{fic} Once Upon a Dream
Okay. I promised myself I wouldn't but I can't help it. I've written Merlin fic.
Pleasedon'tjudgeme.
On that note, I have several points:
+ this is my first foray into Merlin fic so please be gentle
+ this is my first attempt at slash ohmygod.
+ I blame an upbringing almost solely dependent on Disney and fairy tales for this
+ I also blame i_claudia for being interested in this crack.
Anyone on my f-list (i.e. the vast majority of you) who doesn't give a flying frick about Merlin and the prettiness boy love totally gay overtones of this show (and my ridiculous obsession with it) please shuffle along and pretend this didn't happen. Kthnxbai.
Once Upon a Dream (Prologue)
fandom: merlin
pairing: merlin/arthur...duh
rating: g. so far. we'll see.
warnings/spoilers: nothing really. yet. except general series/character knowledge and for the vague story of sleeping beauty.
notes: parts of this have been lifted entirely from the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty which I do not own. I don't own these characters either (that title still belongs to the BBC) and apologise profusely for any butchering of them I do. ALSO. THIS IS PURE CRACK. JUST SAYING.
summary: Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, a beautiful prince was born ... a prince destined by a terrible curse to fall into an eternal sleep and become Sleeping Beauty. Masterful fandom manipulation and a completely warped mind enrich the romantic, humorous and suspenseful story of the lovely Princess Prince Arthur, the magical Gaius, Gwen and Morgana, and the valiant Merlin, who vows to save his beloved prince. Merlin's bravery and devotion are challenged when he must confront the overwhelming forces of evil conjured up by the wicked and terrifying Nimueh. Embark on a spectacular adventure of unprecedented scale and excitement in this thrilling, timeless Disney Cracktastic!
In a far away land, long ago, lived a king and his fair queen. Many years had they longed for a child and finally their wish was granted. A son was born, and they called him Arthur for within him lay the strength reunite the great land of Albion. Then a great holiday was proclaimed throughout the kingdom, so that all of high or low estate might pay homage to the infant prince. And our story begins on that most joyful day...
King Uther reached for his wife’s hand as the trumpeters heralded the arrival of the guests. They came in droves: nobles, gentry, merchants and peasants alike. The line of well-wishers extended all the way from the palace receiving room to the outskirts of the city gates. On bended knee, each citizen of the land of Camelot swore fealty to the tuft of blonde hair barely visible above the ornate cradle and passed on into the Great Hall for the celebrations.
And thus, the revelry began with feasting, merriment and free flowing wine to be had by all. To the left of the King sat his beloved Queen Igraine and between the Royal couple the newborn prince dozed, his clear blue eyes masked by sleep. To the King’s left, Ulfric of the East Anglians sat with his infant daughter. Fondly had these monarchs dreamed that one day their kingdoms would unite. Thus today would they announce that Sophia, Ulfric’s daughter and heir, to Uther's child would be betrothed. And so to him her gift she brought, and looked, unknowing, on her future groom.
The King stood. ‘People of Camelot,’ he began, ‘today is a truly wondrous occasion. For years I had thought it my ill luck to relinquish my crown to one not of my own blood. I feared I would never be blessed with any son or daughter to whom I could pass my throne. Against the odds, my dear beloved Queen, who was cursed to be barren, has produced an heir. Mark this day, good citizens, for you have witnessed a miracle.
‘To his highness, Prince Arthur!’ the King toasted, raising his cup.
‘To Arthur!’ the people of Camelot proclaimed.
The celebrations continued throughout the day and well into the night until finally, all rites but the bestowing of the gifts had taken place. The king had invited all of the most powerful sorcerers in the land to lay their hands over the child and, as was custom, present the heir with a gift. At the eleventh hour, the great doors of the hall swept open of their own accord and, led by Gaius, the King’s Chief Advisor and Magician, a dozen wizards assembled before the royal party.
‘Your most honoured and exalted Excellencies, the magicians of Camelot!’ Gaius announced.
There was a collective sweeping of robes as the assembly bowed. ‘Your Majesties,’ they murmured in unison.
‘Each of us may bless the child with a single gift. No more, no less,’ Gaius informed them, as he gestured the first wizard to step forward.
