Wild Winter Stars (7/?)
Title: Wild Winter Stars
Fandom: Merlin
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Gaius, Gwen, Morgana, Gwaine, Percival, Mordred, OMC
Rated: PG-13
Word Count: 737
Summary: “That Arthur has not always existed seems odd to me. Like the wind on the moors and the wild winter stars, surely he has always lived . . . and always will.” ― Stephen R. Lawhead, Arthur A man tortured by Morgana is left outside Camelot to taunt Arthur. Merlin, Gwaine and Percival along with the recovered man go to spy on Morgana.
Author's Note: This is a sequel to A Word for Forgotten Songs. The original character is from one of my series and I kinda place him in lots of fandoms. His original series starts here. The story is set in series 5, somewhat early on. It's unbeta'd so all mistakes are my own.
One Two Three Four Five Six
About five days or so after he woke - it was hard to judge when he was asleep most of the time - Alan was propped up in bed reading some history book Gaius had found for him regarding the history of the area and magic. He figured it would help him understand the mindset of the citizens. Merlin was reading through a spell book in the hopes of finding something to use against Morgana. It was just the two of them as Gaius had been called to help with a sick child in the town.
Alan put down the book and sighed. [Do you think Kilgarrah would talk to me?]
“He might. I’ll have to see what I can do.”
[Reforming the laws will tie in to your destiny, won’t it?]
“Yes, but I don’t think it will be my destiny if you make the changes.”
Alan had to admit he hadn’t thought of it like that. Would his assisting mar the fated destiny of legend or would it be what forged it? That was one of the main dilemmas of time travel and foreknowledge. [All right. I’ll concentrate on the legal side of things while you try to help Arthur come to terms with everything. That way, when he’s ready, the laws will be too.]
Merlin seemed to consider the idea. “I think that’ll be all right.”
[Then you’ll talk to him for me?]
“I will, but I can’t make him do anything.”
Alan smiled. [Thank you.]
There was a knock on the door and a knight walked in. He was barely twenty and looked like a kid raiding the costume trunk. He looked at Alan and then at Merlin. The sorcerer did not seem pleased at the new arrival.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you. I wanted to meet your guest, having heard the stories.”
[What stories?] he asked Merlin. He cocked his head in a visual cue so the knight wouldn’t be suspicious when Merlin answered.
“Just from the last time you were here and your imprisonment.”
“He really can’t talk?” The younger man looked to Merlin. “Haven’t you tried to heal him?”
To Alan it was a weird question for someone to ask a physician’s apprentice. He quirked an eyebrow at Merlin, asking for clarification.
“Of course I’ve been working on him,” he explained. “I can’t do it all at once without arousing suspicion.” Merlin faced Alan. “He knows so everyone can speak freely.”
[‘Speak’ being the operative word.]
The knight’s mouth opened and closed like a stunned fish. “You can speak with your mind as well? Are you a Druid?”
[What? Druids? They’re really magic?]
“Of course they’re magic,” Merlin stated. “That’s why they live in the forests, at least under the Pendragons. You’ve never come across them in your travels?”
[I’ve heard of them, yeah, but they were always talked about as stories, something only whispered about. I never realized that aspect was true.]
“Mordred is a Druid. We met when he was a boy and Uther wanted to execute him. Arthur, Morgana and I smuggled him from the city.”
No, no no! The blood drained from his face. This kid is Mordred? This is the one who would kill Arthur? Does Merlin know? Is that why he’s acting so distant? Why is he even in Camelot? His heart was pounding in his chest and he felt lightheaded. Is this what a panic attack feels like?
“Alan? Alan!”
He blinked a couple of times and became aware of Merlin gripping his shoulders. [What happened?]
“I thought you were going to pass out on me. You were having trouble breathing and sheet-white.”
[What happened to Mordred?]
“I had him leave since you were having some sort of attack.”
Alan sighed and closed his eyes. How was he to broach this?
“You know about Mordred, don’t you?”
Alan stared into blue eyes. [You know about him too? Why is he even here then?]
“Kilgarrah warned me about him that first time, but he was a child. I couldn’t let him be executed.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “He saved Arthur and helped us escape from Morgana and for that, Arthur knighted him. I’m keeping an eye on him in hope that Fate can be changed.”
The topic settled for the present, they fell back into silence, resuming their tasks. That was how Gaius found them when he returned two hours later.
