PART 13
"It has been an honor Merlin." Arthur laid his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"What are you talking about?" Merlin looked at him confused. "We are not going to die trapped in this cave."
"Merlin, there is no air and those rocks are too large for the two of us to move. Leave it to my crazy witch sister to bury me alive." Arthur started to tear up thinking of Guinevere.
"Arthur, I can get us out of here but you're not going to like it." Merlin took a deep breath and waited for a response.
"What are you going to do?" Arthur looked at him like he had lost his senses. "Only a sorcerer would be able to get us out of here."
"Or a warlock," Merlin grinned mischievously.
"Same thing," Arthur shrugged.
"Really not but I'll will explain that later. Right now we need to get out of here." Merlin stood and reached out to the blocked cave entrance. He looked back at Arthur and grinned. "You might want to take cover."
"Fine," Arthur grumbled. He moved behind a large boulder in the cave. "What are you going to do ask the rocks nicely to move?"
Merlin laughed then said the spell in a loud commanding voice. His magic surged as his eyes glowed golden. The rocks flew out of the entrance with great force. He turned around to look at Arthur.
Arthur stood there with his mouth open for a second, wide eyed at what he had seen. "You're a sorcerer!"
"No, I'm a warlock," Merlin shook his head. "Come on, I'll explain the difference." Merlin headed for the cave entrance.
"How long have you used magic, Merlin?" Arthur demanded as he followed him.
"I was born with magic. That's why I'm a warlock." Merlin looked at him. "If I chose to use magic instead of it choosing me then I would be a sorcerer. Good thing I am a warlock as many times as I have had to use magic to save your Royal backside."
"Oh Gods," Arthur looked at him. "I'll never be able to execute you, will I?"
Merlin laughed. "Not that you'd want to, anyway."
"Merlin, I think we shouldn't tell anyone about this." Arthur looked at him seriously.
"Who would believe it? You tell everyone that I'm an idiot, remember." Merlin grinned at him.
"Well you are a …. Wait, can you turn me into …. something?" Arthur looked a little afraid suddenly.
Merlin looked at him and grinned wider then nodded.
"Oh Gods," Arthur mumbled. He felt a little sick in the pit of his stomach. He suddenly realized he was lucky Merlin was friend not foe.
Merlin laughed as he went off to see if he could find their horses.
O~X~O~X~O~X~
"VIVVIE!" Merlin called up the stairs.
"She was just there with Gwydre playing." Gwen looked over at Gwydre sitting in his playpen. "I can't imagine she has gone that far."
Merlin frowned then looked worried. "She hasn't answered me. She always answers me." Please be upstairs.
Merlin took the stairs two at a time. He looked in her room then froze. He couldn't believe what he saw. Vivvie had her stuffed bunny floating in the air.
"Vivvie," Merlin whispered. My daughter has magic!
She turned and he saw the golden sparkle in her blue eyes. Startled, she let the bunny fall. "Daddy I'm sorry. Mummy said I should never let anyone see."
"It's alright." Merlin sighed and held out his arms to his daughter. "I'm your father and I have magic too. There is no need to hide it from me. I will teach you how to control it."
She ran into his arms. "Thank you, Daddy." Merlin scooped her up and carried her down the stairs.
Gwen looked up as they came down. "I told you she didn't go far."
"She was in her room levitating her bunny." Merlin smiled proudly. "She was very good at it too"
"She was what?" Gwen looked startled. She has magic?
"I was practicing my magic, Aunt Gwen. Daddy said he will teach me." Vivvie mirrored her father's smile.
"She has magic. I knew you did but … " Gwen frowned. "Should we tell Arthur?"
"Tell me what?" Arthur said as he walked in the front door.
"Arthur, I didn't hear the car." Gwen turned to give him a quick kiss. Oh he will not like this.
"Vivvie has magic." Merlin said proudly.
Arthur nodded. "That makes sense. She is your daughter after all. I don't think her mother had magic. Well not this time at least."
"No, she didn't but the bloodline is there." Merlin agreed.
"You will teach her not to explode things or make her dolly dance when we have company." Arthur looked at Merlin seriously.
"I will teach her when and how to use her gifts properly. I promise," Merlin vowed. Merlin grinned mischievously. "Are you still angry about that time I exploded the watermelon all over you?"
Vivvie looked from her father to her uncle and giggled. "Was it a very large one?"
"Yes," Merlin laughed. "It was a very, very large one. It went everywhere! Oh, I'm teaching her that too."
"See! That is something you need to teach her not to do." Arthur scowled. Gwen let a giggle escape from behind her hand causing Arthur to glare at her. "It went everywhere even up my nose."
"Uncle Arthur is correct. Only do magic when I am with you for now. When you're older I'll teach you how to blow things up." Merlin shot a teasing glance at Arthur as he carried Vivvie into the kitchen for milk and biscuits.
"Merlin!"
"Yes Arthur?" Merlin turned back around and grinned.
"Just teach her to be careful," Arthur warned. "Not everyone is used to having magic around them like we are."
"I know, Arthur. I remember what it was like to hide my gifts. At least in this house she and I can be ourselves." Merlin said seriously.
Gwen smiled. "We wouldn't want you … or her … to feel otherwise Merlin."
Arthur nodded as he picked up Gwydre. "Remember, there is no shame in being proud of your child, Merlin. I know I am proud of mine."
"Arthur, you realize that Gwydre has the same bloodline as Vivvie, don't you? He could have magic, too." Merlin said as he walked through the kitchen door.
Arthur looked at his son in his arms then at Gwen. "That will never happen, will it?"
"He's right, Arthur. It is possible. Remember he is here through the use of magic. Merlin's spell brought him back to us." Gwen reminded him.
Arthur took a deep breath and shook his head. "No, I won't believe it until he actually does magic."