And so, the prince was gifted with sky blue eyes and beauty rare, with lips of rose and sun-kissed hair. With skill in sword and valour bold, with peerless grace and heart of gold.
With strength of mind and body dually blessed, the magician Anhora was just gifting the prince with bountiful charm when a gust of cold wind swept through the hall and, from a cloud of black smoke, the figure of a woman appeared.
‘It’s Nimueh!’ the Queen exclaimed.
‘My, my my,’ Nimueh sneered. Her absurdly blue eyes swept over the stunned faces of the crowd who took in her tattered scarlet dress and dazzlingly white skin with a mixture of fear and apprehension.
‘Oh, now look at all these terrified faces,’ she laughed, a terrible silvery tinkle that sent shivers down the spine. ‘I was under the impression that this was a party.’
She sauntered up to the line of wizards, eyes roving intently over the King and Queen and royal guests.
‘Although, I really was quite distressed at not receiving an invitation,’ she added, her gaze coming to rest on the infant prince.
‘You weren’t wanted!’ the King exclaimed, abruptly placing himself in front of the cradle.
‘Not wa...? Oh dear, what an awkward situation. I had hoped it was merely due to some oversight. Well, in that event I'd best be on my way,’ Nimueh sighed.
‘You’re not offended?’ the Queen asked tentatively. The smirk on Nimueh’s face softened for just a moment.
‘Why no, your majesty,’ she curtseyed slightly and turned from the Queen. ‘And to show I bear no ill will, I, too, shall bestow a gift on the child.’ Instinctively, the magicians stepped back towards the child, forming a protective circle.
‘Listen well, all of you!’ Nimueh cried. ‘The prince shall indeed grow in grace and beauty, beloved by all who know him. But, mark my words. By the time the clock strikes midnight on the day Prince Arthur comes of age, he will die at the hands of a sorcerer!’
There was a collective gasp and Nimueh grinned, black smoke rising from the ground to engulf her. With a final reverberating laugh, she disappeared.
‘No!’ the Queen exclaimed, collapsing in sobs. The King turned to Gaius, his face grave.
‘Tell me this can be undone,’ he said quietly. Gaius looked at him sadly. ‘TELL ME!’ he roared.
‘I’m sorry sire,’ the magician answered dejectedly. ‘You did neglect to invite her to The Blessing. She’s quite within her rights to curse the child.’
The Queen stood and cradled her child in her arms, tears spilling over onto the baby’s face. The King looked murderous.
‘There is only one solution,’ he decided, turning to Gaius. ‘Find every sorcerer in the kingdom,’ he said, fury in his eyes. ‘Burn them.’
Gaius’s eyes widened. ‘My Lord-’
‘What better solution do you have?’ Uther shouted.
‘I have yet to give my gift, sire,’ Gaius explained quietly.
Uther clutched the magician’s hands. ‘You can reverse this? Undo this terrible curse?’
Gaius shook his head. ‘This magic is greater than I, my Lord. Even I have not the power to overturn such a spell.’ The king’s expression was thunderous. ‘I can, however, alter it to be less drastic. For on the day of his majority, the Prince must indeed meet a sorcerer.’
The hall was silent as Gaius turned to the sleeping child. ‘But sweet prince, if through this wicked witch’s charm a sorcerer should do you harm, a ray of hope there still may be. For in this, the gift I give to thee, not in death but just in sleep the fateful prophecy you'll keep, and from this slumber you shall wake when true love's kiss the spell shall break.’
‘Thank you,’ the King said, ‘but preventative measures must still be taken.’ And addressing the entire court he declared, ‘from henceforth, the practice of magic in Camelot shall be forbidden.’
‘Sire, you cannot possibly-‘ Gaius began.
‘It is my kingdom!’ the King silenced him.
‘But-‘ one of the wizards started.
‘HE IS MY ONLY SON!’ Uther cried out.
Still fearful of his son's life, the king decreed that all magic be banished from the kingdom and a penalty of death imposed on any such person caught in such practice.
So it was done.
.o.
