Beyond Recall

A/N: As always, thank you so much for the reviews. They're lovely to read. Anybody else a tad upset by the Merlin news? I am kinda sad, but at least it'll go out on a high, rather than trailing off like so many other shows have done.

Anyway, on to this chapter. This is a tad unchecked, so apologies in advance for typos! Let me know what you think!

Chapter 6

'Who wants to talk to me?' Merlin blustered, staring at James with wide eyes, his hand still stretched out from his attempt at producing an illusion that affected Peter.

'You heard what I said,' James told him, making no attempt to play along with his dramatics.

'But…why?' He dropped his hands. 'Why would the king want to talk to me?' He looked over at Peter, but he was just grinning manically at the idea.

'King Tiden has been following your progress closely through my reports.'

'You've been reporting about me?'

'Everybody's been reporting about you,' Peter answered before James could say a word. 'You do realise that you're a key topic of conversation, don't you. Not so much now perhaps, but-'

'Merlin,' James said, cutting Peter off. The two of them didn't really see eye to eye on…well, anything really. 'You are a new arrival in a kingdom that is careful to investigate its citizens, you have been a guest in the castle and you seem to have the most powerful incarnation of magic that has been seen in this land for a long long time. The king, therefore, wishes to speak to you.'

Merlin swallowed heavily and moved to lean against the wall.

'I really don't think it's a good idea. I wouldn't know how to speak to a king.'

'You just say words like you would to anyone else,' Peter offered, lying down on the bench that was pushed up against another wall of the training room.

'No, I mean what do I do? Do I bow; nod my head; kiss his ring?'

'I believe you are over thinking this.' James told him. 'To be chosen to speak with the king is a high honour; you must not even consider refusing it.'

'No, of course not,' Merlin said, shaking his head, but it did little to calm his nerves. Him, a simple peasant, being granted an audience with a king? It was unheard of and completely unexpected. Merlin hadn't given the fact that he was staying in the castle with the king much thought. He had never seen the man and he had barely heard him mentioned. Yes, often James would say that he needed to go and speak to the king or had just arrived from speaking with him, but aside from that King Tiden had remained something of a mystery. He seemed to be as insular as his kingdom was and that made Merlin nervous.

'When am I to speak with him?'

'Straight away.'

'Right now?' he blustered. He looked down at his clothes, the same browns, blues and reds that he had been wearing since he arrived. He had been offered new clothes, of course, but he rejected them in favour of wearing something that was connected to the past he remembered. They were items that really were his; he even remembered his mother making them for him. They had worn well, that was for sure, but he wasn't convinced that they were appropriate to wear while speaking to royalty.

'Your clothes are fine,' James told him, walking over to the door and holding it open. 'So if you're ready…'

'Do you want me to come? You know: moral support?' Peter asked, but Merlin could hear the grin in his tone. He was only trying to wind James up. The man, however, ignored the bait, as he always did, and simply gave Peter a cold look.

'Are you ready?' he asked, turning back to Merlin.

Merlin looked down at the floor for several seconds, gathering his thoughts, and then nodded. Summoning up as much confidence as he could muster, Merlin walked out of the door and allowed James to lead him to the king.

Merlin didn't know what to expect as he approached the doors to the throne room. James walked confidently ahead and Merlin tried to emulate that aura as he followed, but he knew he was failing miserably. As they arrived, James nodded at the guards to open the doors, offering them a brief explanation for Merlin's presence on the visit. They moved aside quickly, offering their own half bow to James; one that spoke of deep respect.

The room was huge and ribbed with arches all the way along. They were covered in gold plating which had been used to edge the intricate patterns that were etched into the ancient wood. The room was incredibly bright and Merlin found himself half dazzled and squinting as he stepped forward. He wondered if the intensity was intentional; there to fill visitors with a sense of awe. It worked on Merlin; the whole roomed seemed to glow for a few seconds before his eyes adjusted. He looked around, searching for the source of the light, only to find that there were no windows on the walls. He frowned in confusion; it was definitely daylight he could see. But one look up solved the mystery. He gasped in shock. The entire roof seemed to be made of glass - glass that was shaped and twisted into incredible scenes and imaginations. Merlin couldn't begin to imagine the spells and enchantments it had taken to create an entire roof of such a brittle and delicate material. The whole room breathed magical intervention.

