When Arthur Found Out - Future
Here are the fics for the future prompt. Do not vote in this post!
Fic Q (G - 877 words)
Arthur's coronation was notable for three things (aside from the obvious bit when Camelot got herself a new king):
1. The esteemed Knights of the Round Table got so spectacularly drunk that there was no wine, mead, or ale to be found in the castle for six months. Whether that was because there was nothing left (as Arthur claimed) or because he hid the rest (as the knights strongly suspected) was never determined.
2. Surprisingly Gwaine was not the one that led the way to this epic display of drunken debauchery. That dubious honour went to Leon, who hid an unexpected fondness for drinking games, drinking songs, and, well, drinking in general beneath his mild exterior. Leon, however, was chivalrous enough to let Gwaine take the blame. After all, Gwaine had a reputation to consider.
3. Merlin's magic was revealed to rowdy cheers (from the knights), undisguised surprise (from the members of the court), and shock and dismay (from the newly crowned king).
"I am shocked," Arthur said. He was only slightly wobbling because he most certainly had not allowed his finest knights to get him drunk. Not even a little bit. "Shocked and dismayed. Merlin, how could you-"
"I know, I know," Merlin said, looking sullen and depressingly sober. Between Arthur and Gaius and Gwen 'looking out for his best interests' he hadn't had so much as a sip of ale all evening. "I'm a disgraceful sorcerer, a traitor to Camelot, and a disappointment to all who know me. I abused your trust and destroyed whatever friendship there is between us. I'll be officially banished from the kingdom at dawn." He glanced around as if he were trying to capture enough memories to sustain him for a long future of bleak exile. "I'll just go and pack my things now. Don't worry Sire, I'll be out of your sight soon enough."
He turned to go but Arthur moved surprisingly fast for a tipsy king and managed to corner him by the high table.
"Shocked and dismayed because you're so stupid, Merlin. Why didn't you tell me before?" He gave a put-upon sigh, straightened the crown on his head, and dragged Merlin into a hug.
Merlin wriggled around in his embrace and squinted at Arthur. "You must be even drunker than I thought. Are you going to remember any of this in the morning?"
"The king of Camelot is always entirely sober. To suggest otherwise is treason," Arthur said. He showed no sign of letting go of Merlin any time soon.
"I see." Merlin raised two cautious hands to Arthur's back and dared to return the hug, just a little. "And doing magic at the king's coronation for everyone to see - that's treasonous too, isn't it?"
"I think that might have been true at one time," Arthur admitted. "But in case you haven't noticed there's a new king now. One that's interested in revising certain laws. Righting old wrongs. That sort of thing."
"Really?" Merlin rested his head on Arthur's shoulder and sighed. "Because I knew this king when he was just a prince and he didn’t always seem particularly eager to change the old ways. At least when it came to magic."
"It's the crown," Arthur said, tightening his hold. "It does things to you. Makes you remember what's important. Who's important."
"Arthur?"
"Yes?"
"People are staring at us."
"Let them look. I'm the king; I can jolly well do as I please."
"Abusing your power already, I see. Lovely."
They grew quiet then. Around them people were whispering as they stared at this strange display of the king cuddling his manservant. In one corner of the hall Gaius was dabbing his eyes and smiling fondly at them. In another corner the knights were gleefully breaking open another flask of wine and loudly offering their toasts to "the new court sorcerer, Merlin!"
Of course, Arthur would later insist that he thought of Merlin's new title first. But now all he did was shuffle his feet awkwardly, because he’d never learned how to ask for assistance, and mumble, "I wouldn't mind a bit of counsel."
Merlin squirmed around again to grin at him. "Are you actually admitting that you need my help?"
"Not help," Arthur said quickly. "Because I never need help. But... it would be good for Camelot to have a resident expert on magic, I suppose. Someone trustworthy and - and well-liked to ease the people's minds as magic returns to the realm." If he noticed the tears forming in Merlin's eyes he pointedly ignored them.
"All right," Merlin said, sniffling. "I'll do it. If I can find enough time between sacrificing small animals and howling at the moon. You don't think the people would be alarmed by that, do you?"
Arthur actually trembled. "Do you really-"
Merlin laughed. "First thing tomorrow I'm showing you what magic is really like."
"If I have the time," Arthur said, relaxing. "I have kingly duties to attend to now, you know."
