Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin

The story takes place several months after Morgana's second takeover.

My estimations:

- from the beginning of season 1 until now about 5 years

- from episode 3x03 "Goblin's Gold" until now about 3 years

It may be different from some estimations, but I think that still close enough to the truth.

This chapter wasn't planned, it's just happened, but I think it explains a few things for later.

Chapter 4

Merlin was slowly waking up, peaceful slumber gradually leaving him. He moved his head and felt warm sunshine on face. Wait. What?!

Merlin momentarily jolted awake and looked out the window. The sun was already high in the sky, a few hours after dawn, when he should have woken Arthur up. This time Merlin had outdone himself. He groaned at the thought what prat could make him do as a punishment.

When the warlock was frantically dressing himself up another thought struck him. Why didn't Gaius wake him or the prat come storming into his room? First explanation that came to his mind was some kind of magical catastrophe struck that made everyone, except him, forget, stay asleep or do something similar, preventing them from waking Merlin up.

He got to the main room and started searching for Gaius. Perhaps with a little magic he could cure his foster father? After all he used to practise Old Religion as well.

Merlin didn't find the physician, but during his search he shattered two bottles and split contents of the third one. Then he noticed a piece of paper lying on the table and read it.

Dear Merlin,

When I was going to wake you up, a servant came in saying that the king gave you a day off. I decided to let you sleep in, because I know how negligent you are in getting enough rest. I need some rosemary and yarrow. After collecting them you may enjoy your free time. Perhaps you could study a little? I'm doing my rounds and should be back soon.

Gaius

Having read the note, Merlin wanted to smack his head. He came up with some horrible scenarios whereas the explanation was pretty simple.

However, he couldn't completely exclude enchantment or other hostile action towards Arthur, because the prat never gave him a day off. Unless Gwen stepped in, which probably was exactly what happened. Perhaps she had done as he asked and tried to talk some sense into that dollophead of a king.

Merlin considered his options. He could run to the king's chambers, check and come up with some ridiculous excuse about what he was doing. Then prat would load him with a mountain of chores and his day off would be gone.

He decided to first clean up the mess he made or Gaius wouldn't be happy with him. Later Merlin asked around, and realised that since morning King was locked in his chambers with Queen under strict orders not to be interrupted, unless it was a matter of state.

It seemed that Merlin's assumption about Arthur's activities was right. The warlock went to the forest and quickly collected all the herbs Gaius needed, then spent the time enjoying himself.

In the afternoon he went to the library where tried avoiding sir Geoffrey's attention. After the incident with the goblin, three years ago, Merlin came back to the hidden room and discovered there a real treasure.

Flashback

He had found loads of books, many of them concerning magic, theory and practise. Others mentioning important matters in running a kingdom, such as trade, taxes and alliances. Some of them were written in ancient or foreign languages, which prompted the warlock to learn them. These texts no one, except perhaps Geoffrey or Gaius, would understand, which allowed him to bring books to his bedroom without fear of his natural abilities being exposed. Merlin could always claim that they were containing medicine facts, that his mentor made him study. Right now, in regards to knowledge, he was probably one of the best educated castle's residents, others being Gaius and Geoffrey.

Sir Geoffrey was certainly surprised and sceptical when Merlin came to library asking for books to study these old and uncommonly known languages. However, the librarian soon learnt that servant had a real knack for it and helped with his studies, often smuggling some as a treat for him.

With the help of Gaius and Geoffrey the warlock quickly became fluent with reading and writing. Speaking, however, was totally a different issue. Merlin was barely able to say a few words until one day in the market he witnessed two merchants trying to communicate, one of them speaking foreign language he'd been studying. Having helped them with the meagre skill he possessed, Merlin asked the stranger to teach him. He agreed, thankful for what Merlin had done, and soon the warlock could speak the merchant's language as well as read and write.

Books in the secret room were invaluable, but they weren't all he found in there. The room was also packed with crystals, vials, artefacts, and other useful things to practise magic. There were also doors, and behind them stairs leading downward and to the left a corridor, both covered in cobwebs. Unsure of where to explore first, Merlin took the stairs.

At the bottom he found a sorcerer's laboratory with well-conditioned equipment. It must have been preserved with some kind of spell, because he didn't notice even a little crack on any of it. Merlin decided that the preservation spell will be the first he learns. Keeping Arthur's things straight would have been much easier in the past, considering the number of dents and scratches he makes from throwing goblets. He could imagine how much time it would save him by using that same spell on Arthur's armour. The prat always made him polish and treat dents after a session of training with the knights.

Later the warlock followed the corridor for several meters until he reached the end, and found unused chambers of some noble. When he entered the chambers, Merlin saw there were two additional doors. There were three rooms, one big and two smaller, which must have been a bedroom and another study. Merlin thought it was wisely to have separate living quarters with direct access to the workshop below.

No one must have entered the rooms for many years, which was quite strange considering that even unused guest chambers were cleaned twice a year. After a moment, Merlin considered the fact that he'd found this entire area by entering the secret door in the library, and drew the conclusion it must have belonged to an important sorcerer and hadn't been visited since the Great Purge.

Merlin was really curious where he was and tried to go out the main doors. They wouldn't budge. and he wouldn't risk using magic to open them. He just looked out the window trying to discern in which part of the castle he was. The warlock recognised the view instantly, because it was almost identical to the one in his bedroom. He must have been in the East Tower, under the Physician's quarters, where no one ever went. Merlin could make a pretty good guess why.

The only way available was the one he had come from, except that there weren't any doors. He could clearly see his footsteps leading into the wall. Merlin tried tapping, knocking, smashing and even stroking, to no avail. Finally, he used magic to see, which resulted in him spotting a kind of magical handle, and pushed it, sighing in relief when he got to the corridor.

That day, time had flown really fast for the warlock, which caused him to be late serving Arthur dinner, and as a punishment to muck out the stables for a week. Merlin decided it was worth it.

End of flashback

Now, almost three years later, getting to the secret room was a piece of cake and activity he practiced countless times. Merlin had also long ago reorganized the room to fit his needs, and spent hundreds of hours practising magic. This afternoon was no different, and he came back to his own bedroom well after midnight.

The next morning Merlin was late as usual, even though an unrelenting Gaius had woken him on time. What was the point in coming early, if the prat hadn't expected it for a long time? Anyway, when he entered the king's chambers with breakfast, Arthur was already awake and going through some paperwork. When he saw his servant, he indicated Merlin to put the tray on the table and said.

"Oh, Merlin, just the man I wanted to see." The tone and glint in king's eyes made the warlock uneasy. The smirk on his face didn't help either and Merlin had a really bad feeling. "Tell me, what do you know about magic?"

"What?!"