So yeps, I am cruel. Mucho meanie. But it was worth it to see all the lovely reviews of people who were taken by surprise at my ending there.
Congrats to Lizzandra, Cariboucapecod, and Hullo (guest) for getting the Avenger's reference. Seriously, does nobody else play this game?! I liked it…*sad face*
Ok, my apologies. I was originally going to do this episode all in one go, so when I split it at that cliffhanger (growls from audience) I put the book reference in here… But it's a real obvi, if you've read the book.
oOo
"What?!" Cried Gwaine, who rushed forward to grip Merlin's shoulders protectively, "You're not going to kill him, Arthur, are you? Are you?" Gwaine hauled Merlin up to his feet. "He's not going to touch you, Merlin. You're not going to touch him!"
Merlin looked at Gwaine in astonishment. "B-but I have magic, it's against the law-"
"Bugger the law, Merlin!"
Arthur spoke in a quiet monotone, fingering the hilt of his sword. "The law is hard, but it is the law."
"You can't!"
Merlin pushed at Gwaine's hands, "No, Gwaine, he's right."
"Do you want to die?!"
Merlin cried, "No! I just- I'd rather die here, quickly. I-I don't want to burn." He finished in a rush. The room was silent at that terrible request. Merlin hung his head and felt his cheeks turn red at the stares.
Now Percival spoke, the ever present voice of reason. "Remember what Merlin asked of us? He asked us to listen to him. We aren't doing that." Merlin shot him a surprised, if grateful look.
Leon, the compromiser, put in his bit. "Let's watch the rest. After this we can decide what needs to be done."
"And what doesn't." stated Elyan.
They all turned back to the memory-Merlin, who still had gold eyes. Merlin willed the memories to continue.
"What did you just do?" asked Gaius, astonished as he rose from the bed.
"Erm..." said Merlin.
"Tell me!" demanded the old man.
"How terrifying that must have been…" murmured Leon.
"I, I, I have no idea what happened." Merlin attempted to lie.
"If anyone had seen that..." said Gaius.
"Er, no! That, that was, that was nothing to do with me. That, that was..." stuttered Merlin.
Gwaine snorted. Everyone else looked at him askance, but he just said, "For a secret sorcerer, who's apparently been hiding this from everyone, you're a crap liar!" He laughed loudly, breaking the tension wonderfully.
Merlin rolled his eyes. "Of course if it's funny to you!"
"I know what it was! I just want to know where you learned how to do it!" said Gauis.
"Now that threw me for a loop! I thought I was going to be executed for sure! And then he asks me that!" Merlin said, in a much happier mood.
Arthur still stood, watching, mind turning.
"Nowhere," said Merlin.
"So how is it you know magic?" asked Gaius suspiciously.
"I don't." said Merlin.
All the expressions in the room said yeah, right. "I didn't!" cried Merlin, "Not in the traditional sense, anyway."
Elyan said, "So wh-" but Merlin cut him off.
"Where did you study? Answer me!" growled Gaius.
"I, I've never studied magic or, or been taught." Merlin said.
"Are you lying to me, boy?" said Gaius.
"No," whispered Merlin.
"What do you want me to say?" asked Merlin desperately.
"The truth!" said Gaius.
"I was born like this!" said Merlin.
"That's impossible!
"I really was," said Merlin quietly, "The laws don't really consider people like me, do they?" All the knights were thoughtful at that.
Who are you?" said Gaius.
"Oh, erm..." said Merlin.
[pulls off backpack]
"I have this letter." Said Merlin.
"I, I don't have my glasses." Said Gaius.
"I'm Merlin." Said Merlin.
"Hunith's son?" said Gaius.
"How did he know your mother?" asked Leon.
Merlin looked relieved at such a benign question. "He's her uncle. Gaius used to be Uncle Gaius to me when I was small."
"Yes!" said Merlin sounding relieved.
"But you're not meant to be here till Wednesday!" said Gaius.
"It is Wednesday." Said Merlin slowly.
Everyone chuckled a bit at Gaius.
"Ah. Right, then. You better put your bag in there." Said Gaius, pointing to a door.
"You, you won't say anything about, erm..." said Merlin sounding scared.
Leon looked at Merlin and said, "You were truly scared he would turn you in, weren't you?"
Merlin shrugged self-consciously. "It's a bit of an ingrained behavior, yeah."
"No. Although, Merlin, I should say thank you." Said Gaius.
"I could count on one hand the number of times people said that to me."
All the knights looked at each other. How much did they owe to Merlin?
Merlin looked over at Camelot and smiled at the amazing view.
"Wow…" Elyan breathed. Growing up in Camelot, he never really appreciated how beautiful it was.
Gaius was seen reading the letter, then Huinith's voice over began. "My dear Gaius,
I turn to you for I feel lost and alone and don't know who to trust.
Merlin snorted quietly, "Story of my life."
It is every mother's fate to think her child is special, and yet I would give my life that Merlin were not so."
Gwaine looked confused. "Huh?"
Pausing the memory again, Merlin said, "Honestly, Gwaine, think about it. This having magic made it to where I was going to be hunted and persecuted for the rest of my life. Who wants that for their son?"
Arthur flinched almost unnoticeably.
Hunith is shown writing the letter.
Ours is a small village and he is so clearly at odds with people here that, if he were to remain, I fear what would become of him.
"Meaning they would kill me."
He needs a hand to hold, a voice to guide, someone that might help him find a purpose for his gifts. I beg you, if you understand a mother's love for her son, keep him safe, and may God save you both."
Arthur spoke quietly, still brooding. "She's a good woman."
"Yeah," Merlin said, "she is."
The scene cut to Morgana and Uther.
More hisses and flinches at the sight of Morgana.
"Morgana." Asks Uther.
"Yes?" she says.
"What is it? Why are you not joining us at the feast?" asks the king.
"I just don't think chopping someone's head off is cause for celebration. That poor mother."
"It was simple justice for what he'd done." Said Uther coldly.
"What did he do!" exclaimed Merlin, "If he didn't hurt anyone, kill anyone, why was he put to death? I know people who were put to death for healing."
"To whom? He practiced some magic, he didn't hurt anyone." Said Morgana.
Gwaine raised his eyebrows. "Wow, mate. Never thought I would catch you agreeing with Morgana of all people."
"Isn't it obvious?" Arthur said cruelly, "They're both sorcerers. Of course they think alike."
"And what's that supposed to mean Arthur?" asked Merlin quietly. "If you remember, Morgana didn't have magic at this point."
Arthur ran his hand across his face. "I said I would wait to judge. I will. Keep going."
"You were not around twenty years ago, you have no idea what it was like." Said Uther.
