TOAFK - The Sorcerer's Apprentice - Part I
Title: The Once and Future King
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Pretty Gen, like The Sword in the Stone, but with eventual (by fan vote) Merlin/Arthur and Gwen/Lancelot. Other pairings will be added as chapters with them are posted.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or its characters in any way, shape, or form.
Warnings/spoilers: up to 3x08
A/N: This is a sequel to The Sword in the Stone, and you should definitely read that before reading this.
Summary: Arthur knows of Merlin's magic, but their destiny has only begun. The journey to uniting the lands of Albion is long and filled with danger. Presented in 14 parts. Click Here for Masterpost.
Chapter Summary: Arthur makes a stunning announcement and Merlin's life will never be the same. Then a young boy comes to Camelot, hoping to become Merlin's apprentice…in magic. His intentions are cloudy, but when danger looms, Luke shows his true colors. Is Merlin's first apprentice good, or evil?
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Part IX - The Sorcerer's Apprentice
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Merlin looked at himself in the mirror and took a deep breath. His royal ceremony clothes looked foreign, alien. The rich blues of his shirt contrasted the black of his pants in a lovely way, but the cape of fabric hanging off his shoulders made him feel like a fool rather than nobility. Arthur's cape made him look regal and dashing, Merlin's made him look like a cheap imitation of royalty.
There was an affectionate sigh from behind him and then Gwen appeared in the mirror. "You look like you're about to attend a burning."
Merlin frowned. "I might be," he countered. "This is insane. Arthur is insane and I am insane for letting him go through with this!"
Gwen placed her hands on his shoulders comfortingly. The action felt stabilizing. She locked eyes with him in the mirror. "You know Arthur wouldn't do this if he didn't think it would turn out alright. He wouldn't do this if he thought it would put your life in danger." Merlin snorted derisively and Gwen shook him lightly. "You know I'm right, don't lie. Everything is going to be alright. I promise."
That was probably true. Arthur had grown more mature over the years, and he had become much more kingly since his father's death. Besides, they had talked about today's ceremony countless times since Arthur had become King. No, since Arthur had learned of Merlin's magic. They were ready for this.
Merlin just hoped the rest of the kingdom was ready for it too.
He sighed. "I still look like a fool," he muttered.
Gwen smiled. "I think I can help with that." She unhooked his cloak from around his shoulders and walked out of view. Merlin already liked the outfit better. In a moment Gwen was back, now with a familiar red fabric in her hands. "Here."
Merlin couldn't help but turn and smile at her. "Gwen, you're amazing," he complimented, accepting her gift. He frowned curiously at it once it was in his hands. "But this isn't mine." The fabric was much too rich.
"No." Gwen took the cloth back and proceeded to tie it around Merlin's neck. "I made this one specifically for today, to match your new clothes." She pulled her hands back once the neckerchief was in place and smiled. "You look much more like yourself now."
Merlin looked at himself in the mirror again and gave a slight smile. "Yeah. Thank you, Gwen." He turned and hugged her tightly. "Not just for today, but for everything."
Gwen smiled as she held him in return. "You're welcome," she said with a slight laugh in her voice. "Now you need to get going or you'll be late for the ceremony."
"Oh, right." Merlin pulled back. "I'll see you there."
Gwen nodded. "Of course. Good luck."
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Arthur looked out into the crowd gathered and took a deep breath. All of the nobility across Camelot were gathered, as well as those from Camelot's allies. Merlin was seated at the end of the first row, close to the middle of the room and right in Arthur's line of sight. He looked only mildly nervous, sitting a little too stiffly in his chair, though Arthur knew his manservant must be close to a breakdown. The closer to this day they had come the more nervous Merlin had become. At least Gwen had made sure he didn't put on the wrong robes this morning.
Wait. Was he wearing a neckerchief? The sight made Arthur smile and some of his own nerves fell away. No matter what happened, he was still Arthur's Merlin. Things were changing, both between them and throughout the kingdom, but at least that would never change. This was a big step they were taking, but it was for the good of Camelot. Everything would be okay.