In the coming months the Queen, still greatly weakened by childbirth, took ill. Her sickly pallor and loss of appetite refused to recede until her gowns hung off her bony frame and she was barely able to stand. Coupled with the anxiety of her son’s curse and stress over a suitable regimented security arrangement, it was clear that the Queen’s sickness would not pass and, soon enough, she was laid to rest.
With the death of his beloved wife, the King became more and more distraught until the battle against magic consumed him. He had lost his wife to this curse; he would not lose his son. Uther convinced himself that it was evil, and hunted down every book of sorcery; every scrap of magical knowledge in the kingdom was burned and destroyed.
Too, a large number of sorcerers were burnt or executed for crimes ranging from refusing to renounce their magic to the teaching of magic, even simply consorting with those suspected of magical doings became a crime. Not even those who had once had Royal favour were exempt from Uther’s relentless campaign against magic. Anhora, the eleventh wizard at The Blessing, was captured only a month after the new regime began its force. He had used his magic to save a drowning child and thus was executed the very same day.
A search for Nimueh was established, specialised soldiers employed to comb the kingdom for the renegade witch. After a long year of seeking, of searching country sides and mountains and every conceivable hiding place in the kingdom, there was still no trace of her. In the meantime, a frenzy of burnings and hangings and executions had swept through the nation until no evidence of magic could be seen.
It was as though magic had never existed in Camelot.
.o.
Due to the fear created by this merciless and unforgiving eradication of sorcery, it was not until five years later, at the peak of this so-called ‘peaceful’ time, that insurgent forces, with suspected help from the neighbouring regions, began to form small rebel groups and dissent the magic-less rule. While no successful attempts on the life of the Prince were made, several serious threats to his safety occurred and Gaius began to seriously worry about the fate of the child.
‘It is worse than we expected sire,’ Gaius concluded in a private audience with the King one evening.
‘How so?’ the King asked, glancing up distractedly from a recent report from the East Anglian ambassador.
‘It has come to my attention that there are a number of you wizards and witches in the vicinity of the kingdom who would aim to harm Arthur as revenge for the deaths of their parents. This Edwin of Muron for example, he was able to access the kitchens with poison before he was caught, and this was just last month,’ the Chief Advisor explained, gently prying the scroll away from the king.
‘That close?’ Uther asked, horrified.
‘I’m afraid so my Lord.’
‘But what can we do? The laws about wizards and magic are still in place. We can do nothing more than seek them out and put them to death.’
‘I have a suggestion, if I may,’ Gaius began cautiously.
The King waved a gloved hand. ‘Go on then.’
‘You have recently acquired a ward, have you not?’
‘Yes,’ the King said impatiently. ‘Morgana. Her father was one of the knights on the first quest to seek out Nimueh.’
‘Of course my Lord. It could be said that she does not enjoy castle life,’ Gaius continued, ‘and may want to return to a simpler living.’
Uther scowled. ‘What does this have to do with anything?’
‘Well sire, as of yet, no one at court knows that Morgana is the only child of the late Sir Le Fay and as such, if two children were relocated to the country side, it would be far from suspicious. ‘
‘Are you suggesting that I send my son, future king of Camelot, to live in the country side? Unprotected?’ the King said, outraged.
‘It would be far safer for him to be an anonymous boy living on the country side than to be the Prince, living as a target in his own castle,’ Gaius reasoned. ‘And he will not be unprotected. I shall, of course, accompany the children and we can arrange for a knight or two with us if we are discreet.’
The King’s fuming face calmed a little. ‘You are sure this will work?’
‘We need only stay hidden until the evening of Arthur’s twenty first birthday arrives. On that night, I shall return him to the castle and we shall celebrate the passing of the curse.’
‘But the danger-’ the King began to argue.
‘The only sorcerer possibly strong enough to trace Arthur to our location would be Nimueh. And she is searching for a Prince, not an elderly uncle and his two wards,’ Gaius countered.
Sadly, the King had to agree. There were no more options. Arthur was certainly in more danger in the Palace where all knew he was there than as a simple country boy whom no one knew was a Prince at all.
And thus it was, as Arthur and Morgana were strapped to their ponies and lead out of the city gates in the dead of night, the King looked on with a heavy heart and said goodbye to the future of Camelot.
