When Arthur Found Out - Past - Part B
Here is the second part of the Past fics. Do not vote in this post!
Story F (Rating G - 616 Words)
It really should’ve been the Questing Beast, or the constant too close calls, or the winds in Ealdor, or the glowing ball of blue light, or the
blasted dragon that caused Arthur to confront his manservant about being a sorcerer, any of those obvious, blatant acts. It should not have
been a pair of his boots floating over to his bed. For one thing it was too early in the morning, and this being Merlin, Arthur hadn’t even had his breakfast, yet.
“Merlin?” Arthur asked half asleep and more than a little annoyed.
“Yes?” his manservant answered hesitantly.
“Is there a good reason my hunting boots are hovering a good five feet above the ground, rather than sitting on the floor where one would normal expect to find one’s footwear?”
“Magic?” Merlin offered in a small voice.
“Quite. Any idea where it’s coming from?”
Merlin shirked back, “Um, maybe someone really doesn’t want you to go hunting today.”
“Perhaps. Or. I have a servant, who, while somewhat adept at using magic, is horrible at his duties and too lazy to get up and walk the few feet to fetch my boots himself.” Arthur gave Merlin a withering look.
“Should I be running?”
“Should I be calling the guards?”
“NO!”
“Then I think it’s safe to say you don’t need to be running.”
Merlin breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, “You’re not just saying that so I won’t run?”
“Gods, Merlin, will you relax, and for heaven’s sake put those down,” he glared at his boots, “it’s unnerving.”
“Oh, sorry.” He let his eyes trail from the boots to the floor, the boots following the path if his eye until they settled at the foot of Arthur’s
bed. “Arthur?” He took the chance of moving closer to the Prince, “Not that I’m complaining, but why aren’t I running for my life?”
Arthur gave a deep sigh. “Because despite what my father says and how right I think he usually is in such matters, I can’t begin to imagine you as evil and trying to overthrow the kingdom. Unless of course it’s all an act of subterfuge and you actually are trying to overthrow Camelot from the inside by mucking up as many chores as I can give you in hopes that an improperly made bed or extra washing will result in our downfall, or you could be trying to usurp us by serving ware destruction, hoping we will run out of plates and starve to death rather than eat from a bowl. While this might work with my father, I doubt it would actually lead to Camelot’s ruin.”
“So, you’re not mad?”
“No, I’ll be mad when I wake up, after you bring me breakfast and help me get dressed. Then I’ll be mad.” He raised his head and saw Merlin’s frightened eyes. “Oh for crying out loud, Merlin,” he snapped. “Come here.”
Merlin came around to where Arthur was sitting, still more in bed than out.
“Sit.”
Merlin did.
Arthur placed one hand on Merlin’s shoulder, holding him firmly in place, “Merlin,” he spoke softly, “you have nothing to fear from me. I would never turn you over to my father. I could never.” There was a warm spark behind the Prince’s eyes as he spoke that made Merlin wonder if there was more to Arthur’s words. “Now, go fetch my breakfast,” he ordered and just like that everything was back to normal.
Finally, Merlin smiled, “Yes, Sire.” Hestill worried and now wondered at the look that passed through Arthur’s eyes, but he’d chase that spark and its meaning later. Right now, knowing he had Arthur’s trust and protection was enough for one day.
Story G (Rating G - 1337 Words)
After being defeated by his father, Arthur watched in awe as this common boy defeated a man twice his size, but as he scanned the crowd he saw the pained expression on his servants face as he watched this boy fight. Once this boy Gilli the announcer said made his way through the crowd. Arthur could see the pain in Merlin's expressions and wondered what was wrong. That night on his way to speak with Merlin, saw him leave Gaius's chambers in a rush, followed without notice which is hard considering he is the crown prince, but he continued following until Merlin entered the tavern, he hid outside the door in the shadows and listen to the conversation.
"You see the way people are now, they're showing me respect, you don't know what that's like for me" Gilli said
"I do." Merlin replies.
