Wow guys, longest chapter yet. So I hadn't planned on this being an entire chapter but it just kind of happened and well yeah anyway, next chapter Arthur meets with the council and the rest of his knight, will there be war? Mwa ha ha ha ha. Sorry to anyone who likes Elyan and thinks this is a little OOC, but to be fair he has only ever seen magic as evil, even Arthur has seen it used for good, so yeah. Hope you enjoy! Please Review, they mean so much! Will try and update tomorrow... hmm am I spoiling y'all?
Don't own Merlin but I'm working on it! See:
*Sets a spell book under a large box supported by a stick that has a string attached to it.*
Me: hehehe he will never realize its a trap..
Merlin: REALLY? REALLY? How stupid do you think I am?! That is the most obvious trap I have ever seen!
Arthur: Oh look, a book *Walks forward and picks it up*
Me: *shrugs and pulls the string*
Merlin: Really Arthur? REALLY? *begins crying in exasperation*
Arthur: WHAT? What is this sorcery! Release me at once! I am the King of Camelot! I demand you release me immediately
Me: *looks to Merlin* He really is stupid isn't he?\
Arthur: Hey!
Merlin *Nods, to busy crying in exasperation*
Me: *Sigh* *releases Arthur because I hate seeing Merlin cry*
Elyan's hand wandered to the hilt of his sword as Merlin told his story. He wondered silently what the chances were of all of them getting out alive and realized they were slim to none if, what Merlin was saying was true. He looked around at his companions faces to see if any of them had connected the dots and realized Merlin probably had magic, he was shocked at what he saw. Leon was listening intently to Merlin's story and didn't seem to be worried about the boy killing them all with his magic. Percival and Gwaine were looking bored as if they had already heard the story but at the same time looking at Merlin sadly. Percival muttered something to Gwaine and smirked, Gwaine glared in response before handing the large knight several gold coins. Seeing Elyan's expression Gwaine just shrugged but upon seeing the knight's hand on his sword he tensed, hand flying to his own sword.
Elyan sighed in relief, at last, someone else had realized but, to his astonishment, Gwaine was watching him wearily, as if he was the threat, not Merlin. Suddenly Elyan realized that Merlin had fallen silent sometime ago, his story over. All eyes had turned to Leon and Elyan. Leon looked calm but his eyes held countless questions. Everyone tensed as they saw Elyan's angry expression and his hand on the hilt of his sword. Elyan finally drew his sword and stood up, everyone else immediately copying the action, besides Merlin. The Knights or Aria stood beside and in front of their king and Gwaine joined them. Percival and Leon seemed unsure as to what side to join, Percival, not wanting for anyone to get hurt sheathed his sword and walked forward arms out placatingly to both sides.
"Let's all calm down." The large knight said calmly, though no one bothered to do so.
"You have magic." Elyan spit out, looking at Merlin accusingly, his eyes shining with anger and betrayal.
Merlin, his eyes filled with pain and guilt tried to walk forward but his knights blocked his way and Elyan pointed his sword at him. "Please Elyan I-" he started but Elyan cut him off.
"You are a traitor!" Elyan roared, lunging at him, The Knights of Aria immediately closed rank around Merlin, creating a solid wall of knights, Percival and Gwaine grabbed Elyan and held him back.
"Elyan, please I would never hurt any of you, or Camelot. I swear! I've only ever used magic for good, I've only used it for Arthur and Camelot. I'm your friend, please!" Merlin said pleadingly, eyes brimming with tears as he tried to shove through his knights, they didn't budge.
"Liar! You are nothing but a liar and a traitor!" Elyan roared, trying in vain to wrestle himself from his friends grips. "I will never be friends with a sorcerer!" He hissed, still glaring. Sir Owen growled and stepped forward slightly.
"Watch your tongue!" Sir Owen seethed, anger shining in his eyes he walked closer to the struggling knight "or I'll cut it out!"
"ENOUGH!" A voice roared and everyone turned in shock to see that the owner of the voice was Leon. Elyan glared at him and was about to retort but Leon cut him off with a sharp glare "I said enough. Fighting won't get us anywhere." Everyone looked at him is surprise, while it was not abnormal for Leon to be the peace keeper of the group, him not reacting to the magic was a surprise.
"you-You don't hate me?" Merlin asked, voice muffled behind the wall of knights that parted slightly so he could see the others. Leon shook his head.
"No- I don't know how I feel right now Merlin but- but I know I don't hate you." Merlin looked relieved, Elyan looked furious, everyone else was surprised. Leon didn't know whether or not to be insulted.
"He's right," Sir Richard said, stepping up and sheathing his sword "We need to talk, not yell." He said, looking at Elyan as he said the last part, Elyan just continued glaring.
