Chapter 2
Disclaimer: Merlin belongs to BBC.
Merlin felt as if he had a hangover. The last thing he remembered was that he was picking herbs for Gaius and then … nothing. His next memory was exactly awaking in his bed, where he stood at that moment, while moaning due to the pain in his head. As he caressed his hair, he felt a bump, one that definitely wasn't there before. Touching it made it ache even more, so he retrieved his hand. The young man realized that it was already daytime and the sun was already shining, even though it was definitely nighttime before his memory blanked.
He decided to ask Gaius what had happened, as he clearly was in his room and had received a nasty hit on his head, so probably someone had carried him there.
As the young warlock opened the door and searched for his mentor at the main room of the physician's quarters – without success –, Merlin thought that it was better to simple go back to bed, more so because he was also exhausted, even though he didn't know why.
When he had opened the door and was stepping inside again, he heard someone enter the quarters, so he turned to look at whoever had come.
It was Gaius, he was with his medical instruments and a haunted face. When the old man noticed his ward, he spoke:
"Merlin, my boy! You're finally awake!" The older man exclaimed and asked: "Do you remember what happened last night?"
"Actually, Gaius, I was going to ask you the very same thing. I don't have a clue, I have no memory at all." The ward answered.
"Oh my goodness." Gaius was becoming afflicted by then. The king wanted to inquire his protégée and the boy didn't know anything. He was fearing for Merlin's life, feeling that "I don't know" wasn't going to be a satisfactory answer for Uther.
Meanwhile, Merlin was certain that someone had died judging by the expression that Gaius had. Still uncertain, he asked the physician:
"Gaius, what happened? All I know is that I woke up with a bump on my head."
"My boy … I think is better if I tell you before you go talk to the king." He paused and took a deep breath, then proceeded: "You were enchanted by a Sidhe, along with the Lady Morgana. You two …" at that moment, the physician joined his hands in an attempt to gesture what he was trying to say, but that only made Merlin more confused, furrowing his eyebrows while trying to understand what Gaius was struggling to reveal.
They stood there for several minutes in which the physician attempted to be comprehended, until he lost his patience and bluntly told the young warlock:
"You two had intercourse!" By then, Gaius had a reddened face, a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance.
"What?" Merlin was utterly shocked with what his mentor told him.
"You heard me, Merlin. You two were enchanted and copulated, more than once." The old man spilled out and after that lowered his shoulders and head in defeat before adding:
"And now King Uther wants to speak to you, seeing that you've awoken." The physician lifted his head to establish eye contact with his ward, then spoke:
"Under no circumstances you can show the king that you know of this or else he'll suspect that you were not under the effect of magic and will have your head, if not other parts of your body, for having such 'activities' with his ward. Are we understood, Merlin?"
"Y-Yes, Gaius." Stammering, the young warlock replied.
"You must proclaim your innocence on this matter, and you must convince the King of it too." The physician told him, raising one of his eyebrows. "For now, sit while I ask a guard to call Uther." Gaius added and turned to go to the corridor of the palace.
"Wait, Gaius!" Merlin tried to halt him, even lifting a hand in his direction before saying: "How is she? … Morgana, I mean?" The young mage asked, sounding ashamed to even say her name.
"It's better for you not to ask, not to know, not to even think of her ladyship for the moment. Enough damage was already done! To Uther you are a serving boy that had deflowered his precious ward, enchanted or not, that isn't something to be taken lightly, Merlin. Arthur and I still have to beg for your life to be spared by the king. You should be thinking about yourself at a time like this!" The older man replied and turned once more towards the door, closing the physician's quarters and leaving the young man alone for the moment.
As Gaius left, Merlin placed his right hand on top of his lips. He wasn't believing it, he had lost his virginity with the Lady Morgana, simply the prettiest woman of all Camelot, no, of the entirety of Albion, maybe the whole damn world! He would give both his arms to remember the details, what it was like to touch her skin, her hair, her lips, her bosom, argh … how could he had forgotten such precious memory? He lifted his hands and messed his hair even more that it was already messed up, releasing his frustration with his motions.
The worst part was that, along with the forgetfulness of possibly the most amazing moment of his life, he had to face the consequences – that meant an utterly enraged Uther Pendragon, probably wanting to rip Merlin's manhood right there where he stood. Before the young warlock could dwell on it more, the king himself threw open the chamber's door and entered, almost releasing steam from his head, followed closely by Arthur and Gaius.
The senior Pendragon locked his eyes at Merlin and the young man trembled under the king's death glare. Uther promptly approached the raven haired boy and gripped his neck with both hands, strangling him, while he spoke:
"Boy! You have brought shame to Morgana, to me and to Camelot! Enchanted or not, guilty or innocent, I cannot allow you to roam free and brag about what you did last night!" The king roared to Merlin.
"My … Milord … I don't know … what you … are … talking … about" The warlock said between gasps, while placing his hands atop of Uther's in a vain attempt to make him stop.
"Sire –" Gaius tried to reason with the king but was interrupted:
"Quiet! Gaius" Uther said with clenched teeth.
"Father, if I may –" This time was Arthur's turn to try to appease his enraged parent.
