So, now they all know. and they know that Merlin knows not that they know.
Time to see what they do about it, now then they know that!
Thanks for MoparGirl1 and Gingeraffealene for kind reviews of chapter 4, P
Published Oct 18, 2020.
5. Birthday surprises
Merlin woke up feeling nicely rested, but to his surprise he found all the travelers gathered at his bedside. And they were singing! Different tunes and rhythm, perhaps, and that must have been what woke him up, Merlin realised. The in-coherence of it all!
Ending a birthday congratulation song, the knights turned to their king, who held out a plate with a slightly to one side leaning pastry, in which a candle was leaning even more.
-"Blow the candle, Merlin," said Arthur. "And don't forget to make a wish!"
Merlin made a small gush of wind which put out the flame, but at the same time two of the knights had opened the curtains, so the room did not go dark.
Lancelot offered Merlin a spoon.
-"You have to at least taste the cake, Merlin, especially this one, made by His majesty himself!"
Merlin's eyes went wide and he gazed curiously up at Arthur from sitting in the bed.
-"Really?" He asked, with such an undertone that all present understood that Merlin would not for his life even think Arthur would be able to cook by himself, even less bake something.
While the knights with more or less success tried either to not burst out laughing, or masking a snort behind a cough, Arthur stood stiffly silent.
-"But, Arthur, and all of you . . ."
-"Yes, Merlin, we know," interrupted Arthur, "This is not really your birthday, is it?"
Merlin's eyes just twinkled merrily.
-"Or, rather, Merlin, we do not know. We have no idea of when your birthday is. There is so much we do not know about you," smiled Arthur, all the way up to his ears. "But we wanted to make you feel appreciated and congratulate you, er, us, for you always being here with us. So, why not give you a special day?"
Merlin's eyes went wide again. Arthur, who knew his servant and friend better than anyone, saw that Merlin was now on the brink of turning red from embarrassment or beginning to cry. Arthur knew he had to rescue Merlin from feeling bad about what they all wanted to be a nice day for him.
-"But, now, Merlin, this was just to wake you up. Breakfast will be ready downstairs. We go down to the main hall, and await you there when you have dressed and are ready to eat.
And so it was, half an hour later, that only one knight was keeping watch from the tower, just twenty minutes at a time, and in the hall they ate and talked and laughed, while the fire in both the large hearths there cracked as merrily as the men present.
When they all have had more than one filling of eggs, sausages, ham and dried fruit, Lancelot stood up.
-"Even though we still do not know when your birthday is, Merlin, we have a special gift for you."
Lancelot held up a large file while all the knights told Merlin their special thanks.
-"You have saved our lives, Merlin."
-"You have tended to our wounds, and made us heal faster than normal."
-"You have felt the presence of bandits, and warned us from what we even could not see."
-"You have helped us win impossible battles."
-"You have fed us and kept us warm and dry wherever we went, for leisure or mission."
-"When in need to choose route, you have always led us right!"
Now Merlin's eyes were definitely watering, so to give him some space the knights went with their plates to the sideboard where the food sat, and left Merlin time to take it all in. The last to leave was Arthur, bowing while handing over the big leather bound file Lancelot had held.
Merlin, sitting very still, almost stunned, at the head of the table where Arthur had seated him, began to slowly sift through the file.
There were drawings!
From the different style, content and use of colour, Merlin guessed that all the knights must have contributed.
Some files were battle scenes. One showed a big branch falling on to a bandit, another a sword falling to the ground, hilt flaming red. One showed the aim of a crossbow directly toward Arthur's heart while its arrow bent off to the right, another a whole lot of bandits, some knocked out, some flying through the air.
But there was more. One showed a shield with snakes coming forth, one a dragon being told off. One was a double portrait of Merlin and a unicorn. One showed a knight being tended to after being hurt. The knight was bandaged, but Merlin the healer had also laid his hands gently on the knight.
One picture showed a growl in a tavern, flying plates and tankards among punching and wrestling men. That one made Merlin smile wildly. Fond memories!
