A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sticking with this story! I'm already looking forward to the final update and put an end to this endless fic.
Here is the next long, long, long chapter! Grab a cup of coffee and get comfy.
CHAPTER 51
Rumor Has It
"There's always a little truth shining through in every lie and tale you hear." - UNKOWN.
"Merlin, the crown—it's the other way around…, yes, the red big stone goes to the front."
"Right, sorry," Merlin said correcting it.
Arthur was certain that Merlin could be a lot of things. The best sorcerer to ever live? Guaranteed, but the king of Camelot?
"Are you sure you can do this, Merlin?"
"It will be all right, I rehearsed all night!" A cheerful Merlin answered as he looked himself in the mirror.
He had the king's best robes and coat hanging around his lanky body, but instead of the clothes designed to make everyone look royal and grand, in Merlin, they looked gigantic. If anything they seemed to swallow him, only his face and his hands visible underneath the number of layers. If Arthur was being honest Merlin looked two seconds away from falling to the floor just for the weight of them. He looked ridiculous, to say the least. Which to Merlin's defense was nothing new.
"Arthur, stop pacing around the room, you are going to make a hole, son." Merlin grinned from the mirror.
"Oh," Arthur came to a halt, he had indeed been pacing. He awkwardly settled in crossing his arms around his torso and ordered his limbs to stay put. He bowed bitterly and rolled his eyes at his friend, "Sorry, your highness. I'll stop now."
Merlin laughed merrily before turning on his spot to see himself from his good side, making a serious face while putting his hand on his chest. "Do I look royal? I have never worn royal clothes like these before."
"Well, those are the regal garments of a king, I would be surprised if in this life or the next you wear clothes as expensive as these."
Merlin grumbled under his breath and rolled his eyes playfully. A prat is always a prat.
"All you are missing is the actual face, Merlin, but I think it will be enough," Arthur said kindly, he was still angry with Gaius and his resolve to put all this charade on motion, even against their will, but at least he had to be grateful for Merlin for pulling through this. It wasn't what he wanted, but at the moment was the best plan they had.
A repetitive knock on the door startled them both.
It was Gwaine, reminding them that it was time. After all, under the poly-juice potion's effect, they only had fifteen minutes to work. Arthur hoped that would be enough time to fix everything that had happened and all the questions his people had.
Merlin took the little vial with the potion from the table, he hesitated for a few seconds, instead, he looked towards his friend. Arthur smiled sadly as an answer, he just hoped he looked as convincing as he thought he should feel.
"I just want to say, Arthur," Merlin said, opening the vial with an audible pop, "That I do wish things would've gone differently."
"Me too, my friend, now let us get this over with."
"Well, cheers!" Merlin drank the potion in one go, making a face the whole way before gagging when he finished.
"Oh man, this potion tastes horrible! Like, like frogs and gold and something bloody! Aggh!" Merlin spat to the floor while cleaning his face with the sleeve of his royal attire, "Couldn't Gaius add some apple juice to this?!"
"Oh, stop winning Merlin! It will be…. be… Mer—Merlin, are you alright?!" Merlin's had his eyes crunched while his body trembled as if he were outside in the middle of winter. He was about to fall to his knees when Arthur managed to catch him. "Merlin?" Arthur said frantic, the skin that Arthur could see that was not covered in layers and layers of royal clothes, looked as if it was moving underneath. Merlin's face contorted in pain.
Arthur's fear rose to his skin. This wasn't normal. Merlin gave a little yell and that was it for Arthur.
"Merlin?! GAIUS! Gaius, I need help—I,"
"No! I'm fine, I'm—" Merlin stood up with more force than Arthur thought he had in his body and disappeared inside the bathroom. Arthur followed just to see Merlin throwing up in a bucket.
"No, you are not fine," Arthur's stated, he didn't think twice before running to the door, yelling over his shoulder, "Gaius should know what to do! Maybe the potion wasn't right maybe—"
"Arthur, stop,"
Arthur stopped automatically, his body reacting faster than his mind did. It wasn't Merlin's voice coming from the bathroom.
"It's alright Arthur, I'm fine now, it was only momentarily. A side effect, Gaius warned me."
Arthur's hand trembled on the handle of the door, blue eyes big beyond belief as he turned around. When Gaius said this poly-juice potion will make Merlin look like his father, he never thought it would be like this!
Merlin—no, his father, walked outside the bathroom. The clothes that used to shallow Merlin now dutifully and elegantly fell off the broad shoulders of his father, his face, as serene as ever, was now adorned with a smile that was too cheerful for the king, so it belonged to Merlin, his father never smiled like that. And his eyes, no longer electric blue, shined with bright anticipation. His voice was just as Arthur remembers from when they used to talk more than a few words each day.
Arthur was lost of breath for a moment.
"So? How do I look?" Uther, or the personification of it, said as he walked to the mirror again. Merlin himself almost fell from the impression. His hands went to his face while his eyes roamed his appearance. He was even taller than before! And with a few gained pounds as well, he might add, "I look—gods, I look exactly like the king."
Arthur's eyes prickled a little. He indeed looked like his father, he even smelled like him! Uther and Arthur had not been alone in a room for months and Arthur missed him every day since then, only in the absence of his fatherly love, Arthur could finally see how unwavering his father loved him.
Another few knocks on the door, this time more insistent. "Arthur, Merlin, hurry up, Gaius already stalled the crowd long enough." Gwaine's voice carried from the other side of the doors.
Arthur and Merlin shared a glance before nodding, as they adjusted their attires accordingly.
"This is…this is so..." Arthur said eyeing Melin up and down, dumbfounded.
"Amazing?" Merlin offered.
"That's not the word I would use," Arthur just managed to say as he went to open the door for Merlin, just as he would if it was the true king, "Magic sometimes is so bizarre."
Merlin smiled kindly in return, understanding how Arthur must feel about this. The smile in his father's face made Arthur smile forlornly to himself. It was almost as having his father back. Shaking his head, he obliged his mind to understand that even though he looked like his father, it was Merlin behind the disguise. When he looked and spoke like him, however, it was hard to tell the difference.
