chapter nine! so hello, i hope you are enjoying the story so far, i hope this chapter is up to standard i fear it may not be epic enough, but i like the tone, i hope you do to, um there's mentions of torture in this chapter, but no actual torture, oh and :D Gwen's a lady! she can't correct people anymore when they call her milady. i don't own Merlin, wish i did but i don't.
Gwen's new life, a Kings ultimatum.
Merlin was busy sorting out herbs in the physician's quarters when he heard the door fly open knocking several jars of shelves; he instinctively halted the jars fall. They hovered towards the shelves again when he realised that Gwen had run into the room, the only words he could decipher were 'Odin', 'ward' and 'me'. The force if her hug caused his concentration to slip. The still suspended jars jiggled about in mid air as he tried to keep hold of them. This worked until Gwen chose to squeal with delight again. Right in his ear. The jars dropped in the floor Gwen was about to apologise when.
"Merlin! You idiot what were, Gwen why are you choking the life out of Merlin?" Merlin disentangled himself from Gwen and gently pushed her towards Arthur and then turned around and blocked his ears. It still wasn't enough. He heard Gwen scream again, she really was in a screechy mood, and then heard more jars go tumbling he decided enough was enough. "friends settle now!" Gwen and Arthur both stopped and stared as the spell took effect. An eerie calm had fallen over them. At the unasked question Merlin answered "a nerve calming spell altered for the situation, Gwen you are clearly excited about something. It would be nice if Arthur and I actually could hear what you were excited about through the squeals and ridiculously fast talking."
Arthur threw something at him, and Gwen punched his arm. They all sat at one of the tables and Gwen calmly told then all that had happened. Arthur smiled when he saw the spark of recognition in Merlin's eyes. He asked Merlin what he was thinking. "Everyone has a destiny. Mine and yours have always been bound, you are the once and future king and as Emrys it is my destiny to aid you in becoming king. However I have learnt of another destiny. One regarding the once and future queen. Your um, your love." He looked Gwen in the eye. She realised what he was saying. She would marry Arthur it was a solid fact she looked slightly panicked realising that her love for Arthur was nothing but the coming together of destiny.
"Our end and certain things may be predestined. How and when we get there is our choice. You are your own person Guinevere, you are fully capable of deciding your own path. So choose" Merlin flicked his hand to the side and all the smashed jars mended and settled back on the shelves. Gwen and Arthur were both staring at him. There was an awkwardly long silence which was broken by Arthur reaching around Gwen pulling her closer to his side and said "see I told you he had pearls of wisdom sometimes" she pushed him playfully glared at Merlin "yes I know its just weird seeing it first hand. Really weird"
"How long do you have?"merlin saw the sad look on gwens face and changed his question. "you're leaving immediately aren't you?" Merlin asked.
She nodded. Merlin hugged his friend and told her he would be there to see her off. He nodded at Arthur and left. Sir Leon was lurking outside in the hall. All he needed from Merlin was a side ways glance to know not to disturb Gwen's good bye to Arthur, it would be awkward and hard enough without the embarrassment of having their quiet moment interrupted. The knight caught up with the warlock.
"Merlin! Wait. So the king would like to see you at some point." Leon walked straight into the back of Merlin as the warlock stopped dead in his tracks. He tried to turn quickly but got caught up in Leon's cape and ended up tangled and pressed tightly against the knight's chest. "Well now this is awkward. Please don't tell Arthur about this." Leon smoothly detached himself from the warlock "yes, the druidic messiah being unable to walk down a corridor without tripping over or getting tangled is rather embarrassing I suppose." Leon heard Merlin mumble something so he asked what he said. Merlin repeated louder "I'm not the messiah, I'm a very normal boy." The warlock looked across at his companion. "I know it's not my place to ask M'lord, but you seam in high spirits today. Is there any reason?" the knight hesitated before answering.
