PART THREE : BLISSFULLY UNAWARE
Merlin couldn't sleep that night. He lies awake in his bed, his body aching from the bruises and his mind restless. He honestly didn't see the point of him having powers if he could do absolutely nothing with them. His whole life he had no purpose and when his mother sent him to Gaius, he had begun to hope that maybe, just maybe, he would find something meaningful to do. The silence of his chambers was broken by deep, gravelly voice.
"Merlin... Merlin..." By now, the young warlock recognises, it's the same one that has been calling to him since his first night in Camelot. Curiosity and a need for answers getting the better of him, Merlin gets out of bed and sneaks out of the Gaius' Chambers. Merlin crosses the Square quietly and makes his way to where the voice was originating from.
"Merlin..." It called again. He descends the Wrought Iron Stairway and distracts a pair of guards by rolling their dice away from them. He grabs a torch, lights it, and heads down the Tunnel Stairway as the voice became closer and clearer, a kind of nervous energy fills Merlin.
"Merlin... Merlin..." The voice called and honestly, does the voice only know his name. Would some directions have killed him? Merlin enters the Dragon's Cave, grip on his torch tightening. A laugh sounded in the cave. "Merlin."
Said boy looks around for the owner of the voice, but finds nothing. Most of the cave is enveloped in darkness, making it impossible for Merlin to see anything.
"Where are you?" Merlin called out with more bravery than he was feeling. The Great Dragon flies to land in front of Merlin, looking at him from where he sat on a large rock.
"I'm here!" The dragon called out. "How small you are for such a great destiny." Kilgharrah noted, looking Merlin up and down. He had seen how stubborn both the blonde and brunette boy is. One day, they will fulfill the prophecy and become the Greatest King to ever rule Camelot with his consort Court Sorcerer by his side, but until then, it would be one hell of an ride and an endless source of amusement for the Great Dragon.
"Why? What do you mean? What destiny?" Merlin asked and Kilgharrah knew if he told the young warlock about him and the Prince right now, then he would try and change their destiny - no that it is possible - and that just wouldn't do.
Besides, where's the fun in spoiling the story when it's just begining?
Instead, he chose another answer, one that was just as true as the prophecy of the Prince and the Warlock. "Your gift, Merlin, was given to you for a reason."
"So there is a reason." Nothing in the world had felt better than the relief that swept over Merlin when the dragon uttered those words.
"Arthur is the Once and Future King who will unite the land of Albion." The dragon told him truthfully and part of the prophecy.
"Right." Merlin had a lot of trouble believing that, because that ass of a Prince didn't look like he knew how to do anything except how to look down his nose on people with a lower status than him. The young warlock briefly wondered if Arthur ever suffered from vertigo.
"But he faces many threats from friend and foe alike." Kilgharrah continued and the Warlock made a face.
"I don't see what this has to do with me." Merlin grip the torch that he was holding in the air.
"Everything. Without you, Arthur will never succeed. Without you, there will be no Albion." The dragon told him, not willing to put the obvious meaning of his words in simpler terms. It is up to the young warlock to figure it out now - and the blonde Prince.
"No. No, you've got this wrong." Merlin objected furiously, because there is no way that he will have to put up with that insufferable prat for the rest of his life.
"There is no right or wrong, only what is and what isn't." In hindsight, Kilgharrah thought that he could have been a little more sympathetic. He knows the two hasn't gotten of on the best of ways.
"But I'm serious! If anyone wants to go and kill him, they can go ahead. In fact, I'll give them a hand." The human told the dragon, but if the tight feeling around his heart was anything to go by, he would never let anything happen to the Prince.
Merlin didn't understand why he would protect the Prince when he's been nothing but an ass to the young warlock. He wanted stomp his foot in frustration.
Kilgharrah laughs, almost as if he could hear Merlin's thoughts. "None of us can choose our destiny, Merlin, and none of us can escape it."
The warlock still couldn't believe it. Not the arrogant blonde. "No. No way. No. No. There must be another Arthur because this one's an idiot."
"Perhaps it's your destiny to change that." Kilgharrah told him before he flies off, upwards and out of Merlin's line of sight. Truth is, Merlin is the one who would change Arthur for the better, who would turn him into the great King Albion will one day need him to be.
"Wait! Wait! Wait, stop! No, I- I need to know more!" Merlin shouted desperately but it was of no use, the Dragon was not coming back down to speak with him. Frustration bubbled in him and a loud groan left his mouth, echoing in the cave. With a resounding sigh, he left the cave and made his way to his chambers, he needed some sleep.
MERLIN
Early the next morning, Gaius enters Merlin's messy chamber and picks up his clothes. Distaste shone in his eyes as he looked around the room.
"Oi!" He called out to his young ward, who woke immediately, his body tensing slightly. Merlin relaxed when he saw that it is Gaius. "Have you seen the state of this room?!" The physician demanded, the eyebrows making him feel more guilty than the words of the white haired man.
"It just happens." Merlin lamely tried to excuse himself.
"By magic?" Gaius asked, more to entertain the young warlock than anything else. He wasn't buying what Merlin was trying to sell.
"Yeah."
