The Golden Age Universe
All for Love - Chapter 7
~Fran Gipani
Disclaimer - I don't own Merlin, or the characters...I'm just borrowing them and adding a couple of awesome OC's
AN - I have no reasonable reason for not getting this to you guys quick enough. But I do apologise and will try to get this story completed and readable before I go away at the end of the month :) Thank you so much for the reviews and support, and I hope you all still want to read despite the wait! :) Enjoy, and I hope you have a great day/night/evening/2 in the morning :)
It was a couple of days since Brooke had started lending Merlin her magic and everything seemed to be perfectly fine, the couple were both a little tireder than usual but if it was because of the transfer or Maire they weren't sure. There had been nothing to signal that Morgana was even alive, let alone the fact that she was in control of a Warlocks power. The castle's routine had gone back to normal; Maire had started to speak and like the twins had - once she'd started the little girl never really stopped.
It was the third night however that something really interesting happened, Arthur had given Merlin the afternoon off and the Warlock was sitting with Maire on the ground talking nonsense and giggling with her, Brooke was sitting up on the bed proof reading some letters for Merlin. The candles were making strange shadows on the walls and Merlin was making shadow shapes with his hands then suddenly all the candles in the room puffed out.
"Merlin!" Brooke groaned, grinning a little in the darkness
"It wasn't me!" Merlin replied with a laugh, he had one hand resting on the small of Maire's back praying she wouldn't run off.
Then as Merlin raised a hand to bring the light back to the room, a childlike giggle broke the silence and the candles flickered back into life, Merlin squinted slightly in the sudden brightness but could see enough to notice the brief unnatural colouring of Maire's green eyes.
They'd momentarily flashed a warm and friendly gold.
"Brooke!" Merlin almost yelped, Maire giggled again, staring up at her delighted father, "she just did her first bit of magic!"
With the current state of both their power combined, Maire's display of magic was a glimmer of hope in their present dilemma. It gave them a moment to treasure and treasure it dearly they did, though little did they know it would be the last happy moment they'd get for a while.
-afl-
Brooke ran the brush through Gwen's dark hair; she was getting her queen ready to receive some royal guests from a neighbouring kingdom. They had been overjoyed at the message that Camelot had finally accepted magic users into their midst, and wanted to congratulate the newly appointed Court Sorcerer and also strengthen their connections with Camelot
"What is it Brooke?" A concerned look spread over her face as she used the mirror to study her friend expression.
"It's nothing Gwen...don't worry I-"
"-Brooke..."
"Okay, I just- I just don't want Merlin to turn into something like an object to be prised and stared at like a winning horse. He's human; a living person not a creature created purely to do magic tricks, that's why they're really here isn't it? To see Merlin perform."
"You could say that is true Brooke, but I think Merlin knew this sort of thing would happen when he took on the roll of Court Sorcerer, plus Larsen are a very politically strong kingdom - it would be extremely beneficial for Camelot if they were allies." Gwen smiled, "they'll only be here for a few days anyway.
"I guess you're right..." Brooke trailed off as she finished the intricate braid in Gwen's hair. "We'd better go and greet the Larsen royals," her voice was slow, her dread for what would happen when the royals would eventually arrive.
Minutes later the pair met with Merlin and Arthur at the tall wooden doors which formed the entrance to the castle, Brooke could tell from one look that all was not right with Merlin. She slipped her hand into his and gave it a squeeze, Merlin gave a smile in return, a small nod, and then he turned back to the front where Arthur pushed open the heavy wooden doors. The Larsen King, King Javis and his Queen Lilida, were not how Brooke hat expected them, the king was tall and skinny, his hair greying, but despite this he had a small, and rather welcoming twinkle in his dark eyes. The queen however was shorter and rounder than her husband, her cheeks younger and rosier; she had a warm smile and seemed almost in awe of Merlin. Brooke watched helplessly as her husband became more and more nervous by the second. Brooke and the other servants had shown the royal guests to their rooms, and Brooke had made her way back to her and Merlin's rooms where Merlin was sitting on the bed with Miare. Then, and only then did he look completely relaxed.
"Hello gorgeous!" Brooke smiled, walking over to Merlin and sitting next to him on the bed, she reached a hand out to Miare.
"Thank you!" Merlin winked, looking up at Brooke with a smile on his face, then he realised she wasn't talking to him, "oh." He spoke feeling a little defeated, "but she is beautiful." He added with a grin.
Miare giggled, her small hands pulling at her mother's fingers.
"You're pretty handsome too Merlin, don't worry, even those ears of yours..." She trailed off, "anyway we need to get you ready for dinner," she directed at Merlin before looking down at her daughter, "as for you little one, you need to stay here, I've asked Sophie the bakers daughter to look after her for the night, Arthur asked me to serve tonight as a couple of the girls have come down with some form of a head cold."
Merlin nodded, "okay then - let's get this night over and done with!"
-afl-
The whole dinner ran rather smoothly that was until just before Brooke and the other maids were due to start serving the fruit, cheeses and wines for after the meal. Brooke had one of the glass wine jugs in her hand, the other holding Queen Lilida's glass to refill it, she gave the queen a smile and was about to set down the glass when her hands began to shake uncontrollably. The deep red liquid splashed from the glass staining the front of Brooke's dress, the jug slipped from her fingers just as the maid's knees gave way and she sunk to the ground. The hand that broke her fall landed on the smashed shards of the jug and a sharp pain shot up her arm. She heard the scraping of seats and Merlin's worried voice as she blacked out all together.
Merlin had been in conversation with Arthur and Javis at the time so didn't see Brooke fall until he heard Lilida gasp. He was by Brooke's side within seconds, kneeling next to where she was slumped against the front of the top table where the royals had been sitting. The wine stain had spread and the wound in her hand was bleeding profusely. He checked she was still breathing, and let out a sigh of relief when he still felt a pulse. Wondering where on earth Gaius was, Merlin's spell work had never been its strongest in the area of healing magic, that was what Brooke was best at, Merlin put a hand on her cheek, "Brooke? Brooke darling?" Merlin whispered, "it has to be her magic," he looked back at Arthur and Gwen who both nodded subtlety, knowing their friend was referring to the magic transfer, "I knew this was a bad idea." He muttered a little more aggressively.
"It's not her magic you know? Though that is weak as it is..." Lilida had knelt by Brooke as well, bringing the nearest clean serviette and wrapping it around Brooke's bleeding hand and applying pressure. Merlin tried to protest but the queen gave him a look. "...before I married Javis I was a magical healer, I can sense a person's ailment, usually through touch, but there are certain cases where I can sense the problem, if I have experienced it before myself."
Merlin looked up, the worry clear in his face as he saw tears leaking from the woman's eyes, "what's wrong?" Merlin asked, his voice almost a broken whisper.
"Wrong? Nothing's wrong my dear!" Lilida smiled, "These are tears of joy, your wife Merlin, she is with child!"
AN - I know it's short, but I wanted to put something up to get me back into the swing of writing and to give you guys something to read. The next chapter will have some more action and also a lot more of what Morgana is planning hehe Thanks for reading! :)