Chapter Summary: Merlin garners more information about the world and decides on a new resolve.
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Chapter VI: You Can Either Run or Learn From It
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"Teach me how to make that light!"
Merlin halts his soft muttering of the gendershifting spell at Selly's excited demand. "Light?"
"The light! The blue one that you made last night."
Mordred pauses for half-a-second then continues eating casually, expertly hiding his extreme interest. Gilli has no such compunction, shifting in his seat and staring at Merlin and Selly with unbridled curiosity.
"Er." The warlock risks a glance at Mordred.
The druid had been abruptly suspicious of Merlin after he had produced the light. While Merlin doubts it will make a difference should Mordred see it a second time, the warlock decides to be cautious. He's not exactly sure what it is about the light that rings Mordred's alarm bells. Maybe the fact that Merlin has done it without a spell? When he first met Gaius, the physician had demanded to know the spell the warlock used to stop time and drag the cushion. When Merlin said he used none, Gaius had barely believed him.
"That one's a bit hard to make. How about another type of light instead?" Before Selly can protest, Merlin holds out a hand, palm up and fingers spread wide. Despite Gilli's advice of saving his energy for the exam, he mutters a "Léoht." A soft beam of white light flickers to life atop his hand, just barely seen in the mid-morning sun.
Selly let out an awed sound. He tries to touch the light but his fingers go through it without resistance. This seems to amaze him even more. Kelly chirrups, lifting and tilting her head. She opens her sharp beak and heads for Merlin's hand. The warlock flinches, pulling back and almost falling out of his seat. The summoned sunlight vanishes. Gilli steadies him with wide confused eyes.
Kelly hangs her head, crooning sadly. Selly pets her in comfort.
"Don't be afraid," Selly says, lower lip jutting in a pout. "She won't hurt you. Kelly likes you!"
"Right, sorry." For a moment, Merlin has seen an adult griffin darting in to pierce his insides.
He releases a deep breath. As a way of an apology, Merlin produces the same light again. He brings it closer to Kelly, who perks up. The baby griffin looks at it curiously. Much more slowly this time, Kelly moves her beak and tries to eat the light. Merlin feels the pointed tip poke his palm but never breaks skin. He exhales the breath he does not realize he is holding.
Selly wiggles his fingers, adopting a very solemn expression. "Leoht, Leoht, Leoht," he repeats without the intention behind a spell.
Merlin lets the light dissipate. Kelly croons in disappointment at the loss. "No, Léoht."
Selly frowns. "That's what I said."
The warlock and child argues about the inflection for a good while. Mordred and Gilli give them amused looks as they continue to squabble about a trivial thing.
"Ohoh, you practice magic, Merlin?" Tom notes when the number of customer ebbs and he finds the time to check up on his son.
"Merlin's gonna take the Apprentice Exam!" Selly exclaims loudly as if he himself is participating.
"Not surprising," Tom replies with a smile. "In the past few days, every other person you see on the street is joining in on the exam."
That many? Merlin is taken aback. How big of an event is this exam? He keeps the question to himself and instead asks, "Where exactly is the exam taking place?" Merlin can think of no place in the citadel where a great amount of people can fit.
"Supposedly, in the training grounds in front of the castle," Mordred answers as he finishes the last bits of the fish. "For sorcerers anyway. Mages' tests are held indoors."
Gilli snorts. "We're not in the habit of showing off, unlike you lot."
"It's held indoors because no one would want to see you staring at a bowl of water," Mordred teases, earning him a punch on the shoulder from Gilli.
"There's more to mages than staring at a bowl of water!" Gilli defends, lifting his chin. "We also stare at clear-cut crystals, I'll have you know!"
Gilli and Mordred stare at each other. After a beat, they both burst out laughing, eyes crinkling with mirth. Merlin cannot quite fight down the smile threatening his lips at their antics. They are so unusually carefree and childlike, unburdened in a way no magicians are under Uther's rule. Because of this, Merlin completely sheds all the biased notions he has of them; this Gilli and Mordred are completely different at the core. This is not the man who once tried to kill King Uther, and this is not the druid prophesied to end Arthur's life.
