Hello dear readers!
I can't begin this chapter without thanking you all! You are absolutely AMAZING! I can't even begin to explain how happy and releived I was at the feedback I got for just this little prologue! I really didn't expect to have already so many followers and favouriters (is that a word?) and reviews! I hope I will live up to your expectations!
I'll also thank my Beta, as ever, for her hard work :)
So, here is then the first chapter! Time to see what happened to Merlin :)
Do not hesitate to make your comments known with a review, you would brighten my bleak day ;)
Enjoy!
Chapter 1:
Merlin was running at full speed along the white corridors of Camelot, cursing himself for oversleeping again and apologizing to the people he crossed, hoping he wouldn't run into someone. He could already hear Arthur's voice scolding him.
He couldn't help it if he had spent the evening and a good part of the night in the lower town, helping with the outbreak of an illness that, thankfully, had been nothing too serious but had still taking time.
He arrived in front of the wooden doors to find Arthur waiting for him, arms crossed on his chest, an annoyed look on his face.
"Hello Arthur." Merlin greeted a little breathlessly as he skidded in a halt in front of the King.
"I hope you have a very good reason for being so late." Arthur said, his voice cold.
"Actually, yes. I… I was helping in the lower town last night and came back only early this morning."
"So you overslept." The king interrupted.
Merlin nodded sheepishly and Arthur sighed. "Well, let's just hope you haven't annoyed the lords too much."
Merlin shrugged and straightened his clothes before following the king into the council room and sitting down in his designated seat.
"Well, thank you all for joining us in this council meeting." Arthur began, his voice resonating in the room.
And with that the council began with Merlin only vaguely listening. He knew he should pay more attention but frankly couldn't find it in himself to. In fact, he had discovered during his first council session that the whole Royal Adviser thing was working only for Arthur and a handful of lords but that the majority of them would just plainly ignore him.
So he decided he would just listen and not say a thing. But, of course, this made the council no more interesting than when he had just been a servant. Even less as now he had to look as if he was listening.
To keep himself occupied, he sipped at his goblet of water and observed the nobles around the tables, all looking very regal in their rich clothes and once more the warlock wondered what he was doing there. He knew that this was Arthur showing his appreciation to what he had done and sacrificed for the Kingdom but he couldn't help but feel he was not at his real place.
It was more than an hour later that Arthur finally decided to end the meeting causing Merlin to hide a relieved sigh. He waited until the last lord had left the room before rubbing his neck tiredly, feeling the effects of the night's events.
"You look tired." Arthur commented and Merlin lifted an eyebrow, internally sighing at the King newfound care for his health.
"Well you would too if you'd spent the night in town, working." He tried to joke and when he saw Arthur's still concern glance he said. "I'm fine Arthur."
"You know I don't believe you when you say that anymore." His friend replied.
Merlin groaned and opened his mouth to protest but was interrupted by a loud knock at the door before it opened.
"Sire, I apologize for disturbing you." The guard said. "But Luke is here and wanted to talk to Merlin. He said it is a matter of urgency."
"He'll be there shortly." Arthur answered.
"No, I'll come right away." The warlock interrupted, his gaze fixed on the king who looked like he wanted to object.
Merlin didn't give him the time and went to the door.
"We'll talk about that Merlin." The king called after him.
"I don't doubt it." The younger man answered and closed the door to find Luke waiting for him.
Luke was a younger man than Merlin who had been an apprentice to the herbalist and was now helping the warlock whenever there was a disease that needed more attention that the sorcerer could give. Which had been the case yesterday and still was today.
"Sorry to disturb you Merlin, I know the Council session is important but there have been ten new cases and they seem worse. We were at a bit at a loss as to what to do…"
"You did the right thing Luke, don't worry." Merlin assured.
The young man nodded and began leading Merlin out of the Castle and into the lower town towards the house in which they had gathered most of the sick people in order to treat them more easily.
Once there, Merlin was greeted by the sight of five new patients lying on the ground near the front door, tended to by Elena.
"Ah Merlin! I'm glad you could come!" She told him when she saw both men enter. "These arrived this morning. They seem worse…"
Merlin nodded and crouched down next to a middle aged woman who was lying curled on her side, shivering. He put a hand on her brow and fought not to wince at the heat there. He examined her quickly before moving to the four others.
"We need to cool them down. Do you still have yarrow tincture left?"
Elena shook her head, her ponytail flying.
"No. I gave the last to the Simmons' children." She answered apologetically.
"Okay, we should still have some in stock Elena, but you, Luke should go pick some more yarrow while I go and prepare more of the tincture." Merlin said, trying to sound as if he wasn't ordering them around.
They both nodded before going to do what he said as he turned and walked out of the room, feeling sorry for all the people there he couldn't really help.
How he missed Gaius at times like this. He was sure the old man would have been able to do so much more.
He sighed and shook his head softly. No point in dwelling on those thoughts. He had to brew this potion before his afternoon meetings with various people to discuss magic.
He had been doing that since Arthur appointed him Court Advisor on Magical Affairs and had decided it should be part of his duties to meet anyone who wanted to discuss anything magical so he could then refer them to the king if needs be.
There were far more people than any of them would have thought.
But that didn't mean he was displeased with it. At least during those meetings he could actually express himself, even without mentioning he himself had magic, and they would listen.
With those thoughts he arrived in front of the Physician Chambers. He took a deep breath and entered his former room. He couldn't stop the pang in his chest but he was used to it now and the feeling of loss didn't bother him as much as it had the first few weeks after Gaius' death. He had chosen to keep it as a Physician office where he would prepare and store various potions until they found a new physician.
Not that he was sure he was ready to have someone replace Gaius right now, despite the fact that he had accepted his mentor's passing and was slowly getting over it.
He shook the thoughts away and set to work, he really didn't have time to lose.
Two hours later and he was pouring the tincture into glass vials when Luke returned loaded with a basket of yarrow flowers.
"Merlin! You're still here?" He exclaimed surprised.
"Yes, I just finished the tincture actually. You should take it to Elena and help her."
"But the flowers have to be put to dry." The younger man protested.
"I'll do it." Merlin said.
"Don't you have your meetings soon?" Luke asked eyebrow raised.
Merlin took a look outside and saw the sun almost at his highest. He grimaced, looking down at his wet shirt from when he had accidently dropped a bowl of water over himself.
"Yeah. You're right… But do that later."
Luke nodded coming to the table to empty his basket and replace the flower with the now full vials.
"Don't hesitate to interrupt me if you need to." Merlin instructed as he left the room, once more running towards his room to change and eat something before his appointment.
So? What do you think? I guess it wasn't what you expected but is it any good?
Oh, and, I guess I should precise that I don't own Merlin of course ;)
See you soon!