Disclaimer: I love Merlin, but that doesn't mean I own it. Pure fan love here.
Story: In a strange twist, Uther decided to have Merlin serve him as well. How does Merlin get around saving these two royal prats, when she's busy doing royal chores and getting exhausted saving them and doing their dirty laundry? She says nothing on how affectionate she oddly becomes of the King and the loyalty she develops for not only Arthur but Uther.
Set as an AU, genderbending fic.
Spoilers: All seasons.
Warnings: Age disparity, cursing and violence for now…hm, just in case since I'm usually writing it, bit of crazy humor, perverted humor, morbid or sarcastic humor, and maybe some sexual situations…
Pairings: Eventual Uther/Merlin, Lancelot/Gwen, others unknown for now… (I don't know what the hell I'm going to do with Arthur –I don't like him with anyone but Merlin, male or otherwise!)
The Lion and The Lamb
Chapter Four: Daggers Deep
Arthur couldn't help glaring at the other prince, who looked back at him in mild amusement. He tilted his chin up, narrowing his eyes as he attempted to look condescending towards the other.
"Is there a problem, Prince Arthur?" Mithian asked and Arthur just wanted to wipe that smug look off the other's face, even if the smugness wasn't overt or anything. He could just tell the other was smug. It was a gut feeling. He just knew it.
But he had decorum to worry about, as well as that he wasn't in Camelot. He was a guest in the other's home and he couldn't be disrespectful. His father raised him better than that and he knew he couldn't slight the other and give cause to start a war between their kingdoms.
"I have no problem," he tried not to grit out.
Mithian smiled widely. "I think you do. And really –be free to speak your mind with me. I shan't take it against you of course. This is between us. Our fathers and our kingdoms will stay out of it."
Arthur took the invitation easily. "Leave my maidservant be," he snapped at the other. "Don't you go twisting her head around and toy with her."
To his irritation, Mithian burst out laughing, throwing his head back. "My dear prince, I highly doubt I've done any wrongdoing against her. In fact, I'll have you know that I have earned her trust and affections quite rightfully, and I even know a little…secret of hers."
That made Arthur bristle and frown inwardly. Merlin, despite having worked for him for some time, hadn't let him in on any secrets of hers. And he wasn't quite shown the trust and affection from her that Mithian seemed to imply. That galled him a little, but mostly made him just a bit upset.
"Just leave her alone," Arthur growled and Mithian gave him a patronizing look he scoffed at.
Soon after that, he and Mithian split ways and he headed off to his chambers. He saw Merlin doing her best to fix the curtains of his room, but the heavy drapes seemed to be winning against her. Smile tugging at his lips, he went over and helped her.
"I see you've been working hard," he quipped and she gave him a dry look that he had to fully smile at.
"Of course, milord. It's supposed to be my duty," her tone was even dryer.
He chuckled a bit before it died down and his smile grew smaller. She noted it and became concerned, but he hadn't wanted to worry her.
"What's wrong, Arthur?" It had always been strangely nice to have her call on him so familiarly. He hadn't ever minded and had never corrected her.
He hesitated before speaking. "You know…I believe I owe you an apology. For our first meeting," he continued when he saw her look of confusion. It cleared up and her face looked upon him sweetly, making his cheeks redden like he was still a young teenager. "I was rude. And my behavior was coarse and unfitting of my station and in the presence of a lady, even not a noblewoman. I was being mean to Gregory. I was taking out my frustrations on him and showing off for those men. And to be honest, I have always been like that and had never cared for the feelings of servants or to treat them with much kindness."
"…I see," Merlin said only. "What made you change your behavior? Because next I saw you, you changed practically instantly from the bully I met. It was quite strange and I…admit I have been curious about it for the longest time. I had thought you would've been the same prat I met."
Arthur winced, looking down at the ground. "For years, before your arrival…I was always lonely. I hardly ever had any real friends or a companion that would be with me without it being because I was the Crown Prince. Even when Morgana came, we clashed more than we got along, and I always felt like I was competing with her, especially for my father's attention and his affections. However…Gaius would sometimes regale me tales of a girl that he'd met occasionally when he would once and a while travel out of Camelot. His niece. You."