"No. No one does." Arthur saw the door close and he moved closer and heard Merlin whisper something.
Inside the room Merlin balled up his fist. "Forbærne." He whispered. Opening his hand he produced a small flame showing Gilli
his magic." It's lonely," he hesitated "to be more powerful then any man you know and live like a shadow. To be special and have to pretend your a fool. I know how it feels, I understand."
"Then you understand why I have to fight. If Uther is killed so what, how many of our kind have died at his hand." Arthur stood outside listen, did this boy what to kill his father, his king? what did he mean "our kind." "How many more, it's time for people with Magic to fight back!" Gilli said. Arthur was stunned
"Gilli."Merlin said
"You can't tell me what to do!" Gilli turned from Merlin.
" You need to learn to use you magic for good that is it's true purpose, it's not meant for your own vanity!"
"I'm not gonna apologize for who I am, you can be a servant, and pretend to be less then then but..."
"No that's not what I do."
"You defending the King! Protecting a man who would have you dead..."
"I'm protecting you."
"You've been pretending for so long you've forgotten who you are."
"No that's not true."
"It's it?"
"It's time someone struck a blow for the likes of you and me and if you're to weak, then I will." Gilli pushed past Merlin out the door past and
unseen Arthur. Merlin had Magic and defend a man who would see him dead Why? Arthur watched Merlin return to the castle. That night Arthur stood in his window trying to understand all he heard, DidMerlin really have magic? As he contemplated this question he saw Merlin run across the courtyard, grabbing his sword he followed. Following Merlin to the outskirts of the city Walls he heard Merlin speak an unknown language, "Dracan, eom, ala, sece findan metan, teosu hus anbid! Aerne!" just as he went to confront him the "dead" great dragon landed in front of him, he was to shocked and amazed to move, he listened.
"I had hoped you had forgotten me." the dragon said
"I don't think so." Merlin laughed
"The problem is young warlock, you wish to talk but don't want to listen, the last time we met you choose to ignore my advice and over rule me."
"I'm sorry."
"A dragonlord should never abuse their powers. What reason do you have to summon me this time" Out of his slight daze Arthur continued to listen, 'this time had Merlin summoned the dragon other times, if he was a dragonlord why did he not speak when we went searching for Balinor.'
"You are a creature of Magic and only a creature of Magic can understand. Uther is to fight a you sorcerer in the tournament, Gaius want me to stop him from using magic, but if I do there is every chance he will die."
"Your choice is a hard one young warlock, yet you like I must hold out hope that Arthur will bring about a new age an age where the likes of you and I are respected once again. If he sees his father killed through the use magic it will harden his mind forever." Arthur was shocked at the mention of his name,'what did all this have to do with me.'
"No, there must be another way."
"To see one of you kin die is not an easy thing, but all great struggles demand sacrifice. I am sorry young warlock, I wish I had some word to help you."
"Some choice are easy some stay with you forever." Arthur watched as Merlin was leaving and went to follow when he heard the dragon, "he has faith in you young Pendragon, I hope that faith is not misplaced."
"he lied to me." Arthur said shakily
"because he feels that you true judgement about magic is still clouded by your obsession to please Uther. He has faith in your shared destiny, don't prove those how don't believe right by betraying him"
"I have one question."
"Yes young Pendragon."
"If Merlin is a dragonlord, why did he not stop you before we went looking for Balinor?"
"A dragonlord is born not created, the power passes from father to son, Merlin was not a dragonlord before you left Camelot." the dragon took to the skies, leaving Arthur with much to think about. The next morning Arthur watched Merlin do his chores and smile, saying hello to everyone the crossed his path, but he could also see the conflict in his eyes. As the finals where set to begin Arthur decided not to tell his father yet because he knew and he never gave him a reason not to trust him. When the tournament began Arthur tried to keep his eyes on his father as this sorcerer tried to defeat the King, but he found himself watching Merlin, when he saw it, his eyes glow molten gold as the boys sword go stuck in his fathers shield. Merlin was actually protecting his father even though it would be so much simpler to let him die. 'He has faith in you Young Pendragon.' the match was over father had won, he saw Merlin follow the boy and rushed to catch him.
