Under the Assumption of Death part 4/8
Author: Texasislandr
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Arthur/Merlin Friendship, Gaius, Dragon
Summary: After an accident, Merlin and Arthur find their lives hanging by a limb--literally! Not a death fic
Disclaimer: I don’t own Merlin or any of its characters, though I really wish I did lol!
A/N: Thanks to silk-mistress for being the beta of my story. If not for you I wouldn’t have been able to most. You saved me from my horrible punctuation lol!
Under the Assumption of Death
Link to sucky cartoon fanart
Chapter 4: Telling of Tales
Arthur knocked hesitantly on the door of the physician’s chambers. His knuckles scraped across the wood before he let his fingers curl around the latch.
Quietly he entered the room, scanning the area until his eyes came to rest upon Gaius. The old man was turned away from him, his shoulders shaking with sporadic tremors. Feeling suddenly very uncomfortable, the prince made to leave as silently as he had come. When his foot kicked over a stray bucket, he cursed. The choked crying that the older man had been emitting was immediately stifled, and it was obvious that Gaius was trying to wipe at his eyes.
When the physician turned to face him, his eyes were red and sorrowful. There was no way for him to hide the fact that he had been grieving, and the awkwardness Arthur was feeling had risen to new heights. He almost felt ashamed for having invaded the man’s privacy; for he was obviously mourning.
“Sire?!” Gaius exclaimed. “I’m sorry; I didn’t hear you come in.”
“No,” Arthur pacified. “Don’t be sorry. It was I who intruded.”
“What is it that brings you here, your majesty? Are you in need of anything?”
“I’m fine Gaius, I just…I wish to speak with you in private,”
“Of course Sire, what is it you desire to discuss with me?” Gaius asked.
“It’s about Merlin,” Arthur started, trying to ignore the look of hurt reflected in the older man’s eyes. “I always knew there was something different about him. He’s…” he stopped as a lump began to form in his throat and he couldn’t help but let out a harsh cough to clear the discomforting blockage. “…was special.”
“Yes Arthur, he was. More than you’ll ever know,” Gaius agreed.
The prince nodded. “The thing is Gaius, I believe I do know how special he was, and the more I have thought it over since the…incident. I believe you knew also.” Arthur walked past the physician, who arched his brow in an assessing manner. The prince paused in front of a table when his eyes caught sight of a familiar object. It was Merlin’s blasted neckerchief. Hesitantly his calloused hands reached out and retrieved the tattered cloth that lay atop the wooden surface. For some reason, Arthur couldn’t help but feel comforted as he rubbed the fabric between his fingers.
“What are you getting at, your Majesty?” Gaius inquired apprehensively.
“Merlin had magic.” Arthur stated without question. He looked up to meet the older man’s eyes, daring the family friend to deny it. It was obvious by the shock on the older man’s features that he was very surprised to say the least, almost fearful.
“I’m sure you’re mistaken, Merlin would never…”
“I saw his eyes,” Arthur interrupted. “I watched as they turned from blue to molten pools of gold, swirling with the very essence of magic.”
“Maybe it was a trick of the light. The sun…”
“Gaius I am not a fool.” Arthur hissed softly, shaking his head. “…and nor am I my father. I haven’t come here to persecute you. I have come here to talk to you about a man that despite all I have been taught about propriety, ranks, and sorcerers-I considered him not as a peasant, not as an enemy, but as the closest of friends.”
Gaius sat down heavily on one of his stools, a deep sigh escaping him as he did so. “Merlin would have been very honored to have heard you say that, Sire.”
Arthur swallowed thickly. “So, I’m right? You knew about him?”
Gaius’ lips pursed into a thin line as he nodded, motioning with his aged hands for Arthur to take a seat across from him. “I have known from the first day Merlin set foot in Camelot.”
Arthur, who had just seated himself, looked up with interest “So he told you?”
“No” Gaius murmured shaking his head. “…quite the opposite actually, he saved my life. I took a fall from the upper bookshelf up there,” he said, pointing to the place across the room. “It was quite extraordinary really, he slowed time and moved my bed beneath me to break my descent. Before then I had never seen the likes of the boy before.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, Merlin didn’t use any incantations to do what he did. His magic was raw and purely instinctual. That is when he told me that he had been born with it. His mother Hunith had caught him moving objects around the house when he was but days old.”
“Isn’t that impossible?”
“Technically no, but it is almost unheard of, if not completely until now,” Gaius said.
“So he didn’t choose magic, it chose him?” Arthur asked.
“Indeed it did,” Gaius finished.
Arthurs head was spinning. Merlin had been magic from the moment he had drawn his first breath in this world. The very idea left Arthur reeling. “Why did he never tell me?”
“He wanted to, Sire, I encouraged him not to follow through with it on several occasions,” he explained, but at the hurt look coming from the prince, Gaius decided to continue. “At first it was because he did not know you, nor did you know him. You were as against magic as your father at times then. When you two became closer it was because Merlin did not wish to burden you-to make you choose between your duty to your father and his laws, and your duty to him as his friend.”
Arthur nodded. “Did he use it often?”