.o.
Pleasedon'tjudgeme.
On that note, I have several points:
+ this is my first foray into Merlin fic so please be gentle
+ this is my first attempt at slash ohmygod.
+ I blame an upbringing almost solely dependent on Disney and fairy tales for this
+ I also blame i_claudia for being interested in this crack.
Anyone on my f-list (i.e. the vast majority of you) who doesn't give a flying frick about Merlin and the prettiness boy love totally gay overtones of this show (and my ridiculous obsession with it) please shuffle along and pretend this didn't happen. Kthnxbai.
Once Upon a Dream (Prologue)
fandom: merlin
pairing: merlin/arthur...duh
rating: g. so far. we'll see.
warnings/spoilers: nothing really. yet. except general series/character knowledge and for the vague story of sleeping beauty.
notes: parts of this have been lifted entirely from the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty which I do not own. I don't own these characters either (that title still belongs to the BBC) and apologise profusely for any butchering of them I do. ALSO. THIS IS PURE CRACK. JUST SAYING.
summary: Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, a beautiful prince was born ... a prince destined by a terrible curse to fall into an eternal sleep and become Sleeping Beauty. Masterful fandom manipulation and a completely warped mind enrich the romantic, humorous and suspenseful story of the lovely Princess Prince Arthur, the magical Gaius, Gwen and Morgana, and the valiant Merlin, who vows to save his beloved prince. Merlin's bravery and devotion are challenged when he must confront the overwhelming forces of evil conjured up by the wicked and terrifying Nimueh. Embark on a spectacular adventure of unprecedented scale and excitement in this thrilling, timeless Disney Cracktastic!
In a far away land, long ago, lived a king and his fair queen. Many years had they longed for a child and finally their wish was granted. A son was born, and they called him Arthur for within him lay the strength reunite the great land of Albion. Then a great holiday was proclaimed throughout the kingdom, so that all of high or low estate might pay homage to the infant prince. And our story begins on that most joyful day...
King Uther reached for his wife’s hand as the trumpeters heralded the arrival of the guests. They came in droves: nobles, gentry, merchants and peasants alike. The line of well-wishers extended all the way from the palace receiving room to the outskirts of the city gates. On bended knee, each citizen of the land of Camelot swore fealty to the tuft of blonde hair barely visible above the ornate cradle and passed on into the Great Hall for the celebrations.
And thus, the revelry began with feasting, merriment and free flowing wine to be had by all. To the left of the King sat his beloved Queen Igraine and between the Royal couple the newborn prince dozed, his clear blue eyes masked by sleep. To the King’s left, Ulfric of the East Anglians sat with his infant daughter. Fondly had these monarchs dreamed that one day their kingdoms would unite. Thus today would they announce that Sophia, Ulfric’s daughter and heir, to Uther's child would be betrothed. And so to him her gift she brought, and looked, unknowing, on her future groom.
The King stood. ‘People of Camelot,’ he began, ‘today is a truly wondrous occasion. For years I had thought it my ill luck to relinquish my crown to one not of my own blood. I feared I would never be blessed with any son or daughter to whom I could pass my throne. Against the odds, my dear beloved Queen, who was cursed to be barren, has produced an heir. Mark this day, good citizens, for you have witnessed a miracle.
‘To his highness, Prince Arthur!’ the King toasted, raising his cup.
‘To Arthur!’ the people of Camelot proclaimed.
The celebrations continued throughout the day and well into the night until finally, all rites but the bestowing of the gifts had taken place. The king had invited all of the most powerful sorcerers in the land to lay their hands over the child and, as was custom, present the heir with a gift. At the eleventh hour, the great doors of the hall swept open of their own accord and, led by Gaius, the King’s Chief Advisor and Magician, a dozen wizards assembled before the royal party.
‘Your most honoured and exalted Excellencies, the magicians of Camelot!’ Gaius announced.
There was a collective sweeping of robes as the assembly bowed. ‘Your Majesties,’ they murmured in unison.
‘Each of us may bless the child with a single gift. No more, no less,’ Gaius informed them, as he gestured the first wizard to step forward.