"Yes. Well, you can clear it up without magic. And then I want you to get me some herbs: henbane, wormwood, and sorrel." Gaius requested, before showing Merlin a vial with a probably foul tasting concoction in it. "And deliver this to Morgana. Poor girl's suffering from nightmares." Gaius tosses some clothes at Merlin.
"Mmm, I know the feeling." Merlin muttered, sighing before getting up and getting dressed.
After eating a quick breakfast, the young warlock leaves for Lady Morgana's chambers. He walks through the Griffin Landing and up some curved steps to Morgana's Chambers. Merlin enters the open door and stares at Morgana as she walks behind her changing screen.
"You know, I've been thinking about Arthur. I wouldn't touch him with a lance pole." The dark haired woman said but something told Merlin that wasn't completely true. Merlin frowned when his stomach churned has the strangest burning feeling in his chest. "Pass me that dress, will you, Gwen?"
Merlin pauses uncertainly - because he isn't Guinevere - before fetching the dress. Morgana begins undressing and continues talking to 'Gwen'. "I mean, the man's a total jouster. And just because I'm the King's ward, that doesn't mean I have to accompany him to the feast, does it?" Merlin places the gown on the screen, not answering the girl. "Well, does it?"
Merlin tried to make his voice as high pitched possible, shaking his head before realising Morgana couldn't see him. "Mm-Mmm."
"If he wants me to go, then he should invite me, and he hasn't." Merlin tries to figure a way out of his situation as that strange burning feeling in his chest intensified when an image of Arthur and Morgana walking hand in hand flashed through his mind. "So do you know what that means?"
The young warlock made his voice high pitched again and shook his head once more. "Mm-Mmm."
"Where are you?" The Lady asked, confused as to the lack of response from her maid. One that she considers her friend. Morgana looks over the screen and Merlin holds up one of her cloaks to hide his face - he didn't fancy another trip down to the dungeons.
"Here." Merlin answered her, high pitched voice and all, peeking through the neck of the cloak.
"It means I'm going by myself." She told him, determination in her tone. Merlin puts the cloak down and starts to leave, wanting to make his escape before he could get caught. "I need some help with this fastening." Merlin turns around and stops, at a loss for what to do. Gwen enters behind him, eyes widening when she saw Merlin. "Gwen?"
"I'm here." She called out and Merlin spins around, relief all over his face.
"What are you doing here?" Gwen mouths to her friend. Merlin sighs in relief and motions that Morgana needs help dressing. "Oh." The maid mouthed once more. She nods and the young warlock mouths something to Gwen before he leaves.
He was more relieved to leave Morgana's chambers than he was yesterday to leave Lady Helen's after he snooped around her books.
MERLIN
Later that day, Court members gather in the Banquet Hall. Gaius and Merlin enters the hall. Merlin face soured when he sees Arthur joking with his mates.
"Merlin..." The blonde told his mates. They laughed, "... so I stood up and.." feigns a punch into one of his mate's stomach. They laughed heartily. Arthur turns and does a double take as Morgana walks into his line of sight. All the men stare. "God have mercy."
Merlin stares at Morgana as she passes him, enchanted by her beauty as well. Gaius catches his wandering eye. "Merlin. Remember, you're here to work."
"Oh, yeah." Merlin agreed absentmindedly, continuing to stare at Morgana as Arthur approaches to talk to her. Gwen sidles up next to Merlin.
"She looks great, doesn't she?" The tan skinned woman asked earnestly, even if she wished inside that Merlin would stare at her that way.
"Yeah."
"Some people are just born to be queen." Guinevere told him, and Merlin once again gave an absentminded answer. "I hope so. One day. Not that I'd want to be her. Who'd want to marry Arthur?"
"Oh," Merlin started, finally moving his attention from Morgana to his friend. A chuckle passed his lips. "Come on, Gwen. I thought you liked those real rough, tough, save the world kind of men."
"No, I like much more ordinary men like you." She told him, dropping a hint and hoping he'd catch it.
"Gwen, believe me, I'm not ordinary." Merlin replied, almost as of he wished he is ordinary.
"No, I didn't mean you, obviously. Not you. But just, you know, I like much more ordinary men like you." Gwen babbled. Word vomit is a virtue of hers, especially when nervous.
"Thanks." Merlin told her and they turn away from each other awkwardly.
Celebratory horns signal King Uther's entrance and everyone finds their place at the tables. "We have enjoyed twenty years of peace and prosperity. It has brought the kingdom and myself many pleasures, but few can compare with the honour of introducing Lady Helen of Mora."
Applause sounds in the hall. Music begins and the Uther and the court take their seats. Helen, who was actually Mary Collins in disguise, begins to sing beautifully. The court members begin nodding off to sleep, some falling on each other. Merlin notices and presses his hands over his ears, not wanting to fall under the spell as well. Cobwebs begin forming over the enchanted sleepers and the hall darkens. Merlin notices her staring at Arthur as she walks forward. She pulls a dagger from her sleeve and the young warlock panicked, looking around for something that could help him.