"How long are you going to keep punishing people for what happened then?" asked Morgana.
"Forever…" whispered Merlin, with a sad look at Arthur.
"Until they realize there is no room for magic in my kingdom! You will be with me when I greet Lady Helen."
"I told you! I want no part in these celebrations!" said Morgana.
"I'm your guardian! I expect you to do as I ask. If you show me no respect at least respect our finest singer"
"They are so much alike it's scary," observed Elyan.
"You know, the more brutal you are, the more enemies you will create!" said Morgana.
Merlin shot another look at Arthur, who promptly looked away and ignored his friend's glance.
The scene cut to Lady Helen's campsite where Lady Helen was humming. She hears a noise and becomes scared.
"My god." Merlin whispered. The scene froze on Helen's face.
"What?"
"This memory doesn't belong to anyone here, not to anyone alive! She must have…" Merlin gripped the amulet tighter, and paused as his eyes flashed gold. "Oh…she's been gathering these memories for years…"
"Hello? Gregory?" she called for her guard.
"Lady Helen." Said Gregory.
"Is all well?" the Lady asks.
"Yes, ma'am. With luck, we should reach Camelot late tomorrow." Says Gregory.
"That's good." Said Lady Helen.
"I'll be outside if you need me." the guard informs his lady.
More noises were heard. Gregory draws his sword.
"Who's there? Who's there?" the guard calls out.
Lady Helen continues to hum but stops when more noises appear. She looks to the tent flap and sees Mary Collins face looking in at her.
Helen gasped in surprise and backed away as Mary Collins began to chant.
"Akwele seo magdp. Akwele seo magdp. Akwele seo magdp." Mary Collins curses the voodoo doll while stabbing it, causing Lady Helen to feel the effects as well. She falls over, dead.
Merlin shuddered in revulsion.
Elyan looked at him, "You alright?"
"Yeah, it's just…" Merlin shuddered again, "Black magic. Disgusting stuff."
Percival didn't really want to ask, but curiosity got the better of him. "Why'd she stab the doll?"
"Because she's just a hedgewitch. Not very powerful at all. That poppet makes it easier. Anything done to the poppet is done to the person that it's made for. But that's black magic, and, like I said, disgusting. It's only used to hurt people."
"Have you?" Arthur asked.
Merlin looked at Arthur sadly. "Made a poppet? No."
"I mean killed someone."
A pause. "Yes."
Mary grabs her necklace and sits at the desk.
"Ghefrolinz grimpoxin kouata." She chants another spell. And turns into Lady Helen, but when she looks in Helen's handmirror, the reflection just showed a gray, wrinkled old woman.
"Whoa, why's the mirror doing that?" asked Gwaine.
Merlin sighed. Arthur was just as tense as he was a minute ago, and Merlin revealing his depth of magical knowledge was doing nothing to lessen Arthur's mood. "Mirrors show a true reflection. Glamours—that's what that was, a glamour—they trick observers into believing they see something that they don't. It doesn't actually change your appearance.
Merlin is sleeping when a voice called, "Merlin! Merlin!"
"What's that?"
"Wait and see, Gwaine."
Merlin wakes up and enters Gaius' chambers.
"I got you water. You didn't wash last night." Said Gaius.
"Sorry." Said Merlin.
"Help yourself to breakfast." Said Gaius.
Merlin sits down with Gaius to some water porridge.
Gaius waited till Merlin had sat down then he knocked a jug of water over. Merlin instinctively froze it with his eyes flashing golden.
Gaius gasped and the two looked at each other before looking back to the suspended water and bucket. It then falls.
"It's a reflex. Just like flinching, you can't help it. At this time, if I saw something fall, I reached out and caught it. But with magic."
"How did you do that? Did you incant a spell in your mind?" Asked Gaius.
"I don't know any spells." Said Merlin.
"So what did you do? There must be something." Said Gaius.
"It just happens." Said Merlin.
Everyone looked at Merlin. Everything they had ever heard of magic stated that it required effort, years of study to master, yet there was this young boy who had no idea what he had, no idea where it came from, and he was scared. This was something they hadn't considered before.
Merlin began to clear up the mess.
"Well, we better keep you out of trouble. You can help me until I find some paid work for you. Here.' Said Gaius.
Gaius placed a small bottle and a sack on the table.
"Hollyhock and Feverfew for Lady Percival, and this is for Sir Olwin. He's as blind as a weevil, so warn him not to take it all at once."
"Okay," said Merlin.
"And here." Said Gaius placing a sandwich on the table.
They all smiled at the old man. Everyone knew how fond he was of Merlin.
"Off you go. And Merlin! I need hardly tell you that the practice of any form of enchantments will get you killed." Said Gaius grimly. Merlin nods before leaving.
Percival said, "Not at all. The first thing you saw in Camelot was an execution, I'm sure you remembered well enough on your own."
Merlin eats as he walks to Sir Olwin's quarters. He knocks on the door and old, blind, squinty Sir Olwin answers.
"Erm, I brought you your medicine," said Merlin. He handed the medicine to the blind man.
Sir Olwin pops the cork and begins drinking.
"Oh, and Gaius said don't drink it all at..." said Merlin too late. "I'm sure it's fine." Merlin quickly fled the scene.
Leon and Gwaine laughed at Merlin's younger self, and Arthur was hard-pressed to hide his smile.
Merlin is now crossing the training ground where he comes across Arthur bullying his current servant.
"Ohh," cooed Gwaine, "you're just a little baby Princess! Lookit him!"
All the knights laughed, Merlin snorted quietly, and even Arthur's lips twitched up a little bit. It seemed that giving him time to cool off was a good thing.
"Where's the target?" mocked Arthur.
Arthur's gang laughed at the prince.
Arthur rolled his eyes, "What a bunch of bootlickers…"
Gwaine clapped the King on his shoulder, "Don't worry your head, Highness, we would never treat you with that much respect!"
"I'm well aware."
"There, Sir?" said Morris.
"It's into the sun." said Arthur.
"But, it's not that bright." Said Morris.
"A bit like you, then?" retorted Arthur cruelly.
Leon grimaced. He remembered firsthand what Arthur was like in his pre-Merlin days. Elyan just stared at him for a second. "Arthur. You- were- a- prat!"
Arthur shot his brother-in-law a withering look. "I don't treat my servants that way anymore."
Merlin felt it safe enough to add, "He's really not. Maybe a bit rude sometimes, but he's not cruel."
"I'll put the target on the other end, shall I, Sir?" said Morris.
Morris begins to carry the target to the other side of the training ground.
"Teach him a lesson. Go on, boy." growled the knight called Sir Jamieson.
"This'll teach him." said Arthur.
