Merlin
Love by Any other name
Part 2
"Well your certainly happier this morning" said Arthur as he trained with Merlin. Merlin gave a boyish grin as he held up the shield.
"Never better!" he agreed. Arthur raised an eyebrow and brought the mace around, amazed that Merlin blocked it perfectly. Above them on the small walkway that overlooked the training field, stood Uther, Morgana and Gwen, watching the training session below.
"You know Merlin, with that grin plastered on your face, I'd be tempted to think you were in love" Arthur said, bringing the mace around again, Merlin held the shield forwards, the mace boinging off it and swinging uselessly away. Merlin peered out from behind the shield.
"Love? Me?" he asked. "That's just silly" he said. Arthur shaking his head.
"And when did you get so good with a shield?" he demanded.
"Always was, you just never noticed" Merlin replied.
"the hell you were" said Arthur grinning, bringing the mace back, then with several twists and turns of his hand he advanced, Merlin stepping back expertly deflecting each one, Arthur's face a mixture of annoyance and amazement.
"he's good" said Morgana, watching.
"Yes" agreed Gwen, her voice somewhat prideful.
"At last a servant that'll give Arthur a good training session" said Uther nodding.
"trust you to look at the military application" said Morgana with a wry smile. Uther turned to her.
"And what other application is there?" he asked.
"Just look at him, he's totally dedicated, keeping giving Arthur just enough room to train without making it easy, and you can't fault his dedication to him, up at the crack of dawn so Arthur has breakfast, cleaning his room, shining his armour, never once complaining" Morgana said. Uther looked at her, then blurted out laughing.
"You sound as if you… like Marlow" he said.
"Merlin" said Gwen softly. Uther looked at her, then back at Morgana.
"No not at all, but look at Arthur, I've never seen him so animated. Truth be told I think Merlin's been good for him" Morgana said. Uther looked back down at the training prince and his manservant and had to agree, Arthur was indeed in his element.
"okay Merlin, back up to the start" said Arthur, wiping sweat from his brow. Merlin moved back with him to the start position, Arthur walking backwards, not noticing the stray branch which he immediately tripped over, sprawling and Merlin expecting an attack not seeing the prince go tumbling, tripped over him.
Above them Gwen and Morgana winced as Uther burst into laughter again.
"if he wasn't the prince I'd hire these two as the royal jesters" he said.
"Merlin, you can get off me now" said Arthur. Merlin nodded and sat up, standing, then holding out his hand to help Arthur up. The prince took it and then smiled, clapping him on the back.
"That was amazing" he admitted.
"I do try sometimes" said Merlin, breathing heavily, then looking down, frowning. "Arthur, your bleeding" he said, concerned. Arthur look down, seeing the blood seeping out of a wound in his side. He touched the wound, lifting up the armour to show a nasty gash where the mace had dug in when Merlin had tripped onto him.
"Arthur?" called down Uther, concerned. Merlin looked up, removing his neckerchief , bunching it up and holding to the wound.
"I'm fine!" Arthur called back, as Merlin helped him move towards the changing tent.
"Gwen, get Gaius, just in case!" Merlin called up. Gwen looked at Morgana who nodded, before running off.
"You're lucky" said Gaius as he examined the wound. "any further pressure and it might have caused some real damage" he added. Beside him, Merlin looked stricken.
"Arthur I am so sorry" he said, shaking his head.
"It was an accident, it's not the first I've had and I daresay it won't be the last" Arthur assured him.
"Yes, but if I'd been looking where I was going" Merlin said. Arthur waved him away.
"Go on, you can polish the armour or something if it makes you feel better" Arthur said. Merlin bowed and practically ran from the tent.
"Well, I'm about done here" said Gaius. Arthur nodded as he pulled on his tunic.
"So what's with Merlin?" Arthur asked standing slowly. Gaius looked at him, that confused, what the hell are you talking about look on his face.
"Sire?" he asked.
"Merlin, yesterday he was moping so bad I had to send him away, and today he's happier than a thief in the treasury" Arthur said. Gaius shook his head.
"I don't know, but he did start singing in the bath yesterday" said the Physician. Arthur blinked.
"He sings in the bath?"
"Badly sire" said Gaius.
"Is he in love?" Arthur asked, with a grin. Gaius looked shocked at the suggestion.
"I've no idea, if he is its not something he's admitted to me" the old man replied. Arthur nodded and then shrugged.
"Well as long as he's fairly happy, I'm not about to pry" he said, walking out. Gaius's gaze following him.
"No, indeed" he said softly.
