"-avoo een ah atchel?!" Merlin shouted from his room, tossing clothes over his bed, his mouth full of bread.
"Merlin, you've been waiting for this day for as long as I've known you and you're not ready?" Gaius stood incredulously over a workbench, swirling a dark liquid in a vial.
Merlin swallowed his breakfast and bounded down the steps, throwing a bag on the table. He wore his typical clothes, but today was far from a typical day.
"Well, it's not like I've done this before!" he jumped to the shelves along the side of the chamber, pulling select books and ingredients into his arms.
"What do you plan to do with those? Not lose them, I hope!" Gaius pointedly shook the vial at Merlin whose erratic movements around the room made Gaius anxious for the fragile bottles strewn about.
Merlin ignored his mentor's concern, instead babbling his own, "What if Arthur wants to know about the aging spell? Or about dragons? Or prophecies? I've got to be prepared, Gaius!" his voice sounded nervous, but he couldn't stop smiling.
Seeing Merlin so happy filled Gaius's heart with joy and he smiled at his ward, "Merlin," he put his ingredients down and went to Merlin, who was now stuffing supplies into his bag, "Arthur doesn't need books or potions to learn about magic," he put reassuring hands on Merlin's shoulders, "he needs you. Now take this-" Gaius handed Merlin his satchel, "-and get going before you're late."
With a hearty grin, Merlin grabbed the bag and gave Gaius a hug before running to the door.
"Don't wait up!" he shouted, leaving Gaius shaking his head with a smile as he returned to his vials.
"I swear, he moves it every time!" Arthur shouted into his wardrobe, tossing clothes over his head.
"What are you looking for, Dear?" Gwen asked, not looking up from the parchment she was perusing.
"My belt!" Arthur turned to her with exasperation, "Every time Merlin cleans, it ends up somewhere else! He's the worst servant in history!"
Gwen smiled, putting the document down on the desk and turning her attention to her husband. "But he is the most loyal friend." She moved to Arthur who was running his hand through his hair and wrapped her arms around his waist to calm him, "Are you nervous about today?"
"What? No, of course not," Arthur retorted, mirroring her embrace, but not meeting her eyes. She smiled knowingly, peering up at him until he caved, "Alright fine, maybe a little." He sighed, "it's just- I've not had the best experience with magic. What if something goes…wrong?"
"Arthur, come now" she tilted her head and pursed her lips, "this is Merlin. Everything will be fine." She gave him a soothing peck on the cheek.
As if on cue, the door swung open and Merlin popped his head in, a ridiculous grin on his face.
"Morning!" he nodded to Gwen and they exchanged smiles before he turned his attention to Arthur, "You ready? Let's go!"
Arthur broke his embrace with Gwen and shot Merlin a glare, "Merlin, will you never learn? I say when we go."
Merlin's smile fell into a look of impatience. "Yeah, ok," he said. He stood at the door, practically bouncing with pent up excitement. Arthur slowly moved about the room, gathering items and carefully packing them into a satchel. Ugh, he must be going slowly on purpose!
"Ready yet?" Merlin pressed. Gwen turned toward the window, stifling a giggle.
Arthur rounded at Merlin's insistence, "Well, if I had a better servant, I wouldn't need to pack everything myself, now would I?"
Merlin rolled his eyes and let out a loud sigh. Then a mischievous grin spread across his face.
"Inbringe cume mec!" Merlin gave a quick nod and his eyes flashed gold. Suddenly, select things whizzed toward Arthur who startled, ducking and flailing around the flying objects. The bag in his hand tried to yank free from his grasp, but he gripped it tighter, straining to keep something under his control.
"Merlin!" he shouted with a 'hmphf!' as he lost the tug-of-war. All the items flew into his now floating bag before it closed itself and zoomed to Merlin who grabbed it and slung it over his shoulder.
"Now you're ready, let's go!" he jumped away, bounding down the hall.
"MERLIN!" Arthur scrambled after him. Gwen kept her composure with a tight-lipped smile at their antics, watching her husband, the King, act like a school boy. These magic lessons would be good for Arthur, good for them both, a chance to take a break from their burdens and have some fun. She was pleased.