"We will be alright, Arthur," And hearing those words mixed with the sound of his father's voice made Arthur truly believe it.
"After you, my king," Arthur managed to say over his astonishment, and Merlin placed his best royal and serious face before the two of them walked out the door.
Gwaine did an excellent job pretending, not at least surprised at the sight as he walked them both to the balcony a few yards away. To the royal balcony where all big announcements were held.
"My king," Gaius greeted them as he bowed his head, along with Maryanne, who gave them a dubious smile as she moved away to allow into the balcony.
Merlin almost tripped when he missed the step and Arthur had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. Merlin will always be Merlin he guesses. Even if he looked like his father.
Gaius had already done a lot of the job when they stepped in and faced the crowd; speaking about the test, the results, who Maryanne was, and what it all meant while he addressed several things that had happened around the city for the past months.
They decided that Uther—aka Merlin—should not waste so much time explaining, since they had just a few minutes. So they sent Gaius to do the first part of the talking, so when Merlin stepped in with his royal disguise he could use his authority to further re-establish and support what Gaius had explained.
Furthermore, they wanted to use that time to address critically pressing matters. The most important one was Arthur's lack of command and authority around Camelot and the knights. Since Uther, the real king, denied he had a son. This Uther will put him in a place of power once again, something Arthur had lost months ago.
For the rest of the small fifteen-minute announcement it was easy for Arthur to forget that his father—his real father—, was inside laying sick in the bed of his room, not so sick so he is truly in pain, but sick enough so he can't even stand for his own. Gaius assured Arthur that he had nothing to worry about because his father was just magically ill. That means the illness was only in his head, and the pain was created by Uther's brain itself. Knowing that didn't make it any less bearable. Arthur still felt betrayed, and the idea of usurping his father's place was still something he needed time to digest.
"It won't be forever," Gaius had told him, "Only until we can fix the vase."
That could very well mean forever.
Arthur sighed as he looked at the crowd and listened to the voice of his father—Merlin's—carrying around them.
As Merlin spoke clearly and royally, it was almost easy to forget the presence of the woman standing on the other side of him—who was clearly confused at the turn of events. Uther had just called her 'Protector of the realm' while offering her a place in court after all, and still, she looked confused every time Uther spoke. Who would've thought that this girl, without even knowing it, had almost threatened his whole kingdom and the future of Albion? With a test that wasn't even real!
Arthur stood straight with his hands locked at the back as he regarded the crowd gathered in the courtyard, from the balcony he could not see all the faces, but he could feel a general emotion. The crowd was so large he could see people standing outside the walls of the castle.
Fake or not this sword in the stone tournament had been an event of a lifetime, it was no surprise such a long crowd had stopped their works that day to hear what the king had to say.
Arthur was brought to the present when Merlin began saying the last part of his speech.
"—the stone test opened my eyes and made me realize that time and health had not always been on my side. It was a clear reminder for myself and the future of this kingdom. A king cannot last forever."
The crowd was silent as they heard the king speak like this, he looked powerful as always. And healthy. But they knew Uther had not been himself lately.
"The tale of the sword says a new beginning is upon us. I agree! Camelot's time to change and prepare for the future has come. For the past few months, my son, Prince Arthur, has been preparing for this under my command and surveillance; going on quests, meeting kings and royals from North to South. He has been gathering allies and making a name of his own. Investing his time in being the best successor for this realm. The heir of my legacy."
The whole crowd cheered and clapped. After all, it was well known that Arthur was a very beloved prince. Some people did not say it, but they were tired of Uther's strict reign and command compared to his son's way of handling things, however, the few noblemen in the crowd who knew Uther's previous condition wondered why he was announcing this when it was clear Uther had yet years to live.
Maybe Morgana's curse had taken a toll on Uther's lifespan?
"My one and only descendant will someday take the throne, and the time to face this reality has come. So is the wish of the prophecies. He is the new light of Camelot. Only time will tell what will the future of this kingdom be, but while we all wait for It, it's with great joy and honor, that I proudly can announce that my beloved son; Prince Arthur, is ready to start his official training to take the sovereignty."
There were more cheers and laughs and cries following the statement. All under them, the crowd received the news with the utmost joy.
Uther looked at Arthur and gave a tight nod while slapping Arthur on the back. Both his eyes watered a little and Arthur could pretend this was indeed his father, saying these words.
Because even if it was all fake, he knew, deep down, that his father wouldn't have anyone else on that chair but him, and this just settled it.
"Long live the future king!" Uther shouted, raising his hands.
"Love live the future king!" Everyone in the crowd cheered, even Gwen from the middle of the crowd left a few tears to fall from her face as he clapped happily. Arthur a king! Or at least soon! How wonderful. Elyan beside her didn't share her sentiments, instead, he just crossed his arms while looking at everyone around him with a grim look on his face. Fools, all of them. He was bitter and always will be bitter with Arthur. Instead, he looked at the woman beside Arthur who was clapping too, still looking very confused at what she was exactly doing there, but clapping nonetheless.
Her hair looked like fire with midday sun over her head.
Maryanne.
Elyan only smiled then.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"That was an amazing speech, my King," Gaius said as Maryanne, Arthur, and Uther stepped inside the castle and closed the doors of the balcony, people still cheering outside, "But I bet you must be tired now. We must still oversee a lot of things! I recommend you rest for a while before your meal and we can meet later."
"Oh, of course, Gaius, thank you!" Merlin answered. Uther's voice was deeper than his and no matter how many times he spoke he was still surprised to hear and feel like the king.
He looked at the small crowd around him, a few noblemen, Lancelot and Gwaine, Arthur, Leon, and Maryanne. They all looked at him differently, well, the few that did know he was Merlin were trying to control their laughs. Gwaine was probably dying to make a joke or two. While the noblemen he had known for years and only had severe looks reserved for him, now looked at him with nothing but respect. Something Merlin had never been on the receiving end. He wondered if the time will ever come.