"You are no doubt curious as to why I have gathered you all here today," Arthur began speaking, his voice rich and clear and strong. The coronation was only a few months behind them. "It is so that I may make a very important announcement, one that will affect the future of Camelot, followed by a grand feast to mark the occasion. Many of you probably remember the day I first pulled the sword from the stone."
There was a quiet murmur and most of the nobles nodded their heads to some degree. Arthur nodded in return.
"That day I was told a prophesy. I was told that there would be a sorcerer at my side when I ruled. A good and trustworthy magic user. That sorcerer would help me to govern the kingdom; to make the right decisions. Today I am announcing that I have found my sorcerer."
The murmur was less quiet this time and people were glancing at each other, interest and curiosity on every face; worry on some.
"Yes," Arthur said and the whole room fell silent. "Growing up under my father's great rule, there were times when I was not sure about having a sorcerer stand by my side, just as I'm sure many of you are thinking. But I know now that I need the help of a powerful and good sorcerer. Magic is a complicated trait; one that needs attention and knowledge that I do not possess. So today I am naming a Court Sorcerer. The Court Sorcerer will be in charge of all queries and concerns involving magic that may arise."
There was an undercurrent of concern in the room. These nobles and knights had lived under Uther's rule for so long, feared magic for so long, that it was no doubt hard for them to imagine giving such power to a magic user; to trust a sorcerer that much. Uther had once had a sorcerer in his court, Arthur knew, but those who knew of her would also remember the tales of her treachery.
"Now I know that you will be wary of a sorcerer, and I know that many of you might be wondering how I could trust a sorcerer so easily with so much power. But I know this sorcerer to be a good man and a friend to Camelot and its allies. At least in terms of magic, we are in safe hands," Arthur said almost off-handedly, gaining a fond eye roll from Merlin.
"Many witches and wizards have approached me since my proclamation that magic is no longer illegal. Each one wanted to take the spot of the sorcerer prophesized to stand beside me." Luckily most of them had calmly accepted Arthur's rejection of them without incident. "However I knew only one person could fill that spot, and I have no doubts whatsoever that I have chosen correctly. So, starting today, I introduce to you your Court Sorcerer: my manservant, Merlin."
He motioned to Merlin, who stood up and walked up the three steps to stand beside Arthur in front of the crowd. Everyone seemed uncomfortable with Arthur's choice. As Arthur had said, this was his manservant, a commoner with no obvious special talents. Arthur placed a hand on Merlin's shoulder and gave him a nod. Time to change their minds.
Merlin took a deep breath, faced the crowd, and let his eyes turn gold. He lifted his right hand and a moment later there was a flame cupped in his palm. The flame danced with the barest movement of Merlin's fingers, swirling, burning brighter, simmering at his whim. It jumped from one hand to the other like a living thing. Sparks flicked from the ends of the flame tongues and formed the shape of a small dragon, flying up into the air as it slowly burned out. Once the dragon was gone, Merlin shut his hand and the flame was extinguished. Merlin let out a shaking breath into the silent air of the great hall and lifted innocent blue eyes to the crowd of stunned onlookers.
At least his friends, the ones who knew about him, seemed proud of his show.
Arthur's voice cut through the silence like lightning through the sky, sudden and demanding all attention. "I don't care how you know Merlin. Yes he is my manservant, and he is a knowledgeable sorcerer. He is a good, trustworthy man, as most of you who have met him should know. He is also now the Court Sorcerer and you must treat him as you would treat me." The crowd didn't know whether to look at their king as he spoke or at the newly ousted sorcerer beside him. "Show him respect as you would any knight or lord of Camelot," he stated, but it was more of an order. "In time I know that you will all come to trust in Merlin as I do."