"Yeah." Encouraged Sir Amos.
"He he. Teach him a lesson." Laughed Sir Jamieson.
Arthur throws a dagger at the target the servant was still carrying.
"You could have hurt him!" Percival said.
"Hey! Hang on!" said Morris.
"Don't stop!" laughed Arthur.
Morris takes a few steps back.
"Here?" asked Morris.
"He was absolutely humiliated," said Merlin.
Gwen opens an upper window and shakes a rug frowning as she watches Arthur bullying the serving boy.
Arthur flushed dark red, and said "I didn't know she saw that."
"I told you to keep moving!" called out Arthur.
Arthur threw another dagger.
And glares were thrown at the King.
"Come on! Run!" calls Arthur.
Morris shuffles along trying to carry the large board of wood and Arthur throws more daggers.
"Do you want some moving target practice?" asks Arthur.
Morris drops the target which rolls to Merlin's feet. Merlin puts a foot on it so Morris can't pick it up.
"And in comes Merlin to save the day from the Prince of Prats!" (A/N: I'll give you three guesses who said that.)
"Hey, come on, that's enough." Said Merlin
"What?" asked Arthur, incredulously.
"Before this, no one had the guts to stand up to me. It was always 'Yes, sire,' and 'No, sire,' and 'Three bags full, sire!'" Arthur crossed his arms. He hated bootlickers!
"You've had your fun, my friend." Said Merlin.
"Do I know you?" asked Arthur coming towards Merlin.
"Er, I'm Merlin," responded Merlin holding out a hand to Arthur for the prince to take.
"So I don't know you." Arthur stated without taking the hand.
"Rude," said Elyan.
"No." admitted Merlin.
"Yet you called me 'friend'." Arthur said.
"I always think people are potential friends until given reason to think otherwise."*
Everyone just looked at Merlin at that surprisingly wise statement.
"That was my mistake," agreed Merlin.
"Yes, I think so," Arthur thinking that things were going his way.
"Yeah. I'd never have a friend who could be such an ass," said Merlin.
"And here it begins!" Said Gwaine.
Melin grinned at him, "And it hasn't stopped since."
Merlin starts walking away.
Arthur snorts, "or I one who could be so stupid."
Merlin stops walking.
"Tell me, Merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees?" asked Arthur.
Arthur winced at his…well the only word that was coming to mind was prattishness.
"No." said Merlin.
"Would you like me to help you?" asked Arthur.
"I wouldn't if I were you," retorted Merlin in a threatening voice.
Arthur laughed, "Why? What are you going to do to me?" asked the arrogant Prince.
"You have no idea," said Merlin in a mysterious voice.
Arthur's bad mood came back with a vengeance. "You were threatening me with magic!"
Merlin held his hands up, "Wait, I was just giving you fair warning. You remember how little control I had! I was afraid that if something did happen, I'd use magic to protect myself."
"Be my guest! Come on! Come on! Come oooooon." Arthur said.
Merlin looks and just takes a swing at him.
All the knights grimace at the pathetic attempt at a punch. "Remind me to teach you how to hit someone, Merlin," Gwaine sighed. "because that…that was a girl's punch."
Arthur twists Merlin's arm behind his back.
Gwen cringes at Merlin's position.
"I'll have you thrown in jail for that," said Arthur.
"What, who do you think you are? The King?" asked Merlin.
Leon raised an eyebrow at Merlin, "You really had no idea what you were up against, did you."
Merlin grinned and shook his head ruefully.
"No. I'm his son, Arthur." Arthur responded.
Arthur takes Merlin out at the knees. Merlin is escorted down to the cells by guards.
Merlin burst out laughing.
Everyone in the room just stared at the eccentric warlock. He just tried to punch the Prince, got thrown in jail, and he's laughing?
Gwaine put a hand to Merlin's forehead. "You feeling alright mate?"
Merlin swats Gwaine's hand away impatiently, "Gwaine this happened years ago!"
Elyan just scratched at his head. "But why would you laugh?"
Merlin shrugged. "I thought it was funny. I was the one person in Camelot who truly deserved to be there. And I'm there because I tried to stand up to a prat. It's one of those things that if you don't laugh about it, you'll probably start to cry."
Percival nodded at this explanation. "It's ironic, I'll give you that."
Mary Collins disguised as the beautiful Lady Helen crosses the drawbridge and enters Camelot. Mary Collins' true reflection appears in the puddle.
Mary Collins enters the throne room to where Uther and some of his court members are currently.
"Lady Helen. Thank you so much for coming to sing at our celebrations," said Uther graciously.
"The pleasure's all mine," said Mary Collins.
"How was your journey?" asked Uther.
Mary Collins faked a sigh, "Oh, the time it took, Sire." She said softly.
Observant Percival noted, "From this perspective, it's a bit obvious that she's faking it."
Uther took one of her hands and kissed it, "Well, it's always worth the wait."
"It will be," said Mary Collins obviously thinking of her plot to kill Arthur.
"See?" Added Percival.
Merlin is in his cell sleeping on the straw floor.
"Merlin, Merlin," the mysterious voice calls.
"Ugh!" groaned Gwaine, "What is that?!"
Merlin gave him a smirk, "You'll have to wait, just like I did." Truth be told, Merlin really wasn't looking forward to Arthur seeing the conversation with Kilgharrah. It would be much too easy to connect the two, and realize that Merlin was the one to free him.
Merlin wakes and hears the voice coming from the floor underneath him jumps up away from the voice calling to him.
"Merlin," the voice calls again.
Gwaine looked at Merlin with an expression of pleading. Merlin ignored him.
Merlin moves towards the floor putting his head close to ground to see what the voice was.
"Merlin," said Gaius in surprise. Merlin quickly gets up out of his compromising position on the floor.
The cell door opens and Gaius steps in leaving the guards behind him.
Gaius sighed at his young ward, "You never cease to amaze me! The one thing that someone like you should do is keep your head down, and what do you do? You behave like an idiot."
Arthur laughed –actually laughed, and said, "So I'm not the only one who thinks that."
Merlin grinned back and retorted with the traditional, "Prat."
"I'm sorry," said Merlin.
"You're lucky. I managed to pull a few strings to get you released," said Gaius.
"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" Merlin all but shouted enthusiastically.
Gaius frowns at Merlin for his excitement.
"I won't forget this." Merlin vowed.
"Well, there is a small price to pay," said Gaius an evil glint in his eyes.
Uh-oh, thought all the knights.
Merlin is now in the stocks being pelted by fruit and looking like he was thoroughly enjoying himself.
"Oh, no," said Merlin his statement at odds with the way he was beaming at the town children.
Gaius laughs at the boy.
