Wow, it's been a while since I wrote for Merlin. And I hate to say it, but I've missed it! I've gotten back into the groove of writing these episodic features of Merlin Series 6 again. Yay! As always, reviews will push me along and please enjoy!
Episode 3: It Was Me (Part One)
In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young man. His name: Merlin.
Merlin became Shifty Eyes. Or, at least, that's what Gwaine started calling him the moment they walked into the infamous tavern just outside of Camelot called "The Tavern". Merlin was skeptical of the name. TheTavern. As in, the tavern that everyone gets beaten up at? Merlin wasn't prepared. Gwaine forced him to go after Merlin promised a favor in return for him helping Merlin clean the knights of Camelot's armor. Men with eye patches and scars and angry scowls sat at every table, with massive muscles and big weapons. And in walks Merlin; the lanky, pale kid with fearful blue eyes standing beside a man who looked just about ready to pick a fight with a conceited grin.
"What'll it be, gents?" the bartender asked casually as Merlin and Gwaine sat on the bar stools.
"A pint for me!" Gwaine exclaimed and banged the bar counter with his fist. "What about you, Shifty Eyes?"
Merlin winced nervously when Gwaine clamped his hand on his shoulder. "Milk, please." He wanted to be lucid if there was going to be a fight.
The bartender gave the sorcerer a strange look and replied in a thick Welsh accent. "We don't got any milk."
Merlin blinked, surprised. "Then, water?"
The bartender hesitantly nodded and went on to prepare their drinks.
"How did it come to this?" Merlin asked himself aloud.
"Hey, don't complain. I helped you clean up the armory. You promised to go to a tavern with me," Gwaine claimed with a smile.
Merlin shifted uncomfortably in his stool and held his hands together in his lap. "If you wanted to see me beaten senseless, then you should have asked Percival to do it. It would've saved us a long journey."
"Come now, Merlin!" Gwaine clasped the pint that was slid in front of him. "It only took us a good hour to get here. And who says you'll be beaten? I have a feeling you won't be getting into any-"
"Hey! You cheated!"
Merlin turned his head to see an angry, large man throw down a handful of cards.
"Take that back, you bastard!" the opponent yelled back and stood up rather hastily, as did the other man.
Gwaine laughed heartedly. "At least you aren't in the middle of that brawl. Perhaps we should leave."
Merlin glanced at Gwaine, surprised he offered that suggestion. In the back of his mind, Merlin knew that Gwaine just wanted to keep Merlin safe.
Gwaine stood from the stool and tossed some coins on the counter. "Things are about to get ugly."
The long-haired knight led the way as Merlin followed closely behind. Punches were thrown the moment they started to walk and loud cheers echoed in The Tavern. Pandemonium broke out and Merlin had to duck and weave his way through, losing Gwaine over the crowd of rushing, brutish men.
Something hard stubbed Merlin's foot and he fell forward, catching his fall just before his chin hit the grimy floor. He was about to stand when the heel of a foot kneaded his side and a huge figure tripped over his body, narrowly missing his back as the man landed heavily on the ground.
"What the hell?" the man yelled furiously and gripped at the dagger in his hand. He quickly stood from his fall and raised his hand to attack Merlin.
A rush of adrenaline and instincts passed through Merlin and he summoned an enormous gust of wind to protect him. His eyes turned a shimmering gold and he whispers a few, ancient words before the door to the tavern blew open and a horrendous, dangerous, typhoon-like wind exploded throughout the room; the tables and people flew to the walls and the counter was destroyed. Only Merlin seemed unharmed.
As the brutes were collecting themselves in the aftermath, Merlin rushed out the door to find Gwaine, who had departed already. He was going to have a terribly hard time explaining this one.
[ cue Merlin opening song ]
Merlin woke up the next morning more than exhausted. His sudden outburst of magic caused his body to weaken and stiffen. He couldn't remember the last time that had happened to him. In a way, he hadn't protected himself. His magic had protected him.
"What's got you being meeker than usual?" Arthur asked as he threw his casual red tunic over his head. Today was a rather easy day for both the king of Camelot and his servant; no knightings, no documents to look over, no meetings with other kings.
Merlin folded Arthur's pajamas and replied, "Ah, nothing."
He felt there was no point in explaining the true reason for his quiet behavior. He was more than grateful for the stress-free day ahead of them and he didn't want to ruin it with a reveal that might make Arthur worry.
Arthur clipped his belt to his waist and then stood still.
Noticing the change of mood immediately, Merlin looked up. "What is it?"
Arthur scoffed and opened his arms wide, sending Merlin a questioning glare. "Today, Guinevere and I will be sitting in the royal court and addressing citizens of Camelots' suggestions and complaints. I need to be dressed as a king of Camelot, Merlin."
The sorcerer rolled his eyes and fetched his friend's royal garments.
Twenty minutes later, Merlin was standing beside King Arthur's chair with his hands behind his back and listening to some poor woman claim that the price of bread is too high to feed her children.
"Please, sire, won't you lower it? I cannot have my children starve!"
Arthur was silent for a moment, but replied, "The price of bread is as low as it can be. Any lower and our armory for our safety will be empty and our knights would have no money in exchange for their sacrifices."
