Title: The (Un)Official Court Sorcerer of Camelot
Description: Uther is a hypocrite, but just how much of a hypocrite is he? Hypocrite enough to ask Gaius for a sorcerer that will do what he can to protect Camelot against magical enemies? Hypocrite enough to spare said-sorcerer? Even when he's been hiding under his nose the whole time? Even if he's been practicing magic in the heart of his kingdom? Yes. I'd say he is.
OR
How Merlin became the (Un)Official Court Sorcerer of Camelot, the kingdom that bans magic.
Word Count: 2,823
Part 1/2
I wasn't going to post this in 2 parts, but I could finish the fic fast enough and I still want to post every Saturday. So, here's part one! Part two will be out next Saturday :)
So, I had the idea for this fic before I read "Fool Me Once" by Anonymous, but I read that fic before I actually started writing this one so it feels wrong not to say it was inspired because it sort of was.
"Gaius, I need to speak to you," Uther said to him after a council meeting one day. The rest of the men had already left the room, so the two of them were alone.
"About what, sire?" he asked.
"Magic. As much as it pains me to admit, we need magic to fight magic."
"And how do you propose we do that?"
"We need a sorcerer. One that is willing to help us."
Gaius looked at him in astonishment.
"Is there such a sorcerer that you know of?"
"Well, sire. I cannot be sure. As you know, since the purge, I have put magic behind me."
"Surely there is an old friend of yours that you've stayed in contact with?"
"You killed many sorcerers within the span of these last twenty years."
"But you know of one?"
Gaius hesitated.
"There... is one who may be willing to help. But I'm not sure I could convince him to reveal himself. He wouldn't be sure that this isn't a trap to lure him out."
Uther thought about that for a moment.
"But there is someone."
Gaius nodded.
"Yes sire, I believe so."
"Good," he paused, "On what conditions do you think he would come to our aid?"
"It's hard to say for sure, sire. He would be fearful for his life and angry for the deaths of his kin."
"Yes, but if I granted him a pardon? Much like I have with you," Uther suggested, ignoring the last part of Gaius's sentence.
"I don't know how genuine he would believe it, sire. He may think it is a ruse, or that you would go back on your word."
"Surely there is magic that could bind me to it? To make sure I keep my word."
"There is such a spell, sire, but would you be willing to partake in such a ritual?"
"I am desperate, Gaius. I am not ignorant enough to believe that Arthur can defeat every magical problem that is thrown our way."
"I will ask him. But he may yet refuse."
Uther nodded, "Of course."
Gaius bowed and left the room, leaving Uther to his thoughts.
"No. No way Gaius! Are you mad?" Merlin yelled, after Gaius had told him what Uther wanted.
"Please, my boy. The spell will not allow Uther to go against his word."
"He would find a way. A loophole, perhaps. I'm not risking my life when I can protect Camelot just fine without revealing myself to the king!"
"You cannot deny that it would be much easier with the support of the king."
Merlin scoffed, "Yeah, a king that would have my head, just for being born!"
"Merlin. He's desperate. If you don't do it, surely he would find someone else? Someone not as friendly to Camelot who might get in your way? Take credit for your deeds?"
Merlin groaned, already knowing his answer.
"Fine! But if I die, just know that you will have a guilty conscience."
"Thank you, my boy."
"Yeah, well, Uther better thank me too."
"Sire?" Gaius called, hoping to meet the king privately, but deciding that the almost empty halls would have to do.
"Gaius! What can I do for you?"
"I have an answer concerning the pressing matters you brought to me, just a few days ago."
"Already! What has he said?"
"He would like me to finalize the wording for the... contract. If he's happy with how it turned out, he will do as you've asked," Gaius kept the news vague, as to not be overheard by passing staff or guards.
"Good. Would you follow me to my chambers now? We can talk further there."
"Of course, sire."
Uther and Gaius had spent the rest of the evening talking through the wording they would speak during the binding spell, obviously skipping the name of the sorcerer. When Gaius had brought it to Merlin, he'd seen some flaws and fixed it to his liking. Gaius had then brought it back to Uther who changed a few things and so on. This went on for a good month before both were satisfied (while both still having to give in on certain things). That same day, however, was when they decided to do the spell, wanting to get it over with as soon as possible.
"Why is he hooded?" Uther asked, when Gaius brought Merlin to him.
"He would like to make sure you don't decide to kill him before the spell is completed."
Uther nodded.
"Of course."
There was little set up to the spell, and it was done quickly. Once the time came to say their words, they held up their almost identical pieces of paper (Uther's had Merlin's name blotted out) and repeated what was on there word for word.
"I, Uther Pendragon, King of Camelot; agree to not be the cause of any harm that is done to this man, whether it be by my own hand, or the hand of another in my name or by my orders. I will not tell any of his magic, and will do all that I can to protect his life, unless it be my own death or the death of my son, Arthur Pendragon, Crown Prince of Camelot..."