"Oh, I think you'll find the time to meet a dragon."
"A dragon? What dragon? Where is it? Merlin, have you been concealing a magical creature inside the castle all this time? Where-"
Merlin laughed again and squeezed Arthur tight. "You have so much to learn."
Fic R (PG - 425 words)
This is how Arthur finds out:
One miss too many. Another coincidence, another crisis averted. An occasion when, lo and behold, Merlin was in the right place at the right time (even though he never should have been there in the first place, the idiot). A brief flash of blue to gold, and all of the pieces falling together in Arthur's mind. "There's something about you, Merlin," he remembers, and laughs, because of course, of course his ridiculous excuse of a manservant has been a sorceror all this time.
The fact that Merlin has also been saving his royal arse all this time - saving Camelot - doesn't escape him.
--------
But this is how Merlin finds out:
It's been a month since the coronation. The people of Camelot are calling it a new dawn, and the hope of Arthur's reign burns bright in their hearts - and in Merlin's. It keeps him up at night, tossing and turning, all of his secrets beating madly against his ribcage. It's time. He has to know.
Merlin isn't sure what he manages to stammer out - isn't sure if it's words at all, really - but he'll never forget the look Arthur levels at him. "Merlin. Stop jabbering. I know."
"No, Arthur, I--"
"I know," Arthur says, his lips tilting into the hint of a grin. He waves his hand about, as though miming some sort of spell, and Merlin stares at him, baffled. "Surely you don't think I'm that blind. Your eyes do turn gold, you know. Really, Merlin. What sort of a king do you think I am?"
"And you're-- you-- you don't mind?"
Arthur shrugs, but his expression grows somber. "A sword in a man's hand is a weapon, but it's the man who chooses to wield it. Perhaps… perhaps it's not magic that makes a person evil, but the circumstances which force him to use it for ill."
He takes a step closer to Merlin. "And as far as I can see… you seem to use it mostly for getting out of chores. I should have you thrown in the stocks for that."
Merlin's lips stretch into a grin so wide it hurts.
"Right. Sorry, sire."
"Yes, well. You're a terrible manservant. So. You're dismissed."
Merlin's expression shifts to one of bemusement.
"But with the impending lift on the ban of magic, I seem to be short a royal sorcerer. Think you can manage not to muck it up?"
"I'll do my best."
"See that you do. And Merlin?"
"Yes, Sire?"
"Thank you."
Fic S (G - 500 words)
It was finally time; everything he had worked towards - his destiny had truly begun.
And he still didn't have the guts to tell Arthur.
"You should tell him."
"I know." Merlin sighed. "It's hard though; what if he hates me?"
"He lifted the ban on magic." Queen Guinevere bit her lip in concern. "He can't kill you."
"He could hate me."
"He no longer has anything against magic, Merlin - besides, it's a part of yourself; he couldn't hate you for that."
Merlin lifted his head from where he had buried it between is knees and gave Gwen a despairing look.
"He could hate me for lying to him."
To which she had no answer.
When it did happen, of course, it was totally by accident.
Merlin had been raised in rank after Arthur's coronation, to become one of his advisors - with this, came the privilages of the nobility, including, obviously, his own set of rooms.
Arthur took great pleasure in entering said chambers without any forewarning whatsoever, in revenge for all those years of Merlin's "disrespect" and he had, quite inconveniently, turned up later in the morning then usual - about the time when Merlin would run his own bath and fill it from a never ending bucket of steaming water.
He took one look at the suspended bucket, another at Merlin's face, and fled the room.
"Merlin told me what happened."
Arthur turned to face his wife, and ouldn't stop a small smile from quirking his lips in affection. They were not in love as such, but they loved each other. But then he realised the meanings behind her words.
"You knew?" he asked in disbelief.
She smiled at his expression. "Yes, I knew." She lost her smile as her face turned serious. "And now I'm going to tell you a story - Merlin's story. It's a story of secrets and lies; protection and treason; friendhsip and love. It all started..."
Gwen had gone to see Arthur, Merlin knew that. Despite her assurances, he was jittery, and, as a result, so was his magic - it was skittering every where, and, with nothing but the room around him, it could only clean.
He smiled wryly. Maybe if he had used magic while being Arthur's manservant, his job would have been a lot easier.
The door clicked and swung open. Merlin didn't move as Arthur came in.