After some hours of riding, they came upon a small clearing covered in brush and surrounded by trees. Merlin surveyed the area with his magic to make sure they were well alone.
"This'll do," he stated, dismounting from his horse and tying the reins around a tree trunk.
"For what, exactly?" Arthur asked as he copied Merlin's actions.
Merlin walked a few paces toward the clearing, "well, for, um…"
Arthur rolled his eyes, "You have no idea what you're doing, do you, Merlin?"
Merlin huffed, "Why does everyone expect me to know what to do?" he asked rhetorically, "It's not like I've taught magic before!"
"It's not that hard, Merlin," Arthur ambled past his glowering friend down a slight hill into the middle of the small clearing. "You're meant to show me the subtleties of magic, so just-" he waved his hands around, "-do magic and…show me."
Merlin pursed his lips and put his hands on his hips, "And what's the point of that? Seeing magic when you're already looking for it is easy. You need to learn how to spot it when you don't-" his eyes widened with a sudden idea, "That's it!"
Arthur watched Merlin approach him, grab his shoulders and spin him around, "Merlin, what-" he tried to turn back, but Merlin held him in place.
"Face that way. I'll stay behind you and do magic. You try to spot it," Merlin let go and Arthur heard him take a few steps back, "Tell me when you see something that looks…unnatural." Arthur sighed at the plan, but started surveying the area before him, waiting for signs of magic. For a few moments, neither made a sound.
"There!" Arthur gestured to leaves that had picked up in the breeze. "You're moving the leaves, like you did when you covered our horse tracks!"
"Um, no," Merlin shifted, "that was just the wind."
"Oh," silence fell between them again. A few awkward minutes passed. Then a bush to Arthur's left began to shake.
"You made that bush move!" he exclaimed. But as he stood there pointing, a rabbit hopped out.
Merlin suppressed a laugh, "Arthur, I haven't done anything yet."
Arthur growled, "well, what are you waiting for?!" he crossed his arms haughtily, "or do you just enjoy making me stand here, looking a fool?"
Merlin snorted. Arthur whirled angrily at him just as Merlin looked upward innocently, "alright, that's it! You clearly haven't a clue and I'm not going to indulge your stupidity a moment longer!" Merlin glared at him as Arthur waved his arms above his head, "Just get a move on and do some magic already! We haven't got all day! I swear, if you don't do something soon, I'm going t-" THUNK! A branch fell right on Arthur's head. "OW!" he yelled, stumbling and rubbing the top of his head. He glanced at Merlin who had a smug look on his face.
Arthur stormed back up the hill, "I'm not going to stand here getting pelted by branches waiting for you to do something!"
Merlin's mouth gaped open, his brow furrowing, "Seriously? That you don't recognize as magic? You are such a-an oblivious git!"
Arthur stopped near his horse, eyeing Merlin's incredulous stance. "What are you talking about?"
Merlin gestured to the ground where Arthur had been standing, "…the branch?"
"What about it?" Arthur frowned defiantly, "That wasn't magic." Merlin scoffed in disbelief. Arthur shook his head, "Merlin, branches fall all the time," he gave a light chuckle, "Even had a few lucky ones strike opponents right when they-" he stiffened, his eyes going wide as Merlin crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at him. "Wait…" he pointed to Merlin with dawning realization, "those branches…that was you?!"
Merlin cocked his head to the side, giving affirmation with a click of his tongue.
Arthur shook his pointed finger, "So all those battles where you were cowering…"
"I was hiding," Merlin interjected, "so I could use my magic without being seen." Merlin thought he saw newfound appreciation on Arthur's face, but it was fleeting, his face tightening into a scowl.
"So the branch that hit me just now…" Arthur crossed his own arms. Merlin at least had the sense to look a bit abashed.
"Well, you-you were being such a…dollophead!" he miffed with frustration.
Arthur's lips turned up in a wry grin, "Oh, was I now?" he drawled, turning to his horse. Merlin paled as he drew his sword.
"A-Arthur? What are you doing?" Merlin backed up apprehensively as Arthur pointed his sword at him.
"I've a new idea for how you can show me subtle magic…" he casually made his way toward Merlin, "Remember the first time we met? I attacked you and you cheated with magic, but nobody noticed?" Arthur was grinning. Merlin didn't look smug now.
