[fic] Destiny - Arthur/Merlin
Title: Destiny
Rating: G
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Summary: Dreams of destiny and of golden eyes, though Arthur doesn't remember, his heart does.
Notes: It's meant to be the beginning of a long series, but I think the muse left me. Takes place at the very beginning of the series. Kind of a few little snippets tied together to show how they went from a manservent and a prince to friends :D
As Morgana had dreams, Arthur had dreams as well. Not of the future or of the past, but of a small boy with an odd hair cut and a simple life.
He used to amaze his nanny with wonderfully dull tales of plowing fields until his hands were red, or of chasing chickens with his friend Will. His nanny wondered how a Prince would know how to plow a field, Arthur said he didn't. Merlin did.
But boys become men and dreams become fantasies and Arthur forgot all about it. But destiny was not as easily pushed into the dark recesses of memory and years later a boy with eyes that glow golden shows up in Camelot, bag over shoulder and bright with the prospect of a new life.
The boy challenged him that first day, in front of all and Arthur had no choice but to challenge him back. There were knights there, other pheasants watching as the boy who had grown from being a runt running around the village, to a man who towered over Arthur, standing up to the prat that would be king.
Arthur easily beat the boy, scrawny limbs unmatched for years of hard training. Arthur did not brag, but told the truth. He had been trained to kill since birth. As all Princes should be.
It was by fluke that the boy became his manservant, an unwanted piece of baggage given to him by his own father in return for the saving of his life. All the boy did was push him away from a knife. What did Arthur do to deserve such punishment is beyond him.
Nonetheless, he took Merlin into his care, a name that struck a familiar cord in Arthur but does not bring up the memories of his childhood. Instead Arthur just shrugs it off and goes about making Merlin's life a living hell. Because that's just what royal prats do.
****
"Come on, Merlin! You can do better than that!" Arthur mock encourages the other, leaning on his sword as if bored, though he was very much amused. Despite being a total disgrace of a manservant, Merlin was greatly entertaining. The one thing that most of the court and especially his father lacked as of late. Arthur was more than ready for the tournament and this was just an excuse to miss one of Uther's many lectures on how to become a proper king.
Arthur was sure a proper king didn't behead children for spelling up a fire to keep their family warm.
Merlin was crap with a sword. No sense of balance or technique. It was like he never held a sword in his life; which wasn't exactly impossible, but the boy had been bragging about being able to best Arthur. How could one with two left feet accomplish such a feat much less brag about it was above Arthur's understanding.
"No need to know how to wield weapons when all you did was plow fields for a living." Merlin had shot back when Arthur had voiced his opinion.
"A man should be able to defend his home." Arthur emphasised his words with the swing of a sword, one that Merlin was able to block but the force of it sent Merlin flailing onto his arse. "See, now you're getting it!"
"What it is that I'm supposed to be getting is still a mystery for me," Merlin grumbled, struggling to his feet. His armor--rejects from Arthur--draped over him like a cloak, all too big for his lanky frame. "Can't you just train with one of the other knights?"
"Why train with them when I can beat you?" Arthur grinned cheekily at the red flare in Merlin's cheeks. The next swing came at him fast, but it was clumsy and Arthur easily sidestepped it, bringing the blunt of his sword to whack Merlin's rear in passing. "Are you blind or just that bad?" Arthur teased, laughing at Merlin's expression of anger. "Again! And this time put some feeling into it. I'm getting bored just standing here."
This time Merlin charged with intent and Arthur swore the boy's eyes were glowing golden. Somehow Merlin was able to catch him--probably because Arthur didn't take him seriously, especially with a swing like that--and brought them both crashing to the ground, Merlin on top of Arthur grinning like an idiot. "Got you!" Merlin practically glowed and Arthur felt a strange tug inside of him, like a string being strung and whispering the words of destiny. The feeling was momentary, but left Arthur feeling antsy.
"Get off me you clumsy oaf!" Arthur growled, pushing at the other's shoulders until Merlin rolled off of him. "Hopeless." Arthur shook his head when Merlin just laid their on the grass looking like a child that had been given sweets. "We'll stop for today. Because you still need to shine my armor and sharpen my sword for tomorrow." Arthur added when Merlin looked like he was about jump out of his skin with joy.
"Right away, your highness." Merlin struggled to his feet to give Arthur a mock bow and Arthur wondered how Merlin could make an honorific sound so insulting.