"I'm indeed tired, my friends, if you excuse me I'll see you all later," Uther said. He could already start to feel his insides aching. It meant time was about to end. Transforming in front of these people would be the end of everything, he took Arthur's shoulder hard with urgency, "Arthur, son, come with me."
The noblemen said their quick goodbyes. Lancelot and Gwaine winked at their friends before they too disappeared along with Gaius. They would pay a visit to the true king hiding on his chambers.
Arthur and Merlin began walking the other way, but as faith would have it, it would not be that easy just yet.
"Your majesty, please, forgive me, but can I steal a bit of your time?"
Arthur and Merlin stopped abruptly when Maryanne walked in front of them with a tentative smile. She looked ashamed and her hands were trembling but if anything she looked confused.
"Please forgive me but, yesterday you said—you said you would explain to me what this test meant. However, I still can't understand. Protector of the realm? A prophecy? Is this was this sword is for? I must protect the pendragon linage? How?" She gripped the sword by her side, now sheathed in a leather holster. Arthur wondered if it would be wise to take advantage of Merlin's desguise and claim it back.
"Maryanne, I— of course, you must have questions. I'm sorry, between the whole expectation of this announcement I forgot to invite you to breakfast and explain."
Arthur almost scoffed. As if there was anything to explain! This girl just needed to stand aside for all that it matters!
"However, right now I'm incredibly late!" Uther said, almost running now, "I must go and attend several… royal meetings. Yes. But my son—my only son, of course, will have a nice walk with you, don't you Arthur? I'm sure as a future king it would be your duty to assess… well, matters as important as these, isn't it?"
"What, you can't—" Arthur said bewildered.
"Arthur, son, it's an order," Uther said firmly, staring at Arthur, before looking at Maryanne once. "If you excuse me, my lady."
And Uther, the king of Camelot, almost ran in desperation around the corner in a hurry to get out of sight.
Arthur had to convey all of his power of will to not shout after him. He should get a medal of gold for his unquestionable patience these past few weeks. Anyone else in his shoes would've already exploded. He was certain. First, he had to deal with the fact that his father was practically unrecognizable anymore, then, he had to save his kingdom from a test he made. And to add to it, he had to explain something that did not exist to the unexpected victor. Because everyone else thought the test to be true.
Figures where lies can take you.
Maryanne in front of him just seemed even more lost than the night before, still staring at the spot where the king had disappeared. Something as close as disappointment showing in her features. Arthur for once felt pity for her, it must be as confusing to her as it was for him sometimes. She had managed to take the sword, yes, but it wasn't her fault that the rest of his world was crumbling down.
"Please excuse him. He's got an important meeting. Kings can't be late." Arthur managed to lie, Maryanne looked at him again, inquisitive, sharp eyes analyzing him. "I need to foresee a few things with my knights, but, after meal today I can meet you in the gardens? I'll answer all your inquires, not that there's much to explain."
Maryanne just nodded gratefully, as she elegantly clasped her hands in front of her.
"Thank you, my lord. I'll see you then"
"Of course."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"Oh! This day needs to be marked in the history of Albion! All kids should know about this!"
"Are you insane? No one can ever know, Gwaine!"
"Still! It was an epic moment. I don't know which part was the best! Merlin, you truly spoke as a king out there!" Gwaine was saying as he drank from his jug of beer.
The whole team was reunited in Gaius's chambers; the usual place they meet for planning. Merlin had placed a spell once again on the door to not be overheard and his friends were all but shouting about the recent events.
"I'm Uther Pendragon, and you must obey me, knight! Bring me a glass of wine!" Merlin said with the best grave voice he could muster, as he played with the royal cape. He was back to his lanky self, and while he was not wearing the rest of the clothes anymore, clothes that Arthur needed to return sooner than later, Merlin had gotten fond of the cape.
Lancelot and Gwaine were just having the time of their lives as they dutifully filled a glass with wine and passed it to Merlin.
"Here, your majesty," Gwaine winked as Merlin it took with all the elegance he was capable of.
The table they were sitting at was bursting with wine, beer, water, and all kinds of fruits and foods. After all, Arthur felt the need to celebrate somehow, after so many months of defeats, this one moment felt like a win. Even so, Arthur could barely eat, torn between celebrating or disguising himself as Knight Arthur and visit his father, even if the man would not recognize him.
Gaius wasn't in the room for anybody's surprise. After all, Arthur and Gaius were not in speaking terms. Yesterday's fight had left them wary of one another. Arthur doubts he will forgive the man be any time soon. Putting his father to a bed was not something Arthur could forgive and forget that easily, and just as Gaius had said he would live with the consequences of his actions, and some of those consequences was that Arthur, at least for a few weeks, does not want to see the man unless strictly necessary.
So Gaius, being the smart man he was, had given the room to the friends while he went to run some errands.
"You conveyed everything exactly as we practiced in the morning." Lancelot said proudly as he noted some things on paper, while with his other hand he munched on a sandwich, "I still don't know how people will react to the news of Maryanne as a protector of the realm, but as far as I'm concerned Uther—that means you, Merlin—made a great job at placing Arthur into his rightful place as heir once more."
"I will solve the vase, Arthur," Merlin said as he munched on some strawberries with gusto, but he was kind when he spoke, blue eyes honest as always, "I will bring your father back so he can live the rest of his life peacefully with you, and only in his death, as it should be, you will inherit the crown."
"I know you will, Merlin," Arthur said, however, after Morgana's death Arthur doubted there was anything else Merlin could do. He had tried for months. But he kept that little hope Merlin gave him guarded inside his heart… just in case.
"I know you hate this plan, Arthur," Gwaine said, sobering up a little, but he was honest in his remark, "But this gave you the power you had been missing. Even the townspeople missed you, you are the prince, the leader of the knights. The face people want to see around town as reassurance that they are safe. You mean so much more than you give yourself credit for. Being away and in hiding for the last few months was starting horrible gossiping around town."
"I'm just glad everything worked out," Arthur said with finality, deciding to put all this in the past, "We will solve the vase in time. For better or for worse I was losing my kingdom. This was the only way to get it back, and we did. I'm happy about that."