Arthur squeezed Merlin's shoulder and that was all the prompting Merlin needed. He bowed low to the gathered lords and knights and then moved to take his seat again. Every eye followed him as he went.
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"Since when are ya a sorcerer?" Gwaine asked.
Merlin jumped and turned to see his friend leaning on the wall by the doors to the Great Hall. Arthur had held him back after he dismissed the nobles and knights, and checked that Merlin was alright and to talk about the possible repercussions of this decision. He had even offered to post guards around the tower entrance to ensure his protection, though Merlin declined. Then he had offered Merlin to sleep in Arthur's chambers with him, and Merlin had stumbled his way to the door with an equally as fumbling refusal. Merlin hadn't been expecting to be ambushed as soon as he left the room.
"Gwaine! You startled me," he half-admonished, his heart rate jumping. Gwaine just lifted an eyebrow and Merlin shrugged. "Since forever."
"Even back when I firs' met ya?" the knight asked curiously. Merlin nodded. "An' tha' time when Arthur traveled ta Caerleon?" Another nod. "An' when-"
"Yes, Gwaine. Every time," Merlin preempted.
Gwaine shifted where he stood, from one leg to the other, and crossed his arms. He glanced down the hall each way. He looked uncomfortable.
"Does it bother you?" Merlin asked quietly.
He and Gwaine were close friends. Heck, Gwaine had even offered to flirt with him during the festival of love! Merlin had thought of how the kingdom would react to his secret, but he hadn't considered his friends. When Arthur had accepted his magic so easily, Merlin's main worries about how everyone else he knew would take it had slipped away. Until now. Would his magic come between him and Gwaine?
Gwaine shot Merlin an incredulous look. "The magic? Heck no. It's good, knowin' you can protect yerself. But why didn' ya tell me?" he asked, and it was just this side of a whine.
That made Merlin smile. He reached out and touched Gwaine's arm. "I couldn't tell anyone, not for a long time. Before Arthur was king, I would've been killed if my secret got out. If someone found out, it wasn't because I told them, but because I'd screwed up and got caught. Trust me, I would have told you if I could have."
His comments seemed to quell the anxiety inside Gwaine and the knight smiled, dropping his arms to his sides.
"Well then, I s'pose it's alright," he consented. "But in exchange fer keepin' me in the dark, ya have ta show me some of this magic o' yers."
"What?" Merlin let out as Gwaine grabbed him by the arm and dragged him down the hallway.
Gwaine nodded. "Hope Arthur didn' have any plans for ya today, because I'm kidnappin' ya."
Merlin let Gwaine pull him away, but it was more because he could tell Gwaine wasn't completely okay with Merlin's secret yet than anything else. He would do whatever it took to help Gwaine adjust and to keep his friendship.
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A figure in a faded green cloak entered the city of Camelot, pausing only briefly once inside the gates. They looked around at the stalls and houses of the lower town for a few moments and then made their way quickly but leisurely toward the castle itself. No one paid them any mind. No guards even glanced their way. Even though magic was made legal only days ago, security was horribly lax.
This would be too easy.
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Merlin was just grabbing his satchel to go collect herbs for Gaius when there was a knock at the door. He slipped the strap of his bag over his shoulder before answering. At the door was a guard, who gave a quick bow at the sight of him.
"My Lord Merlin, His Highness requests your presence in the throne room."
Merlin fought not to flinch. It was so strange, being called a Lord. He needed to get used to it though. He was Court Sorcerer now, and that changed Merlin's position in life. Even if he was still cleaning Arthur's bedroom each day.
"Alright. Lead the way," he said.
The guard gave a short nod and then turned and walked down the hall and stairs. Merlin followed him, even though he knew perfectly well how to get to the throne room on his own. They walked across the courtyard and into the main portion of the castle, and down a hallway. The guard stopped at the doors to the grand hall and stood with his arms at his sides, stoic and steady as a statue.
Merlin nodded at him. "Thank you."