"I'm glad I could be amusing." Merlin grumbled.
Elyan said, "To be fair, it kinda looks like you were enjoying yourself there too."
"Thanks," Merlin rolls his eyes at his Great Uncle.
The children leave and Gwen approaches Merlin.
"I'm Guinevere, but most people call me Gwen. I'm the Lady Morgana's maid," said Gwen.
"Right. I'm Merlin." Merlin introduced himself by doing his best whilst in the stocks to shake hands with the once and future queen. Although, most people just call me Idiot."
The knights chuckled at Merlin's self-depreciating, if accurate, comment.
"No, no, no. I saw what you did. It was so brave," said Gwen.
"It was stupid," said Merlin.
"Well, I'm glad you walked away. You weren't going to beat him." said Gwen.
Merlin snorted, "Oh, I...I can beat him." said Merlin confidently.
"You threaten me with magic more than I realize, don't you Merlin?" asked Arthur with a long-suffering tone.
"I don't mean it…" mumbled the warlock.
Arthur rolled his eyes. He was slowly warming up to this idea. After Merlin's outburst earlier, he knew there was more to this story than just illegal magic, so Arthur only felt it right to give Merlin the temporary benefit of the doubt.
"You think? Because you don't look like one of these big, muscle-y kind of fellows," said Gwen.
Elyan groaned at Gwen's lack of tact.
"Thanks," said Merlin.
"No! No, I'm sure you're stronger than you look. It's just, erm...Arthur's one of these real rough, tough, save the world kind of men, and...well...' Gwen trailed off.
"She puts her foot in her mouth more often…" said Elyan.
Arthur just grinned at his wife.
"What?" Merlin demanded.
"You don't look like that." Gwen said.
Merlin motions for Gwen to move closer to him where he whispers, "I'm in disguise."
Percival said, "It's amazing how often you've told the truth without us realizing."
Gwen laughs, "Well, it's great you stood up to him."
"What? You think so?" asks Merlin sounding pleased.
"Arthur's a bully, and everyone thought you were a real hero," said Gwen.
Arthur looked shocked at Gwen, but Elyan said, "Hey, remember, you two weren't together then. She was just a maidservant, and you were a bully." Arthur flushed and looked down at the floor.
"Oh, yeah?" sounding pleased.
Gwen nods, "Mm-hmm."
Gwaine nudged Merlin with his elbow, "Does someone have a crush?" he sang. At Merlin's blush, Gwaine cried, "You did!"
Merlin ran his hands through his hair. "It didn't last for very long. I mean, she's nice and pretty and all," Merlin tried to ignore the glares from Elyan and Arthur, "but she's more my friend. Or my sister. Completely off-limits."
Arthur looked slightly appeased.
The children re-approach with more rotten fruit.
"Oh, excuse me, Guinevere. My fans are waiting." Merlin laughs
and Gwen moves away before she too gets pelted with fruit.
Merlin is now back in Gaius' chambers where he sits down to eat.
"Do you want some vegetables with that?" asks Gaius.
Merlin snorts, "I know you're still angry with me."
"Your mother asked me to look after you," said Gaius.
The knights all looked more interested at this. This seemed like an important conversation.
"Yes." Said Merlin interested.
"What did your mother say to you about your gifts?" asked the old man.
"That I was special." Was all Merlin said.
"You are special. The likes of which I have never seen before," agreed Gaius.
All eyes were riveted on memory-Gaius.
"What do you mean?" asked Merlin looking like Gaius had all the answers.
"Well, magic requires incantations, spells. It takes years to study. What I saw you do was...elemental, instinctive," said Gaius.
More astonished looks were thrown at Merlin. If Gaius didn't understand this…
"What's the point if it can't be used?" said Merlin frustrated.
"You know, Princess, that's a pretty good point," Gwaine said. "Magic's got to be good for something, right? So make it work in our favor."
The other's looked astonished at this astute comment from the normally—inhibited Gwaine.
"That I do not know. You are a question that has never been posed before, Merlin," said Gaius.
"Did you ever study magic?" asked Merlin.
"Uther banned all such work twenty years ago," said Gaius.
"Meaning yes." Merlin said.
"Why?" asked Merlin.
"People used magic for the wrong end at that time. It threw the natural order into chaos. Uther made it his mission to destroy everything from back then, even the dragons."
Merlin looked darkly at Gaius in the memory.
Percival caught onto the look. "Was that not the reason for the Purge?"
No one answered.
"What? All of them?" asked Merlin shocked.
"There was one dragon he chose not to kill, kept it as an example. He imprisoned it in a cave deep beneath the castle where no one can free it. Now, eat up. When you've finished, I need you to take a preparation to Lady Helen. She needs it for her voice." Gaius explained to Merlin.
Merlin is walking up the balcony corridor where he enters Lady Helen's chambers.
Merlin puts the potion bottle down on the table and as he begins snooping, he notices a special book and a poppet made out of straw.
Everyone in the room got a chill, seeing that poppet there.
Merlin hears Lady Helen's footsteps and hurriedly tries to mask the evidence of his curiosity.
"What are you doing here?" asked Mary Collins looking like an unimpressed lady.
"An...I, I was asked to deliver this," said Merlin quickly picking the bottle up from the table and showing "Lady Helen" it.
They see Mary's reflection on the half covered mirror behind him. Merlin hands her the little bottle and quickly exits the room.
Leon asked, "Did you not see it?"
Merlin shrugged. "Saw it out of the corner of my eye. Thought it was nothing. I got out of that habit real quick, living in Camelot!"
Merlin is walking across the lower town where he passes Arthur and his gang of knights.
Merlin smirked, remembering that fight. It was also when they both felt the connection of their bond, though they were not going to admit it.
"How's your knee-walking coming along?" asked Arthur.
Merlin keeps walking on.
"Good," muttered Gwaine, "he's double your size."
"Aw, don't run away!" laughed Arthur.
Merlin stops.
Gwaine groaned. "You had to goad him, didn't you Arthur? Now he couldn't walk away even if he wanted to."
Arthur sighs, "Thank God. I thought you were deaf as well as dumb."
"Look, I've told you you're an ass," said Merlin turning to face the prince. "I just didn't realise you were a royal one.
All the knights laughed at this, while Merlin grinned abashedly at the floor, and Arthur glowered to hide a smile.
Oh, what are you going to do? Get your daddy's men to protect you?" Merlin said mockingly.
Leon raised an aristocratic eyebrow. "As one of 'daddy's men,' I take offence to that statement."
Arthur laughs "I could take you apart with one blow."
"I could take you apart with less than that" said Merlin.
Arthur's good mood was again dampened by the fact that Merlin had magic.
"Are you sure?" asked Arthur.