Night had fallen across the kingdom, and everyone slept. Gaius turning in his cot as the Pharmacy door creaked open, a shadowy figure wincing as it did so. Slowly they crept across the room, halfway to Merlin's room, when with a loud thud, they sent a bucket skittering across the floor.
"What? What?" demanded Gaius waking with a start, and sitting up. He looked over, seeing the figure, there, even as a bare chested Merlin opened his own door with a yawn, looking out.
"Lady Morgana?" he said, squinting through tired eyes, then realising he was half naked, retreating behind the door, poking his head out to watch. Morgana looked at him, then Gaius.
"Can I help you?" asked Gaius, with an eyebrow raised.
"Gaius, ermm yes please" she said. "I've been having the dreams again…" she said hesitantly. Gaius sighed and sat up.
"and the poultice I gave you earlier, it did not help?" asked the old Physician. Morgana shook her head.
"No, sorry" she said. Gaius nodded then stood up.
"Well maybe you could knock next time" he said, "rather then creeping across the room like a deadly yet inept assassin" he chided her.
"Of course, I apologise" Gaius nodded, then turned to the table, as Merlin stepped out, now wearing a tunic. He smiled at Morgana, who nodded and returned it, before she looked away embarrassed.
"How's Arthur?" she asked as Gaius worked.
"Fine, as far as I'm aware" replied Merlin, staring at her.
"good, can't have the prince incapacitated" she agreed. Merlin nodded in agreement as Gaius turned around holding a Poultice, he handed it to Morgana, who took it gratefully.
"Thank you" she said.
"no bother" he assured her. She smiled at him, then at Merlin, and wishing them goodnight, left the room. With a sigh Gaius sat back down on his cot.
"Goodnight Gaius" said Merlin as he retreated to his own room.
"Goodnight Merlin" he replied, turning over.
Forty minuets later Merlin crept out of his room fully dressed, pausing to make sure Gaius was asleep. The resounding snore was encouraging. Moving quickly and quietly across the room he opened the door, wincing as it creaked.
"swíge" he said quietly, his eyes glowing faintly. The creaking ceased, and with a last grin at Gaius he left the room, hurrying down the deserted halls.
"Enter" said Morgana sitting up in her bed, the door opened and Merlin stepped in, closing the door quietly behind him. Morgana stood up, moving to him.
"I knew you'd turn up" she said with a smile. Then the smiles were over as they embraced, their lips meeting in passion.
"Oh Uther, how you will hate this" said Nimueh as she watched the passionate embrace, before turning away, a cruel smile on her lips.
"Good morning" said Merlin cheerfully as he walked into the Pharmacy, holding a small basket. Gaius looking at him suspiciously.
"And where have you been?" he asked. Merlin held up the basket.
"Getting herbs" he said. "after last night I thought you might appreciate not having to run round getting these" Merlin said. Gaius nodded and took the basket.
"Well, that is thoughtful of you" he said, not quite convinced. Merlin frowned at him.
"Something wrong?" asked Merlin. Gaius shook his head, putting it out of his mind.
"No, not at all" he said. "Breakfast?" he asked. Merlin nodded.
"Please, I'm famished" he replied with a nod. Gaius stood and collected a bowl from the counter, pouring some porridge into it.
"You're not hungry?" asked Merlin as he took the bowl.
"I've eaten" Gaius told him. Merlin nodded and tucked in, as Gaius went about his work.
"So what do you have planned today?" asked Gaius as Merlin ate.
"Arthur is going on a hunting trip" Merlin said with distaste. Gaius smiled as he nodded. Merlin's views on hunting were an open secret. He hated hunting with a passion, and usually managed to muck up the hunt somehow, yet Arthur still took him along, so as Merlin quickly finished his breakfast he wasn't surprised when the boy quickly ran out.
He entered the great hall where Arthur was waiting, bowing, and glancing quickly at Morgana who stood off to the side with Gwen.
"Ahh, Merlin, good of you to join us" said Arthur, indicating he would be asking why his manservant was late in arriving.
"Sorry, I had to run an errand for Gaius" Merlin apologised. Arthur sighed and nodded, before looking up surprised as Uther walked in fully geared up.
"Father?" asked Arthur, quizzically. Uther smiled and looked around.
"I have nothing planned today, so thought I would join you" Uther said. "I rarely get to hunt these days" he added. Arthur nodded, and smiled.
"Of course you're always welcome" Arthur said, turning to Merlin.
"you can clean my room, polish my armour, wash my cloths and make sure the bed is well made" Arthur said. Merlin frowned.
"I'm not coming with you?" he asked. Arthur shook his head.