So overwhelmed by the room was he that he almost found himself walking into James, who had knelt down before the King. Inwardly cursing his stupidity and hoping the King had missed it, Merlin followed suit and dropped to one knee, his head down. He hadn't even looked at the King yet.

'Rise.' The voice was rich and powerful; Merlin knew instantly that this was not a man who would be argued with, and yet at the same time, there was a warmth in his tone that seemed in opposition to the clear authority. Glancing over at James to check that the other man had got to his feet, Merlin stood and raised his head to look at the King.

He was an imposing man; strongly built with dark auburn hair, that was short and thick against his head, framing his face and moving down into a carefully trimmed beard and moustache. He was tall, very tall; several inches taller than Merlin. He looked every bit the steadfast leader who would ensure that his plans came to fruition. The sense of not being dressed appropriately renewed itself afresh in Merlin and he wished he'd accepted James' offer of new clothes when he'd suggested it weeks ago.

'So this is him then?' the King asked, looking Merlin over thoroughly.

'Yes, my Lord: I present Merlin to you,' James said, with an incline of his head.

'And what is your response to what we have discussed?' the King asked, fixing him with a knowing stare as he finally moved his eyes from Merlin. The reprisal from the King's scrutiny meant that Merlin could frown in confusion at the question without feeling like he was being disrespectful. What had the two of them been saying about him? For he assumed that the comment had something to do with him.

'I believe so, Sire.'

'Good,' Tiden nodded, his piercing gaze returning to Merlin. His eyes were bright as he moved back to his throne and beckoned for Merlin to come forwards with a gentle wave of his hand.

'So Merlin, how long have you been here, now?'

'Just over a months, my Lord,' Merlin replied as confidently as he could, using the title that James had at first.

'And what do you think of Cyathia?'

'I wouldn't know where to begin, Sire,' Merlin admitted with a smile that was quickly and knowingly returned. It encouraged Merlin on and he found his earlier reservations falling away. 'I never would have believed a place like this was possible; where those with magic are accepted, rather than hunted.'

'Our cause has always been to break away from chains of prejudice, to harness magical abilities for good.' He had called for wine as Merlin spoke and now took a long drink from his goblet. He nodded his servant –who seemed to have materialised from nowhere- towards Merlin and the man quickly came and offered him a drink before moving to James. In shock, Merlin accepted the wine and thanked both the servant and King for it. What was going on? Since when did a king offer a lowly peasant wine in his throne room?

'It is a very clear and noble cause, Sire,' Merlin replied after a few seconds, realising that Tiden was still waiting for a response to his last comment. The King gave a short laugh and inclined his head.

'I couldn't agree more.'

Merlin took a sip of the wine as the King spoke and marvelled at the quality of it. It wasn't that he hadn't been fed well so far; his food had been luxury compared to what he was used to, but this was something else entirely.

'What do you know of Camelot?'

The sudden change in direction, caught Merlin off guard and he took several seconds to form his response. He finished the mouthful of wine he was drinking and then stepped forwards slightly.

'Erm…as my memory serves me, I know very little,' he admitted, feeling apologetic and yet unsure of why he should. 'In my mind, King Uther is still on the throne, but I've been told that is not the case. However, I was found in Camelot, so I can only assume I knew more of it at one point.' The look on the King's face was one of thoughtful contemplation.

'Do you remember anything?'

'No, my Lord; my life of the past six years has all but vanished. I don't know how much of that time was spent in Camelot.'

'I imagine that must be frustrating.'

'It is, Sire. I have never felt so unsure of myself, and yet…' he paused and laughed slightly, shaking his head. '…that isn't true. In Cyathia, I find that…'

'That you can be who you were meant to be,' the King finished for him.

'Yes,' Merlin nodded, looking at the man in surprise. He smiled.

'We have few visitors in Cyathia, Merlin, and yet anytime a sorcerer arrives here, especially one who has been in a land against magic, their reaction is the same. And it is good,' he nodded. 'That is the society we have been building towards.'

The King stopped there and seemed to be caught up in some personal thought for a moment, but his focus still remained on Merlin, looking at him intently as if measuring him against some hidden standard. It made Merlin distinctly uncomfortable, but he forced himself not to fidget under the inspection. The King had shown him nothing but kindness and empathy and he didn't want to appear impatient.