"Come on, then," Sir Jamieson.
"Fight," cheered Sir Amos.
Merlin takes off his jacket and Arthur laughs.
Elyan put a hand to his face. "Merlin, you're going to get pounded…"
"...toying with him, then!" said Sir Nigel.
"Here you go," said Arthur.
Sir Frederick handed Arthur a mace which he threw at Merlin which he promptly dropped.
Everyone, including Merlin, laughed at his clumsiness.
Merlin picks up and Arthur professionally swing his mace around his head showing his superior skill.
"That a way," cheered Sir Amos.
"Come on, then. I warn you, I've been trained to kill since birth," said Arthur.
"Wow, and how long have you been training to be a prat?" asked Merlin cheekily.
"Yes!" cried Gwaine, "the Name!"
Arthur snorted, "You can't address me like that."
"I'm sorry. H-How long have you been training to be a prat, My Lord?" he asked with an annoying fake bow.
They all roared with laughter.
Arthur began swinging the mace with vigour an annoyed expression on his face.
"Come on then, Merlin! Come on!" jeered Arthur.
Arthur is backing Merlin into the market stalls as a large crowd gathers. Gaius who is in his chambers sees the crowd and looks and realized Merlin – once again – is in trouble. Merlin falls over.
All the knights groan as one.
Arthur laughs, "You're in trouble now."
"Oh God," moans Merlin.
Merlin looks desperately around then seeing some large hooks (his eyes glowing liquid gold) magically entangles Arthur's mace around them.
Arthur bristled. "That's cheating."
Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Says Mr. I've-been-trained-since-birth!"
As soon as Arthur has untangled his mace he comes back for another attack. Once again Merlin's eyes glow gold and a box moves in front of Arthur who stubs his toe on the box.
"You made me look like an idiot in front of all of Camelot!"
Gwaine punched his shoulder. "No, you did that yourself, Princess. Shouldn't have been a prat!"
"OW! Argh!" yelled the Prince.
Arthur is pursuing Merlin again. Merlin"s eyes glow golden forcing a rope under Arthur's feet to tighten making Arthur trip up.
The room rang with laughter at the expression on the young Prince's face.
Merlin picks up the mace and begins waving it at Arthur.
Leon said, "Now you're getting cocky."
"Do you want to give up?" Merlin shouts.
"To you?" Arthur is shocked a mere servant can beat him.
"Do you? Do you want to give up?" Merlin repeats.
"See? Cocky."
Arthur is moving away from the mace and catches his foot in a bucket and falls over. Merlin then spots Gaius and looks away from the fight.
The fighters in the room lamented that rookie mistake.
Arthur takes the moment of Merlin's distraction to grab a broom, and whack him soundly once, twice, and three times before he fell to the ground, where Arthur mockingly swept the dust at him.
Now everyone was staring at Arthur with daggers.
"What?" he cried.
"You didn't have to hit him that hard. He was green. And stupid." Percival said. "Sorry Merlin."
Merlin grinned. "None taken! I've learned not to take things too personally…"
Arthur's guards begin to pick Merlin up but Arthur stops them.
"Wait. Let him go. He may be an idiot, but he's a brave one.
"At least there's that
There's something about you, Merlin. I can't quite put my finger on it."
"Who would have thought that it was magic of all things…"
Merlin seemed to be trying to avoid Arthur's gaze hoping he wouldn't guess the truth.
The scene cut to Gaius' chambers where Merlin and Gaius are sitting. Gaius is giving Merlin another lecture.
"How could you be so foolish?" shouted the physician.
Arthur grimaced. He was on the receiving end of many of Gaius's lectures growing up. They could be scarier than the King's.
"He needed to be taught a lesson," said Merlin.
"Magic must be studied, mastered, and used for good! Not for idiotic pranks!" scolded Gaius.
They all shifted uncomfortably. Some, like Merlin and Gwaine, were firmly in agreement, but the tension in the room was palpable. The others, most notably Arthur, were still of the mindset that magic is a corrupting force, and that sooner or later it would turn anyone in contact with it.
'What is there to master? I could move objects like that before I could talk!" said Merlin.
Expecting quite a reaction, Merlin paused the memory again, right as incredulous glances landed on him and made him blush dark red.
Leon spoke first. "Is that even possible?"
"Apparently," Merlin shrugged, "it is. I've never heard of it happening to anyone else, though."
'Then, by now, you should know how to control yourself!" said Gaius.
"I don't want to! If I can't use magic, what have I got? I'm just a nobody, and I always will be. If I can't use magic, I might as well die," said Merlin.
And again, everyone stared. Merlin was becoming very uncomfortable in this situation.
Arthur veins felt like they were filled with ice water. Was Merlin—suicidal? No, this must have been just an overemotional teen…
"Merlin, mate…" Gwaine started. Merlin restarted the memory, knowing more was to come.
Merlin flees to his bedchamber. Gaius follows the boy up with a basket of medical supplies.
Gaius sighs, "Merlin? Sit up. Take your shirt off." He instructs.
Merlin sits up with a groan, and stiffly pulls off his shirt, revealing large angry bruises on his back and ribcage.
The knights sucked in a breath, and then whipped around to glare at Arthur, who had turned a bit pale. "I- I didn't know you were hurt, Merlin."
Merlin just directed their attention back to the memories without answering.
"You don't know why I was born like this, do you?" asked Merlin softly
"No." admitted Gaius.
The knights sighed with disappointment. They wanted answers, dammit.
Gaius is attending to Merlin's wounds.
"I'm not a monster, am I?" asked Merlin with a fake smile plastered over his face to guard against the threatening tears.
Merlin was pretty good at judging everyone's reactions by now. So he stopped the memory.
Gwaine was the first to speak up and break the awkward silence. "Merlin, mate, you can't think like that, of course you're not-"
Then Elyan joined in, "You've been good to my sister, Merlin, a monster wouldn't be that nice to her-"
Now Leon, "With as many times as you've followed us into battles-"
But Percival held his hands up, cutting off all conversation. He could tell that this isn't what Merlin really wanted to hear. Or, more likely, they weren't who he wanted to hear it from. "Why don't we let the King say something, right Sire?"
Merlin's blue eyes darted to Arthur. He was standing a little to the side, his face pale and shocked looking. He seemed very uncomfortable to be put on the spot. "Merlin…I-"
Merlin's face fell. "No, Arthur, that's alright. You don't have to lie to me, I get it." And there was that horrible fake smile again, while his eyes swam with unshed tears.
"No, Merlin, I wasn't going to lie to you! I was going to say that you weren't a monster, because I- I don't make friends with monsters." Arthur stuttered and blushed at that last line.