****
"I hate him." Gaias ignores the comment as he lathers on more of the ointment he'd made for the boy onto a small patch of bruised skin. "I really really hate him."
"Arthur is a good boy. You'll see it some day." Gaias spared the lecture. Defaming the Prince's character wasn't as bad as the other things Merlin had done without thought.
"Yeah, right." Merlin rolled his eyes and Gaias sighed.
"Merlin."
"Yeah, I know already. Crown prince and all that. A prat is a prat, no matter the status." Merlin sighed. "I just wish he would stop being so ..." Merlin paused, trying to think of a good word to describe what Arthur was. Failing to do so, he just made a gesture that he hoped portrayed what he was getting at.
"Arthur is the future king. You'd be best to remember that."
"I'd be best if I never saved his royal a--OW! Gaias, that hurt!" Merlin jerked his arm away where Gaias had pressed painfully into one of the many bruises on Merlin's being. "What you do that for?!"
"Serving the Prince is an honor. And you should treat it as so," Gaias reminded Merlin.
"I would if he just didn't beat me up at every chance!" Merlin protested.
A knock on the door stopped Gaias from responding. "The Prince wishes for his manservant to attend him."
"Here we go again..." Merlin muttered with a roll of his eyes as he made for the door.
"Merlin." The boy turned his head, pausing with his hand on the door knob. "Remember. An honor." Gaias gave Merlin a knowing smile.
Merlin shook his head and returned the crook of lips. "Right."
***
A week before the tournament, Uthur called his son into his audience chambers. A woman knelt before his throne--a citizen of their kingdom, Arthur guessed. Merlin followed close behind him. Too close, however, as Arthur came to a stop, Merlin bumped right into him. The prince leveled a glare at his servant. Of all the people in the kingdom and he ended up with the clumsiest. Merlin didn't even have the decency to look embarrassed. Instead he grinned cheekily at Arthur like he did nothing wrong.
"This woman claims that there is a beast roaming outside of their village. I want you to vanquish this beast." The side of Uther's mouth quirked upward. "Think of it as training for the upcoming tournament. And a chance to break in your new servant." All eyes turned onto Merlin and the boy shifted uncomfortably. Arthur wanted to sigh at the unfairness of the world.
"As you wish, father." Arthur bowed politely, an arm going to elbow Merlin into a bow as well. Amusement danced in his father's eyes and in those of the rest of the court, most of them being older and probably mocking him privately for not being able to train one stupid pheasant boy into becoming a proper servant.
"You disgrace me." Arthur hissed as soon as they were out of the audience chambers.
"I'm sorry?" Merlin looked clueless and Arthur wanted to hit him.
"Learn proper manners before the day is through or I'll have you thrown in the stocks!" Arthur ordered, turning in the direction of his chambers, leaving Merlin to gape in his wake.
***
"Arthur, don't you look less than appealing." Morgana smiled that smile that made Arthur feel stupid. He hated that smile. "I heard you've kept a manservant for more than a week."
"Surprising, isn't it?" Arthur replied offhandedly, his eyes involuntarily shifting to Merlin who spoke quietly to the court physician in the corner.
"There's a bet on when he'll call it quits." Morgana tossed her hair slightly. "Knowing how difficult you can be, I've placed my bets on sooner rather than later."
Arthur snorted. Despite Morgana's exquisite beauty, she was unbearable as a person. "He'll last longer than you think."
"If he does, he must be an idiot."
"Clearly you do not know Merlin."
Morgana laughed, a hand coming up to hide her smile like a proper lady. "Is that fondness I hear in our Prince's voice? For a servant? I must be dreaming."
"Oh, for goodness sake, Morgana!" Arthur said to Morgana's retreating back, her twitters following her through the corridors.
***
It was a day's trip to the woman's village, though with Merlin it seemed like a century. "Must you always take so long to do things?" Arthur tapped his foot as Merlin prepared his lunch. They had left early and skipped breakfast for food on the road. Arthur was sure they would make it to the village by dusk, but now..."How hard is it to put bread and cheese together?"
"Sorry, sire." Merlin's voice carried that ever-present mockery and Arthur resisted the urge to run Merlin through with his sword. It'd make things easier, for sure, but he detested having to clean up after himself and finding a new servant would be difficult at the moment. He sighed, glaring pointedly at Merlin's back as the boy scrambled about.