While Arthur was speaking calmly, it was clear for everyone on the table that Arthur was again facing some demons and storms on his own.
Merlin would have none of it today. He shoved Arthur's shoulder with his as he raised his brows.
"And speaking of announcements and plans, what are you going to tell Maryanne? I heard the king himself ordered you to walk with her in the gardens, you know, protector of the realm and all that." Merlin grinned and it was only because of years of enduring Arthur's behavior that he was quick enough to dodge a smack to his head.
"Maryanne?" Gwaine asked confused, "What about her? This woman is getting in my nerves,"
"Who thought we would see the day," Arthur joked, and Gwaine scoffed.
"Maryanne has a lot of questions regarding her new position, so of course, Arthur here like the chivalrous prince that he is will give her a walk in the gardens to answer all her inquiries," Merlin announced to the rest of the table before shrugging. "King's orders."
"What further questions? Uther gave her some lands and a place in court," Lancelot said matter of fact, "A great reward compared to most, not even knights earn enough to own lands, yet not so epic, compared to the importance of the test itself, however, is a good reward as any."
"Not only that, she kept the sword," Arthur said with such childish sadness, Merlin almost laughed, "It's my sword, created with dragon's fire just for me. I should have it."
"Unless we think of something either very smart or incredibly cowardly, she gets to keep the sword. It's hers. I know—I know is yours, Arthur, but unless you steal it from her nothing you can say will help."
"I'll get it back somehow," Merlin stated then, moving his cape unconsciously in anxiousness, his mind always working on the next plan, "I can make a replica, not as good, but enough so we may trick her."
"We can try," Gwaine shrugged, "After all, she is a woman, how much can she know about swords?"
"In any case, she does not represent a threat anymore, not after what we stated in the morning." Lancelot said confidently.
"Well, she thinks there is something else. I'm scared my father, in the state he was yesterday, might have said something that left her thinking. Something we won't know," Arthur said now frustrated. "Why can't she be happy with a tittle, money, and fame? What else could she possibly want?"
The whole table looked at him with a deadpanned look on their faces.
Merlin threw him an olive.
"Are you that blind, or you are just playing with us?" Merlin asked confused, even a bit indignant. "She's a woman, the only person who took the sword out. Can you imagine what people were thinking? You are the prince!"
"Yes, Merlin I know. That does not mean I will marry her."
"Of course you will not, but who knows, maybe she had the illusion?" Gwaine suggested.
Women, such amazing intriguing creatures.
"Maryanne thinking herself as a Queen? I had never seen her before in my life! Why would she even think that?" Arthur said perplexedly, "And I don't know what to say! We invented this, I thought it was clear that her presence does not change things."
"Well, you better start preparing a good speech," Gwaine said matter of fact, "If you don't want to go, I can deliver the bad news, I'll make the sacrifice for this team, you look incredibly scared for just a walk in the gardens."
Arthur just looked at him before smiling. Gwaine suddenly felt like he had said the wrong thing.
"Merlin?" Arthur called.
"Y-yes?" Merlin said almost scared.
"Since when has Gwaine been away from night patrols?" Arthur asked concerned.
"I… don't know,"
"You don't know? That means it must be quite a while, isn't it? You know what Gwaine? You are right, I have my power all over again. You are doing two weeks of night shifts with the patrols. How does that sound? It's been quite a while since you have been in patrol duty, isn't it? I think it's a good time to start! Too much free time lately has taken away your common sense it seems. " Arthur said cheerfully he picked some grapes and popped one into his mouth, "I'm still your prince, Gwaine, show some respect."
Merlin chuckled under his breath.
"I had that one coming, isn't it?" Gwaine just sighed, shaking his head in defeat
"You have been pushing your luck, yes," Lancelot conceded hiding a smile.
"Well, better get this over with," Arthur said rising from the table, picking some grapes as he went. "I'll see you all at dinner, we still have a lot to plan."
"Good luck!" Merlin offered as he waved goodbye with this cape.
"Arthur, just one thing," Lancelot called as Arthur was about to leave the room, "Remember, fake or not, she can be an ally now. Use your words wisely. After all, you never know—,"
"—where an ally can come from. Understood. Have you all forgotten I have dealt with things like these since I was born? Everyone can give me at least some credit, and—Merlin, for the love of god stop playing with my father's cape. I'll get you one on your birthday. You look ridiculous, that thing is twice your size."
"Do not insult me, you peasant!" Merlin said as he threw another olive towards Arthur, "And I want it blue!"
Arthur closed the door behind him with a sigh, he was unable to completely enjoy the victory, but still feeling lighthearted in a way. After many months of walking blinding, he finally felt he was seeing some light at the end of the dark path he and Merlin had chosen. So today, even if it would be only today, the air seemed easy to breathe.
He walked the stairs down the castle, eating the last grapes he had carried with him until he reached the South entrance that leads to a small but very beautiful kept garden with intricate paths to walk through.
Just as they had agreed Maryanne was standing there, just over the steps that led down to the gardens, at this time of the day the garden was not empty and he could see a few noblemen walking by.
Maryanne was looking giving him his back as he stared outside, sword sheathed on her right hip. Arthur controlled himself to not roll his eyes. It wasn't as if she was gonna be attacked, wasn't she? At the sounds of his steps, she turned to greet him.
For a moment, just a fleeting second, Arthur almost lost his footing. She was wearing a beautiful dress, nothing like the dress from yesterday, tattered and dirty, or the attire from that same morning. A royal dress Gaius had lent her for the occasion.
No, this green dress used to belong to Morgana.
Before it was Morgana who made the dresses beautiful, she was an attractive and captivating woman. Everywhere she went, Morgana always caught the attention of the guests and noblemen, but unlike his dead sister, the dress fell….almost dull on Maryanne.
She was too skinny to fill it, and not as tall as the previous owner, unlike Morgana's long and luxurious black hair, her hair was the color of copper, and it was so thin that some hairs fell lose from her uncomplicated hairdo. However, the dress was indeed beautiful on its own, and even though Maryanne lacked the outspokenness and eccentric habits of his dead sister, Maryanne seemed to radiate elegance as she carried it.