"Arthur sees you as a trusted friend as well as his servant, if he believes that, then I believe that normal protocol does not apply to you Merlin, as for why I'm happy. Gwen's mother was a maid in my parents house, Gwen and her brother would come to work with her often. I grew up with them keeping me company. I liked her mother, she was a hard worker, humble but unafraid to speak her mind when asked. I see a lot of her in Gwen, so Gwen being given a title and position of Odin's ward has placed me in high spirits." Merlin processed all of the information he had just been told. He now remembered Gwen mentioning her mother working for Leon's parents before, however he had never known Gwen and Leon were as close as they evidently were, he supposed it was due to the difference in station.
They turned a corner and Merlin paused. This was the corridor to the king's chambers. Why had Leon directed him in this direction. Leon waited patiently for Merlin to ask the question he clearly wanted to ask. "Out of curiosity why have you bought me here Sir?" Leons face was an unreadable mask when he answered. "I felt it better to get talking to the king over and done with. If you don't survive the encounter, I shall tell Gwen you said good bye and tell Arthur to find a new servant." Merlin gulped straightened himself dusted down his clothes and walked towards the door to the king's quarters. He knocked and entered when told to.
"Sire, I was told you wished to see me, so I'm here M'lord." The king turned round and took a step away from Merlin. It made the young warlock uncomfortable the way the king acted round him it reminded him of how he used to act round Kilgaragh, fear and awe tinged with mistrust. At least he hadn't been stabbed, yet. The silence continued and was only broken when Uthur placed his sword on the table and sighed before speaking.
"My son seams rather taken with you. He seams to think. That you are a continual source of light relief, when he needs it. A fountain of wisdom, when he needs it. A trusted protector when he needs it and a trusted friend and confidante when he needs it." Merlin did nothing just continued to stand where he was. He didn't need to say anything as all of what had been said were statements not questions. He was intrigued to see where this was headed. "Gaius used magic to aid his work as physician when I first met him he was quite talented, but then I came to know magic's true nature. I allowed Gaius to live and stay here provided he didn't interfere with the purge and never used magic again. Magic is evil and it corrupts." Merlin wanted to say something but then Uthur continued.
"I don't like you Merlin, I think you are an abomination. And yet. You were born with magic, such a thing is unheard of and yet. You never were given a choice you were damned from birth so all you have ever been able to do is atone for the sin that is your life. So I shall make you a similar offer I made to Gaius. I shall allow you to live provided you refrain from using magic unless absolutely necessary, my son seams to see you as some kind of adviser so as penance for the inescapable sin that is your existence I here by place you in his service as a full time adviser. But be warned. If I here you have used your, magic" he spat the word out like it was hemlock, "for anything other than protecting my son or Camelot then I will have you tortured, slowly before you die. Your nails will be removed, your tongue cut out, your knees smashed, then I shall take your hearing and leave you only a little sight so you can watch the flames slowly burn away at you when it come time for you to die. Do you understand?"
Merlin drew himself up to his full height walked towards the king and very quietly said "yes. But know this sire. I will allow no harm to come to your son from anyone. I protect Camelot only because Arthur cares for it, I protect you only because Arthur cares for you, but I knew about Morgana. I prevented her from killing you and the prince; it was me who defeated seigen. I am Emrys prophesied saviour of all magic, most powerful sorcerer ever to exist. I am Ballinor's only son and last of the dragon lords kin to kilgarragh and most importantly I'm your son's closest and dearest friend. I will not act unless provoked. So don't provoke me M'lord. And don't make me angry." He bowed politely. "Thank you for appointing me your sons adviser sire, I will not let you down. Camelot is safe while I'm around." He smiled his bright dazzling idiotic smile and stumbled out of the kings chambers.
As he did so he pointed at the kings sword and murmured a spell, the sword glowed briefly then returned to normal you will find your sword is always sharp now M'lord. It should help you protect Camelot. Take it as a sign of thanks and good grace, you are a good king, you may not like me but you willingly take heed of your son and heirs opinions. Thank you my king." With those last words he disappeared. Uthur was left standing alone more unsure of things than he had ever been. He knew one thing for certain having Merlin by Arthur's side when it came time for battle would be a good thing. Maybe. Just maybe Merlin wasn't evil maybe he was nature's way of balancing things, maybe all other magic users were evil and Merlin had been given the most power because he was a good soul the one light in a world of dark. He was troubled with how quickly his thoughts had been thrown into disarray. He wondered if this trick was how Merlin had stayed hidden for so long, this ability to seam idiotic and simple while dropping truly wise words in staggered places. The king had no doubt Arthur had seen Merlin do magic only for the boy to answer back to the prince inevitably leading his son to throwing something at his servant. Or ex servant now.