There were a few more boring sentences saying things like, "I won't harm close friends and family with the intent of hurting him..." and such similar things, before it was Merlin's turn to speak.
"I, Merlin , being the name my mother gave me, and Emrys, the name I was given by the druids, agree not to harm Camelot, King Uther Pendragon, or his son, Arthur Pendragon, unless they are a threat to my own life, or a life that I find worthy of protection. I will, to the best of my ability, keep my magic a secret, unless I deem it safe or necessary. If my magic is revealed, I will not tell anyone of Uther's involvement and his knowledge of my magic..."
Again, there were some more boring words spoken, but finally, they had both spoken their share.
"Now, sorcerer. Peel back your hood, and let me see your face."
Merlin took off his hood, and Uther's face was hot with fury.
"You! You cannot be a sorcerer!"
"Can't I?"
"You- I made you Arthurs servant!"
Merlin nodded, "Right after I saved his life. I mean no harm to Camelot, truly. I was born with my gifts, sire, and I have, and will continue to, use them for the good of this land."
Uther grumbled, but couldn't do anything more, as the spell was already in affect and would remain so until one or both parties were dead or unless they both agreed to terminate it.
"Fine. Report here tomorrow night, and tell me about the day's events. Gaius has been telling me that you have been saving Camelot, and my son, for years. He has also said that you are the all-powerful warlock of legends, Emrys. Are both of these statements true?"
"Yes, sire. They are true."
"Good. Now, be on your way."
Merlin and Gaius bowed before exiting the room.
Instead of going to his room, like he normally would have at the end of the day, Merlin headed to the Kings chambers. The guards posted outside didn't bother him when he walked straight up to the door and knocked, as if they knew he was meant to be there.
"Enter," he heard Uther's voice say.
He slowly opened the door to see Uther standing tensely in the center of the room, his hand on his sword at his side. Merlin scoffed.
"What of todays events?"
Merlin sighed.
"Nothing much happened. One man tried to assassinate Arthur, but it's been dealt with."
"Explain."
"It was the usual, a sorcerer wanting revenge. He tried to poison Arthurs lunch when I was bringing it to him. I told him that it wouldn't accomplish anything and eventually he saw sense and left."
"You let him live?" Uther growled.
Merlin rolled his eyes.
"Unlike you, I don't just kill innocents without cause."
"He tried to kill my son!"
"He tried to avenge his family. You killed his son in your slaughter of his people, so he tried to take yours."
"He will not just give up! He's a sorcerer. He probably means to finish the job tonight, you must stop him!"
"He won't try again. Besides, I've got plenty of enchantments on Arthur's clothes and around his room. If anyone tries to enter his room with or without murderous intent, I'll know. And if someone does get around my protection spells, Arthur is a good enough warrior to stop them."
"You've enchanted my son!"
"No! I've put protection spells around him to keep him safe. It's different."
"All magic is evil."
"There was a time when you allowed magic. You only decided it was evil when you murdered your wife!" Merlin yelled.
Uther drew his sword and pointed it at Merlin.
"You can't hurt me," he said, not even flinching.
"I could never have hurt Igraine."
"Not intentionally. But you still agreed to the dark magic that took her life."
"I bargained my own life for a child! Igraine was never supposed to die!"
"Nimueh should have warned you. The Old Religion does not care who lives and who dies. Even I have learned that the hard way."
"Exactly. Magic is evil."
"No. Nimueh was the evil one. You should have learned not to trust her so easily, not that magic should be banned. Because it shouldn't be."
"You have given your report. Return here tomorrow night."
Merlin took this as a dismissal and left, already regretting agreeing to this arrangement.
Uther was absolutely livid. That stupid sorcerer hadn't shown up last night. He was the king! How dare he disobey him? So, Uther was angrily walking through the halls, headed to Gaius's chambers. The servants and knights he passed quickly stepped aside, sorry for whomever the king's wrath was directed towards.
He threw open the door only to see the boy laying on the patients cot, fresh bandages around his torso. Arthur was sitting on a stood by the bed, trying to find out what had happened to his frie- servant. Gaius was by the table mixing up a potion for the obvious pain. The three of them stopped what they were doing when the door flew open.
"What the hell happened to you?"
Merlin shrugged, hoping to convey that it had something to do with their... agreement.
"He got stabbed. But this idiot refuses to tell me who did it!"
"...Last night." Uther asked, to which Merlin nodded vigorously.
It was silent for a few moments before Uther spoke again.
"I see. Make sure this doesn't further hinder your... duties," he said before turning around and leaving, having much more important things to do.
Arthur was confused to say the least. First, Merlin got stabbed and refused to tell him who did it. Then, his father comes bursting into the physicians chambers and asks Merlin what happened. His father never concerns himself with "lowly peasant business" and almost never bothers asking random patients what happened to them. But then he did. And it was weird. And then he just... left. Like he'd done what he needed to do. No talking to Gaius, no telling him to stop talking to Merlin, no anything.