"What's the difference between a mage and a sorcerer?" Merlin feels comfortable enough to ask the question that has been bugging him since the night before. Gaius and Merlin himself has been using the term interchangeably but clearly, in this world, there is a distinction.
Four sets of wide eyes settle on him as soon as the words leave his lips. Merlin shrinks a bit from their incredulous stares, wondering if he should have just figured out the answer to his question instead of asking.
"Have you been living under a rock?" Selly is a portrait of indignation, as if he's taking Merlin's ignorance as a personal offence. "Even I know the answer to that!"
"W - Well, I'm not very educated in the ways of magic. Too busy with other things to learn." Merlin replies truthfully, sounding properly apologetic mainly to calm Selly down. Hastily, he repeats the question to prevent any further probing about his lack of knowledge. "So, mages and sorcerers?"
Thankfully, Mordred accepts his excuse and answers casually, "Sorcerers are usually ones whose expertise lie in elemental magic." Mordred whispers a short spell, the fingers in one hand shimmying smoothly. His eyes flash a bright gold. Water ascends from his cup, weaving a beautiful trail in the air. "Sorcerers are very good at manipulating water, fire, air, earth, lightning, metal, or some other naturally occurring anomaly."
Tom, Selly, Kelly, and Merlin watch with no little bit of admiration as Mordred brings the water back down to the tankard without spilling a single drop.
Gilli rolls his eyes, swallowing another morsel of his meal. "Show-off." He proceeds to continue Mordred's explanation. "Mages, on the other hand, are ones who prefer arcane types of magic. Mixing potions, healing flesh wounds, scrying for information, and the like."
Oh. It is no wonder Gaius is labeled as a mage here. "What's a warlock then? Is it another term for sorcerers?" Merlin is almost sure his guess is right.
When Tom, Mordred, and Gilli visibly bristles, however, Merlin suspects his guess is actually very very wrong. Selly soundlessly forms the word 'warlock', as clueless as Merlin as to its connotation.
"No, a warlock is not another term for sorcerers," Mordred responds calmly. Too calmly.
Gilli whirls towards him, anger radiating from his posture. "Has someone called you that? Tell me who!" His expression darkens. "I'll give them the tongue-lashing of a lifetime!"
Merlin imagines Gilli mouthing off to Kilgharrah, and decides it's better to lie. "N-No. I just - I just heard it in passing and wondered what it meant."
Gilli huffs, barely mollified at that. "It's a very rude word, Merlin," is all he deigns to say on the matter.
The inn-owner tells his child in a firm tone that brook no argument, "Don't repeat that word, Selly, all right?"
Selly nods obediently, still as confused as Merlin. Merlin chooses not to push the issue further, figuring that he has stepped on too many toes for the day with his questions. Obviously, 'warlock' is an insulting title in this realm. Has Kilgharrah been purposely mocking him all this time? He feels belatedly offended. When he gets back, he'll need to have a serious talk with that blasted dragon.
Tom goes back to work once more when the calls of the patrons for more mead get too deafening. Selly drags Merlin into another conversation, rambling about the history and purpose of the Apprentice Exam. It's information that Merlin has already garnered the night before but the warlock listens patiently nonetheless.
"Did your father participate in the exam before?" Merlin asks Selly, certain that Tom is the cause of the boy's interest in the magical recruitment.
Selly's mouth closes with a click. He appears wrong-footed. "Da can't do magic."
"What?" Merlin nearly exclaims. "B-But -" He was executed for the crime of sorcery in my Camelot.
"Da might not have had magic but he's still the best da ever!" Selly declares proudly. Merlin barely hears the words, mind already working on the implications of Selly's previous statement.
If Tom can't do magic, then how was he charged with the crime? Merlin knows innocents are sometimes charged with crimes they did not do - Gwen's trips to the dungeons are proof of that - but what exactly did Tom, a man without magic, do in Merlin's world that landed him in the execution block?
Another question arises as Merlin's thoughts progress; where is Selly in Merlin's world? The servant stares at the said child as Selly continues to sing praises about his father. A hyper boy like Selly will surely leave an impression. Had he been living in Camelot, Merlin will surely have met him. Mayhaps someone has taken him out of the kingdom when his father was executed, smuggling him away to keep him safe? Seven years ago . . . Selly would have been a mere babe. Or perhaps Selly simply hadn't been born in the warlock's world? Or maybe . . .