"Magic is not meant for fighting it's not meant to bring you glory."
"I never understood my father, I thought he was afraid of magic, he wasn't, He was afraid of what it can do, how it can corrupt. Now I know
he was strong...well stronger then me. I'm sorry."
"I know it doesn't seem like it now, but one day magic will be permitted once again and when that day arrives you will no longer have to hid who you are, your gifts will be recognized and we will be free. Who know maybe then our paths will cross paths again." Merlin said
"I hope so"
"we will we're Kin" Merlin said. Arthur hid as the boy left.
Arthur returned to his room with much to think on. 'Was it Merlin, when I escape impossible situations, he is always with me...'
As he sat with his father and Morgana, he father said that he showed that he was ready to be king, Arthur caught a glimpse of the smile that
appeared on Merlin's face. 'He believes in your shared destiny.' As Merlin prepared him for bed Arthur was lost again to his own musings 'If
Merlin has magic maybe it's not all bad, he had every opportunity to take over the kingdom...' "Good night Sire." Merlin said.
"Huh... Oh good night Merlin." Merlin looked at him strangely but it was quickly dismissed. Merlin closed the door and Arthur return to his own thoughts. 'I'll just watch him for now and see what he does,' Arthur fell into a restless slumber as the dragons words filled his head. 'don't let those who don't believe be proven right.'
Story H
Arthur’s jaw was set and his eyes were hard. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Merlin
felt sick. He had imagined telling Arthur a thousand times, but never
once had it gone like this. “I didn’t want to put you in that position,”
he lied. I was scared of how you would react, he meant.
“No one else can know. Do you understand?” His voice was cold. It sent shivers down Merlin’s spine.
Merlin nodded.
“Good.
If I ever hear you talk about it again or if I ever see you use it on
someone else, then I will have to report it to my father,” Arthur said
sternly. But for all his harshness, Merlin didn’t believe that he would.
Story F (Rating G - 616 Words)
It really should’ve been the Questing Beast, or the constant too close calls, or the winds in Ealdor, or the glowing ball of blue light, or the
blasted dragon that caused Arthur to confront his manservant about being a sorcerer, any of those obvious, blatant acts. It should not have
been a pair of his boots floating over to his bed. For one thing it was too early in the morning, and this being Merlin, Arthur hadn’t even had his breakfast, yet.
“Merlin?” Arthur asked half asleep and more than a little annoyed.
“Yes?” his manservant answered hesitantly.
“Is there a good reason my hunting boots are hovering a good five feet above the ground, rather than sitting on the floor where one would normal expect to find one’s footwear?”
“Magic?” Merlin offered in a small voice.
“Quite. Any idea where it’s coming from?”
Merlin shirked back, “Um, maybe someone really doesn’t want you to go hunting today.”
“Perhaps. Or. I have a servant, who, while somewhat adept at using magic, is horrible at his duties and too lazy to get up and walk the few feet to fetch my boots himself.” Arthur gave Merlin a withering look.
“Should I be running?”
“Should I be calling the guards?”
“NO!”
“Then I think it’s safe to say you don’t need to be running.”
Merlin breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, “You’re not just saying that so I won’t run?”
“Gods, Merlin, will you relax, and for heaven’s sake put those down,” he glared at his boots, “it’s unnerving.”
“Oh, sorry.” He let his eyes trail from the boots to the floor, the boots following the path if his eye until they settled at the foot of Arthur’s
bed. “Arthur?” He took the chance of moving closer to the Prince, “Not that I’m complaining, but why aren’t I running for my life?”
Arthur gave a deep sigh. “Because despite what my father says and how right I think he usually is in such matters, I can’t begin to imagine you as evil and trying to overthrow the kingdom. Unless of course it’s all an act of subterfuge and you actually are trying to overthrow Camelot from the inside by mucking up as many chores as I can give you in hopes that an improperly made bed or extra washing will result in our downfall, or you could be trying to usurp us by serving ware destruction, hoping we will run out of plates and starve to death rather than eat from a bowl. While this might work with my father, I doubt it would actually lead to Camelot’s ruin.”
