Title: Edge: Interlude - Gaius
Author: hermitknut
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Rating: PG at the moment, might become PG-13 or even 15 at a later date.
Warnings: Slash (duh).
Summary: King Uther is dead; Long Live King Arthur! But it's not quite that simple. The interregnum – the time between the death of one king and the coronation of the next – is proving to be more complex than it would seem. Two old friends return; but have the last five years changed one of them beyond repair?
Disclaimer: If it were mine… Merlin and Arthur would make out in almost every episode :D
A/N: This is the sequel to "Heads and Tales" [links to all chapters here]. You can probably make sense of this without reading that if you like. This story has not been finished yet so I don't know how long it will be, but it should be about the length of Heads and Tales if not a little shorter. I know little about how this gap between one king and the next works, so I've just imagined my own version :P If you have any suggestions, please feel free to make them – also, reviews are awesome.
After the king's death, Gaius was called away by an illness in the village of Meara, three miles away from the city, and did not return for several days. He returned to a strange, unsettled Camelot. The people were tense and quiet, but not with fear; the whole city was ripe with anticipation. Rumours flitted across the streets like beings with lives of their own, changing slightly with each pair of lips they passed through.
"Lancelot has returned to the city to be knighted…"
"Prince Arthur released a boy accused of sorcery…"
"There's a druid staying in the castle…"
"He's the prince's old manservant…"
"A guest of Arthur's…"
"Merlin…"
These words only sped Gaius' passage through the city to his workroom in the castle. He had known that Merlin was destined to return to serve Arthur, but part of him had always feared that Merlin's departure from Camelot five years ago would be permanent.
Abandoning his things in his workroom, Gaius walked through the castle's halls looking for Merlin, or someone who might know where he would be. After asking a guard and then a maid, neither of whom had any answers for him, it was nightfall when he finally saw Leon at the end of a corridor.
"Sir Leon!" Gaius called. Leon turned, and upon seeing who it was made his way towards him.
"Gaius!" the knight exclaimed. "I didn't realise that you were back from Meara."
"Only just," Gaius said. "I heard…" he quietened his voice somewhat, "I heard that Merlin had returned."
Leon appeared to have been expecting this, for his face bore no surprise as he nodded.
"He arrived the day before yesterday," he said, and then hesitated before continuing. "Gaius… I have seen him only briefly myself, but by all accounts he seems… much changed."
Gaius, uncharacteristically, all but ignored this.
"Do you know where he'd be?" he asked. Sir Leon nodded.
"His quarters are currently in the south wing," he said. Gaius thanked him and moved on; Leon watched the older man walk away for a moment, uncertainty in his gaze, before continuing on his errand.
Gaius had reached the right door, finally. He knocked and, upon hearing no answer, swung it open a little way. The room was dark, lit only by the moonlight; there was a tall shadow by the window.
"Merlin?"
The silhouette at the window turned, moving enough to suddenly be recognisable – and there was Merlin, as tall and gangly as ever but now with some grasp of grace in his movements. Gaius moved towards him, picking out the finer details of change as he did so. Merlin's dark hair was a little longer, making his ears stand out less. The druidic tattoo emphasised his pale skin, almost luminescent in the rising moonlight. His slender frame in the plain robe seemed more controlled.
But the greatest change was in his smile.
"It's good to see you, Gaius," he said, his voice warm but without the slightly childish lilt that Gaius remembered. Gaius had to jolt himself to reply, pulling his expression into a pleased one.
"And you, my lad," he said, embracing Merlin. Gaius thought he could feel the ridge of Merlin's spine through his robes, but they parted quickly and he could not be certain.
"How have you been?" the young sorcerer asked, his expression politely curious. Gaius nodded.
"Well, thank you; and you?"
"I've learnt much."
They continued as manners allowed for a minute or so more, before Gaius brought the conversation to a close.
"It's very late, I've no wish to keep you up," he said courteously. "Goodnight, Merlin."
"Goodnight, Gaius," Merlin replied, "it was good to speak with you."
Gaius left, closing the door behind him. He made his way swiftly back through the castle, not stopping until he reached his chambers and sat down in his chair, his mind in a flurry of thought.
I've learnt much…
Much indeed. Gaius had known Merlin for three years, and during that time he had seen the young sorcerer go through happiness, grief, fear, anger, joy, regret – emotion after emotion, all worn on his sleeve for everyone to see. But now…
Gaius feared suddenly for his charge's experiences away from Camelot; what could have happened that had taught open, barrier-less Merlin to lie with a smile?