Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There was nothing.
No sky. No ground. No up or down.
Only the endless dark.

Lloyd floated, though there was no air to breathe, no body to feel. He couldn’t tell if seconds had passed or centuries. Somehow, he could see himself, but nothing else. The only thing he could hear was his own thoughts, echoing back at him like whispers in a cave.

He wondered if this was death. But dismisses it again. He knew how death felt like however short it was.

A flicker of panic burned in him. The Merge… he had gone into the rift with the others. Where had they landed? Were they alive? Are they here? He hoped not. If he was the only one, did they know he was gone? Or there was a time dilation like in the Never-Realm.

How long can I keep myself together?

This is more torturous than the time Morro highjacked my body. Well, this time I can control my body, but there was nothing to do.

I’m all alone in this nothingness! I have nothing to do. I have nothing. I’m nothing.

The thought repeated. His mind spun in circles, tighter and tighter, until…

A ripple.

The dark bent, and out of it swam something pink and very big. It shouldn’t have been visible here, but it was. He had no idea what kind of creature it was, but it reminded him of a very malformed dragon. The wings were missing and it had a very long tail with blue fins. It looked very squishable with its stubbly legs, gills like feathered fans and a perpetual smile. Its beady eyes locked onto him, and the void itself seemed to pulse with amusement.

Lloyd tried to make a respectful gesture, but it was difficult without gravity. If nothing else falls, he hoped the thought counted.

“Ahh,” the creature said, its voice rippling straight into Lloyd’s mind. “You were close. Very close. I almost lost you to the madness.”

Lloyd forced himself to focus on it. “…What are you?” He really hoped it wasn’t something like Wojira or or the Preeminent. Especially the Preeminent, he didn’t want to be dead.

The axolotl twirled in lazy circles, as if showing off in a tank only it could see. “You may call me Axolotl.”

Lloyd was waiting for more words that weren’t coming. The not time stretched.

“Where are we?”

“In the void between the merged Realms.”

Somehow that answer was helpful and not helpful.

“How do I return home?”

“There is no home to return.”

“What!!” Llyod wanted to argue, but then he remembered what happened before he landed in the void. Something very powerful was happening. His home could be destroyed.

More level headed he asked: “How can I return to the other ninjas?”

“You wait.”

“Wait. That’s it. For how long?”

“I will be a day in the merged Realms.”

“And here?” Lloyd really didn’t like where this was going. He really wished he had on of the time blades.

“Here is no time.”

Lloyd really didn’t like how short the Axolotl was answering, but he got the gist. He will return to his friends in a day, but for him it could be much much longer. Wait didn’t it say something about madness. He wasn’t mad. Right?

“So could you please help me return sooner.” Lloyd asked hopefully.

“No.”

“Can you at least stay with me until a reach the end?”

This time Axolotl took its time with answering.

“Only talking to you will be boring so, would you like a game?”

Lloyd narrowed his eyes, that was very suspicious. “What kind of game?”

“One to keep you and me occupied. I reincarnate your soul into story of my choosing. You’ll play at being different people. Heroes, fools and villains. You’ll laugh, you’ll rage, you’ll stumble, you’ll rise. And when you die…” the axolotl’s tail flicked, “you’ll return here. Closer to home. Closer to… them.”

Lloyd’s chest ached at the mention of “them.” His team. His family. His world.

“…And if I refuse?”

“Then you drift,” the axolotl said simply. Its grin didn’t change, but its eyes gleamed. “So long, until you forget what your life even was.”

Silence stretched. Lloyd thought of the others who had gone into the rift.

“Am I the only one here?”

“Yes.”

“Are the others in trouble?”

“They will be, they are, they were.”

He should hurry but how can living whole lives be hurrying. Endless black lay before him.

It would be much better than staying here and losing his mind.

Finally, he growled: “Fine. What’s the catch?”

The Axolotl smiled wider, delighted. “Clever boy! There is always a catch.” It somehow got even bigger.

“Let’s make rules. You’ll only reincarnate into blonds, green eyed persons or both. No ending your life with suicide. Every story comes with their own rules, some of them are unbreakable. You’ll have to find out with ones they are.

I enjoy a good story. So, as a bonus I’ll give you a push in the void, if you live an entertaining life.”

Lloyd glared. “…So, tell a good story and I return sooner.”

“No, live a story,” the Axolotl said. “Now, shall we begin, or do you need time to prepare?”

The sooner he got going the sooner he can return to his family and friends.

“Yes.”

The next moment Lloyd was gone.

Chapter Text

Lloyd’s memories returned when he was three.

At first it was like a splash of cold water across a dream: sudden, disorienting, and more real than anything else he had known in this small, fragile body. He woke one morning staring at his hands, small, soft, pudgy things with five stubby appendages. Fingers. His stomach lurched as he curled and uncurled them, missing the sharp, clean confidence of claws.

It was not just his body that disturbed him. The silence inside did too. No elemental energy humming at his call. Nothing that reminded him of his dragon or oni heritage. There was some kind of power in him, but he didn’t know what it could be.

For a while he convinced himself it was a dream. A strange detour before the Merge spat him back into Ninjago. But days stretched, and his body grew tired and hungry in ways that dreams never did. And then the Axolotl’s words came back, burning like an echo through his skull: I reincarnate your soul into the story of my choosing… play at being different people…

So this was it. His first “life.”

>_<

Language was the first hurdle. At three, he should not have had the awareness of a teenager-turned-ninja-turned-would-be-Savior of Ninjago, but he did. His tongue, though, tripped over words, and his hands fumbled with chalk. The letters looked twisted, the grammar archaic. Even his ears had to adjust, so much harsher and yet so formal compared to the voices he was used to.

The tutors praised his diligence and quick wit, though they muttered about his “strange accent.” Lloyd let them. He knew he wasn’t cleverer than a normal child, he was just older in mind. It was difficult to this new body. He managed to adjust to a big body, so he can manage it the other way around. He hid his frustration by working harder, grinding his quill against the parchment until his fingers cramped.

It reminded him of his earliest days in training, back when Wu had demanded patience and discipline and all he’d wanted to do was fight. The difference was, at least back then, he had brothers-in-arms. Now he had no one.

>_<

His parents, or rather, Arthur’s parents, were another lesson in contrast. He had to remember that his new name was Arthur.

Queen Igraine was perfect, precisely because she was gone. He knew nothing of her except her name. No one spoke of her, as if it was taboo. One thing was clear, she could never abandon him like Misako had. She could never disappoint him. She was locked, eternally, in the mind of others. He only inherited her looks.

His new father Uther, though, Uther was still alive. And he was cold.

As a king, he was brilliant: steady in governance, ruthless in judgment, and admired by his knights. The only thing marring this was his irrational fear against magic.

But as a father… Lloyd couldn’t help but compare him to Garmadon. Even at his darkest, even when he’d been stripped of his good memories, his father had still tried to be a father. Twisted, misguided, but present.

Uther was stone. He did not rage or curse or strike. He simply commanded and expected obedience. Lloyd played the dutiful son because what else was there to do. He was on the top and had duties to the people. It wasn’t like there was another heir.

>_<

Morgana.

That was another wound waiting to bleed.

She was kind enough on the surface, sweet even, with a beauty that drew the eye. But Lloyd could not shake the feeling whenever she looked at him, whenever she smiled, whenever she lingered too long. Something inside her reminded him of Harumi, the Quiet One, the girl who had smiled and smiled until her fangs sank into his heart.

And so, instinctively, he distrusted her. He did not mean to. But every time she leaned close, every time she tried to coax warmth out of him, his walls went up.

It didn’t help that she resented him. In sword training he bested her, even with his smaller frame and shorter arms. She did not know that he remembered years of training as the Green Ninja, or that he had already sparred against enemies far greater than her. All she saw was a spoiled prince humiliating her.

So the rivalry grew. A prank here, a barb there, until her temper frayed. Sometimes he offered her sweets from the kitchens as peace offerings.

He tried, he really did.

>_<

Loneliness clawed at him worst of all.

He had never been without his team before, not truly. Here he was the prince. Which meant no friends. Only knights, servants, courtiers. All of them bowed. All of them obeyed. None of them dared to be his equal.

It felt like Darkley’s Academy all over again, only this time he was at the very top of the pyramid. Alliances mattered. Betrayal was expected. Every laugh at a jest was half-forced, every smile weighed against ambition.

He tried to reach for something real in Gaius, the old physician. Perhaps, he thought, there might be wisdom there like Wu’s. But no. Gaius kept him at arm’s length, always guarded. He was too much like Wu at his worst, speaking in riddles, hoarding truths until it was too late. Lloyd found himself resenting the man even as he sought his counsel.

And so the ache deepened. He wanted friends badly, but the title of “Prince Arthur” was a wall no one dared climb.

>_<

There were perks, though. He couldn’t deny that.

Food was plentiful. Silk sheets were softer than any bedroll he’d ever known. His tutors trained him in swordplay with the finest steel in the kingdom. But the luxuries only made him ache for what he had lost.

A bathroom. Actual plumbing. Hot showers. Music that wasn’t plucked on lutes. The thrill of racing through Ninjago City on a hoverboard, of playing video games late into the night, of scarfing down fast food until he was stuffed. These people thought honeyed wine and roasted boar were treasures, but Lloyd would have killed for a greasy burger.

The more he remembered, the more alien this world felt. He was a stranger trapped in gold.

>_<

He found solace in training.

Swords felt right in his hands. The weight of the blade, the sting of the strike, the flow of movement, it woke something in him that even time and space couldn’t erase. He learned quickly, faster than his tutors expected, and they praised him as a prodigy.

What they didn’t know was that he trained in secret too, keeping up the exercises from his old life. Push-ups, balance drills, stealth crawls across the rafters. He practiced rolling into shadows, slipping unseen, climbing walls until the guards groaned. Camelot’s stone halls became his dojo.

He couldn’t summon energy blasts or elemental dragons anymore, but he could still move like a ninja. And that was enough.

>_<

Puberty, though came with a storm.

At three, at five, even at seven, he ignored it. When his body ached, his voice changed and new parts of him bloomed, he remembered the Axolotl’s words: No suicide. At the time he hadn’t understood. Now he did.

“Puberty is a bitch,” he muttered one night under his breath, staring at the canopy of his royal bed. In his first life he had been lucky, grown up in a blink. Here there was no escape.

The void between worlds might have been cruel, but at least it hadn’t promised pimples.

>/\<

Every guard in Camelot knew the same sinking feeling: the moment someone shouted, “Where is the prince?”

It was never asked when Arthur was safely in his chambers or at his lessons. No, that question always came when he was missing and if the prince was missing, trouble was bound to follow.

“He was halfway up the western wall yesterday,” grumbled Sir Halwen, a man with more gray in his beard than black. “Climbing like a squirrel, without so much as a rope. Nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“At least that’s outside,” another replied. “Last week he slipped down into the dungeons. I swear he’s mapping every corridor we’ve tried to forget exists.”

“And the dragon pit?” someone muttered darkly.

A silence fell. No one wanted to speak of the dragon, chained beneath Camelot. But more than one guard had caught a flash of blond hair vanishing down the forbidden stairways.

The conclusion was always the same. If something strange happened, an unexplained noise, a falling object, a burst of smoke, the first question was: “Where is the prince?” And if Arthur had been nearby, the matter was quietly ignored. Everyone knew it was safer that way.

The boy was too clever for his own good, and far too curious. But for all their grumbling, the guards could not bring themselves to hate him. He had a habit of slipping them stolen pastries after a long shift, or cracking a joke just sharp enough to break the tension of a dreary night.

“He’s a menace,” Halwen would sigh. Then, after a pause: “But I’d guard him all the same.”

>/\<

If the guards fretted, the servants gossiped.

The castle’s halls were swept by invisible currents of chatter, and Arthur’s name bobbed to the surface again and again. The cooks spoke of him most often, because the boy haunted their kitchens like a ghost with a sweet tooth.

“He raids the pantry more often than the mice,” complained one cook, though her eyes softened with amusement. “But at least he thanks you after. Prince or not, he thanks you.”

That was the difference. Most nobles treated servants as shadows. Arthur saw them. He asked their names, remembered their children, and lent a hand where he could. More than once, a maid returned to find her bucket already filled or her broom leaned neatly against the wall. The guilty party? The prince himself, grinning like a fox caught in feathers.

“He even makes his own bed,” whispered another servant, half awed, half scandalized.

But if he was kind to most, he was merciless to one, his personal manservant. Arthur demanded excellence, precision, punctuality. Every mistake was corrected, every flaw pointed out. Yet even that sharpness was not cruelty. The servants whispered that Arthur drove his manservant hardest because he wanted him to shine.

The only universal complaint was his addiction to sweets. Trays of honeyed tarts vanished like smoke. Jars of fruit needed constant replacing. More than one baker swore they’d catch him one day.

“He’ll rot his teeth before he reaches twenty,” they said. But they smiled when they said it.

>/\<

The knights of Camelot prided themselves on discipline. They trained to hold the line, to march in unison, to clash in shining ranks against the kingdom’s enemies. And then there was Arthur, who turned training into chaos.

“What is the point of this?” Sir Bedwin groaned, trying to crawl through the mud while Arthur barked at him to keep his head low. “We are knights, not thieves.”

Arthur rolled his eyes. “If you only fight where you expect, you’re already dead.”

Half the drills he invented made no sense: ambushes in narrow halls, mock battles with uneven numbers, duels fought with one arm bound. He demanded that they adapt, improvise, think and the knights hated it.

“He has us fighting imaginary monsters,” one muttered.

“They’re not imaginary,” Arthur shot back, overhearing. “Just rare. Until they’re not.”

Exhausting as he was, none could deny his skill. Sword in hand, Arthur moved like water over stone. He read his opponent’s strikes before they landed, pressed advantages with ruthless precision, and laughed when the bigger knights tried to corner him.

A prodigy, they called him, though many whispered the word with unease. He was too quick, too clever, too prepared for dangers that had not yet come.

And yet, when battle drills ended, he slapped their shoulders with a grin and called them brothers. It was impossible to hate him completely.

>/\<

To Morgana, Arthur was a riddle wrapped in gold.

He could be charming, complimenting her dress, offering her stolen fruit, smiling in a way that softened the sharpness of his words. And then, in the next breath, he would humiliate her in the training yard or prank her so thoroughly she swore smoke steamed from her ears.

She could not pin him down. Was he mocking her? Testing her? Did he even know himself?

He unsettled her most in quiet moments, when his eyes lingered on her too long, not with desire but with calculation. As if he were measuring her soul, weighing it against something only he could see.

“He’s impossible,” she muttered to Gwen one night, pacing. “One moment he’s kind, the next he’s cruel.”

“Maybe he’s just trying to be your brother,” Gwen suggested gently.

But Morgana shook her head. She was the ward of the king. Maybe the king planned to marry them.

>/\<

To the king, Arthur was both pride and frustration.

The boy excelled in his studies, surpassed his peers in training, and carried himself with a dignity that befitted a prince. In all things, Arthur was dutiful. In all things, Arthur was capable.

But in his opinion, he was rebellious.

Time and again, Uther found himself arguing with his son. Not about trivialities, but about principles. Arthur questioned the laws against magic, the harshness of punishments, the necessity of certain wars. Always respectful, but always insistent.

Morgana agreed with him in some of these matters, but her voice was soft, her disagreements tempered. Arthur’s were sharper. He spoke not as a child but as one who believed he had already weighed the cost of blood.

Uther loved him, he never denied that. But he often found himself staring at the boy and wondering how one so young could look at him with eyes that old. What kind of creature did he invite into his family. Will it cost him more than his beloved?

>/\<

No one in Camelot was more exasperated than Gaius.

The prince was everywhere. In the apothecary, knocking over jars he had no business touching. In the herb garden, trampling plants he claimed to be “studying.” In the restricted chambers, pulling dusty tomes from shelves he should not even know existed.

Worse, Arthur returned the books. Not hidden, not smuggled, but placed neatly back in Gaius’ hands.

“How did you even find this?” Gaius demanded once, holding up a volume he’d thought buried under a dozen others.

Arthur only smiled. “You should hide things better.”

And then there were the injuries. Scratches from thorns Gaius didn’t remember existing near Camelot. Burns that looked suspiciously like dragon-fire. Bruises from falls no prince should have taken.

The boy was reckless, insatiably curious, and far too quick to learn.

Gaius often muttered that Arthur would be the death of him. But in his quieter moments, he admitted, if only to himself, that he was a good boy.

Chapter Text

No young man, no matter how great, can know his destiny. He cannot glimpse his part in the great story that is about to unfold. Like everyone, he must live and learn. And so it will be for the young warlock arriving at the gates of Camelot. A boy that will, in time, father the legend. His name: Merlin.

Lloyd stumbled on his way to his room. The dam dragon below the basement was monologuing again. He didn’t hear the words clearly, but it had the wrong rhythm of his berating. It was too long for speaking with himself, so that only left monologuing. Great, destiny was afoot. The dragon really loved to monologue about his destiny.

It was nice to now his destiny from the beginning. Uniting the land of Albion he understood. Really his father was doing all the groundwork for that one. What he didn’t like was the epithet Once and Future King. If he is the Once, then the Axolotl will put him in the Future. But if he is the Future, who the heck was the Once.

It wasn’t as bad as prophecy’s go. His own was very different at the end from what they thought.

So, should he prepare for battle or ignore it? Well, nothing really big happened the last fifty times he ignored it. And he had to train and prepare for Lady Helens’ arrival.

Everything worked like always and Lloyd was happy to get a good night’s rest.

>_<

The next day it was time for training. Lloyd really liked learning new things. What he didn’t like was to be accompanied by some useless manservant. Alright that was too harsh. Morris was a good servant, but that was it. Lloyd was going to be king, he needed someone loyal and steady at his side. A friend would be very nice, but that was a pipe dream. It was so difficult to train them up to be battle ready or to not get in the way.

He didn’t anticipate, that the higher the position the more people wanted to crawl up his ass. It was like he was back at Darkleys. Only this time he was the one sought after to make alliances.

His so-called companions were the worst. The only good point is that they knew how to fight. A pause. Well, most of them.

“Wheres the target?”

His knights were laughing.

“There, Sir?” answered Morris.

“It’s to the sun?”

“But, it’s not that bright.”

“A bit like you, then?” That was uncalled for, but Lloyd was running out of patience.

“I’ll put the target on the other end, shall I, Sir?”

Morris carried the target towards the wall.

“Teach him a lesson. Go on, boy”, said a knight.

Great now he had to abuse his manservant. “This will teach him.”

Arthur threw a agger at the target.

“Hey! Hang on!”, cried Morris.

“Don’t stop!”

Morris took a few steps back.

“Here?”

“I told you to keep moving!” Then he threw another dagger. “Come on! Run!”

If he was attacked Morris should be more trained to save his own life.

It was a challenge for Lloyd to hit the target and not Morris.

“Do you want some moving target practice?”

Morris dropped the target. To his surprise some stranger stepped on it.

“Hey, come on, that’s enough.”

“What?”, did he ask a little idiotic. Who was that guy?

“You’ve had your fun, my friend?”, said the stranger.

“Do I know you?”

“Er, I’m Merlin.” Merlin held his hand out.

Lloyd was really really surprised. Such a normal friendship offer didn’t happen in this life. Everyone had an ulterior motive.

“So I don’t know you.”

“No.”

“Yer you called me “friend”.”

“Thar was my mistake.”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Yeah. Id never have a friend who could be such an ass.” Then he starts walking away.

That was a good one, but he had to get even, or his “father” would be cross.

“Tell me, merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees?”

“No.”

“Would you like me to help you?”

“I wouldn’t if I were you.”

“Why? What are you going to do tome?”, he chuckled.

“You have no idea.” Lloyd shuddered. How could this Merlin manage to make such a threat with power behind it. He had to know more.

“Be my guest! Come on! Come on! Come ooooooon.”

Merlin took a swing at him, but he twisted Merlins arm behind his back.

That idiot, hell get in trouble for attacking royalty. He had to give a milder sentence.

“I’ll have you thrown in jail for that.”

“What, who do you think you are? The king?” How he wished it to be so.

“No. I’m his son, Arthur.”

Then he took Merlins out at the knees.

“You”, Llyod pointed at a guard. “Bring his to his new accommodation in the dungeons.”

Later that evening Lloyd lay in his bed. Lady Helen had arrived. He hoped his father would be happy with her singing. His interaction with Merlin was also something new. He should seek him out for a second round. But first he would Merlin in the stocks.

>_<

The next day he truly had a second meeting with Merlin. Lloyd really wanted to know what he will do next.

Merlin walked across the Square and passed Arthur.

“How’s your knee-walking coming along?” Melin kept walking. He got a point for not being riled up so quickly.

“Aw, don’t run away!”

Merlin stopped.

“From you?”

Lloyed sighed: “Thank God. I thought you were deaf as well as dumb.”

“Look, I've told you you're an ass.” Then he turned to face Arthur. “I just didn't realize you were a royal one. Oh, what are you going to do? Get your daddy's men to protect you?”

Lloyd laughed. He really wanted to know what Merlin had up his sleeve. “I could take you apart with one blow.”

“I could take you apart with less than that.” There it was again. A threat that promised power.

“Are you sure?”

The knights edged them on. Merlin took his jacket off.

“… Toyin with him, then!” said a knight.

“Here you go.” Lloyds was given a mace, which he tossed at Merlin. Merlin didn’t catch it, but he picked it up. His stance was terrible and his hold on the weapon weak.

Lloyd on the other hand swung his mace with ease.

“Come on, then. I warn you, I've been trained to kill since birth.”

“Wow, and how long have you been training to be a prat?” That was a good one. Lloyd snorted.

“You can't address me like that.”

“I'm sorry. H-How long have you been training to be a prat, My Lord?” Merlin gave a little bow. Lloyd had trouble keeping his smile from showing. It may look a little perturbed. That was fun.

“Come on then, Merlin! Come on!”

He baked Merlin into the market stalls and the crowd continued to gather. Merlin fell down.

“Haha. You’re in trouble now.”

“Oh God.”

He saw Merlin looking for some way out, but there was none. Somehow Lloyd managed to entangle his mace with large hooks. How did that happen? He untangled himself and attacked again. His reflexes kicked in before he could manage to bang his shin on a box, that suddenly was in the way.

Was he slacking in his ninja training? Did the knight practice make him lose his edge. When he tripped over ropes, he was sure. He had to rack up his ninja training. How was it that he and the ninja always slacked when the villain of the time was defeated. And they had to scramble their training for the next one.

“Do you want to give up?” Right Lloyd was still in a duel.

“To you?”

“Do you? Do you want to give up?”

To Lloyds embarrassment. His foot caught in a bucket, and he fell over backwards. He got back up and attacked merlin with a broom, knocking him to the ground. Guards began picking Merlin up.

“Wait. Let him go. He may be an idiot, but he's a brave one. There's something about you, Merlin. I can't quite put my finger on it.“

Back in his room Lloyd planned how to find time for his ninja training. It was as if he barely managed to finish the tutorial. If he lost so spectacularly against a civilian, how much worse would it get if he was against a serious enemy.

