Strongest of the Warlocks: Chapter Two: Maidservant to the Prince

AN: I'm glad you all have enjoyed my chapters so far, I'm working hard to make them interesting! I will be updating this fanfic sporadically at best unfortunately as Bio is sucking out my soul, but I figured you all could do with a new chapter


"I should have you thrown in the cells."

"Do you always throw a fit if you don't get your way?" Merlin asked, her lip curling in disdain.

"I can't decide if you're brave or just an idiot," Arthur Pendragon said, looking her up and down as if he'd never seen anything like her before in his life.

"Try fearless," Merlin offered, "reckless, or audacious, I'd use more, but I'm certain your vocabulary isn't that impressive." Her fingers dug into the earth, uprooting the Leopard's Bane in clumps and putting it in the basket with the small bit of parchment that held the list of herbs Gaius required.

"Do you ever shut up?" Arthur asked, slightly exasperated.

"If you didn't want to hear me talk," she said, standing and brushing the dirt from her trousers to scowl at him, "then you really shouldn't have followed me."

"I think you're probably an idiot," Arthur decided, ignoring her comment and how she rolled her eyes at him.

"You do that," she told him rather shortly, "just remember who had you falling on your ass yesterday, that might bring your ego down."

"What ego?" Arthur demanded. "I don't have an ego!"

"Of course you don't," Merlin said in a patronizing way, "whatever helps you sleep at night, Your Highness." She exaggerated his title and her bow before heading off further into the woods.

Arthur grumbled angrily to himself. "I do not have an ego, little—"

"I'm not deaf, either," Merlin's cold voice added, thrown over her shoulder as she bent down to inspect some henbane. "Just because your daddy's all big and impressive—"

"What're you going on about now?" Arthur asked, screwing up his face slightly as he looked at her.

She stared back with heated eyes. "Don't you have a servant to misuse for target practice?" she asked in a cold voice.

"Oh, you're not still angry about Morris are you?"

"Why are you here?" Merlin asked, her voice scornful. "Obviously your superiority complex hasn't been brought down much since I beat you into the ground yesterday."

"You," Arthur chuckled slightly, "did not beat me into the ground. What you got was a lucky shot."

Merlin's eyes flashed dangerously. "Of course, a woman couldn't possibly overpower a man," she spat angrily, "no, it must have been luck on her side." Her eyes narrowed further. "Heaven forbid a woman being stronger than a man!"

Arthur stared after her as she stormed back into town, her dark plait whipping through the air, and he could only offer one word of complaint. "Women!"

"Still a no-good, pompous—" Merlin grumbled to herself only to be interrupted by a voice.

"Talking about the prince, are you?"

Merlin blinked a few times, wincing at how the sun caused the chainmail to meld slightly together. "Sir Leon, never far away, I see."

Leon smiled, a hand resting on his ever-present sword as he walked through the crowd. "Camelot is not as big as it seems…complaining about the prince, were you?"

Merlin made an annoyed sound in the back of her throat. "Do you know anyone else who's a pompous ass?"

Leon laughed slightly. "I would think 'no,' but I would careful what I say if I were you."

"I'm not afraid of being thrown in a cell for a night," Merlin said in a stout voice, her free hand resting defiantly on her hip. In fact, it would be safe to say that there wasn't anything about Merlin that wasn't defiant. "Knocking him on his ass was worth it and I'd do it again."

"Ah, so that was you, was it?" Leon asked, faintly amused. He had heard the rumor spreading around Camelot of a young woman who had bested Arthur with her bare hands. It was hard to believe, but Gwen (who had seen it unfold from a palace window) had assured him the rumor was accurate this time around.

A pale flush adorned her cheeks and she straightened her back, scowling slightly at him. "What of it?"

"It's very impressive, is all," Leon told her.

"For a woman?" Merlin asked in a cool manner.

"For anyone," Leon corrected, assuming the prince had used that line to justify her win against him. Somehow, it would have been less impressive if a man had defeated him, especially when one considered how slight Merlin's stature was. "Arthur's been trained to kill since birth."

"Ooh, what a terrifying child he must have been with a terrifying wooden sword," Merlin mocked, "instilling fear in the greatest of foes, no doubt. It seems he missed a few lessons in "How to Kill" or maybe he's just not as good as he thinks he is?"

Leon laughed at that. "Rubbed you the wrong way, did he?"

"Do you really need to ask?" Merlin asked in irritation, her eyebrow arching slightly as she repositioned her basket of herbs in her arms. "He apparently," she said the word with heavy sarcasm, "can't decide if I'm brave or just an idiot."

"Apparently," Leon said with a wry grin, "I'm wondering if you're ever going to not have a retort to something someone says to you."

A corner of her lips twitched upwards slightly, barely a grin, but it made her eyes look less turbulent. "Only one way to find out, is there? Stick around, Sir Knight, you won't be bored, I can guarantee that."