Merlin never did find out the details of Tom's trial; the man clearly loves his son and . . . the servant knows Uther's crusade against the Old Religion did not exclude even the youngest of children.
A sour taste climbs the back of his throat. Merlin's magic simmers quietly just beneath his skin at the mere possibility. He fails to notice Mordred's head snapping up and to him.
"I'm certain your father has talents that far exceed magical ones," Merlin replies with an earnest smile, subtly tightening his hold over his magic.
Selly nods in a rapid rate that Merlin fears he may nod his head off. "He does! Did you know he can fold his eyelids outward? It's horrible and amazing!"
That invokes a laugh out of Merlin, dissolving his downtrodden mood. "That is incredible."
Selly and Kelly giggles with Merlin. He resumes his tales about his father's fascinating exploits and skills. Most stories involve the use of hardy pans, and sticky food.
A few minutes later, Mordred and Gilli finish their respective breakfasts. They call for Tom and pay three silvers for the meals and the room. Merlin guiltily shifts in his seat, hoping that he will find a way to pay back Tom's kindness in full soon. Mordred and Gilli also rent the room for the whole day, opting to leave their clothes and knick knacks in Tom's inn while exam is taking place.
"Hopefully, when we come and fetch our things later, it's to transfer them to the castle," Gilli remarks blithely as he gets to his feet. Mordred follows his lead, smoothing out the wrinkles on his shirt as he rises.
"Da and I will come and cheer you on from the stands!" Selly informs them, beaming. "And Kelly too, of course." The griffin chirrups merrily.
"F-From the stands?" An audience is allowed during the exam? Merlin supposes that since the sorcerers' tests are held outdoors, people will be watching for entertainment. It's no different from jousts and tournaments after all.
"We'll see you later then, Selly," Mordred promises with a small smile. "Wish us luck!"
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"If you lot ever need jobs," Levi slurs out as the three of them are exiting the tavern. "My fine establishment is located at the end of the road." He sends them what may have been a wink or simply weird blinks. "Especially for you," he points at Merlin or maybe at Mordred. They know not because the finger is swaying widely.
Mordred's brows rise. Gilli and Merlin remain befuddled. "We'll keep that in mind," the druid says with no levity. He pushes both Gilli and Merlin out of the door before both of them can ask for clarification.
"He accosted me earlier too," Merlin confides outside, now terribly curious as to what kind of work the man is offering. Mordred seems to know. "Tom implies that he was recruiting."
"Wonder what kind of job it is." Gilli hums. "He must be desperate for workers if he's recruiting in a tavern."
The corners of Mordred's lips quirk upwards. "Do you want to know?"
Merlin and Gilli nod, leaning closer to the druid. Mordred whispers the answer in the crowded street.
"Oh," Merlin says feebly. Not illegal but definitely shady.
"Makes sense, I suppose," Gilli follows, voice just as weak.
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The castle looks no different from the outside, Merlin notes as he stares up at the north tower. The same gray bricks, the same shape of the turrets, the same enormous windows . . . A pang of homesickness hit him suddenly, stinging his eyes.
The warlock walks towards one of the archway, wanting to see if the castle is the same from the inside, wanting to see if the same steps lead toward familiar rooms. A feet away from the entrance, he smacks into something firm and unyielding. He staggers back, disoriented and holding onto his throbbing nose.
"What?"
He slowly extends an arm and his palm meets an invisible barrier. He moves his hand to another spot. The same resistance halts him. He pushes against it, lightly at first. When the barrier does not give, he increases the force, almost putting all of his weight against it.
What manner of spell is this? Merlin frowns, ceasing his attempts to overcome it.
"Merlin!" Gilli and Mordred run toward him, confusion etched on their features. "What are you doing? The registration tables are on the east side of the castle."
"There's something -" Merlin presses a hand against the invisible barrier again. "See?"
"Oh!" Mordred siddles beside him and skims the barrier with the pads of his fingers. "It's the castle shield." His face and voice are filled with undeniable reverence.
