Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
A couple hours after my heart-to-heart with Merlin, I find myself watching Merlin tending to Arthur on the knights' training ground. I had never seen anything like it, so I leaned against a short wooden fence and watched the show.
There was sword fighting, mace training, hand-to-hand combat, and even archery. It was incredibly diverse and there was Arthur commanding it all. He was standing about 20 yards in front of me in a commanding position with his legs drawn apart and his hands on his hips. His soft hair was blowing in the slight breeze and his face had a look on concentration on them. Merlin was next to him, in case Arthur needed anything.
Arthur was paying special attention to two men squaring off in a sword fight. I recognized Sir Leon as one of the fighters. The man he was up against severely lacked skill, especially where Sir Leon is concerned. I had heard throughout the castle that Sir Leon was one of the best sword fighters that Camelot had to offer. One of the only men who could beat him was Prince Arthur, himself.
Knowing that, I looked at both men in a new light. They had been trained to kill since the day they started their own training. Swords can be beautiful, but there is no mistaking just how deadly they are. However, I guess the men who wield them can be just as deadly, if not more so. I hate killing of any sort, but I had to take into consideration the time period I found myself in. They quite literally fought for survival. These times were vastly different to the time I was from.
During my silent reflection, Leon had disarmed his opponent, Arthur congratulated him and then berated the other knight for what he had done wrong.
"If you had been in battle, you would have been killed. You must use your strengths against your opponent. Sir Matthew, I know you can do better." Arthur turned to Merlin and told him to get his sword. Merlin went to a tent a few yards away from me and went back to Arthur with his sword and shield. "Allow me to show you what you did wrong and how you can improve." A fight commenced.
My breath was taken from me while watching Arthur fight. It was more like a dance, the way he moved so gracefully. Then it hit me. I was watching THE Arthur train with his knights. THE Arthur was sword-fighting right in front of me. A huge grin came on my face and it was hard to hide by the time I found Merlin making his way towards me.
"What's got you so happy? I didn't take you for the type to enjoy knight training." Merlin inquired.
"Don't be fooled. I hate violence of any kind. It just hit me who exactly I was watching train these knights and where exactly I was." I turn away from Arthur and face Merlin. "Merlin, you really have no idea of the stories I've heard about you all. I'm star struck right now."
Merlin gave a bashful smile and turned to watch Arthur. He started to comment on Arthur's fighting, pretending he knew what Arthur was thinking as he faced the kid. He was calling Arthur hilarious, made-up names and was adding sound effects when the swords clashed. Merlin knew how to get me laughing and when the two of us were laughing, it was quite a sight, as we had previously learned. I started to comment as well as if I was Sir Matthew. We had a small commentary going along until Arthur unarmed Sir Matthew, turned to Merlin and started shouting.
"What on earth is so funny, Merlin?! All I can hear is your pathetic attempts at flirting!" He was storming over to us. When he recognized that it was me who was with Merlin, distracting his practice, his expression softened, but hardened again when he looked at Merlin.
"Sorry, Sire. I was just try—"
"He was just trying to make me feel better. I was upset earlier and he knows that, so he was just trying to brighten my day. I apologize for distracting your training, your highness." I can't believe I willingly spoke to Arthur like that. The minute his eyes connected with mine, I felt a jolt and it took everything in me not to gasp at the beautiful shade of blue. He really was too good to be true.
"I'm truly sorry to hear you were upset earlier. If there is anything I can do, all you have to do is ask."
"Oh, Sire. There really is no need. I haven't even told you of how I came to be here and you're willing to do any favor I may ask. I'm honored, but it is not necessary. I feel like I don't deserve it."
The mood had definitely shifted. Gone was the light-hearted fun that Merlin and I had been having and in its place was an awkward tension.
"I believe that you do want to tell me, but you just need time. I am giving you that time. I see no need to make you any more uncomfortable than you already feel. We could be…friends, if you want."
I was struck silent. "That's more than I could ask for, Sire. Thank you."
"We've been over this, Sarah. Its just Arthur when not in the presence of the court." He gave me a flirtatious grin and swaggered back to training. There was no other way to describe it. It was a princely swagger. Damn, boy!
I chuckle at my thoughts as I continue to watch Arthur.
A few minutes must have past because the next thing I know Merlin is nudging my arm with his.
"If you're done ogling, we can go find some dinner. Training is over for the day."
"Sounds good….And I was not ogling. I was merely lost in my thoughts."
