First Service (Prequel to Fractures)

by DJ Dubois

Two weeks after entering the royal household, Merlin struggles to adjust to Camelot and his role as Arthur's manservant. Gwen is very much on his mind. So is pleasing Arthur. Now he has to help with a combined negotiation with Nemeth and Cawdor. How will that go? What is the hidden meaning behind such meetings? (Set nine months before my other story, "Fractures".)

1. Mithian Recalls

First Service (Prequel to Fractures)

DJ Dubois

September-October 2024

Notes Part 1: This story takes place about nine months prior to "Fractures".

Notes Part 2: Just so you know, I'm adding about seven years onto Mithian's age in this story. In some of my other stories, she's about nine at the point of this instance. (It's usually related to flashbacks and references to the events in future contexts.) Here, she's fifteen. I'm presuming Merlin to be about thirteen or fourteen at the beginning of Season 1.

Notes Part 3: Merlin and his cohorts belong to the BBC and Shine. Other characters' copyrights will be brought up as needed. Please send comments to .

Introduction [A Few Days After "Fractures"]

Mithian, Crown Princess of Nemeth, recalls….

"Change is the only constant." I remember your advice, Mother. I sit at Father's side in the Council and Throne Chambers. I watch and listen to our subjects carefully. Lord Blumenwald assists me with the legal codes. At least he does that. The counselors, on the other hand, disagree with our presence in Father's proceedings. Kay thought that we should be silent.

They want to silence me as they wanted to do to you. They could care less about the servants and peasants. Oh, they care about their huge manors. They show off amongst each other. They love the hunt….

…just not the stags I bring back to feed the people. ( I see you rolling your eyes, Britomart.)

I remember that night in Camelot. Lady Reyna's diagnosis. Your sudden decline and passing. The goddess' message. Intimidation numbed me. Father needed support. Kay could've cared less. Uther and his cronies hungered for the Gedref and Nemeth. He harassed Father for my hand in marriage to Prince Arthur. He supports the Hardliners' efforts against innocent sorcerers in Camelot and Whitgate. I honor your wishes and fight on.

Thank the goddess for Lady Morgana Pendragon. Her support is a breath of fresh air. She speaks up when needed. She is a strong young woman who understands deeper needs. Prince Accolon agrees with me. Then again, he's been in love with her since we were all children. Sigh…I'll admit that I felt jealous when they were engaged. I was strong and supported them though. After all, you also said that if you want good friends, we have to be an excellent friend in return.

And then there's Merlin. Talk about layers…and oh those rough edges. He barely made it through that first service for us. He'd only come to Camelot a couple of weeks before our visit. He still learned place settings and the little things. Yet he had the basics. He had such a positive attitude. He worked hard. And he cared about us. I remember how he sat with you that night in your chambers. He held your hand. Kay spat on him. There was something about him though…I sensed it from our first meeting. He was hardly polished to put it mildly. Uther and Arthur were ready to cast him out. Britomart worked with him though. She saw his potential. A potential we saw realized at Shalott when he shook the earth…when he took Meleagant's sword through his shoulder. When he unified Amazon, Camelot, Gaul, Nemeth and Tintagel through his example. When my magic manifested, he stood by me. My special Prince…even if he still has those rough edges.

Here is the account of that first meeting almost a full year before Meleagant's invasion shook Britannia…before Merlin shook it right back…