Food for the Soul

Chapter Text

Merlin was up and about a little time after dawn.
He had woken up quite hungry and had been disappointed to find that the pantry was empty. So, here he was buying ingredients for his and Gaius's breakfast- minding his own business- when hears someone come up to him. He doesn't need to turn to know who it is- the voice that follows the presence gives up the identity of the person.

"So, how's your knee- walking coming along, Merlin?" a snotty- arrogant voice asks him.

Merlin closes his eyes for a second, sighs and then decides to ignore Arthur- though his hand had been healing at a magical pace, he really didn't need another altercation with the Prince. Seriously he wasn't looking for any trouble.

Merlin paid the vendor for the ingredients and started moving away from the Prince, towards the Castle. He didn't even bother looking at Arthur and feels relief when he doesn't hear anyone following him- but then he hears,

"Oh, don't run away… look I didn't even bring any of the knights today!" Merlin's feet stopped- having a mind of their own. He had never liked it when Arthur got cocky.
He turns to face the Prince- and sees eager amusement his eyes.

Arthur looked dishevelled in his appearance - the boots being the only thing he was wearing properly. It was almost as if... the Prince had seen him and in a hurry had followed Merlin to the market.
Merlin doesn't pay attention to that thought but he does look around and coos as if talking to a baby, "Aww, friends not got your back today?"

He smirks when Arthur grits his teeth and says, "A Prince does not have friends, Merlin. They are my father's knights," he glares at Merlin for a second before snorting,

"And I don't need them to have my back." The Prince huffs a laugh as if feeling incredulous at the idea of needing back up.

Arthur continues then, "So, would you like me to help with your knee-walking, Mer-lin?" the Prince reverted back to his original topic, swinging his mace around like a complete prat.
Merlin shook his head and replied, "I wouldn't if I were you." Looking Arthur straight in the eyes, a threat and a warning in his eyes.

The Prince was surprised at this.
Arthur had been unable to sleep- which was impossible to believe because he loved sleep and sleep loved him- but then he had seen the man he had met the other day- Merlin- wandering the market and Arthur had run, literally sprinted to make sure he caught the man before he left the market, he wanted to see if the peasant was just as insolent now that he knew that Arthur was a royal.

Which was why he was now baiting Merlin to be disrespectful again- wanting the thrill that he had got when Merlin had defied him.
At first, he had thought that the man won't stop walking away- will just ignore him and leave, but then… then Merlin had turned and been just as stupidly brave and disrespectful as he had been before he had learned that Arthur was royalty.

He saw a warning in those electric blue eyes, which thrilled Arthur even further, so, he mockingly asked, "Why? What are you going to do to me?" He laughed, it was amusing. He couldn't believe he was baiting a well-built man- yes, he will admit that Merlin was quite well built, not as well as him but still good enough to be a knight- to hit him!

But still, Arthur continued, looked at Merlin from top to bottom- and then amusedly said, "I could take you apart with one blow."
Mocking and Prideful at the same time, Arthur had earned the pride. He was the most efficient fighter in the whole of Albion and he wanted Merlin to know this about him.

He swore he saw Merlin's eyes darken for a second before he saw those same eyes drop to his lips. A shiver went through him at this subtle action and it was only then that he realized the ambiguous meaning behind his words.
He was about to explain himself when he hears Merlin say, eyes still on his lips,
"I have no doubt…. My lord." The voice was low and provocative- something that should only be heard in the bedroom.
Arthur, who was quite innocent in the buggery section, swallowed and blushed. His cheeks filled with colour he himself stuttered for words. He knew from the look in Merlin's eyes that the man was only joking, but Arthur couldn't help but get mental images.

First came the embarrassment and then came the anger. He was a Prince goddammit! But this man treated him like anything but that!
It infuriated him but also…. it made him feel free- he would never accept it but he liked how Merlin spoke to him. He would also never admit that whenever Merlin spoke to him in this way he felt a flash of pleasure course through him.

No man had ever had the guts to make a move on the Crown Prince, even as a joke. He knew he was a handsome man and that added with the Royal perks…. but hitting on him was also a definite way towards suicide.
The King won't take the knowledge of his only heir indulging in buggery.