"Sure you were. I just have to drop Arthur's armor back in the armory and then serve him his dinner and I'll meet you back in Gaius' room?"
"See you there!" I leave Merlin to attend to his master and make my way to my room to prepare for dinner. I was outside all afternoon and wanted to freshen up a bit. Gaius and Merlin had been so welcoming and understanding. They were willing to let me have dinner with them in exchange for information about the future. I refused to tell them anything from the legends, but I told them about my future. The one I had grown up in. I really was so thankful to have these wonderful men to talk to if I needed to.
By the time I broke out of my second reverie of the day, I realized I was running late. However, when I left my room, I saw that Merlin was a few steps ahead of me. I called out to him and together we made it down to the physician's quarters. Merlin was telling me of the banter he had just had with Arthur when he delivered his dinner. Arthur had asked about Merlin's relationship with me.
"He sounds jealous if you ask me." Merlin states.
"Uh…why would he be jealous?"
"Well, its not every day that a beautiful, mysterious stranger walks into Camelot and doesn't give the Prince the time of day and instead only spends time with his servant. He sounded jealous."
"What?!" Merlin called me beautiful and said that the prince was jealous that I was spending time with Merlin over him. I blushed madly.
"Yeah. He was inquiring all about the conversation we were having earlier and what you were upset about." He was smirking at my shocked face. Prince Arthur. THE Prince Arthur is jealous of Merlin about spending time with ME?! That's hilarious.
I bust out laughing at the thought. Merlin's smirk turns to a confused frown. "What's so funny?"
"There is no way that the prince is jealous. He has nothing to be jealous of. If he wants to spend time with me, well…..I guess all he really needs to do is ask." Seeing Merlin's smirk start to reappear, I continue on. "Not that I want to spend any time with him more than I have to. I have to protect myself here, Merlin. I'm not ready to tell him yet." What kind of relationship…friendship would that be, to be based on a lie and on fear?
"I understand. It's just that I've never seen him jealous before. Especially of me! It was great!" Merlin chuckles.
"Just don't tease him too much about it. Something tells me that it wouldn't be in your best interest to do so." It was now my turn to smirk at him as he realized the ramifications of what exactly would happen.
"Are you kids going to let your dinner get cold or are you going to get in here and eat?" We hear Gaius ask from behind the door into his quarters. We enter and find three bowls of soup and a plate of bread we'd all share on the table. We all sit down and dig in.
"So tell us more about the future." Merlin says.
"Well, I told you about my personal life, so I guess I'll tell you more about life in general. Ummm….let's see. The country I come from, there isn't a monarchy." Gaius interrupts by saying, "But then who leads the people?" "Well, the people choose their own leaders. It is sometimes flawed, but we do it to ourselves, I guess, since we choose our leaders. We vote and the top candidate wins. They are the President. The leader of the "free world", so to speak. That's what my country is called. The United States of America is known as the free world because we were once a colony under the rule of a monarchy in another country. There was a revolution and now we govern ourselves."
"Wow. So no kings or queens, but a president?" Merlin asks.
"Yeah. Every four years there is another election to choose another leader. After one term, they have the option to run again, but after two terms, they can't run again. The current president is President Barack Obama. The country's first African American president. I'm happy to say that I voted for him in my first election that I was able to vote. Most of the opposing side thinks he's running our economy into the ground, but I don't care about that. I care about his social policies. I care about the happiness and equality of others. No one should place themselves above others. Its disgusting."
"You're very passionate about this, my dear." Gaius notes.
"I am. People shouldn't live in fear about who they are. They shouldn't have to hide." I look at Merlin as I say this and I can see the parallels. Merlin gets it too. There is a moment of complete understanding.
"Erm…moving on." I break eye contact and start talking all about technology and my knowledge of future medicine because I know that might be something Gaius has an interest in.
However, what we all fail to notice is the crack in the door and a pair of eyes looking in at us. Outside in the hall, Morgana looks on in a state of shock, hearing what Sarah has to say. Morgana backs away from the door and turns around to go back to her room. She was going to get her sleep tonic from Gaius, but after hearing what she just heard, she thinks she'll send Gwen down in a bit to retrieve it. She had a lot to process and a lot to think over.
"So, our new guest is a…time traveler?" Morgana asks herself. What would Arthur say?
I've decided not to go with a villain of the week. It'll sort itself out, since no one has suggested anything. It'll be fine. However, I would still love any and all input. You have an idea? Suggest it to me. Like I said, I already have an ending in mind. I just don't know how to get the story there quite yet.