"Arthur, put the sword down!" Merlin stepped back as Arthur flipped his sword around with his wrist.
"Come on, Merlin! Show me your subtle magic!" He swung at Merlin's head, making him duck.
"Arthur, this isn't funny!" Merlin shuffled away as Arthur lunged at him.
"That's 'cause you have no sense of humor!" he swung down. Merlin leapt aside, feeling the air from the proximity of the swing.
"Are you actually trying to hit me?!" Merlin scrambled, breathing hard.
"You can defend yourself," Arthur laughed, "just make more branches fall!"
Merlin dodged another swing, "I don't want to hurt you!"
Arthur puffed with exhilaration, "Oh! Now, you don't want to hurt me! Tell that to the bump on my head!" He swung his sword full force at Merlin's waist, narrowly missing as Merlin jumped back.
[Emrys!]
Merlin's breathe hitched. He scoured the clearing for the source of the mental call, distracted from Arthur preparing for another attack.
"You're leaving yourself open, Merlin!" Merlin jerked back to attention just in time to skirt another swing, but he lost his balance and fell on his back.
[Emrys!]
"Arthur, stop!" Merlin raised his hand to signal surrender, but Arthur misunderstood the hint of fear in Merlin's voice.
"You've got to make me!" he goaded, moving in for another strike, "Use your magic, Merlin!"
[Emrys!]
Merlin shut his eyes and clenched his fists to his temples, willing the voice to stop echoing in his mind.
"Arthur!" he cried in desperation.
"Merlin!" Arthur ran at him, sword raised.
[EMRYS!]
Arthur brought his sword down, failing to notice his friend's distress until it was too late. Merlin's head snapped up, eyes blazing gold, and Arthur was sent flying backward, landing hard with a loud thud, his sword flung from his grasp.
"Arthur!" Merlin clambered to his side, looking him over with worry and guilt, "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" he wrapped his arms around Arthur's shoulders pulling his head into his lap, trying to provide some measure of comfort as Arthur clenched against the aching pain.
"M-Merlin…" he breathed out in a strained gasp. His own guilt rose as he felt Merlin trembling. "…my fault, I shouldn't have-" he hissed when a sharp jolt shot through the shoulder he'd landed on. "…I told you to make me stop," he chuckled, trying to alleviate Merlin's tension. But Merlin didn't respond. The pain subsided and he opened his eyes. A pit of dread immediately dropped in his stomach. Merlin was staring off into the distance, clearly frightened, completely distracted from Arthur's apology.
"Merlin, what is it?" Arthur sat up, ignoring his protesting body, concern growing when Merlin just shut his eyes and shook his head violently. Arthur glanced where Merlin had been looking, but didn't see anything.
"Merlin!" Arthur grabbed Merlin's shoulders and shook him, "Merlin!"
Merlin's eyes snapped up to his, brimming with fearful tears. Arthur's throat tightened. "Arthur…" he sounded quiet, hesitant.
"Merlin," Arthur mustered a commanding tone he hoped would steady Merlin's nerves, "tell me what's wrong."
It seemed to work. Merlin took a ragged breath and focused on Arthur, "A voice…calling to me…"
Arthur listened. "I don't hear anything," he said, confused.
Merlin shook his head. "You wouldn't. It's a telepathic message. Only I can hear it. Not many can send this kind of call…" Merlin rushed to explain.
Arthur encouraged him with a nod. He still didn't understand it all, but Merlin seemed to calm as he talked.
"What is the voice saying? Is that why you look like a startled deer?" Arthur shifted to one knee, dropping his hands from Merlin's shoulders now that he had stopped trembling.
Merlin shook his head, "Like I said, not many can communicate in this way…" he closed his eyes. Arthur guessed he was hearing the call again. Then it dawned on him.
"You recognize the voice," he stated with certainty.
Merlin nodded, eyes still shut tight.
"Merlin," Arthur shifted closer, his eyes narrowing, willing his friend to look at him, "who is it?"
Merlin swallowed and looked up. Arthur was taken aback at the sorrow in his eyes. When Merlin answered, Arthur's heart clenched and his hand grasped at his waist for a sword that wasn't there. With one word, Arthur understood Merlin's fear:
"Mordred."