The Prince looked away for a second, red in the face.
Merlin wasn't fazed- he found the whole thing very funny. But seriously, was it just him or Arthur spoke in sexual innuendoes on a daily basis?
He probably will be finding out soon because his job was to practically be Arthur's bodyguard.
He moved closer to the Prince and the royal's eyes widened. He lowered his voice and said very seriously,

"Tell me, Arthur. Do the things you speak, come to you naturally or do you practice them… at night?" Arthur turned even redder, Merlin had kept his words ambiguous for a purpose. It was getting harder and harder to control his laughter.
Oh, Arthur was too easy to tease.

Arthur took a step back and looked around warily, confusing Merlin, but then he turned back to him and spat- embarrassed and angry- "A blow of my sword, you idiot!"
Merlin raised his eyebrows, taking a deliberate step forward and saying in a mock-confused and innocent voice, "Oh, is that what they are calling it nowadays? A sword?" he smirked after a second making Arthur even more exasperated.

Arthur looked down at his feet for a second- to compose himself and when he looked back up at Merlin again, he seemed more in control.
He started saying, "You can't-," but Merlin cut him off with, "-speak to you like that?

Merlin smirked and repeated the Prince's own words, "Why? what are you going to do to me?" Arthur huffed a laugh and shook his head at the peasant before sobering and saying something he should have said yesterday.

He heaved a sigh and started,
"Look… I shouldn't have been practising with weapons in mid-market." Arthur paused as if thinking very hard about what to say next, he suddenly nodded and said, "…. Well, so, Yes. That's all I wanted to say." Arthur turns and then adds as an afterthought, "also, you should get your hand treated by the court physician- his name is Gaius- best in the land and as a part of apology- I will foot whatever charges you incur from the treatment."

Merlin smiled, finally seeing the glimpse of the King, Arthur would become. It was a kind gesture towards a complete stranger who had been nothing but rude to him. Even though he didn't know that Merlin was Gaius's nephew and wouldn't really incur any charges, he was just happy knowing that Arthur had considered and tried to rectify the harm he had caused.

Maybe he had been wrong- maybe Arthur had matured in some areas.

Merlin turned around and just as he was about to start walking he heard his name being called- stopping him in his tracks once again. He looked around for the origin of the call and saw, Gwen was rushing towards him, a full bucket in hand- why was it that whenever he met Gwen, she had a bucket in hand?

"Merlin!" Gwen called his name again once she reached him, panting, he greeted her with a smile and waited for her to catch her breath.
"Hello, Gwen." He said, greeting the maid who had once again started to become his friend,

"What are you doing at the market so early?" she asked once she had recovered her breath and kept the bucket down.
He brought what he had shopped-the vegetables forward for Gwen to see, "I was hungry but Gaius had no more edible food left to eat, so...,"

"Ah… you are cooking again, aren't you?" Gwen said and her stomach chose that exact moment to give a rumble. Gwen's face reddened in embarrassment and he laughed and then offered,

"You can come too if you like, I always make enough for the whole Castle." Gwen beamed, still blushing but eager before she looked down at the bucket and her smile dimmed.
"I- I can't… I need to deliver this water to Morgana and get her breakfast." Merlin cocked his head, weighing the options before saying,
"That's fine. You can ask her if she would like to join us as well… I know it's not luxury food but…" Merlin left the suggestion unfinished, not sure how Gwen would react to it.

"Oh! She would love that Merlin… she has been wanting to meet you since I told her about you!" Merlin wondered what Gwen had told Morgana about him but didn't voice his question as heard her timid voice say, "…. but we wouldn't want to impose." Gwen said, shyness entering her tone.

"Don't be silly, Gwen." Merlin rolled his eyes and continued, "I will start cooking, meet me at Gaius's as soon as guys are ready to have breakfast."
Gwen's smile returned and she nodded vigorously before saying her goodbyes - rushing away from him again.
It was a good feeling, reconnecting with lost friends.
He reaches the physician's chambers without any more interruptions, pondering on the way about the possibility that maybe when his destiny is fulfilled he will give his friends their memories back- only the good parts. Like he had with Gaius.

He enters and smiles at a bleary Gaius and starts chopping some vegetables. Continuing his line of thought he stops his movement to pop a piece of carrot in his mouth and thinks,
Or maybe he won't return their memories…. why dwell in the past when you have the future?
He himself wants to forget some parts of the past. Except for some moments, his life in Camelot had been nothing but lying, sneaking and full of death- usually of loved ones.
He lets Gaius know that they are expecting guests before the old man slips out the door for his rounds.