A chandelier caught his attention. Merlin magically drops the chandelier on her as she raises her arm to throw the dagger. Court members wake and pull the cobwebs off, muttering in confusion. Uther and Arthur stand up to see Mary Collins lying on the floor. Mary raises herself up enough to throw the dagger at Arthur. Merlin slows down time to run to Arthur and pull him out of harm's way. The dagger slices into Arthur's chair as they fall to the floor. Mary dies and Uther and Arthur stare at Merlin in shock and relief.
"You saved my boy's life." The King said, his voice vulnerable and greatful and and relieved and everything he normally isn't. "A debt must be repaid."
"Oh, well..." Merlin didn't know what to say, the King would behead him if he knew that Merlin is a warlock.
"Don't be so modest." Uther brushed him off. "You shall be rewarded." A reward didn't sound all that bad, Merlin thought to himself then chastised himself. He didn't save Arthur's life for a reward.
If he was being completely honest, he didn't know why he saved the prat's life. Maybe because some part of him - very, very, deep down inside - believed what the Great Dragon told him.
"No, honestly, you don't have to, Your Highness." Merlin denied politely. Arthur stared at the brown haired boy. After everything he's put him through, Merlin still risked his life to save the Prince's. It isn't his duty, he isn't a knight or a guard and still he saved Arthur.
"No, absolutely. This merits something quite special." The King told him, never in his life would he have thought that he would be grateful towards a servant. And yet, this skinny boy saved his son's life and even if he wouldn't admit it or show it, he would be grateful for the rest of his life.
"Well..."
"You shall be rewarded a position in the royal household. You shall be Prince Arthur's manservant." Court erupted into applauds as the two boys each wore a face of horror.
"Father!" A disgruntled Arthur calls out, making a displeased face - much to the amusement of the king, who ignored his son's objection. Gwen claps with a pitying smile on her face. Arthur and Merlin look away from each other unhappily.
Yes, Merlin saved Arthur's life but neither of the two wanted to spend more time with the other than what is necessary.
Or so they told themselves.
"I guess, I'll see you in the morning," Merlin hesitated for a second, taking a step towards Arthur, before adding on, "Sire."
Arthur didn't say anything, he just walked away without saying anything and wrote his heart's insane beat off, to anger - because his father just had to stuck the gangly idiot to him - once again.
MERLIN
The next day, mid morning Gaius knocks on Merlin's chamber door and enters without waiting for an invitation. Merlin had already fed and dressed the Prince of Camelot this morning. There was name calling and a few curse words involved.
"Seems you're a hero." Gaius said, the pride in his voice unmistakable.
"Hard to believe, isn't it?" The warlock questioned wryly.
"No." Gaius denied honestly. "I knew it from the moment I met you. When you saved my life, remember?" He raised one of his eyebrows that spoke more that his actual words ever did.
"But...that was magic." He left out the, and magic is teason, part. It made him uncomfortable just to think about it.
Gaius nods slowly. "And now, it seems, we finally found a use for it."
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked, confused.
"I saw how you saved Arthur's life." Gaius explained to his young ward.
"Oh, no." And Merlin barely surpressed a groan.
"Perhaps that's its purpose." The physician suggested, and the words of the Great Dragon came back to Merlin.
The warlock heaved a sigh, the sound almost resigned. "My destiny."
"Indeed. This book was given to me when I was your age, but I have a feeling it will be of more use to you than it was to me." Gaius hands Merlin a book wrapped in a cloth. The boy unlatches it and looks inside.
He snorts when he read the words inside. "But this is a book of magic."
"Which is why you must keep it hidden." Gaius warned him with a meaningful look.
"I will study every word." Merlin promised.
Knocking sounds on door of the Physician's Chambers. "Merlin, Prince Arthur wants you right away." A guard tells the warlock and his face soured.
Gaius hid his amusement, "Your destiny's calling. You'd better find out what he wants."
"He is such a prat." Merlin seethed, leaving the magic book on the table, it was safe with Gaius after all. He left the room scowling and walked towards the blonde prat's chambers.
"What can I do for you, your Highness?" Merlin asked, and no, he did not have an attitude. He just decided to give what he got.
"My laundry pile is quite high." The blonde smirked. "Also, my shoes are terribly dusty and my wardrobe is a mess."
"You do realize you've got hands, right?"
"You do realize you're my man-servant now, right?" Arthur retorted and there it was. That blazing fire he saw erupting in Merlin's eyes back at the market and the training grounds. The Prince hid a grin - looks like it might be fun to have Merlin in his service after all.
"As you wish," Merlin told him, turning away and to the very messy wardrobe. "Prat." He said under his breath but loud enough for Arthur to hear - and with his back to the blonde, there was no way the warlock could see the grin that lifted Arthur's lips.
Right now, Merlin didn't like his destiny, even kind of hated it. The two continued bickering, with Merlin blissfully unaware of how, in time, he would come to love his destiny and the blonde prat with all of his mind, body, heart and soul.
And so would Arthur.
Author's Note: okay, as you can see, I put in some of my own original lines. Sometimes I will extend a scene or add a scene, but don't worry, I will follow the story line, but I want to build the foundation for the romantic relationship between Arthur and Merlin, so yeah. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Tell me what you thought?