Katerina Riley: Thank you so much my friend! I like good Gwen too, I hope we have her back soon. :) And yes, sad news...
Laughy-Taffy the Grape: Aw, thank you! I am still a little surprised that so many people commented on the allegory :O It was kind of me trying to justify why on earth Merlin doesn't get any recognition.
jellyblobs: I agree with you in everything. :) And thank you so much! :D *hugs*
KrisEleven: Ah! You got it all at one! :D You, my friend, are brilliant, y'know? The idea that Gwen was torn between them was the main focus. ;)
Glacier22 : I concur with you. :)
Sabriel-TS : Aww, thanks! *hugs* to make us all feel better.
SereneMayhem: Lol, thank you! I still can't believe how much people focused on that. :D
CaptainOzone: Ohmygoodness Oz let me hug you again! *hugs again* you are amazing you know that, right? Just reading this review over makes me break into a super duper smile.
lozzabluebell: Dear Lozza, rest assure, I will never stop loving this fandom :)
Title: Turning Pages.
Summary: A ficlet miscellany inspired by random music/desserts/quotes/movies or thoughts. No slash.
Inspiration: Challenge from The Heart of Camelot. 'Magic goes Awry.' and request from RavenclawMerlinFan who asked for kid Merlin. I know he's freakin' adorable and I just needed to expand this to get as much fluff as I could so I present you with part 1 of ? :D
A/N: There's an OC that might be familiar to some of you. :) And this is dedicated to you, Lozza. Magic will always live in our hearts. :')
Set in Albion's Golden Age.
For Want of an Owl.
"Merlin." said King Arthur one fine day, shooting his Court Sorcerer a funny look. "You are getting old."
"I am not!" was Merlin's sharp retort. But he frowned, halting besides a conveniently placed window so that he could look at his reflection. The warlock narrowed his eyes as he saw what his old friend had, undoubtedly, spotted. The few silvery hairs that had sprouted on his temples and were now beginning to show on his black beard.
Arthur's grinning face appeared behind his, clasping his shoulder.
"Hhm," King Arthur nodded, and a wicked smile extended through his face. "Yes, you are. You'll be spluttering nonsense and swiping the floor with that white beard in no time."
"What about you then?" said Merlin, not without a smile of his own. "Don't think I haven't noticed how much you've been using that crown lately."
Arthur glanced up at his crown with a frown on his face and Merlin followed his gaze with a knowing grin. "...I think someone's afraid of his genes..." he finished in a sing song voice.
"What are you blabbering about?"
Merlin's impish smile never lost any of its charm. "You're going bald."
"I am not going bald!"
"Yes you are."
"Whatever." said Arthur, ignoring the way his cheeks were reddening. "I still look younger than you."
Merlin turned away from him with that look that Arthur knew too well and that had changed from 'poor oblivious Arthur' to 'poor delusional Arthur' throughout the years. "Whatever you say sire."
And it still made Arthur's blood boil. But he had nothing to throw at Merlin.
"I bet Guinevere wouldn't disagree!" he shouted at Merlin's retreating back, smirking triumphantly when his friend turned his staff to face him.
Merlin's eyes twinkled when he spoke. "But if she does...what would you give me?"
That was definitely not what Arthur was expecting. He frowned at Merlin's I-may-look-innocent-but-I-am-already-devising-ways-to-drive-you-mad-Arthur expression and tried to sort out what to do.
"...give you?" he said at last, scratching his beard.
Merlin nodded, crossing his arms on his chest and lifting his chin as he said. "If I win I want Archimedes in the castle."
"Merlin…" Arthur placed a gloved hand upon the bridge of his nose and ignored his developing headache. "I am not having a screeching bird flying around on my castle!."
There were a million reasons besides the incessant screeching to keep that crazy animal out of the castle (one of them being the apparent delight it took on following Merlin everywhere and therefore following Arthur everywhere and another one being the way it rotated its head- it made Arthur shiver.-) but Merlin didn't need to be reminded of the way Arthur flinched whenever the blasted bird was near so he didn't mention those.
"Are you afraid of Guinevere's judgment My Lord?" asked Merlin with an infuriating grin.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Then what's the matter Arthur? Don't tell me you're still scared of the owl."
"I am not scared of the owl Merlin." Arthur said. His voice did not quiver one bit. It didn't.
If possible Merlin's smile became wider. "Good. Here's what we'll do. Gwen's away but when she arrives with Mithian we'll ask her."
Arthur sniffed before grumbling. "Fine."
"Fine, then." said Merlin. And he whistled as he went away.
...
Arthur had, quite frankly, forgotten all about their bet. He had, after all, more important matters to attend to and he knew that Guinevere knew that he was definitely the younger looking of them both. As if there was ever any doubt.
He glanced at Lord Henry for the fifth time in the last three seconds, wishing that Merlin was there so that he could lean in and confide with his friend but Merlin had declined the Council meeting in the morning, saying that he had 'important' things to do and when Arthur had glared at him and demanded what was more important than keeping him sane throughout the meeting he'd said, "my sanity" and shutting the door in Arthur's bewildered face.
Council meetings, Arthur decided, were definitely beyond boring without Merlin and Guinevere in their respective places at his side. He was growing sleepy when a sudden bang on the doors startled all of the members away and stopped Lord Henry's long, monotonous monologue.
"Enter." said Arthur, giving thanks to the gods for the interruption. But when the doors blasted open and the unmistakable mop of red hair began bouncing around, obviously looking for him, Arthur knew that his peace was over.
Galahad finally found him at the same time Arthur stood up and no goofy, sunny grin cracked his youngest knight's face, instead, his brown eyes started darting nervously around. It was definitely not a good sign. If Galahad's appearance was predecessor to chaotic messes a not-grinning Galahad meant that Gwen's favorite pot was broken or that something was burning. Arthur had lived through both and he certainly didn't want to live through something of that nature ever again. With a sigh that betrayed more than a little of his dread, he rubbed a hand through his face as he asked, "What's the matter now, Galahad?"
"Er..." said Galahad, apparently -and for the first time -at a loss for words. "I think it's better if I show you, Arthur."
Arthur frowned when Galahad bordered the table and he came face to face with a little boy who was skipping along, holding the knight's hand.
"Galahad." The King said, though he really didn't want to know. "Why is there a child on the council chambers?"
"Because I didn't know what else to do." Galahad whispered, as if he was confiding with Arthur some great secret. "And you were the one that told me: 'When Merlin gets himself in these situations you always come to me first.' remember?"
For a moment Arthur just stared at Galahad's honest brown eyes, wondering if the knight had finally lost it.
"What does Merlin have to do with-" but Arthur caught himself before he finished because the little boy looked at him with those big, big blue eyes and he would be damned if he did not recognize the other side of the coin as soon as their gazes met.
The boy giggled as if it was miniature Merlin's version of his signature grin.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"I am not kidding you." Galahad deadpanned. As if to prove his point the knight took Merlin by the armpits and shoved the giggling warlock at Arthur's face. "Just look at the ears!"
I'm going to have such a blast writing kid Merlin! :D Thank you SO much for the request RavenclawMerlinFan!
Oh my goodness gracious! Two words for you guys, Eddie Redmayne, Eddie Redmayne, Eddie Redmayne. *falls back.* He's Galahad with green eyes, 'nuff said. I first saw him in Les Miserables' trailer and I could not believe my eyes.