"Oh, Gaius, Morgana and Gwen are coming for breakfast so be back soon." Gaius turns to look at Merlin from the door and says,
"The lady Morgana is coming too, you say?" Merlin looks up from his chopping, popping a piece of carrot in his mouth and nods.
"Are you making the carrot soup?" Gaius asks, hopeful. Merlin smiles and says, "No, it's something else but you will like it just as much."
"I will be back as soon as possible and- Merlin, add some more salt!" Gaius says this before going out the door and closing it, leaving a smirking Merlin to chop the leftover vegetables.

Morgana had just finished taking a very relaxing bath after a troubling night and had just been getting her hair steamed when her door had been opened by a very puzzled looking Arthur. She took one look at him and patted the seat beside her.

"What is it?" she said, letting Gwen braid her hair, before continuing, "Is it the same man from yesterday that you had been moaning about all day?" Behind her, Gwen giggles and Morgana smirks making Arthur glare at her.

She turns her head a bit towards Gwen and says, "You know Gwen, yesterday Arthur came into my room, mentioned this man, left, came back again and repeated this whole thing at least thrice." She turns towards her mirror and looks at Arthur through it, "Please Arthur, say all you have to say in one go this time, please. I don't think my chamber door can handle your temper over this man anymore."

Morgana and Gwen snicker, letting Arthur sulk, "It's just…" starts the Prince, looking uncertain, "There is something about him! As soon as I go close to him- the air feels like... static. And he is the most insolent person you will ever meet, Morgana. He has no respect for propriety and I hate it!" Arthur runs a frustrated hand through his hair and Morgana tuts at him,

"Oh, Arthur, don't lie. You love that he doesn't care for propriety, in fact, it even makes me eager to meet this man. And are you sure this 'static' isn't just your anger yet fascination towards the man?"

Morgana says and applies some rose on his lips and cheeks, before looking at the glaring Prince.

"But really, what is it about this man that has you so temperamental? You are changing moods quicker than a lady on her monthly." Gwen makes a scandalized noise in the back but all Morgana does is roll her eyes and Arthur splutters, "I am not!"

Her eyes brighten with amusement, "Case in point, Arthur dear." Then she comes to a sudden realization, "I know what you need! Food! Gaius's nephew has invited us for breakfast. You must accompany us, this way you will get to know him too."

Arthur looks unsure for a second before Gwen says, "Common Arthur, he is a very nice person and a good cook, too. Imagine the food. Trust me, it's much better than Mary's"
Arthur shudders at the image of the head cook and then thinks of mouth-watering food that Gwen was describing. He had already made his decision- he was going.

Seeing this, Morgana pushed her arm through his and together they made their way towards Gaius's chambers.

Gaius had just entered the chambers and he could smell the amazing smell filling the chambers and watering his mouth. At that exact moment, Merlin came out of the chambers freshly washed and dressed. Was he trying to impress the lady Morgana? Or someone else...maybe? Gaius couldn't help but think he was.
Merlin smiled at him and went over to cooking pot to extinguish the fire underneath it and was about to use his magic to do so when there was a knock on the door.

Gaius opened the door and in came the Lady Morgana first who closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, Gwen followed her and the last to enter- the unexpected guest- was the Crown Prince of Camelot. The Prince smiled at Gaius when he bowed and breathed in through the nose- a smile lighting up his face at the aroma- which slipped as soon as he saw Merlin.

"You!" Arthur had frozen just inside the door and was looking at Merlin accusingly, making the warlock smile delightfully. He was happy to see Arthur along with Gwen and Morgana. Very Happy indeed.

He bowed his head first towards the Lady Morgana who was looking at him critically, then smiled at Gwen and last, he acknowledged Arthur, with his name.
"Arthur."

"You are Gaius's nephew, aren't you?" Arthur says moaning-ly, realization dawning upon him- Arthur had the worst luck ever. Merlin smirked and replied, "Who else would I be?"
The prince grits his teeth, "But… you don't look anything like-," a monkey with yellow teeth! Arthur stops himself from continuing with that sentence and instead looks at Morgana, "This is who I was talking about, 'Gana."