"No" he replied. "I don't want you scaring off the prey" he added in a confidential whisper. Merlin sighed and nodded, relieved he wouldn't have to witness the slaughter of innocent animals. With a bow he turned to Uther, bowed and left.
"that was either the quickest hunt in history or you're in trouble" said Gaius as Merlin walked in.
"Neither, and thanks for the vote of confidence" said Merlin.
"so how come's you're not out getting in Arthur's way" said Gaius.
"Uther is going instead" admitted the young Warlock. Gaius nodded in understanding as Merlin picked up his cleaning rags.
"so now I get to do all my chores this morning, meaning I'm a free man this afternoon" he said with a grin, before walking out. Gaius blinked, sighed and then looked away.
He walked briskly to Arthurs chambers whistling happily to himself, smiling as he passed Morgana and Gwen who were on their way back to her chambers.
"He's certainly happy this morning" said Gwen, looking at him. Beside her Morgana nodded and smiled.
"Indeed, it makes a change, he's been so mopey the past few weeks" she agreed.
"I wonder what caused it" said Gwen.
"He was having trouble fitting in, I spoke to him the other day, he apologised for his behaviour and we ended up having a heart to heart" she said.
"oh" Gwen said, not quite able to keep the sorrow from her voice. She had always thought that if Merlin was upset that he would go to her, but instead he'd gone to Morgana. Morgana seemed to sense her maid's mood as she turned to her.
"Oh don't be jealous Gwen, it was just a talk, we have a lot in common, neither of us really knowing our fathers, cast out of the only home we knew" she said. Gwen thought about it for a moment then realised that it was true, of all the people in Camelot, Morgana was probably the only person who could truly understand what he was going through.
Merlin got through his chores in record time, before he went to stand by the window, looking out, waiting. It was near to two in the afternoon when he saw Gwen leave the castle, walking across the courtyard. With a grin, he rushed from the room, grabbing the poultice he had snatched earlier while Gaius had been looking away. With a flourish in his step he made his way to Morgana's chambers, aware of the guards at the end of the hall. He knocked, then smiled as she opened the door, holding the poultice. The guards not even noticing when he was roughly pulled inside letting out a small yelp.
Gwen was halfway home when she realised she'd forgot to pick up her small holdall, usually she would forget about it and collect it the following day. But Morgana had wanted her to do some embroidery on her dress, and the stuff she needed was in it. So it was with a weary sigh she turned and went back to the castle, Moving up the staircase she quickly made her way to Morgana's chambers, knocking once before opening the door, stopping short seeing Merlin and Morgana kissing passionately. They both looked over at her, eyes wide. Gwen's mouth moving every so often, but no words issuing, the sort of movement a fish made out of the water.
"oh" muttered Merlin.
"dear" said Morgana.
"Its… nice you're getting along so well" said Gwen finally, still blinking.
"It's not what you think" said Morgana.
"She had a piece of…. Apple in her throat" said Merlin.
"Yes an apple" agreed Morgana, far too quickly.
"I was trying to, get it out" said Merlin, nodding.
"With your tongue?" asked Gwen.
"it was lodged, really deep?" offered Merlin sheepishly.
"Yes… it must have been, really, really deep" said Gwen.
"Oh Gwen, please you won't say anything will you" said Morgana suddenly. Gwen looked at them and sighed.
"No, of course not" she said.
"Thank you Gwen" said Merlin, meaning it. Gwen nodded and moved to the table, picking up her holdall.
"I just came for this, but If I were you two, I'd be more careful, god forbid Arthur or Uther had walked instead of me" she said. Morgana nodded, and then let go of Merlin. He smiled at the two women before he practically ran from the room. Gwen nodded and turned to go, opening the door.
"I hope he was a good kisser" she said with a smile in her voice, stepping forwards.
"Oh yes, and an ardent lover" Morgana said breathlessly. Looking up as Gwen tripped over the door frame and spilled into the corridor.
"Gwen? Are you alright?" asked Morgana stepping over.
"Fine.. just fine" she said.
Arthur and the others had returned form the successful hunt, Arthur looking over as Gwen hurried down the steps looking panicked.
"What's up with her?" he wondered aloud as Uther dismounted his own horse, following his son's gaze.
"Maybe she needs to relieve herself" Uther replied. Arthur nodded, then frowned in disgust.
"Father" he said, Uther only chuckled and went into the castle. Arthur handed the horses to the stable hand then with a sigh, set off after Gwen, eventually arriving at the house she shared with her father. Peering in the window he could see Gwen was shaking ever so slightly, the stove in the corner lit, with a pot on it. With a sigh he knocked at the door. It opened a moment later and Gwen's face lit up with alarm.
"Arthur, I mean my lord" she stammered.
