MERLIN - CONTACT
AN: Hey everyone. So sorry I haven't updated for ages. Been caught up in college work. But anyway, It's here now. What do you think of my especially made cover for this story, eh? Please by all means add your opinion on it as part of your review if you want, And do, please do. Thank you everyone still following and favouriting this, really appreciate it. So without further ado, enjoy :)
BTW I apologise for any spelling or grammar mistakes I might have made.
...~~C~~...
A day spent in a village was not up to Arthur's standards. Not that he didn't like the peacefulness of it, the simpler aspect of life. It just obviously wasn't where you'd expect to find a prince. Following a girl and her mother around the place like a lost sheep, helping with preparations and checking up on everyone he had met before. Many looked at him strangely yet friendly.
When it started to get dark, all the 'Ealdorians' helped with the fire feast by gathering a pile of dry wood per household and adding it one at a time to the large bonfire in the middle of the village, away from the houses. The task for Merlin's household fell to herself.
Arthur left Hunith cleaning dishes to follow Merlin, who walked round the back of the house to the wood store. When he caught up to her, she had put a log on a block, and was about to lift a heavy looking axe above her head.
"Whoa Whoa Whoa! What are you doing?" The prince rushed over and grabbed it with ease out of the girl's hands before she could bring it down.
"Arthur, what are you doing? We need wood!" She exclaimed, jumping and trying to snatch the axe back, but Arthur held it well away.
"And the task of chopping it falls to only you? I don't think so!"
"You think I haven't done it already many times before? I could chop fire wood since I was a child!"
"-Using what exactly?"
Merlin went silent and stopped attempting to get the axe, and stared at Arthur. Arthur just stared back seriously, lowering the axe to his side. A spiteful smile replaced his servant's bemused expression and she threw her hands up in the air. "What do you think? Metal means heavy, sharp means hurt! You think I wouldn't use tools rather than you know what to get things done?"
The prince just stood there with his eyes lowering to his boots, which he shifted from one to the other uncomfortably. Can't he say anything right lately?
"This is still about my magic isn't it?"
Arthur's eyes shot up to meet Merlin's 'pleading for an answer' ones, still visibly and vibrantly blue despite the decreasing daylight. She thought he has been awkward lately because of that?
So that she had all of his attention, he put down the axe so it leant against the block, without looking away from her.
"No."
That was the simple answer to a complicated situation.
"No?"
"No. If anyone out of the two of us thinks it's 'still about your magic', it's you, Merlin. Yes I have been taught since I was old enough to listen that magic is evil. Yes I have had that proven to me countless times in my life. Yes I felt angry and betrayed at first I found out you had magic, and I may have overreacted. Yes I have gone silent over the matter, and yes I still don't understand magic to this day. But you're still here, aren't you. I was hurt but I understand why you kept it from me, and I overlooked it. You know why?
"Because you're my friend, Merlin. I'll go as far as to my best friend. I know magic has its beauty and its goodness because I only have to look at you or hear your name to be reminded. When the anger died down, and you were gone, I realised that it didn't matter. All those speeches and lectures bashed into my head over the years about the destruction magic causes all flew out the window. Because that sweet, innocent, kind hearted, selfless girl I've had strapped to my side since before I was crowned prince, can't be anything like what my father talks about. I have never regretted not handing you in.
"You've been hiding yourself for so long, that even now when you don't have to lie and pretend in front of me anymore, you act like you are the one who has done wrong, like you hate yourself for having been born with something that makes you feel 'wrong'. I don't have a problem with your magic. You have a problem with me knowing and not doing something about it. Like you're still waiting for the axe to fall." Arthur subconsciously gestured with his hand to the axe on the ground.
Merlin just stared, the soft evening breeze gently swaying her let-down hair.
So Arthur continued, walking closer. "Do you remember what I said to you? I said that I will protect you against anyone who tries to hurt or condemn you. That includes the King."
Then Merlin finally spoke. "And do you remember what you said to me before? After the crystal of Neatid was stolen from the vaults and it was so obviously my fault that no one was paying attention, and you covered for me? You told me to never again put you in a position where you have to lie to your father to "save my worthless behind"?
The prince stood right in front of Merlin, "You remember that?"
"I remember everything" she replied sadly.
Arthur slowly raised his hand to place it on his servant shoulder, but not sure if it was the right move, he decided to drop it again.
"Didn't you think that that might not count anymore since... since... well, - "
" -We became close?" She smiled. "It wasn't just for you, Arthur. It was me too, I made myself promise I wouldn't ever make you choose. And that promise still stands... Lets just leave it at that."
Arthur wanted to say so much more, about Hunith, about the dress. But she was right.
There was not a lot of time left to stand around talking when the sun had gone down past the horizon, the big bonfire becoming the main source of light around the corner, and their log pile was still to be chopped up and added to it.
Arthur smiled and nodded, and picked up the axe again. "You go and see if Hunith needs anything else done. I will chop the wood, no arguments. I will come and get you both when I'm done."
Merlin smiled back appreciatively. "The amount of wood we bring to the centre symbolises how much contribution and blessing we give to the upcoming events. Five logs minimum."
Merlin patted the prince's arm as she passed him. Before she even turned the corner she could already hear the first slice of the axe through wood.
...~~C~~...
The girl poked her head through the door of her home. "Ma? Mother, are you here? Do you need me to do anything? Arthur's getting the wood..."
But Hunith wasn't in the hut. Shrugging, Merlin turned back to the outside, looking at all the village children laughing and running towards the crowd gathering around the bonfire. Mother must have gone over there, Merlin thought.
Not wanting to join everyone yet, Merlin decided to see how her master was getting on with the wood chopping. It had only been a couple of minutes since she left him but with his size and strength, he must have gotten through several logs by now.
Merlin could hear the man's grunts of labour before she saw him. She rounded the back of the hut to see the prince was still there, and by the looks of it, still wasn't done with his task. Leaning casually on the wall, the girl decided to wait and watch her master until he finished. She observed the growing number of logs scattered around Arthur's feet. She had said five at minimum. But this was way over ten at least. However the thought was there. Arthur clearly wanted to make a good impression by bringing as much 'blessing' to the festival as possible. And she didn't want to stop him. Merlin smiled sweetly at this despite the fact Arthur had not noticed her arrival. So she continued to watch.
Arthur. Her prince. Her master. Her best friend. Doing chores. For her. For her insignificant village festival. For her mother's wedding. Arthur, with his sweet intentions and reassuring smile. Grunting with the effort of taking big strong swings, slicing that tree body down the middle like he was imagining it as an enemy soldier. His sleeves rolled up like he means business, muscles tensing. Sweat beginning to drip down his forehead.
Just like when she is on the side of the training grounds watching him spare with the knights on a hot day, without armour.
Despite his arrogance, prattish behaviour, insensitivity and his impulses to show off, she was blessed to be one of the only people to know the side of the prince that was sweet, caring, class defying and charming.
She was so glad that he was her friend and had excepted her where she did not except herself. They had cleared up somewhat most of their difference and could get on with the matters at hand.
Then why did she hurt so much on the inside?
...~~C~~...
AN: Hope you liked it. Again sorry it took so long. I won't make any promises as to when the next chapter will definitely be up, but keep an eye out and thank you so much for hanging on. Don't forget to review and tell me what you think :) See you next time, have a great morning/evening.
Little extra - 'Not tied up' Merlin finale points (WARNING - DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT FINALE SPOILERS) : If Kilgarrah is dying when Merlin lasts sees him, and a thousand years on you have to assume he's dead now, what happened to Aithusa (last you see him/her is the battle at Camlann)?