Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin
From now on I will try to update every weekend, unless I have time and good reason to do so sooner :)
Arthur was again looking for his wayward servant, or should he say advisor. Despite being it barely a midday, George had already managed to drive the king insane. He was so efficient and polite that no one could possibly stand it. Or rather, anyone who had to deal with Merlin on regular basis for five years.
Pendragon only shook his head and sighed. He had already visited Physician's quarters and found them empty, making him continue the search. When asked, a maid pointed him towards the library where Arthur was heading now.
After all it was a logical choice, since Merlin was supposed to work on the new law. That was one of the decisions he didn't think through even though the king liked his wife's idea about making Merlin an advisor. With shame, he admitted that similar steps should have been taken sooner, because Merlin never had been just a manservant and while everyone around him got promoted he didn't. However, this didn't change the fact that he was only a farm boy and had no proper education.
Arthur congratulated himself on including Sir Geoffrey in the team for the task. He just hoped that librarian wouldn't be too much upset about being burdened with Merlin.
When the king was nearing the library he heard some voices. First Arthur thought that he didn't understand because of the distance, but getting closer, he realised that it was a different language. But who could speak it? Arthur knew nothing of foreign guests.
It's no surprise that the king was shocked to see his former manservant vividly discussing something with Sir Geoffrey.
Having spent the last day trying to find the best way to contact the Druids, Merlin finally sent a raven to Iseldir, telling him about Arthur's plan and what was needed of him.
At the moment Merlin was discussing with Geoffrey a case he'd found in one of the Greek texts. Then a throat cleared consequently breaking his train of thought. The young warlock saw his king standing with a partly impatient and partly strange look on his face. Merlin asked him what was the matter, but Arthur only looked more confused. That's when Geoffrey joined in.
"Do you require something of me, Sire?" he inquired in... English. Merlin wanted to smack his head. No wonder the prat was confused. He spoke in Greek!
"Well, I just... What language was that?" asked the king. "I think I recognised a few words but nothing more."
"Well, you should, my Lord." Geoffrey scolded him a little. "It's Greek, which you were required to study in preparation for your duties."
"Ah Greek, well..." Arthur blushed embarrassed and added quickly. "Now I remember! I need Merlin." He took the warlock's arm and dragged him out of the library.
"Wait, you prat, wait!" yelled Merlin, but Arthur stopped only when they were in the corridor.
"What is it this time, Merlin?" asked irritated king.
"You ask me?!" Now the warlock was annoyed as well. "I'm doing what you told me to do and yet you just burst into and make me follow you for no apparent reason, when I am in a middle of a discussion!" Merlin replied, quite sure his irritation showed as he glared at Arthur.
Arthur wasn't embarrassed even a little bit. He straightened up. "I'm the king, so everything I do, I do for a reason." Merlin only raised his eyebrow. "That's a common knowledge, Merlin. And I do have a use for you in my chambers."
"So, have you already fired George and are looking for a replacement?" Amusement was evident in the young warlock's voice. "Do I need to remind you, that by your own word I'm no longer a manservant?" Merlin remarked, feeling a smirk pull at his lips. Arthur couldn't have missed the cheek, but didn't react, so he went on. "And by the way, how is it that the King of Camelot doesn't know Greek?"
The mentioned king didn't deign to answer that, just started walking, making Merlin follow him.
"It's all right. I always knew you had more brawn than brains." The glare Arthur sent his way made a nearby servant apologize and scurry away, but didn't deter the advisor in the slightest. "So that's probably a reason you overlooked one small detail."
"What detail?" asked Arthur in an unwelcoming tone.
"To grant me an access to the sealed records."
It didn't even cross king's mind and he wondered. "Why would you even need it?"
"Oh, I don't know." Merlin uttered with sarcasm. "Perhaps to find instances of using healing... magic," the last word was whispered after making sure there was no one close enough to hear, "to support the new law."
Arthur couldn't argue with that. It was common precedence when in the process of making a new law that cases in the past could be used to support it. And since in this case magic was involved, the sealed records should be the first place to look.
"You are right." Merlin gaped at that statement and had to run to catch up to his friend, because he'd stopped in shock. "I will grant you an unlimited access to them." Arthur seemed to think of something and soon added. "As well as the vaults." The warlock knew he wouldn't like what was coming next because of the glint in king's eyes. "Actually, cataloguing their contents will be your next task, after writing the law."
"What?!" Merlin exclaimed in disbelief. "It could take weeks, or even months!"
"At least you will have something to occupy your time other that the tavern. I should really talk to Gwaine. He has a bad influence on you." Arthur said with a smirk and then asked curious. "And when did you manage to learn speaking Greek?"
Merlin was still indignant about king's remark and was grateful for an opportunity to pay back.
"Not only do I speak, but also read and write, and in other languages too." He smirked seeing his friends shocked expression. "Unlike some other people, whom I won't point out." He just looked pointedly at Arthur. "I do read books, which are a great source of knowledge. You know, they are those things with written pages, that..."
The king wanted to interrupt, but Gwen's exclamation upon their arrival in chambers stopped him.
"Arthur, Merlin! Finally! What kept you so long?" she asked discontented with them. "Well, it doesn't matter. Han and Macy are already here, so hurry up."
"Han and Macy?" Merlin was confused about what was going on.
"The royal tailor and seamstress" answered the Queen guiding the advisor to the center of the room. "You are in dreadful need of new clothes."
"What's wrong with those?" asked Merlin and pointed at what he was wearing. "They are almost new."
"Almost new?" Arthur snorted. "I never want to see those you consider worn enough to throw out."
Gwen reproachfully looked at her husband and turned to the warlock while he was measured.
"You are an advisor now. If you are going to be treated seriously you must also look the part, hence the change of wardrobe." The queen seemed thoughtful for a moment. "I have just realised that you will need new quarters too. We can't have you live in that tiny room any longer. Perhaps something closer to ours?" She was mentally searching for the best solution.
"I have a suggestion," informed Merlin. After Gwen's encouraging nod, he continued. "There are unused chambers under Gaius'. They are not far from yours and what's more important even closer to the Physician's so I will always be within reach if needed."
"But that's..." Arthur started surprised. Then he seemed to realise something and finished. "It's quite fitting actually. That part of the castle was banned since the Purge and it's high time it was put to use again."
"Then it's settled," the queen ended the discussion and called a servant ordering him to prepare the chambers for living.
Congratulations go to mersan123, for guessing correctly that Merlin is going to have new chambers :)
Next chapter: someone will come to Camelot. Any ideas who that might be?