He smiled.
Fic Q (G - 877 words)
Arthur's coronation was notable for three things (aside from the obvious bit when Camelot got herself a new king):
1. The esteemed Knights of the Round Table got so spectacularly drunk that there was no wine, mead, or ale to be found in the castle for six months. Whether that was because there was nothing left (as Arthur claimed) or because he hid the rest (as the knights strongly suspected) was never determined.
2. Surprisingly Gwaine was not the one that led the way to this epic display of drunken debauchery. That dubious honour went to Leon, who hid an unexpected fondness for drinking games, drinking songs, and, well, drinking in general beneath his mild exterior. Leon, however, was chivalrous enough to let Gwaine take the blame. After all, Gwaine had a reputation to consider.
3. Merlin's magic was revealed to rowdy cheers (from the knights), undisguised surprise (from the members of the court), and shock and dismay (from the newly crowned king).
"I am shocked," Arthur said. He was only slightly wobbling because he most certainly had not allowed his finest knights to get him drunk. Not even a little bit. "Shocked and dismayed. Merlin, how could you-"
"I know, I know," Merlin said, looking sullen and depressingly sober. Between Arthur and Gaius and Gwen 'looking out for his best interests' he hadn't had so much as a sip of ale all evening. "I'm a disgraceful sorcerer, a traitor to Camelot, and a disappointment to all who know me. I abused your trust and destroyed whatever friendship there is between us. I'll be officially banished from the kingdom at dawn." He glanced around as if he were trying to capture enough memories to sustain him for a long future of bleak exile. "I'll just go and pack my things now. Don't worry Sire, I'll be out of your sight soon enough."
He turned to go but Arthur moved surprisingly fast for a tipsy king and managed to corner him by the high table.
"Shocked and dismayed because you're so stupid, Merlin. Why didn't you tell me before?" He gave a put-upon sigh, straightened the crown on his head, and dragged Merlin into a hug.
Merlin wriggled around in his embrace and squinted at Arthur. "You must be even drunker than I thought. Are you going to remember any of this in the morning?"
"The king of Camelot is always entirely sober. To suggest otherwise is treason," Arthur said. He showed no sign of letting go of Merlin any time soon.
"I see." Merlin raised two cautious hands to Arthur's back and dared to return the hug, just a little. "And doing magic at the king's coronation for everyone to see - that's treasonous too, isn't it?"
"I think that might have been true at one time," Arthur admitted. "But in case you haven't noticed there's a new king now. One that's interested in revising certain laws. Righting old wrongs. That sort of thing."
"Really?" Merlin rested his head on Arthur's shoulder and sighed. "Because I knew this king when he was just a prince and he didn’t always seem particularly eager to change the old ways. At least when it came to magic."
"It's the crown," Arthur said, tightening his hold. "It does things to you. Makes you remember what's important. Who's important."
"Arthur?"
"Yes?"
"People are staring at us."
"Let them look. I'm the king; I can jolly well do as I please."
"Abusing your power already, I see. Lovely."
They grew quiet then. Around them people were whispering as they stared at this strange display of the king cuddling his manservant. In one corner of the hall Gaius was dabbing his eyes and smiling fondly at them. In another corner the knights were gleefully breaking open another flask of wine and loudly offering their toasts to "the new court sorcerer, Merlin!"
Of course, Arthur would later insist that he thought of Merlin's new title first. But now all he did was shuffle his feet awkwardly, because he’d never learned how to ask for assistance, and mumble, "I wouldn't mind a bit of counsel."
Merlin squirmed around again to grin at him. "Are you actually admitting that you need my help?"
"Not help," Arthur said quickly. "Because I never need help. But... it would be good for Camelot to have a resident expert on magic, I suppose. Someone trustworthy and - and well-liked to ease the people's minds as magic returns to the realm." If he noticed the tears forming in Merlin's eyes he pointedly ignored them.
"All right," Merlin said, sniffling. "I'll do it. If I can find enough time between sacrificing small animals and howling at the moon. You don't think the people would be alarmed by that, do you?"
Arthur actually trembled. "Do you really-"
Merlin laughed. "First thing tomorrow I'm showing you what magic is really like."
"If I have the time," Arthur said, relaxing. "I have kingly duties to attend to now, you know."
"Oh, I think you'll find the time to meet a dragon."