"You don't…what?" Merlin asked.
"I don't make friends with monsters; therefore you cannot be a monster. Honestly, Merlin, at least try to keep up." Arthur tried to cover up his overindulgence of sentiment with some of the typical banter, but Merlin wasn't buying it.
"I'm your friend?" It sounded strangely childlike coming from the young man. "I mean, I thought of you as my friend, but I didn't think that you thought-"
"Yes, Merlin, I'm your friend. Now do shut up, we have memories watch."
Gaius looks Merlin directly in the eye, "Don't ever think that." He said.
Gwaine nudged Merlin's shoulder, and then nodded at Memory-Gaius, as if to say See? I told you.
"Then why am I like this? Please, I need to know why." Merlin needed the truth.
"Maybe there's someone with more knowledge than me," said Gaius.
"If you can't tell me, no one can," said Merlin.
Gaius pours a potion into a tiny cup. "Take this it will help with the pain."
"It wasn't that bad, was it?" Arthur asked, a tiny bit of worry leaking into his voice.
"Bruises on my shoulder and my back. Really, I've had worse just training with you fools."
Uther and Mary Collins who Uther thought was Lady Helen were dining together.
"Will you sing for me tonight?" asked Uther.
"You will have to wait, Sire." The sorceress replied.
"You will not deny me." said Uther.
"I am saving myself for my performance tomorrow. Will everyone be there?" she asked.
"Who would dare to miss it?" said Uther.
"How about your son?" asked Mary Collins.
Everyone stiffened at the mention of her target.
"Well..." Uther trailed off.
"It seems a shame not to have met him." the witch faked sadness.
"That's Arthur," said Uther.
"Poor child." said Mary Collins.
Elyan said, "How is it so easy to tell she's evil here, but completely miss it there?"
"Hindsight is every perfect," stated Leon wisely.
"Hmm?" said the confused king.
"Poor child. It can't have been easy to, to grow up without a mother," said the witch.
Arthur's face tightened at the mention of Ygraine, even though he knew the ghost of his mother was fake…
"No." said Uther.
"Hmm. That bond between mother and son, it's so hard to replace," said Mary.
"Again, it's so easy to tell that she's plotting something." Elyan repeated.
"Hasn't been easy," agreed Uther.
"I'm sure," smiled Mary Collins.
Uther smiles back at her.
"Perhaps if you found someone...If you remarried.
Merlin snorted at the memory of Uther's new wife. Leon and Arthur groaned.
I'm sure you'd have the pick of any maiden in the kingdom."
"Well, perhaps I'll find love again. But I'm afraid it's too late to replace Arthur's mother." sighed Uther.
"Yes. It's certainly too late for Arthur," agreed the woman who would try and kill the prince.
Arthur felt a shiver pass down his spine as he heard the thinly veiled threat in her voice.
Later on that night Merlin was lying awake in his bed.
"Merlin, Merlin," the voice was back again.
Merlin smirked at the imploring looks he was getting, but he wasn't going to budge. Suddenly, a terrible thought entered his head. What if Arthur guesses who freed the dragon…I'm so dead.
Merlin jumps out of bed and leaves Gaius's quarters. He runs across the square.
"Merlin," the voice continued to intone.
"You alright, Merlin?" asked Gwaine, because Merlin had gone pale again, and looked faintly sick with nerves.
Merlin follows it descending down the stairs. He magically distracts the guards by rolling their dice away from them.
Leon looked highly offended. "It's that easy? I should have them in the stocks for that."
"Hey, the number of times I've used that trick against them…" said Merlin, still a little preoccupied.
Merlin grabs a torch and descends down the stairway.
"Merlin, Merlin," the voice continues to shout.
Merlin enters the cave.
"Where are you?" asked Arthur. Merlin simply gestured back at the memory.
"Merlin," called the voice again.
Merlin looked around for the source of the voice.
"Where are you?" Merlin calls out.
The Great Dragon landed in front of Merlin.
A gasp came from the group of knights, who all grasped reflexively at their swords.
"I'm here. How small you are for such a great destiny," said Kilgharrah.
Merlin groaned at the mention of that thrice-damned destiny, while everyone else had raging curiosity written all over their faces.
"Why? What do you mean? What destiny?" asked Merlin.
"Your gift, Merlin, was given to you for a reason," responded the Great Dragon.
"So there is a reason?" asked Merlin.
"Arthur is the Once and Future King who will unite the land of Albion," responded Kilgharrah.
Arthur choked a little bit. "What?"
Merlin shushed him, "Just listen, this explains a lot."
"Right," Said Merlin awkwardly.
"But he faces many threats from friend and foe alike," said Kilgharrah.
"I don't see what this has to do with me," said Merlin.
"Everything. Without you, Arthur will never succeed. Without you, there will be no Albion," said Kilgharrah.
Eyes were all on Merlin, as he flushed again.
"No. No, you've got this wrong," said Merlin.
"There is no right or wrong, only what is and what isn't." he said wisely.
"But I'm serious! If anyone wants to go and kill him, they can go ahead. In fact, I'll give them a hand," said Merlin.
"Merlin!" Arthur cried.
Merlin threw his hands up. "I didn't mean it! Think about how many times you threaten to kill Gwaine every day."
"Well, that's true…"
Kilgharrah laughed, "none of us can choose our destiny, Merlin, and none of us can escape it."
"No. No way. No. No. There must be another Arthur because this one's an idiot," said Merlin.
The knights all laughed at Merlin's assessment of the Prince.
"Perhaps it's your destiny to change that," said Kilgharrah.
The dragon flies off.
"So…" Gwaine started. "What was all that rubbish, then?"
Merlin rolled his eyes at Gwaine. "He basically said my destiny is to help the Once and Future King take the throne of Camelot and unite all of Albion…"
"But does 'once and future king' even mean?" asked Arthur.
"I'll explain in a minute, alright?" sighed Merlin.
Arthur nodded, and Merlin started the memories again.
"Wait! Wait! Wait, stop! No, I, I need to know more!" Merlin shouts after the dragon.
"Stupid great lizard," mumbled Merlin. "Always talking in riddles…he thinks it's funny, confusing me."
The knights laughed, but Arthur caught something else. "Wait, you said he 'thinks'. Not 'thought.' Why are you speaking like he's alive? Is he alive?"
Merlin blushed brilliantly.
"Merlin…"
"He might be…"
Arthur felt rage boil in his heart, and felt the need to strike the slight man in front of him, but quelled the desire, and rubbed his hand over his face. "I assume that this is one of those things we will talk about later?"
Merlin breathed a deep sigh of relief. It wasn't all that difficult to see how angry Arthur was, but Arthur being willing to wait and hear him out was a very good sign.