Overall, she looked decent, almost lovely, Arthur could concede. After all, her sickness kinda overtook over the general vision of her…
…Or maybe he was still bitter with her for having his sword to be truly objective.
"Forgive me my tardiness," Arthur said as he stopped beside her, Maryanne shook her head, "You look lovely, lady Maryanne."
"I just here myself, my lord," Maryanne bowed a little and looked at the dress with a grimace, "I'm not used to these kinds of dresses, to be honest, but the king said I could have whatever I wanted from the room, part of the gifts of being the victor of the test. Seeing I was going to be at the castle I thought it would be appropriate.."
"It's perfectly fine, now, shall we?" Arthur offered his arm so they could walk, but instead, the woman gave a tight smile and started to walk on her own, expecting Arthur to catch up with her.
Arthur took a big, deep breath as he composed himself and followed her. Well, at least this woman was rebellious, he will give her that, the only thing she shared with the pendragon family.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Camelot was a fascinating country, and its capital that shared the same name was an even more interesting city.
It was the capital of one of the seven kingdoms that one day would become, hopefully, Albion. Out of the seven, Camelot must be the second If not the first most powerful kingdom, just in rivalry with Cenred's kingdom; Essetir. A king which, of course, after siding with Morgana years ago it had fallen into a dark place after their defeat.
Gwaine, a world traveler before becoming a knight, knew people from all over the place and beyond the seas. Eventually, he settled now saw Camelot as his forever home. The castle had become his residence, as he worked for the future king of Albion; Arthur Pendragon, and for the best sorcerer he had ever met; Merlin. A future he could not wait to see become a reality.
The city was prettier than most, didn't have a sea close enough, like Dravos, but beautiful in its own way. The people in the capital of Camelot were kind and brave, caring, they greeted everyone in the streets, and knew each other by name. Some were rebellious, some were very talented craftsmen, some were noblemen with lots of lands, while others worked those lands, and some of them were only good at spending their money on women and beer. Trust him, he would know.
All in all, Camelot was a good city to live in.
However, there was one thing that Camelot was very, very good at. More than anything else. The thing Camelot was famous for, was its ability to always be under some kind of problem or calamity, and those problems always spread wild as fire across the realm.
You see, Camelot was the city with most prophecies, rumors, tales, and all kinds of legends. The prophecies that befall Camelot and its crown are famous all around the kingdoms.
The prophecies of a king unable to have children gave birth to one. The Golden Son.
The legend of how Camelot fell into eternal fire but survived.
The Tale that inside of the castle, at the deepest part of its dungeons, a golden dragon, old as time, lives in eternal captivity.
How it was cursed by a magician to endure an infinite draught, and how Arthur went to a quest to break it.
The rumor that Morgana was the woman designed to end the Pendragon legacy.
They were not always called prophecies, of course, that meant there was some magic involved in those tales. People called it legends. And people, people just loved…to talk.
To put it bluntly, people were good at gossiping.
About everything.
The fact that Arthur its seen as the most powerful prince to ever take the throne it not for the lack of proof. The things Arthur has faced and survived are sung and told at bonfires and taverns all around the realms. They are bed-stories for kids that dream to become knights. Gwaine guesses Merlin had everything to do with most of the happy and cheerful endings of those stories.
Merlin just never gets recognized, does he?
All in all, Gwaine has heard it all. Now that he was a knight himself he has heard his name being sung once or twice now. But hey, who was he to judge and criticize a good storyteller, or a good no-harm-done gossip around him and how many ladies had fallen into his bed.
And trust him, when you are a knight working for the crown, chatter always carried very interesting news. For good or for worse. And right now, as Gwaine sat in civilian clothes, beer at hand, at one of those sketchy taverns in the lower town, where knights tend to not even drop by, he listened to very, very, very, concerning news.
"—at least Morgana is dead." A woman was telling her friend as they moved around the tavern cleaning dirty tables with even more dirty rags. Taking those few precious seconds to talk over the noise of men laughing and yelling. "Isn't that a relief, Mila?"
"Good lord yes, Prince Arthur, was very brave." The youngest one, Mila, said with a smile.
"Is there anything he does wrong? Ever?"
"Yes, not marrying me for once," Mila stated before she left to see another table full of drunk men asking for more beer while waving their empty jars, calling for her attention. Gwaine silently moved to a table whose occupants were playing a very interesting game of cards. The second he settled to listen Gwaine knew this was not good news.
"—you believe it? A 'Protector of the realm' Uther claims her to be? He's not fooling me; I'm telling ya'"
"Well, Rupert, care to enlighten us, mate? What else could she be?" A young red-haired man said, apparently used to the antics of his friend as he just kept looking at his cards with concern, rather than listen to his friend.
"She's going to become our prince's wife, that's clear to me!"
"A wife?"
Gwaine faked interest on his jar of beer, this was why he was here, after the announcement Merlin disguised Uther had made a week ago Gwaine had gone every night undercover to different places around town to try and see what was the people saying about this new turns of events.
"A wife. That's what I said. There is no other explanation, haven't you heard the rumors? Gwen—"
"Lady Gwen, Rupert, show some respect, she earned her place in court," Said the oldest man with a large beard.
"Yes yes, whatever, Lady Gwen, well, the girl is not speaking to Arthur, had not been speaking since Knight Elyan, the poor lad, came back from the dead. Remember there was a funeral and everything? Everyone thought he was dead!"
"It was horrible, you don't say, but what does have the new girl do as a wife? Arthur has to marry a princess, isn't it? This girl ain't no princess." The red-haired man spoke.
"Neither is Lady Gwen and everyone knows how our prince dotes after her." The oldest said as he bet one golden coin to the center. Terrible choice. Gwaine thought. A pair of aces was definitely not a good move. "Ian, your turn."
