13. A Visit

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Another first meeting story, this one against a background of drunken singing, kingly shouting, and dishes being thrown. The two people making each other's acquaintance are taking this all very calmly.

As the outraged shouting outside grew louder, the drunken singing downstairs grew more bawdy, and three platters soared through the air and clanged against the wall at the other end of the hallway, Merlin said, "I think I picked a bad time to visit."

He was speaking to himself, but someone laughed. Jumping in surprise and spinning around, the warlock found that he was being watched by a vaguely familiar-looking, gray-haired man seated by a nearby window. Said man gave him a friendly smile. "I'd apologize, but I suppose none of it is really my fault."

Smiling in return, Merlin stepped over to the window and looked out upon the courtyard of the royal castle of Bernicia. Down below in the twilight, newly-crowned King Everard looked close to tearing his hair out as he loudly chastised the pair of green-clad, mud-drenched knights standing before him. "He's really not happy with them, is he?" Merlin commented.

"I can't say I blame him. If what I heard from Hertha is true, they behaved disgracefully...and this is coming from the man who raised Gwaine."

Suddenly, the familiarity made sense. "You're Goddard!"

"Last I checked. And you're the famous Merlin. Or would you prefer Emrys?"

"Merlin's fine." The warlock chuckled and joined the old prince on the bench by the window. "Emrys is what the druids call me, and the way they say it is...Well, it's almost too respectful, if that makes any sense."

"I'm a royal who doesn't particularly like it; I think I can understand somewhat." Goddard smiled again, then raised his eyebrows as another drunken chorus floated up the nearest staircase. "It's good to know that the knights who don't get into unprovoked wrestling matches in the middle of the marketplace find other ways to embarrass themselves."

"Heh. I think I saw Elwin with them on my way up..."

"That I believe. So, did you come here from Hayden's?"

They chatted for a bit about wyverns, friends, and family. When more curses and crashing sounds emanated from down the hall, Goddard said, "Don't worry about it. Haralda's just throwing another fit over the fact that yet another young lord won't admit that she's better with...well, everything that involves weapons instead of emotions."

"Not surprising." Merlin glanced outside. "Looks like the king's done reprimanding his knights. How is he managing? Being king, I mean?"

"He's managing." Goddard laughed softly. "Some people are born to be leaders, and I think he's one of them. But that doesn't make it easy all the time."

"Tell me about it. Arthur's that way."

"So I've heard."

One of the drunken voices from the level below, now babbling instead of singing, grew much nearer as two figures came up the stairs and into the corridor. Merlin stifled a snort at the sight of Prince Elwin hanging off of Gwaine and rambling directly into the older man's ear. "But Ev said I couldn't let all the horses out even if I promised to get the back in...the apples would've worked, I swear...then that knight Sir...Sir Whatever-His-Name said...Hi, Uncle!"

Merlin laughed as Gwaine flinched at Elwin's shout. "Need some help, Gwaine?"

"Yeah, knock him out for me, will you?" Gwaine barely managed to catch his cousin as the younger man made to walk away on his own and almost fell. "Even I didn't used to get this drunk this early..."

"You sure about that? I think you were at least a bit drunk the first time we met, and that was around midday...Then there was that time..."

"You know what? Forget I said anything." Rolling his eyes, Gwaine slung Elwin's arm over his shoulders and started off down the hallway with the parting words, "Father, Mother's looking for you."

"I should go find her." Goddard stood and shared a look with Merlin as Elwin started singing again, his voice warbling and echoing off the stone walls.

"I'd better look for my guest chambers," Merlin said. "It was good to meet you, sir."

"Just Goddard will do." They shook hands, and the prince said, "By the way, I should thank you."

"For what?"

Gwaine's voice reached them. "Elwin, I swear to every deity there is, if you vomit on me...Haralda, quit using your tapestries for target practice and help me with your brother!"

Goddard smiled faintly and said, "Thank you for looking out for him all those years ago. He needed that."

Merlin grinned in return. "Well, what are friends for?"