The next morning Gaius enters Merlin's chambers and picks up the clothes thrown all over the room.
"Hoy!" said the old physician.
Merlin suddenly wakes.
"Have you seen the state of this room?" said Gaius paternally.
"It just happens," said Merlin.
"By magic?" asked Gaius.
"Yeah," Merlin is obviously lying.
Laughter rang through the room at the teenage Merlin.
"Yes. Well, you can clear it up without magic. And then I want you to get me some herbs: henbane, wormwood, and sorrel. And deliver this to Morgana. Poor girl's suffering from nightmares."
Gaius tosses some more clothes at Merlin.
"Mmm, I know the feeling," said Merlin.
Merlin walks up to Morgana's chambers and into her chambers where she is currently changing behind a screen.
"You know, I've been thinking about Arthur. I wouldn't touch him with a lance pole. Pass me that dress, will you Gwen?" asked Morgana.
Merlin pauses and looks around before he passed Morgana a dress. She begins undressing.
Arthur seemed to be taking quite a bit of pleasure in Merlin's predicament.
"I mean, the man's a total jouster.
Now Merlin snorted at Arthur's put-out expression.
And just because I'm the King's ward, that doesn't mean I have to accompany him to the feast, does it?" Morgana said.
Merlin places the gown on the screen.
"Well, does it?" Morgana repeated.
Merlin shakes his head, "Mm-Mmm," said Merlin who was trying not to show his masculinity.
Arthur clapped Merlin on the shoulder. "You do make a good girl, Merlin!"
"If he wants me to go, then he should invite me, and he hasn't," said Morgana indignantly.
On the box Merlin seemed to be looking around for some way out of his current predicament.
Merlin glowered at all the amusement the knights were getting out of this.
"So do you know what that means?" asked Morgana.
Merlin shakes his head, "Mm-Mmm.
"Where are you?" she calls for her maid.
Morgana turns around and Merlin hides behind a cloak, "here," the young man says in a high pitched voice.
More roars of laughter.
Merlin peeks through the neck of the cloak of the hood to see the beautiful Lady Morgana.
"It means I'm going by myself," said the lady.
Merlin decides it's time to leave and moves to leave.
"I need some help with this fastening," she said. "Gwen?"
Merlin turned around looking lost. Gwen enters behind him. "I'm here." She said, confused.
"Thank Gods for Gwen," said Merlin.
"What are you doing here?" mouthed Gwen.
Merlin gestured to Morgana.
Gwen nods, "oh."
Merlin mouths a thank you to Gwen before he leaves and she helps Morgana. Morgana comes out from behind the screen in a new dress and carrying another one.
"So, it's whether I wear this little tease..." said Morgana holding up a maroon gown. "...or give them a night they'll really remember?"
Once again they cut to Lady Helen's chambers where a serving girl was tending to the imposter. She is bringing a bowl of fruit to the woman. She knocks on the door which is opened by a dark haired woman.
"Lady Helen." The serving girl that Merlin knew as Bronwyn curtsied. "Compliments of the King."
"Oh yeah," scoffed Gwaine, "I bet she really appreciates it."
"Come in," Mary invites the girl in.
Mary sits at the table and picks up an apple.
"So sweet. How will I ever repay him?" asked Mary Collins.
Merlin's eyes narrowed at the double meaning to her words. Even in the past, he did not take well to threats against his King.
"When he hears you sing. Well, that will be more than enough won't it? I'm really looking forward to the performance." The girl said.
"So am I," Lady Helen's face had a slightly sinister look to it.
Hands tightened on the grips of swords.
"I love singing, you know. I sing all the time. My betrothed says I have the voice of a fallen angel." the girl prattled on.
Bronwyn removes the cover from the mirror and sees the old face of Mary Collins' in the mirror. She tries to leave. But the woman grabs her arm and the girl falls down dead.
Arthur gasped. "She just- that girl…"
"Bronwyn." Merlin interjected.
"What?"
"Bronwyn. Her name was Bronwyn. They found her the next morning. We had to carry her to Gaius's chambers, try to see why she died, and there was no apparent reason…her betrothed came in a few minutes later, someone had told him the news. His name is Ianto. He's not been the same since. And I couldn't tell them what happened. I couldn't give him any closure at all."
Percival asked, "You knew?"
"I could feel it, smell it." Merlin shuddered. "Black magic like that, it leaves…residue? I don't know…but I could tell what happened. She just sucked the life out of that girl, and-" Merlin cut off looking ill.
Gaius and Merlin enter the banquet hall where the nobles and courtiers are already in attendance. Merlin sees Arthur and a group of his Knights laughing.
"...Merlin..." Arthur is saying and his knights laugh "...so I stood up and..." he pretends to punch one of his mates stomach again at which they laugh again.
Normally they all would have laughed, or made fun of Arthur's childishness, but after watching Bronwyn's death, they didn't have the heart.
Morgana enters the hall and all the men stare at her.
"God have mercy," breathed Arthur.
Gwaine wrinkled his nose at Arthur. "Um, Princess… you know she's your sister right? I thought royals didn't do that sort of thing anymore…"
"Yes, thank you, Gwaine, for that astute observation." Arthur drawled. "But at this point in time, I didn't know."
"Alright, mate I hear ya!" proclaimed Gwaine with hands in a 'surrender' position.
Merlin stares at Morgana as she passes.
"Merlin. Remember, you're here to work," Gaius reminded Merlin quietly.
"Oh, yeah," Merlin was still gazing at his would-be-enemy as Arthur moves forward to talk to him.
Meanwhile Gwen moves over to talk to Merlin.
"She looks great, doesn't she?" said Gwen.
"Yeah," said Merlin wistfully.
"Did you have a crush on Morgana?" asked Elyan incredulously.
Merlin blushed. "No! Well, maybe a tiny one, but it was gone almost instantly!"
"Some people are just born to be queen," said Gwen.
"No!" shouted Merlin.
"Damn straight," muttered Leon.
"I hope so. One day. Not that I'd want to be her. Who'd want to marry Arthur?"
Arthur spluttered, and the rest of the room laughed at his expression. "Oh irony, how I love thee," sighed Gwaine poetically, which earned him a cuff 'round the ear from Percival for being "unnecessarily annoying."
"Oh," he chuckled, "come on, Gwen. I thought you liked those real rough, tough, save the world kind of men."
"No, I like much more ordinary men like you," said Gwen.
There was a collective "Ooooh…" at the unintentional slight at Merlin.
"Gwen, believe me, I'm not ordinary," said Merlin darkly.
Again, everyone just looked at Merlin incredulously because, really, how many times had he told them and they just didn't pay attention?