"Well, I could understand, Lady Gwen is beautiful. And kind, I met her once." Ian, the red-haired, decided to withdraw from the round, putting his hand down and getting rid of the cards. He made a face as he took a long sip of wine. "It's been a long night and all I'm losing is my money. So, Rupert, you in our out?"
"In. Two more golden coins." Rupert threw some coins into the center before leaning on his elbows. "But you haven't heard the best past yet. I could see our prince marrying Lady Gwen, not that I care, the crown has never done anything useful for me, but, I just heard from my cousin, who heard from a merchant in the high town, who heard from a cook in the kitchens that something else is going on in the palace."
"And what could that be?" The old man said, already tired from the conversation as he showed his game, loosing horribly against the imperial flower of Rupert. Who just laughed and retrieved his money from the center of the table to his corner.
Gwaine could give him that, he was good at betting, and in another time he would have joined the man to a hand or two of cards, however, right now what he was hearing was far from convenient. In fact, it wasn't something he thought he wouldn't hear that night.
"Everyone in the higher and lower town is talking about it." Rupert continued after dealing the new round of cards and getting a refill on the jug of cheap wine from one of the youngest girls serving tables.
"What rumors?" Ian asked perplexed at his cards before focusing on Rupert, "You either tell the whole story, mate, or just shut up and let us play in silence, because—"
"There was a writing on the stone."
"What?" The old man, who was inspecting the end of his jug put down his cards and for the first time, the air seemed tense. "What did you say?"
Silence for a few seconds. Even Gwaine held his breath. Had he been drinking he would've have choked on his beer.
Rupert looked at his friends with a cocky grin. He had finally got their attention.
"There was a legend inscribed on the rock," Rupert said in a low voice, marking each word carefully. "After the sword was taken well, everyone forgot about the rock quickly, but a few went to see it today, after the whole speech our King did this week. To mourn their chances, I guess, of becoming 'protectors of the realm', not that anybody knows what does that even mean!"
"And what does it say?" Ian said perplexed, almost angrily. "There was nothing on it. I tried it twice! Did it say how to take it out?"
Rupert laughed wholeheartedly.
"No, no, no, my dear friend, you see, that's why no man could do it. The sword in the stone test was not for a protector of the realm, not physically. The test of the stone was not meant for Arthur but it was… for him." Rupert said matter of fact, rejoicing in the attention he was getting from his friends, "Uther was looking for a protector for the royal lineage!"
"But how?" Ian asked again perplexed, "Why?"
Rupert made a signal over his large belly sobering up a little, lowering his voice and looking melancholic for a moment. "Our Queen died giving birth to our prince, Arthur, maybe this woman… is supposed to be…our Queen, or so it says the damned rock anyway. Maybe they don't want to let it happen again. Lose a Queen."
"Who wouldn't let it happen? Rupert, you're talking nonsense. How could that be possible?" Said the old man, betting a few coins to the center. The atmosphere cleared and people began losing interest just like that.
Gwaine loved drunk men. But he stayed to listen more.
"Them, Arthur and Uther," Rupert just shrugged then, betting five golden coins to the pile. "I mean, who would like to lose their wife and mother, right? All over again? Not me."
"And how could anyone prevent that, Rupert, mate, I think you just drank too much," Ian said, withdrawing once more.
"Magic."
At the mention of magic, his friends tensed and Gwaine pretended to drink his beer, but no one else in the bustling bar seemed to notice.
"Rupert, shut up, what—"
"Uther said it a week ago; that sword was part of an ancient legend. It must be magical," Rupert said with finality, giving Ian a meaningful glance, "If that girl who looked as weak as Ian here managed to take it out… maybe it's true. Maybe it's magical. Some people around town are starting to believe it too, maybe she is the new Queen and its Arthur's destiny to be with her."
"Like a prophecy?" The old man said with grief. Magic was a curse on this land.
"Like good magic prophecy, may I remind you all magic isn't bad?"
The look Rupert gave his friends made Gwaine ponder over the number of people living in Camelot in contact with magic. Living in a country where magic is banned, but your best friend is a magical powerful being makes you aware of certain things. Like how Ian had his eyes fixed on the coins on the table with a pensive look.
He had seen in Merlin a million times.
Suddenly the red-haired young man, Ian, was more intriguing to Gwaine that ever before, but he didn't dwell on that thought much. Neither did he stay longer at the tavern. Merlin and Arthur needed to hear about this. And quick.
"I just think it's magic, destiny, or whatever, protecting the realm, that's it." Rupert said quietly, with more sense in his words than Gwaine wanted to accept, "A new change of ruler… who knows but— well, just my thoughts. That girl could very well, just be, well, a girl, lucky enough to gain a place in court."
Ian and the old man spoke no more after that, everyone immersed in their thoughts, before Ian finally placed the rest of all his coin at the center. Giving the conversation another turn.
"All in, I'm sick of losing all my money, let's just finish and go home."
Gwaine didn't stay to see who won the last round of cards. Instead, he finished his beer, tipped the kind young lady who was serving, and left the bar with more news that he was ready to muse about.
A writing? There was something inscribed on the rock that he didn't know?
See? Camelot loved to gossip, and there was a saying that you could hear more truths in a tavern full of drunk people with cheap beer, that in the middle of the ballroom full with noblemen with expensive wine.
And gods, if that wasn't true.
Gwaine jumped on his horse tied outside the pub and threw a few coins in the direction of the young sleeping lad in charge of keeping watch, who gave a loud snore as a thank you.
"Bless Camelot and it's taverns, am I right?" Gwaine said to no one as he disappeared in the night.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
It took Gwaine twenty whole minutes to wake Merlin up, boy does Merlin sleeps when he wants to. Another half an hour to find Lancelot, who had been on patrol and was now just coming back to the castle, then the three of them went to wake up Arthur, and Gwaine was already thinking if waiting till morning would have been a wiser idea.
"So? Who will wake him up?" Merlin asked looking at Lancelot hopefully with an impish grin. Hoping it would work. It didn't. Lancelot just held his smile as he opened the door so Gwaine could shove weak, lanky Merlin inside.