>_<

The next night it was time for the banquet. He had to tell the story of his exploits against Merlin again. “Merlin…”, they laughed, “… so  I stood up and …”

Then Morgana entered and all the men stared at her. Lloyd really tried to understand why. It wasn’t their first time seeing Morgana. He hoped she would finally marry one and leave court. He would be happier without her presence.

“God have mercy” with whom she’ll marry. He’ll need it. Well he had to do his duty. He approached her.

“Morgana, you look well…”

It was time. Celebratory horns signaled King Uther’s entrance, and everyone could finally take their places at the tables.

“We have enjoyed twenty years of peace and prosperity. It has brought the kingdom and myself many pleasures, but few can compare with the honor of introducing Lady Helen of Mora.”

Lloyd was really anticipating her singing. He really missed music. Every time someone heard him singing they would look at him as if he had lost his mind. He missed comics, the tv and above all video games.

Helen began with her song. Lloyd felt really sleepy. Where that cobwebs? It was a sleeping spell! That was an enemy attack. He had to fight it. But it so beautiful. He can finally find peace. Soon hell return to the void.

That startled him a little awake. His eyelids were so heavy. What was happening?

A crash sounded and the magic stopped. Lloyd stood up to see what happened. An old woman was lying on the floor. She was hit by the chandelier. Before he could react, she stood up and threw her dagger at him.

Somehow Merlin managed to pull him out of harm’s way. It was so sudden as if he used a time blade. The dagger sliced into his chair. Arthur stared at Merlin. Did he something like a time blade or was it an inherit elemental power?

“You saved my boy's life. A debt must be repaid,” said Uther.

“Oh, well…”, Merlin tried to speak.

“Don't be so modest. You shall be rewarded.”

“No, honestly, you don't have to, Your Highness.”

“No, absolutely. This merits something quite special.”

“Well... “

“You shall be rewarded a position in the royal household. You shall be Prince Arthur's manservant. “

The court applauded.

“Father!” Now was not a good time to get into his good graces. Great now he had to train a new manservant up.

One thing he knows for sure, life with Merlin will be interesting.

Chapter Text

Merlin had expected his life in Camelot to be hard. He hadn’t expected it to be a full-time game of Where’s the Prince?

Arthur, no, Prince Arthur, was never where he was supposed to be. Not in his chambers, not in the training yard, not in the hall with his tutors. Every time Merlin fetched water, or polished boots, or carried messages, somebody would ask, “Where is the prince?” as if Merlin were supposed to know.

At first, Merlin hadn’t.

The boy vanished like smoke. One moment he’d be at his desk, the next he’d be climbing out the window. The guards sighed, the servants gossiped, the knights muttered, but none of them seemed surprised. It was as though they all had an unspoken agreement: if Arthur was missing, it was only a matter of time before he back.

Merlin had asked about it once. “Why doesn’t anyone stop him?”

The guard he’d cornered had just sighed and muttered, “The time of peace is over.” Which was not an answer.

Merlin, however, had magic.

He started cheating.

At first it was small, he looked up a spell to nudge his steps toward wherever Arthur had gone. Then, after one too many days running around Camelot like a lost dog, Merlin confronted Gaius.

“I need a way to find him. Properly. Not just guessing.”

Gaius had peered at him over his spectacles. “Find him? He’s the prince, Merlin. He should be easy to find.”

“You’d think!” Merlin threw his hands up. “But he’s not. One moment he’s at training, the next he’s halfway up the castle wall like a squirrel. I need something better than my legs.”

Gaius muttered something about reckless boys, then finally relented. He showed Merlin the art of scrying, bowls of water, mirrors, crystals, focus and intent. It should have taken months of practice.

Merlin learned it in days.

He had to.

Soon, he could find Arthur with a glance into a bowl. On the roof? In the kitchens? Sneaking into the dungeon? Merlin knew. And he always arrived just in time to catch Arthur in the act.

It didn’t take long before the guards stopped asking each other, “Where is the prince?” and started asking Merlin instead.

“He’s on the eastern battlements,” Merlin would say, without even looking.

Or, “Check the kitchens.”

At first they stared at him, suspicious. Then, when he was right every time, they stopped questioning it. The councilors even began sending him with messages.

Merlin, baffled, whispered once to Gaius, “Why does no one think it’s strange? I can find Arthur anywhere.”

Gaius only sighed. “The boy has always been like that. They’re just relieved someone’s keeping track of him.”

Which was not reassuring.

And so Merlin became the reluctant shadow of the prince.

Arthur, for his part, was annoyed.

“Are you following me?” he demanded one day, finding Merlin at the stables before he’d even arrived.

“Yes,” Merlin admitted cheerfully.

“Why?”

“Because if I don’t, you’ll end up falling off a roof and I’ll get blamed for it.”

Arthur had very annoying look.

>L<

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin.

Arthur stumbled. Since Merlins arrival the dragon was suspiciously mute. He hadn’t caught the exact words, only the last one, Merlin.

Was the dragon asking for Merlin to come to him? Did that mean, that he wasn’t the only one to hear him speaking? Please let it be, he didn’t want to be special. Being prince was enough. No one ever said that it was that much work. The only good thing was that there was no paperwork, they didn’t have paper only parchment.

VIV

The clatter of steel echoed on the ramparts. Arthur, helmet off but still gleaming in full practice armor, circled with his sword drawn. Merlin staggered opposite him, absurdly weighed down by borrowed chainmail that hung loose in places and cut into him in others. His shield wobbled like a dinner tray in the hands of a juggler.

“Ready?” Arthur asked, all confidence and composure.

“Would it make any difference if I said no?” Merlin muttered, shifting uncomfortably.

“Not really.” Arthur lunged.

Merlin barely brought his shield up in time.
“Body. Shield. Body. Shield,” Arthur barked, striking rhythmically.

Merlin’s arm throbbed with every blow.
“Shield,” he wheezed.

“Head.” Arthur’s blade tapped his helmet with a metallic clang.

“Head? Ow!” Merlin dropped his guard, eyes watering.

Arthur frowned. “You’re not even trying.”

“I am!” Merlin protested, stumbling back as Arthur tagged him again, this time squarely on the shoulder.

Arthur stepped forward, relentless. “Once more. Left. Right. Head.”

“Ow! Can we stop now, please?” Merlin yelped as another strike clipped his ribs. His helmet tipped sideways and, with a pathetic groan, he toppled backwards onto the stones.

Arthur planted his sword against the ground, barely winded. “You’re braver than you look. Most servants collapse after the first blow.”

“Is it over?” Merlin wheezed, flat on his back.

“That was the warm-up,” Arthur replied with infuriating calm. He swung a mace idly, the heavy ball spinning. “How’s your mace work?”

Merlin groaned into the sky. He was beginning to think destiny was some cosmic joke.

VIV

Later, Merlin stumbled into Gaius’ chambers, discarding pieces of armor like a molting bird. His head rang with phantom clangs.

Gaius chuckled, already reaching for a salve. “So, how was your first training day as Arthur’s servant?”

Merlin tapped his skull. “Do you hear clanging?”

Gaius began massaging his sore shoulders. Merlin sighed dramatically. “It was horrible. And I’ve got to learn all about tournament etiquette by morning. Onhríne achtung bregdan!”

A book zipped from the shelf into his lap.

“Oi!” Gaius smacked the back of his head. “What’ve I told you about using magic like this?”

“If I could feel my arms, I’d pick it up myself.” Merlin winced as Gaius pressed harder.

“You’ll do neither. If you’re caught…”

“What would you do?” Merlin asked.

“Hope you weren’t caught.” Gaius’ voice darkened. “For both our sakes, you mustn’t slip.”

Merlin sighed. “I save Arthur from being killed, and I end up polishing his boots. How is that fair?”

“Fairness doesn’t come into it.” Gaius’ tone softened. “Arthur is under pressure too. He’s the future king.”

Merlin scoffed. “Oh, yes. Poor Arthur. All the girls, all the glory.”

Gaius pressed another sore spot, making Merlin yelp. “Pressure comes in many forms.”

Merlin grumbled. Destiny or not, this servant thing was overrated.

VIV

Arthur’s armor proved another disaster. Straps, buckles, and clasps mocked Merlin’s fumbling fingers. He sought help in Gwen’s modest house, dragging the pieces with him.

Gwen laughed when she saw him. “You’ve got voiders on the arms, the hauberk goes over the chest…”

“The chest, the arms, the chest,” Merlin repeated hopelessly.

“And the helmet, I suppose you know.”

“Yes! The helmet I managed.” He shoved it on, only for it to slip over his eyes. Gwen giggled.

“How come you’re better at this than me?” he asked.

“I’m the blacksmith’s daughter. I know armor. Kind of sad, really.”

“No, it’s brilliant,” Merlin said with genuine admiration.

For a moment, Gwen’s smile lingered. But that was all. Friendship, nothing more. Merlin left with armor properly assembled and a little dignity restored.

VIV

The tournament grounds burst alive with color. Uther stood before the knights, Arthur gleaming at his side.

“Knights of the realm,” Uther boomed, “it is in combat we learn a warrior’s true nature. Over three days you will test your bravery, and one shall be crowned champion.”

The gold prize glinted in the sun.

Arthur fought first, victoriously with elegant strikes. The crowd roared. Merlin cheered too loudly, earning himself a few stares.

Knight Valiant soon entered the lists. He was a tall, polished figure, his shield gleaming with intricate painted serpents. He dispatched his opponent swiftly, almost too swiftly. Merlin’s eyes narrowed.

Later, Valiant stopped near Arthur. “May I offer congratulations?”

“Likewise,” Arthur replied politely.

“I hope to meet you in the final.” Valiant bowed and left.

Merlin snorted. “Creep.”

Arthur almost smiled. “Jealous?”

“Not in the slightest.”

VIV

That night, Merlin carried armor back through the dim armory when a hiss caught his ear. He froze. The shield, Valiant’s shield, hung on a rack, the painted eyes glinting strangely. One of them blinked.

Merlin reached out, then felt cold steel at his chest.

“Can I help you?” Valiant’s voice was smooth and dangerous.

Merlin stammered, “Just, uh…gathering armor for my master.”

Valiant’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Then be on your way.”

Merlin nodded furiously and nearly tripped as he escaped. His heart hammered. He’d seen enough magic to recognize it, but who would believe him?

VIV

Gaius examined Sir Ewan, Valiant’s last opponent, who lay pale and sweating. “Odd. Two puncture wounds. Paralysis. Like a snake bite.”

“But there were no snakes in the arena,” Merlin insisted.

“Without the venom to make an antidote, I can’t cure him,” Gaius admitted gravely.

Merlin’s chest tightened. He’d seen the truth, but truth without proof was nothing.

When he told Arthur the next day, Arthur studied him carefully. “You saw this?”

“I swear it. I saw the snake move. Valiant is cheating.”

Arthur leaned against the table, troubled. “You know what accusing a knight of sorcery means. Especially in my father’s court.”

“So you’ll do nothing?” Merlin burst.

Arthur’s voice hardened. “Without proof, what am I meant to do? Execute a man because my servant has a feeling? I’m not my father.”

That silenced Merlin. He hated that Arthur was right.

“Bring me proof and I go to my father.”

VIV

Merlin crept into Valiant’s chambers the next night, muttering a quick spell to unlock the door. Inside, the shield gleamed in torchlight.

He raised a borrowed sword, intent on slashing the thing apart, when a shadow slid. A serpent slithered free, hissing. Merlin spun and swung, severing its head in one stroke. More snakes writhed, but Merlin, panicking, scooped the severed head and bolted.

Back in Gaius’ chambers, the physician drained venom from the fangs. “You may have just saved Sir Ewan. With this, we can make an antidote.”

Merlin pressed the snake head into Arthur’s hands. “Proof.”

Arthur turned it over slowly. “You did this?”

Merlin swallowed. “Ewan was bitten in his match. This is how. Gaius can show you the wounds. Please you can’t fight him without knowing the truth.”

Arthur’s eyes met his, clear and unwavering. “This is a snakehead. I don’t like to be devil’s advocate, but Sir valiant can say that it could come from a whole snake. So is his shield missing a snakehead on its painting.”

Merlin tried to remember and found the answer: “No.”

Arthurs shoulders slumped. “Then I have to be more carful in my match with him.”

“But Sir Ewan can collaborate it, when he wakes up. Gaius found the antidote.”

“Will he wake up, before my match?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then we only have to wait.”

VIV

But fate twisted cruelly. Sir Ewan awoke briefly, murmured with snakes and was struck down by another, slithering from the shadows. The witness was dead.

Merlin was afraid that this would also happen to Arthur. He didn’t have any proof. So, he had to make his proof. He needed magic against magic.

He found a dog staute.

“What are you doing with that?”, asked Gaius.

“I have to show everyone the snakes for themselves, that should be proof enough.” He put the stature in his chamber and pulled the magic book out.

Then he practiced.

VIV

The final day dawned. Merlin found Arthur out of bed.

“Don’t fight Valiant in the tournament tomorrow. He'll use the shield against you.”

“I know.”

“Then withdraw. You have to withdraw. “

“Don't you understand? I can't withdraw. The people expect their prince to fight. How can I lead men into battle if they think I'm a coward?”

“Valiant will kill you. If you fight, you die.”

“Then I die.”

“How can you go out there and fight like that?”

“Because I have to. It's my duty. And I take precautions. More armor where the snakes may bite. I’m not a full moron you know. No help in the armor!”

Merlin thought he heard him mumble: “I hate snakes.”

VIV

Arthur fought against Sir Valiant. When Sir Valiant was near loosing.

“Bebay odothay arisan quickum!” Melins voice rang from the sidelines.

The snakes writhed free of Valiant’s shield, hissing. The crowd gasped.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed. “Now they see you for what you are.”

Valiant cursed, sending the snakes forward. Arthur fought viciously, slashing through the conjured beasts. Morgana hurled him a sword at the crucial moment, and Arthur drove it home, cutting down knight and sorcery alike.

The arena erupted in cheers. Merlin grinned, exhausted but elated.

VIV

That night, Uther hailed Arthur as champion. Morgana teased him, claiming she’d saved him with her timely sword toss. Arthur scoffed.

“She says she saved me,” Arthur grumbled later to Merlin. “As if I needed it.”

Merlin smirked. “Of course not, Sire. You had it entirely under control, while lying flat on the ground.”

Arthur shot him a glare, then relented. “Funny, how the snakes came out without him knowing. I remember him saying that he didn’t summon them.”

Merlins smirk slightly slipped: “Magic must have left him.”

Arthur gave Merlin a long look, as if weighing a suspicion. “Then that must be it.”

Chapter Text

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin.

Lloyd was sitting. It looked like the dragon had repeated himself. This time he got the last sentence. “His name, Merlin.” So. Was that a prophecy for Merlin or one about him. Really the dragon was spouting one prophecy after the other.

He got two of them. The first is, that he will be Once and Future King and unite Albion. And the other Two sides of one coin. They are just bad and too precise. His green ninja prophecy was very convoluted and only when it was the right time was it clear what you had to do.

Did he get a second try to unite Albion, because the first one failed? Why would the second attempt be more successful?

o/\o

A corpse laid on the ground. It looked like it had eaten something wrong. Lloyd was staring. He had never seen something like that.

King Uther spoke: “What's happened to him?”

Gaius said: “I don't know, Sire. It's the second case I've seen today.”

“Why didn't you report it to me?

“I was attempting to find the cause. “

“What did you conclude? “

“I don't think it's time to hurry to conclusions. The scientific process is a long one. “

“What are you concealing from me? “

“Sire, I have seen nothing like it. The victims are dying in 24 hours, and it's spreading fast. “

“What is the cause? “

“I think you should say that the cause, the most likely cause, is sorcery. “

Lloyd had a different opinion. There were so many different microorganisms that could have done it. On the other hand, could magic make specific ones like in a laboratory?

Uther pulled Arthur aside.

“We must find who did this.”

Yes, they had to do that.

“Wouldn’t it be better to find the source of the sickness and end it before more people die?”

Uther’s gaze hardened. “Do you question my judgment?”

“I question only the wisdom of chasing shadows,” Lloyd said carefully. “If we waste time searching for a sorcerer who may be gone already, the sickness will claim more lives. But if we find what’s poisoning the people…”

Uther slammed his hand on the table. “Enough! You will obey me. Sorcery is at the heart of this, as it always is. Your duty is to hunt the sorcerer and bring them to justice.”

Lloyd drew a slow breath. Time to try.

He let his voice drop, commanding yet calm, and met his father’s gaze. He called it: “Look at me and listen.”

It wasn’t magic, not really. When he focused, when he poured every ounce of will into his words, people listened. He had learned to command not just with authority, but with something deeper.

The nobles leaned forward, caught. Even some of the guards stilled, their breathing quiet. For a moment, Lloyd thought maybe, just maybe, his father would yield.

But Uther’s eyes narrowed. He shook his head, breaking the pull. “You will do as commanded. I am your king. Hunt the sorcerer. Leave the rest to Gaius and your manservant.”

The moment shattered. The murmurs resumed. Lloyd’s hands curled into fists at his sides.

“As you wish,” he said through clenched teeth.”

It had never worked before on Uther. Maybe he had his own version of it. Morgana and Gaius also managed to easily pull themselves out.

T_T

Before he had to leave with his knights he cornered Merlin.

“My father is sending me to chase after some phantom sorcerer while people die. He gives me more men to search for the culprit instead of giving you more manpower to find the solution.” Lloyd’s voice cracked with frustration. “Every hour we waste, more fall ill.”

Merlin hesitated. “So what do you want to do?”

Lloyd turned to him, eyes sharp. This was the risk. Merlin wasn’t just a servant. He was something else, someone else. Lloyd had seen the flashes, the strange coincidences. He had suspicions.

“The same as my father. Find the source,” Lloyd said quietly. ”You’ve got a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Use it. Search the wells, the streams, anything connected to the city’s water.”

Merlin opened his mouth, closed it, then tried again. “Arthur, that’s dangerous. If it is sorcery…”

“Then I trust you to survive it.” Lloyd’s voice softened. “I can’t be in two places at once. If I follow my father’s orders, someone has to do the work that actually matters. That someone is you.”

Merlin shifted uneasily, but there was a glimmer in his eyes, half pride, half fear. “And if I get caught poking around where I shouldn’t?”

Lloyd smirked faintly. “Then I’ll lie through my teeth to cover for you. I’m very good at it.”

Merlin snorted. “That’s reassuring.”

Lloyd stepped closer, his tone more serious now. “Merlin, I mean it. People are dying. Find the truth. For them.”

Merlin held his gaze, then nodded slowly. “Alright. I’ll try.”

“No.” Lloyd gripped his shoulder. “Don’t try. Do it.”

T_T

While Gaius and Merlin were checking if the sickness was truly in the water, they heard a knock.

“Yes?”

Arthur with a bunch of guards game in.

“Sorry Gaius, we're searching every room in town.”

“What for? “

“The sorcerer. “

“But why would he be here? “

“I'm just doing my job. “ You could hear his teeth grinding.

“We've nothing to hide. Go on, then. Search. “

“What's all these books and papers? “

“My life's work, dedicated to the understanding of science. You are quite welcome to read through them if you wish.“ Lloyd already had. Most of it boring, false or hilariously right for the wrong reasons.

“What's this room up here? “

“Er, it's mine“, said Merlin.

“And what do you expect to find in there?” asked Gaius.

“I'm looking for material or evidence suggesting the use of enchantments. “

“What've you done with the magic book I gave you? “, whispered Gaius to Merlin.

Melrin looked worried as Arthur entered his room.

Lloyd saw a suspicious book on the floor. He new that book. It had words he couldn’t read. It was in Gaius magical book stack, so it had to be book about magic. Why was Merlin making his job so difficult.

“Merlin, come here. Look what I found. “

Merlin went in.

“I found a place where you can put things. It's called a cupboard. “

Melin spotting the book on the floor, magically covered it with his bed sheet. Lloyd very elaborately looked under the bed and tried to miss the book. Then he left the room.

“How long do you think it may be before you find a cure? “

“It depends on how many interruptions I get. “

“Of course, I'm sorry”, to the Guards “We're finished here. “

T_T

Arthur entered the Council Chamber where Uther was waiting.

“We searched everywhere, the entire city. “, stated Arthur.

“Nothing?“

“I don't know where else to look. “What do you expect me? Built a sorcerer?

“I want you to impose a curfew. No one is to be allowed onto the streets after the great bell. “

Arthur seethed.

“And cordon off the lower town.“

“Why?”

“Because that's where most of the victims are. Let's isolate it, stop this disease from spreading.”

“What about the people who live there?”

“Don't you think I haven't considered it? What else can I do? I have to protect the rest of the city.”

Well, stop using the water, but Merlin still hasn’t found proof. Maybe he should go and ask him and Gaius.

T_T

Arthur reached for the glass vial with the tainted water and flower in it.

“Don't touch it. I had this in the water for no more than a few hours”, admonished Gaius.

“Where's the water from?”, demanded Uther.

“The pump from where the people take their daily supply.”

Lloyd had finally the proof. “We may have to stop the people from using it.”

“The city cannot survive without water”, explained Gaius.

“We have to find this sorcerer!” Uther still wanted the sorcerer.

Lloyd wanted to hit his head against a wall or even better hit Uthers head against a wall. How does he explain that there is no sorcerer in Camelot. “I don't believe that they're inside Camelot. Even if one was here, now he would be halfway to Cenreds kingdom.”

“Then extend the search to the villages!”

“We've started, but I can't search the entire kingdom.”

“And I can't stand by and watch our people dying.”

But Uther did it. Magic has only to be mentioned once, and everyone has to suffer humiliating investigations and surveys.

T_T

Lloyd had a bad feeling when he got the news that one sick patient got suddenly better. He had to go and investigate.

They found Tom at his forge, hammering steel as if nothing had happened. Sweat gleamed on his brow, but it was the sweat of honest work, not fever.

Arthur approached with guards. “Tom. They story goes you were sick.”

The blacksmith startled, bowing awkwardly. “Not any more.”

“You were sick.” Arthur’s voice carried the weight of command. “Or was it some other ailment?”

Tom shifted uneasily. “Oh, you're joking. I felt like death itself, not enough strength in me to stir the air.”

Arthur’s eyes flicked. “Then … what happened?”

“Oh, I don't know. Suddenly it was gone. I'm fitter than I was before.”

“That's remarkable. Was anybody with you when all this happened?”

“Just my daughter, Gwen.”

Everyone heard it. Lloyd had to search. To his great chagrin one guard found a glowing poultice. He hated it when Uther was right.

T_T

Lloyd found Gwen humming in Morganas chambers.

“Seize her.” His order was lackluster.

“No.”

“Guinevere, I'm arresting you for crimes and contraventions of the laws of Camelot, that you did practice enchantments.”

Before Gwen could defend herself Morgana entered.

“Gwen?”, asked Morgana

“But what have I done? I haven't done anything! Help me, please!”

“What are you doing Arthur?”

“A magic poultice was found in her house.”

“Oh, that's ridiculous.”

“I know. Still her father was the only one who recovered.”

“Well, she's innocent! I know she's innocent.”

“Of course she is. If she truly was the sorcerer she would have healed far more people and not only her father. It looks more like one sorcerer poisoned the water and another more incompetent one healed Tom. Why only him, what him such a special cookie.” Lloyd was ranting.

“Cookie?”