Merlin blinked, her eyes beginning to widen.
"I grew up with stories about you," Arthur confessed. "It helped me to not be lonely, and I had always wanted to meet you and be your friend. So when you told me that Gaius was your Uncle, it instantly came to me and I understood who you were. And I was embarrassed by my behavior and how our first meeting actually went, as opposed to how I'd always imagined it. I wanted to try to change your impression of me, which is probably why my change of behavior was so confusing. So…c-can we start over?"
Arthur had been worried, but he needn't have been. Merlin gave him a wide smile and curtseyed.
"Hello, I'm Merlin."
Arthur smiled widely back.
"I'm Arthur. Will you be my friend?"
After that, Arthur was glad that they headed back to Camelot and didn't stay any longer. He was tired of Nemeth (and mostly its habitants, like a certain smug prince). But having watched Merlin on the way back, he couldn't help watching the pretty and ornate bow and quiver filled with arrows that now accompanied her. Mithian had gifted it to her, which irritated him. The other prince had declared that someone with such a gift should have a suiting and trustworthy bow to make use of.
Arthur wanted to shout out that Camelot could have just as easily given her a suiting bow and didn't need his bloody gift.
Still, Mithian was right in that Merlin really did have quite the gift with the bow and arrow. Hell, she could teach Camelot's archers a thing or two.
But it did bring in mind that, with skill with a long-range weapon and her build, that maybe there was another long-range weapon she could be good at. He hailed over Brom to him and waited for the knight to reach his side.
"Prince Arthur," he bowed slightly on his horse.
"Do you think she'd be good with throwing daggers? I've been thinking that she might be good with those," Arthur asked immediately.
Brom looked at him in surprise before glancing over to Merlin, already knowing who he'd meant. He made a thoughtful noise.
"I would say she'd make a good candidate for them, Sire. Shall I have her try some out?"
"Yes, I think that'd be a good idea," Arthur nodded.
"Very well. Once we've settled back in Camelot, I'll find a set and test her when she's had time after her duties to you and the King."
He waved him off. "No need. I'll inform Father and the two of us will make do without her today. Find a throwing set and bring her to the training grounds to work on some targets."
"As you wish, Sire."
Camelot's walls came into sight and Arthur felt relieved. It was about time. The group made it to the castle and dispersed, but Arthur quickly went to his father's side after dismissing Merlin to go settle back in her room and unpack.
"Father," he greeted once with Uther.
"Yes, Arthur?"
"I've asked Sir Brom to have Merlin tested with throwing knives and that neither you nor I would require her services today," he told him. "That is alright, yeah?"
"'Is that alright, Father?'" Uther corrected. "And yes. That is a fine idea. I would like to know how it goes."
"Sure," Arthur said, inwardly rolling his eyes at being corrected. "I will see you later then."
He was tempted to peek in and watch how Merlin did, but he didn't want to get her too nervous or self-conscious. He would just have to wait to hear from Brom afterwards.
Bah, it was going to be such a long wait though!
Merlin had just finished helping Gaius sort out his ingredients for the stomachache potion he was to work on, when there was a knock on the door. She and Gaius gave each other curious glances and then she went to see who it was. To their surprise, it was Sir Brom.
"'Ello there, Merlin," he grinned at her. "Gaius," he waved towards the physician.
"Hello, Sir Brom," she greeted and Gaius held up a hand in greeting before going back to his work, assuming correctly that the knight was there for Merlin. "What can we do for you?"
"I don't want to disturb you, Gaius, but do you mind if I borrow Merlin here?" he asked Gaius, who raised an eyebrow slightly. He nodded though and Brom looked to Merlin, grin growing. "Since you're not busy, I'd like you to come with me for a moment."
She agreed and with one more glance at Gaius, who looked back at her with curiosity mounting, she went along with Brom and waited for him to say what he'd wanted. Instead, she had to wait until they went all the way to their destination. To her surprise, he led her to Camelot's training grounds.
"Oh, are you going to have me do some archery drills or something?" she asked.
"Not quite," Brom, who she just noticed had a clothed bundle in his hands, held up the bundle. "It was brought to my attention that you might be good at throwing daggers or knives. You up to trying and testing that theory?"