He pushed open one of the doors to the hall and slipped inside. Arthur was standing just at the bottom of the stairs where his throne sat. He looked very serious, a frown etched deep on his face. There were four guards, forming a box around the sixth person in the room: a boy. He couldn't be more than fourteen, and had sandy colored hair. His wrists were tied behind his back with thick and sturdy rope and he was on his knees before the King.
He must be a sorcerer, since Merlin had been called in.
Arthur looked up as Merlin shut the door. "Ah, Merlin. Good of you to join us." Ever since the Spring Festival, Arthur had always greeted Merlin with a smile, as if he couldn't help the way his lips lifted at the mere sight of his servant. He wasn't smiling now.
Merlin nodded as he came up to stand by his king. "You sent for me?"
Arthur motioned to the boy before them. Now in front of the boy, Merlin could see his blue eyes. They were in such contrast to his light hair that at first Merlin thought they were black, instead of simply dark blue - like water so deep only the barest light could reach it. The boy's eyes narrowed at him. Arthur put his hands on his hips.
"Yes. It's only been two weeks and yet it seems you already have fans in the magical community." Arthur didn't sound particularly pleased about that. What had this boy done to annoy him?
"You can't be serious," the boy spat. "That isn't Merlin. You said you would let me see Merlin!" he shouted at Arthur. Oh, that could be it.
Arthur didn't tense nearly as much as Merlin did. He hated it whenever someone was rude to Arthur, and something about this boy's tone sounded dangerous. Arthur frowned.
"Trust me, this is Merlin." He opened his mouth to say more, but the boy interrupted him.
"No it isn't! He's too skinny and young and weak to be Merlin!"
Arthur rolled his eyes and turned to his manservant. "Would you please do something to prove yourself? I'm about to just throw him in the dungeons."
Merlin glanced at Arthur. The dungeons? But he was just a boy! He looked back at the boy, who was watching him with guarded eyes. After a quick glance around the room, Merlin decided to do something simple to prove himself. His eyes flashed gold for a moment and the ropes around the boy's hands severed.
"Not that!" Arthur shouted, but it was too late.
In a flash, the boy jumped up from the ground. He let out a shout, like Mordred had that day in the woods, and sent the guards flying backwards. Then he turned and ran for the guard farthest from Arthur on the right. Merlin's eyes flashed gold again and time slowed down around him.
He hurried to each guard, pulling them to the ground so they didn't hit anything and hurt themselves, and then grabbed the boy's arm as he released the spell and time sped up. The boy jolted to a stop and gasped, flipping to see who had him.
"What?" he let out, eyes wide.
Merlin frowned. "I'm sorry. Swebban."
With one more flash of gold, the boy's eyes rolled up into his head and he fell asleep. Merlin wrapped his arms around the boy as he went slack, slowly laying him on the ground.
"You really are an idiot, aren't you, Merlin?!" Arthur shouted as his guards stood back up, shaking themselves off. "We've got him tied up and you think 'Why not let the possible threat go free?'"
Merlin frowned at him. "Nothing bad happened."
"But what if it had?"
"It didn't and that's what matters!" Merlin shouted back.
Neither man seemed to care that the guards were watching them, not sure how to react. The King and the Court Sorcerer were fighting. Who do you support? He's the king, but the other one is a powerful sorcerer.
"That is not what matters!" Arthur growled.
"Yes it is," Merlin insisted. "Do you know how many good things would not have happened if I only acted when nothing bad could happen?"
Arthur shook his head with a deep, put upon sigh and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't think I even want to know," he said, anger mostly gone from his voice. He rubbed his face with his hands. "But really, what if he had attacked or hurt you? That was too risky. Could you not just make a fireball in your hand or...or float off the ground, or do that thing where you move really fast?"
Merlin's cheeks colored. Yeah, he could have done all of those things, but he hadn't thought of them. Arthur sighed again at Merlin's reaction, and it came out too fond to be an admonishment. He motioned to the boy at Merlin's feet.