"Traitors!" Merlin hissed from the other side as Gwaine and Lancelot shrugged as they kept the doors closed. Better him than them.
As a result of their actions, Merlin almost lost his head because; "Really Merlin? The first night I can sleep in forever and you wake me?!"
Lancelot and Gwaine cringed on the other side of the door as Arthur yelled into the night, but sooner rather than later, an angry sleepy Arthur with chaotic hair, and clothes messily put on opened the door for them.
"This better be good, Gwaine." Arthur said plopping on his chair and Lancelot and Merlin took other places around the table "It's been a long… long—I can't even say week. It feels like a whole life. But, please, do proceed. What is it that you have to tell me and couldn't wait for a few more blessed hours?"
Gwaine didn't hesitate as he stood in front of his friends.
"Well, remember when you told me to keep watch on the rumors around town?"
"I remember, it has been six days since then. What did you find out that couldn't wait until morning? I'm sure people are talking about me and this girl all kinds of things, but—"
"Is there something I don't know?" Gwaine asked out of a sudden, "Is there something I should know?"
"Gwaine, is way, way past midnight, can you please just say it?" Lancelot begged, rubbing his eyes.
Merlin just yawned.
"Oh, alright, fine, I mean the sword. I just heard…" Gwaine slowly sat on a chair, his manners sobering everyone on the table who paid more attention.
"Gwaine?" Arthur asked perplexed, "what is it?"
"There's a writing in the stone. A legend… carved into it. Did you know? Have you guys sneaked at night to write it? Is this some part of the plan I don't know? It sounds like it."
"A legend?" Arthur said perplexed. One night of full sleep. That's what he wanted but never what he would get, isn't it?
"There's nothing written into it?" Merlin said calmly, but his blue eyes looked troubled and he sat up straighter, "Remember this was all a story we made up. It was just a sword in a stone, nothing else. It didn't work but,—"
"Well, I was just there and saw it with my own eyes." Gwaine said, getting worried by the second and the implications of what the legend and rumors spreading around town could mean, suddenly Gwaine was very aware of what Rupert meant in the tavern, "If what you say it's true, we better go right now and erase it before more people see it."
"More people see it?" Merlin asked confused, "What do you mean more people seeing it? People are still going to the rock?" He was already standing up, his eyes shining gold to convey the sword on the corner to the room to his hand. Once he caught it, he flawlessly gave it to Arthur's already waiting hand.
"An inscription, how?" Arthur was bewildered as he threw a more decent shirt over his head before looking at Gwaine, sword strapped to his belt as he led the way out of the room. "What does it even say?"
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
When the four of them stopped their horses just at the entrance of the field where the sword in the stone test took place, they quickly realized that they had not been the only ones curious enough to sneak way past midnight to see what people were talking about.
Drunk men made terribly but adventurous choices it seems. A small group of men was concentrated around the rock, all sticking together with torches and made up fire lamps to keep warm. Apparently, they were drunk enough to think of walking to this place in the middle of the night was a good idea, but sober enough to walk and don't die trying. Who even thought this was a good idea?
The three men from the tavern were there too, talking in excited voices sharing a jug of wine.
Well, there's that.
"Oh, Rupert, what have you done lad," Gwaine whispered to himself.
"Perfect, now what?" Arthur said looking at Merlin hopefully, who just shrugged tiredly.
"I can't disappear a crowd, Arthur."
"What are they even doing here?" Arthur whispered under his breath assessing the situation. "I thought no one would be here, it's the dead of night!"
"They were at the bar," Gwaine said, he was the first to dismount and tie his horse to the tree, "It's them I heard talking about this."
Ian, the red-haired boy, was the first to take notice of them, he raised his torch when he heard movement, even when they were still far away to even be seen properly. And walked in their direction to welcome them.
"C'mon! Come and see, you must have heard too, isn't it?" Ian said drunker than in the tavern, probably they had taken wine and beer all the way here to make the walk doable. "It's like magic! It's like…like—" Ian lost his voice as he finally saw who the people in the horses were. "My prince."
Arthur, finally seeing there was no reason he should doubt himself or his presence here, dismounted, making a sign for the rest of his friends to follow him.
"Good evening, Ian," Gwaine said with a nod, the boy astonished just quietly stepped out of their way.
Arthur didn't bother slowing his pace. The excitement around the damned rock and the look on his people's faces troubled Arthur. The last few yards he felt like running but he controlled himself. When he was close enough the crowd parted to make room for them. They even offered them beer and wine while they slurred under their breaths their excitement.
Arthur almost lost his footing when he was finally close enough to see what everyone was talking about. The prince's hand instantly went to his sword. As if the rock itself was a threat.
"Arthur…" Merlin whispered in horror as he too came close enough to see. Merlin quickly looked around the faces in the crowd. Lancelot and Gwaine looked torn at what to do. Should they force the people apart from them? Should they just destroy the rock and let people talk?
Finally, under the light of the torches, Rupert, who had cared less about the newcomers, realized who was standing there. "Prince Arthur…" Rupert said as he almost fell to the ground. "My lord, what—what are you doing here?"
At the mention of the prince everyone instantly sobered up, some even choking on the news as they took a second glance.
"Knights?" A man said looking at Lancelot's red cape floating softly in the wind behind him. He had not taken it off after his patrol.
"Rupert, I told you this was a bad idea!" Ian whispered as he tugged his friend backward. Some took a few steps away too. What was prince Arthur doing here in the middle of the night? Even more pressing matters was the fact that they were all drunk in places they should not be wandering around.
Arthur, on the other hand, had not even paid any attention to them whatsoever.
As the people began to walk away from the prince, Lancelot was finally able to read what Gwaine was talking about. He stared at the rock in disbelief. "Impossible."
"What is the meaning of this?" Merlin looked around the crowd. Demanding an explanation, "Who wrote this?"
After a few second of terse silence, he got an answer
"No one, sir." Ian said earnestly, "As I said…magic. It's a prophecy, isn't it? It's—"
"Ian! Shhh," Rupert pushed him behind him, looking at Arthur's back apprehensively. But the prince of Camelot did not even flinch, too focused on the rock, he had not even faced the crowd yet.