“Forget the last thing. I have to bring Gwen to the king”

T_T

Lloyd let Gewn be dragged by the guards up the corridor.

Gwen gave her best to defend herself. “No, please. You've got to listen to me! Please, I haven't done anything wrong! You have to listen to me, please! I am innocent, I swear! Let me go! I swear to you!“

Merlin was approaching.

“Merlin! Merlin, please help me!” but to no avail. Gaius dragged Merlin away.

Lloyd was surprised. Why did Gwen think, that Merlin could help her. It was known, that when you were found neat a magical item you were at fault, as decreed by the king. Even if you where at the wrong time at the wrong place.

They finally reached the council chamber.

“Well done.”

Lloyd didn’t want Uthers praise. He wanted to get the sorcerer who hurt, not the one who healed.

“Why will no one believe me?! He got better, he just recovered. I didn't do anything!“ Gwens cries continued.

Only Morgana believed her. “I believe you. Perhaps this is a disease that is not always fatal. Have you thought of that? Perhaps he recovered naturally.”

“And what of this poultice that was found?” countered Uther.

“What poultice? I don't know anything about a poultice!” This was news to Gwen.

“It was found in your house. Undo this enchantment. Put an end to this contagion.”

“I can't!”

“I will show you no mercy.”

“I am not a witch. I don't know how to stop the illness!”

“If you will not undo your sorcery, you force my hand, and I must find you guilty... “

“But I told you, I... “

“It is therefore my duty to pronounce judgment. And under the circumstance I have no choice but to sentence you to death. “

“No. “

“I can only hope that when you die, this evil plague dies with you. “

“No! No! “

“Take her away. “

The Guards dragged Guinevere out of the room.

“Please, no! I'm innocent! Please, please, no! Please help me! Please, I beg you! No!”

Lloyd found he was degraded to a spectator. Morganas best arguments didn’t reach Uther.

He had to help. “Yes, maybe she used enchantment. But to save her dying father, that doesn't make her guilty of creating a plague. One's the act of, of kindness, of love, the other of evil. I don't believe evil's in this girl's heart.

“I have witnessed what witchcraft can do. I have suffered at its hand. I cannot take that chance. If there is the slightest doubt about this girl, she must die or the whole kingdom may perish.”

Lloyd didn’t understand. Did Uther misuse magic or didn’t he like to pay the prize.

“Could you elaborate or give an example?”

Uther was flummoxed and gaping for the right answer.

“Youll understand on the day you become king.”

“I will understand what?”

Finally, Uther found the right words. “That magic is evil.”

Lloyd was still waiting for an answer. Morgana was also looking interested at Uther. She hadn’t seen him that flustered in ever.

“Stop asking such questions. This is the wrong time for them. Let’s discuss of what to do next.”

Lloyd was disappointed, he hoped to finally find out why Uther hated magic so much. The only new thing he had was that Uther had used magic and the end result was bad.

The discussion was taking its sweet time. Until suddenly Merlin burst in.

“It was me! It was me who used magic to cure Gwen's father!”

The hall froze. Every head turned toward the lanky servant standing awkwardly by the doors.

Arthur’s heart stuttered. Merlin, what was he doing?

“Gwen is not the sorcerer. I am!”

Lloyd thought very hard and found it to be true. It would explain everything. How Merlin manages to find him every time. How the snakes from the shield froze up, just at the right moment. He healed Gwens father, because he liked her.

Lloyd was to immersed in his thoughts and only listened with half an ear. He had to save his idotic manservant.

“Wait!” Arthur cut in, raising his hand. All eyes snapped to him. He forced calm into his voice. “This is madness! There’s no way Merlin is a sorcerer.”

Uther’s gaze flicked between Arthur and Merlin. “Why would a servant confess to such a crime unless it were true?”

Arthur turned, catching Merlin’s eyes. The fool wouldn’t meet his gaze. He was lying, but he was doing it for Gwen.

Arthur sighed. “Because he’s in love.”

The hall went silent. Merlin’s head snapped up. “What?”

Arthur shrugged, feigning indifference. “He’s been mooning over Gwen for weeks. Everyone’s noticed. He’d say anything to protect her.”

Merlin sputtered, red to the ears. “That’s, that’s not …”

But the damage was done. The nobles chuckled. The tension cracked just enough.

Uther, still glowering, waved his hand. “Don't waste my time again. Let him go.“

T_T

Lloyd was surprised when Merlin arrived with at his chamber with a happy smile.

“Please tell me you found the source the solution for the poison.”

Merlin slammed the door shut behind him. “Yes. I found it.”

Arthur’s brows rose. “What is it?”

“It was in the water like you suspected. It isn’t natural, it’s alive. A creature. It’s called an Afanc.”

Arthur straightened, every nerve alert. “It can be killed. Will it stop the poison?”

“Yes.”

“Where is it?”

“In the underground tunnels beneath the city. It’s breeding in the water supply.”

Arthur didn’t hesitate. He grabbed his sword and shield. “Then we kill it.”

Merlin blinked. “Just like that?”

“Yes, just like that.” Arthur shoved past him. “Unless you’d rather wait until half the city is dead.”

Merlin groaned. “I hate it when you’re reasonable.”

T_T

The tunnels were surprisingly dry and well maintained. Their torche guttered in the stale air as they crept deeper.

Arthur moved like a predator, blade ready, every step measured. Merlin trailed behind, muttering.

Something was in the shadows, Lloyd could feel it. He had to lure it out.

They reached the water source.

“Now we split up.”

“Is that such a good idea?”, asked Merlin.

“Who’s the combat expert, you or me?”

They split up. The Afanc was a coward. As soon as Lloyd was alone it attacked. He managed to strike back, but it quickly disappeared into the shadows.

How did it do that. Lloyd knew how to disappear into shadows, but that wasn’t natural.

So where would he attack next if he as was a creeping monster? There.

Llyod slashed against it flank and lost his sword. The hide was much harder than he anticipated. Llyod tried to grab his sword.

“Arthur, sue the torch!”

Without thinking Llyod swung the torch.

Merlin shouted a word that Arthur didn’t recognize. Wind suddenly appeard and his torch burst into a flame thrower and incarnated the Afanc.

Arthur froze. That wasn’t normal. Without lighter fluid it shouldn’t be possible to create such a dire burst. But in these lands there is no such thing so it had to be magic.

“You used magic.”

Merlin froze. “No…”

“I saw you,” Arthur’s voice cut sharp as steel. His voice echoed, sharp as steel. “No tricks, no excuses. You spoke foreign words behind my back, and the fire expanded. That was magic.”

Merlin swallowed hard and lied. “Arthur, don’t be ridiculous. Me? A sorcerer?”

“But you already confessed, didn’t you?” Arthur pressed, stepping closer. “In court. You said you were a sorcerer. Should I believe you now, or not?”

Merlin’s face crumpled. “I only said that to save Gwen…”

“And yet you want me to believe you. So what should I think. If everything you said before was a lie, will everything after it also be a lie. There would be no point in trusting you.

Or everything was true, and I can trust your word in the future also.

So what is it?”

Lloyd saw the battle in Merlin.

Merlin whispered, “Yes. I’m a sorcerer.” The words hung heavily in the air.

“Will you tell your father?”

“You’re an idiot. Who was it that defended you just hours prior. Don’t do such a stupid thing in the future.”

Merlin stared, torn between relief and disbelief. “Why are you doing this? Don’t you hate sorcery? You’ve seen what your father does to people like me.”

Lloyd sighed. “I don’t hate sorcery. I hate what people do with it. Tonight, you used it to fight beside me. You used it to heal Tom. That’s different.” He paused, his voice firm. “But you will be careful. You slip again, and I don’t know if I can protect you.”

“So where does that leave us?”

“Well, you’ll tell me when something magical is going on. Then we’ll go and protect Camelot.”

Merlin was grinning from ear to ear as if Lloyd had something very important.

“For Camelot.”

“For Camelot.”

Chapter Text

Lloyd was getting ready for the Bayard and his men, when he heard it.

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin.

This time Lloyd heard it in full. Same length and same emphasis. Was Merlin the main character of this story? Axolotl never mentioned anything about that. He worked with the other ninjas, so in his own story there were multiple main characters. He should ask the Axolotl the next time he saw it.

He also noticed a pattern. Every time he heard the phrase something was going to happen. This could be a nice warning system.

^-^

The kingdom dressed itself up for peace.

Banners lined the walls, candles turned the throne room into a glittering beacon, and Uther stood with arms open wide, declaring old wars finished and new friendships forged. Arthur stood beside him in polished armor, a figure of royal promise.

Peace treaties always sounded noble. But he had lived through too many ceremonies that ended in ambushes, betrayals, or explosions. The silence between words mattered more than the speeches themselves. The way Bayard’s men watched the hall, hands never far from their blades. The stiffness in Uther’s shoulders, like he was ready to turn peace into war at the slightest insult.

Lloyd felt it crawling on his skin, the tension before something snapped.

And someone was watching him.

At first, he thought it was just another curious courtier, some noble’s daughter judging Camelot’s heir. But then he saw her: dark-haired, striking, eyes locked on him not with admiration but with something colder, calculating. She stood just beyond Bayard, her presence almost too convenient.

The air around her hummed.

Lloyd blinked once, and the sensation faded, leaving him unsettled.

^-^

He knew something will happen. Banquets, tournaments and every other crowd gathering festivity were rifled with dangers.

Something was going on, but he couldn’t investigate, because he was a centerpiece. Really Merlin was getting all the action and … .

Lloyd paused. How many times had it been that Merlin did something behind the scenes?

Forget knights training. He should get ninja training. Sneaking, blending with the shadows and climbing.

^-^

Absolutely nothing happened. Everything went without a hitch. So, were they good? But why did the dragon speak his words again.

The banquet hall smelled of roasted meat and spilled wine. Laughter and speeches clashed with the clink of goblets. Gwen chuckled at Merlin’s ridiculous feathered hat.

That was a good laugh as he gave it to Merlin. He should make funny hats mandatory. No one can stay serious with them and even enemies have to hold their tongue, or they fall off laughing.

Bayard rose, voice booming. “People of Camelot, for a great many years we have been mortal enemies, and the blood of our men stains the ground from the walls of Camelot to the gates of Mercia. And though we remember those who have died, we must not allow any more to join them.”

A servant carried in a carved box, opening it to reveal two silver goblets. The peace offering.

“As a symbol of our goodwill, and of our newfound friendship, I present these ceremonial goblets to you, Uther, and to your son, Arthur, in the hope that our friendship may last.”

That’s when he saw the suspicious woman gliding to Merlin’s side and speaking to him.

“The wounds we received in battle...”

Merlin was leaving with her. Lloyd got a bad feeling. It began and he had to sit here and entertain a very important peace event.

“Tonight, we toast a new beginning for our peoples. We look towards a future free from the toils of war.

And may the differences from our past remain there. To your health, Uther.”

Everyone stood up to toast.

“Arthur.”

Lloyd held his cup higher.

“The Lady Morgana.”

Morgana nodded. Lloyd waited.

“The people of Camelot.”

Three times, now he can drink.

“And to fallen warriors on both sides.” Finished Uther.

Finally Lloyd could drink.

“Stop!” bellowed Merlin.

The hall froze.

Merlin sprinted across the floor, nearly colliding with Arthur as he grabbed the goblet from his hands. “It’s poisoned! Don’t drink it!”

The room erupted in chaos. Bayard surged to his feet, outrage coloring his face. His men reached for weapons; Uther roared for order, the knights of Camelot bristled.

Arthur stared at Merlin like he’d grown two heads. “Merlin, what are you doing?”

“Ba… Someone laced it,” Merlin insisted, voice shaking but clear.

Lloyd’s heart pounded. So, this was the trap. Someone manipulated Merlin. A room full of panicking knights’ seconds away from bloodshed. He had to control it.

He stepped forward, his power of “listen to me” activating. He was calm but loud enough to cut through the noise. “My servant claims the goblet is poisoned. He didn’t say which one. So that means it wasn’t directed at anyone in particular, but to everyone. One death and the peace breaks. We will be at war again.

Someone wants us to be still at war.”

“Enough,” Bayard snarled. “Do you truly think, I would believe your tale? Is the goblet even really poisoned?”

“What would gain? We already signed the peace treaty.”

“This insult cannot stand. Proof it. Drink from the goblet and let all see if your words are true.”

The tension snapped. Swords hissed from scabbards. Camelot’s knights and Mercia’s men faced each other, eyes hot with years of hate.

Camelot did take death threats against its heir serious.

“Stop.” Lloyd raised his hand, stepping between them. His voice carried, trained in command. “This is madness. We will have proof, one way or another.”

Uther’s gaze burned into him, but then the king turned, gesturing. “Pass me the goblet.”

Lloyd handed it over. Uther weighed it in his palm, then extended it toward Merlin.

“He’ll drink it.”

Arthur’s blood ran cold. “But if it is poisoned, he’ll die!”

“Then we will know the truth.”

Bayard crossed his arms. “And if he lives?”

“Then,” Uther said, voice dripping with arrogance, “you will have my apologies, and you may do with him as you wish.”

“Father!”

“Do it.”

The hall waited.

Merlin looked at Arthur. Fear in his eyes, yes, but also something stronger. Loyalty, reckless and unshakable.

He lifted the goblet. “To Bayard. To Arthur.” And drank.

For a heartbeat, nothing. Then Merlin’s body convulsed. The goblet fell, clattering across the stones. He collapsed, choking, skin pale, lips darkening.

“No!” Lloyd was at his side instantly, catching him before his head struck the ground. “Merlin!”

The hall blurred into chaos again, but Lloyd didn’t care.

“Gaius!” he shouted. “Now! Get Gaius!”

He glared at Bayard, his voice was like a blade. “There you have your proof. It was my goblet and not yours. But someone here sought my death. How sure are you of your people? Do all of them want the fights to end?

Check your people, Lord Bayard, as I will mine. Magic has slipped into our court before, if you ever heard what happened to Lady Helen. Check if your people are truly who they say they are.”

Bayard’s jaw worked. He looked ready to explode, but finally, with visible effort, he inclined his head. “Very well. For the sake of peace, I will search.”

It was enough. For now.

O.O

The chamber was heavy with smoke from Gaius’ fire, the tang of herbs sharp in the air. Merlin lay pale and trembling on the cot, sweat soaking his hair, lips cracked. Gwen hovered at his side, dabbing his brow.

Lloyd stood rigid, fists tight at his sides. He had seen poison before. The Serpentine had many different ones. He had seen friends nearly transformed. He wasn’t about to let this time be permanent.

Gaius sifted through a thick old tome, muttering to himself. Finally, he stabbed a finger at a page. “The petal is Mortaeus. A flower of death. Its antidote can only be brewed from the leaf of the same flower. But it grows only in the caves beneath the Forest of Balor.”

“How far?” Lloyd’s voice was sharp.

“Far enough. And guarded.” Gaius’ gaze was grim. “The caves are treacherous. And the Cockatrice lives there. A single drop of its venom…”

“…is certain death,” Lloyd finished for him. “I’ve read it in your books before.”

“You cannot go,” Gaius insisted. “Your father will forbid it. He’d never allow his son to risk his life for…”

“For a servant?” Lloyd snapped. He leaned over Merlin, taking in the shallow breaths, the fevered mumbling. “He’s not just a servant. He saved my life. I won’t stand by and let him die for it.”

Gaius opened his mouth, but Lloyd was already going. He knew Uther too well. Asking permission would only waste time.

“Tell Uther whatever you must,” Lloyd said, his tone hard. “But Merlin doesn’t have time to wait for royal decrees.”

And with that, he was gone.

O-O

Lloyd kept to the shadows as he slipped through Camelot’s gates. A knight would have declared his quest, rallied men, demanded banners. Lloyd was a ninja at heart. He didn’t need the noise of honor. He needed speed, silence, and results.

The forest loomed ahead, gnarled branches clawing at the sky. He urged his horse forward, senses sharpened. Every rustle, every shadow might conceal an enemy.

He heard a crying woman and approached her slowly.

“Hello? Are you alright?” What was a woman doing here? So far away from any well-travelled road.

A Cice roared behind him. Of course, it was a trap.

It was over in seconds. Instead of valiantly using his sword. Lloyd threw three well aimed throwing knives.

Know what was he going to do? Play along and find out who’s behind it.

“It's alright. I'm not going to hurt you. Who did that to you?”

He pointed at her bruises.

“My master. I ran away from him, but then I got lost. Please don't leave me.”

“I won't. I'm not going to.”

“You can take me away from here?”

“Not yet. There's something I have to do first.”

Lloyd looked at the cave mouth.

“Why have you come to the caves?”

“I'm looking for something. It can only be found here.”

“What is it? I know this place; I could help you.” He bet she does. Maybe she was even the one to harvest the flower and put it in the goblet.

“It's a type of flower that only grows inside the cave. It's very rare.”

“The Mortaeus flower? I know where they are. I'll show you.“ Please be more careful with your words. Its highly suspicious to meet a woman who knows exactly what I need.

The woman handed him a torch, but he already held his own. He was not touching anything she gave him.

It was dark and the torches weren’t that good at lighting. Lloyd found another thing he really missed. Electric light. He went down with the sun and woke up with her. His sleeping schedule has much improved. If he didn’t have so much work to do life would be boring. Entertainment was seriously lacking.

“There they are.”

Of course the flowers were across a large gap with a narrow ledge and a long drop. Lloyd looked down. There the flowers were. That was good, he didn’t need to search for them. He could climb down and up in a few minutes.

So how was the ambush going to be.

The next moment the ceiling shook.

Boulders crashed down, smashing against stone, the force rattling his bones. The bottom beneath fell away. He managed to jump for the opposite ledge. His torch fell. Darkness swallowed him whole.

Perfect.

Most would panic. Most knights would curse and stumble. Lloyd only drew a steady breath. Darkness was familiar. It was training grounds, stealth missions, the way of the ninja. He didn’t need light. He trusted his ears, his hands, the instinct carved into him throughout lifetimes.

He edged forward, fingers brushing rock, counting steps. The flowers weren’t far. He remembered how far away they were.

He really wanted to see the look of the woman, when she saw him climbing down in the dark.

“What are you doing?” rang a demand out.

“Freehand Climbing.”

“Stop this instant.”

“Who are you to tell me what to do? My mother.”

He heard her choking on her own salvia. Oh, that must mean she knew Uther and was disgusted with the thought of laying with him.

Lloyd climbed past a waiting big spider. It was attacking so it went further.

She scrambled to the edge to look for him. Her torch managed to illuminate only a small radius.

“Stop ignoring me!”

“I have no time for your evil monologue. My friend is dying as we speak.” He reached the flower, picked it up and put it somewhere safe.

“Fine. If you don’t want to listen, then you will feel the consequences. Meet the other visitors.”

Horde of spiders came crawling and the woman left with her light.

Alright, that could have gone better. Next time don’t irritate the evil doer. He’ll manage it. They are only spiders. They didn’t have poison, right?

The other ninjas will come and help him and…

There were no other ninjas, he was all alone. Lloyd panicked for the first time in this life. But before he could do something rash, like letting go. A blue light appeared.

He could see, he could fight and fight he did.

Lloyd reached with the help of the light the cave mouth. He was alive. And Merlin still had a chance.

o-o

Camelot’s gates loomed, guards stiff at their posts. Lloyd rode hard, the Mortaeus safe at his side.

Inside, Uther was waiting.

“You disobeyed me,” his father thundered, voice echoing through the hall. “You defied my command and risked everything for a servant!”

Lloyd dismounted, met his father’s rage head-on. “No,” he said flatly. “I never asked your permission. I went because it had to be done.”

“You endangered yourself…”

“And saved Merlin. And kept peace with Bayard. Unless you’d rather Camelot go to war over a poisoned goblet?”

That silenced the court. Uther’s fury burned, but Lloyd pressed on, voice steel.

“Did Bayard find someone missing from his people?”

Uther was silent, because it was so.

“I indicate you silence as yes. That should be proof enough the treachery wasn’t his plan. Someone else planted this. Someone who wanted us at each other’s throats.”

Uther’s glare could have cut stone. But he had no counter. Merlin was alive. Bayard’s treaty stood. The missing maidservant was gone, confirming the rest.

Lloyd bowed his head slightly, not in submission but in victory. “Call it disobedience if you want. I call it duty.”

O-O

Later, when Gaius had given Merlin the antidote, Lloyd slipped back to Gaius’ chambers.

Merlins color slowly returning to his cheeks. Gwen was asleep in a chair nearby, exhaustion pulling her head to one side. Gaius stirred potions at the bench, quiet as a whisper.

Lloyd eased onto the stool beside the bed. For a long moment, he just sat, watching the rise and fall of Merlin’s chest. Alive. Safe, for now.

When Merlin’s eyes fluttered open, bleary but bright, Lloyd exhaled a laugh that shook with relief.

“You survived,” he said softly. Then, with a crooked smile, “Next time you want to prove something, maybe don’t drink poison to do it. I’d prefer the evidence without the near-death experience.”

Merlin managed a weak grin. “You’re welcome.”

“Thank you for the blue light. That was you right?”

Merlin smiled weakly.

Lloyd smirked back. He was to rattled to do anything else. Merlin was his first kind of friend in this life and he gave his life so easily for Lloyd.

He needed more friends, so that they could shoulder the burden of guarding Camelot.

Chapter Text

Merlin had perfected the art of hiding.

Or so he liked to think.

In truth, it mostly involved ducking behind barrels, slipping down side corridors, and sprinting in the opposite direction whenever he spotted Arthur striding through the courtyard with that determined gleam in his eye. Because when Arthur looked like that, it only meant one thing: more special training. Knight training was already bad.

And training with Arthur meant sore muscles, scraped palms, and bruises in places Merlin hadn’t known could bruise.

So, Merlin cheated.

°_°

He crouched by a puddle in the outer yard, muttering softly. Ripples stirred unnaturally, light shimmering across the surface. Slowly, the water stilled into an image: Arthur on the battlements, pacing with his usual predatory restlessness.

Merlin grinned in triumph. Perfect. If Arthur was up there, he could slip down to the kitchens, maybe beg bread and cheese from the servants before anyone noticed. A whole morning free.

“Ha,” Merlin whispered. “Checkmate.”

“Really?”

The voice behind him sent him sprawling. His elbow smacked stone, and he barely stopped himself from falling face-first into the puddle.

Arthur stood there, arms folded, smirk sharp enough to split steel.

Merlin sputtered, “You, you were on the battlements!”

Arthur tilted his head. “And you were crouching in mud, muttering like a lunatic. Didn’t I already teach you how to move silently?”

Merlin flushed hot. “I was trying to avoid you.”

Arthur’s smirk deepened. “Of course you were. Which is why you’ve just volunteered for more training.”

Merlin groaned. “I hate you.”

Arthur grinned. “You’ll thank me when you’re not dead.”

°_°

The first torment of the day was falling.

Arthur hauled him onto a low wooden platform in the training yard. He jumped, fell, rolled and stood up. Then stood below with arms crossed. “Now it’s your time to jump.”

Merlin balked. “Why?”

“Because falling is inevitable,” Arthur said. “Better to land properly than break your skull. Jump and fall like I showed you.”

