Hello my darlings. I would like to thank Guest, gaylelbf, KittyAnn (Guest), Gingeraffealene, Meri Ley (Guest), MindForgedMan, Guardian of the Inheritance and mersan123 (Guest) for the wonderful reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So here is the next chapter, it is set in season 3 chapter 12, 'the coming of Arthur, Part 1'. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, nor do I own any words taken from the show.
Merlin regained consciousness only to find Arthur slapping his face and a group of men standing around him. Well this certainly wasn't the horses they had been riding. He knew this was going to go wrong. Typical.
"Seriously?" He asked Arthur even as the other man lent down to pull him up.
"Its fine, Merlin." Arthur replied seeing the worry in his friend's eyes. Okay sure, they were in some kind of prison, but surely they could find their way out? Together they could do that, right? I mean Merlin was … well Merlin, and he was prince Arthur of Camelot. They could do this.
But before Arthur could say anything more to his friend, or see if they could develop a plan together another man touched his shoulder. He didn't even hesitate to grab it as he spoke. "Touch me again, and you die."
But close on his words was Merlin's own. "Gwaine?"
And that was all it took for Arthur to recognise the man imprisoned with them. He couldn't help but feel relieved. After all two swords were always better than one, even if they didn't actually have any swords right then. He was sure they could find some. Therefore he let the conversation the other man and Merlin had run over him as he tried to think of a way out of the situation.
Of course it was then that their captors arrived and tried to take Merlin as their challenger against the champion. Arthur knew Merlin could handle himself. Knew he would win that fight, but the idea that maybe there was a way for both of them to gain an exit from the pit they were in entered his head. Therefore he spoke in his most arrogant tone. "Who is this so-called champion? Can he crush nothing but weaklings like this?"
Merlin turned to him then but Arthur refused to look at him. This was their way out. The man in front of them knew they had come in together, would know Arthur was trying to protect his weaker friend, and therefore he would no doubt bring Merlin out as well. And that was all they needed to get out of here. Together they could fight through those this slate trader had, right?
Therefore when Jarl the slave trader asked if he could offer a better contest he didn't hesitate to respond, "I guarantee it."
Of course his plan went slightly pear-shaped when it was revealed that the champion was none other than Gwaine. But they could make that work, surely?
Gwaine stood there panting after running for his life with Merlin and Arthur. He was so glad to get out of Jarl's castle. It was one place he never wanted to go again. It wasn't fun having to fight for your life for a bunch of slave traders after all. He was just about to put voice to these words to his two companions when one of the others spoke first.
"What was that?" Merlin demanded of Arthur when he had gotten his breath back enough to do so.
"What was what?" Arthur asked in confusion. They had gotten out, the plan had worked perfectly, even if he had to alter it so he had to pretend fight Gwaine before Merlin intervened. It still worked, so what was Merlin going on about now?
"Oh I don't know, maybe the whole throwing yourself forward into danger. I could have taken care of myself. You did not need to do that." Merlin replied indignantly. He had not needed Arthur to offer himself to be the fighter when Jarl had chosen him first. He could have gotten out of there and gotten Arthur, and the other man knew that, so why did he do it?
"You and I both know your rubbish with a sword Merlin. And it worked didn't it? We got out." Arthur replied, cutting his eyes to Gwaine who was with them. He didn't know if the other man knew of Merlin's magic, and if he didn't he wasn't going to be the one who told him. That was Merlin's secret to share, not his.
"Your plan was half-baked. If I hadn't have intervened we would all be dead." Merlin responded with a huff of disbelief. I mean Arthur and Gwaine had only gotten as far as to pretend fighting, they hadn't worked out an exit. It was him who had done that.
"But I knew you would intervene, Merlin. Gwaine and I were the distraction so you could do you thing." Arthur responded simply with a look that clearly said he expected Merlin to know that already. But how could he? He wasn't a bloody mind-reader was he?
"My thing! My thing! One this days Arthur, one of these days-" Merlin replied vehemently. Oh one of these days he would be too late and Arthur would die because of his idiotic plans. Just he wait… one day.
"One these days what? You and I both know you'll not let me die and vice versa. So stop arguing." Arthur responded with a wave of his hand, dismissing Merlin's words easily. There was no way that either of them would let the other die.
