A/N:
Soooo…. It's been a while.
Like a month. All I can say is work going crazy while your city is in lockdown sucks. But in apology, I have two chapters prepared for posting.
As always thanks to everyone that reviewed and to new followers. Always makes me smile.
Bit of a recap: Sketchy dude in a dark alley was hating on Merlin and plotting his demise
So, without further ado,
Enjoy!
Ilandrae
Disclaimer: Surprise… still don't own Merlin.
CHAPTER 17 – THE SECRET IS OUT
The whispers began in the castle. One servant told another, they told another and them another.
Soon it spread. Maids told stable hands, who told couriers, who told stall vendors and shop owners. Soon the whispers were uttered by all. Some thought it impossible. Some thought it improbable. But many… many were ready to believe anything these days.
Unease spread through the city. Camelot was scared. A sorcerer resided within its walls...
His name? Merlin.
The Camelot Council Room
"How did this happen!" Gwen demanded at the table of men seated before her. It had been two days since Merlin had revealed himself to the remainder of the Camelotian Council. Now as she stared down the same group of men, she saw a mixture of emotions.
Leon, Geoffrey and Gaius were worried. Samuel and Willis held unsurprising satisfaction while Sloan, Nelson and Archibald hid their emotions behind careful masks of controlled bewilderment.
"All of you swore an oath but two days ago to keep Merlin's secret until the appropriate time for it to be revealed arrived. That moment has not come yet today it is apparently common knowledge that a sorcerer is here" she channelled all her rage into her gaze.
"Though I do not know who is at fault your majesty" Samuel said his sentiments seeming to echo his words from two days ago upon finding out about Merlin, "I do admit that I do not see what the problem is. Merlin is a sorcerer, the people deserve to know the danger that for some reason walks freely among them."
"Merlin is no danger" Leon challenged, "He is the reason that we are all able to sit around this table in the first place."
Literally Gwen thought dryly He fixed all these chairs
"One act of benevolence does not atone for the sin that magic is" Gwen gritted her teeth at the words turning towards the crooked nose man who spoke and doing her best not to throttle him in frustration. Why were they so pigheaded!
"Merlin is under the protection of the crown Willis" the Queen near about growled, "Any threat or attack on his person is equivalent to an attack on me."
Silence met this statement.
Gwen sighed tiredly and turned to Leon, "How widespread is it?"
"It's everywhere Gwen" Leon said tiredly, "There's talk that he's put you under a spell. The people are still recovering from the previous attack, any mention of magic is bound to unsettle them."
A sudden thought came to her, "Does Merlin know?"
Leon's paling face gave her all she needed to know.
Why they thought to tell her first before the warlock in question she'd never know.
"Find him. Now."
Camelot Town
Merlin's heart felt lighter than it had in years. As he walk towards the market place, intending to reacquaint himself with the city and maybe a few more of its people, he revelled in the warm sun and the feeling of being exactly where he was supposed to be.
He recalled Mel's excited face as she told him that Leon and Percival were taking her and Art for a ride.
The girl had adjusted well to Camelot, in no small part due to Art he had realised. The boy seemed to have taken her under his wing, no doubt due to finally having a friend that knew his secret. It probably helped that Mel didn't treat him like a prince, she was never one to pull her punches.
With a start he realised she treated him much like Merlin had treated his Arthur. Not afraid to tell him what she really thought.
A quick chat with Leon after his walk with her through the lower town had revealed what had happened with the knights. He'd suspected her desires when she announced her desire to accompany them to Camelot, he'd also anticipated the response that would likely come from the knights.
However, he also knew exactly what Mel could do when she put her mind to it. She'd channel her energy into other pursuits, no doubt all the while planning how to get what she wanted.
He already felt a sense of satisfaction at the thought that the Knights had no idea who they were dealing with, or what they had unknowingly released.
Bringing himself back to the present he came to realise that something was off. Everywhere he walked conversations ceased and those he passed cast him cautious, and even fearful looks.