Merlin muttered curses under his breath but leapt. The ground rushed up, then his knees bent, his shoulder rolled, and the impact wasn’t nearly as awful as he expected.

He blinked, surprised. “That wasn’t bad.”

Arthur smirked. “Good. Again.”

Five jumps later, Merlin was laughing breathlessly. For once, a lesson that didn’t feel like torture.

Arthur allowed himself the faintest smile. “Not hopeless after all.”

Merlin grinned, chest heaving. “See? Maybe I’m a natural.”

Arthur’s eyes gleamed. “Don’t get comfortable. That was falling. Now climb.”

°_°

The tower wall loomed above them like a punishment sent by the gods. Arthur scaled it with terrifying ease, hands and feet moving like he’d done it since birth.

Merlin groaned. “You’re mad.”

Arthur smirked down at him. “Up.”

Merlin’s fingers slipped on the first stone. His boots scraped, his arms shook, sweat stung his eyes. Every muttered sticking charm earned a barked, “No magic!” from above.

By the time he flopped onto the top, he was trembling and furious. “I take back what I said. I hate climbing.”

Arthur clapped him on the shoulder. “Good. Hatred builds endurance.”

Merlin scowled. “So does magic.”

Arthur smirked. “But that would be cheating.”

°_°

And then came the final humiliation.

Arthur vaulted up onto a stack of barrels, bounded to a wall, and swung onto a beam with catlike grace. He flowed through the obstacles like water, every motion effortless.

Merlin gaped. “What in the nine hells was that?”

“Parkour,” Arthur said, grinning. “Learning to move with the world, not against it. Now your turn.”

What followed could only be described as carnage. Merlin tripped on the barrels, scraped his knees, nearly brained himself on the wall, and rolled into a pile of hay with all the grace of a sack of potatoes.

Arthur barked corrections between laughs.
“Use your legs, Merlin, not just your arms!”
“Flow, don’t fight!”
“For your sake, roll when you land!”

By the end, Merlin sprawled flat, groaning.

Arthur crouched beside him, maddeningly unbothered. “Not entirely useless. You might survive a chase. If your pursuer is blind and drunk.”

Merlin glared up. “I hate you.”

Arthur patted his shoulder. “Alright, that’s it for today. Now you can go back to your normal duties.”

T_T

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin.

Lloyd stopped what he was doing. To his immense reluctance he went down to the dragon and asked why he was always repeating this sentence. He didn’t know if the dragon was lying, that he didn’t say anything or that it was something different, maybe even magical.

Well, it was helpful to warn him that something bad was going to happen. So, what will it be this time. There are no crowd gatherings. So just one lonely person as a threat? Who was he kidding. With his luck it will be a monster.

When he had to ride out with Uther he got his answer.

They were surveying a burning village.

“What creature could have done this?” asked Uther.

“We found no tracks in or out. What the villagers say must be true: it has wings and …”

“What?”

“And it took no livestock, only people. Whatever it is, it has a taste for human flesh.”

“Post sentries in all the outlying villages. Put the lookouts on full alert. If this thing should make for Camelot, we must be ready.”

T-T

Lloyd got his knight to refresh on their training. If he remembered correctly the monster is a griffin and it can only be killed with magic. So, he needed to talk to Merlin. Really how long does it take to pick herbs for Gaius.

Well he had his own duties to perform. Train new knights. The one before him was hopeless. Who told him to swing his sword around? Lets end this quickly.

“Right, you jumped up dung beetle, this is it. The final test. Pass this and you're a knight of Camelot. Fail, and you're no one. You face the most feared of all foes, the ultimate killing machine. You face me. You're challenge to last one minute free combat. Grummond, Second son of Wessex.“

He drew his sword and nodded to the servant with an hourglass.

“Your time starts now.”

The idiot was swinging his sword too much around, he won’t keep his stamina like that. Lloyd parried the attack and took him down in two swift blows.

The crowd applauded. Lloyd removed the flag.

“Take him away.”

o-o

Lloyd finally found Merlin in the lower town.

“Merlin. Finally, I need to talk to you. Let’s go to my chamber it’s a bit sensitive.”

“So how was your day prince Arthur.”

“I had a the third idiot to fail this month. How am I meant to defend Camelot with rubbish like that?”

“Well, I think I might be able to help.”

“You, Merlin. No, no, I have other plans for you. You got the courage, fortitude and discipline.”

“No, no, no, of course I don’t mean me, I meant someone else.”

“Yeah?”

“He saved my life.”

“That's a mighty feat for starters. How did you get in trouble?”

“No, no, no. He's really good. Honestly.”

“You didn’t answer my question about you getting in trouble.”

“It was nothing, I just wasn’t looking where I was going.”

“We should get you awareness training. Somehow you manage to sniff out everything magical, but anything else your oblivious to.

Alright, you have someone. What nobleman do you recommend?”

“The what?”

“Didn’t you read the First Code. Only those of noble blood can serve as knights. So, unless your friend is a nobleman... “

“Oh, er, he, he is a nobleman.”

“Is he?”

“Absolutely.”

“Very well. Bring him to the training ground tomorrow. And make sure he brings his seal of nobility.”

“Thanks Arthur. You won't regret it.”

The two went to Arthurs chamber.

“So what was so important, that we had to come back here?”

“There is a griffin attacking villages. If I remember correctly, they can only be beaten by magic. So could you find out how and then give the call so that we can go and kill it.”

“Alright.”

°^°

Lloyd was really interested to meet the nobleman, who got Merlin’s recommendation. He must be something special. He really hoped he wasn’t magical, that would only bring more headaches.

Next day, he was training the recruits again.

“One. Two. Three. Four. One. Two. Three. Four.“

He saw them approaching. He had to wrap it up.

“Okay, that'll do for today. Well done.“

Lloyd saw the man approaching. He was a goodlooking guy.

“Yes? Who are you?”

“Lancelot, 5^th son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria.”

“Lance...a lot? My servant mentioned you. Got your seal?“

Lancelot bowed and presented his seal. Lloyd looked at it. The seal was real. Did Lord Eldred of Northumbria had four or five sons? He had to investigate.

But first he had to get a measure of Lancelot. He smacked Lancelot, so that he fell down.

“Sluggish reactions. In a battlefield you'd be dead by now. Come back when you're ready.”

Lloyd walked off. But Lancelot got up and placed his hand on his sword.

“I'm ready now, Sire.”

Lloyd turned around.

“You are, are you? Fine. You can start by cleaning out the stables.” Let’s see when you crack.

The onlookers laughed. Lloyd was exasperated that Merlin gave two thumbs up.

°U°

Lloyd went to the library and found his answer very quickly. Merlin forgot to change the records. He didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing. Well, someone could have visited and asked Lord Eldred of Northumbria.

That was such a flimsy excuse, but his forgery skills are very good, maybe it will be useful in the future.

The stables reeked of straw, sweat, and horse dung. At this hour, they were nearly empty, save for the soft rustle of restless animals. Arthur pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside, boots crunching against the dirt floor.

Lancelot was there, as he’d expected. He was sharpening swords.

Arthur studied him in silence. The man’s movements were efficient, his shoulders steady. Not a peasant’s shoulders. Not a farmhand’s rhythm. Something else.

“Not bad.”

Lancelot stood up and bowed to Lloyd.

“Would you like me to sweep the guardhouse again, Sire?”

“It certainly needs sweeping. But first,…” Lloyd drew his sword. “I’d like you to kill me.”

Lancelot blinked. “Sire?”

Arthur pointed the blade. “You claim you want to serve Camelot. Then prove it. Fight me.”

Lancelot hesitated only a moment before taking his sword. He drew it with practiced ease and stepped forward, posture solid.

Arthur’s pulse quickened. Finally. A chance to see the truth.

At first, they fought as knights.

Steel rang against steel, blades flashing in the dim stable light. Lancelot’s form was strong, too good. Every strike was steady, every parry precise. He wasn’t flashy, not like the posturing braggarts who usually begged for knighthood. He fought with economy, with intent.

Arthur tested him, feints, thrusts, sweeping cuts and Lancelot answered each one with calm deflections. For a moment, Arthur almost forgot the deception, the forgery. He almost believed.

But then he shifted.

He dropped low, sliding beneath Lancelot’s guard, striking not with a knight’s discipline but with a ninja’s flow. Angles that weren’t taught in Camelot’s training yards. Movements sharp, unpredictable, almost feral.

Lancelot faltered. His sword barely came up in time to block the sudden strike to his ribs. He stumbled back as Arthur pressed the advantage, fast, relentless, blows hammering from directions Lancelot had no training for.

“Too slow,” Arthur barked, slamming the flat of his blade against Lancelot’s guard.
“Too rigid,” he hissed, twisting and striking from the flank.
“You’d already be dead,” he snarled, driving a knee into Lancelot’s gut.

The man gasped, collapsing to one knee. His sword clattered against the dirt.

Arthur stood over him, breathing hard but steady. “Enough.”

Lancelot coughed, struggling upright. Sweat beaded his brow, but his eyes burned with shame.

Arthur sheathed his sword with a snap. “Fetch Merlin. Both of you, to my chamber. Now.”

-/\-

The chamber door slammed shut behind them.

Arthur paced once, twice, before rounding on them. Merlin shifted nervously, already pale, while Lancelot stood silent, gaze lowered.

Arthur’s voice was cold steel. “Do you think me a fool?”

Merlin flinched. “Arthur…”

“Silence.”

Arthur stepped closer, glaring down at him. “You forged noble credentials for this man. Did you truly think I wouldn’t notice? That I wouldn’t check?”

Merlin opened his mouth, then closed it, guilt flashing across his face.

Arthur pressed on. “If I saw through it so easily, how long before others do? One week? One day? When that happens, Lancelot won’t just be branded a fraud, he’ll be executed. And you, Merlin, will share his fate.”

Merlin paled.

Arthur’s voice dropped lower, sharper. “I will not let you throw your life away on lies. Not while you serve me.”

Silence stretched.

Arthur turned then, pacing, anger building anew. “And as if that weren’t enough, you wasted time. Time we do not have. While you were helping him forge documents, a griffin tore through villages. Do you know how many died while you played at being a scribe?”

Merlin swallowed hard, voice trembling. “I… I just wanted to help him. He saved my life.”

Arthur spun, fury flashing. “And how many lives did you doom in the process? Every hour you wasted could have been used to find a way to kill the beast. Every moment you delayed, families were slaughtered.”

Merlin’s throat worked, but no words came.

Arthur’s chest heaved. He wanted to shake him, to make him understand. Merlin was brave, yes, loyal to a fault, but blind to the weight of his choices.

Finally, Arthur forced his voice into calm. “You want to help Lancelot? Then think. Use that sharp mind of yours for more than mischief.”

Merlin bowed his head, shame written plain.

Arthur’s gaze flicked to Lancelot. “As for you… if you truly wish to serve, then serve. I cant give you a knighthood, but I can give you work as a guard. Earn your place with sweat and loyalty, not stolen titles. Do that, and perhaps one day, we will speak of honor again.”

Lancelot nodded once, voice steady despite the sting. “Yes, my lord.”

Arthur exhaled, tension still coiled tight in his chest. “Now go. Both of you. And Merlin…”

Merlin looked up.

Arthur’s eyes softened, just slightly. “Don’t do that again. Our special training is postponed until the griffin is dead.”

Merlin’s breath caught. He nodded.

°L°

Arthur had never feared for his knights the way he did when the griffin returned.

The beast came shrieking out of the skies, claws spread, eyes burning with an unnatural fire. Its wings thundered like storms. For a heartbeat, the courtyard froze. Even the bravest men hesitated before such a monster.

Then training took over.

“Shields up!” Arthur roared.

And to his surprise, they obeyed, not with the usual sloppiness of men half-asleep at drills, but with precision. Shields locked. Spears braced. Movements sharp, practiced.

Arthur’s chest tightened. His drills, the crawling in the mud, the unorthodox ambushes, the endless repetitions the knights had groaned about, were working. His knights held their ground, muscle memory stronger than terror.

The griffin struck, claws scraping against shields, beak snapping. The line wavered but did not break. Blades jabbed, glancing off feathers, but the beast snarled and drew back, circling above.

Arthur’s pride flared, sharp as steel. They can do this.

“Hold formation!” he bellowed. “Make it bleed!” They won’t, but it could annoy the griffin.

The griffin dived again. Shields raised in unison. Spears thrust. The courtyard rang with defiance. The beast shrieked in frustration and finally pulled away, wings beating retreat.

Arthur exhaled, sweat prickling his brow. For now, they had survived.

But survival was not victory.

O_o

Later, in the council chamber, Merlin pulled him aside, face pale. “I know how to kill it.”

Arthur arched a brow. “Finally.”

Merlin fumbled, eyes darting. “I, I read something. In one of Gaius’ books. Its hide can’t be pierced except by magic.”

Arthur studied him. There it was again, that flicker of knowledge too sharp for a servant, too precise for coincidence. Suspicion tugged at him, but he forced it down. This was not the time.

“Well? Can magic pierce the hide?” Arthur said simply.

Merlin blinked. “Ehhmm.”

Arthur sighed. “Will it help if you enchant a weapon or many? So that it will look like it was killed by a normal weapon.”

“That should be no problem.”

“Well, what are you waiting for. Look for it and then lets go.”

o-O

The hunt took them to the forest’s edge. Arthur rode at the front, sword and magic lance at his side, Merlin trudging beside him with that nervous energy he always carried. Behind them, Lancelot followed silently, eyes sharp.

Lloyd didn’t question his presence. He was giddy, that Lancelot was a promising candidate for a ninja. Lloyd wasn’t concerned of him finding out about magic. It would look like they killed the griffin with a normal weapon.

When the griffin finally appeared, crashing through the trees in a storm of wings and fury, Lloyd’s blood surged. He raised the lance. “Look out!”

The fight was chaos. The griffin struck like lightning, claws rending earth, wings battering Merlin aside. Lloyd slashed, rolled, shouted. Merlin darted close, reckless as always, flinging himself into danger.

It was not working. Why was it not working.

And then he heard it. Merlin was speaking his spells. Bregdan anweald gafeluec!

The griffin charged. The lance was incased by blue flames.

He hit the griffin and it died.

Merlin was celebrating.

Lloyd was frozen, because he met Lancelot’s wide eyes.

The man had seen.

Merlin also froze, guilt written across every line of his face.

Lloyd stepped forward, placing himself squarely between them. His voice cut like ice. “Not a word.”

Lancelot’s mouth opened. “He used…”

“I know what I saw,” Lloyd snapped. “And I don’t need you to tell me.”

Lancelot hesitated. “But if others…”

Lloyd’s voice sharpened, iron and fire. “If others knew, Merlin would burn. And I won’t allow it. Not from you, not from anyone.”

The force of it startled even Merlin.

Lloyd pressed on, gaze locked with Lancelot’s. “You want to serve Camelot? Then prove it now. Hold your tongue. This is not your secret to speak.”

Silence stretched.

Finally, Lancelot bowed his head. “I would never betray a friend.”

“You just met a few days ago! How can I trust you?”

“What do you want me to do to gain your trust?”

Lloyd swallowed. He believed him. And yet, belief wasn’t enough. Trust took time and time was the one thing they didn’t have.

“Then leave and keep your tongue. If I don’t hear anything about Merlin and magic in the next year you can come back,” Lloyd said quietly.

Lancelot’s eyes flickered. Hurt. Understanding. He straightened, jaw tight. “As you command.”

Lancelot bowed, then turned and walked into the trees, shadows swallowing him.

Merlin stepped closer, eyes wide, voice shaking. “You… defended me.”

Lloyd turned, meeting his gaze. He wanted to be stern, commanding, but the words tangled.

“I couldn’t let him…” Lloyd stopped. Tried again. “You’re my responsibility. My servant. My…” Friend.

His voice faltered. Something in Merlin’s eyes, gratitude, wonder, fear made his chest tighten.

Lloyd looked away. “Don’t make me regret it.”

Merlin’s smile was small, trembling, but brighter than the flames. “I won’t.”

Lloyd clenched his fists. That was knapp. Anyone else and it could have turned deadly.

They should work more on their secrecy.

Chapter Text

Merlin had long ago accepted that serving Prince Arthur was like trying to leash a storm or run away from it. He was everywhere and nowhere, flitting from the training yard to the stables to the rooftops of Camelot with a speed that mocked sense. And he wanted you to be able to follow him. He had never heard of this Ni-Ja Training.

Well, Kilgharrah mentioned that it would be difficult, but he thought it was more along the lines, that he had to keep his magic secret and not this this madness.

Merlin darted across the courtyard, boots slapping flagstones, eyes locked on a flash of blond hair vanishing around the corner of the south tower. Arthur had left him with a mountain of chores, polish every buckle of the tourney armor, fetch spears from the smithy, prepare the horses and then slipped away without a word.

“Oh no, not this time,” Merlin muttered.

He sprinted away from him, ignoring the startled looks of servants carrying baskets and barrels. Arthur thought he could win again, thought he could keep up, but Merlin had learned. He had custom made spells now. Not to use openly, of course, not unless he fancied a short life and a messy execution, but subtle tricks. A whispered charm to quicken his step, a flick of intent to guide his eyes. Enough to keep the chase even.

The tower corner opened into one of Camelot’s wider squares, bustling with traders. Arthur’s gleaming practice armor caught the sun for a moment before disappearing into the throng. Merlin swore under his breath and pushed forward.

“Sorry! Sorry, watch your chickens!”

A stall owner yelled as feathers exploded around him. Merlin ducked, twisted, slid between a pair of carts, and sprang up on the lip of a fountain. He looked back and caught sight of Arthur weaving effortlessly through the market, his height and royal bearing clearing paths Merlin could not.

“You think you’re clever, don’t you,” Merlin gasped, pushing harder.

He jumped from the fountain ledge, caught the edge of an awning, and swung himself up. His stomach lurched as the canvas groaned but held. Scrambling, he half-crawled, half-ran across the tents, ignoring the furious shouts below. A leap carried him to a low wall, another across to the next roof, and suddenly he was above.

Arthur hadn’t noticed.

Merlin grinned despite the stitch in his side. Parkour, he thought wildly. If destiny wanted him dead, it should at least thank him for the entertainment first.

Merlin stopped to catch his breath. He needed to know where Arthur was going to take the opposite direction.

Arthur stopped and glanced back.

For a heartbeat Merlin thought he was caught. But Arthur’s eyes skimmed past, sharp but distracted. He stopped.

Not the casual pause of someone waiting, not the wary stillness of a fighter listening for danger. This was different. Arthur froze mid-step, his expression gone blank, eyes unfocused. His whole body seemed to tilt toward something Merlin could not see.

Merlin straightened, unsettled. Should he go down? Was that a magic attack?

Arthur’s lips parted slightly, as if hearing words. His gaze darted upward, toward nothing Merlin could detect, then narrowed. He whispered something under his breath that Merlin couldn’t catch.

Then, without warning, he pivoted. He strode away toward the castle.

Merlin stood frozen, sweat dripping into his eyes. He had been chased by Arthur across half of Camelot, risked life and limb on rooftops, and now… this?

Arthur leaving. Just like that.

“…Did I just win?” Merlin muttered.

No one answered.

He clambered down slowly, heart still hammering. People gave him odd looks, but he ignored them. For once, he had done it. He had stayed away from Arthur from start to finish. He hadn’t collapsed or been outpaced. He had only succeeded because Arthur… had stopped.

But why?

Merlin replayed the moment in his mind. The unfocused gaze. The muttered words. The abrupt change of course. It wasn’t like Arthur at all.

He had looked almost… haunted.

Merlin shivered. Camelot had plenty of mysteries, but few unnerved him like this. Prince Arthur was many things, arrogant, insufferable, demanding, but he was never lost. Always confident, always certain of his step.

Today, for one strange heartbeat, he had looked like a boy chasing whispers only he could hear.

v-v

Gwen entered Morganas Chambers with flowers and gave them to her.

“Look what’s just arrived for you.”

“Who are they from?”

“I don’t know. Maybe Arthur?”

Morgana was laughing. “From him? Such flowers? Not even dead would he give me flowers. He would craft flowers and gift them. No, those are from someone else. But them somewhere.”

v-v

Merlin was very suspicious about Arthur. Morgana gets sick and he didn’t seem surprised. Did he do it? No, he wouldn’t, he would prank her. He heard of his exploits in this. Somehow the only complaints came from Morgana, Uther and the councilors.

Merlin needed to talk to Gaius.

“She's all but dead, Merlin”, was Gaius answer.

“No, you're going to cure her. You have to.”

“Don't you start. I've tried everything.”

“I was wondering...”

“What?”

“Maybe I could...”

Merlin waited for a guard to pass by.

“...help.”

“If you're suggesting magic...have you forgotten what happened with Gwen's father? This is not a magical illness, it must be cured by conventional means. We keep trying. See if you can find me some fresh rosemary.”

“There must be something more I can do.”

„And yarrow.“

That was not what Merlin had in mind. He should ask Arthur for a good lie. Somehow, he was very good at bending the truth.

Quickly Merlin looked for a water source and scryed for Arthur. He was at the main square.

To Merlin’s surprise Arthur was meeting a suspicious man. To hi chagrin Arthurs Ni Ja Training let him be silent enough to eavesdrop.

“What's your business here?“, asked Arthur.

“My name is Edwin Muirden, and I have a remedy to cure all ills.”

“Is that so?” Merlin could hear Arthur’s sarcasm. He also knew that there is no such thing.

“I beg an audience with the King.”

“Our court has a physician.”

Arthur began walking away.

“I hear the Lady Morgana was gravely ill.”

Arthur stopped and turned.

“That is no concern of yours.”

“I might be able to help her.”

“Our physician has the matter in hand.”

Arhtur continued walking.

“I will be at the inn, in case you change your mind.”

Should he go back?

Suddenly he was attacked from behind. Merlin tried to struggle, but it was useless. His attacker squeezed one more time, then he let go.

“Not bad. The eavesdropping was good, but you should also learn when to exit.” Arthur was behind him.

“Do you believe Edwin?”

“No. There is no such thing as a remedy to cure all ills. You have one illness and one cure. Some cures can help with similar illnesses. So, for him to have the cure for Morganas illness means he knows the exact illness of her, without ever seeing her. So that means…”

“… he was the one to make her sick. But how?”

“And what. Do your thing and find out what Edwin knows. If all else fails we can still let him ccure Morgana.”

“Are you worried she might die?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Arthur walked to the castle. Even if he didn’t say it, Merlin could see how worried he truly was.

v-v

Events were happening faster than he had expected. Before he even had a chance to look at Edvins room at the inn, Edvin was summoned by royal invitation. Merlin didn’t know how to proceed. Look at the room or go to the castle and look after the guy, so that he won’t do something terrible. Like examine Morgana or usurp Gaius. He can always come to the inn at a later date.

Just as he arrived at the castle, he was commanded to help Edwin. Merlin really didn’t know how Arthur managed to give him a really reasonable reason to look at Edwins things.

He set down some of Edwins equipment in his new guest room. Another good thing, he didn’t need to go the whole way down to the inn and back.

He was looking at the equipment. It reminded him of something.

“Yes...it was all originally designed for alchemy.”

“Making gold?”

“You have an interest in science?”

“Well, science is knowledge.”

“It has the answers to everything.”

“Maybe. It can't explain love.”