"But, sire-!"
Gwen interrupted thoughtfully, "Although the bread price cannot be lowered, perhaps we can give you the necessary tools to produce grain and sell it for a reasonable price for a profit."
Merlin was amazed the queen could come up with such a brilliant idea. The sorcerer was more clueless than a squirrel when it came to the economy and how it worked.
The woman kneeled on the ground and put her hands together, "Oh, thank you, thank you, Your Highness! Thank you!"
Once the woman left, Arthur reached over his throne to hold Guinevere's hand. Merlin watched his loving gesture and smiled warmly at the sight of a happily married couple. Sadly, Merlin was certain that he would never see that happen to himself. Not with his destiny.
"You must wait in line!"
Merlin's ears pricked up at the loud noise of a yelling guard and echoing footfalls. A man with many muscles burst through the double doors, looking more worried than hostile. Arthur's hand released his wife's and he stood up, feeling something was urgent.
"What's the meaning of this?" Arthur questioned in a low, warning tone.
"Sire, I… I saw…" the man was out of breath. As if he had been running for a long while. "Yesterday, I came from just outside town… Th-There was magic… in a tavern…."
Merlin felt his heart stop. He consciously pulled his red scarf higher on his neck, trying to hide his face.
Gwen placed her delicate hand over her mouth in worry. "Magic? Just outside of Camelot?"
Merlin looked at Arthur, hoping to see his reaction, but he could only watch his broad back.
The man continued breathlessly, "Yes! In a tavern a couple miles out. The sorcerer destroyed the building and hurt many!"
Merlin felt his heart plummet to his stomach. He had hurt someone with that outburst?
"Arthur," Gwen began, "We should send knights to the tavern to investigate."
Arthur was quiet.
"Arthur?"
The king cleared his throat and said, "Yes. I will. You there!" Arthur gestured to a knight who guarded the doors. "Please summon Sir Leon here immediately."
The knight nodded and was on his way.
Guinevere added, "Did you see the sorcerer?"
Merlin swallowed the lump in his throat, but it was just choking him in return. He nearly felt faint.
"Myself? No. But one man who was most injured did. He was taken to an infirmary in a village nearest to the tavern."
Merlin had to hold onto the head of Arthur's throne to keep from falling. If Arthur knew… If Arthur knew that he had hurt many people because of his sorcery, what would his friend think of him? Would his mind change about magic? Would he think of Merlin as a threat?
"Merlin? Is something the matter?"
The sorcerer blinked and found Arthur staring at him with a concerned gaze.
"It's… uh… It's nothing," Merlin replied, but blinked very deeply and made a facial expression that said Get me out of here.
Arthur understood as he apologized to the man, "You've been through an ordeal. Please, stay in our castle and rest before your departure. You may leave with Sir Leon when he arrives."
"Arthur?" Gwen questioned and she stood up, catching the king's wrist.
"I'll return soon," Arthur said as he turned his back on his wife to face Merlin. "If Leon arrives before I come back, tell him to come meet me in my chambers."
Arthur walked quickly towards his servant and held his shoulder with a supporting grasp.
When they had retreated into the bright corridors of the castle, Merlin collapsed against the marble wall and slid to the floor.
"What in God's name is your problem, Merlin?" Arthur asked, obviously irritated. "Is it because of that sorcerer the man claimed? We will find him and I'll be sure to spare his life, under certain circumstances."
Merlin looked up at his friend. "Certain circumstances?"
Arthur crossed his arms and clarified. "If the sorcerer meant to harm others, he must pay for his crime."
Merlin jumped to his feet, his face frantic with worry. "Do you not see?! It was me!"
Arthur raised an eyebrow and a confused twitch of a smirk appeared on his face. "What? What do you mean?"
"Gwaine took me to that tavern and there was a fight! I thought a man was going to kill me and I used magic! Well, it just sort of appeared. It was an accident!" Merlin explained in a loud whisper.
Arthur looked about ready to smack Merlin on the back of his head. "You moron!" his voice was also a loud whisper. "I'm about ready to send out the cavalry to find you! There's a witness!"
"Can't you just drop the order and ignore it?" Merlin asked.
"Of course not! Guinevere and other knights heard the problem, as well! We're dealing with sorcery here, not a domestic dispute!"
"Sire?"
Arthur and Merlin spun on their heels to find Leon standing at the end of the corridor, looking somewhat confused.
"Oh, that's good," Merlin whispered to Arthur. "You tell Gwen to send him to your chambers and we're standing in the hall that leads to it."
"Leon!" Arthur exclaimed, ignoring Merlin's comment and walking towards the knight.
"My Lady informed me if the predicament. How may I be of service?"
Arthur looked back to Merlin, as if for help, but the sorcerer just shrugged. Arthur smiled and laughed nervously. "I need you and a couple of other knights to visit the tavern some miles outside of Camelot. Investigate the sorcerer that did the damages and report to me your findings. I will meet you there tomorrow."
Leon dipped his head forward and said, "As you wish," and disappeared around the corner.
Merlin swallowed. "What do we do until then?"
Arthur frowned, determined, and replied, "We need to find the witness."