After a short silence, Tiden sat back a little on his throne. Something seemed to have shifted in him. Merlin wasn't sure if he'd been accepted or subtly rejected, but either way, he got the impression that he was going to be in the room for some time. Fleetingly, he wished he had a chair.

'Has James told you why he was in Camelot the day he found you?' the King asked. Merlin hid his surprise at this new topic change; it was clear that the King was heading somewhere with this. In fact, the longer he was here, the more Merlin began to suspect that this wasn't simply a king wanting to meet a guest. Something deeper than that was at play and Merlin was beginning to wish that he knew what it was.

'No, my Lord.'

'And would you like to know?'

'Only if you deem it acceptable,' Merlin answered carefully. The King smiled at him approvingly and then nodded.

'I do.' With a wave of his hand, he signalled his servant and then got up from his throne. The servant quickly moved to the end of the room and opened a door there. 'Come with me,' Tiden said. Merlin glanced over at James to see that he was also preparing to go with them and for that Merlin was glad; having a familiar face gave him a sense of reassurance, no matter how small. A room change suddenly made him feel like he was going to be finding out a lot more than he bargained for. He briefly considered changing his mind, but curiosity had always been both a strength and weakness in him and he wasn't about to break the habit of a lifetime.

They moved through into what seemed to be a small meeting room. There was a table situated in the centre of it, with a seat at the end which was clearly the King's, with eight more on each side that seemed more suited to guests who weren't of a royal nature. James indicated to him where he should sit as the King made his way to the end. Meanwhile, he and James took up positions opposite each other half way down the table. James gave him a significant look to indicate that he should wait for Tiden to sit down, but he was pleased to realise that he hadn't needed to be told.

When they did sit down, Tiden continued as if there had been no break in the conversation.

'It has been Cyathia's practice for many years to send chosen citizens into various kingdoms to assess and gather information on their ways of life. In a kingdom so isolated, such practices are the only way of retaining an understanding of the outside world.'

'I can see why that would be important,' Merlin nodded when the King looked over to him 'Indeed. For some time, however, Camelot has been at the forefront of our excursions. James and Steven were on one such mission when they found you, and both have led their own teams. The reasons for this exploration are varied, but I wish for you to understand them in-part if you are to join us.'

The words sent a shiver of ice down Merlin's spine, and he suddenly realised how stupid he had been not to understand before now why he was here.

They needed him. The very idea sent a wave of uncertainty through him; he had spent enough hours worrying that his past life had involved some sort of magic-for-hire approach which had seen him do some terrible things. He couldn't risk making that possible-past a definite-future.

'Have my words upset you,' Tiden asked evenly on seeing his response, which he hadn't hidden very well. Merlin spent several seconds considering his next words.

'I'm sorry, Sire, but I didn't realise that you wished to see me to include me in your plans.'

'Does it bother you?'

'It is very… unexpected, my Lord. I don't see how I could be of use to you, or why you would trust me so easily.'

'But we can trust you, can't we?'

'Of course,' Merlin replied quickly. 'I didn't mean to suggest that you couldn't. I just…'

'Merlin,' Tiden smiled. 'You must realise how unique your gifts are. James has been keeping me updated on your progress and even I am struggling to believe some of his reports. I would be pleased to have such a man with me.'

'Forgive me Sire, that is a great honour, but…' –he ignored the look that James was giving him- 'I do not wish to fight in a…war or in a…' he cast about for words, '…a magical battle.'

'Of course, nobody wishes for that. But tell me Merlin, what would you wish to be a part of?'

Merlin considered the question carefully. He'd never really given much thought to being part of something; his life had never been destined for anything other than living in Ealdor and learning how to make a living from the land. But if he could be part of something…?

'I wish to be part of an endeavour that aims to create a society where magic is accepted and embraced rather than feared and hunted. I wish to be part of a people that welcomes and nurtures magical gifts,' he looked up at the King questioningly, wondering whether that was an answer he would accept. The smile on the man's face was clear.

'And you shall be,' he nodded. 'But you will also be part of something much greater than a small and renegade kingdom that creates a bubble of safety for people like us.'

'You have magic too?'