“So, you are in love?”

“No. I mean feelings, emotions.”

“You seem too bright to be just a servant.”

“Oh, don't be fooled, I'm not that bright.”

“Yes, we will need that. Now, we must hurry to the Lady Morgana. before it is too late.”

Merlin really wanted to know what was in the box, that he had to carry to Morganas room.

Arthur, Uther and Gaius were already waiting for them.

“Put my equipment over there. Sire, I would be grateful if you could have everyone leave the room. „I require peace and privacy”, demanded Edwin

“Certainly”, agreed Uther.

“That includes you, Gaius.” Edwin really liked to boss Gaius around.

“But I am eager to learn from your methods.” Gaius wasn’t that easily thrown off.

“Now is not the time for giving instruction. I will need all my concentration.”

„Gaius...“, warned Uther.

The next moment Merlin stood in the hall. Arhtur beckoned him and so he went to him.

“So, did you find anything interesting?”

“Only that Edwin uses alchemical equipment, but Gaius also has similar ones.”

Somehow Arthur manages to pull a cup with water out of nowhere and gave it to Merlin.

“Ehhh. I’m not thirsty.”

“Look at it.”

“Nice cup, very princely.”

“I know your sometimes an idiot and your observation needs more work. Do you know how many servants see you looking at water and then rushing off and finding me. It’s like magic.”

Merlin went scarlet and then he looked at the water. With how many times he used the spell, he didn’t need to say it out loud anymore.

Merlin saw how Edwin sent Gwen out of the room. Then he leaned over Morganas body. Edwin dapped Morganas bloody ear with a small cloth and pulled a big out, that he put in his box with others.

Merlin’s jaw dropped. Arthur looked at him puzzled. “So, magical illness?”

Merlin looked at Arthur and swallowed. “No. Magic and a bug. I have no idea what it is. In Gaius books there is nothing even similar. We should tell the king.”

But before he could do that, Arthur stopped him.

“Just to be clear. You want to accuse the man who managed to save Morgana from certain death. My father would really like to know, how you know what he did.

You should remember also another point. Are all bugs out of Morgana?”

“But he could put a bug on the king!”

“Alright, that is a good point. So, all we need is …”

“… proof. Catch him in the act. Or thank him and bless him for his future journey.”

“Yes, maybe he only wanted money or recognition.”

v-v

Merlin was a little troubled, that Edwin didn’t want any reward. It looked like he wanted more, and Uther even let him stay. So more time for him to snoop.

He knocked on Edwins guest chambers.

“Edwin?”

He entered the room and first examined Edwins equipment. Then he found the box. His first impulse was to open it and look at the bugs, but he got a mental hit from an imagined Arthur. This Arthur started berating him for not being careful enough. The box could be cursed and only open for Edwin. First look, then think and only then touch if necessary. And don’t forget not to use skin contact. Really Merlin I know you’re an idiot, but … .

Merlin stopped the ranting of his imaginary Arthur, he got enough from the real one.

He found an inscription on the cover, and he was intelligent enough to not read it out loud. This time an imaginary Gaius warned him not to read spells out loud, that he didn’t know.

The hairs on his neck stood on end. Someone was watching him. He turned around.

Edwin stood before him.

“Hello. I wanted to ask if you need anything?”

Edwin was looking very suspicious at him. He was a little disappointed. Merlin got the sense that the box was a trap. Not the box as such, but how careless it just laid there. Inviting him to look into it.

Imaginary Arthur and Gaius were congratulation each other that Merlin listened to them.

“Nothing at the moment. you may leave.” Looked like Edwin didn’t find what he was looking for.

Merlin fled.

v-v

Merlin was pacing in Arthur’s chamber.

“So did you find out what the spell meant?”, asked Arthur.

“It would have animated the bugs.”

“So, are there was only one in Morgana?”

“I think.”

“That’s something. I eavesdropped on my father. Looks like Edwin is questioning Gaius abilities. And he is winning.”

“How did you manage that. There were guards at the door?”

“On the door, but not on the window. Really, no one questions it when I hang around the king’s windows. Could be troublesome if an assassin gets the same idea.”

“And what do we do know?”

“Well, it isn’t a magical beast, that we could kill without problems. And Edwin wants to push Gaius out. So as long as Gaius is here, he won’t start his next plan. If I know Gaius, he is already working against Edwin.

Can you look for him?”

“Merlin looked at the strategically placed cup of water. “He’s with Kilgharrah.”

Both of them looked at each other and then scrambled to the dragons cave. Merlin has mastered to look for things, he really should also start listening to far away places, that could really save him trouble and time.

Both of them were silent, so that the other two didn’t hear them.

“You have not changed either”, spoke Gaius.

“Twenty years, almost a lifetime to make the short journey back to where you began”, spoke the dragon.

“I'm not here for myself.”

“The boy?” Merlin really wanted to know about which boy they were talking about.

“You know about Merlin?” Wait. Him?

“You have struggled against his destiny, but you can no more prevent it than he can.” He is working on it. Why does no one see that.

“So, it is true then?”

“Oh yes. He and the young Pendragon one day will unite the land of Albion.” Alright, no pressure there.

“But he is in danger.” When is he not. Wait. Are they still talking about him or Arthur?

“No. It is my gaoler who stands in peril.”

“Must Uther be sacrificed for the boy?” Which one?

“Their time cannot come until his is past.” Merlin was conflicted. It would be easier if Uther was dead. Arthur would reinstate magic.

“But is that time now?” Merlin didn’t like how Kilgharrah chuckled. He never spoke to him like that.

“That is of your choosing.” Merlin’s hairs stood up. Kilgharrah really wanted Uther to die, the sooner the better.

“I will not choose between them.”

“Then turn a blind eye. That is, after all, your talent.” The last one was punch to the stomach. Arthur tugged him away. He whispered: “Go to your room. Gaius will look for you. We talk in the morning.”

v-v

The next morning it was too late. Uther already sacked Gaius.

Gaius was packing.

“Gaius! Uther cannot do this to you. You tried to save Morgana.”

“Uther's not to blame.”

“I will speak to Edwin, you can work together.”

“No, you mustn't do anything.”

“I can't stand by and do nothing.” If only he knew what spell would help.

“Uther's right. It's time I stepped down.”

Gaius continued packing.

“What are you doing?”

“I cannot stay when there's no longer a use for me.”

“You're not leaving?” Please stay.

“I believe it's for the best.”

“Then I will come with you.”

“Merlin, you're like a son to me. I never expected such a blessing so late in life.”

“And you are more than a father to me.”

“Then, as a father, I must tell you, you must remain here. Camelot is where you belong.”

“But you belong here too.” I don’t want to be alone with my secret. Well there is Arthur.

“Not anymore. Merlin, you must promise me you will not waste your gifts.”

“My gifts mean nothing without you to guide me.” Who will teach me, if not you.

“You have a great destiny. If I have had a small part to play in that, then I'm pleased.”

“There is so much I have yet to learn. I need you to teach me.” Because he had less trust in Kilgharrah than before.

“I'm afraid I am leaving here tonight, Merlin. And there's nothing you can do or say that can persuade me otherwise. “

“I will not let this happen.” Merlin exited.

v-v

Merlin was watching Arthur practice in the training grounds.

“I can't understand why Uther would sack him over one mistake.”

“A mistake that nearly killed Morgana. Besides, it wasn't the only one.” Did Merlin hear sarcasm?

“What do you mean?”

“Edwin said his work was riddled with errors.”

“That's nonsense.”

“No one wants Gaius to go, but my father's made his decision. There's nothing anyone can do.”

“Now, that Gaius is gone. Uther will be next.”

“Yes. My father is going to be the bait. Are you ready to go against Edwin?”

“I am ready.”

v-v

Edwin didn’t wait long. Uther catched the same illness as Morgana.

Merlin bursted into Edwins guest chambers. His imaginary Arthur was scolding him to observe and then attack.

To his surprise Gaius was there and not away from Camelot.

“What are you doing?”

“He was trying to kill the King. I couldn't let him”, answered Gaius.

“I can rule the kingdom now.” Merlin really wanted to know how Edwin got this bad plan. First there was Arthur, second there was him and third there were many many guards.

“Release him!” That was actually the more important thing.

“It's your loss, Merlin.”

Edwin spell threw an axe at Merlin, but Merlin stopped it.

“How did you do that? Your also magical?”

With Edwin not being prepared to fight against another magic user. Merlin easily managed to throw the ax back at Edwin. As soon as Edwin was dead the flames around Gaius disappeared.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes. Thank you Merlin.”

Melrin fetched the bug boc.

“What are you doing?”

“Uther's ill; the same thing Morgana had. Edwin said he used these to cure Morgana. Maybe we can too.”

“Elanthia beetles.” So that’s what they are.

“They're magical?”

“Yes. They can be enchanted to enter the brain, feed on it until they devour the person's very soul. We must going to him.” How do they do that? Wouldn’t the person die if the brain was eaten? Not important know. Save king, then ask Gaius.

v-v

“How do we get the beetle out before it kills him?”, asked Merlin.

“It can only be magic.”

“We can't use magic on Uther, he'd kill us.”

“We don't have a choice.”

“Gaius!”

“There are times when it is necessary. It is your right.”

“I don't know how.”

“If you don't, he's going to die.”

Well he could do it like he saw in the water. He put his hands on Uthers ears. Well and now use the spell. “Bebeode þe arisan ealdu. Áblinnen.”

“What's happening?”, asked Gaius.

To Merlins surprise he got the bug out in the first try.

“Has anyone ever told you, you're a genius?” Only Arthur. And only if he had done something stupid.

“You certainly haven't.”

v-v

When Uther was fit again, he not only reinstated Gaius as the court physician, but also granted him also the status of a free man of Camelot.

Everything had a good ending. There was only one thing left. The mystery of Arthurs suddenly stopping mid chase.

“Arthur, wait. I have a question for you.”

Arthur stopped. “Yes?”

“The day before Morgana got sick, you suddenly stopped your pursuit. Why did you do that?”

He saw how Arthur debated with himself. He reached an end.

“In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin.“

“What?”

“That is what I heard in town. It was spoken in the same voice as the dragon. But when I asked him, he denied ever saying something like that. Also I hear the sentence when I’m not at the castle. No one can hear it. And the more troubling part, every time I hear it something bad is going to happen. Monsters, plague, people with magical things.”

“So, is it like a warning sign or more like a curse?”

“More a warning.”

“So, nothing bad is going to happen until you hear it again?”

“Looks like it.”

Merlin didn’t know if that would make his life easier or not. It was really suspicious.

Chapter Text

Merlin didn’t like hunting. He didn’t like to go through the grass, the bushes, the trees, the grass. And Arthur was in much more danger than in Camelot.

He doesn’t climb the trees, no instead he jumps from them to the next. Merlin really wanted to know how Arthur manages that without magic.

This time it was only hunting. He saw Arthur reading for a shot as he stopped. Not good, it looked like he got his mysterious warning.

Merlin bursted out of the trees with too much power and bumped into Arthur.

“Is it the warning?”

Arthur was angry. “Don’t just jump at me, when I have the crossbow ready, I could have shot you. And what happened to your silent approach? Or are you telling me, that you can only be silent in the city and not in nature?”

“I was just asking.”

“Alright. Yes, it was the warning. There are no festivities and no news of monsters. That probably means someone is plotting against my father, me or Camelot. Great.”

“So look out for suspicious new visitors?”

They heard a woman’s scream.

“What was that?”

“Quiet”, demanded Arthur.

“Please! Don't!”, cried a man.

The woman cried again for help.

Arthur grabbed his sword from Merlin and ran towards the cries.

A man laid on the ground as a bandit drew his sword to kill him. A young woman struggled with three other attackers.

“No, no, I beg you! Mercy!”

“Give us some money!”, demanded one bandit.

“Help me! Help me!”

Arthur shot one of the robbers. The others attacked Arthur. The old man got up and took the young woman besides, so that Arthur had enough room to fight the bandits off.

Now would be a good time to use spells without words.

And it worked. A large tree branch fell on top of one of the bandits trying to attack Arthur from behind. Arthur killed the one in front of him and the last bandit ran off. Arthur looked up at the tree.

“Stroke of luck.” Ah yes, they had onlookers. So no praise for him.

“And let that be a lesson to you!”

Arthur gave him a look.

“What? I was covering your back.”

Arthur only shook his head and then approached the man and the woman.

“You alright? Didn't hurt you?”

The young woman turned to Arthur and removed her hood.

“No... Thanks to you. I'm Sophia. This is my father.”

“Arthur Pendragon... at your service.”

Then Arthur kissed her hand. He managed to look at her with a dazzled look.

oIo

“So, why are we hosting them? I think they are prime suspects.”

“It was the right thing to do.”

“Are you sure, that it wasn’t the pretty girl?”

Arthur actually flinched.

“Lets just say, I have bad memories with pretty girls. They want to kill me. The first one wanted to kill me and maybe torture and the second one didn’t tell me, she was a girl.”

Merlin really wanted to know why the second one was dressed up as a boy, but maybe Arthur will tell him that story at a later time.

“All right so why are we hosting them? When we know they are the danger.”

“Do we? That is the problem. If I didn’t get the warning I would have only saved them. Now they could be the victim or the aggressor.”

Merlin had to pause. Yes, people were much more difficult than monsters.

“So, look after them and try to find out what they want?”

“And don’t get into a deadly situation. Just to be clear, you are not infatuated with Sofia?”

“Yes.”

“Even if she is beautiful?”

“They are the most dangerous ones, just look at Morgana.”

“What did you do, that made her so angry at you?”

Arthur only smiled mischievously.

oIo

Merlin showed Sofia to some nice chambers. He handed her a blanket.

“If you need anything, just let me know.”

“Thank you.”

Just as Sofia was entering the guest room, Morgana saw her entering. They looked at each other. To Merlins surprise Morgana suddenly became anxiously.

“Who is that?”

“Er…Sophia Tír-Mòr. We rescued her in the woods. Well, Arthur did most of the rescuing.”

“She can't stay here.” Why? Did Morgana know something?

“The King said that she and her father are welcome in Camelot. Is everything ok?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Great now Morgana is acting weird.

oIo

The next day in Arthurs chambers.

“Did you find anything?

“Not really. They are pleasant guests.”

“Did you look? I mean did you scry?”

Merlin wanted to speak but stopped. “I can’t look at woman, she could have been naked.”

Arthur looked at him exasperated. “Such a good thing, that she has a father. You know I think many male sorcerers learned scrying only to watch women bath.”

Merlin went red. He never thought about that. Did it get hotter in here?

“My other raised me better than that.”

“That she did.

Then let’s do another plan. I take Sophia out for a ride today. Show her around, get her to talk.”

“Where do I come into this?”

“Search her room. And before I forget it, tell my father I am going for a joyride with Sophia.”

“Seriously? Just like that?”

“Better than going on secret training missions, where he never finds me.”

Merlin sighed.

“Oh before I forget it. Morgana is acting weird when she saw Sophia. As if she recognized her.”

“Good to know.”

oIo

Merlin didn’t get a chance to search. Uther found him in the council chamber first.

“Where's my son?”

“I'm not sure where he is. I…erm…I think there's been a mistake. But it's not his fault. Arthur's, I mean.”

“Stop gibbering and tell me where he is.”

“It's probably...” Merlin tried to find the right words. Then he whispered: “With Sofia.”

“I didn’t hear you. Where is Arthur?!”

“He's not here.”

“I can see that.”

“He is on a ride with Sofia. So, I have no idea where he is at the moment.”

Merlin waited for the eruption, but it never came.

“Just to make sure. My son Arthur, who never had any interest in in women is away on a romantic get away with a woman.”

Uther’s stare was very intense. Merlin didn’t believe it would be that easy to tell the truth.

“Who would have thought that Arthur could be that irresponsible.”

“It doesn’t matter. Finally, someone caught his eye. Even better, she is a noble.

You are going to help him woo her. His other responsibilities didn’t matter. If he likes her, I wont stand in the way.” With that Uther left happily the chamber.

Merlin didn’t think Arthur was that bad, or was he? He tried looking back and found nothing. Arthur never looked at woman, never mentioned anything romantic. Morgana was the only one he interacted with the most. And it was more love to a sibling than a potential wife.

Now Merlin wondered why Morgana was still here. She had her own lands to govern, so why was she still the king’s ward? Why weren’t there any suitors for her. She was young, beautiful, good character, rich and had the ear of the king.

Please let there be no secrets. Secrets lead only to trouble.

oIo

Merlin didn’t find anything suspicious in Sofias chamber, not like in Helens or Valiants before. And Arthur came sooner back than anticipated, so he didn’t have time to check if Aulfric had something in his.

Maybe he should first check with scrying before getting into trouble.

“What'd you do this time?”

Merlin jumped up at Gaius question.

“Don’t just scare me like that.”

“So, you would have done magic before someone else?”

Merlin hated how Gaius managed to raise just one eyebrow. He tried it himself, but it was hard work, and he didn’t manage it.

“Just doing work for Arthur.”

“And that is?”

“Nothing really important. Just getting Arthur out of his duties so he can be with Sofia.”

“And king Uther allowed it?” Gaius was astonished.

“It was Arthurs idea.”

“Just to get it right. Prince Arthur neglected his duties to spent time with a woman? The girl from the forest?”

“Why is everyone so happy, that he spends time with a woman?”

Gaius was looking at Merlin speculatively. As if evaluating if he should tell something or not.

“Prince Arthur is special.”

“Don’t remind me. Everyone shudders under his special training. You know what the greatest problem is that he is right and his training very useful.”

“Yes, he was always like that.” Gaius wanted to keep talking, but he stopped, as if remembering to keep a secret.

Merlin really wanted to know these secrets, but he won’t pry, because he was also keeping Arthurs secrets.

“Let’s just say, that had a disturbing lack in romantic interest. We all got a little worried about him not having heirs.”

That’s it? Arthur was just not interested? He also didn’t have any interest in women. Just because he didn’t met the one, they didn’t have to be so anxious.

“Can you help me? I need to search Aulfrics guest chamber. The two of them are suspicious. The bandits were real, but it feels somewhat staged, as if the wanted to be rescued and then invited by Arthur.”

“Wouldn’t be the first ones. Some others tried that with Arthur. Let a young maiden be saved by him and he should fall in love with her. Never worked before on him.”

Now Merlin was starting to doubt Arthur. Was he truly not in love? Or was something more sinister going on.

“This time it worked. How sure can we be, that it isn’t magic?”

That one got Gaius moving to Aulfrics chambers. Merlin was scrying and he really needed to learn to hear tone, because he wanted to know what Gaius was saying with Aulfric.

Wait a minute? Why did he want to search in the quest chamber, couldn’t he just scry for it like Arthur asked him to?

He was such an idiot. Why take the easy way if you can make it complicated? Now with more patience. What doesn’t fit into the picture?

oIo

The next morning in Arthurs chambers Merlin is getting Arthurs armor ready. Arthur came in.

“You're dressed!”

“Yes, I know how to dress myself. Didn’t you see it in all the months before?”

“Sorry, I had scryed for a long time?”

“Did you find anything?”

“Their eyes are glowing red. I tried to find out what it meant but didn’t find anything. They could be Sidhe, but they are too human for that. Changelings are also out. I don’t think they are cursed.

Oh, and they don’t want to kill Uther.”

“Well Sofia was very interested in me and tried to deepen “our bond”. Looks like they are after me. Me specifically or the crown? What do you think?”

Before Merlin could use his carefully crafted words, he vomited his question: “Are you in love with Sofia?”

“What? Don’t be ridiculous.” Merlin nearly believed it.

“So no romantically feeling.”

“Arthur stared him into the eyes and said: “No.”

Merlin exhaled. “That’s good. For a moment I thought you were bespelled by Sofia into loving her.”

Arthur answered a little dazed. “Yeah, she is great. Fantastic. She's incredible.”

Merlin abruptly turned to Arthur and tried to shake him out of his stupor.

“Arthur don’t make me worried. Please tell me your joking right know?”

Arthur blinked several times, before he came back. “What was that?”

“Sofia is putting a love spell on you. I knew it!”

Arthur was a little unsteady on his legs. “How did that happen? I was careful. When did she do it?"

“Maybe it is something, that has to do with proximity. You’re near her, you fall in love. Away from her and you can forget her.”

Arthur was hitting his desk. “There is no proof of their meddling. And King Uther won’t do I think, because I was so stupid and played at being in love. They all think everything is alright. That I finally found the right girl.”

Merlin thought how they could get out of this situation they brought themselves in. The easiest solution was to kill the sorcerer, but Uther would not believe them, because he wants Arthur to be in love.

And the father and daughter duo also didn’t do anything crime worthy. So, the only think for them to do was…

“Bait”, they said simultaneously.

Arthur had a chagrined face: “I have to keep up the romance. Don’t let her kill me. Do you hear!”

“I solemnly swear to keep you form her deadly clutches.” In any other circumstance it would have been funny.

oIo

Merlin came back to Gaius chambers. He still had normal work to do. Gaius was there.

“I heard that Arthur wasn't at the knighting ceremony.”

“Yeah”, Merlin poured water into a basin, “he wanted to make the most of his time left with Sophia.”

“So you helped him?”

“I'm his servant, I had to.”

“You shouldn't have done that, Merlin”, he looked up at Merlin, “I fear that Sophia may not be all that she seems.”

Merlin already knew that. So how did Gaius knew that?

“Why?”

“What do you know about seers?” Merlin had no idea where Gaius was going with that.

“Not much. They're…supposed to be able to see the future, like prophets?”

“It's said to be an innate ability. Those who have it are born that way. Some aren't even aware that what they see is the future. It comes to them in their dreams.”

“What's this got to do with Sophia?”

“The night before she and Aulfric came to Camelot, Morgana had a dream. Sophia was in it.”

Now that was surprising.

“Before she arrived in Camelot?”

“I've been watching Morgana since she was very young. And though I tried to persuade myself otherwise, I realized that some of the things she said she'd dreamt came to pass. I kept it secret from Uther, of course. The gift of prophecy is too close to the work of magic.”

“You think Morgana is a seer?” Great another problem. But he leaves that for his future self.

“I don't think it. I fear it. Morgana said she dreamt that Sophia killed Arthur.” Alright good to know. Arthur has promotions of danger and Morgana can see the future. That would be really helpful against future threats.

“Couldn't that have just been a dream? Maybe the…, the woman Morgana saw just looked like Sophia.”

“That's what I hoped. But Aulfric caught me in Sophia's room, and, in a flash of anger, his eyes changed color.” Does Gaius know something more?

“Who are they?”

“It's not who they are that worries me. It's what they want with Arthur.” No such look. Arthur still had to be bait.

oIo

Merlin was keeping an eye on Arthur and one eye on Aulfric while scrying. When he saw Aulfric leaving the castle he quickly fallowed. Scrying for tone is more difficult than he anticipated.

He quickly scaled the walls in the night. Sprang, fell, rolled and ran after Aulfric into the woods. Inside he was lamenting how useful Arthurs Ni Ja Training was. He also remembered how much he hated to do the training blindfolded. Of course he cheated with magic. He was also doing it now. Not creating light but seeing with the little light there is.

Aulfric reached a lake. Merlin watched him from behind a tree. The wind had started to blow. To his surprise Aulfric addressed the lake.