Merlin's eyebrows raised. She didn't think she'd be, but then again she thought that way about archery too.
"I'll give it a try," she answered and he unwrapped and laid out the bundle on a table next to them. She saw the daggers and lightly touched the handle of one.
"I'll show you the grips and then how to throw, and then I'll demonstrate it for you, alright?" Brom told her. "And then I'll let you at it."
She watched carefully and when it was her turn to try, she held it like he told her to and let the dagger fly. Only, it landed halfway to the target and she grew disappointed.
"That was still good. I think you just need to throw it a little harder. The momentum will carry it farther," Brom advised her.
Taking a deep breath, she grabbed another dagger and readied herself. And then she eyed the target and threw it. To her delight, even if it wasn't a bullseye, it hit close to it on the target.
Brom clapped loudly. "Good job!"
He had her practice some more with them and Merlin even dared to use magic with it, letting her magic flow through. It not only hit the target, but dug into it right down to the base of the hilt. Brom's eyes widened at that and Merlin nervously fidgeted in place, hoping it hadn't been obvious what she'd done.
"Wow," he said, blinking. "You are definitely going to be scary with those."
Merlin straightened up proudly.
Through the next two weeks, Merlin practiced with the daggers (and sometimes with her archery), becoming better and better with them, with or without magic. Magic only leant her an edge in giving her a little more force behind her throws, but she was fine even without it. Magic was also too much of a risk to use, so she tended to just go without it.
At the moment though, she was in the King's chambers, so she definitely couldn't use magic. She was fixing his bed and was pleased at how she was having an easier time of it, and how nice and clean looking it was coming out.
"I see my instructions have helped out," she heard the King and whirled around to face him in shock.
"Y-Your Highness!" she bowed and then tried to move into a curtsey instead, managing to unbalance herself and nearly fall forward.
To her embarrassment, the King himself caught her, holding her up until she steadied herself and straightened up, cheeks flaming.
"I-I'm sorry," she apologized, feeling embarrassment and worry creep up. "And thank you!" After all, if it hadn't been for him, she would have planted her face right into the stone floor.
His lips twitched upwards, adding to her embarrassment and shock that he had done so.
"And the bed!" Merlin remembered what he said. "Yes, your help is very much appreciated. You were right when you said once I'd get more practice, I'd get it. Because of you and Merek, I'm really learning to be a proper servant, Sire."
"I'm glad," Uther said. "I take it you were finishing up?"
"Yes, I just need to finish the bed and then head back to Gaius. Um, unless you need me, Sire?"
"One moment," he murmured, confusing her. He went to his wardrobe and dug for something inside, emerging with a bundle that he returned to her with. He handed it to her, causing her to further be in shock. "I hear you've gotten very good at throwing daggers. These are throwing knives from my youth that I'd never used. You may have them."
Merlin was beyond shocked by then, clutching the bundle closer to her. She wanted to refuse, since she was just a servant and it was really too much, but then again, she doubted anyone had ever refused a gift from the King, especially since it seemed like a rare event anyway.
She bowed, not bothering (or remembering) to try to correct herself, too stunned to think about it.
"T-thank you, Sire."
She gently set it aside and finished up her work on the bed, before she hesitantly picked it back up and looked to the King. Uther was still watching her closely, eyes unreadable, but when he saw her looking at him, he offered her a small smile. She bowed slightly.
"Thank you," she whispered finally before practically fleeing.
And when she was back to Gaius and told him about it, he was also flabbergasted.
"The King is not known to just gift things, Merlin. Be grateful and use them well," Gaius advised her. "Now come on, let's see how they look!"
Merlin unfolded the bundle and laid it flat, revealing an elaborate set of throwing knives. The metal of the knives were still sharp and polished, looking clean and new and oddly colored black. The black handle was tightly covered with a cloth-like binding. The Pendragon symbol was etched into the metal blade.
"Is it really alright for me to have these?" Merlin asked nervously, a little in awe of them.
"The King gave them to you," Gaius said. "I doubt anyone would contest the King. And if anyone doubts your word, the King himself would affirm it and be very unhappy with anyone who would defy him, even indirectly."