Luckily for Merlin, they were able to make good time and arrived at the village just as the sun began to set. The woman greeted them with earnest, the village alight with motion despite the lateness of the hour. There was a feast in honor of his visit, village women paraded in front of him hoping that one would be lucky enough to enter the mistress quarters of the castle. Arthur drank but made no move to grab one of the young things being whored out to him.
Merlin stood at his side, the usual idiotic smile plastered on his face. Only an idiot would find a boring partly like this amusing. "We're glad you could make it, your highness," the head of the village groveled at Arthur's other side. "The monster attacks around midday. We cannot do our work for fear of our lives."
Arthur nodded thoughtfully. "I think it best that I do not slay the beast here, but follow it back to its home. There may be others."
"Oh, never thought of that." Merlin piped up and Arthur glared at him to shut it before turning back to the man.
"Is there any fighters in your village? If there are more than one, I'd like to have backup."
"We have a few able-bodied men to help you, sire. But few are left after the attacks."
"As many as you can spare, then." Arthur stood. "Merlin, get my room ready, we have a long day tomorrow."
"As you wish, sire."
***
"We'll find them soon." Merlin tried to reassure his prince, placing a hand on Arthur's shoulder only to get it shrugged off irritably.
"Stop acting like we're friends, Merlin. We're not." Arthur's eyes were cold and Merlin retreated slightly, but didn't completely back down.
"The King gave me the job of taking care of you. That's what I'm doing." There's challenge in Merlin's eyes and Arthur was slightly taken aback by the blatant disregard of his orders.
"You--" Arthur found it hard to argue with Merlin looking at him that way, determined and unswayed, reminding him of everything that he was and what he wanted to become. Finally, he turned away in a huff. "Whatever. Just don't think you can be so familiar with me when there are other people around." From the corner of Arthur's eye, he could see the brilliantly happy expression that came to Merlin's face and for some reason, a smirk twisted his lips.
***
"Arthur!" Merlin yelled out the warning, but he knew the prince wouldn't be able to move out of the way in time. Summoning up all the will he had, he jumped off the rock, slamming his body into Arthur's just as the monster's claws came down. It caught onto Merlin's thigh and he cried out in pain as they both fell to the side. Arthur was quick to his feet, but hesitated as he looked at Merlin who clutched at his leg in agony. "Get your sword!" Merlin gritted out, eyes flashing that weird golden color and Arthur turned to find his sword at his feet. "Arthur! Hurry!"
He didn't need to be told twice. In the blink of an eye, the sword was back in Arthur's hands. He dodged the swipe of the beast's claws once again, consciously moving himself and the beast away from Merlin with each step. Suddenly the beast looked like he was stuck and struggled against an invisible force. Not taking the time to think about it, Arthur went in for the kill. With one fatal slash to the underbelly, the beast roared and then slumped boneless to the ground dead.
"You did it!" Merlin's smile looked pale as Arthur scrambled back to his servant, taking in the damage with a swift eye. Merlin somehow could sense his worry and smiled. "I'll be fine, I promise."
"Like I care if you'll be fine or not," Arthur snapped as he shouldered off his cape and started to wrap the material around the gaping wound. "I'm just worried I'll have to find a replacement."
Arthur meant it as an insult but Merlin--the simple brained oaf--took it as a compliment and grinned. "Right."
"Can you walk?" Arthur questioned, ignoring the goofy grin. "We need to get you back to the village before you bleed to death."
***
It was a day and a half later that Merlin finally came around. The village healer had been able to stop the bleeding and had Merlin resting.
"Arthur?" Merlin questioned when he finally roused from his sleep, finding the prince sitting at his bedside, head laid down at the edge of the bed. Merlin took a second to look at the Prince. Arthur looked much better sleeping than awake. Without the arrogance there, Arthur almost passed for a human being. Reaching out, Merlin shook the prince gently. "Arthur? You're going to get a crick in your neck if you sleep like that."
Arthur woke with a start, eyes widening when he realized where he was. He straightened and looked at Merlin, relief evident in his posture as he took in Merlin's countenance. And then the moment was gone, replaced with pompous annoyance. "Who said you could touch me?" Arthur stood from his chair and stomped off, mumbling "Idiots! I'm surrounded by idiots!"
Merlin only smiled and relaxed into the bed. Maybe this job wouldn't be so annoying after all.