Things That Merlin Isn't Allowed To Do (According to Prince Arthur)
12: Befriend Clairvoyant Druids Appearing Randomly Out of Thin Air
It's all Arthur's fault.
Or well, the knights'. Technically it's the fault of their desire to go out hunting, and Arthur to agreeing, well, ordering them to more like once they suggested it. Merlin just…was dragged along. So it's partly his fault too, for coming with them (not that he couldn't go with them, being a servant and unquestionably loyal and all) and not staying behind in Camelot.
Anyway, it's mostly Arthur's fault, because he's the one who dragged them out here and decided there was no danger about the whole thing. From there, it simply rolls downhill. He's right now trying to keep up appearances and stay cool - not attack the nearest object with his sword or bang his head into nearest flat surface - while inside chanting foul things about his own stupidity. Not that he's stupid, but he should've realized that going out hunting today in this forest and bring Merlin along was a Bad Idea.
It started when instead of finding the tracks from prey, they found the tracks from humans. The knights thought maybe it were peaceful travelers, but it was an odd long way from the road and they decided to investigate, just in case the tracks belonged to some bandits or another: it's not impossible, and it's their duty to protect the people. So, they followed the tracks. It took awhile. It was quite difficult and Merlin seemingly didn't realize how much concentration is necessary to follow half-hidden tracks in the middle of the forest, because he just wouldn't shut up ("Can't we go home soon? My feet are so sore. I'm hungry. You've not caught anything anyway. My feet are hurting. Can't we turn back now? This is so boring… Oh look Arthur, a flower! It's yellow!"), and Arthur whacked him over the head once or twice.
Then this group of four cloaked, mysterious-looking people appears out of thin air right in front of Arthur's nose - literarily - while speaking some gibberish language which Merlin apparently understands because the young warlock looks first surprised, then shocked, then embarrassed, and says something to the cloaked men like a greeting. To Arthur's ears it also means zilch and he glares at the men, then at his servant in annoyance.
"Merlin," he growls, "how the hell do you know these men?"
Merlin looks innocent and a bit confused. "I … I don't know them."
"Then how can you understand them? They're talking gibberish! What are they saying?"
"Err…I've learned so that I could read Gaius' books about healing and stuff…?" Merlin says vaguely. And Arthur realizes he must be talking about something else, namely that the strangers are speaking the language of the Old Religion and Merlin is still jumpy about the subject of his magic (despite the fact that Arthur has known for, like, two months, one week, four days and nine hours).
"And they're talking about – well, you," continues the warlock. "And me. And some other stuff as well."
Arthur stares at the servant incredulous. "What exactly are they saying about me - and you?"
"Oh, just the usual; Destiny and Albion and swords in lakes…" The servant sounds too laid-back and chipper. Arthur should be worried, but he finds himself actually relaxing more and more with each word, and actually interested in what the druids are saying. Merlin remains vague, though. It sounds like he's heard it most before. Arthur doesn't know if he should be surprised.
The men, who then turns to the knights with hands raised in a sign of peace and speaks proper English, tells them that they mean no harm and basically (though very politely: they don't speak as roughly and don't seem as uncivilized as Uther has made them out to be) asks if the Prince of Camelot (because of course, since they're druids, they know who they all are) and his most noble knights would like to come 'round for tea. They astonish the knights by knowing their names before the knights have a chance to speak. Merlin still has a flush on his neck.
Gwaine thinks tea sounds great and somehow the rest of the knights agrees; even Elyan who was the first to point his sword at the strangers, and Merlin seems first reluctant (glancing at Arthur every five seconds) before nodding excitedly and smiling.
And the druids bow. A lot. To Merlin. It's a subtle bow, only with the head, but still. Arthur is incredibly perplexed. Why are they bowing to Merlin? They call Arthur sire, but there's no bowing involved, and he can kind of understand why they're not keen on showing him respect as Prince – Camelot hunts their kind, after all. But Merlin isn't nobility or anything.
What the hell's going on? Arthur wonders, and asks as much.
"Do not worry, we mean no harm," one of the druids with a strange beard says. "We heard that Emrys was here with the young Prince and wished to meet him. It is indeed an honour, my lords."
The druid waves a hand muttering some words and a tray appears, settling on a nearby flat rock: there are ten cups of steaming hot tea and a plate of cookies. The nearby logs suits fine as couches and Merlin starts to eagerly devour the cookies. It's not good because Arthur knows how hyperactive the boy gets after just a sniff of anything sugary, but the unfamiliar name distracts him from berating the servant.
"…Emrys?" Arthur says clearly not impressed. "You are mistaken, for there's no one by that name in our company."
The youngest of the druids (who's still old enough to be the prince's grandfather) looks first startled then almost offended. "He doesn't know! He doesn't know!" he cries upset and suddenly the druids gather around themselves in a small meeting, lowering their voices. They're clearly not at all happy.
"Maybe it was something you said," Gwaine suggests with a shrug. "Ah. This is good tea! Pity it's not ale though." With a strange whooshing sound the contents of the knight's cup glow and suddenly, it's full of beer. Gwaine grins pleased and takes a deep swig. "I'm really starting to like these guys!"
Merlin licks the remaining crumbs from his fingertips. This was good, much better than Gaius' cooking. Wonder if the druids could share the recipe? He glances at the prince sitting next to him. "So, what do they want?"
"They said something about Emrys – didn't you listen?" Arthur says.
"Oh. Right, that."
Though there's a slight blush he doesn't seem worried or anything, so Arthur assumes that this Emrys isn't a danger to them. If Merlin is relaxed, it means everything is fine. Or it could possibly mean something is about to go very, very wrong.