“So, you’re not mad?”
“No, I’ll be mad when I wake up, after you bring me breakfast and help me get dressed. Then I’ll be mad.” He raised his head and saw Merlin’s frightened eyes. “Oh for crying out loud, Merlin,” he snapped. “Come here.”
Merlin came around to where Arthur was sitting, still more in bed than out.
“Sit.”
Merlin did.
Arthur placed one hand on Merlin’s shoulder, holding him firmly in place, “Merlin,” he spoke softly, “you have nothing to fear from me. I would never turn you over to my father. I could never.” There was a warm spark behind the Prince’s eyes as he spoke that made Merlin wonder if there was more to Arthur’s words. “Now, go fetch my breakfast,” he ordered and just like that everything was back to normal.
Finally, Merlin smiled, “Yes, Sire.” Hestill worried and now wondered at the look that passed through Arthur’s eyes, but he’d chase that spark and its meaning later. Right now, knowing he had Arthur’s trust and protection was enough for one day.
Story G (Rating G - 1337 Words)
After being defeated by his father, Arthur watched in awe as this common boy defeated a man twice his size, but as he scanned the crowd he saw the pained expression on his servants face as he watched this boy fight. Once this boy Gilli the announcer said made his way through the crowd. Arthur could see the pain in Merlin's expressions and wondered what was wrong. That night on his way to speak with Merlin, saw him leave Gaius's chambers in a rush, followed without notice which is hard considering he is the crown prince, but he continued following until Merlin entered the tavern, he hid outside the door in the shadows and listen to the conversation.
"You see the way people are now, they're showing me respect, you don't know what that's like for me" Gilli said
"I do." Merlin replies.
"No. No one does." Arthur saw the door close and he moved closer and heard Merlin whisper something.
Inside the room Merlin balled up his fist. "Forbærne." He whispered. Opening his hand he produced a small flame showing Gilli
his magic." It's lonely," he hesitated "to be more powerful then any man you know and live like a shadow. To be special and have to pretend your a fool. I know how it feels, I understand."
"Then you understand why I have to fight. If Uther is killed so what, how many of our kind have died at his hand." Arthur stood outside listen, did this boy what to kill his father, his king? what did he mean "our kind." "How many more, it's time for people with Magic to fight back!" Gilli said. Arthur was stunned
"Gilli."Merlin said
"You can't tell me what to do!" Gilli turned from Merlin.
" You need to learn to use you magic for good that is it's true purpose, it's not meant for your own vanity!"
"I'm not gonna apologize for who I am, you can be a servant, and pretend to be less then then but..."
"No that's not what I do."
"You defending the King! Protecting a man who would have you dead..."
"I'm protecting you."
"You've been pretending for so long you've forgotten who you are."
"No that's not true."
"It's it?"
"It's time someone struck a blow for the likes of you and me and if you're to weak, then I will." Gilli pushed past Merlin out the door past and
unseen Arthur. Merlin had Magic and defend a man who would see him dead Why? Arthur watched Merlin return to the castle. That night Arthur stood in his window trying to understand all he heard, DidMerlin really have magic? As he contemplated this question he saw Merlin run across the courtyard, grabbing his sword he followed. Following Merlin to the outskirts of the city Walls he heard Merlin speak an unknown language, "Dracan, eom, ala, sece findan metan, teosu hus anbid! Aerne!" just as he went to confront him the "dead" great dragon landed in front of him, he was to shocked and amazed to move, he listened.
"I had hoped you had forgotten me." the dragon said
"I don't think so." Merlin laughed
"The problem is young warlock, you wish to talk but don't want to listen, the last time we met you choose to ignore my advice and over rule me."
"I'm sorry."