And so, the prince was gifted with sky blue eyes and beauty rare, with lips of rose and sun-kissed hair. With skill in sword and valour bold, with peerless grace and heart of gold.
With strength of mind and body dually blessed, the magician Anhora was just gifting the prince with bountiful charm when a gust of cold wind swept through the hall and, from a cloud of black smoke, the figure of a woman appeared.
‘It’s Nimueh!’ the Queen exclaimed.
‘My, my my,’ Nimueh sneered. Her absurdly blue eyes swept over the stunned faces of the crowd who took in her tattered scarlet dress and dazzlingly white skin with a mixture of fear and apprehension.
‘Oh, now look at all these terrified faces,’ she laughed, a terrible silvery tinkle that sent shivers down the spine. ‘I was under the impression that this was a party.’
She sauntered up to the line of wizards, eyes roving intently over the King and Queen and royal guests.
‘Although, I really was quite distressed at not receiving an invitation,’ she added, her gaze coming to rest on the infant prince.
‘You weren’t wanted!’ the King exclaimed, abruptly placing himself in front of the cradle.
‘Not wa...? Oh dear, what an awkward situation. I had hoped it was merely due to some oversight. Well, in that event I'd best be on my way,’ Nimueh sighed.
‘You’re not offended?’ the Queen asked tentatively. The smirk on Nimueh’s face softened for just a moment.
‘Why no, your majesty,’ she curtseyed slightly and turned from the Queen. ‘And to show I bear no ill will, I, too, shall bestow a gift on the child.’ Instinctively, the magicians stepped back towards the child, forming a protective circle.
‘Listen well, all of you!’ Nimueh cried. ‘The prince shall indeed grow in grace and beauty, beloved by all who know him. But, mark my words. By the time the clock strikes midnight on the day Prince Arthur comes of age, he will die at the hands of a sorcerer!’
There was a collective gasp and Nimueh grinned, black smoke rising from the ground to engulf her. With a final reverberating laugh, she disappeared.
‘No!’ the Queen exclaimed, collapsing in sobs. The King turned to Gaius, his face grave.
‘Tell me this can be undone,’ he said quietly. Gaius looked at him sadly. ‘TELL ME!’ he roared.
‘I’m sorry sire,’ the magician answered dejectedly. ‘You did neglect to invite her to The Blessing. She’s quite within her rights to curse the child.’
The Queen stood and cradled her child in her arms, tears spilling over onto the baby’s face. The King looked murderous.
‘There is only one solution,’ he decided, turning to Gaius. ‘Find every sorcerer in the kingdom,’ he said, fury in his eyes. ‘Burn them.’
Gaius’s eyes widened. ‘My Lord-’
‘What better solution do you have?’ Uther shouted.
‘I have yet to give my gift, sire,’ Gaius explained quietly.
Uther clutched the magician’s hands. ‘You can reverse this? Undo this terrible curse?’
Gaius shook his head. ‘This magic is greater than I, my Lord. Even I have not the power to overturn such a spell.’ The king’s expression was thunderous. ‘I can, however, alter it to be less drastic. For on the day of his majority, the Prince must indeed meet a sorcerer.’
The hall was silent as Gaius turned to the sleeping child. ‘But sweet prince, if through this wicked witch’s charm a sorcerer should do you harm, a ray of hope there still may be. For in this, the gift I give to thee, not in death but just in sleep the fateful prophecy you'll keep, and from this slumber you shall wake when true love's kiss the spell shall break.’
‘Thank you,’ the King said, ‘but preventative measures must still be taken.’ And addressing the entire court he declared, ‘from henceforth, the practice of magic in Camelot shall be forbidden.’
‘Sire, you cannot possibly-‘ Gaius began.
‘It is my kingdom!’ the King silenced him.
‘But-‘ one of the wizards started.
‘HE IS MY ONLY SON!’ Uther cried out.
Still fearful of his son's life, the king decreed that all magic be banished from the kingdom and a penalty of death imposed on any such person caught in such practice.
So it was done.
.o.