"I don't doubt it," Leon said with surety, "you've already made quite an impression on the people of Camelot."

"It'll only get worse," Merlin said with a mournful sigh that was completely faked, "my mother swears I wasn't this sarcastic when I was born…she always wonders what went wrong."

"What went wrong?" Leon laughed a bit at that. Merlin was a strange one, he'd give her that. But he was sure that sarcasm of hers would only serve to humor him further. It was the start of a beautiful friendship, that much he knew for certain, for, as she had said, he would never be bored with what she said.


The first time Morgana met Merlin, she mistook her for Gwen.

"You know, I've been thinking about Arthur," Morgana said, moving away from her mirror, "I wouldn't touch him with a lance pole. Pass me that dress, will you Gwen?"

"My name's Merlin," the warlock said, slightly flummoxed, causing the lady's whole body to twist around to stare at her. "Sorry, the door was open. Gaius sent me with a sleeping draft." She held out a small bottle to Morgana who took it gratefully.

"Thank you…Merlin, was it?" A smile tilted her painted lips. "The Merlin that Gwen told me about?"

"Well, it's not really a common name," Merlin conceded, "and if she was talking about someone who knocked Prince Prat on his ass, then that was definitely me."

She thought she might have overstepped a line with her insults, but Morgana actually laughed.

"I heard it was a sight to behold," Morgana said with restrained amusement, "I am Morgana."

"My Lady." Merlin bowed respectfully, unlike how she had before to Arthur. This woman had not demanded respect or asserted her superiority of her birth over Merlin's, so that put her much higher than Arthur. "It's a pleasure."

"Likewise," Morgana said, smiling warmly, "I hear you made quite the impression on Arthur."

Merlin's smile became rather forced. "I'm sure I did. I'm sure the ground made quite an impression on his backside as well."

Morgana laughed again at the way Merlin had worded it.

"Oh, Merlin!" Gwen's surprised voice was uttered from behind the Healer-in-Training. "I didn't realize you were in here."

"I was just dropping off a sleeping draft," Merlin said easily, raising a hand to rub the skin of her temple slightly, the hammering voice of "Merlin!" demanding her attention.

"Are you alright?" Morgana asked in concern, taking notice of the movement.

Merlin smiled. "Oh, it's nothing," she promised, "just a small headache, but I should go; Gaius probably has more work for me, so…see you."

She bid them farewell, exiting quickly from the room and heading down the first staircase she found. She did not return to Gaius, the voice in her head distracting her too much as she recalled Gaius' words from before: "There was one dragon he chose not to kill, kept it as an example. He imprisoned it in a cave deep beneath the castle where no one can free it."

Could that be what had continuously called out to her? Merlin couldn't think of anything else as she descended down into the dungeons, only to freeze with a wince at the sight of the two guards positioned in front of the long corridor that headed downwards into the deepest parts of the castle.

Merlin's eyes flashed golden as she gazed at the pair who momentarily froze as if time had stopped, which was just what had happened. She slipped past them, lighting a torch and heading down the corridor before they unfroze and time resumed, which happened faster than she had intended so she had to duck behind a column to spare herself from being seen.

Once their attention was taken by their game, Merlin ducked out and continued down, deeper and darker than she would have thought possible.

"Merlin…Merlin…"

She took a left into a collapsed chamber housing broken columns from what looked like an attack long passed.

"Merlin…" The deep and low voice was getting closer and louder as she rounded a crudely carved hole that was an outcropping to a much larger chamber of rock that wouldn't have been amiss in a cave in the mountains. The soft sound of echoing chuckles had her turning swiftly, waving around the torch as if hoping to illuminate the speaker.

"Who are you?" she demanded into the cave, stunning herself at how her voice had managed to remain steady. "How do you know my name?"

She lurched backwards quickly as something massive and covered in scales flew upwards to land on the worn bed of stone before her, and Merlin found herself eye to eye with a dragon. Her mouth dropped open in her shock. His scales were a dulled golden color, but he was still by far the most beautiful creature she had ever seen.

"You're a-a-a dragon!" she sputtered, never imagining that what she thought was calling her could have actually been what she thought it was.

"Indeed, I am," the dragon laughed, his voice old and wise. "And how small you are for such a great destiny."

"Excuse me?" Merlin balked slightly at his words, still gaping at his enormity. "What are you going on about? What destiny? I don't have a destiny."

The dragon's laughter echoed once more around the cave and Merlin cringed slightly at its volume.

"I can assure you, Merlin," he said, still chortling, "you have a destiny, a great destiny, one that is the reason why you are as gifted as you are."

"Gifted?" Merlin sputtered, her cheeks burning pink. "Oh, no! Oh, no-no-no-no! I'm just positively ordinary!"

