcerer Emrys I'm just a ride away." Lancealot ended his rant with a smile.
"Thank you, Lancelot," He watched as Lancelot strode away through the door. That was exactly when he let out a breath and slid against the wall to the floor. He was absorbing the situation. He was grateful at the gesture but was hurt inside. They were going on a fool's errand to a dead end. Emrys was here right under their noses, hidden not wanting to be found. Why would Cendred want to see Emrys and Arthur? What is it he has planned? After thinking to himself for what felt like hours he finally had the heart to lift himself off the floor and consult Gaius.
( ˊ̱˂˃ˋ̱ )
Merlin was strolling across the hall down to Gaius chambers. After the whole exhausting ordeal in the council despite it being the morning the adrenaline rush had ended and he was finally returned to sleepy Merlin. Traveling through the maze of a castle he stopped when he was just outside of Gaius' quarters. He heard a voice through the door, especially Arthur's voice. He thinks to himself It may be rude to listen in, but as Gaius' apprentice he had the same job as him so it wouldn't be too bad. So he gently put his ear to the door.
"This in confidence, we have reason to believe a sorcerer is in Camelot." Arthur announces.
"Arthur I'll have you know we have seen many sorcerers why would the one you are referring to be any different." Gaius calmly mentions.
"I have received a message from Cendred and I must know if you have ever heard of the sorcerer Emrys it is of great importance we find him. If he has done nothing wrong he has nothing to fear here in Camelot. Now do you know him?"
There was silence as if Gaius was pondering for an answer to give or for a skillful lie. "I do not know any sorcerer by that name, May I ask what Cendred wants with this sorcerer." It did not go unnoticed by Merlin that he referred to him as sorcerer, not Emrys. After all, lying was hard, but lying to a king is even harder. Merlin does this everyday though it brings him no joy in doing so.
"Talk to him I believe other than that I don't know, but Emrys knows I'm sure thank you Gaius," Arther adds.
Merlin pushes the door open at that point with their nearing end of a conversation, not wanting to be found with his ear against the door. Both of the room's occupants turn to look at him and Arther has an evil grin on him.
Arther similes while saying, "Merlin it's been ages." He walks towards the door,"I forgot to mention at the meeting that since you had SO much time off irecently in the morning I thought you would use it to muck out the stables and polish my sword."
"Yes sire, but you seem to be forgetting a lot of things lately like that I'm meant to wake you up or that-"
"Merlin!"
"Right, Shutting up."
At that note Arthur closes the door shut leaving Gaius and Merlin alone. They wait a second and it was Gaius who broke the silence.
"What did you do?" Gaius questions slowly pronouncing each word with one eyebrow lifted above the other.
"Nothing!" Why does everybody think I've done something!" Merlin says a little to fast.
"Have you ever met the king, King Cendred! And do not think of lying to me boy." Gaius had a hint of worry in his voice, one similar to a father when he cares too much and is nosy much like his mother who slithered into every situation. Hunith was a wonderful mother full of love but she was too protective. One time when he was ten years old he was just out with will and they didn't do anything other than dry off with magic water after a swim.
Yet she noticed magic was used as their hair was dry showing no sign of their previous endeavors. He wasn't allowed outside other than work after that for a week. She knew him too well. The eyes of a parent see all.
"I have never met Cendred nor do I want to," the words came sharper than they were meant to be. Merlin then begins to grab a bag and puts a single apple in it.
"Merlin I do not know why he seeks you, but be very careful King Cendred is not known for his kingliness. I do not trust him please and do try not do anything dangerous." Gaius sighs after his speech and his forehead lines showing his concern.
"When have I ever done anything dangerous?" Merlin replies while making his
leave.
Merlin reluctantly jots down to the stable to see many of the horses missing, they were searching in the lower area of Camelot for the sorcerer. Meaning his work was nice and visible. Luckily he didn't have to move the horses in order to perform his grueling task. Putting down his bag to pick up herbs in the evening because it would be cooler he picks up a shovel and heads towards the smelly enemy.
ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ
Slowly hours turn to days
Days pass and rumors were spreading about a sorcerer that was invited by the king of Camelot. The entire market was buzzing with news. With all the words and stories being thrown in Taverns and homes you think he would come forward. Despite the efforts of knights and the curious people Emrys remained a mystery. Nothing has ever shown. That was until...
5 days later Merlin watched the the knights in groups return on horseback one by one empty handed, they stated their journey through all known villages and reported on nobody revealing themselves as Emrys. As soon as Arthur heard the bad news repeatedly he began to pace as the sunset began and decided to retire for the evening. We heard responses all day all of which were negative but went like this...
"No news sire."
"No sorcerers in sight."
"I scared a young boy when I asked him for a sorcerer, oh Emrys? Nope nothing."
"Nothing to report."
"My failure is unforgivable, I will forever try to make it up to you my king."
"Nobody even heard the name before."
"Boring few days, any luck here?"
"No sorcerers were in sight."
"Not a hint of magic was spotted"
"Negative sire."
After the day of no, no, and more no's Arthur decides to retire for the evening.
please tell me if the speed of the story is too fast. I'm trying to write to get to the plot, but I want this fairly long so there may be another problem sneaking it's way into the story.
Thank you all for reading! If you like the story let me know it may make me write faster who knows
And again thank you!