Merlin opened his mouth to say something else, he wasn't sure what but it would be good, but before he could he was interrupted.
"Hey. Stop, the pair of you. Arthur, Merlin is right, the plan was half-baked, and Merlin unless you can create fire with your hands tied behind you back and I don't see how you could have gotten us out of there." Gwaine interrupted not sure what was going on, but really thinking now wasn't the time for the two he was with to argue. Though he knew they did it… a lot.
At that Merlin rubbed the back of his neck as he looked down at the ground and Arthur stared at him. "Ah, yes, um, well. I actually can." He said quietly not sure about telling Gwaine about his magic. He hoped the other man was okay with it. Oh he really hoped he was, because he knew they could use all the help they could get on this mission of Arthurs.
"Can what?" Gwaine asked with a frown of confusion as he turned to Merlin wondering what he was talking about.
"Create fire with my hands tied behind my back. In fact I can do quite a lot of things with my hands tied behind my back." Merlin replied with a shrug and a goofy smile on his face hoping it would disguise what he was saying. What he meant by the words that had left his mouth.
"What?... wait. Merlin, mate, are you… do you have… magic?" Gwaine asked in a flabbergasted voice. There was no fear, he'd seen enough in the world to know that magic wasn't as bad as Camelot made it out to be. But he'd never thought his friend, that Merlin had it. I mean for a start he was the servant to the crown prince of Camelot, Gwaine was pretty sure that precluded all forms of magic.
"Umm. Yes." Merlin replied rubbing his neck once more as Arthur smirked at seeing Merlin embarrassed. This was actually really fun, he thought, and he neglected to think how he would have responded before Merlin. Neglected to think that before he would have struck first and asked questions never.
Gwaine on the other hand wasn't so forgiving of the past. And as such turned to Arthur with steel in his eyes as he asked in his most casual of voices, "And Prince Arthur of Camelot, how exactly do you feel about this?" Even while his hand tightened around the sword he had gained in the castle. He would use it against Arthur without thought if he even tried to hurt Merlin. Because Merlin was his friend, and he would do anything for him.
"Well considering he has saved my life more times I can count, I think he is an asset to the kingdom, one I am not prepared to lose in a sword fight. Now let's go." Arthur replied enjoying how his words caused Gwaine's eyes to widen. He wanted to make sure the other man knew he wasn't Merlin's only friend. He would have his back too, because he was his brother. He would always be there for him.
"Go where?" Gwaine asked recovering from the revelation that Arthur knew of Merlin's magic and didn't care. In fact seemed to see it as an advantage. Well, he had certainly never seen that coming. He really needed a drink right about then… or maybe it was the drink that was still affecting him. Was he hallucinating right then?
"To retrieve the cup of life from the druids." Merlin responded simply moving to walk beside Arthur as they made their way towards their destination.
"Merlin, what part of secret do you not understand?" Arthur asked in a sigh of exasperation. He should have known better than expect Merlin would keep this from Gwaine but really, he should have. He knew what power the cup had, the less who knew where they were going and why the better in Arthur's mind.
"The part where this is the second quest Gwaine has joined us on? I trust him." Merlin responded without thought, as if his words had a weight a servants shouldn't. And Arthur hearing them couldn't help but smile, because he knew it was true. Therefore without another argument he agreed.
"Fine." He shrugged, pressing onwards.
And so they carried on the quest for the cup of life, with one more in their party. Though Gwaine was still very much in shock over discovering Merlin has magic and more shocked over the fact Arthur is okay with that, not to mention that Merlin's trust seemed to also give him Arthurs. What had he missed between these two while he was in exile?
Of course it did not take him long to recover and start asking Merlin all the questions he could think of about his magic. Some questions Arthur was pleased to find he already knew the answer to, but others, well he couldn't hide the fact he was listening in, finding out all he could about his friend's powers. For all they had discussed everything Merlin had done, the how had been decidedly lacking, but now with Gwaine asking the questions, Arthur couldn't help but listen to the answers, gaining even more insight into the part of his friend he still barely knew.
Arthur Merlin and Gwaine finally arrived at the cave mouth, with the help of the one who had magic that was with them. But when they got outside Arthur stopped.