There, in perfect ancient scribbling, not an inch out of place, were some carved words that stared back at Arthur in silence, but they seemed to resound in his head ominously and loudly.
Words that had not been there before.
He felt like kicking the rock with his bare hands and pulverize it. This rock had meant nothing but trouble, he wishes they had come here sooner to destroy the evidence, now it was too late.
Each word felt a like wound. And destroying it would only make it more real.
"Arthur—" Merlin tried.
"I heard rumors that people were coming in the dead of the night to the rock, I just came to see with my owns eyes what all the disturbance was about," Arthur said out loud, still not turning his back from the rock. But his voice clear and demanding, to which the crowd felt beckoned too. "Now I see I shouldn't have bothered, just scribblings on a rock."
"But, my prince, is it true?" Someone either brave or just too drunk asked from the crowd.
Arthur tensed, before turning to face the man. "As true as the stories that are shared in taverns. We must not believe everything we see, this could very well be a joke to the crown, beware of not being found guilty of this. You know the king it's not very merciful when it comes to magic."
The man around shared anxious glances, one of them even threw up. Ian, with hair as fire, just gulped.
"I, on the other hand, will turn a blind eye," Arthur finally said, hands on his hips as he sighed, as he eyed the crowd, trying to commit to memory each face, "I know no harm was done here, and I know none of you did this. You are just as curious as I was. Gwaine and Lancelot will escort all of you back to the city. There are thieves around this clear, it's dangerous, you shall all know this. We are too far to cry for help this far from Camelot."
The crowd didn't need to be told twice, all of them bowed and said their goodbyes. Soon the dozen or so of men disappeared with Gwaine and Lancelot, who left with a sickening feeling that somehow Arthur's clever speech had done nothing.
It was until they were alone that Arthur's calm façade vanished. In rage, he took a nearby candle lamp nearby and crashed it against the rock. The rock did not even scratch. Merlin even took a step back as Arthur turned in his spot to face Merlin.
"Arthur, I—"
"What is destiny playing at Merlin, uh?! What are we doing so wrong that every time we think we do something right something happens?! How am I supposed to fix this?" Arthur didn't wait for Merlin to speak. "I'm so tired, Merlin! First, my father, who is so mentally ill that he cannot leave his room anymore, now this?! Is this some kind of punishment for taking over him? How is it, Merlin, tell me, oh so great sorcerer of all times, that you could not see this happening?!"
"Because it wasn't meant to happen!" Merlin answered truthfully, "I still—"
"That's all you always say!" Arthur yelled out of breath. His voice contorted in pain and anger, blue eyes filled with unshed tears. "My father wasn't meant to forget me. The test of the stone was supposed to help me. You were supposed to solve the vase. I'm supposed to bring Albion to life. You are supposed to do all these amazing things! Well, how come everything just stays in 'supposes' because so far we have accomplished nothing!"
"Arthur—"
"I just wonder! Merlin! How come that before I knew of your magic things were easier? Every day since then has felt like a small war inside of me! I'm not saying we are not right, but how come it's so hard to do all the right things? I have been in a silent war against my people, my father, my throne. Doings things behind everyone else¿s back because I believe magic is good. And yet every time I take a step in that direction something seems to happen and pushes us two steps back. How many mistakes? How many 'It wasn't meant to happen' will we endure? Until my dad dies? Until something we do is unfixable? When, Merlin, will it be enough?"
Merlin's hand trembled as he lacked the answers to all those questions. "I'm sorry I can't solve everything. I'm sorry, Arthur."
And he was. Arthur knew that, however, knowing things does not make it easier sometimes. He just nodded and sighed.
They stood in silence for a few minutes allowing Arthur to catch his breath while Merlin leaned on the floor to get a better look at the words that occupied the whole one side of the rock, in a second he knew a job like this could have not be done by a mere human. The words were beautiful and precisely done. With such finesse that a common man with common tools would ever be capable of doing such extraordinary work.
This had to be done by someone with magic.
"Get rid of everything here," Arthur said startling Merlin. "The torches could start a fire, its dangerous."
"What about the rock? I could erase the words, or add to them." Merlin offered. "At least it would stop people from coming."
"It's too late," Arthur said with a heavy sigh, looking at it once more as if by just staring the words would disappear. "We should have destroyed it a week ago. Now it won't do us any favors, the whole town must know now by now. If I destroy it people will start talking about it, even more so when rumors get to Camelot that I was here the night before it happened. The more you show you care the more people are interested. Uncomplicated psychology. Destroying it would mean I care what it says, and that I believe in it."
"And you don't?" Merlin could help but wonder. He knew he had asked the wrong question when Arthur glared at him.
"Don't be foolish, Merlin. I'll see you back at the palace." Before Merlin could answer Arthur had already left without looking back, leaving the sorcerer alone in the field with the rock and its riddle.
At least the torches were still giving some light and warmth in the cold night as he inspected it closer. The fire made all kinds of shadows against the new words scribbled in there in perfect lettering. Merlin's hand hovered over them for a few moments, trying to detect if there was magic still lingering around, while his slender fingers followed each letter.
They did not feel magical in the slightest, and yet, they felt heavy on his heart.
Long live the Queen of Camelot
Merlin sighed as he pressed his head against the rock, how did this happen? Were Arya and Kilgarrah right? They were moving destinies all around the kingdom, so at the same time, they were creating all this? It was their fault this was happening?
Unable to find answers on his own, Merlin stood up, his eyes shined gold while he looked around the field. He softly blew in the wind, a burst of magical air swept the clearing, the fire in the torches and lamps scattered around died down, and with a movement of his arms, he beckoned them to rise in the air and closer to him, as he moved, the lamps and torches followed him.
In the darkness, with his trinkets sometimes colliding against one another, he took the long road on his horse to go back to Camelot.
A/N: As always I'll wait for your reviews! They make me smile all the time I believe I cant finish this!
-Juliet'lovestory-