Next Chapter
Fandom: Merlin
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Gaius, Gwen, Morgana, Gwaine, Percival, Mordred, OMC
Rated: PG-13
Word Count: 737
Summary: “That Arthur has not always existed seems odd to me. Like the wind on the moors and the wild winter stars, surely he has always lived . . . and always will.” ― Stephen R. Lawhead, Arthur A man tortured by Morgana is left outside Camelot to taunt Arthur. Merlin, Gwaine and Percival along with the recovered man go to spy on Morgana.
Author's Note: This is a sequel to A Word for Forgotten Songs. The original character is from one of my series and I kinda place him in lots of fandoms. His original series starts here. The story is set in series 5, somewhat early on. It's unbeta'd so all mistakes are my own.
One Two Three Four Five Six
About five days or so after he woke - it was hard to judge when he was asleep most of the time - Alan was propped up in bed reading some history book Gaius had found for him regarding the history of the area and magic. He figured it would help him understand the mindset of the citizens. Merlin was reading through a spell book in the hopes of finding something to use against Morgana. It was just the two of them as Gaius had been called to help with a sick child in the town.
Alan put down the book and sighed. [Do you think Kilgarrah would talk to me?]
“He might. I’ll have to see what I can do.”
[Reforming the laws will tie in to your destiny, won’t it?]
“Yes, but I don’t think it will be my destiny if you make the changes.”
Alan had to admit he hadn’t thought of it like that. Would his assisting mar the fated destiny of legend or would it be what forged it? That was one of the main dilemmas of time travel and foreknowledge. [All right. I’ll concentrate on the legal side of things while you try to help Arthur come to terms with everything. That way, when he’s ready, the laws will be too.]
Merlin seemed to consider the idea. “I think that’ll be all right.”
[Then you’ll talk to him for me?]
“I will, but I can’t make him do anything.”
Alan smiled. [Thank you.]
There was a knock on the door and a knight walked in. He was barely twenty and looked like a kid raiding the costume trunk. He looked at Alan and then at Merlin. The sorcerer did not seem pleased at the new arrival.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you. I wanted to meet your guest, having heard the stories.”
[What stories?] he asked Merlin. He cocked his head in a visual cue so the knight wouldn’t be suspicious when Merlin answered.
“Just from the last time you were here and your imprisonment.”
“He really can’t talk?” The younger man looked to Merlin. “Haven’t you tried to heal him?”
To Alan it was a weird question for someone to ask a physician’s apprentice. He quirked an eyebrow at Merlin, asking for clarification.
“Of course I’ve been working on him,” he explained. “I can’t do it all at once without arousing suspicion.” Merlin faced Alan. “He knows so everyone can speak freely.”
[‘Speak’ being the operative word.]
The knight’s mouth opened and closed like a stunned fish. “You can speak with your mind as well? Are you a Druid?”
[What? Druids? They’re really magic?]
“Of course they’re magic,” Merlin stated. “That’s why they live in the forests, at least under the Pendragons. You’ve never come across them in your travels?”
[I’ve heard of them, yeah, but they were always talked about as stories, something only whispered about. I never realized that aspect was true.]
“Mordred is a Druid. We met when he was a boy and Uther wanted to execute him. Arthur, Morgana and I smuggled him from the city.”
No, no no! The blood drained from his face. This kid is Mordred? This is the one who would kill Arthur? Does Merlin know? Is that why he’s acting so distant? Why is he even in Camelot? His heart was pounding in his chest and he felt lightheaded. Is this what a panic attack feels like?
“Alan? Alan!”
He blinked a couple of times and became aware of Merlin gripping his shoulders. [What happened?]
“I thought you were going to pass out on me. You were having trouble breathing and sheet-white.”
[What happened to Mordred?]
“I had him leave since you were having some sort of attack.”
Alan sighed and closed his eyes. How was he to broach this?
“You know about Mordred, don’t you?”
Alan stared into blue eyes. [You know about him too? Why is he even here then?]
“Kilgarrah warned me about him that first time, but he was a child. I couldn’t let him be executed.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “He saved Arthur and helped us escape from Morgana and for that, Arthur knighted him. I’m keeping an eye on him in hope that Fate can be changed.”
The topic settled for the present, they fell back into silence, resuming their tasks. That was how Gaius found them when he returned two hours later.
Next Chapter