In the coming months the Queen, still greatly weakened by childbirth, took ill. Her sickly pallor and loss of appetite refused to recede until her gowns hung off her bony frame and she was barely able to stand. Coupled with the anxiety of her son’s curse and stress over a suitable regimented security arrangement, it was clear that the Queen’s sickness would not pass and, soon enough, she was laid to rest.
With the death of his beloved wife, the King became more and more distraught until the battle against magic consumed him. He had lost his wife to this curse; he would not lose his son. Uther convinced himself that it was evil, and hunted down every book of sorcery; every scrap of magical knowledge in the kingdom was burned and destroyed.
Too, a large number of sorcerers were burnt or executed for crimes ranging from refusing to renounce their magic to the teaching of magic, even simply consorting with those suspected of magical doings became a crime. Not even those who had once had Royal favour were exempt from Uther’s relentless campaign against magic. Anhora, the eleventh wizard at The Blessing, was captured only a month after the new regime began its force. He had used his magic to save a drowning child and thus was executed the very same day.
A search for Nimueh was established, specialised soldiers employed to comb the kingdom for the renegade witch. After a long year of seeking, of searching country sides and mountains and every conceivable hiding place in the kingdom, there was still no trace of her. In the meantime, a frenzy of burnings and hangings and executions had swept through the nation until no evidence of magic could be seen.
It was as though magic had never existed in Camelot.
.o.
Due to the fear created by this merciless and unforgiving eradication of sorcery, it was not until five years later, at the peak of this so-called ‘peaceful’ time, that insurgent forces, with suspected help from the neighbouring regions, began to form small rebel groups and dissent the magic-less rule. While no successful attempts on the life of the Prince were made, several serious threats to his safety occurred and Gaius began to seriously worry about the fate of the child.
‘It is worse than we expected sire,’ Gaius concluded in a private audience with the King one evening.
‘How so?’ the King asked, glancing up distractedly from a recent report from the East Anglian ambassador.
‘It has come to my attention that there are a number of you wizards and witches in the vicinity of the kingdom who would aim to harm Arthur as revenge for the deaths of their parents. This Edwin of Muron for example, he was able to access the kitchens with poison before he was caught, and this was just last month,’ the Chief Advisor explained, gently prying the scroll away from the king.
‘That close?’ Uther asked, horrified.
‘I’m afraid so my Lord.’
‘But what can we do? The laws about wizards and magic are still in place. We can do nothing more than seek them out and put them to death.’
‘I have a suggestion, if I may,’ Gaius began cautiously.
The King waved a gloved hand. ‘Go on then.’
‘You have recently acquired a ward, have you not?’
‘Yes,’ the King said impatiently. ‘Morgana. Her father was one of the knights on the first quest to seek out Nimueh.’
‘Of course my Lord. It could be said that she does not enjoy castle life,’ Gaius continued, ‘and may want to return to a simpler living.’
Uther scowled. ‘What does this have to do with anything?’
‘Well sire, as of yet, no one at court knows that Morgana is the only child of the late Sir Le Fay and as such, if two children were relocated to the country side, it would be far from suspicious. ‘
‘Are you suggesting that I send my son, future king of Camelot, to live in the country side? Unprotected?’ the King said, outraged.
‘It would be far safer for him to be an anonymous boy living on the country side than to be the Prince, living as a target in his own castle,’ Gaius reasoned. ‘And he will not be unprotected. I shall, of course, accompany the children and we can arrange for a knight or two with us if we are discreet.’
The King’s fuming face calmed a little. ‘You are sure this will work?’
‘We need only stay hidden until the evening of Arthur’s twenty first birthday arrives. On that night, I shall return him to the castle and we shall celebrate the passing of the curse.’
‘But the danger-’ the King began to argue.
‘The only sorcerer possibly strong enough to trace Arthur to our location would be Nimueh. And she is searching for a Prince, not an elderly uncle and his two wards,’ Gaius countered.
Sadly, the King had to agree. There were no more options. Arthur was certainly in more danger in the Palace where all knew he was there than as a simple country boy whom no one knew was a Prince at all.
And thus it was, as Arthur and Morgana were strapped to their ponies and lead out of the city gates in the dead of night, the King looked on with a heavy heart and said goodbye to the future of Camelot.
.o.