"Ordinary?" the dragon said in amusement. "Hardly. You were granted your gifts for a reason."

"Wonderful," Merlin grumbled to herself, but she was, for the most part, ignored.

"Arthur is the Once and Future King who will unite the land of Albion," the Great Dragon continued, "But he faces many threats from friend and foe alike."

"And I should care why?" Merlin asked, her eyebrow twitching in irritation.

"Because," the dragon said calmly, "without you, Arthur will never succeed. Without you, there will be no Albion."

"Somehow I really doubt that," Merlin disagreed, "because this Arthur is an egotistical, sexist pig that I would gladly help kill."

His laughter rumbled, loud and low at her response, as if it was the last thing he had expected her to say. "None of us can choose our destiny, Merlin," he said simply, "and none of us can escape it."

"You make it out like I don't have a choice," Merlin bit out through gritted teeth.

"Destiny is a strange thing," the dragon responded, "sometimes it can be changed and other times it is rigid and unchangeable."

"Well, something is clearly very wrong with destiny," Merlin said stoutly, "because this Arthur isn't going to be a great king, he's going to be a prat."

The dragon's voice became light, his great eyes fastened on her as if he could see right through her. "Perhaps it's your destiny to change that."

"Eh?" Merlin's eyes goggled as the dragon spread his wings and flew farther into the cave, his shackles trailing behind him and keeping him within the cave. "You can't just tell me that and run away!" Merlin yelled after it, stomping on of her feet into the ground angrily. "Oi!"

Merlin swore under her breath as she was left in silence with nothing but more questions.


"Why am I even here?" Merlin complained under her breath.

"You are here because you cannot simply be my apprentice, Merlin," Gaius said with barely restrained exasperation. "You need to work in the castle if you want to earn any money."

"What would I do with money?" Merlin grumbled as they entered into the banquet hall that was already filled with noise and laughter and people. "I dress like a man."

Gaius wondered for the hundredth time if Hunith had simply sent her daughter to him to spite him; that sharp tongue of hers needed curbing. But she had a good head on her shoulders–sometimes–and she was very knowledgeable of herbs and medicines, so it wasn't as though she would screw up any remedies.

Merlin's eyes scanned the room, falling on Arthur for a moment–her thoughts drifting to the words of the Great Dragon–before shifting away with a light scoff to land on Lady Morgana. Morgana had a gift at looking remarkably lovely in anything she wore, something Merlin was grateful that she did not have (she didn't like to be particularly noticeable), the loose crimson gown that hugged her curves modestly made her look more stunning that usual.

Merlin winked to her as she passed and her lips curled upwards further into a grateful smile.

"Merlin," Gaius warned, "you are here to work, not to make friends with the King's ward."

"I can't help that she finds Arthur as arrogant as I do," Merlin said, wrinkling her nose in disdain towards her uncle as he walked away, only to be replaced by Gwen who was smiling.

"She looks great, doesn't she?" Gwen asked her.

"It's a beautiful dress," Merlin agreed, crossing her arms lightly as Morgana moved through the crowd until she was standing before Arthur. "But I suppose being beautiful helps."

Gwen laughed, but not loud enough for those around them to take note of. "I know what you mean…Some people are just born to be queen."

Merlin arched an eyebrow at her. "You want her to marry the king's son?" She certainly wouldn't want to; it seemed like more trouble than he was worth.

"No, of course not," Gwen fumbled, realizing what she'd said, "who'd want to marry Arthur?"

"Not your type, then?" Merlin joked, throwing her a grin.

"Not at all," Gwen said, shaking her head fervently, a few dark curls flying from the movement before she tossed a look to her new friend. "My preference is more ordinary men…What about you?"

"Oh, I've already got one," Merlin blurted out, pink staining her cheeks.

"Really?" Gwen's dark eyes widened as she stared at Merlin. She suppose she shouldn't have really been surprised; Merlin did have a natural beauty to her. "Do tell! What's his name?"

"His name is Percival," Merlin said with a sigh, "and he's very sweet…but we haven't seen each other in over two years…" She bit the inside of her lip thoughtfully and Gwen respectfully kept her mouth shut, though privately she had to wonder if he was still her man if he'd been gone for two years without any contact.

"No men have caught your eye, then?" Merlin asked her, jarring her from her thoughts.

"No, not yet," Gwen laughed, "but I'm sure that I'll find one eventually." Both young women had to stall their conversation temporarily as all the guests took their seats at the sound of the celebratory horns that signaled the arrival of King Uther. Merlin's eyes turned shrewd towards the man responsible for the reign of terror against magic, and her bow was stiff as he passed and careful not to meet his eyes.

The king beamed to them all as the horns quieted, allowing him the chance to speak. "We have enjoyed," he began, "twenty long years of peace and prosperity. It has brought the kingdom and myself many pleasures, but few can compare with the honor of introducing Lady Helen of Mora!" He applauded for the singer, and the nobles were quick to replicate the movement as he moved to his seat and the woman entered.