"Something's wrong" he stated.
"wrong?" she queried.
"Wrong, you know, not right, incorrect, bad" he clarified for her. She shook her head.
"no, no why would something be wrong?" she asked.
"firstly your shaking" he said.
"I'm cold" she said. Arthur nodded.
"Secondly your stove is on fire" he added.
"What?" she asked then turned, running to the burning pot, the contents of which were now a flaming mess. Arthur entered after her, grabbing the jug of water from the table, and pouring it on the flaming mess. After a few moments Arthur turned Gwen to face him.
"so what is it?" he asked. Gwen looked at him, then shook her head.
"I can't I promised" she said.
"Promised who?"
"no one"
"Gwen if your covering up for something then I can order you" he said.
"Arthur please, you'll kill him" she said. Arthur rolled his eyes, and sighed.
"I promise I won't kill whoever, unless they deserve it" he said.
"Arthur"
"okay, I promise" he said exasperated.
"In Morgana's chambers" she said.
"what about them?" asked Arthur.
"I'd left for the day, then I'd realised I'd forgot something so I went back" she said.
"And?" asked Arthur.
"And I walked in, and There they were, kissing" she said.
"Who Morgana's chambers?" asked Arthur.
"The Lady Morgana" she said. Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"and who?" he asked.
"Merlin" she said quietly. Arthur blinked, then shook his head.
"Have you been drinking?" he asked, Gwen giving him the dirtiest look she could manage at the moment.
"Merlin and Morgana, kissing?" he asked.
"Yes"
"Morgana and Merlin?" he said again.
"Yes"
Arthur slowly nodded then sighed.
"I'm going to kill him" he said, turning quickly, running out.
Gaius looked up as Arthur stormed into the Pharmacy, looking extremely angry.
"Sire?" he asked.
"where is he?" asked Arthur. Gaius sighed.
"By he, I assume you mean Merlin?" Gaius said. Arthur looked at him.
"Yes I do" Arthur said coldly.
"If you want to kill him he's not here" said Gaius.
"I don't I just need to know what's going on here" Arthur said.
"Then he's in his room"
"Thanks Gaius" muttered Merlin from behind the door.
"And I would be very mush appreciative of knowing what is going on myself" Gaius said standing, following Arthur into the room, Merlin lying on the bed now.
"I think you have some explaining to do" said Arthur.
"Look I don't know what happened, it just happened all of a sudden" Merlin said.
"What just happened?" asked Gaius.
"him and Morgana" said Arthur.
"oh… OH!" exclaimed Gaius, his eyes going from thoughtful to wide in a matter of milliseconds.
"It just happened?" said Arthur.
"Yes" admitted Merlin.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" screamed Arthur. Merlin didn't flinch, he just shook his head sadly, tears running down his cheeks.
"I wasn't, it just happened, I didn't mean it to" Merlin said.
"Merlin if mu father finds out about this he will have you executed before the sun even sets!" Arthur shouted.
"WHAT WAS I MEANT TO DO?" Merlin suddenly yelled. "you have no idea what its like, to be chucked out of the only home you know, just because… because your different, then trying to fit into a world where you don't belong!" Merlin said, sobbing openly. "Who was I meant to go to? She's the only one who understands what I'm living through because she's been there!" he shouted. "and it was stupid, stupid and reckless, but I had no one to talk to, not really, not about how I really feel" he said, his voice becoming quiet. Arthur stood there, his eyes closed, shaking his head.
"you could have talked to me" Arthur said at length.
"So where do we go from here?" asked Gaius softly. "If Uther finds out about this…"
"He won't" said Arthur, turning to Gaius. "Is it possible, even remotely that some enchantments been used?" he asked. Gaius shrugged.
"Anything is possible" he said.
"Look into it" he ordered. Gaius nodded and stood.
"What about Merlin?" he asked. Arthur thought for a moment then nodded.
"I can't have him watched twenty four hours a day or put under guard, that'd arouse my father's suspicions too easily" he said. "You can stay with Gwen, out of the castle until we get this cleared up" Arthur stated.
"But-" Merlin started.
"No Merlin, its this or I put you in the Dungeons on some trumped up charge or other" Arthur said.
"What will you tell Uther when he realises Merlin isn't around?" asked Gaius.
"We'll say he's had to go back to his village, something like that" Arthur said, whirling on Merlin.
"And you had better hope to hell this is some kind of enchant" he said, storming out. A moment later he poked his head back in.
"You have only kissed right?" he asked. Merlin looked at him then turned away.
"Oh gods" muttered Arthur, turning around again. Slowly Gaius and Merlin looked at each other.