“I seek an audience with the Sidhe elders! Do:tiag-sa ar idbairt do denam!”

To his amazement the lake answered.

First a blue haze and then fairies appeared over the lake. The fairies flew faster than a human eye could see. Merlin adjusted his sight and through his eyes everything slowed.

“I come before you to plead for the chance to win passage back to Avalon and a life of immortality!”

One fairy came forward.

“Your punishment for killing another Sidhe is a mortal body and a mortal life. You will never be able to return to Avalon.” So that’s how it was. A banishment.

“The crime was mine, not my daughter's.”

“The gates of Avalon remain closed to your daughter. Unless the soul of a mortal prince be offered up to them.” That’s what they need Arthur for.

“Thank you. An immortal life for my daughter is all that I desire, so I promise you the soul of the greatest prince of all. Arthur Pendragon!”

He had to warn Arthur, but before that, he needed to know more about his enemy. Read up on them and maybe ask Gaius a few questions.

oIo

Gaius knew the answer. “Avalon. What you saw at the lake, it's Avalon. It must be…”

“What's...”

“The land of eternal youth. Mortals are only supposed to glimpse it the moment before death.”

“Well, I've seen it and I'm still here.”

“Extraordinary. What did it look like?”

“Does it matter? They're going to sacrifice Arthur and we don't even know who "they" are yet.”

“We do now I found writing like this on the top of Aulfric's staff. It's Ogham, an ancient script. "Abas ocus bithe. Duthectad bithlane." "To hold life and death in your hands." From the writing on his staff and what you saw at the lake, I'm afraid I'm now certain. We're dealing with the Sidhe.” Yes he already surmised that, but you don’t interrupt old people, they tend to get groucy and start from the beginning.

“That does not sound like a good thing.”

“They're masters of enchantment.” Good to know.

“You think Arthur's been enchanted?”

“Almost certainly. I'm afraid Morgana's dream is coming true.” Not yet. But it could be that Arthur was too deep into the spell to know what was good for him. So, save him and keep him far away from Sofia. Go on a hunt. That could help.

oIo

Merlin was a little too late. Arthur had already gone with Sofia. Couldn’t the guy ask his father first for permission to marry. Isn’t that what you do, when your in love?

Who was he kidding. Arthur never asked first for permission. Only when it was done, was it like Uther had given it at the beginning.

So, was Sofia killing Arthur by daylight or did she need night to open the gates to Avalon. Merlin didn’t want to find out and rushed to the lake.

Merlin was really happy, with his running stamina and jumping over obstacles, because he managed to arrive while the father and daughter were having a heartfelt moment.

To his immense surprise, they even had their staff lying around for him to grab and use.

It was over in seconds. One bolt out of the staff for Aulfric and the other for Sofia. Then Merlin was waiting. The bodies disintegrated into small particles. But they could have already summoned the other Sidhe.

But nothing happened. Merlin was worried, that it was that easy to win. Even splashing Arthur with water worked the first time to get him out of his daze.

“What happened?”

“You ran away with Sofia. Don’t know why you had to do it that fast. Next time take your time.”

Arthur was gaping around him. “What did I miss?”

“Morgana can see the future.” Merlin knew that news wasn’t really fitting for the moment, but he needed it to be said. “She foresaw Sofia arriving before she even came.”

“Great, absolutely great. So next time I hear the dreaded sentence go ask Morgana about her dreams.”

Arthur looked around again. “How long was I out?”

“Not that long. You could still go back and thank Morgana for her help. Are you alright?”

“No. Just give me some time and I’m back at full force.

Chapter Text

Lloyd was contemplating the nature of stories. The Axolotl only said that he will be put into a story. He thought that meant he was the main character. But since Merlin arrived the problems started. It was as if the main character finally arrived and the plot started. Magical Merlin in a magic hating kingdom that has to go against magical threats while keeping his own magic hidden.

But it was prophesied that he was the Once and Future king. So, was he only an important character or were they co-stars?

His involvement in the last two threats was minimal. On the other hand, that was one revenge and one sacrifice plot. So there is nothing against Camelot directly.

And now Morgana can also see the future. How wide spread was this ability, because him hearing the beginning sentence was kind of similar.

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin.

Great. It started again. What will it be this time. No monster sightings in the last days and no planned festivities. He is here so the new problems came to Camelot or are on their way.

It didn’t take him long to hear what happened. A druid was on the loose and another already in the dungeons.

First he interrogated the captured one.

“Just so that I understand. You only went to Camelot to get supplies?”

The man nodded.

“You are a druid, have magic and used it in Camelot. A know kingdom for banning magic?”

The druid nodded again.

Lloyd wanted to call the man before him stupid, why would he risk not only his own life, but also that of his son? Couldn’t he have left his son outside, come and gone quickly.

Know what was he supposed to do? Yes, the two of them broke the law, but it is such a stupid reason. They didn’t even have a plan against Camelot or one of its inhabitants.

The boy he may be able to get out, but the man. He can’t let him escape during the day. So where could he stash him? Would the dragon flame the man? What would be better to die by the flames of the pyre or dragon fire.

Well let’s find out. He went out of the dungeons. Then he crawled through the secret crawl space back in.

“What?” But Lloyd put his finger on his lips, and the man became quiet. He made a fallow motion after he opened the doors. Seriously, no one ever thought their prince would let a criminal out. He even had made a second key for every lock.

The deeper they went the more uneasy the man got.

“Where are you taking me?”, did he whisper.

“I need to keep you somewhere, until the commotion up will die down. Hopefully your roommate won’t have problems with you.”

“What’s a roommate?”

Lloyd didn’t have to answer, because they heard the flapping of the dragon wings.

“Prince Arthur. What did I do to get this visit from you?”

If the man could his jaw would have hit the ground. “That is…”

“Yes, yes, a mighty dragon. Yes he was imprisoned by my father. Maybe I should have asked you this sooner, but do you have problems with dragons.”

The man was to shocked to answer. So Lloyd asked the other party.

“Mind if this man …”

“Cerdan”

“If Cerdan can stay with you for a few days?”

The dragon got to his full dangerous beauty with opened wings.

“You want me. The great Kilgharrah to look after a druid?”

“Truth be told, I only want you to not kill him, while he is in your cave.”

“Do you have any idea what doom your brining to yourself?”

“Why? Will this man kill me? Harm Camelot?”

The dragon Kilgharrah stopped. So, his doom is in the city, but it is not this man. The dragon clasped his wings to his body and was looking for contemplation at Lloyd, as if he did something very surprisingly.

“And if I kill Cerdan?”

“Then you would have done Uther a favor.”

He could see the disgust on Kilgharrahs face. Lloyd exhaled, that went better than expected. Going against Uther was the dragons past time, but he couldn’t use it that often. Now he only needed to find the boy and get them out.

T-T

In the council chamber he met king Uther.

“The Druid was only in Camelot to collect supplies. He meant no harm. Is it necessary to execute him?” Lloyd still couldn’t believe that Uther gave his orders that quickly. Good thing he was faster. They still didn’t know Cerdan was missing.

“Absolutely necessary. Those who use magic cannot be tolerated.” King Uther was vehement in his opinion on magic.

“The Druids are a peaceful people.” How they manage that was a mystery to him. Do they always yield or are there some that use magic forcefully?

“Given the chance, they would return magic to the kingdom. They preach peace but conspire against me. We cannot appear weak.” Yes, they conspire against you? Only you. Shouldn’t that say something to you?

“Showing mercy can be a sign of strength.” He had to try.

“Our enemies will not see it that way. We have a responsibility to protect this kingdom. Executing the Druid will send out a clear message. Find the boy. Search every inch of the city.“ Of course. And when I find him, I get him out with his father.

So next step he had to find Merlin. Because if the boy wasn’t already with Merlin, Merlin could scry for him. Easy peasy.

T-T

Lloyd arrived at Gaius chambers, but Merlin wasn’t there.

“Hello Gaius. Do you know where Merlin is?”

“Around.”

So not here or outside. Looks like Gaius thinks Merlin is in the thicket of this and wants to keep his secret.

Wait. Had Merlin told Gaius that he knew about Merlin’s magic? He was not going to explain that to get a better answer.

Why didn’t they have something like magical communicators. He should Merlin research for that.

“Tell him, he should come to me as soon as possible, I have work for him.”

Before he could go out a guard arrived.

“You highness, come quickly. The prisoner escaped. Your father is enraged.”

“Well what did you expect? It was a magic user. Of course he could have escaped easily.”

T-T

He spent the rest of the day searching for the missing Cerdan. They went everywhere. Funny how no one ever brings up the dragon caves. Finally, night arrived and he could get dinner.

Befroe he even sat down, Uther asked him:“What news of the hunt for the Druid boy?”

“We have conducted an extensive search. The boy is nowhere to be found. Nor his father.”

“You mean you failed to find them?”

“Perhaps they already left the city.”

“You're telling me that a wounded boy is able to evade the guards and escape the city? Nonsense, someone's hiding him. I want him found.”

“He's just a boy. What harm can he do?” Yes, why aren’t you more interested in his father. Or do you mean a boy is easier to kill than a grown man?

“He is a Druid, and that makes him dangerous.” Didn’t we already talked, that they are peaceful?

“The Druids would see your father's kingdom destroyed”, Morgana chimed in.

“I had no idea you were such an authority on Druids.” What is wrong with her. That isn’t her usual opinion.

“Morgana is right. Double your efforts.”

“Yes, father.”

“Keep searching until you find him.”

T-T

Merlin didn’t come to him. So, he had to start his fruitless search the next day again. If, no, when he finally found Merlin he would have some strong words with him, then give him many tasks, then find him cheating with magic doing them and then punish him with more training.

That should teach Merlin to keep him out of the loop.

It was finally time to search Morganas rooms. He always dreaded that, she was always looking like the victim. Well this time she was an unfortunate victim.

He knocked on the door.

“Arthur! To what do I owe this pleasure?”

He entered. “Don't get all excited. It's not a social call. I'm looking for the Druid boy. I'm afraid I'm going to have to search your chambers.”

“You're not searching my chambers.” Please don’t make it difficult.

“Don't take it personally. I have to search the entire castle. Only take a few minutes.”

“I'm not having you mess up my things.” As if. You’re messing more up than me and then Gwen has to clean up.

“I'm not interested in your things, I'm just looking for any evidence that the Druid boy's in the castle.”

Then he saw Merlin peeking through the window curtains. Lloyd followed his gaze and landed on boots sitting out in plain sight.

So that’s where he went, both of them. Great. Now how do they get out of this mess.

“Perhaps the Druid boy's hiding in your chambers. They're usually such a mess, you'd never know.” Did you see my chambers?

“It's hardly my fault I have such a lazy idiot for a servant.” Hopefully Merlin will return faster to his duties.

Then in the corner of his eyes the boots started tiptoeing to Merlin. That was impressive, he didn’t hear any spells being spoken.

“If you can't even find your own servant, what hope do you have of finding the boy?”

Lloyd was too distracted by the moving boots, so he didn’t really hear what Morgana was saying.

“Are you listening to me? Well, I'll save you the trouble.”

“Sorry, you’re repeating yourself, but trust me, if I could find him, I would.”

“The Druid boy's hiding behind the screen. I'm sure your father would love to know how you wasted your time by rifling through my things. Go on.”

That was so bold of her. Normally he wouldn’t be a fool and look, but this time he gladly play the fool.

Lloyd went to the curtain and looked behind it.

And there was the boy, sick and afraid. No wonder Merlin didn’t extract him, the boy was to sick to escape.

He saw Morganas fear stricken face.

“Now look at you. You made a fool out of me for looking”, then to the guards, “Lets continue our search.” Before Lloyd left he looked at Morgana. “If you find Merlin, tell him, that he really needs to come to my chambers and do his bloody job or else there will be harsh consequences.”

Morgana finally realized that he helped them continue with the ruse.

“In my experience, you don't need any help looking like a fool. What are you waiting for? Shouldn’t you keep searching?”

T-T

It was little bit difficult to extract himself from his own search. He gave his own group an hour long break.

He only hoped that it was enough time to bring Cerdan something to drink and eat. Next time he should stash some perishables in the dragon cave. Maybe a little bedding and water for washing. He really hoped the two of them didn’t plan murder or a revolution.

On silent feet he entered the secret passage to the kitchens. He still laughed at how the cooks still couldn’t find out his thieving secret.

Another good think was, that the usual guards were also searching for the druids. Uther will be so mad, that no magical blood was spilled. Oh, that means he will be insufferable for the coming days. Great, just great.

Wait? Is there a guard left?

Lloyd followed the mysterious person deeper into the dungeons. Then in the lights of a torch he saw, that it was Merlin.

“Hello?” Merlin bellowed into the cave.

Kilgharrah was such a diva queen. He climbed majestically around a corner and roared.

It was too loud, but he could see Merlin sighing very dramatically.

“Do you have to do that? You scared the life out of me.”

“The young warlock. No doubt you're here about the Druid boy.” Warlock? Is that something different than a sorcerer?

“How did you know?”

“Like you, I hear him speak.” What did they mean? How is he speaking with them? Did that mean, that Cerdan already made contact with his son? Of course he wouldn’t tell his enemies all his secrets even if they want to help.

“Why does he call me Emrys?” Emrys?

“Because that is your name.” Really?

“I'm pretty sure my name's Merlin, always has been.” Well, my was not always Arthur, so there could be truth to it.

“You have many names.” Oh no. That is not good. Many names meant many deeds. For him it was the Son of Garmadon, the Green Ninja, the Golden Ninja and so on.

“Do I? How does the boy know who I am? I've never even met any Druids.” A very good point.

“There is much written about you that you have yet to read. You should not protect this boy.” Why?

“Why? He has magic. He's just like me.” He is?

“You and the boy are as different as day and night.”

“What do you mean?”

“Heed my words, Merlin.”

“Why should I not protect him?”

Lloyd stepped forward. “Yeah, why shouldn’t you? Your already host his father.”

Merlin jumped up in fright. Lloyd scowled at him. Always be observant, don’t become too trustful in the homes of your friends. Especially in those places you are the most vulnerable.

“Really Merlin. I search for the whole of Camelot for you. And where do I find you? With the dragon. What is so important, that you couldn’t find me and tell me what is happening.”

“You were searching for Mordred?” Merlin’s counter was pathetic.

“Who is Mordred?”

“The boy you’re searching for”, explained Merlin slowly.

“No, I’m searching for both druids. The father Cerdan escaped.”

“He did?”

“Well shouldn’t you know. Looks like the druids and you can communicate telepathically.”

“What is telepathy? It doesn’t matter. What do you mean the father is still alive?”

“What were you doing the whole time? Where you holed up the whole time?”

Merlin didn’t say a word.

“Yes, Cerdan escaped and I’m also searching for him.”

“I hope you won’t find him.” Merlin was very earnest, bordering on hopeful.

Lloyd pointed behind Merlin. “Oh, look. I found him.”

Llyod was afraid Merlin got whiplash so fast did he look behind him. Cerdan had come out of his hiding place and was standing very awkwardly.

“Alright. Here is something to eat. Merlin will bring you more in the future, because I will be looking for you and Mordred everywhere except in the dragon cave and Morganas chambers.

I would really really talk to you, Merlin, but you are so busy. Can you find time in your full schedule to speak with this poor prince at a time of your convenience? I’m already late for my search party.”

Lloyd started walking out, before he stopped and addressed Kilgharrah: “I hope you like your company. I’m very thankful for your hospitality.”

T-T

Lloyd was exhausted and resting in his chambers. Who knew endless searching was so tiring. Finally, Merlin peeked from the door. Lloyd was glaring at him. He even pulled his power up, to hit Merlin with his most disappointed look.

Merlin shuffled inside.

“Had your talk with Cerdan?” began Lloyd.

Merlin laughed awkwardly. “Funny, don’t you think. I saved Mordred, while you saved Cerdan.”

“Yes. You’re hiding at one place, and I run from place to place. So, what’s going on with Mordred?”

“Mordred is sick, and I can’t heal him. With all my ordinary duties, your special training and helping Gaius I didn’t have time to learn.”

“That means, we cant smuggle them out of Camelot, before Mordred is healthy. Didn’t you ask Gaius for help?”

“No.”

“Why not? Don’t you tell him everything?”

More shuffling from Merlin.

“Please tell me, that you told him, that I know of your magic.”

“It didn’t come up?”

Lloyd mouth was agape. On one hand it was helpful, on the other it was dangerous. He only needed to find out which belonged to which.

He was rubbing his nose. Noses were marvelous things. He knows he had one before, because he still remembers the smell, but it wasn’t between his eyes and mouth. You could also hit people on it, and it gave a very satisfying crunch.

“Sorry I spaced out. What was it you said?”

“When Gaius healed Mordred, how do we get them out?” Merlin repeated himself.

“That’s easy. We use the secret door in the armory. It leads to the lower town. I have the keys. From there it should be easier to leave Camelot.”

It looked like Merlin wanted to retort but stopped and then started again. “Is it that easy?”

“If you would have talked to me from the beginning, we could have coordinated better. The only problems we have now are that Mordred is sick and my father very furious. Something could still happen, while they escape the lower town.”

Merlin nodded determined.

T-T

The next night only Merlin and Arthur escorted Cerdan and Mordred. With Gaius help Mordred got quickly better. Lloyd found it a little too quick, but who was he to point that out. Magic must have been involved.

It was Lloyds first time seeing Merlin distract guards. For his taste too much magic was involved, but hey, the druids are magic users, so there they have the ideal excuse.

They escorted them to the woods.

“Let there be no next time. Keep away from Camelot.” Lloyd really hoped they kept his warnings.

“Thank you for your help.” Cerdan bowed deeply before him.

“Before you go. What do the druids have to say of Emrys?”

Cerdan smiled enigmatically. “You’ll see.”

It was more a “you’ll live it.”

The druids left.

“That wasn’t so bad. Noone died.” Lloyd really h

“Yes, it could have been more difficult. One of the guards could have found us or an accident could have happened.

Let’s go back. Hopefully the next adventure will also be so easy.”

Chapter Text

Lloyd was halfway to sleep when destiny decided to monologue again.

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin.

Seriously? Now? Looks like the bad guys are using the night to do their wicked deeds. He could stop it, couldn’t he, if only he knew where they were. Or even better, how far away?

Lloyd was grumbling. He needed to make a present for Morgana the next day.

x.x

The next morning Morgana not only got her usual breakfast, but also a plate full of apples with an Arthur shaped carrier. She was suspicious.

“Are they sour?”

Arthur was a little distracted. “What? No, what ever gave you the idea?”

She still remembered vividly the first time he gave her an apple, it had a worm in it. Wait, he didn’t give her sour apples.

Morgana searched for her memories and finally found them. He gave her sour grapes not apples. Didn’t mean he could try it this time.

“How nice of you. What did I do to earn them?”

Morgana knew Arthur didn’t shuffle, but she could imagine it.

“Had any dreams lately?”

Morgana had a quip ready, but Arthur’s seriousness stopped her. She took one apple and bit into it.

“Like the one with Sofia?”, prompted Arthur.

“No, nothing of the sorts. Why?”

“Let’s just say, I got some kind of warning system. I only know something is coming, not what or who. Your dreams are more specific but looks like they are fewer.”

Morgana was surprised. “You have magic warnings?”

“I wouldn’t call it that. Wherever I am, I hear a specific sentence in the voice of the dragon downstairs. The dragon vehemently denies ever speaking it. So my latest thesis is that a higher being warns me and only me.” Arthur shrugged.

Morgana could see it. Arthur was likable. Some deity would play to his advantage.

“I tell you the next time have a dream.”

“Thank you.”

x.x

Lloyd vetted the whole guest list. He hovered over the stewards so that the servants looked for suspicious or missing people.

Everything went smoothly. That only means it, whatever it is, will happen during the ceremony.

Night fell and everyone was in the Hall of Ceremonies.

Lloyd kneeled before Uther.

“Do you solemnly swear to govern the people of this kingdom and its dominions according to the statutes, customs and laws laid down by your forebears?” Uther began the vows.

“I do, Sire.”

“Do you promise to exercise mercy and justice in your deeds and judgments?”

“I do, Sire.” Lloyd was sweating. Nothing happened.

“And do you swear allegiance to Camelot, now and for as long as you shall live?”

“I, Arthur Pendragon, do pledge life and limb to your service and to the protection of the kingdom and its peoples.” Now would be a good time to interrupt.

“Now being of age and heir apparent, from henceforth, you shall be Crown Prince of Camelot.” Uther put the golden ring on his head.

The court applauded. Lloyd stood up and faced the crowd. He was on high alert.

And Merlin was bickering with Gwen instead of checking for dangers.

Finally, it happened.

A black armored knight on a horse bursted through the stained-glass window. Lloyd drew his sword.

First, how the heck did the rider come through the window, it should be impossible. There is too much wire and not enough glass for that kind of entrance. The rider and the horse should have been caught in the wire and died a slow and antagonizing death.

Secondly, they are already dead. Well not the horse, that one could have been magical or it only looked like a horse.

Third, did he need to guard against the walls next time. Are there ghosts?

“What in the devil's name?” Uther managed to surmise it beautifully.

Lloyd was ready for battle, but before the attack came the Black Knight threw his gauntlet down.

Was that a challenge? Could he refuse? It would be easy, refuse and don’t get into the mess before him. The only problem, he was crowned just a moment ago, he can’t refuse.

With a heavy heart he started to pick the gauntlet up, but another knight was faster.

“I, Sir Owain, accept your challenge.”

“Single combat. Noon tomorrow. Till the death”, issued the black knight. Then he rode out. Not through the window. No, he rode slowly through the crowd till the door.

x.x

Lloyd was pacing in Morganas chambers. He needed to give Merlin time to get answers. Why didn’t he do it, because Uther suddenly got afraid. Lloyd got more guards on his tail than ever before. He would slip them when it was time.

“He shouldn't have picked up the gauntlet!” It was his fight.

“So put an end to it.”

“The challenge has been taken up. The fight cannot be stopped.” He couldn’t just break Sir Owains leg, so that he had to forfeit.

“Then fight in his place.”

“I can't.” Stupid rules.

“Why not?”

“Owain picked up the gauntlet. Owain is the one who must fight. That's the Knight's Code. He knew that.”

“But it's a fight to the death!”

„I know.“

“When he dies, it’s your turn, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Can you win?”

“You mean can I win in a knights fight, with only using the sanctioned knights fighting abilities?”

Morgana grimaced.

x.x

In the evening Merlin finally arrived with news.

“I’m still working on my listening abilities in scrying, so I didn’t get the whole conversation between king Uther and Gaius. But to surmise what I heard is, that they recognize the crest of the black knight and that the knight should be dead.”

“Are you sure?”

“King Uther is sure, he killed the man 20 years ago.”

“So, we have an undead walking among us. This doesn’t occur naturally, so that means a magic user raised the dead. You can do that?”

“Apparently.” Lloyd was looking suspiciously at Merlin.

“What are you looking at me like that. In all the spellbooks I have access to, there is nothing about rising the dead.”

Lloyd intensified his stare.

“There is nothing, truly.”

“So, no words in how to kill them again? Or if they have weaknesses?”

“Oh. That is what you mean. No nothing.”