To Merlin, it looks a bit like the druid is caressing air. "T-The castle shield?"
Gilli walks towards them and joins them. "It is said to be the combined work of hundreds of sorcerers and mages under Queen Ygraine's employ. It surrounds the whole of the castle." The mage grins brightly, tapping on the barrier. The sound of muffled underwater bubbles is produced by Gilli's actions.
Merlin denotes that yet again, no one has made mention of King Uther. Merlin is itching to find out where that king is and what happened to him in this world but refrains from asking. He has to figure that out for himself, seeing as everyone seems to know the answer and thinks it's obvious. The warlock knows he will only draw suspicion and attention to himself if he lets his ignorance known about the matter.
"No physical or magical force can lay a single scratch on it," Mordred continues praising, tone that of a child receiving presents for the first time. "And no intruder can ever hope to penetrate it."
The warlock's interest is piqued. That sounds exactly like what Merlin's Camelot needs. Such a shield will definitely make Merlin's job of protecting Arthur easier; the warlock can remember more than one instance wherein trouble could have been avoided if the security around the castle is tighter.
"How do people get in then?" Even as the question leaves his mouth, Merlin recalls the question guards at the entrance posed. Where's your castle talisman then? "You need a talisman to go through it?"
"Yes." Mordred turns to Merlin, bright smile never wavering. "Each talisman is tailored to the person wearing it. If anyone steals it from them and tries to use it, the shield will still deny them entry." Mordred strokes the magical wall once more, longing in his features. "Isn't it magnificent? Imagine, before the end of the day, we'll get our very own talismans and be able to get enter the castle!"
Merlin supposes it will be difficult to sneak in to the castle - not that the warlock has any plans of that. He just needs to talk to Gaius and he can do that outside the castle.
"Hurry up, lad!" Quick footfalls pound on the stoned pavement, and an awfully familiar voice echoes through the area. "The exam's starting soon."
Merlin, along with Gilli and Mordred, whirls around to face the people striding towards their direction. One of them is a tall brunette with short curly hair and narrow eyes. Morris, Merlin immediately recognizes. Morris was Arthur's previous manservant, one whose job Merlin stole. He winces inwardly, remembering the man's cold shoulder for weeks and refusal to train him for the role. They eventually came into a mutual agreement, and, not quite friendship but something close to it.
Morris is carrying in his arms a stack of thick books. The pile nearly blocks his vision but he manages to gracefully navigate through the path nonetheless.
The man leading and ordering him around is . . . Merlin blinks, trying to clear his vision. The man's face and voice clearly belong to Gaius. Little else does, however.
Purple fineries of tunics and breeches wrap snugly around lean arms and torso. Long white hair, the length of which reaches mid-back, gathers in a tight ponytail, the ends swinging slightly with the man's movements. Instead of a hunched back, the man walks with his chest out, dignity and nobility drape heavily on his shoulders like the blood red cape he is currently sporting.
Merlin gapes unbecomingly, struggling to wrap his head on yet another anomaly. Gilli decides to do something more productive.
"Mage Gaius!" Gilli exclaims, excitement overflowing.
The man and Morris glances at the trio. There is no spark of recognition as Gaius' gaze go over Merlin's form. The warlock's heart sinks. Of course, this is clearly not his mentor. Of course this Gaius does not know him. It occurs to Merlin then that his friends, should he meet them in this world, will all fail to recognize him. They do not share the same memories he's had with them. His stomach turns at the notion, and he swallows past the ball of distress building in his throat. His fingers flit over the metal under his tunic as he feels, for the first time, utterly alone in this.
Gaius nods at them in acknowledgement but his treads do not falter.
Merlin realizes this is the opportunity he has been waiting for. Pushing away the unreasonable hurt to the back of his mind, he hurriedly approaches the physician, "Ga - Mage Gaius, if I can -"
Gaius deftly holds out a palm, interrupting Merlin. "I'm very busy, lad," he replies stiffly.
Merlin quickens his pace to match Gaius'. "It'll only take a few minutes, I promise!" Darn it, Gaius isn't even looking at him.
