SereneMayhem : That right there is the best compliment anyone could give me. :') Thank you!
requim17 :Aww, thanks!
MamzelleHermy: Hermy! :D Let's start with kid Merlin fluff, shall we?
sarajm : Thank you! *hug*
Katerina Riley: Yay! *jumps up and down.* I'm excited too.
jediyam: For sure, my friend. This is their co-dependence at their best. :D
lozzabluebell : Lozza! :D Thanks!
AFellowMerlinFan: I think most fans believe Iris is perfect for the show. ^^ You can apply it to a number of different characters. :D THANKS! *hugs*
guest : OMG! You know, as soon as I read this I went off to look for Phyrric Victory and now I am totally psyched with it! I love philosophy and you just opened a whole new door for me! :D Thanks!
CaptainOzone: I think that the only way to answer this is with a bone crushing hug. Oz, *beams* THANK YOU!
Laughy-Taffy the Grape: Yes! *fist pump* You are clever my friend. :D I love it when people pick up the subtleties. :)
Title: Turning Pages.
Summary: A ficlet miscellany inspired by random music/desserts/quotes/movies or thoughts. No slash.
Inspiration: Request from RavenclawMerlinFan. Kid! Merlin.
A/N: Enjoy. :)
Peace Was Lost.
Part 1.
"Arthur!" Merlin squealed with all the delight that seeing a flying unicorn would've ensued. His tiny hands reached for the King and his little fingers moved in the air while Galahad twirled him around as if Merlin was a giggly sack of potatoes, which, thanks to the over-sized cloak and shirt that now hung from his neck, he could very well be.
Arthur watched as Galahad placed Merlin on the floor and the little, scrawny boy immediately bolted towards his legs, wrapping his tiny arms around them and placing his head on Arthur's knee as a purring kitten would. Almost as if he'd been waiting for the moment in which he'd seen Arthur again- even though Arthur still had present Merlin's annoyance as he'd slammed the door of his chambers closed a few hours before-this little version of Arthur's warlock closed his eyes and sighed contentedly.
With one hand on the crook of his nose and another one crossed over his chest, Arthur watched as Galahad begun to smile.
"What the hell happ-" but a tug on the fabric of his trousers made him look down and suddenly he found himself looking into the biggest eyes he had ever seen on a child as Merlin's baby blues seemed to plead with him from the depths of his soul.
"I think he likes you sire." Galahad supplied helpfully, and his grin became almost Gwaine's match.
Not paying any heed at his whispering council members, King Arthur only sighed as he gently shook his leg, trying to pry Merlin away. "Stop looking at me like that, Merlin." He commanded with his most kingly voice. "If you only knew the trouble you're in you would run away-"
But once again his voice was cut short when Merlin tugged even harder and his King almost stumbled (Arthur should've known that Merlin would be stubborn even as a four year old) giving the High King no choice but to kneel down next to his little Court Sorcerer and frown as he pointed a finger to his nose.
Merlin went cross-eyed trying to follow it.
"Stop that." Arthur said.
And he received the most shocking action for an answer. Merlin smiled, overjoyed, and threw his little arms around Arthur's neck without any hesitation, burying his little face on the King's shoulder.
Arthur never expected such a reaction but he never questioned himself when his arms, as if it was an inborn instinct, pulled Merlin's tiny body closer and he stood up with the boy cooing softly on his ear.
"Of course you never do as you're told." Merlin's bright smile answered his statement and he couldn't help but smile in return. "Not even now."
And, shaking his head fondly, he marched out of the council chambers, followed by Galahad's incessant prattle.
"Arthur, what if Merlin stays like this forever? What if he begins getting even smaller? Arthur…" there was a pause "…is that a bald patch on your head...?"
"Galahad shut up."
Merlin let out a small laugh as he wrapped his tiny arms around Arthur's neck so that he could smile at the knight with his chin on the High King's shoulder.
"It's amazing, isn't it?" Galahad said, struggling to remain at Arthur's side as the King practically marched down towards Gaius' old chambers and the healers that now occupied it. "He said your name but he never said mine. Why do you think that is? "
"I don't know. I don't care. What the hell happened anyway?"
Arthur should've known better than to ask but it looked like Galahad was the only one who could provide him with an explanation. So even if he winced as the words left his mouth he steeled himself for what would come and, to his credit, all he did was pick the pace as Galahad explained, with the enthusiasm of a Court Jester, how he'd found a little Merlin running around on the Court Sorcerer's Chambers as he looked for Gwaine.
...