"So what should we do with our boy magician, oh Court Sorcerer?" Arthur asked.
The guards calmed. The fight was over as suddenly as it began and no one had gotten hurt. The dynamic between Arthur and Merlin still confused them, confused everyone in Camelot really. They often argued like bitter enemies, yet took each other's counsel to heart and trusted each other with their lives. It had always been that way. Merlin being the Court Sorcerer only meant that now he didn't have to hold it in until they were in private - or what the two men thought was private but many in the castle overheard regardless.
Merlin looked the boy over once, slowly. "What did he do?"
"He came calling for you, and when a guard asked him what he wanted, he attacked him," Arthur explained. "Not with magic, just with his hands. The guards put manacles on him, but he seems to have the ability to unlock them, with magic. The guards tried three kinds of restraints before settling on rope. It seems his magic has no effect on rope."
"There's no lock on rope," Merlin explained with a shrug. Arthur raised an eyebrow at him and Merlin's cheeks heated up. "I've needed to get through locks and restraints enough times in the past," he said vaguely.
Arthur shook his head with a small smile. "I'm not surprised." He decided not to ask for examples. He would worry less if he just didn't know. "What do you propose we do with him?" he asked again.
"I'll take him up to Gaius's chambers, hold him there until he wakes up. When he does, we'll see what he wanted from me. It's possible he was coming asking for help," Merlin said.
For a moment, Arthur looked like he wanted to argue, but then he decided against it. He motioned for the guards and then to the boy. "Help Merlin get him up the tower." They hesitated and Arthur shot them all a pointed look. "Now."
They picked the boy up with caution, probably worried he would wake up again and attack them, and then headed out of the room.
"Make sure to tie him up with rope when you get there; to a chair or something," Merlin called after them.
When the doors closed, Arthur and Merlin were left alone in the throne room. Merlin slowly turned his eyes to face his king. More and more lately, prolonged eye contact with Arthur made Merlin blush, yet he couldn't stop staring. It was no different this time either. They stared at each other for a long moment in silence and, when Merlin felt his cheeks begin to burn with a flush while his heart raced and Arthur was just starting to smile about it, Arthur shook his head and broke eye contact with a deep inhale.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Merlin?" he asked, looking at one of the high windows.
Merlin gave a half shrug as his heart rate calmed. "Honestly? I'm not sure." Arthur rolled his eyes and focused on Merlin once more. "But he might actually need help, and if that's true, then I need to help him. He's just a child. When I was his age I felled a tree with magic and hit one of the elders of my village." Arthur winced and Merlin smiled. "He doesn't know it was magic, but he's never forgiven me for hitting him. But the point is that it was an accident. A childish mistake because I took on a bet from Will."
Arthur's gaze grew somber at the mention of Will. Merlin and he had talked about Will since Merlin had revealed his magic to Arthur. Arthur knew Will had not possessed magic. He had simply been a good man, protecting his friend's secret so that he could follow his destiny. Arthur was grateful to him. He had no idea what he would've done had he learned of Merlin's magic so early on in their friendship, before Arthur could even admit he felt anything other than a master's care for Merlin.
"I suppose," he relented. "Just make sure he doesn't hurt anyone." Merlin nodded. "Actually, come to think of it," Arthur let out at a sudden thought, "How did Will find out you were a sorcerer?"
Merlin blushed. "When I felled that tree, he saw it."
Arthur actually laughed outright. "Of course. You cheated in your bet."
For the briefest moment, Merlin looked angry at Arthur for laughing at him. Then he simply frowned. "Will accepted my magic really fast. He saw me fell that tree and...and it was like he'd known all along. He was mad I hadn't told him before, but after that one moment, he was planning how we could use it to play tricks on the other kids or mean old Miss Herders. It made us better friends."
Arthur frowned too. "You're thinking about Gwaine." He didn't have to guess. He'd seen how the two were acting around one another. Surprisingly, he didn't feel good knowing they were on the outs.