"Right, Merlin. Your turn." He said gesturing to the cave in front of them.
"Excuse me?" Merlin asked in disbelief. What, did Arthur expect him to just walk in there and ask for the cup and come out with it in hand? Okay sure, he could probably do that, but that didn't mean he was going to.
"Well I doubt the druids are going to hand over the cup of life to me. You on the other hand…" Arthur responded with a shrug as if it seemed simple to him, even if his friend didn't see it that way.
"You want me to use my… status with them to get the cup?" Merlin asked just to clarify what Arthur was asking. He wanted him to go in there as Emrys and get the cup of life. Was he mad?
"Yes." Arthur responded glad that Merlin understood what he was saying.
"No." Merlin replied simply.
"Merlin. We have to do this, and you do not have a choice, I am ordering you to go in there to get the cup of life." Arthur responded with a roll of his eyes. He knew Merlin would make this difficult. He always did after all.
"We really don't, Arthur. Can't we just tell Uther we couldn't find the cave?" Merlin begged. He did not have a good feeling about this. It was as if something was whispering to him. Something was telling him that this decision, what was done here right now, would change everything. And he wasn't ready for things to change. He had Morgana on their side, and yes she still hated him but at least she sided with Arthur. What if getting the cup caused her to side with Morgause again? How could he allow that to happen?
"He will not believe it. Go on." Arthur argued back, not ready to leave the cup here. He knew his father. If they failed he would send an army for it, and that would not go well. It would start a war that he did not want his people involved in.
"This is not right." Merlin muttered, but even as he did so he knew he would do what Arthur asked.
"But it still needs to be done. We are right behind you, aren't we Gwaine?" Arthur responded turning to the other man with them who had been surprisingly quiet.
"Oh yeah, one step behind, maybe two or three." Gwaine replied not sure how he felt going into a cave full of druids. Not that he had anything against them, but more he really didn't want to invade their privacy.
"Don't listen to him. Let's go." Arthur responded with a roll of his eyes before setting forwards towards the mouth of the cave. He knew Merlin would follow him, and well it was the best way he could think of to get his friend inside.
Upon entry they could see the evidence that people lived there, but it was empty.
"Where is everyone?" Arthur asked turning to Merlin who had his head tilted to the side and a small smile on his face.
"They're here. We mean you no harm." Merlin replied his voice echoing around the cavern.
Arthur was just about to ask what Merlin was on about when suddenly people appeared around them.
"You seek the cup of life, do you not, Emrys?" Iseldir asked to the young man in front of him.
"We do." Merlin replied in a solemn voice that had Arthur standing straighter. It was the same voice he used when he was being wise, and when he talked about his magic. This was Emrys speaking, not the friend he knew. Just as he had a prince voice, Merlin had an Emrys voice. Here Arthur was the servant, and Merlin the royal. Or at least that was the impression he got with the way everyone was looking at his friend and dismissing him and Gwaine.
"It is yours." Iseldir replied holding out the cup for Merlin to take. He had never wanted to touch the thing again after his last experience with it, but he knew he had to. As such he reached out to take it, only to have Iseldir to grab his arm. "The future is in your hands, Emrys, and it is coming fast. Change is on the winds, you must let it happen." He said into Merlin's mind.
Merlin did the only thing he could do and he bowed his head in not only acceptance of the cup he was given, but the warning also.
"Go now, with our blessing. And Arthur Pendragon, one day I hope we can be allies, if not friends." Iseldir continued as he released Merlin's arm, his voice now carrying through the chamber for all to hear.
"I hope for that too." Arthur responded just as solemnly as Merlin had spoken. He did not want to fight these people. They were Merlin's after all. He wanted them at his side just as much as he wanted his friend.
With that the three left, the cup of life now in their protection. Though it would not remain so for long. Not that they knew that, but the ones they were leaving behind did. They knew what was to come, and they knew it had to happen, even if they mourned the deaths of so many. But then the light always followed darkness, and the greater the light to come, the greater the darkness that had to proceed it. They knew this, it was one of the many facts the druids lived by. So they said nothing as they watched the three men leave and watched the start of the next cycle begin.