Merlin first frowned at Arthur's unfinished sentence before turning to face Morgana too- who was still looking at him with a frown on her face, she didn't seem to hear Arthur and came up with a question on her own.
"Have we… met before?"
Merlin felt a chill run down his spine at this sentence but he knew his face was smiling cluelessly. Did Morgana remember him because of her magic?

He just continues with the impassive face and tries to derail Morgana by saying, "I would have remembered if I had ever met you, my lady." Gwen giggles and tries to muffle them with her hand, Morgana gets rosy-cheeked and blusters past the compliment even though it pleased her, "Your face is so familiar, it's like I have seen you before…."
Morgana frowns trying to remember the face she was trying so hard to place. She was certain that she had seen him but whether it was in one of her dreams or while awake- she couldn't be sure.

Merlin just shrugs and says, "I must have one of those faces, my lady."

It was then that Gaius decided to interrupt, "Merlin, why don't we start the breakfast- I do feel quite hungry."
Merlin nodded at Gaius, trying to convey gratitude from his eyes and then leads all of them to the chairs.

"Oh, Merlin I do hope you don't mind that I brought Arthur too, he needed food more than we did, trust me."
Gwen giggled and Arthur glared at a smirking Morgana.

He just shook his head and said, "Not at all my lady, the more the better. Take a seat- the food is almost ready-,"
He was interrupted, "There aren't enough chairs,"
He turned to the only person who would have interrupted him and says, "That's not a problem, I have more in my room, I'll go bring them out now-,"
He was interrupted again, "I can do that, Merlin. You continue cooking, we are very hungry, aren't we, Morgana?" Arthur starts moving towards his room and though Merlin knows that Arthur is trying to be polite, he also knows that this is the Prince investigating.

Morgana just shakes her head and turns to Merlin, "Yes, Merlin. And we have heard so much about your cooking from Gwen here- who hasn't tired from singing your praises." Gwen blushed and Merlin smiles at her.
He turns back to the food and hopes to God that Arthur won't look at his room too closely.

Arthur didn't trust this Merlin. He had not even been in Camelot for 2 days and had already charmed half the staff, some of the knights and now even Morgana- It couldn't be contested as he had seen her blush. Blush. Morgana never blushed. He wasn't even going to start about Guinevere...

Arthur looks around the room, he knows he should just grab the chair and leave but he can't help but look around for something even possibly… incriminating and a brief look around brought him to this conclusion-
-The room was too... clean, Arthur had never trusted those that kept their room all tidy. It usually meant that they had something to hide.
-There were few strange things in the chambers that Arthur had never before seen the likes of, there was a wooden bat with strings attached to it- it looked like something the minstrels would use but it was too smooth to be real wood.

Arthur saw another weird thing. It was metal- he could tell but it also had glass infused in it. The Prince had never seen something so strange. It was small – easy to hold in hands and the finishing of the metal was commendable. Arthur was just about to touch it when he hears, "Arthur! The food is ready."

He purses his lips and starts leaving the chambers with a chair in his hands. Consoling himself with the promise that there will be other opportunities to investigate Merlin. Right now, he was too hungry.

He made his way outside and tried to appear as innocent as he could and placed his chair between Merlin and Gwen- though that didn't seem to hinder the conversation being held between them. They ate and chattered for a bit more before Arthur tired of it and cleared his throat meaningfully, making the whole table look up from the delicious food they had been eating. He waits until Merlin turns towards and then says, "So, Merlin… where did you learn to cook?" He keeps his voice moderate, civil.

Merlin smiles a fond smile, making Arthur heart skip for a second and then says, "My mother taught me."
"And what about your father? Does he know how to cook too?" Asked an innocent Gwen but he could see that everyone around the table (excluding Gaius) was eager to know more about him. Merlin didn't know how to convey that his father was the last- well second last, really- dragonlord, who had to run away before he knew his mother was pregnant with him- because Uther was hunting him and then he had returned years later to be his father- still a dragonlord. So, Merlin smiled once again, because his previous one had slipped at the question and replied to Gwen,
"I didn't have a father whilst growing up."

Gwen's mouth formed an "O" and then Morgana said, "You mean that some man impregnated your mother and then left her to have you and raise you, all alone? Tha-That you were born a bastard?"
Gwen chided the Lady by hissing, "Morgana!"