But what was especially strange was when Arthur went to go check on Merlin one last time for the day, he caught him sneaking out of the room. Merlin didn't see him, and Arthur almost called out to him, when he saw where he was going. To his father's room. What was even stranger (if that was even possible) was that the guards just... let him in. He didn't even knock! He just waltzed in like he owned the place.
No matter how curious Arthur was, however, he couldn't very well go in there and demand to know what was going on. So he retired to his room, unable to do anything else. For now.
Weeks went by, and things stayed pretty much the same. Merlin reported to Uther each night and during the day, Arthur noticed Uther and Merlin giving each other odd looks. But for as much as Arthur watched them, he just couldn't figure out what was going on. That was... until just after the dragon was released (and was still terrorizing the city) he caught them talking in the hallway one afternoon.
"What have you done!" Uther whisper-yelled at someone.
"It's not my fault he's attacking Camelot! You're the one who locked him up for twenty years."
Arthur's mouth fell open. That was Merlin's voice. Arguing with his father... the king of Camelot. Arthur expected Uther to throw Merlin in the dungeons, but he didn't.
"You must stop him," Uther said.
"I can't."
"No, I suppose not even you would be able to stop a dragon."
Uther thought for a moment.
"You and Arthur must go find a dragonlord. Only he could kill the dragon."
A dragon-what?
Merlin just stared at Uther, confused.
"A dragonlord?"
Uther looked shocked.
"You must know what a dragonlord is?"
"Nope."
"It's someone who can control dragons."
"People like that exist!?"
"You didn't know that? You're a bloody-"
Uther stopped himself, sighing, worried that a passing servant might hear him and spread rumors that he's consorting with a known sorcerer.
"Let me guess," Merlin started, "You killed them all at the same time you killed all the dragons."
"Well, I tried. One escaped my men. Balinor. You must go find him and tell him to help."
"He's not just going to drop everything and leave. You killed all of his kind. He'd probably just let the dragon kill everyone."
"Then threaten him! We both know you're more than capable of following through."
Arthur nearly laughed aloud. Merlin couldn't hurt anyone, even if he wanted to.
"I don't just threaten people!"
Uther looked as if he was about to stab him.
"Fine! I knew him, before the purge. He was close to Gaius. Tell him you know Gaius. He'd be more willing to help you then."
Merlin's eyes widened.
"You knew him. And you still tried to kill him!?"
"Yes. Sorcery is evil and needed- needs to be eradicated."
"You know just as well as I do that some people don't have a choice in having magic and I'm going to assume that this is the same."
What? No, that's not right. People choose magic and then it corrupts them. They have a choice... Right?
"Yes. Dragonlord powers are passed from father to son by the death of the father. How do you not know this?"
"Well, I'm not the one who destroyed most of all the magical knowledge, killed nearly all the sorcerers and now apparently all but one of the dragonlords too."
"Just... go find him. Bring him back, no matter the cost."
"Even if it means revealing my secret?"
Secret? Merlin's a terrible liar. Even if it's by omission alone.
Uther didn't speak.
"We need to get rid of this dragon. Protect your secret from Arthur at all costs but if you must reveal yourself to the dragonlord, do it."
Merlin nodded darkly.
"Yes, sire."
"I'll tell Arthur he needs to find him and... hopefully Gaius has some sort of information on him because we're going to need all that we can get."
With that, Uther walked away (thankfully in the opposite direction Arthur was in) and Merlin followed him shortly after, both going to two separate places. Now Arthur needs to figure out what the fuck he just witnessed.
Merlin couldn't save Balinor. I mean he could. The spell only prevented him from revealing his magic unnecessarily. But he wouldn't. Not with Arthur there. He would later yell at himself for not saving his father anyways. But for now, all he felt was grief for the loss of his father. Grief, and the weight of his new dragonlord responsibility thrust on his weary shoulders.
Arthur wasn't an idiot. There was something more going on with Merlin than he was letting on. No matter how much of a girl he is, he wouldn't just cry over someone he just met. Someone who wasn't even that nice! But... he was. And that was the confusing bit.
"Merlin," Arthur said, to which Merlin didn't reply. Instead, he just turned to look at him.
"What's wrong?"
Merlin looked momentarily startled, but just shook his head.
"Nothing."
"Nothing my ass. Something's bothering you. You're acting like more of a girl than usual."
Merlin only shrugged and thought for a moment before speaking.
"Camelot's last hope just died. You expect me to be all sunshine and rainbows?"
"No. Of course not, but..." Arthur didn't really know how to finish that, so he didn't and the two sat in silence. Neither speaking, not even when the reached Camelot.
There simply was nothing else to say.
So, this isn't proof-read because it was a busy week. I hope there aren't any errors 😭
Also, I had some formatting issues on , so I'm really sorry if it's hard to read!