Merlin nodded. "He's barely spoken to me in two weeks. I mean, he said he was okay with my magic, but..."
Arthur took a step, closing the gap between them, and clasped Merlin's left shoulder in a comfortingly tight grip. It was the best comfort he knew how to give sometimes. Luckily, Merlin knew how to interpret all of Arthur's attempts at consolation and appreciated each one. When Merlin met his eyes, he nodded. "He'll come around. You two are friends, and this won't come between you. He just needs time to adjust."
Merlin grinned. "You reacted better than he has," he said like he was joking, but he wasn't. "It took you five minutes to accept what I was, and only three days to stop jumping whenever I lit the fire."
Arthur removed his hand from Merlin's shoulder. "Yes, but I'd known you for five years. I like to think I wasn't completely oblivious to what was going on around me, that I knew, somehow, that you were different."
"I'd like to think that too," Merlin admitted. "I mean, if you were that oblivious, you'd be a pretty lousy King. Oh wait."
He was rewarded with a punch on the arm just hard enough to send him stumbling, but he was still giggling softly when he regained his footing. And Arthur couldn't be mad when he did that.
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When the boy finally awoke, Merlin was busy helping Gaius with a potion. He startled awake and noticed he was sitting upright. He was seated in a high backed wooden chair, a table in front of him and his arms tied behind the chair. Merlin realized he was awake when he started struggling to free his hands. He tapped Gaius on the shoulder before moving away from the work table and toward their guest.
"Afternoon," Merlin greeted.
The boy stopped struggling immediately, his eyes shooting up to Merlin's face. Merlin crossed his arms and the boy's expression became vaguely frightened, but hiding it. He quickly uncrossed his arms again but the boy really didn't relax at all.
"Who are you?" Merlin asked, trying his best to sound friendly. If this kid needed help, he needed to trust Merlin. Gaius came to stand to Merlin's right.
The boy shook his head. "I'm a farmer's son. I want to study magic. I have magic," he stated definitively.
Merlin blinked. Well. He took a deep breath. "No, I mean, what is your name?"
"Oh. Um...Luke," the boy revealed in a murmur, his eyes drifting away. A moment passed and then Luke looked back up and directly into Merlin's eyes. "You're really Merlin?"
There was such hope in Luke's eyes. Merlin nodded almost numbly, not sure how to deal with that look. No one had ever looked at him that way before: like he was the key to all the secrets of the world. Well, Arthur had graced him with it briefly at times, whenever Merlin was particularly wise, but it wasn't the same coming from Luke. Luke's gaze only grew more hopeful with Merlin's answer. Merlin cleared his throat, uncomfortable, and rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced at Gaius, hoping for guidance.
Gaius took a breath. "The King said you came calling for Merlin," he said, taking over. "What did you need from him?"
Luke's expression turned stony in an instant. "And who are you?"
Merlin frowned. "He's my mentor and he has magic too," he stated. This kid had an attitude problem.
Luke frowned, confused. "You have a mentor?" he asked incredulously. "But you said you were Merlin!" he accused. "You're supposed to be this legendary warlock - the sorcerer that stands at the right hand of the king, who brought magic back to the land!"
"Everyone learns from someone," Merlin said, crossing his arms again. "I have a lot of power, that's true, but someone had to teach me how to use it. Gaius helped teach me to control my powers."
Gaius's eyes widened a bit. "Do you want Merlin to teach you magic?" he asked, sounding enlightened.
Luke's own eyes widened momentarily before he looked away from them again. After what seemed to be an internal battle, he gave a sad looking nod. "Yeah."
Gaius and Merlin shared a long look.
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They were in. No one suspected a thing. Soon, King Arthur would be within their grasp. Then he would be gone, and the true heir to Albion could take their place upon the throne of Camelot.
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And because LiveJournal is once again saying my post is "too large" - Here's part two!