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Reactions of the Idiot King

Chapter nine- Agnien

"Merlin?" Gaius just barely whispered, several emotions flowing through the old physician.

"Yes, Gaius, I'm back." Merlin said softly, grinning at the old man. Gaius stepped up to Merlin, embracing him as he grinned.
"Well, I can't be more glad to see you." Gaius said, "Where have you been, are you hurt?"
"I went to a small town far off." Merlin stated. "I feel fine, I've been healthy-" Merlin stopped talking, looking at Gaius suddenly concerned.
"Here's the yarrow, I suppose you know what to do with it still?" Gaius asked. Merlin raised an eyebrow.
"Funny, Gaius, I'm the world's most powerful warlock to have ever and will ever live. It should take longer than the four years I was gone to forget anything." Merlin said. "Have you been ill?" Gaius cast a look with Quare, going to Hunith's side as he evaluated her.
"Merlin, have you ever known me to get ill?" Gaius asked, checking her vitals as Merlin handed him the yarrow. "What brings you to Ealdor, Merlin, clearly you had no intention of just dropping by to say hi anytime, which means there's a reason."
"Well, not one of the immediate future, apparently." Merlin said simply.
"Immediate future?" Gaius asked, glancing up at him with his famous look.
"Yes." Merlin said. "I came because I had a vision of sorts.."
"Really now?" Quare asked. "I hope it doesn't put us in danger."
"Of course it doesn't." Merlin said, "I'm planning on going back to Camelot." He said, Hunith looking at him shocked as she shook her head.
"You'll be killed- Merlin you can't go back-" she said.
"Arthur will have you killed, Merlin." Gaius said. "You can't just walk in-"
"Actually, Gaius I can."
"Not without being shot down-"
"Without being shot down." Merlin corrected.
"It's just preposterous." He exclaimed.
"Gaius, I'm not going as myself!" Merlin said. "I am going to cast a spell and make myself look different."
"Merlin, if there is something that will happen, you will need all of your strength." Gaius said. "You'll be worn out after keeping the disguise up.."
"It's something I have to risk, I can't let Morgana ruin the-"
"Morgana's still around?" Gaius asked, looking at him. "I haven't heard that name in ages, at least, since you've left-"
"She thinks it's clear to attack." Merlin said. "My vision, it was about her.. And Mordred."
"The Druid boy?" He asked. Merlin nodded.
"They had attacked the castle." Merlin took a deep breath. "I don't care how much energy it takes to keep the spell up. It's more important that I stay there to prevent a lot of this from happening, than if I sit back in hiding letting the kingdom and the future of Albion crash to the ground."
"How will you get into the castle?" Hunith asked weakly.
"I need a new apprentice." Gaius said, looking at Hunith with worried eyes as Merlin smiled.
"That would work." He said, then paused, "Why haven't you gotten a new apprentice yet?" He pondered, looking at the old physician.
"I couldn't just take in anyone you know." He snapped, ignoring Merlin's initial question.
"His body shut down after you left." Hunith whispered quietly. "He got ill, and his mind was still in such a state of shock, he just couldn't find himself able.." Merlin looked at Gaius, his eyebrows furrowed as the old man looked at him.
"You haven't been well since I've left." Merlin said, a note of accusation in his voice, and the possible hint of pain and regret lacing the edges.
"Merlin, it hasn't been easy." He said. "Arthur himself has changed back into his old snobbish self."
"Sad." Merlin said. "I'll change that then, whether he knows me as Merlin or as Agnien."
"Agnien?" Gaius asked, confused. All the eyes in the room went to Merlin, who looked past them to the wall.
"Well, it 'sounded' like a good name.." Merlin muttered.
"Agnien." Hunith muttered, "Stick with it. It's good."
"You're only saying that because you're my mom." Merlin said, then sighed. "Are you expected back at the castle anytime soon, Gaius?"
"I told Arthur I'll be out for a while, Merlin." Gaius said, "Hunith is very ill."
"Gaius," Merlin looked at the man. "Did you come alone?"
"Arthur has changed, Merlin." He murmured, "He sent Drinn with me." Merlin's blood went cold.
"You should have told me sooner!" Merlin snapped. "I want no one to know I'm anywhere near here."
"He could storm in at any time Gaius." Hunith said. They all went silent as they heard footsteps coming through the house. Merlin cursed, a bit too loudly, for he got three very surprised looks from the elders in the room. He flushed, looking away.
"Not my fault someone failed to let me know this." He said, quickly making a decision on what he should look like. He decided he'd make himself look more like Will did, except he'd have deep dark blue eyes, and really blonde hair. His skin was a light tan, a bit darker than his originally would be.
With everything he had, he quickly chanted the spell that would change his form. He had no time to spare, and seconds to do this. Quare jumped up and ran to the door, opening it only to be standing face to face with Drinn. Merlin quickly fell behind the bed where Drinn couldn't see him as his looks finished changing, his eyes going from gold to a deep blue-grey.
"Are you okay?" Gaius asked, sounding shocked. Merlin stood and nodded.
"Yes, yes." He said, his voice sounding a bit deeper, a bit more thick. Quare held his breath so he wouldn't laugh and Hunith's eyebrows raised up. Gaius was the only one to hold a strait face, looking at Merlin as he stood before looking at Drinn.
"Is there a reason you've come in sire?" Gaius asked, his voice sounding tired and somewhat... Cold.
"Who is this?" Drinn asked, Merlin hoping Drinn didn't see him changing.
"My apprentice." Quare said simply. "I brought him along to help, and to learn.."
"What a good job you've done with the boy too, Quare." Gaius said. "Drinn, this is Ealdor's physician Quare and his apprentice Ang-" he stuttered over the name.
"Agnien, Sire." Merlin snapped quickly.
"Ah, that's nice." Drinn said. Merlin gave Gaius a knowing look and Gaius raised his eyebrows.
"Hunith is deadly ill, sire." Quare said, "Leave, please." Drinn glance at Quare, then nodded.
"Fine." He said, as Gaius sighed.
"We'll be leaving in the morning, Sire." Gaius said, "Agnien here will be coming along with us, so be sure we have a horse saddled up and ready to go." Merlin almost smirked at Drinn's annoyance as he gave a short nod, not smiling as he turned and left the room.
All tension drained instantly as Merlin shakily sat down at the edge of the chair, feeling shaky. The spell really was going to drain him of his energy faster than he had thought. Gaius noticed the boy's expression on his broader face, irritation running through him as he realised that he couldn't take facial expressions from Merlin as easily now.
"Will you be okay, holding that spell?" Gaius asked. Merlin looked at him and nodded.
"Perfectly fine." He said, "I've been working with my magic a lot lately." Merlin halfway lied.