"A dragonlord should never abuse their powers. What reason do you have to summon me this time" Out of his slight daze Arthur continued to listen, 'this time had Merlin summoned the dragon other times, if he was a dragonlord why did he not speak when we went searching for Balinor.'
"You are a creature of Magic and only a creature of Magic can understand. Uther is to fight a you sorcerer in the tournament, Gaius want me to stop him from using magic, but if I do there is every chance he will die."
"Your choice is a hard one young warlock, yet you like I must hold out hope that Arthur will bring about a new age an age where the likes of you and I are respected once again. If he sees his father killed through the use magic it will harden his mind forever." Arthur was shocked at the mention of his name,'what did all this have to do with me.'
"No, there must be another way."
"To see one of you kin die is not an easy thing, but all great struggles demand sacrifice. I am sorry young warlock, I wish I had some word to help you."
"Some choice are easy some stay with you forever." Arthur watched as Merlin was leaving and went to follow when he heard the dragon, "he has faith in you young Pendragon, I hope that faith is not misplaced."
"he lied to me." Arthur said shakily
"because he feels that you true judgement about magic is still clouded by your obsession to please Uther. He has faith in your shared destiny, don't prove those how don't believe right by betraying him"
"I have one question."
"Yes young Pendragon."
"If Merlin is a dragonlord, why did he not stop you before we went looking for Balinor?"
"A dragonlord is born not created, the power passes from father to son, Merlin was not a dragonlord before you left Camelot." the dragon took to the skies, leaving Arthur with much to think about. The next morning Arthur watched Merlin do his chores and smile, saying hello to everyone the crossed his path, but he could also see the conflict in his eyes. As the finals where set to begin Arthur decided not to tell his father yet because he knew and he never gave him a reason not to trust him. When the tournament began Arthur tried to keep his eyes on his father as this sorcerer tried to defeat the King, but he found himself watching Merlin, when he saw it, his eyes glow molten gold as the boys sword go stuck in his fathers shield. Merlin was actually protecting his father even though it would be so much simpler to let him die. 'He has faith in you Young Pendragon.' the match was over father had won, he saw Merlin follow the boy and rushed to catch him.
"Magic is not meant for fighting it's not meant to bring you glory."
"I never understood my father, I thought he was afraid of magic, he wasn't, He was afraid of what it can do, how it can corrupt. Now I know
he was strong...well stronger then me. I'm sorry."
"I know it doesn't seem like it now, but one day magic will be permitted once again and when that day arrives you will no longer have to hid who you are, your gifts will be recognized and we will be free. Who know maybe then our paths will cross paths again." Merlin said
"I hope so"
"we will we're Kin" Merlin said. Arthur hid as the boy left.
Arthur returned to his room with much to think on. 'Was it Merlin, when I escape impossible situations, he is always with me...'
As he sat with his father and Morgana, he father said that he showed that he was ready to be king, Arthur caught a glimpse of the smile that
appeared on Merlin's face. 'He believes in your shared destiny.' As Merlin prepared him for bed Arthur was lost again to his own musings 'If
Merlin has magic maybe it's not all bad, he had every opportunity to take over the kingdom...' "Good night Sire." Merlin said.
"Huh... Oh good night Merlin." Merlin looked at him strangely but it was quickly dismissed. Merlin closed the door and Arthur return to his own thoughts. 'I'll just watch him for now and see what he does,' Arthur fell into a restless slumber as the dragons words filled his head. 'don't let those who don't believe be proven right.'
Story H
Arthur’s jaw was set and his eyes were hard. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Merlin
felt sick. He had imagined telling Arthur a thousand times, but never
once had it gone like this. “I didn’t want to put you in that position,”
he lied. I was scared of how you would react, he meant.
“No one else can know. Do you understand?” His voice was cold. It sent shivers down Merlin’s spine.
Merlin nodded.
“Good.
If I ever hear you talk about it again or if I ever see you use it on
someone else, then I will have to report it to my father,” Arthur said
sternly. But for all his harshness, Merlin didn’t believe that he would.