They were beautiful, but she was still unsure about having them. That didn't mean she couldn't feel the delight in her that she did have them though.
"Should Merlin really accompany us, Sire?" Leon asked Arthur, who looked at him blankly.
"Why not?" he asked in confusion.
But Merlin was wondering too.
Leon watched his Prince carefully. "Prince Arthur, Merlin is a woman. Should she really come along with us on a hunt?"
Arthur glanced at her and she looked back curiously. "I don't see why not."
She was sure, like herself, that Leon and the rest of the knights were inwardly looking incredulous. But as it was their Prince's word, they didn't bother staying on the subject.
Leon was right though. It was strange to have Merlin there with them. Not only was it not appropriate for a lady to come with them on something like a hunt, but she was also a female servant and it wasn't supposed to be a normal duty of hers. Normal female servants served in the castle and accompanied their masters outside for mundane things. But then again, her duties weren't normal either, considering her occupation as servant to Arthur and Uther, and just who those two were.
She should really just be handling linen and clothes and keeping chambers clean and orderly! Or handle food! Since when did she handle things male servants are supposed to? Oh that's right, when she somehow became the King and Prince's maidservant.
She started glowering at the ground, wondering once again if she should've just stayed in Ealdor.
After a while, they set up camp and Merlin realized she was the only servant there. Shrugging to herself, she was going to set up the fire when Leon did that himself, giving her a kind look.
"We'll come back with something for you to cook," Brom and Ewan, another of Arthur's knights, volunteered.
So she awkwardly waited by the fire, with Arthur sitting next to her. Brom and Ewan came back with some rabbits and they began to skin them. After they were properly skinned and cleaned, Merlin began to cook them over the fire, spinning them over it while they were attached to the fire spit Leon had made.
"Why don't you sing again?" Arthur teased.
Merlin blushed slightly and opened her mouth to say something sarcastically when there was loud rustling and everyone tensed. One by one, men came from out of the trees.
"If you don't mind, we'd like to have them rabbits. And the lady, if you will." One of them stepped forward and gave her a dirty look.
Arthur shifted more protectively over her. "Gentlemen, I think you should turn around and leave," he said angrily.
"No, I don't think we will."
And then a fight broke out and Merlin held back her scream. Remember the throwing knives on her, she grabbed two of them and lashed out to help Arthur, when one of them tried to sideline him. She continued in this fashion, subtly using magic to trip their opponents or have a tree limb or two land on them, until she saw one of the men come up from behind Brom and she didn't pause to think, throwing the knife at the man. It lodged straight into his neck and she stared wide-eyed, frozen still at the sight.
Did she…did she just kill someone?
Started 11/14/16 – Completed 11/15/16
A/n: So I have a lot of chapters planned out so far, and hopefully that'll motivate me to keep on this. The episodes are EXTREMELY out of order here, so….you'll find that all the episodes from season 1 will not always be one after the other, and other season episodes may also cut in. And that there will occasionally be chapters that aren't episode related. Anybody like that idea? And hopefully this chapter?
Please remember to review! My motivation and will to write clings to those!
Anon Reviews:
1. Guest 1: Thanks! And yeah, I wanted to make Uther less antagonistic like he is in most fics and a lot on the show, and focus on his softer side that the show occasionally brings out. And male!Mithian! Ha, I don't think I could've resisted.
2. Happy Guest: Heh, yeah! I've always meant to continue this, but I hadn't be able to. I always do my best to not take too long, but sometimes things happen :) Thanks for the support and patience!
3. Guest 2: Awww, thank you! I'm glad you enjoy my writing and this story so much! Hope you stick around!
Quick Points:
1. Pandora Pairings Forum: Rare pair forum I created that has lots of challenges, so check it and subscribe please!
2. The Regions Legends: If you like Pokémon, this is my collab account with a few friends of mine. Please check it out and fav, alert, and review! I'm personally in charge of "The Book of Ash", "The Book of Eve","The Book of Mal", and "Kitty Claws."
3. NaNoWriMo: I am participating this month, hence the lack of updates and stuff. Sorry, guys! I really want to finish it and hopefully you guys will be able to buy and read it later on?