“But you always find a way, where do you get those spells for.”

Merlin was shuffling.

“I ask Kilgharrah.”

„What are we waiting for?”

x.x

They told Kilgharrah what happened.

“Why come to me directly?”

“Well, first we could have tried finding out who the knight was and then we could have watched how the black knight killed one challenger after the other and then finally come to you. So, we cut the deaths and time down and ask you directly.

How do we kill the undead?” Lloyd wanted to minimize the casualties.

“The undead had a clear purpose?”

“Yes.”

“It has most of its faculties working?”

“We think so.”

“Could be a wraith.”

“So, how do we kill it, that it stays dead?”

The dragon was scratching himself.

“Normally I only have to breath fire on them, and they stay dead.”

Dragon fire always had special properties, looks like also in this world. How do they get the wraith downstairs? That won’t happen.

Is there a way to conserve dragon fire? Putting it on a torch won’t work. Putting it in a glass bottle like a light bulb? There is no glass big enough, but could dragon fire be put into something else to enhance something.

You use fire for cooking, for heating, for using fireworks. No gunpowder here and he wasn’t starting to introduce it. He also didn’t want someone to cask cannons. It is dangerous working with melted metal and …

Oh, smithing. A sword could be smith with dragon fire. Didn’t his own grandfather make the golden weapons? Maybe he even used his own dragon fire to smith them.

“Can you smith a sword with your dragon fire? Would it give the sword the ability to kill undead?”

Merlin looked at him surprised.

“A weapon forged with my assistance will have great power. You have to be carful. In the wrong hands, this sword could do great evil. It must be wielded by you alone.”

“I understand.” He knew what happened when the wrong person was holding one of the golden weapons.

“You do. How surprisingly in someone so young.”

“Do we need to smith the whole sword or is it enough for you to breath on one already forged?” Lloyd didn’t think of that, but that was a good point from Merlin.

“I can breath on a finished sword.”

“Just wait, I’m going to get a sword.” With that Merlin went.

Llyod didn’t know what he should talk about with Kilgharrah or if silence was better.

“Who are you?” Lloyd was startled by the question.

“Arthur Pendragon crown prince of Camelot.”

Kilgharrah shook his head. “Your older than the years on this earth.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Lloyd really didn’t know. Kilgharrah couldn’t know of his deal with Axolotl, could he?

“Maybe your too young and doesn’t know any better. I heard of creatures like you. Heed my warning, don’t get cruel, arrogant or tired with age.”

Lloyd really didn’t understand. The only thing he could link this cryptic warning was with age. Did he inherit the aging of his mother or from his father. Will all the ninjas except Zane die before him? Does it really matter with the life he is living. He was already recovered once. The next time death could stick.

Lloyd thought some more. Or he could get stuck as a ghost. He really didn’t want to share Morros fate. Or Harumis, getting revived by the Overlord. Or was she only near dead?

Truth be told Morgana isn’t as bad as Harumi. She has the temper and could manipulate the men and women around her, but she has also heart. He’ll try keeping traumatic events from her. How do you tell her your as near as sister, that she has magic. While knowing your own father would kill her, when not if he finds out.

He should find a solution, even a temporary one, should it happen.

Merlin came finally back with a sword.

“What took you so long? Did you go on a moonlight walk on the way to the armory?”

“Oh no. I just wanted to get the best sword available.”

Lloyd was presented with a good sword. It felt good in his hand.

Both of them looked at Kilgharrah. The dragon breathed in and then fire came out.

Lloyd let go of the sword. It wasn’t because the sword got hot, but because the dragon fire was different than he was used to. It wasn’t like his fiery breaths, but more magical.

“Heed my words, young warlock and young prince.” With that Kilgharrah flapped away.

Lloyd looked after him. “He forgot to put crown before the prince.”

“No he didn’t”, replied Merlin.

x.x

The rest of the night they planned what to do next. They couldn’t stop Sir Owain from participating, because the knight code wouldn’t allow it. The wraith would kill him and go through every other man until it got his vengeance.

So Lloyd planned to ambush the wraith on his way, outside of Camelot. Was it against the code. Not really, because the black knight challenged to a fight to the death. He was already dead, so theoretically he already lost, the fight was invalid. And wasn’t it his duty to keep dangerous creatures like the wraith from his people?

Merlin was fascinated by how he twisted the knights code to fit his purposes.

They kept the plan simple. Before noon, they would Camelot and wait in ambush. Merlin would push the knight from his horse and Arthur would stab and hit until the wraith was no more.

x.x

Lloyd quickly regretted his arrogance. Merlin got the knight of his horse, but that was their only victory. The wraith wasn’t like the Skulkin warriors. He was more like the stone army. And very good.

Lloyd knocked the helmet off and froze. A mummified face was looking at him. Or not looking. Well, there were no eyes to look from. You know never mind.

He was so distracted that he lost his sword and was pushed to the ground. Only thanks to his quick reflexed did he survive, when the sword barley passed his heart.

Llyod quickly kicked the wraith, grabbed his sword and ran it through the black knight. The wraith exploded.

Lloyd and Merlin were both stunned.

“For a moment there I thought you would die.” Merlin helped steady him.

“Me too, me too.”

“How come there were no travellers on the road.”

“That’s what your worried about. You nearly died and you worry, that someone might not have seen your victory.”

Lloyd was looking at Merlin.

“Maybe they were afraid to meet the black knight, maybe they are all wanting to watch in the stalls.”

“We also need to go there.” Together they hobbled back.

“How was the sword?”

“Magnificent. If before it was good, now it is excellent.”

Lloyd stopped and looked dreamily at his sword. Then he finally saw an inscribtion.

One side said: “Take me up” and the other “Cast me away.”

“It needs a name.” Merlin was right, it needed one, but what was a good name.

“Well, you got it, what would you call it?”

Lloyd didn’t know what, but something old and powerful got into Merlin.

“Excalibur.” It was Merlin’s voice, but it spoke like destiny.

Lloyd smiled. It was a good name, very catchy.

Merlin came back to himself and started fretting that their excuse was not good enough.

Chapter Text

Merlin was on edge, because Arthur was on edge.

Three days ago, Arthur heard the dreaded words. And nothing happened. No unknows persons, no sudden monsters and no trouble to speak of.

Arthur thought it meant the bad guys have more time to plot their attack. Merlin is worried for the prince’s health.

His inner Gaius was chiming in, that it was perfectly normal to be paranoid if the world is out to get him. It was even nice enough to send a warning. Merlin found the warning suspicious. It was as if you could get dependent on it. You relax your guard and are open for other attacks.

Merlin shook his head and returned to his task of collecting water from the well.

He looked up and saw his mother.

“Mother?”

“Merlin!”

He went and hugged her fiercely. He missed her so much.

She winced and he finally saw her bruises.

“What happened? Who did this to you?!”

\_/

She told him everything that happened. Kanen was attacking Ealdor and took their harvest. They will be back and take the rest with force. Deaths were a small inconvenience.

He managed to get her an audience with king Uther, but it was for naught. Uther wasn’t willing to help, if it could bring war to Camelot. Merlin understood, but he was angry.

He could ask Arthur for help.

Merlin examined this thought more. Arthur helped when those who couldn’t defend themselves needed help. He also ignored Uther’s wishes when it came to that. Merlin could picture Arthur already packing for a small war.

A beat later he rushed to the armory. Arthur wasn’t there or in his chambers.

Merlin cursed. Didn’t Arthur preach to always inform themselves what the other was up to in those situations? He didn’t have time to search for him he had to pack.

Now Merlin worried about his mother and Arthur, that prick.

\_/

He was at Gwen’s house. She helped him pack.

“Here.” He was handed a sword. He started to reach for the bladed and she sucked in her breath. Merlin finally grabbed the hilt.

“Tell me how it feels?”

“Yeah. Yeah that feel...that feels really good. It's very, erm, you know...swordy.”

Gwen raised her eyebrows.

“What do you wish me to say? The other sword was much better than this one.
Was your father angry, that you gave me his masterpiece?”

“For a while. It helped, that you paid twice the amount it was worth.”

“Good. I think Arthur would have played the swords weight in gold.”

Gwen laughed.

“I heard him muttering, that he also needed a sickle. The other weapons shuriken and nunchakus I never heard of.”

“So, it is normal, that he speaks of thinks, that no one ever heard before?” Merlin always wanted to know why that was. Arthur had always a good excuse, he read a lot.

Gwen hesitated.

“He was since childhood like that” Morgana had entered, dressed in trousers and a corseted tunic.

“Arthur has knowledge beyond anyone. It should be worrisome, but it isn’t. Arthur is a picture-perfect prince, exactly how you imagine him. Everything else is just eccentrics you can ignore.”

“His excessive cleanliness.” Merlin added.

“His picky eating habits.” Gwen continued.

“His disobedience.” Morgana finished.

Then they laughed.

“Why are you dressed like that Morgana?”, asked Merlin.

“What do you mean?”

“You're going to need all the help you can get. I can mend armour and sharpen swords.” Gwen praised her own merits.

“And I know how to fight.” Morgana praised her own.

“But y-y- you can't. I mean, why would you?”

“If it was the other way around, you'd help us. You already have. You saved my life.”

“And you helped me get the druid boy out of Camelot. We owe it to you. Both of us.“

\_/

He was in Gaius chambers to get medical supplies.

“You got the food I prepared for you?” asked Gaius.

“Yes.”

“Be careful with the wine. You know what you're like. One whiff of a barmaid's apron and you're singing like a sailor.”

“I'll be fine.”

“Are you sure you don't want an extra blanket?”

“It's okay, really. I'll be alright.”

“Well, make sure you are. Do whatever it takes.”

Gaius hugged him.

\_/

They rode the whole day. When night arrived, he started a campfire. He and his mother were taking guard.

“They shouldn't be here. Especially the Lady Morgana. Isn't she the King's ward?”

“Not that you'd know it. She's the only person I know who isn't frightened of him.” Arthur was special case. Uther was more afraid, what he would do.

“It won't make any difference to Kanen that they're women.”

“I know. But I couldn't talk them out of coming.” Yes, why are the women in his life so head strong. He looked at the healing bruises on his mother’s face. He should really find time to learn healing magic. Concealment and attack magic are fine, but healing is also needed.

“I want to make him pay for what he did to you.”

“Promise me you'll be careful. No one can find out about you.”

“They won't. They never do.” Except Gaius, Arthur, Lancelot,… . He was bad at keeping it hidden. The others who knew were dead.

Merlin remembered with horror, that he went to King Uther directly and told him that he was a sorcerer. How did he manage to keep his head?

“Get some rest.”

His mother laid down. Merlin took a burining stick from the fire and blew some flecks into the air.

“Draca.“

The glowing flecks took the shape of the Pendragon dragon.

His inner Arthur was admonishing him, that he used magic in such a showy way. This is something someone would have easily seen.

Merlin scowled when he realized that he was doing it again. Doing magic without thinking of the consequences.

\_/

Merlin shifted in his sleep. He woke up when he heard horses in the woods. Quickly he grapped his sword and started searching in the dark.

Someone put a sword against his back, and he froze.

“What are you doing? Didn’t I teach you to use your elbows if you are attacked? Why didn’t you use your magic? Its night, no one would have found out.

“Arthur!”

Merlin whipped around and Arthur ducked as the sword swung near his head.

“Much better. You nearly killed the crown prince of Camelot.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Well, I heard trouble was brewing and so here I am.” Merlin was touched.

“But why didn’t you come with us?”

“My father starts getting wise to my ways. As soon as your mother was escorted out, he had commanded that more guards were to be stationed by my side. He even threatened to exile the families of the guards if I leave their sight.

It was awkward to pack in front of them. When the pleading started it was more heartbreaking.”

Merlin felt bad. He didn’t want to be the reason why many families had to leave Camelot, only because he wanted to save the people of Camelot.

“So where are they exiled to?”

“They aren’t. Three guards are just behind the trees. The other cover for us. They are doing exactly what my father ordered. I’m guarded and in their sight.”

“But you aren’t at the moment?”

“There are times, when you won’t guard someone.”

“So, you’re taking a piss?”

“Look who is crawling out of my ass?” Merlin had it coming, he knows that.

\_/

The next morning Morgana, Gwen and his mother were very surprised that they had doubled their numbers.

Except Merlin and Arthur everyone was uncomfortable. Morgana didn’t know how to act. Be the kings ward or a tough woman. Gwen didn’t know how to help her. His mother was worried, why he didn’t know. The guards Kay, Geraint and Lamorak were on edge. Why wouldn’t they be? They know their charge Arthur was riding straight into trouble.

Merlin felt sorry for them. Arthur will train them with his special training. Merlin smiled with schadenfreude.

It was whipped away in an instant.

“How many men does Kanen have?” asked Arthur.

“Erm, I'm not sure. I think, from what my mother said, maybe as many as forty.”

Arthur was scowling at him. “Please tell me you took supplies with you or did you wanted to use your secret weapon?”

Merlin remained silent.

“You got to be kidding.” The rest were restrained curses.

“If you wanted every detail, why don’t you ask my mother.”

“I’ll do just that.”

Later Merlin will regret this, because his mother told Arthur not only of the coming threat, but also amusing things he did as a child.

But that was a problem for future Merlin. Present Merlin had different problem, because as soon as Arhtur vacated his riding place at Merlin’s side, the guards surrounded him.

“Sooooo. Did you pull the short straws or why else are you here and not one of the others?”

Lamorak spoke up: “Were the best at fighting and at the crown prince’s drills.”

Merlin nodded, he understood completely. He told them of his own suffering. A sudden camaraderie bloomed between them.

\_/

They came too late. The bandits were already here, searching for the rest of the food.

Merlin expected Arthur to give orders of attack, not rushing in.

Arthur threw his sword, not Excalibur, into the post behind Kanen. Well, he thought it was Kanen. He gave the vibes of leader’isch of.

The next moment Arthur rode up, sprang from the horse and unto a bandit. This time he drew Excalibur and started fighting.

Before Merlin could rush after, the three guards left him behind.

“Stay behind, we would be more a hindrance to them.” Merlin addressed the women, before he himself joined the fray.

Merlin’s inner Arthur was calling him stupid. Why again did he join, when he shouldn’t use his magic. It was so much harder to fight. There were perks. He liked the look of the bandit, when he still standing and fighting.

„Hætende.“ He thought.

Melrin would have whooped in joy, as the bandit’s sword heated up and he let it fall. Merlin quickly killed him. He didn’t see Will watching him.

Morgana didn’t listen and also joined.

“Bring back memories of when I used to beat you?” said Morgana while blocking.

“That never happened.”

Kanen mounted his horse.

“You'll pay for this with your lives! All of you!”

Merlin finally noticed Will.

“You still up to the same old magic tricks again? Look, I thought I told you I didn't want your kind around here?”

Will smiled and Merlin grinned back.

“I miss you, too, Will.” They hugged.

“It's good to see you again.”

“How've you been? I, er, hear you're skivvying for some prince.”

“No. I wouldn't say I'm a skivvy.” He had to do so much more. Spying, research, distraction, being lazy,… .

Arthur commanded: “Merlin! Gather the villagers, I need to talk to them.”

“Yeah, in a minute. I'm just talking... “

“Now, Merlin. There isn't much time.”

“Yes, Sire.” Arthur was right, they could talk later.

\_/

Merlin was really excited to see Arthur in action. He had a magic to speak. Gaius told him, that it was called charisma and great Leaders of the past also had it. He was really proud, that Arthur would be one for the history books. Sad, that he wont be mentioned.

“I know Kanen's kind. He'll be back. And when he is, you must be ready for him. First of all, we have to prepare for...”

“Am I the only one wondering who the hell this is?” Will interjected.

“I'm Crown Prince Arthur of Camelot.”

Will scoffed: “Yeah, and, er, I'm Prince William of Ealdor.”

Hunith admonished him: “Keep quiet. He's here to help us.”

“But he's made things worse. Kanen will be back, and when he is, he'll be looking for revenge. You've just signed our death warrants.”

“He saved Matthew's life!”

Arthur was surprisingly quite: “That's alright, Hunith. This is his village. What would you have us do?”

“We can't fight against Kanen. He has too many men.”

“So what's the alternative?”

“Give him what he wants.” Merlin suddenly had a bad idea. Built a trap, leave food as the bait and wait for the snap shut.

The villagers shook their heads.

“Then what? Those of you who don't starve to death will face him again next harvest! And the harvest after that.”

“We'll manage. We'll survive.”

“How?” asked the villagers.

“The only way he can be stopped is if you stand up to him.”

“No. You just want the honour and glory of battle! That's what drives men like you! Look, if you want to fight, then go home and risk the lives of your own people, not ours!”

“My people are here or what do you call those five at my side and Merlin there?”

That shot Will up and he stormed off. Merlin had to follow him.

Merlin finally reached him at Wills house.

“Will! He knows what he's doing. You've got to trust him. Look, when I first met Arthur, I was exactly like you. I hated him. I thought he was pompous and arrogant.”

Will righted a stand that had a chainmail shirt and tabard on it.

“Well, nothing's changed there, then.” If only you know.

“But, in time, I came to respect him for what he stands for, what he does.”

“Yeah, I know what he stands for: princes, kings, all men like him.” No one is like Arthur.

“Will, don't bring what happened to your father into this.”

“I'm not. Why are you defending him so much? You're just his servant.”

“He's also my friend.”

“Friends don't lord it over one another.”

“He isn't like that.”

“Really? Well, let's wait until the fighting begins and see who he sends in to die first. I guarantee you, it won't be him.” Because he won’t die.

“I trust Arthur with my life.”

“Is that so? So, he knows your secret, then?”

“Yes.”

That stopped Will in his triad.

“He knows?” This time much more subdued.

“Yes. He is much more observant than you think.”

“So, you didn’t tell him?”

Merlin cringed, then he fiddled with his fingers.

“No. I told him, and he believed me.”

“That’s not all, is it?”

“I may have told the whole court, that I was a sorcerer.”

“Why were you so stupid? Why are you alive?” Will’s eyes were wide.

“Don’t you also start. I thought it was a good idea at the time. And why I am still breathing. Arthur jumped in and saved me with his words.”

“What did he say?”

“Doesn’t matter. Please don’t antagonize him.”

“I’ll give him a chance.”

\_/

Merlin was at his mother’s house. Some were already asleep. Arthur was lying on the floor. His hunt gear beneath him.

“You know, I don’t understand you, Merlin.”

“What do you don’t understand?”

“Why were you sleeping on the floor. Couldn’t you have made the rocks with your magic softer? It would have been discreet.”

“Didn’t think there was something like soft bedding. Life's simple out here. You eat what you grow and everyone pitches in together. As long as you've got food on the table and a roof over your head, you're happy.”

“Sounds...nice.”

“You'd hate it. No danger or adventure every week.”

“No doubt. Why'd you leave?”

“Things just... changed.”

“How? Come on, stop pretending to be interesting. Tell me.”

“I just didn't fit in anymore. I wanted to find somewhere that I did.”

“They found about your magic?” How did he deduce that so fast?

“Will found out and my mother got worried he would talk. So, she sent me away.”

“Right into the lion’s den?”

“Destiny wants be alive.”

They let silence engulf them.

“I have an idea for a trap. Do you want to hear it?”

“Yes.”

Merlin told him his idea.

\_/

Merlin helped Arthur put his jacket on the next morning.

“You still not learned how to dress yourself?”, snipped Morgana in.

“Tell me again, what happened to your red dress?” Arthurs answer stopped Morgana.

“Prince Arthur, you didn't finish your breakfast.” Hunith was looking at Arthurs bowl.

“Didn't I?”

“Come on, eat up.” Morgana couldn’t let this opportunity slip.

Arthur ate everything.

“Mmmmm.”

Then he handed the empty bowl to Hunith.

“Right. Let's get going. We need wood, and lots of it.”

“Of course.”

Arthur left with Morgana Gwen.

“He must care for you a great deal.”

“Arthur'd do the same for any village. That's just the way he is.”

“It's more than that. He's here for you.”

“I'm just his servant.”

“Give him more credit than that. He likes you.”

“I don’t why. He knows what kind of trouble I am.”

“Does he know?”

“Yes. Looks like your worry was spot on.”

His mother looked worried.

“Don’t worry so much. I still have my head and if I ever land on the pyre Arhtur will break me personally out of the dungeons.”

His mother got even more worried.

\_/

Merlin walked toward the woods with an axe.

“Merlin! Where are you going with that thing?” Will found him.

“What does it look like? We need wood.”

“We both know that you don't need an axe to fell a tree.”

“And I remember the trouble it got me into. I nearly flattened Old Man Simmons.”

“Ha. Yeah, well, he deserved it, stupid old crow.”

“Mmm. He never did like me anyway.”

“Well, even less after that.”

Merlin chuckled: “Why are you being like this?”

“You know why. Why did you leave?”

“It wasn't what I wanted. My mother was worried. When she found out you knew, she was so angry.”

“I wouldn't've told anyone.”

“Well, I know you wouldn't.”

“You'd be able to defeat Kanen on your own, wouldn't you?”

“I'm not sure. Maybe.”

“Well, so what's stopping you? Arthur already knows.”

“I don't expect you to understand.”

“Try me.”

“Arthur knows, but not the others. He can’t guarantee that I won’t be harmed in Camelot. As long as Uther is king, I won’t openly use my powers to get me or him into trouble.”

Will had to shew on that.

\_/

Arthur trained the village men. Kay showed how to do it.

“I won't be able to teach you everything there is to know about fighting with a sword, but you can learn the basics: the stance, how to parry a blow, how to land your own. On my count! One! Two! Three! Four! Now, you may have to watch for the feint. So, keep your feet moving, and only stay in range long enough to land your blow. And again. One! Two! Three! Four!”

Morgana and Gwen watched the training as they sharpened swords and sticks.

“One! Two! Three! Four!”

“There is no way they're going to be able to hold Kanen off.”

“Men aren't the only ones who can fight.”

“That’s what the Geraint and Lamorak are doing. Arthur can’t teach so many people at the same time.”

“Again. One! Two! Three! Matthew. I want you to organise sentry duty to keep an eye out for Kanen and his men.”

„Be glad to.“

“If there's any sign of attack, I want you to ride straight back here. I don't want you fighting all on your own.”

“Ha-ha.” Matthew nodded.

After a while Arthur called for a break.

Morgana was approaching him.

“Looks like the battle's already fought and lost.”

“They'll toughen up.”

“They need to”, interjected Gwen.

“How are we doing for weapons? How does it go with the traps?”

“There isn't much, but we should be able to scrape together what you need.”

“It's not the weapons that worry us. It's having enough people to use them. We think the women should be allowed to fight.”

“You haven't enough men. If they were trained soldiers, maybe you'd stand a chance, but they're not.”

“I know you want them to fight in the first row, but even an ordinary man has more force than an ordinary woman. They stay back and attack with projectiles.

And they man the traps. Kill the fallen bandits in it.”

Morgana hated it. She knew that he was right. She assumed from herself to other women. Arthur on the other hand toughed in greater groups.

\_/

Arthur spoke to the men.

“We're not going to be able to defend Ealdor with sword and sinew alone. We're going to need a plan. We need to find some way of limiting their mobility and drawing them into the traps. The women are already digging …”

A village woman screamed. Arthur and the men rushed outside to investigate. Matthew was slung over a horse.