She was garbed in a flowing gown of gold and lavender that brought out of the pale blue of her eyes and the darkness of her hair as it spilled artfully over one shoulder.

The harp was strung and she opened her mouth and began to sing a gentle, swaying tune.

Merlin could recognize the words in a sense, enough to know that their origins were of magic. Her eyes moved away from the singer to the audience instead as if to pinpoint someone acting strangely, and for a moment, Merlin thought she was simply being paranoid. But then Lady Helen took a step off the small podium that she had been standing on and began to move forward, and that was when the change became obvious as several of the guests began to blink and nod their heads as though attempting to stave off sleep, and then slowly, one by one, the nobles and servants moved so that they were either leaning across the table or against a pillar, falling into a slumber that had Merlin quickly throwing her arms up to cover her ears from the song.

And as her song lengthened and increased in sound, cobwebs spun their way over food, silverware, and people, so that even the king looked to have been in a deep sleep that had lasted for decades, in fact the room seemed to Merlin as though it had been in disuse; the candles had all gone out and the cobwebs had spread to the chandelier above.

The witch's eyes fastened on Arthur as she continued to sing, her voice belling out much stronger than before as she continued to move towards the front table before withdrawing a dagger from her sleeve, aimed towards the prince.

Merlin wasn't sure what she was thinking, surely the world would have been short one arrogant prince if she hadn't moved, but Merlin wasn't one for leaving another in harm's way. She raised her eyes to the chandelier hanging over the woman's head as she poised the dagger for a throw and they flared gold, the rope snapping and dropping onto her, trapping her from the waist down to the floor.

In doing so, Merlin had somehow cancelled the spell, as slowly all the nobles and servants and knights in the hall–including Gaius who had been unfortunate enough to fall under the enchantment–began to wake up in a bit of a daze, surprised to be covered in cobwebs.

King Uther and Prince Arthur stood to peer over the side of the table to where the witch had fallen, the spell to maintain her youth failing and revealing a head a stringy grey hair. But she was not dead, and she looked upon the royals with such contempt as she hoisted her upper body up, propelling it slightly off of the ground, swiping up her dagger and tossing it with a cry of rage.

Merlin's eyes flared gold a second time, but this time it was only to slow the dagger down as she unsheathed her sword at her side, rushing forward to knock the dagger out of the air.

"One day you might be able to slice an arrow in midair."

"You say that as if it's possible, Percival," Merlin had said, rolling her eyes towards the man, not believing him for a second.

She brought her sword down and the metal collided, knocking the dagger to the stone floor with a clatter. Merlin looked at her sword in surprise and then at the dagger and finally at the witch who glared at her with so much anger that Merlin wouldn't have been surprised if she could spit fire at her, but the next second it no longer mattered as she fell to the ground and moved no more.

Merlin suddenly realized that the whole hall's attention was on her and she fumbled, sheathing her blade at her waist once more and glancing to the head table. Morgana was impressed, Arthur was surprised, and King Uther was completely stunned.

"You saved my boy's life," King Uther said and Merlin blinked owlishly at him. "A debt must be repaid." Still, there seemed to be a bit of reluctance in his eyes that might have had something to do with her being a female; she gathered he would have responded more easily to the situation if she had been a male saving his son.

"That's really not necessary," Merlin tried to say, feeling a bit awkward about the whole thing and dearly wishing she had let the prince get skewered going off the look he was throwing towards her at his distaste at being saved by a woman.

"Don't be so modest," King Uther reprimanded her. "You shall be rewarded."

"I don't need a reward, Your Majesty," Merlin disagreed. All she wanted to do was slink back into the shadows and cook up some herbal tonic for insanity because she was certain that was the only reason that she had saved the prince's life.

"No, absolutely," King Uther disagreed. "This merits something quite special."

Why did Merlin get the feeling that what he thought was quite special was not the same thing as what Merlin thought was quite special. Because Merlin thought rare herbs were quite special, thank you very much. She sighed and waited for him to deliver upon her what she would later remark to be the bane of her existence.

"You shall be rewarded a position in the royal household," King Uther continued. "You shall be Prince Arthur's maidservant."

Merlin recoiled slightly at the thought as applause exploded around her, muffling Arthur's "Father!" but nothing could hide the scowls the prince and Physician-in-Training threw to each other when the king's back had turned, clearing showing how much they did not approve of this appointment.

Why oh why didn't Merlin just let him die? Then that would save her from the misery of having to serve him as a servant…may the gods smite her now to spare her. Merlin cursed that blasted dragon; it was definitely his fault.


AN: PLEASE REVIEW! It might be awhile before another update, but you get what you get, so until then!