"Do not speak, Arthur! I don't want to listen! This boy should had his head detached from his body, but that wouldn't be enough, as the executioner would do the deed! No, he'll die by my own hands, only this way I can restore my honor!" The king groaned.
The prince raised his hands and settled then at his father's arms, decreasing the strength of the king's hold of Merlin's neck, not enough to release him, but sufficient to allow the servant to breathe. Then Arthur spoke:
"You told me that you wanted to question him first, not to kill him immediately!" He told his father, being visibly distraught. And continued: "He said he doesn't remember, just like Morgana! None of them are at fault! Please, spare his life, I know that Merlin wouldn't tell anyone, he doesn't even know what he did to begin with!" Arthur pleaded to the king.
"You don't understand, Arthur! Morgana is … there's no going back … and … and what if something even worst happen? No, the boy must die!" He gritted his teeth while speaking those words and squeezing harder the young warlock's neck.
"Please, sire, I beg you, spare Merlin's life." Gaius said with tears in his eyes. "He is like a son to me, please, I vow that the truth will be kept hidden and I can assure you that Merlin won't tell anyone."
"Father, Merlin has saved my live twice! You cannot repay him by taking his own! Please, I promise that if he ever spill a word about last night I'll kill him myself! Just, just don't do this. He is innocent, he was tricked too." Arthur tried to reason with him, while Merlin was almost loosing conscience. The young prince kept trying: "Please, father, please."
The king released the servant from his death grip, as he did, Merlin felt to the ground and coughed, caressing his bruised neck with his left hand and supporting his weight with the other.
Still looking as a cold-blood murderer, the king ordered him:
"Raise your head, boy! Look at me!" As Merlin did and Uther was certain that he was looking at his eyes, he added, pointing his index finger: "If you ever tell anyone about what happened last night, you won't only fear death itself. Before I kill you, with my bare hands, I'll torn your manhood apart, chop it and make you eat it to the very last piece! Do you understand, boy?"
Merlin vigorously shook his head in an affirmative way. That seemed to appease the king, but he continued:
"And I forbid you to be in the same room as the Lady Morgana for the rest of your life as a servant! If that happens, the same punishment for telling anyone is applied, do you understand?"
Merlin once more nodded with exaggerated motions. Satisfied for the moment, Uther turned and stomped to the door, spinning before leaving as he spoke to the others:
"I don't want to hear a word about this … incident … ever again! Anyone that mention it will be severely punished!" And turned once more and left.
When the king was gone, Gaius promptly ran towards Merlin and assessed the damage done by Uther, while Arthur just watched the scene, still unsure of what to do, so the physician said:
"Arthur, please help me lift Merlin." So the royal went to assist the old man with Merlin.
"Well, that went better than expected." Merlin joked and was immediately smacked in the head by a very unamused Gaius.
"Don't say this even as a joke, my boy! You could've died if it wasn't for Arthur! Thank him properly, others in his position wouldn't care for the fate of a serving boy!"
"Sorry, Gaius." Merlin said, feeling awkwardly and added: "Thank you, Arthur, for saving my life again."
"Just … don't ever do that again, are we understood?" The prince paused, searching Merlin's face for confirmation before he continued: "My heart can't take all the trouble that you get yourself into. One of these days, you are going to be the death of me if you keep being a magnet for turbulent events." Noticing that he sounded as if he cared, Arthur added: "Not that you are important or anything, it's just hard to find a servant that can do the job properly."
"You mean that's hard to find someone that can put up with your pratness?" Merlin teased.
"Did father actually made you even more stupid when he strangled you? I'm afraid it is so, you're bolder, speaking more nonsense and fearing death even less! Insult me again and I'll send you to the stocks, make you muck the stables for the entire month, polish the swords of all of Camelot's knights, grease their booths, clean their armors –"
"I get it, I get it. I'll keep my mouth shut." Merlin said opening his arms as if admitting defeat.
"But that won't rid you of your chores. Go on, Merlin. Oh, and in the way, bring breakfast to my chambers too. And prepare a bath. Also, you must scrub the floor." Arthur said while placing a hand on Merlin's shoulder.
"Prat!" Merlin whispered.
"What did you said?" Arthur inquired, raising his brows.
"I said rat! I saw one running around the quarters."
Arthur looked at him with a "I-don't-know-if-I-believe-what-you-told-me" face, but didn't question his servant, preferring to say goodbye to Gaius and leave the chambers. Once the prince was gone, Gaius turned to Merlin and said:
"Merlin, you heard the king. Don't ever think of disobeying him. You can't ever come close to Morgana, do you understand?" The physician asked, with his raised eyebrow.
"Yes, Gaius, I do. I promise I won't do anything and I'll avoid her." He said, sounding disappointed and upset.
"It's for the best, my boy. Also, don't tell the king that I have told you what happened. I thought that he could be more enraged if you didn't know what you were talking about, but it seems I was wrong."
"Ok, Gaius, I won't mention anything to him." The young warlock assured him.
"Fine. Now you must go, Merlin. Don't keep the prince waiting."
As he said so, Merlin departed the room, ready to face the most awkward day of his life.