Gaius smiled, a soft chuckle following suit. “More than I approved of, but the boy had a good heart. He so much wanted to help people, to help you--whenever he could.”
“Gaius?” Arthur started hesitantly.
“Yes, Sire?”
“Would you tell me about him, the side that you knew? The magic, what he did?”
The older man could see the pleading in the young prince’s eyes, the desire to know more about what was lost, the truth about what had been hidden from him. For some reason Gaius felt a surge of comfort. Merlin had wanted more than anything for his master to know of his gifts. He could think of no better way to honor his adopted son’s memory than to let the prince know what it was the boy had sacrificed and done for him.
“It would give me a great pleasure, Sire,” he answered softly. Quietly he stood from his seat and walked over to the end cabinets. He retrieved a dusty bottle from the back corner before returning.
“What is that?” Arthur inquired.
“This, your majesty, is some of your father’s special wine. He gave it to me a very long time ago, and I had been saving it for a special occasion. I had planned to use it on Merlin’s birthday. He was coming of age this year.” A pained looked crossed his face. “I was going to let him celebrate, but I could think of no better a time to use it now.” Setting two goblets onto the table, he proceeded to fill each one before sitting back down. “This is a long story, Sire. I hope you are ready for it.”
Arthur nodded, his fingers twitching around the goblet within his hand. Softly Gaius began his tale of destiny, dragons, witches, afancs, and poisoned goblets--sidhe, gryphons, sorceresses, and questing beasts. He continued for hours, Arthur hanging on his every word, listening to each tale as it revealed the true extent of Merlin’s loyalty, dedication, and power. He sat awed at some points, laughter was spurred in others, and a few times his heart painfully constricted.
Their conversation lasted until the candles in the room had almost burned out; Gaius’ voice having grown hoarse with use. Tired both physically and emotionally, Gaius took his leave and retired to bed.
An hour later found Arthur back in his room, starring out his bedroom window. He let his fingers run over the curves of the wooden dragon that lay nestled in his hands. It was the same one Balinor had made for Merlin, the dragon lord who was his servant’s father. He had told him that day “that no man is worth your tears,” but as he looked out at the twinkling stars, he couldn’t help but feel a familiar stinging at the corners of his eyes. He knew the truth now, and somehow it made the feeling of loss all the more unbearable. A choked sob escape his lips despite his best efforts. He clutched the rough carving to his chest, along with the neckerchief he had taken from the physician’s quarters. Unashamed in the privacy of his chambers, the prince shed tears for the only man he had found to be worth it.
A/N: Next chapter we find out what happens to Merlin :) I’d tell you the title, but it’d give it away lol!
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Arthur/Merlin Friendship, Gaius, Dragon
Summary: After an accident, Merlin and Arthur find their lives hanging by a limb--literally! Not a death fic
Disclaimer: I don’t own Merlin or any of its characters, though I really wish I did lol!
A/N: Thanks to silk-mistress for being the beta of my story. If not for you I wouldn’t have been able to most. You saved me from my horrible punctuation lol!
Under the Assumption of Death
Link to sucky cartoon fanart
Chapter 4: Telling of Tales
Arthur knocked hesitantly on the door of the physician’s chambers. His knuckles scraped across the wood before he let his fingers curl around the latch.
Quietly he entered the room, scanning the area until his eyes came to rest upon Gaius. The old man was turned away from him, his shoulders shaking with sporadic tremors. Feeling suddenly very uncomfortable, the prince made to leave as silently as he had come. When his foot kicked over a stray bucket, he cursed. The choked crying that the older man had been emitting was immediately stifled, and it was obvious that Gaius was trying to wipe at his eyes.
When the physician turned to face him, his eyes were red and sorrowful. There was no way for him to hide the fact that he had been grieving, and the awkwardness Arthur was feeling had risen to new heights. He almost felt ashamed for having invaded the man’s privacy; for he was obviously mourning.
“Sire?!” Gaius exclaimed. “I’m sorry; I didn’t hear you come in.”
“No,” Arthur pacified. “Don’t be sorry. It was I who intruded.”
“What is it that brings you here, your majesty? Are you in need of anything?”
“I’m fine Gaius, I just…I wish to speak with you in private,”
“Of course Sire, what is it you desire to discuss with me?” Gaius asked.
“It’s about Merlin,” Arthur started, trying to ignore the look of hurt reflected in the older man’s eyes. “I always knew there was something different about him. He’s…” he stopped as a lump began to form in his throat and he couldn’t help but let out a harsh cough to clear the discomforting blockage. “…was special.”
“Yes Arthur, he was. More than you’ll ever know,” Gaius agreed.
The prince nodded. “The thing is Gaius, I believe I do know how special he was, and the more I have thought it over since the…incident. I believe you knew also.” Arthur walked past the physician, who arched his brow in an assessing manner. The prince paused in front of a table when his eyes caught sight of a familiar object. It was Merlin’s blasted neckerchief. Hesitantly his calloused hands reached out and retrieved the tattered cloth that lay atop the wooden surface. For some reason, Arthur couldn’t help but feel comforted as he rubbed the fabric between his fingers.