The last picture was a very well made portrait of Merlin, just as he used to look, in his untidy hair, brown jacket and Camelot red neckerchief, but with a hand stretched forward and his eyes glowing golden.
When Arthur spoke, Merlin suddenly realised his was not alone.
-"There is so much we do not know about you, Merlin, we don't even know which day is your birthday! But we have come to know something very special about your life. And we want to celebrate you for who you really are!"
Merlin did not know what to do or to say. Magic was outlawed in Camelot, for Heavens sake, no one could be allowed to know. And had Merlin really been so openly performing magic that even the knights would find out?
-"You are a great friend Merlin." said Percival.
-"And we have not always been as kind to you as we should, continued Gwaine. "You have gotten little help setting up camp, finding wood, lighting fire, cooking. . ."
-"We have won impossible battles," Leon went on. "Only it wasn't us. It was you who did it. For us!"
-"Everyone has been hurt or wounded and pitched up by you," contributed Elyan. "And we have all felt the kindness of yours flow through us like a warm stream of honey mixed with chocolate – just to wake up the morning after healed like we should not be until a fortnight later."
-"When the blizzard surprised us," almost whispered Lancelot, you were the only one to know the right way to go! And I could feel my chain mail not growing cold, but begin to become pleasantly warmer. Didn't we all?"
At this all present in the room nodded violently.
-"But the best for the last, Merlin," concluded Arthur. "This is an old, all but abandoned fortress, not a cosy cottage like the one you grew up in, back in Ealdor. But coming in, it was lit, and warm, the beds were dry and the air was homey, like we were all the guests at yours!"
Merlin was very still, and pale, and silent now.
-"We know Merlin. We sat for long hours paired up in the tower to keep watch, and we talked. We did share what we had seen, and guessed. And it all fit. You have a very special talent, and you have used it for nothing than serving and helping us all those years!"
Arthur's throat got restrained, and it was Leon who had to finish for him:
-"And now when we do know, we are sorry, Merlin. Sorry to you, a dear and loyal friend, that we were not such friends of yours that you could trust us with this.
That finally made it. Merlin broke. He all but fell into a small heap and wept and cried, so floods of tears flew from his eyes.
Again the knights retreated to give him space. The took away what was left of the grand breakfast from the hall and went to get all things washed up in the kitchen.
When they came back, Arthur had obviously had a secret chat with Merlin. What had been said, no one really knew, and neither would ever tell, not even to Guinevere. But the knights could feel the change of atmosphere to a happy, warm one, like it was Yule.
Arthur, seeing they had all returned, raised his voice:
-"To Merlin, the best wizard in the world!"
After a four fold Hurray. Merlin's eyes lit up.
-"If, I may, Sire, can I ask permission to serve you with my special contribution?"
-"Of course, Merlin, what do you want to do now? Just do not let the roof fall down!"
Merlin glared at Arthur like he wanted to retort, but went serious.
-"The blizzard has hidden our tracks, made it impossible to follow us. It is much too cold to be out. And the falling snow hides us from being found. So we can enjoy our stay without keeping watch. I can do that for us."
A happy smile met him at that.
-"And in three days the clouds will disappear. Then, we cannot be outside for long. May I suggest we stay here till the weather gets better for traveling?
When no one seemed to unhappy about that, Merlin glared at them again:
-"But now, gentlemen, I want to ask you a question: How did you have time to prepare all this," and here he gestured to the table and the drawings, "in so short a time?"
At this Arthur disappeared, Or rather hie went so deep Camelot scarlet red, that his face was camouflaged against his cape.
-"Erm, uh . . . you remember when I mistook the sedating herbs to be spices?"
When all had quit laughing, Arthur had to confess he had spiked Merlin's last chalice of wine two days ago, and had him sleep through a full day of preparations.
-"So that is why I did sleep so well and woke up so rested," Merlin began, but was interrupted by hot spiced wine brought in by Lancelot.
And they all sat down in front of the fire, still crackling, but not as happily as the knights, their king and their wizard!