The druids part from their short meeting, sitting next to the knights again. "We're merely surprised," they said when Arthur asks. "We assumed you had been told of Emrys and the prophecy."
"Prophecy?" Lancelot asks.
"Yes, of the Once and Future King."
Arthur's thoughts immediately come to the mind-stalking dragon beneath the castle in Camelot and he shifts uncomfortably. Not this again – not in front of the knights as well! He'll never live it down.
"I know of it," he says slowly, "but I have never heard of this Emrys."
"No?" the first druid says. They've probably introduced each other, but Arthur can't recall they're names exactly, too distracted by the fact they know who they are and keep bowing to Merlin and stuff like that. This druid is quite tall with a funny beard. "The prophecy has been foreseen for generations and finally it's coming true. The Once and Future King shall rise, unite the lands of Albion and bring peace, prosperity and magic back to the kingdom with full harmony, with the aid of the Other Side of his Coin."
"No pressure," Gwaine grins.
"The Other Side of the Coin is Emrys, the most powerful warlock of all time."
"Wait, wasn't Me-" Arthur stops himself in the nick of time. No. No, it can't be…The druids are bowing and everything to Merlin because he's Emrys, the most powerful warlock ever (and isn't that a ridiculous thought!), because he's mentioned in a prophecy that apparently all magical people knows about, and the druids know about…the stuff the dragon has been bothering him about the last few weeks?
Oh god. How many more magical stalkers are they going to gain?
The druid has a strange glint in his eyes as he smiles, nodding knowingly. "Ah, I see Kilgarrah has spoken to you."
"Yes…briefly... However, if you have gathered us here to ask me to speak to the infernal creature again, I absolutely refuse!"
"We won't, so worry not," the druid says with a grin. "We assume Kilgarrah can bother you enough as it is."
"Who's Kilgarrah?" Lancelot asks curiously, leaning in, while taking another cookie from the plate.
"Don't ask," Arthur says, and at the same time, Merlin smiles wide and exclaims excitedly;
"He's the dragon beneath the castle! Want to see him?"
"Merlin, you idiot! Now look what you've done!" the prince shouts, point accusingly at the servant. "Do you want the creature to give us even more trouble by start introducing it to more people?"
"What?" Merlin blinks up at him innocently. "I'm sure he's very lonely down there, he wouldn't mind…"
"But I mind!"
"Oh-kay, but honestly, Arthur, I think it's only fair we let Kilgarrah meet them-"
"What? No!" As he speaks, Arthur's voice rises a pitch and grows stronger. "No, we will not let them meet the dragon and form strange underground associations where they discuss unicorns and swords and romantic stories about things the stupid creature has foreseen, I will not allow-"
As the two begin bickering (again), Gwaine turns to the druids who look startled, happy, shocked and pleased respectively. "They're like children, both of them; it's best to ignore them. So, Arthur's the Once and Future King, huh? I assume Emrys must be one of us."
"Well, it is not me, I am certain of it," Lancelot says at once. Percival nods in agreement.
"I agree; it's not me, and I highly doubt it's Gwaine who is Emrys. We possess no magic," Elyan says. "That leaves Merlin..."
The knights and the druids look at the bickering pair for a couple of minutes (they seem to have forgotten they're not alone; Merlin is calling Arthur a clotpole and Arthur calls him an idiot. Again).
"Are you sure you really want to trust those two to rule all of Albion?" Gwaine asks after a while, slightly doubtful, because Arthur is, well… he's Arthur, and Merlin always gets into trouble and is a bit too innocent more often than not and the two seem to bicker almost constantly. Sure, the two fit each other like a hand in a glove, but they might shorten each other's lifespan with worry. Or maybe they're a match made in heaven, and the prophecies must have some kind of truth in them if the druids trust them so much, having so much faith that Arthur and Merlin will bring prosperity and peace to the kingdom.
"They shall learn and grow. Their time is near, but not quite yet, so there's no need to panic. Also, they shall have the love of the people and aid of the Knights of the Round Table: they do not stand alone," the druid informs them which catches the knights' attention at once.
"Oh?" Gwaine asks. "Do those knights sit around a round table all day and sing and drink wine? In that case, I'm in. I mean – free drinks for everyone!" And he begins to hum a very strange melody, causing the others to share looks and shake heads; he can't be drunk already can he? "'We're the Knights of the Round Table, we dance when ere we're able! We do routines and chorus scenes, with footwork impeccable!'" Gwaine looks rather pleased with himself. "I came up with it myself!" he explains, and continues cheerfully: "'We dine well here in Camelot, we eat ham and jam and spam a lot - We're the Knights of the Round Table!' C'mon, ain't it catchy? I like jam. Sweet. Not as much as ale though. Listen, I've got another line: 'We're the Knights of the Round Table, we see merthur kisses ere we're able!' That's even better, right!"
Lancelot gives the man an You're Really Unbelieveable-look.
Elyan makes a pained noise and begins to reach for his sword. The druids share his expression.
"I could knock him out," Percival offers helpfully.
On the other side of the now empty cookie tray, Merlin is ranting about destiny and the dragon and having it meeting Lancelot because the dragon's mentioned the knight(s) once or twice and It Might Be Important – and he's running out of arguments why people should be allowed to visit the great dragon, because most people would either run away or get turned into toast or be given useless crosswords and how the hell can it be everyone's destiny to meet the dragon? It just doesn't make any sense.
"Maybe you'd visit Camelot sometime, I mean, subtly - we don't want any beheadings," Gwaine suggests to the druids with a grin, having stopped singing now since Elyan has threatened to cut off some of his, err, most beloved body parts if he doesn't shut it."There's this great tavern I know and I want to know more about this Round Table."
Arthur has a feeling this will be a very, very long day.