servant123 : *squee!* let me hug you! thanks! And I hope you like this one. God bless you too. :D
jediyam: Thank you! ^^
CaptainOzone: Oz! First of all thank you! Second of all YES IT WAS! I was literally flooded by feels. Who would've thought Henry would be even a more self-sacrificing idiot than our dear, dear warlock? And then it was the kiss of true love- aww. :'D
sarajm: You are very welcome! and I was on the same lines. :D It would have been awesome if there had been more h/c but alas! there wasn't. :(
Katerina Riley: Bromance it is! :D I hope you like this ;) I am very glad you enjoyed!
StarWritingFlute200: Why, thank you so so much! :D And you should watch Once Upon A Time, it is very good. :D
KrisEleven: I watch it though I've yet to reach a fangirl rampage as I've with Merlin. :D It may not be long though.
*shrugs* I have, actually, no idea how to respond to that only that I am glad you pointed it out! ^^ I'll make sure to go back and give it a read. :D
*hugs you.* I am very glad. I think that Arthur's character is deliciously complex and I've always tried to dig deeper into his personality only to find out he is, apparently, very afraid of being left alone. And awfully, insecure. :D
April29Roses: Lol, I am glad you think it was appropriate for the season. :D And you ask my friend so I shall oblige. I give you, Bromance!
Title: Turning Pages.
Summary: A ficlet miscellany inspired by random music/desserts/quotes/movies or thoughts. No slash.
Inspiration: Toy Story's 'You've Got a Friend In Me' plus the quote below,
'I am not a coward.'
'I know that. I've stood there and I've watched you overcome every fear you've ever faced'
- Arthur and Merlin. '1x09'
A/N: I've read numerous fics in which Merlin encounters a bully from childhood and Arthur stands up for him, which is AWESOME. But after thinking about it I decided to reverse the roles a little bit. :P
His Name Is Merlin.
Arthur Pendragon liked to think of himself as a just and fair king. However, it had not always been so.
This much was clear to Lord Edgar of Sorhaute, whom was watching through his window as the King of Albion dismounted his horse and laughed warmly, patting a man wearing a disgusting neckerchief on the back before climbing up the stairs towards his castle.
Again, memories of the Pendragon and himself on earlier years came flooding back and it was as if two bright points of pain were pressed upon his temples. Yet Lord Edgar managed a polite smile as the man walked through the castle's wooden doors and shook his hand. He dined with him, laughed at his bad jokes and kept his eyes on the compassionate, strong features of the man who had been born to rule him.
However, as it happens when the heart bears too much and discloses too little, all it took was slight bump from Arthur Pendragon's shoulder as they came across each other on a hallway to break his fragile self-control. At the touch he felt his blood boil in his veins and his eyes bright with fire. No matter how profusely the King apologized, his words were not enough. For as he wiped dust from his attire, Lord Edgar's hands were trembling and they became fists clenched by his sides.
"I sincerely wished I'd never see you again Pendragon." He all but hissed, forgetting for once that he was smaller than the man before him, forgetting that this was his ruler. He bore with his eyes that handsome face and he could see in the tension of Arthur's jaw that the man remembered too.
The King of Camelot flinched but yet he did not look away. "I know we've had misunderstandings in the past but I believe that we can put it all aside and-"
"You are the most arrogant, insensitive man I've ever had the displeasure of encountering." He continued and the disgust on his callous heart was so that he suddenly felt the need to punch the man standing by his side. But he settled for verbal blows, almost as if he was retching out the words. "I've never met anyone as dishonorable. Doing anything for so that his dear father would approve of him, going as far as to watch other disgusting, stuck up nobles beat up the smaller one."
This time Arthur looked as if Edgar had dealt him a physical blow. Bowing his head so that he could look directly into the smaller man's eyes Arthur Pendragon's silent petition for forgiveness could be seen in every inch of his face.
"I never approved of that-"came Arthur's soft voice. "Surely, I never took part of it-"
"You never made a move to stop them either, Pendragon"
The King of Albion sighed and rubbed a hand through his beard as he said, "I know I behaved dishonorably and for that I am sorry Edgar. If I could go back and change it I would."
Again memories of a tall, lean and always mighty Prince Arthur, standing on the background as his so called playmates hit his skinny, 7 year old self with their wooden swords flooded back and made him cringe with pent up rage. Yet, he just shook his head as he laughed mirthlessly, leaning his back on the pillar and turning his clear eyes so that he could look directly into the sky-blue irises of Arthur Pendragon.
He found that he wanted to inflict on the man at least a small amount of the horror that he'd been forced to stand when the fact that he was smaller than all of the noble children became an excuse for constant bullying...that his sworn protector, his prince, never cared for.