'I do.' He whispered a spell, his eyes glowed and droplets of what looked like liquid gold materialised in front of him, dispersing into a thin mist of shimmering beauty. He let the spell drop quickly. 'A useless trick, but a beautiful one,' he explained. Merlin nodded, but said nothing; he was still waiting to understand what he was getting himself into. 'We live in a changing world, Merlin,' he sighed after a short silence. 'A world that, sooner or later, we will be forced to interact with. And when that time comes, we will not abandon our efforts to make magic a living breathing part of our everyday life. It is too great a gift to be hidden away and used at far less than its potential. When the world reaches its next great change, we must take our magic out into the future. Do you agree?'

'I think that sounds wonderful, Sire, but I don't think I understand what you're telling me.'

'Change is coming,' he answered, his eyes losing focus for a second, before they sought out Merlin's once again. 'Change is coming and we must ensure that it is change which will build Cyathia and not destroy her. You will not remember the time before, when corrupt sorcerers ruled the lands, but our history has catalogued their greed and hatred. Cyathia was the solution to that, a haven of safety for those who would not see their gifts turned to evil.'

Tiden had leant forwards in his chair, his gaze unwavering. Something akin to awe, filled Merlin at the words; he could feel the man's presence in the room like a physical force, or perhaps not physical, more…magical. But underlying all of it was a deep seated passion; one that had burnt for years and years; one that gave Tiden purpose and identity. Merlin could see the vision in him, a vision that he would never have thought possible, and yet, somehow, sitting here, listening to a King pour out his dream, he was convinced that the future could be the one that Tiden saw.

'Cyathia shook off that tyranny,' he continued; his voice changed slightly: there was a sadness to it now, but also an anger, one that had perhaps burned alongside the passion. 'But then came a new tyranny: that of the purge; of the arrogance and ignorance of Uther Pendragon and his hatred. In much of the land, magic disappeared for fear of reprisals from him. He held back the tide of sorcerers who used magic for evil, but he also sought to destroy those whose magical use was good and innocent.

'But for all his evil, and perhaps because of it, Cyathia remained safe. For no-one would join with a kingdom like Camelot when it delivered such merciless ultimatums. Those kingdoms that did ally themselves with Uther did so for power and for politics. Cyathia was ignored and left alone, just another individual kingdom in amongst a vast array of individual kingdoms.'

'Something has changed?' Merlin asked, understanding beginning to fill him, the pieces beginning to fit, although he couldn't yet see the finished picture. What event was causing him to speak with such purpose? Was this new King –Arthur Pendragon- worse than his father? Had Uther's campaign turned into a crusade against all those with magic throughout the land?

'Not yet, but the change is beginning,' Tiden replied, his voice becoming quieter. He looked at Merlin, once again seeming to measure him. 'Uther gained his respect through fear – a respect which kept every king and kingdom at arms length. His son though…' Tiden's face crept into something that looked distinctly like uncertainty. It surprised Merlin, but it was gone nearly as soon as it had appeared. '…his son gains respect through compassion, and his respect draws kings and kingdoms to him. Change will come through unity.'

Tiden stopped there and watched Merlin, evidently waiting for his response. It made him feel slightly overwhelmed. Who was he to be giving his opinion to a king? But Tiden waited, and so Merlin began to consider the words.

'You speak of unity as if it is a bad thing,' he pressed tentatively after a while.

'Unity can be good or bad, depending on the person that is uniting everyone.'

'Forgive me, Sire, but this Arthur, doesn't sound like a bad king, if his rule is fuelled by compassion.'

'It is not his compassion that I am against. No, I admire it, especially when compared to his father's hatred.' He shook his head. 'No; it is his views on magic that I am against. They have not swayed from his father's; Camelot's laws are as strict as they have ever been. Those with magic are persecuted and killed and the King believes that magic is only ever evil. If the land unites under his banner, then the land unites against magic and Cyathia will not prevail if faced with such opposition. She will be surrounded by those sharing the Pendragon view, or she will be forced to unite as well and all that we have worked for will be gone.'

And at last, Merlin understood. Understood the future that Cyathia was facing and understood why Tiden was so concerned by one man and his ability to bring people together. The King was right: if Camelot was the land uniting all the rest, then it would be Camelot's laws that the country would have to follow. There would be room for some compromise, no doubt, but from the sounds of it, magic would not be given such treatment.

Merlin suddenly became very aware of James and Tiden watching him, but he made no effort to respond to their gazes. Instead he considered the situation again, following it through to the possible conclusions that would assure Cyathia's continuation and safety. Not all of them were conclusions that he wished to be a part of.