Merlin was walking to Arthur's chambers when he suddenly felt another presence he closed his eyes and focused on letting his magic fill the corridor. He knew it was Tristain with out needing to look. "Hello sir Tristain how was training?" He felt Tristain smile behind him then fall into step beside him. The knight muttered something about fun with sharp pointy stabby things. Merlin laughed and the knight finally decided the niceties were over. He grabbed Merlin's arm and swung him round to face him. "Merlin are you alright? My sword is going crazy being this close to you. What did Uthur want?"
Merlin laughed at Tristain's innuendo and only answered as they reached Arthur's room "firstly. Your sword is going crazy for me is it" he smiled a wicked smile that would have made a lesser man blush. "Burning hot for me is it? Must be my big magic" he burst out laughing and knocked on the door once before walking in telling Tristain he would explain all once they were inside.
Arthur was looking out of his window distractedly, most probably watching Gwen's cart being loaded, Merlin noted. Merlin cleared his throat to get the princes attention. The prince's head snapped up and focused on the two new arrivals. He tilted his head slightly studying his friends. Eventually he spoke. "Merlin what did father want? I heard from Leon he wanted to see you alone. Is everything alright mate?"
Ignoring the uncharacteristically familiar tone of the princes statement Merlin just cut to the point "I have been fired as your servant, Providing I only use magic to protect you or Camelot, I have been given probationary status as your official adviser, your pratness!" his grin was infectious even more so, thought Tristain when Arthur's only reaction was a slack jaw and blinking. "That's! That's amazing! How, why, what!" Arthur was impressed he had managed to get so many words out. His brain had ceased to function when he heard the news. "How: your father has been thinking. Why: he has decided I was cursed from birth and my penance is using the evil within me to protect, yeah I was puzzled by that logic also. What: I am now your adviser. I shall still accompany you on hunts and quests and patrols and everywhere a servant would but I will be there to give you advice and aid you with magic when needed."
Tristain clapped Merlin on the back said something about Arthur being stuck with the warlock now and left. Merlin looked across at Arthur. His friends face was unreadable. When he finally spoke it was barely a whisper. "I think, my father is starting to see the kind of king I shall be. First he grants my love status then accepts my friendship and trust of a known sorcerer." He looked upset and Merlin realised that it must be a tradition in the Pendragon dynasty that the father the king allows the prince to make more decisions the closer to taking the throne he comes. Merlin realised also, that this final stage before death or abdication was to allow the princes decisions to be the final decisions. The young warlock felt a great pity for his friend knowing that ones father is preparing for the end could never be a happy thing. He also found himself wondering if dragon lords used to go through the same process. Could it bee that had ballinor lived he would have gradually given more knowledge and wisdom on dealing with dragons their kin.
Before his thoughts could wander further astray Arthur spoke again. "I do you know. Trust you. But I feel the time has come for me to know everything. The good and the bad." He saw the look on Merlin's face. "All of it Merlin. No matter how hard it is for you to say and me to hear I need to know everything. You are my advisor now. So we both need to know where we stand. Agreed." Merlin nodded. An idea struck him. "I know exactly where to have this talk. I advise you to follow me sire." He was sure Arthur called him an idiot but he had already left the room.
i am SO sorry about the flirty Merlin lol i just felt we'd had joking Leon, bamf Merlin/Uthur threats and decided to have a bit if silly Merlin Tristain time, trouble is i don't flirt, EVER so I'm not good at writing it lol
also i dont think the end of this chapter fully qualifies as a cliffhanger, because most of you reading have probably guessed where they are off to :D
next chapter up within a week or next Sunday at latest.