Arrival
Summary: Merlin arrives at Camelot, having been forced to leave his home for fear of his magic being discovered. As he arrives in Camelot he wonders what his home will be like and whether he will ever understand why his gifts were given to him.
As Merlin came through the courtyard the first thing which caught his eye was the size of the castle. It had a raw beauty which moved him in a way that surprised him. From the moment he had left his home village of Ealdor behind, this first view had been what he'd been waiting for. As he took in the stunning white towers, he was not disappointed.
The nearer he came the more impressive everything seemed to become. As he looked around the crowds were buzzing around him, like bees to nectar. The market was busy, with stalls that went on as far as the eye could see. A smell of roasted nuts greeted his nostrils make his stomach gurgle with hunger. He realised he hadn't eaten in hours and suddenly he longed to be sitting down and tucking into a hearty meal.
But first, he had to find Gaius and as he ambled on towards the castle gate, he wondered what he would be like? His mother Hunith had said, he was elderly and not for the first time, Merlin feared his reaction. What if Gaius didn't want to look after him, after all a man his age could find it a strain. Then there was the fact that even now, Merlin knew his magic, had a habit of flowing out of him unexpectedly. How would Gaius react to that? Would it frighten him? It wouldn't be the first time that Merlin had suffered such a situation.
He reluctantly thought back to the day that his friend Will, had discovered his secret. The two boys had always been very close, but Will knew how to get into Merlin's head with his constant teasing. Will had boasted about his superior speed, as they raced through the forest the sun on their backs. When Will listed what he saw as his endless better qualities, before Merlin knew it the words had slipped out of his mouth.
"I have something that you don't," Merlin mumbled, glaring his way.
Once said, Will would not stop going on at him until Merlin had revealed his secret. As Will continued to tease and pressure him Merlin decided to show him there and then. A log lay in front of them and checking no one was around Merlin mumbled a spell and to Will's amazement the log moved into the air before Merlin let it fall harmlessly in front of them. Merlin even now, could recall the look of horror on Will's face as he stared at him. Merlin had eventually calmed Will down and his friend had promised to keep his secret.
The incident though had serious repercussions. As he confessed the event too Hunith she had immediately made plans for Merlin's journey to Camelot. As he had said goodbye to Will only hours before, both realised that afternoon had changed each of their lives forever. With his mother terrified that someone else would discover Merlin's secret, she had written to Gaius asking the old man to take her son into his care.
So here he was in Camelot, miles from home and wondering what fate awaited him. He had often wondered why he had been born with magic, but his mother could never give him an explanation. At times, it had made him isolated inside his home village. He hoped that being here would help him to come to terms with his gifts. Maybe Gaius could help in that respect. But in truth, Merlin knew he was at the crossroads and who knew what lay ahead for him here?
Suddenly a voice cut across the wind and Merlin was drawn to it. As the voice grew louder, he followed it and saw a crowd of people gathered in the courtyard. What was going on he wondered. But as he entered through the gate his eyes caught the sight of the gallows. The crowd surrounded it and a young man was being held by some guards.
His eyes looked upwards and for the first time he caught sight of King Uther Pendragon, standing on the balcony addressing the crowd below. His words cut through Merlin's mind and left him feeling breathless and utterly perplexed.
"Let this serve as a lesson to all. This man, Thomas James Collins has been adjudged guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic. And pursuant to the laws of Camelot, I Uther Pendragon have decreed that such practices are banned of penalty of death. I pride myself as a fair and just King, but for the crime of sorcery, there is but one sentence I can pass,"
As Merlin took in the words, it was all he could not to turn back and walk home to Ealdor. He wanted to leave the awful scene, but his feet seemed stuck to the yard below. Only after the young man had gone to his death did his body move. As he forced himself away from the crowd he looked up, but the King had long since left. He noticed instead a dark-haired girl at a window who looked much as he felt, shattered. What sort of place had his mother sent him too? How was he going to be safe here? As Merlin contemplated the world he'd just arrived into, he wondered if it was all a bad dream? But it was too late to be going home, for better or for worse Merlin entered the castle.