Weary Warlock
Summary: What troubles will a warlock bereaved from sleep get into?
By: Eressie
Chapter three
After two or three hours at the tavern, Merlin's voice started to sound a little hoarse after all that singing he had done with the-cat-who-was-now-human-Gwaine. He had also gathered some more friends who had joined the singing after a while. One of those friends where a middle-aged man with curly red hair that now was sleeping soundly in the ceiling after Merlin accidentally made him levitate. The man, Georg, said that he didn't mind it though. He said that he had never seen a ceiling so close before and he liked it up there, much roomier.
Bill, the pub owner, always tried to keep people's business to themselves. People came, talked, sang, cried, and as long as he got paid; he was happy. But he could not help to cast a few extra concerned glances at Merlin's way. He was used to drunk people and he had seen a lot before. But he had never seen someone who acted like Merlin was and he wasn't even drunk. Well, a little tipsy he must have gotten by now, but as Bill has been watching, Merlin did not actually drink much. Not that he seemed to need to anyway.
He and Gwaine had been the life of the tavern since they arrived. They even got Old Sean to laugh and dance a little. This was saying much since that old fool's only hobby was to grumble and be angry at people no matter what they were doing.
Bill could not believe his eyes when he saw Merlin drag Old Sean up from his usual chair and started to dance with him. Bill suspected that Old Sean's reaction would be to hit the Court Sorcerer with his cane and yell until Merlin's ears fell off. But the old man had started to giggle and joined Merlin in his dancing, cane swinging around rhythmically in one hand and his jug of mead in the other.
After a few minutes of dancing Merlin felt it was time for a break. He walked towards Bill with a big smile on his face.
"Who knew the old Sean could dance, eh Bill?"
Bill nodded. "Who knew indeed." the barman muttered. "I've barely seen him walk, since he seems to enjoy sitting still on his chair over there. One day I believe he will turn into the chair himself."
Merlin laughed. "Now now, don't get me into any new ideas," he giggled, "never tried to turn anyone into a chair before." he hiccuped, and when he did; purple and green bubbles came out from his mouth and started to float around the room. "Hey, look at that." Merlin pointed at them and hiccuped some more bubbles.
Bill raised an eyebrow. "Do you usually blow colourful bubbles with your mouth?"
Merlin shrugged. "Don't think so," he said with a smile. "There is a first time for everything I guess."
Bill nodded and looked at the strange warlock. The young man was not himself; he knew that much. And he also knew how much the man mean to the king and queen, and they would not be pleased to hear that he had their ill warlock in his tavern when the said warlock should be in his bed or with a physician.
Bill cleared his throat. "Say Merlin, don't you think King Arthur needs you for something?"
Merlin rolled his eyes. "He always needs me for something."
"Yes," Bill continued. "Should you not go and see what that thing could be?"
Merlin growled. "I am NOT a servant anymore," he said irritated, "not that I minded, well not much, well not all the time!"
Bill noticed how Merlin's mood changed and held up his hands. "I mean no disrespect, sir."
Merlin glared at him. "Have Arthur said something to you?"
"Sir," Bill said carefully, "no, not at all, I've never spoken to the king personally. I just thought that maybe it would be good for you to get some fresh air." Merlin glared at him. "Or maybe, give Gwaine some fresh air at least."
Merlin frowned and turned around. "Gwaine…" he mumbled to himself. But the man or cat could be nowhere to be found. "I could have sworn I came here with Gwaine…"
Bill nodded and looked around. "I could almost swear that as well, sir. But then again he is often here so I could have the days mixed together that's all."
Merlin pouted his lips. "Hm, maybe I should go and find Gwaine." he mumbled, "and see if he is all right."
Bill nodded and waved away a purple bubble that came close to his face and it continued to soar around the bar a bit before rising to the ceiling. "I think that would be for the best, sir."
Merlin stood up and walked towards the door. He gave a wave over his shoulder when he heard some of the people inside shout goodbye to him.
He exited the tavern and looked around, "Hmm, where to go… where would I go if I were Gwaine?" He tapped his finger to his shin and turned around and looked at the tavern door. Gwaine would be in there but he is not so… the practice range? He nodded to himself. "Onwards!" he said to no one and pointed forward and started to walk back to the castle.
He managed a few steps before he tripped on the uneven cobblestones and fell to the ground.
"You're all right there, Sir Merlin?" A man nearest to him asked and bent down to help him up.
Merlin looked up at him with a grin. "I was looking for Sir Gwaine, Jim."
Jim, the baker, laughed and offered Merlin his hand, Merlin accepted. "I doubt you will find him so close to the ground!"
Merlin shrugged when he once again stood on his feet. "Who knows? Maybe he has shrunk? Thanks, by the way!"
"No problem, sir!"
Merlin started to walk again but swayed a little when a wave of dizziness took hold of him. He stopped and held out his hands.
Jim called out to him. "Not gonna fall again will you?" he asked concerned.
Merlin shook his head a little but did not turn around. "I don't know," he paused and the dizziness left him. "No, I don't think so!"
Jim walked over to him with a piece of bread. "Dizzy eh?" he asked, "When was the last time you ate something, sir?"
Merlin opened his mouth to answer but he closed it again. "Hmm," he said after a while. "You know, I am not totally sure."
Jim frowned at him. "Here take this."
Merlin took the bread and realized then how hungry he was. "Thank you!" he said with his mouth full. He fumbled in his pockets for some coins, but Jim waved his hands with a smile and walked away from Merlin. After a moment Merlin finally found some money. He knew the baker would not accept them so he closed his fingers over the coins and whispered; his eyes glowing gold. He felt the money disappear from his hand.
Jim, back by his bread stand by his bakery, jumped surprised when money appeared on the table in front of him. He looked around and watched Merlin scurry away from where he just stood. Jim looked at the warlock in the distance and shook his head with a smile. "Same old, kind Merlin," he mumbled to himself and collected the coins.
Authors Note: That Merlin actually managed to do correct magic there in the end, surprised even me!
Please review!