He frowned as he heard the whispers that followed his footsteps.
"That's him"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure, don't you recognise him?"
"Oh my. That's Merlin!"
"Wait that's him?"
"That's the sorcerer"
Merlin froze in his tracks. What?
It wasn't possible.
"Merlin!" a voice called from behind him he turned to see Leon trying to push through the crowd with a handful of knight trailing behind him, many seemed to lack the urgency that Leon was showing.
"It's out. It's everywhere. They know" Leon gave an uncharacteristic, none too gentle shove to a merchant in his path.
Merlin heart skipped a beat, and he felt a commotion from behind him.
Leon's eyes widened and Merlin was turning before his shouted warning "Behind you!"
As the warlock turned, he saw the dagger that was spinning end over end.
Right towards his heart.
His instinctive magic surged and with a flash of gold the dagger stopped millimetres from his chest, hovering in the air.
Everyone was silent for a moment, a moment in which Leon and his knights formed a protective circle around Merlin. The dagger clattered to the ground as Merlin released it. Just before all hell broke loose.
"Sorcerer!"
"Magic!"
Screams and cries sprang through the crowd and people both ran away and surged forward. As Leon and his men tried to hold back the mob that was forming the knight turned to him "Get out of here!"
Merlin looked around helplessly for a path of escape. Leon gave him a wide-eyed look, "They already know you idiot! Just get out!"
Picturing the council chambers Merlin's words were once more accompanied by a flash of gold, "Æt geonre!"
As his body dissolved, he kept the picture of the room firmly in his mind.
He was pleasantly surprised that when he reappeared, he could glare at the council seated around the table upon which he was standing.
"I really hope your day is going about as well as mine." he jumped off the table with a heavy thud.
"Merlin are you ok?"
"Oh, I'm fine Gwen" Merlin muttered angrily, throwing up his hands, "Someone just tried to kill me and Leon is trying to deal with the small mob forming in the lower town."
He again turned to glare at the Council, "Why do I have the feeling that one of you is to blame for outing a secret that I managed keep under wraps for nearly twenty years?"
The three hour talk with the Council revealed nothing. Leon slogged in about halfway through, a few bumps and scrapes and looking bone weary, but nothing serious. Merlin looked relieved upon hearing that no one had been seriously injured.
As Gwen watched the Council leave, she turned her attention to warlock that was still pacing angrily. At some point, that had somehow skipped her notice, he'd ended back up on the council table, stomping down its length.
She knew his anger stemmed from his fear that someone could have gotten hurt. Not him, she knew, but the people of Camelot.
She'd have to talk to the people at some point she knew. But it was probably best to give them some time to cool off first.
In the meantime, she needed to somehow keep Merlin safe.
As she came to that conclusion, she knew Merlin was not going to be a fan of what she was going to say next.
The warlock was still pacing and muttering angrily on the table, but with a sigh he turned to Gwen and slumped down to sit on its edge, "I'm sorry Gwen" he apologised, "I know you're in a tight spot now."
She sighed "It's ok. It was going to happen eventually just didn't think it was going to be this soon. And I know you're going to hate what I'm about say but… you need to stay in the castle."
"What?" Merlin gaze hardened.
"The city needs time to adjust. I'll talk to them but in the mean-time you need to stay in the castle"
"Ah-"
"That means no visits to the lower town, or out the castle. We'll try to set up a guard-"
"I can protect myself Gwen" Merlin's brow furrowed.
"It's not just about you Merlin" Gwen tried to explain, "The people know, if they see you waltzing around town it could start a riot. They need time Merlin. Time to adjust, we haven't had the best experience with magic as you know."
"You reap what you sow" Merlin said darkly, "the same could be said of the magical community."
Gwen winced at this but was adamant in her position, "The castle Merlin. Just for now"
Merlin scowled but shoved himself off the table, "Fine. I'm doing this for you Gwen. One week. That's it. And don't think I can't get out if want to."
Gwen had no doubt that that was true.
A/N:
Don't forget there's another!
I ;)