"Do you know what we called you, Pendragon, behind our backs?" the noble spat, crossing his arms on his chest and lifting his chin. "A coward. Nothing but a coward. You were a coward to them because you refused to participate in their bloody games and you were a coward to me, their victim, because you were too afraid to interfere. I am sure that even now the people who serve you only do so because you are the King. You are alone, Pendragon, you are friendless. The possibility of you inspiring any love is simply outrageous-"
"I beg to differ," said a voice behind Arthur and Edgar saw a pale, lean hand place itself on the King's slightly hunched shoulder. His eyes traveled upwards towards an elfin face, a soft frown and two stormy eyes. "Arthur's got a friend. His name is Merlin."
Who was this man? Lord Edgar was sure he'd never seen anything like him before. Standing there, by Arthur's side, it was almost as if a new aura had entered the room with him. Warmth tickled on the very air.
"Well," he answered, making sure that he was looking into those blue eyes with all the hate he'd reserved for the King of Camelot. "Whoever this Merlin is he clearly does not know Arthur Pendragon."
"I'm Merlin." The man said nonchalantly.
If Lord Edgar ever realized that his jaw had dropped in an extremely undignified way he didn't bother to close it. "Then you must be mad." He managed at last.
"Perhaps." The man named Merlin said, "But I know Arthur as if he's my own blood." There was a twinkle in his eyes that made Edgar feel as if he was missing an inside joke but the next moment Merlin's eyes were hard as diamonds again and he found himself gulping down. "And he is one of the most noble, courageous and kind men I've ever encountered. You cannot suggest otherwise."
Finding a misplaced sense of bravery in the lost opportunities he'd had as a child to defend himself Lord Edgar let his tongue blabber a stream of incoherent insults at the heart of which was 'I can suggest whatever I want to this coward!' before lunging forward with a closed fist.
He would find out later, from various sources, that attacking the apparent Once and Future King of Albion in front of his sworn protector who happened to be The Emrys of legend and obviously exceedingly mad was the worst thing he could have possibly done.
Before his knuckles could so much as touch the Pendragon's jaw a hand closed around them and there was a sickening crunch as at least one of his fingers broke. Tears welled up on his pupils as he cried out in indignation, falling to his knees and looking up at the eyes of Merlin who had somehow ended in front of Arthur Pendragon with one hand extended towards him.
"People change, Edgar." said Merlin with a sad shake of his head. "You should've learned that by now. Imitating those who hurt you will only sink you down to their level." then he did what Lord Edgar had never even imagined. The tall man placed one, soothing hand on his The Emrys' came through as Merlin's eyes changed to gold and suddenly, painlessly, his finger was whole again.
One soft "Come on Arthur." from the extraordinary man by his side was all it took for the Pendragon to move, following meekly behind as Lord Edgar climbed to very unsteady knees and watched them go with wide eyes. Merlin had placed one lean arm around the man's broad shoulders and leaned over as he whispered something that was meant for his King's ears only.
Even if after 'the incident' Lord Edgar had intended to secede his lands from Camelot in a ultimate protest King Arthur's next actions corroborated Merlin's words. For, after he'd said in a heartfelt toast at dinner how very truly ashamed and sorry he was he'd caught the same man who would not interfere on his father' s business declaring his nonacceptance of such cowardly behavior from young men.
Then, to Lord Edgar's wonder, King Arthur had defended with his own sword a young boy that was being pelted up with sticks for being 'the sorcerer' on a cruel game led by older children. As he watched the heartwarming scene while scratching his beard pensively it was not lost to him the way the Pendragon's eyes sought that man- that Merlin as he explained to the children who'd crowded around him that magic was not a crime and should not be punishable.
Time passed and after watching him closely for two weeks the preparations for the treaty were over and it was time for the King of Albion to return to his beloved Camelot. As he gripped his arm the only thing that Lord Edgar allowed his lips to say was, "You are different, Pendragon."
Arthur had bowed his head in recognition and offered, once more, his apologies.
Lord Edgar had never felt the warmth of friendship, never understood the meaning of steadfast loyalty. But as he saw them go -the Pendragon and Merlin, side by side -he thought that maybe, just maybe such things, when fueled by purity and love, could change a man's heart.
We all know Arthur was a bully and a prat but the fact that Merlin literally gave him a 180 degrees turn must be ignored by those he encountered in childhood. But I think that as a boy Arthur might not have been so lenient to beat up people yet his so called play-mates may have pulled out the card of ' your father would not approve of you interfering blah blah blah' and out of duty he might've stood aside. Not something looked upon by whomever is getting beat up. :D
5x05...I can't even begin to explain how much the episode had me bawling. And I honestly LOVED IT since it confirmed one of my theories for the eventual reveal. ;)
On other news I got a 100 on my Government paper. ( that means that my overly analytical teacher found absolutely nothing to critique!) That is, without a doubt, one my the greatest achievements up to date. ^^