Mordred and Gilli both grab each of the warlock's arms as he nears the northern entrance of the castle and pulls him back, saving him from slapping against the invisible barrier again. The shield lets Gaius and Morris pass without a fuss. Morris looks back at them with a confused frown but Gaius resumes walking inside the castle without a backward glance.
When both disappear from sight, Gilli scowls at Merlin. "You shouldn't bother Mage Gaius. He's very busy preparing for the mages' exams," he chastises.
Merlin blinks away the tears threatening to fall from his eyes. "Yes, m-my mistake," he replies, voice thick. Even when Gaius had been possessed by the goblin, he hadn't treated Merlin like he wasn't even worth a second glance. Merlin's used to that treatment from visiting nobles but not from the man who wears his mentor's face.
Gilli's features smoothens upon detecting the melancholic quality of his tone. "Merlin?"
The warlock shakes off their grips. "I'm fine," he assures, sounding otherwise.
"Some nobles act as such," Mordred says gingerly. "Don't worry about it. We'll prove ourselves to them soon enough." He claps a hand around Merlin's should in comfort.
Nobles? Oh, Merlin has forgotten that Gaius must have noble blood in him to be appointed court physician. His mentor doesn't act like a pompous ass most of the time. But that wasn't Gaius, Merlin tells himself. Just as this Mordred and Gilli are not the ones from his world. It's just . . . the warlock stupidly assumed this Gaius will have the same attitude towards Merlin as his counterpart. The warlock rids himself of the disappointment piercing his chest. He should not have expected anything.
"And I'm sure Mage Gaius is just busy at the moment to talk to us," Gilli defends vehemently. "The exam is today after all."
"Right." This Gaius also does not know him in any possible way so why would the physician give him the time of the day?
He must've sounded like an entitled brat earlier, demanding the mage's time. The warlock grimaces. Mordred is right. Merlin needs to prove himself in this world just as he's proven himself to his Gaius over the years. He needs to be worth this Gaius' time.
"Let's get registered for the exam then." He gives them a sunny smile, one that, Arthur remarks, makes him look like an oblivious naive peasant boy.
Mordred and Gilli seems taken aback by his sudden enthusiasm. They offer their own smiles though - a bright one from Gilli and a restrained small one from Mordred.
"Let's hurry up! I'm sure the lines are long now." Gilli beckons them forward as he hastens his steps himself. "I'll get a sunburn if we stand too long in the sun."
Mordred shoots Gilli a teasing remark, saying Gilli would look better with a bit of sun on his skin. Merlin's smile drops as the two turn away from him. He glances at the castle from time to time as they walk.
A shielded castle that is impossible to breach and a Gaius that have little patience for ordinary commoners . . . Merlin sighs heavily, coming to an irrevocable conclusion. A talisman is needed to get inside the castle and a talisman is given to a chosen apprentice.
If Merlin wants to talk to Gaius and desires for the mage to really listen, the warlock needs to get chosen as an apprentice. He groans to himself. Now, he has to actually make an effort in the exam.
Should be easy, Merlin tries to think positively. He has done some extensive magic to defend Camelot before and that surely counts for something - nevermind that he barely uses his magic aside from those instances, nevermind that he has read one spellbook, nevermind that he knows nothing of the magical concepts that seem obvious to all magic-users of the realm, nevermind that the other applicants have had weeks to prepare, nevermind that he's probably going to make a fool of himself because he has never been a participant to any sort of contest before.
He groans again. He thinks finding a hole or weakness in the castle shield will be less impossible.
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A/N:
Thank you so much PurpleFlyingBird from FF . net and blue-skies88 from tumblr for bouncing ideas with me. You guys are awesome and the next chapters are for/from you!
I've rewritten this chapter so many times and had to delete so much of the conversation. I'll probably post them as deleted scenes or AUs to this AU (haha) sometime in the far future.
Now for some fun facts!
The worldbuilding of this story relies heavily on the glimpses of magic BBC Merlin has shown us.
Gendershifting spell: Based on The Dolma. Lol, I love that character!
Castle Shield: Inspired by the shield Merlin used when Kilgharrah tried to fry him
Constructive criticisms are very much welcome! Kindly point out any glaring errors!
If you enjoy my content, please consider buying me coffee ;)
Have an absolutely magic-filled day!
~ Vividpast