Merlin laughed, Morgana had never been the shy one. She was a hardcore feminist- born in a century that was way too beneath her. If there was one person Merlin could imagine in the 21st century- it was Morgana.
"Yes, my lady. That is exactly what I mean."
He saw as Morgana gritted her teeth and he also possibly heard her mumble to Gwen, "If I ever find this man- I will castrate him." It made Gwen and Arthur's face blanch and Merlin chuckle even more.
"There is no need my lady, my mother is a very strong woman… she never needed a man to bring me up."

Morgana smiles at him and asks, "She must be very strong, bringing up a man such as you, alone. What is her name?"
"Hunith." Morgana nods, taking another serving of the food.

He sees Arthur shake his head and mumble something, making Gwen look at him questioningly. The Prince turns to Merlin, an angry look in his eyes and says, "So, the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree. Your father left her and then you left her."
Gaius sits up and Merlin's brows furrow in confusion more at the sudden attack than anything else, "Pardon?"
Arthur heaves in a deep breath and explains, "Your father abandoned your mother and then you left her too- Gaius told me that you had been missing for almost 4 years, only to return now."

This time Morgana hisses in a scandalized tone, "Arthur!" but the Prince ignores her and just stares at Merlin.
Merlin glances at Gaius and the old man shoots him an apologetic glance, he shakes his head and turns back to the Prince. He knew where this was coming from- Arthur couldn't accept how Merlin had been able to abandon his mother for 4 years…. The Prince had never had a mother to love... he has never felt a love that loved him complete abandon- which made him crave it more than anyone else.
Merlin looks down and tells him something that wasn't the truth but it was as close and believable as Merlin could make it.

"We were not well off, me and my mother. Sometimes during winters, we could only afford one meal per person- sometimes not even that." Merlin looks up and makes eye contact with a still unconvinced Arthur and continues, "It is because of that many young men have to leave in search of jobs, it's a way of life…. It was the same with me."

Arthur looked confused but Morgana had a look of disbelief in her eyes- she couldn't believe that people were living in such poor condition. "I was coming to Camelot, four years ago- in search for a job when on the way I was caught by some bandits. They abducted me and then sold me as a slave for manual labour." Merlin saw Arthur's eyes soften but before he could say something Gwen asked, "How did you escape?" he voice tinged with sadness for Merlin and horror at the knowledge.

"I had help." Merlin said, smiling a little bit, the Morgana asked predictably, "By who?"
Now, this was a question Merlin could answer in many ways but only one way would benefit him in the future. He glanced at Arthur for a second, who was looking at Merlin with understanding- he lowered his eyes and said, "The druids. They helped me get out."

He hears Arthur lean back from the table immediately, he sees Morgana's eyes light up, he even sees Gwen's cautious acknowledgement.
He looks at Arthur again and sees the caution mixing with something- an emotion he couldn't name.

It was then that the door to the physician's chambers opened and in came the patients of Camelot wanting treatment from Gaius- bringing an end to their breakfast and discussion.

The Prince got up first, having duties to attend to. He thanked Merlin for the food and ignored the look that Morgana aimed at him. Gaius becomes busy treating the patients and Morgana asks Gwen to wait for her outside.
Gwen smiles and thanks Merlin for the food too and leaves.

He turns to look at Morgana, waiting to see what she has to say to him.
"Merlin, I am sorry if our questions got... personal for a bit there." Merlin huffs a laugh and shakes his head, "It's completely fine, my lady. I am a curious person myself."

Morgana smiles and takes hold of Merlin's hand, "I wanted to say that I am so sorry that this happened to you in your life… I also want to request that you forgive Arthur." Morgana pauses, looking at their adjoined hands for a second before looking back at Merlin, "I- I have never seen him so…." Morgana shakes her head and lets go of Merlin's hand, leaving the sentence incomplete. She smiles at Merlin one last time before leaving.

Merlin just shakes his head and heads to his room.
He knows that he should feel guilty about lying about his past, but he wasn't. If they really knew the truth, really knew the horrific things Merlin has seen and been through-
Well, he doesn't think that would help very much. The truth was useless in this situation.

All afternoon he helps Gaius with his patients and delivers some potions before retiring early to his chambers for the evening.
It was only when he laid back on his bed did he notice the iPod lying innocently on his bedside table.

Notes:

Will be updating the next chapter very soon but until then let me know if you liked this chapter in the review section below!
xoxo.