'How do you know that Arthur Pendragon is trying to unite the lands?' Merlin pressed, trying to work out the likelihood hood of Tiden's fears coming to light. The King looked over to James.

'Because,' the man began, taking over from his King, 'a Royal Emissary from Camelot arrived in Cyathia this morning. One of Arthur's closest knights.' Merlin's eyes widened; he had not heard of a single visitor into the kingdom in all the time he'd been here.

'We, too, were surprised,' the King nodded.

'He came to deliver a message from King Arthur,' James continued, 'inviting King Tiden and an entourage to Camelot to discuss the possibility of a treaty between our two kingdoms and to begin talks concerning a unifying treaty that covered a much greater area. Several kingdoms will be represented in Camelot during our visit.'

Merlin felt a weight press down upon him. Tiden had said that change was coming, Merlin just hadn't realised how quickly. He tried to organise his thoughts and work out what to say and what to do, but his mind had gone strangely blank and all he could feel was the pressure on his life to commit to something bigger than himself. It was a strange feeling, one that Ealdor had never nurtured in him. All he had had to be part of in Ealdor was his community and he hadn't been brilliant at it anyway. But though the feeling was strange, it was not completely unfamiliar. Something deep inside him felt the pull of playing a part bigger than the one he'd picked for himself. Perhaps he did have a destiny that lay beyond who he was at the moment. He shook his head, not wanting to consider such thoughts.

'What is it that you are asking me to do?' he asked instead, looking between the two of them.

'I want you in my entourage.'

'To do what?' Merlin asked, his tone coming out more sharply than he had meant. Tiden paused for several seconds before answering.

'What are you willing to do?'

'It's more what I'm not willing to do,' Merlin answered as respectfully as he could. An expression that Merlin couldn't read crossed Tiden's face and for the first time, Merlin felt unsure of the King's benevolence, but it disappeared quickly.

'Go on,' he nodded.

'I don't want to be part of a war; I don't want to kill anyone. I don't want my actions to be ones that I would look back on in shame.'

'Few can afford such moral luxury,' Tiden told him quietly. Merlin said nothing, but lowered his gaze from Tiden's for several seconds. He was making demands to a King who had allowed him into his kingdom and treated him very well. He knew that he was taking liberties. 'It is not in my mind to start a war.' The King continued. 'That, more than anything, would confirm people's views on the corrupt nature of magic. But myself and my counsel are under no illusions: this unification, as it stands at the moment, can not be allowed to follow through.'

Several moments of silence followed. A harder edge had come into Tiden's passion now, more of a desperation. Merlin took several deep breaths; he didn't know what to do.

'I'm sorry, Sire, but I need time to think. Would that be permissible?'

'I would not want you to enter into this lightly,' Tiden nodded.

'Thank you.' He held the King's gaze after he had said the words, wondering if he could ask what he desperately wanted to. 'Sire,' he began again, when Tiden gave him time to voice the thoughts, 'I know that this may be inappropriate as I haven't agreed to help, but what is your plan concerning Camelot?'

The King gave him a hard stare and then looked over at James, a silent question passing between the two. James, after a moment's pause, gave a nod to the King. Merlin understood: James trusted him.

'Until we arrive, it will be unclear which path will be best to follow. As it stands, our options are thus -and your magic would be of great help in either of them- : to disrupt the treaty talks and ensure their failure or to sway Arthur Pendragon in his views on magic.'

Merlin said nothing, but he absorbed the words, memorising them carefully.

'We leave for Camelot in four days; you have until then to decide.' The words sounded like the close to their conversation, a thought that was confirmed as the King stood up. James and Merlin followed suit, heading back out into the throne room, where Tiden sat down once again.

'Thank you, Sire, for the faith you have placed in me and for the honours you have bestowed upon me,' Merlin said, not wishing for his hesitancy in this plan to be considered ingratitude on his part for everything else.

Tiden nodded his reply and James and Merlin bowed their heads and turned to go.

'But Merlin,' the King called as Merlin took his first step. He turned back, feeling hesitant. 'Sooner or later, a man must choose where his loyalty lies; and once given, that loyalty can not be revoked; it is a path you set your life down.'

Merlin nodded his understanding, bowed his head once more and then headed out of the throne room. Ideas of chosen paths and unwavering loyalty circled in his head, like the distant echo of a forgotten past.

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