"Fine." He bit out and Richard looked to Owen, the Knight of Aria locked in a glaring contest with Elyan, He squared his jaw and nodded before, reluctantly, sheathing his sword as well. Percival and Gwaine cautiously released Elyan who stayed in place for a moment before he too sheathed his sword. Merlin sighed a breath of relief as the other knights sheathed their weapons.
Slowly, carefully, Merlin made his way to the fire again sitting down and waiting for the others to join, Percival and Leon were the first to sit, followed by Richard and Gwaine and eventually everyone was seated except for Owen and Elyan. Merlin rolled his eyes.
"Sir Owen," he said, his voice holding a warning "stop glaring at Elyan and sit down." The knight gritted his teeth but obeyed, causing the Knights Of Camelot varying degrees of shock, knowing it and seeing it were different things. Elyan soon joined the group, glaring contest with Owen still going strong. Owen took it as a small victory when the Camelot Knight finally dragged his gaze to Merlin. Merlin was looking at Leon.
"Why aren't you angry? I mean Elyan is and Percival and Gwaine aren't from Camelot so it's wasn't too surprising when they didn't freak out, surprising but not too surprising. I expected you of all people, having grown-up under Uther's reign and being his head knight..." Merlin trailed off as he realized he was rambling. Expressions of faint amusement surrounded him, Elyan was looking confused, because surely this was an act? Sorcerers were evil, why was he still acting so, so, Merlin?
Leon studied the young warlock before answering.
"Because Merlin, you are they most gentle soul I have ever met. You won't even let Arthur kill rabbits." Everyone chuckled at that, even Elyan. "Also I have suspected that perhaps magic is not all evil since the druids saved my life with it. As well as the more and more I think about it the more sense it makes." he finished, shrugging. Elyan looked at him curiously.
"How does it make sense exactly?" He asked, half curious, half doubtful.
"Well, think about it," Leon said, motioning to the others "how the hell are we all alive? All the impossible situations we somehow miraculously survived, that Arthur survived. The bandits suddenly dropping their swords or tripping, the random falling branches. If Merlin has had Magic this entire time it makes since." he finished and Elyan looked contemplative.
"Is that true?" Elyan asked sharply, eyes going to Merlin, who nodded.
"Merlin?" Leon asked and all eyes turned to the blond knight "what ever happened to that immortal army?" Merlin blushed as everyone stared at him in surprise.
"You mean that was you?" Elyan asked, eyebrows raised. Merlin nodded.
"What about the questing beast? How did Arthur survive that? And whatever happened to Nimueh?" Leon began asking questions again, Merlin's face darkened at the mention of those and Richard made a note in his head to ask about that at some point before interrupting.
"Perhaps we should focus on other things" he said, cutting the knight off in the middle of another question, his prin-king sent him a grateful look. The other knight nodded, there would be time for questions later, hopefully. All eyes turned to Elyan and Merlin, the former looking at the latter contemplatively.
"If you've had Magic this entire time why did you come to Camelot of all places? Why save Arthur, a Pendragon?" Elyan asked, voicing the question that was in Leon's head as well.
"My magic was getting too strong and I couldn't control it anymore, my mother sent me to Camelot hoping that Gaius could help me control it." He said, shrugging as he finished, Elyan nodded. Elyan perked up as if a thought occured to him.
"Are you the one that saved my father's life during that plague?" Merlin shifted uncomfortably but nodded. Realisation dawned on Leon's face and then anger and finally, embarrassment.
"But that means... that you're Dragoon!" Gwaine shouted excitedly, a grin lighting his face. Merlin nodded, grinning slightly.
"But Dragoon killed Uther." Elyan said accusingly and everyone tensed, Merlin simply looked sad.
"I didn't mean to, I was trying to save him but Agravaine found out and-" Merlin shook his head before continuing, his face darkening "Morgana made a charm that reversed the effects of my spell ten fold and Agravaine put it around Uther's neck, I didn't see it until it was too late. I'm sorry, I tried to save him but I couldn't and I destroyed any chance of Arthur excepting Magic." Everyone fell silent until Leon spoke again.
"Merlin?" he asked, anger and embarrassment lining his voice? "Wer- were you the old man we saw in the woods that day?" Embarrassment at the entire thing making him blush, the sly grin that spread across the young mans face was answer enough as Leon groaned and Gwaine choked on the water he was drinking, Elyan and Percival both went an alarming shade or red as the Knights of Aria looked at them all in confusion.
"Wha-?" Began Sir Thomas, but was cut off by a groaned "Don't ask" from Leon who was still blushing furiously. Merlin looked ready to tell them but a glare from Leon shut him up, though his eyes twinkled mischievously.
A few minutes later, The Knights of Camelot seemed to recover from the embarrassment and Richard spoke.
"We should be on our way soon." He said, looking at the sun that was slowly rising. The others nodded and everyone began packing, the conversation apparently over. Merlin looked over at Elyan as said knight stared at the young king before finally nodding, he would still come to Aria, he would still fight, but, perhaps most important, he excepted Merlin.