Arthur had never doubted Hunith's skill as a mother but now he could do nothing but marvel at what she'd had to put up with. If Merlin the adult had caused Arthur's heart to stop beating more than once –as in that time Merlin tripped down the stairs because he walked as he read a book of spells, the one almost cut his hand off in an effort to enchant Excalibur so that it could deflect killing spells, and then when he'd decided to try Arthur's food because 'it smelt funny' just to end up with food poisoning for days- then Merlin the child could give Merlin the adult a run for his money, as Arthur learned in the stomach-dropping day that was ahead of him.
Gilli, who'd just clicked his tongue at the sight of his King with a little boy wrapped securely on his arms, had reached a conclusion in a few short moments.
"A de-aging spell."
Arthur, catching Merlin's dexterous fingers with his own so that the boy would just stop tugging at his beard, directed a frown at a grinning Gilli "Are you sure?"
The magician only smiled. "I would eat my staff. Don't worry Arthur, the spell lasts but a few days. Merlin should be fine in less than a week. Two days at the maximum."
Breathing a sigh of relief as Merlin let go of his soft golden beard and began entertaining himself with Arthur's crown, the King assured. "I am not worried. Why would I be- MERLIN NO!"
His scream completely contradicted his earlier statement but Arthur could not care less. Reaching forwards, he wrapped one arm tightly around Merlin's torso. Perhaps startled by the volume of Arthur's voice, Merlin let the bottles he was levitating fall to the floor and spill what looked like blue goo.
"There goes my pixie extract." said Gilli with a sigh, guiding a mop towards the mess with a flicker of his hand. "You were saying, My Lord?"
Arthur let out an unhappy sigh as he held Merlin above his head and glanced around, looking for any crystal shards that could've escaped the magical mop. "Can't you do something?" he said, dropping a squealing Merlin upon his shoulders. The little boy immediately wrapped both arms around Arthur's neck and laughed again.
"He's extremely clingy." Galahad commented from the door, amused to no end. The High King half turned to glare at the knight but Gilli answered him before Arthur could scold him.
"When one is a child deep emotions run freer. Sadness, fear, happiness, love. All of them are bound to be expressed at their fullest. I think Merlin here-" he nodded towards the trouble-prone little Court Sorcerer, whom Arthur was trying to coax down from his shoulders "- must be two to three years old. It is only natural."
"That he wants to strangle Arthur?" said Galahad.
Gilli, though a small smile tugged his lips when the King (never releasing his tight grip on Merlin's little leg as the boy laughed delightedly from above) cuffed his youngest knight around the head, said gently. "From what I've seen and read, I can only assume that he instinctively seeks those he feels closer to. And Arthur would be the natural choice after his mother. Arthur-" Gilli looked at him with a kind gaze. "Merlin already sees you as the brother he never had. I am sure that now you've fulfilled the role of his father."
Arthur, who'd grown in maturity and tact since he'd first held Amhar in his arms, felt a needle prickle his chest at the reminder of his Court Sorcerer's undying loyalty for him. Merlin, who must've somehow felt the solemnity that Arthur suddenly held, stopped laughing instantly and titled his head sideways, tightening his grip around Arthur's collarbone when the King looked up at him with soft blue eyes.
As if he could see and feel what his soul-bonded friend was feeling, the little warlock extended his arms so that Arthur could take him down from his shoulders and gave up his attempts at playing with the shiny crown. He meekly let Arthur place his little weight on the King's strong knee and looked up at Arthur's pensive face with a smile.
Arthur smiled back, ruffling his warlock's black hair with a gentleness unbeknownst to him.
"Wait-" he looked up at Gilli's gentle eyes as Merlin wrapped his little fingers around his and held his hand tight, tanned, calloused skin over soft pale one. "He remembers me still. Shouldn't he-?"
"I am certain he still recalls everything about his past, Arthur." Gilli said soothingly. "He just has a three year old brain to process it."
As if to confirm it, Merlin let out a small giggle and spoke for the second time after he'd been turned into a child, and this time Arthur could hear how soft and yet how Merlin-like his voice was.
"I'm hungry Arthur." he piped, peering up at him with those wide blue eyes.
Arthur could not help the affectionate smile that grew on his face. "That's definitely new. We'll have to take advantage of that."
True to Gilli's words, Merlin's happiness shone through his eyes as he placed both of his hands on Arthur's chest and bounced up and down. "Can I have apples?"
"You'll have food fit for a King, Merlin." Arthur assured him. He placed Merlin on the floor and couldn't help but feel his heart throb when Merlin slid- without any hesitation-that pale little hand inside of his own, as if it was the most natural and instinctual thing.
Together, the little warlock and the High King walked out of the physician's chambers.
As much as I hated doing it, it would've been completely unrealistic to have Gaius alive and over 110 years of age...so I brought in Gilli. :) I always wanted to see him back, at least for one episode...*sniff* guess it won't happen now...
All brooding aside...Ta-da! Well, part 1 of ? is done. Any suggestions? Thoughts?