“What are you getting at, your Majesty?” Gaius inquired apprehensively.
“Merlin had magic.” Arthur stated without question. He looked up to meet the older man’s eyes, daring the family friend to deny it. It was obvious by the shock on the older man’s features that he was very surprised to say the least, almost fearful.
“I’m sure you’re mistaken, Merlin would never…”
“I saw his eyes,” Arthur interrupted. “I watched as they turned from blue to molten pools of gold, swirling with the very essence of magic.”
“Maybe it was a trick of the light. The sun…”
“Gaius I am not a fool.” Arthur hissed softly, shaking his head. “…and nor am I my father. I haven’t come here to persecute you. I have come here to talk to you about a man that despite all I have been taught about propriety, ranks, and sorcerers-I considered him not as a peasant, not as an enemy, but as the closest of friends.”
Gaius sat down heavily on one of his stools, a deep sigh escaping him as he did so. “Merlin would have been very honored to have heard you say that, Sire.”
Arthur swallowed thickly. “So, I’m right? You knew about him?”
Gaius’ lips pursed into a thin line as he nodded, motioning with his aged hands for Arthur to take a seat across from him. “I have known from the first day Merlin set foot in Camelot.”
Arthur, who had just seated himself, looked up with interest “So he told you?”
“No” Gaius murmured shaking his head. “…quite the opposite actually, he saved my life. I took a fall from the upper bookshelf up there,” he said, pointing to the place across the room. “It was quite extraordinary really, he slowed time and moved my bed beneath me to break my descent. Before then I had never seen the likes of the boy before.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, Merlin didn’t use any incantations to do what he did. His magic was raw and purely instinctual. That is when he told me that he had been born with it. His mother Hunith had caught him moving objects around the house when he was but days old.”
“Isn’t that impossible?”
“Technically no, but it is almost unheard of, if not completely until now,” Gaius said.
“So he didn’t choose magic, it chose him?” Arthur asked.
“Indeed it did,” Gaius finished.
Arthurs head was spinning. Merlin had been magic from the moment he had drawn his first breath in this world. The very idea left Arthur reeling. “Why did he never tell me?”
“He wanted to, Sire, I encouraged him not to follow through with it on several occasions,” he explained, but at the hurt look coming from the prince, Gaius decided to continue. “At first it was because he did not know you, nor did you know him. You were as against magic as your father at times then. When you two became closer it was because Merlin did not wish to burden you-to make you choose between your duty to your father and his laws, and your duty to him as his friend.”
Arthur nodded. “Did he use it often?”
Gaius smiled, a soft chuckle following suit. “More than I approved of, but the boy had a good heart. He so much wanted to help people, to help you--whenever he could.”
“Gaius?” Arthur started hesitantly.
“Yes, Sire?”
“Would you tell me about him, the side that you knew? The magic, what he did?”
The older man could see the pleading in the young prince’s eyes, the desire to know more about what was lost, the truth about what had been hidden from him. For some reason Gaius felt a surge of comfort. Merlin had wanted more than anything for his master to know of his gifts. He could think of no better way to honor his adopted son’s memory than to let the prince know what it was the boy had sacrificed and done for him.
“It would give me a great pleasure, Sire,” he answered softly. Quietly he stood from his seat and walked over to the end cabinets. He retrieved a dusty bottle from the back corner before returning.
“What is that?” Arthur inquired.
“This, your majesty, is some of your father’s special wine. He gave it to me a very long time ago, and I had been saving it for a special occasion. I had planned to use it on Merlin’s birthday. He was coming of age this year.” A pained looked crossed his face. “I was going to let him celebrate, but I could think of no better a time to use it now.” Setting two goblets onto the table, he proceeded to fill each one before sitting back down. “This is a long story, Sire. I hope you are ready for it.”
Arthur nodded, his fingers twitching around the goblet within his hand. Softly Gaius began his tale of destiny, dragons, witches, afancs, and poisoned goblets--sidhe, gryphons, sorceresses, and questing beasts. He continued for hours, Arthur hanging on his every word, listening to each tale as it revealed the true extent of Merlin’s loyalty, dedication, and power. He sat awed at some points, laughter was spurred in others, and a few times his heart painfully constricted.
Their conversation lasted until the candles in the room had almost burned out; Gaius’ voice having grown hoarse with use. Tired both physically and emotionally, Gaius took his leave and retired to bed.
An hour later found Arthur back in his room, starring out his bedroom window. He let his fingers run over the curves of the wooden dragon that lay nestled in his hands. It was the same one Balinor had made for Merlin, the dragon lord who was his servant’s father. He had told him that day “that no man is worth your tears,” but as he looked out at the twinkling stars, he couldn’t help but feel a familiar stinging at the corners of his eyes. He knew the truth now, and somehow it made the feeling of loss all the more unbearable. A choked sob escape his lips despite his best efforts. He clutched the rough carving to his chest, along with the neckerchief he had taken from the physician’s quarters. Unashamed in the privacy of his chambers, the prince shed tears for the only man he had found to be worth it.
A/N: Next chapter we find out what happens to Merlin :) I’d tell you the title, but it’d give it away lol!