"No, I didn't mean you, obviously. Not you. But just, you know, I like much more ordinary men like you," Gwen said in a fluster.
Elyan planted his face in his hands his sister's rambling, but Arthur had a dopey smile as he looked on his beloved. Apparently he thought it was cute.
"Thanks," Merlin grinned.
Both of the servants walk away from each other awkwardly.
Mary Collins is sitting at her dressing table humming softly before leaving the room walking past Bronwen's corpse on the way out.
More shudders.
Celebratory horns announce King Uther's arrival and everyone finds their places on the table.
"We have enjoyed twenty years of peace and prosperity. It has brought the kingdom and myself many pleasures,
Merlin looked darkly at the Memory-Uther for a minute, before composing himself.
but few can compare with the honor of introducing Lady Helen of Mora," Uther gestured for Lady Helen herself to the applause of the other guests.
Mary Collin begins to sing a hauntingly beautiful tune, reminiscent of a lullaby, but with a darker edge, and as she does an enchantment falls over them all causing the banqueters to fall asleep cobwebs forming over their frozen forms.
Merlin notices this and clamps his hands over his ears.
"Why were you unaffected?" asked Leon.
Merlin shrugged. "I have magic. It keeps me sort of immune from enchantment. Not completely, mind you, but the less powerful the spell the less powerful the effects. It's dead useful like that." Talking matter-of-factly about his magic was still a bit unnerving for Merlin.
She begins staring at Arthur as she pulls a dagger from her sleeve. Merlin gasps as he sees her draw her hand back to throw the knife at the slumbering prince.
Even though they all knew the outcome of the evening, everyone leaned forward in horror.
Merlin's eyes glow golden as he drops the chandelier on her.
Arthur looked at the floor for a moment, then said, "I guess I should thank you, Merlin."
Merlin's jaw dropped. "What?!"
"You heard me. No need to rub it in."
The courtiers wake and begin pulling the cobwebs off of themselves. Mary raises herself up off the floor to throw the dagger at Arthur. Merlin slows down time so he can reach Arthur and pushes him out of harm's way.
Everyone gasped, and then sighed in tandem. Leon even grabbed at Arthur's arm, as if to pull him out of the path of the dagger.
The dagger slices into Arthur's chair as they fall to the floor and Mary Collins dies. Uther and Arthur stare in shock at Merlin.
"You saved my boy's life. A debt must be repaid," said Uther.
"Oh, well..." said Merlin not sounding happy at being addressed by Uther.
"Don't be so modest. You shall be rewarded," Uther declared.
Merlin and Arthur's eyes both narrowed at what that 'reward' actually was.
"No, honestly, you don't have to, Your Highness," Merlin blathered.
"No, absolutely. This merits something quite special!" Uther decided.
"Well..." Merlin trailed.
"It is nice getting a bit of recognition ever now and then…" said Merlin, a bit wistfully.
"You shall be rewarded a position in the royal household. You shall be Prince Arthur's manservant," he decided.
"Father!" Arthur said, aghast. Merlin and Arthur looked away from each other both looking unhappy.
The knights all roared with laughter as they saw what Uther's gratitude was. "Ohh," laughed Gwaine, wiping tears from his eyes, "You should have seen your faces!"
Merlin raised his eyebrow, in a manner scarily reminiscent of Gaius. "We just did, Gwaine."
"Doesn't matter- still funny- hooo!"
The court then applauds.
Gaius knocks on Merlin's bedroom door and enters.
"Seems you're a hero," said Gaius.
"Hard to believe, isn't it?" said Merlin.
"Yes." Said everyone in the room, but Merlin.
"No. I knew it from the moment I met you. When you saved my life, remember?' Gaius reminded Merlin.
"But...that was magic," said Merlin.
"And a damn good use of it, too!" said Gwaine forcefully, as he clapped Merlin on the arm.
Gaius nods, "and now, it seems, we finally found a use for it."
"What do you mean?" asked Merlin.
"I saw how you saved Arthur's life," said Gaius.
Merlin rolled his eyes, and muttered, "Haven't stopped saving his life since."
"Oh, no," said Merlin.
"Perhaps that's its purpose," said Gaius thoughtfully.
Merlin sighed, "My destiny."
"Indeed." Gaius walks to Merlin with an air of great nostalgia and a wrapped object. "This book was given to me when I was your age, but I have a feeling it will be of more use to you than it was to me," he smiled at his ward, and handed him the fabric wrapped book.
Merlin quickly unwraps the book, revealing a handsome leather cover, and quickly unlatches is, giving a small laugh in astonishment.
Merlin smiled at his father-figure. This one action had meant so much to him.
Merlin smiled, "But this is a book of magic."
"Which is why you must keep it hidden," said Gaius.
"You've had a magic book hidden in your rooms," said Arthur, "with as many times as it's been searched?"
"Well…they don't always look too well, do they?"
"I lead those searches!"
"Yeah, but…you're thick aren't you?"
This banter earned Merlin some laughs from the knights, but a cuff to the ear from Arthur.
"I will study every word," said Merlin.
A guard knocks on the door and Merlin is quick to hide the magic book.
The guard enters and says, "Merlin, Prince Arthur wants you right away."
"Your destiny's calling. You'd better find out what he wants," said Gaius.
Merlin grins then walks out the door.
Merlin's eyes glow gold as the memories dissipate from around them, leaving them in the council room, just like the left.
His eyes cast downward; Merlin fingered the amulet, and said, "I guess you want to have a bit of a talk now, yeah?" He made himself look at Arthur, whose eyes glinted brightly.
"Oh you have no idea."
oOo
Soooo….WHAT DO YOU THINK?! This is the time to review, tell me you loved it, tell me you hated it, tell me I'm a monkey with a typewriter, JUST TELL ME!
I guess this is a sort of cliffhanger. Sorry bro. More difficult conversation ahead, but I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP.
I DON'T WANT TO DO EVERY EPISODE. I do, however, want to go to season 5, BECAUSE THAT ATROCITY MUST DIE AND CERIDWEN WILL MAKE SURE IT NEVER SEES THE LIGHT OF FANON.
So what episodes do you want me to do (poisoned chalice, and le morte de Arthur, obviously) and tell me what I can leave out.
* Credit goes to ForIHaveOvercomeTheWorld for inspiration for the "everyone's my friend" thing. You should all read the fics, "Why you don't mess with Merlin," and "Starving a Warlock Isn't Wise." They're pretty great. SHE IS PERFECT AND SHE LET ME USE HER IDEA GO READ HER STUFFS NOW!
Credit also goes to EmrysLover12 for letting me use her transcripts of the show. I would never publish this otherwise, I'm much too lazy. KISSES FOR YOU!