"A dragon? What dragon? Where is it? Merlin, have you been concealing a magical creature inside the castle all this time? Where-"
Merlin laughed again and squeezed Arthur tight. "You have so much to learn."
Fic R (PG - 425 words)
This is how Arthur finds out:
One miss too many. Another coincidence, another crisis averted. An occasion when, lo and behold, Merlin was in the right place at the right time (even though he never should have been there in the first place, the idiot). A brief flash of blue to gold, and all of the pieces falling together in Arthur's mind. "There's something about you, Merlin," he remembers, and laughs, because of course, of course his ridiculous excuse of a manservant has been a sorceror all this time.
The fact that Merlin has also been saving his royal arse all this time - saving Camelot - doesn't escape him.
--------
But this is how Merlin finds out:
It's been a month since the coronation. The people of Camelot are calling it a new dawn, and the hope of Arthur's reign burns bright in their hearts - and in Merlin's. It keeps him up at night, tossing and turning, all of his secrets beating madly against his ribcage. It's time. He has to know.
Merlin isn't sure what he manages to stammer out - isn't sure if it's words at all, really - but he'll never forget the look Arthur levels at him. "Merlin. Stop jabbering. I know."
"No, Arthur, I--"
"I know," Arthur says, his lips tilting into the hint of a grin. He waves his hand about, as though miming some sort of spell, and Merlin stares at him, baffled. "Surely you don't think I'm that blind. Your eyes do turn gold, you know. Really, Merlin. What sort of a king do you think I am?"
"And you're-- you-- you don't mind?"
Arthur shrugs, but his expression grows somber. "A sword in a man's hand is a weapon, but it's the man who chooses to wield it. Perhaps… perhaps it's not magic that makes a person evil, but the circumstances which force him to use it for ill."
He takes a step closer to Merlin. "And as far as I can see… you seem to use it mostly for getting out of chores. I should have you thrown in the stocks for that."
Merlin's lips stretch into a grin so wide it hurts.
"Right. Sorry, sire."
"Yes, well. You're a terrible manservant. So. You're dismissed."
Merlin's expression shifts to one of bemusement.
"But with the impending lift on the ban of magic, I seem to be short a royal sorcerer. Think you can manage not to muck it up?"
"I'll do my best."
"See that you do. And Merlin?"
"Yes, Sire?"
"Thank you."
Fic S (G - 500 words)
It was finally time; everything he had worked towards - his destiny had truly begun.
And he still didn't have the guts to tell Arthur.
"You should tell him."
"I know." Merlin sighed. "It's hard though; what if he hates me?"
"He lifted the ban on magic." Queen Guinevere bit her lip in concern. "He can't kill you."
"He could hate me."
"He no longer has anything against magic, Merlin - besides, it's a part of yourself; he couldn't hate you for that."
Merlin lifted his head from where he had buried it between is knees and gave Gwen a despairing look.
"He could hate me for lying to him."
To which she had no answer.
When it did happen, of course, it was totally by accident.
Merlin had been raised in rank after Arthur's coronation, to become one of his advisors - with this, came the privilages of the nobility, including, obviously, his own set of rooms.
Arthur took great pleasure in entering said chambers without any forewarning whatsoever, in revenge for all those years of Merlin's "disrespect" and he had, quite inconveniently, turned up later in the morning then usual - about the time when Merlin would run his own bath and fill it from a never ending bucket of steaming water.
He took one look at the suspended bucket, another at Merlin's face, and fled the room.
"Merlin told me what happened."
Arthur turned to face his wife, and ouldn't stop a small smile from quirking his lips in affection. They were not in love as such, but they loved each other. But then he realised the meanings behind her words.
"You knew?" he asked in disbelief.
She smiled at his expression. "Yes, I knew." She lost her smile as her face turned serious. "And now I'm going to tell you a story - Merlin's story. It's a story of secrets and lies; protection and treason; friendhsip and love. It all started..."
Gwen had gone to see Arthur, Merlin knew that. Despite her assurances, he was jittery, and, as a result, so was his magic - it was skittering every where, and, with nothing but the room around him, it could only clean.
He smiled wryly. Maybe if he had used magic while being Arthur's manservant, his job would have been a lot easier.
The door clicked and swung open. Merlin didn't move as Arthur came in.
He smiled.