“Get him down from there!”

Kay took Matthew down as the villagers gathered around. Arthur read the note that's on the arrow in Matthews back.

“What does it say?”, asked Merlin.

“Make the most of this day, it will be your last.”

“Matthew! No! No! No!”

“You did this! Look what you've done! You've killed him!” accused Will.

“It wasn't his fault”, defended Merlin.

“If he hadn't been strutting around, treating us like his own personal army, this would never have happened!”

“These men and women are brave enough to fight for what they believe in, even if you aren't!”

“You're sending them to their graves! You killed one man. How many more need to die before you realise this a battle that can't be won? When Kanen comes, you haven't got a chance. You're gonna be slaughtered.”

Merlin saw Arthurs anguished face. For the rest of his life Arthur would remember the death of Matthew and that it was his fault.

But he needed to follow Will.

“Don't bother, Merlin. I'm not interested.”

“You should be. Because tomorrow Kanen attacks, and whether you like it or not, we'll have to fight.”

“Not if I'm not here.”

“Well, that's up to you, but the rest of us are staying. Join us, Will! This isn't about Arthur, this is “

“What, like you did?”

“I'm here now.”

“Yeah. Yeah, you are. And you could end this. If you used your magic, then no one else would have to die.”

“You know I can't.”

“Can't or won't? I'm not the one abandoning these people, Merlin. You are.“

Was he being too careful? He could trust Morgana and Gwen to keep his secret, but not the guards.

His inner Gaius told him to keep his magic hidden at all costs. His inner Arthur on the other hand told him to find a good excuse and then use magic.

He could enchant the swords to be sharper, the barriers to hold more. He could throw the bandits off their horses like he did with the wraith.

Better plan it over with Arthur.

\_/

He found Arthur in his mother’s house. He was rubbing Excalibur with a cloth. Merlin sat down next to him.

“William's father was killed fighting for King Cenred, so he doesn't trust anyone of nobility.”

“Do you think the villagers believed him?”

“No. He's always been a troublemaker. They're used to ignoring him.”

“And if he's right?”

“He isn't.”

“I'm treating these men like soldiers, and they're not. You've seen them fight. They...they haven't got a clue! What was I thinking. You need to tell them all to leave the village before Kanen returns.”

“No, we're going to stay. We're going to fight, and we're going to win.”

“Merlin, it can't be done. The odds are too great.”

“It can. We only need to find excuses for me to use magic. For example, span a rope, so that the rides could fail. I’ll push them off. Guide the arrows where it hurts and so on.

We're going to make Kanen rue the day he ever came to this village. All you need to do is get the men ready for battle, and the rest will take care of itself.”

“Alright, we need more rope.”

\_/

The next morning it was time.

They dressed for battle. Arthur was quick and efficient. Merlin struggled with the buckle on one of his bracers. Arthur helped him out.

“You ready?”

“My throat's dry.”

“Me too.”

Arthur held out his hand and Merlin shook it.

“It's been an honour.”

“Whatever happens out there today, please don't think any differently of me.”

“I won't. It's alright to be scared, Merlin.”

“What if something goes wrong.”

Morgana entered.

“Arthur. They've crossed the river.”

\_/

Arthur went down the line of villagers, shaking hands. Merlin took his position with some men in the woods.

They heard the first cries of surprise. As soon as the main force was in the village the women would attack the trapped men.

He heard Arthur’s cry: “For Ealdor!”

The bandits rode on. The villagers span the ropes, and Merlin pushed the riders of their horses.

Like Arthur planned, the men run as fast as they could to hiding places. Merlin spooked the horses with noises in the woodwork, and they ran away.

Merlin ran to his next position.

The bandits angrily stormed the empty village. A gate trapped them inside. Merlin saw how Morgana tried to light a fire. That was a good enough excuse. Now he only had to let the fire be lit from a distance.

It worked. The prepared line flamed up.

“Now!”, cried Arthur.

The villagers gave a battle cry as they sprang out of hiding to fight. A bandit came up behind Merlin. Will jumped off a roof in his father's armour to land on the bandit.

“I didn't think you were coming.”

“Neither did I.”

Merlin and Will fought back-to-back. But it was only a small victory. The managed to half the bandit force, but they were still better fighters.

The guards alone managed to hold seemingly ten bandits off.

If only they could have brought six more than they would have won.

Inner Arthur hit him. They haven’t lost, the fight was still ongoing.

“There's too many of them.”

Merlin made his choice.

“Cume thoden.”

Merlin conjured a windstorm. The villagers started winning and the remaining bandits fled.

[Gwen and Morgana hugged. Kanen marched out to face Arthur.

“Pendragon!” Kanen demanded attention.

Arthur with Excalibur against Kanen alone. This fight was finished in mere seconds.

Arthur marched angrily towards Merlin and Will. Merlin was sweating for an excuse.

Kanen wasn’t dead. He picked up a crossbow and aimed it at Arhtur.

“Look out!” cried Will.

What followed was comedy. Before Will even warned Geraint was jumping between the arrows trajectorie. He was short by mere centimeters.

But Arthur already sidestepped the arrow, so that Will trying to push him away, only found air and landed on the ground. The arrow scrapped along his armor, nearly missing him entirely.

Lamorak put his sword through Kanen.

Arthur helped Will up.

“Did anyone see the sorcerer?”

No one said something.

“Is it a normal weather pattern here in Ealdor?” asked Arthur.

“Yes, they happen here from time to time. It is the very reason why we build our houses in that sturdy way.” Will was lying his ass of.

Kay was looking at a house.

“Well, good enough. Ealdor isn’t part of Camelot, so we won’t speculate or search for weather anomalies.” Arthur was looking at the three guards. They vigorously nodded.

Merlin slummed down. He survived another exposure.

Chapter Text

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin!

Lloyd stopped abruptly. He was hunting in the woods. Prime source to meet trouble. He sent two knights around another way. Now he was hunting, whatever it was.

“Merlin”, he whispered.

“What is it?”

“I heard it. We will surround it. I want you to go in there and flush it out.”

“What is it?”

“No. It in trouble.”

“You want me to go in there? It could be dangerous.”

“Let's hope so. Now go.”

Merlin sneaked through the woods and picked up a large stick. Lloyd saw him dropping the stick. And nothing else happened.

Worried, he followed.

“Don’t shoot it. It is a unicorn”, warned Merlin.

Lloyd looked hard at the animal, then he lowered his crossbow.

“That isn’t a unicorn.”

“What do you mean. It has a horn.”

“Look more clearly. It doesn’t have goat hooves or a lions tail. It is a horse strapped with a horn. Look at his hair. You can see how it hides the harness.”

Merlin looked.

“But who would do such a thing and why?”

“It smells like a trap. Kill the “unicorn” and its owner comes and demands retribution. Let’s stop the hunt, before someone else is stupid enough to do it.”

“Are you sure it isn’t a real unicorn.”

“Didn’t you read the text about unicorns?”

“It is a being of purity, grace and gentleness.”

“To virgins.”

Lloyd saw how Merlin was chewing on this thought. Did Merlin had intercourse? He wasn’t acting like it, so maybe he was a virgin. Well he wasn’t. Uther sent special instructors to him for that kind of knowledge. It was embarrassing.

Lets kill those thoughts of Merlin. “To all others it is a wild and dangerous creature, that means that this is a normal horse.”

Before Merlin could do something stupid, like check to make sure, he grabbed him, and they went home.

OVO

The next day nothing happened and the following also.

Lloyd hoped that it was that easy, but then Merlin was missing. Neither Gaius nor Gwen knew where he was.

Lloyd got worried, but Merlin sometimes went on his own scout missions, so he was giving him a day.

Finally in the afternoon Merlin came back with all his limps and not a scratch on him. Lloyd wanted to start his worried triad, but Merlin stopped him.

“Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Somewhere else was the dungeons.

“Why are we talking here?”

“I want to go and ask Kilgharrah something later.”

“So where were you?”

“I couldn’t let it go. It couldn’t be that easy.”

“And?”

“It was a secret test of character from Anhora, the keeper of the unicorns. He actively led an unicorn to you. If you killed it a curse would have befallen Camelot, and you would have to take further tests of character.

He was really surprised how you refused to even begin the test.”

“So, I won without trying?”

“Yes.”

“So, what do you want from the dragon?”

“I looked at the unicorns in the books and you are right, but Anhora was really convinced, that he is the keeper of the unicorns.”

“So, you want to find out what the discrepancy is.”

“Exactly.”

“Let’s go. I want the answer also.”

Merlin explained everything to Kilgharrah.

The dragon laughed at their tale. Lloyd rolled his eyes.

“Your both right. What you saw wasn’t a real unicorn, but Anhora is the keeper of them. He wouldn’t let you kill a real one.”

“I kill a fake one, but get the real curse?”

“Who said that there is a real curse if you kill a unicorn. No, there is only retribution.”

Lloyd’s mouth was agape. It was that simple.

They left Kilgharrah and went up.

Lloyd really hoped, that all future troubles would be that easy to solve. But even he knew that that was a pipe dream. So, what else can he do with the day.

Suddenly he got the perfect idea for a prank.

“Merlin, do you like to make a prank on Morgana?”

“No.”

“Come on. It will be funny. She’ll see a unicorn and think she is so special.”

“I won’t enchant a horse.”

“You don’t need to. You only have to groom a white one to look pretty. Ill find a harness and a horn.”

“But she’ll find out it is a fake one.”

“Exactly. That’s the fun part.”

OVO

It was very funny seeing Morganas enraged face. Maybe if he had acted a little bit more, she wouldn’t know it was him. But rolling around laughing really didn’t help him.

Morgana cried her rage to Uther. Uther wasn’t pleased and punished them. They aren’t allowed to eat for three days. He was scheduled to work with the guards for those days. Lloyd could imagine the guard’s shudder, when they heard of that tidbit of his punishment.

Later he would apologize to Merlin, after Merlin was released from the stock.

Chapter Text

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin.

Lloyd wanted to curse. The day started so good. Mentally he listed the problem herds. No group gatherings, no festivities and no monster attacks.

No mysterious creatures appeared to entice into trouble. So, a normal assassination attempt? A sorcerer coming for revenge?

Lloyd browsed his papers. A sorcerer was sighted consorting with a black smith. His heart sank. The blacksmith was Tom. He would bet his videogame consol on the trouble coming from there. Maybe Tom would make some kind of magical weapon without him knowing.

Very possible. Know what? Did he start? Can he stop it?

Lloyd should try. He blazingly went to Toms smithy. He checked that Tom was away and no one else was there. Lloyd observed that Tom was playing with his daughter Gwen.

He was stupid. What was he looking for? Secret material? Objects with writing on it? Hidden places? He found hidden places, but there were only metal chunks. He inspected it, could be iron, but why was he hiding it?

In conclusion there was nothing here yet or he couldn’t see it. It was very frustrating. He didn’t know how to help. Evry other trouble was unknown until it happened. Only the false unicorn was an easy one.

Think Lloyd, think. Axolotl said he was in a story. It was a magical adventure story, with Merlin as an important character. What would his role be in this kind of trouble? No idea.

Then look at another angel, maybe this wasn’t the real problem, but only the starting point. Like saving a helpless pair from bandits, or Morgana falling ill or bandits attacking a village.

But that would mean Tom would be implicated and die. Because he was working with sorcerers Uther will kill him. Gwen will be sad, and Morgana will be offended.

Lloyd finally realized that was the point. That will be the turning point for Morgana. Death of an innocent she knows. A second Quiet One.

Know he had to stop it.

X_X

Lloyd was on the lookout with his guards. To his great lament Tom got a visitor. How much time should he give the visitor to expose himself and how much time for Tom to lose his life?

Funnily enough, when he wanted to give the order, nothing came out of his mouth, only many minutes later was it possible. Lloyd didn’t like this one bit.

He bursted into the smithy. The visitor ran for it.

“Seize him!”

“Yes, sir.”

“Quickly, after him!”

The visitor tossed heated materials in the water, creating a soke screen. Then he knocked over a table.

“Stop!”

“He must be caught!” Why were his guards that bad? He should let them train in fog.

“Stop that man!”

A pair of guards stayed behind, restraining Tom. Lloyd turned around and took the gold from him.

“Sire, please...”, pleaded Tom.

“You're under arrest.”

It began.

X_X

Morgana, Uther, and Lloyd were in a chamber. Morgana was in her nightgown.

“Treason?!”, cried Morgana.

“Yes, Morgana, treason. The blacksmith was consorting with a known enemy.” Uther was really not using the right words.

“Enemy? What enemy?”

Lloyd had to interject: “Tauren. The leader of a band of renegade sorcerers sworn to bring down the King.” If someone told him that sooner, he could have intervened before, but something stopped him.

“And where is this Tauren now?”, demanded Morgana to know.

“He escaped.” How was that possible? He checked with Merlin on how to best capture a bad sorcerer. They made drills. Maybe he underestimated those surviving ones. Or someone helped for money.

“Well, then how can you be sure?”

“Because Arthur saw him with his own eyes.” Lloyd was very uncomfortable to be included in this. Just like before.

“Well, even if the man is who you say he is, you can't sentence Tom to death for just being seen with him!?”

“We have reason to believe he was forging weapons for Tauren.” Didn’t look like it. But they did something dangerous.

“Rubbish! He would never do such a thing.”

“Every man has a price.” That was his cue.

Lloyd slided the lump of gold across the table.

“Found this on the blacksmith.”

“So he was paid! He's a blacksmith. He could've been paid for shoeing Tauren's horse!”

“In gold?” Not in coins, but in an ingot?

“This is madness! You condemn a man with no proof!” Enough proof for Uther.

“I have enough proof.” There.

“Arthur! Have you nothing to say?” What should he say? He had to stop her from spiraling.

“Father, the blacksmith committed a crime, but we don't know for certain he meant treason. Let him be exiled.”

“No. You're right. Nothing's certain. Save one thing. The law stands or this kingdom falls.”

“But the law must give him a fair trial!”

“He'll get a fair trial, and he'll be found guilty, 'cause that's what he is.”

“You execute Gwen's father, and I will never forgive you. Never.” Morgana stormed out.

Lloyd’s hair stood on end. Was he stopped, because the story wanted Morgana to fall? He wanted to speak up, but stopped. He was stopped before. Did the story gave him the warnings and now stopped him, because he cant change the outcome?

“Maybe we should investigate further.”

“Tauren slept somewhere, he fed somewhere. Find anyone who helped him in any way. They must be punished. The people must see the laws of Camelot are not to be trifled with.” More your will.

He left with an annoyed look on his face.

X_X

Later that day Merlin came into Lloyds chambers. Lloyd looked up.

“Alchemy.”

“What?”

“Tauren did alchemy in Toms smithy.”

“What is alchemy for?”

“It is to change the very nature of one thing to another. Like lead into gold.”

“Oh.” So that was it. Get as much gold as you can und you can buy yourself all the help, materials and followers.

Lloyd thought about what he would do with a mountain of gold. Buy two mountains of sweets. Suddenly his princely and Darkleys education slammed in. Too much gold in the economy would be bad. The prices would fall, and it will come to a recession. Very bad for the people.

“We have to stop Tauren before he can make more gold and buy himself an army.”

Merlin was surprised by his leap of logic. But it looked like he wanted to say more.

“There is more?”

Merlin shuffled.

“Mer-lin.”

“I think Morgana is going to do something stupid.”

“It’s Morgana. Stupid is in her name.”

Merlin shook his head. “Stupid like freeing Tom.”

Lloyd’s face fell.

He grabbed at his side, where he held the keys. Nothing. Then he looked at his hiding place. One key was missing.

Damit. Morgana must have taken it when he was searching in the lower town. Funny how Morgana zeroed in on Tom as an innocent, even if he helped. Those how gave Tauren food and a place to sleep were captured and would be soon executed. Lloyd was powerless to help. But he could help Morgana and Tom keeping their trouble to a minimum.

“To late. She already got my key. We have to stop Tom from fleeing.”

X_X

To their surprise, Tom was still in his cell.

Lloyd didn’t know what to do next. Should he ask politely for his key? Did Morgana already give him the key?

Merlin was a little bit faster. “Was Morgana here?”

“Many times.” That didn’t help. He had to ask.

“Did Morgana give you a key?”

“No.”

He looked at Merlin.

“Tom, please. I know that you are innocent, but if you try and flee you will be captured. Then you are proven guilty. You’re getting a trial”, pleaded Merlin.

Tom looked at him. “It will be a sham. I’m already convicted.” Lloyd looked away.

“I don’t have a key.” Lloyd knew that he would try his look to flee, he could see his determined look.

Lloyd and Merlin left the dungeons.

“We have to stop Morgana.” Merlin looked at him hopefully.

At that moment, Lloyd knew that they wouldn’t succeed. Even if they found Morgana and she had the key, somehow Tom would still die, while fleeing or executed.

X_X

They didn’t find Morgana, but Toms trial was in the morning. It was brutal in its simplicity. Everyone played their role to get it over more quickly.

By midday Tom was executed and Morgana was in the dungeons to cool down.

Now all he had to do was clean up. He went to Merlin’s chambers and knocked gently. Gwen stood up quickly and faced him.

“Sire.”

“Guinevere, I...want you to know that your job is safe. And that your home is yours for life. I guarantee you that. I know that under the circumstances it's not much but, erm, anything you want, anything you need, all you have to do is ask.”

He wished he could do more, but life wasn’t that kind. “I'm sorry.”

“Thank you, Sire.”

X_X

The next day Merlin gave him bad news.

“Just to surmise. There is a Mage Stone out there that can theoretically give the bearer the power of transformation. You somehow felt it’s use. That is good to know. Because you didn’t feel it used again, it wasn’t used. That means Tauren probably lost the stone.

Good news for us, but bad, that we know have to search for the thief.”

“What do we do now?”

“Observe the other smithies. Ask around if someone found something suspicious. Find Tauren and get him executed, before more innocent people die because of him.”

Merlin passed his orders along.

Now Lloyd had to do something much more difficult. Plead Uther for Morganas release.

X_X

Morgana sat on the floor of her cell. Lloyd opened the door and entered.

“You. How proud you must be. Son of the mighty Uther. How you must look up to him. Does the King's little helper bring a message? Or have you just come to gloat?”

“Guards!”

Morgana sood up and backed away, pulling on her chains.

“Get away from me, you cowards!”

“You're free to go.”

The guards removed her manacles and left. She walked to the door.

“Morgana.”

She paused just behind Lloyd.

“Yes?”

“I swore to him you'd never challenge his authority again. I swore that you'd learned your lesson. Tread carefully. In a few days he will have forgotten it.”

“Thank you. You're a better man than your father. Always were.“

He hoped he got some points in his favor. Curry favor with her and don’t let her fall to the deep end? It had already started, can he even stop it?

X_X

Lloyd woke up at the first light. After his morning training Merlin came with his breakfast and bad news.

He wanted to be surprised, but Morgana working with Tauren to kill Uther didn’t surprise him. She worked fast. On the other hand, he hoped that she wouldn’t do it. All these years and he developed genuine brotherly feelings for her. A pain in the ass, but a kind one.

Suddenly Merlin put his hand on his shoulder. Lloyd would have packed him and then flung him away, if it was anyone else.

“Arthur, I know, that Morgana hurt your feelings with her actions. You have to understand that it is her choice. No one else is influencing.”

“I know. She is in pain and wants to lash out. And my father is the source of all her pain.” Merlin showed a surprise look on his face.

“What, did you think I only have a pretty face.”

Merlin laughed. “No. Just an ass. Excuse me, a royal ass.”

They sat in silence. “Kilgharrah won’t help me.”

“Why did you ask him? Every murder attempt against Uther he is on the side of the assassin. He is also in pain and wants Uther to suffer. Why is my father just inflicting so much pain on everyone?”

“With your logic he is also in pain.”

Lloyd wanted to retort, that that was laughable, but he stopped. Because Uther started his ban on magic after Igraine, his mother in this life, died. It wasn’t a hate, like magic couldn’t heal her because of a difficult birth, no it looked more like Uther meddled with magic and her death was the price or the consequence.

Uther would never tell him, and Gaius would keep his silence. It didn’t matter, Uther won’t ever change his mind in this life.

“Maybe. Let’s talk about Morgana’s plan. She will lure Uther out of the city. Wherever they go, it should be that far. Your job is to get the horses ready, we will follow them.”

“And then what. Stop them? What if there are to many?”

Lloyd looked meaningfully at Merlin.

“You want me to use magic.”

He intensified his staring.

“You want me to use magic secretly without anyone noting.”

Lloyd grinned.

“Your mad.”

He grinned. “Whose madder, the one leading or the one following?”

X_X

It didn’t take long. The next day Uther was leaving with Morgana. Lloyd and Merlin followed them secretly. Lloyd was covered up from head to toe in black clothes. Strapped with a ordinary sword, Excalibur would be too suspicious and many knives.

Merlin, to his annoyance, only came with a staff. They would lose costly time if he insisted on Merlin putting on more fitting clothes, so they went like they were.

Tauren and his men hid behind trees in the forest that the riding party passes through. Morgana and Uther dismounted at the bottom of the hill.

“Do you think that we could have some privacy?”, asked Morgana.

“Fine. Wait here. We're in no danger.”

“Sire.”

The silent pair ran through the woods.

Morgana and Uther climbed the hill to the grave site.

Lloyd approached their horses and found the Camelot guards dead. He knew those man. They always tried to hide in the last row. Their families will weep for their loss. The first innocents dead because of Morgans choice. He had to stop her from doing more. Could he kill her? Should he? He didn’t want to.

Merlin saw the renegades pursuing Uther. Morgana kneeled at Gorlois's gravestone.

“Father.”

Uther sticks his sword in the ground.

Merlin approached the renegades and raised his staff.

Without a word a bolt of energy shot out and killed one of the renegades, the other one drew his sword and Merlin shot him, too.

Lloyd was surprised. Merlin’s weapon was like a gun. Very handy, but what disturbed him more, was the ease with which Merlin killed. And the lacking remorse.

Uther approached the grave and placed his hand on Morgana's head.

“Your father was the greatest man I've ever known. He stood for everything this kingdom represents. Truth, justice, valour. A hundred times he saved my life on the battlefield. His courage and his honour were without equal.”

Uther kneeled and kissed the gravestone.

“When Gorlois died, I lost the truest friend I ever had. For he was as fearless in questioning my judgment as he was in defending my kingdom. That's the mark of a true friend.”

“I know how he respected you, My Lord. But I don't share these memories. How can I? I was ten years old. I only know I loved him and he was taken from me.”

“When he died, and I took you into my care, you fought me from the beginning. Your will is as strong as my own. You challenge me as a friend must. As your father did in his time.”

“And when I do, you clap me in irons.”

“I know I'm not an easy man. My temper blinds me sometimes. There are things that I regret.”

“Gwen's father?”

“Yes.”

Morgana looked at Uther, surprised.”

“Are you saying you were wrong to have Tom killed?”

“Yes.”

Tauren watched them from behind a tree, but he heard Merlin sneaking up behind him. He moved and puld out the Mage Stone.

Merlin raised the staff and shot, but Tauren absorbed the energy bolt with the Stone and send it back at Merlin. Merlin was knocked unconscious.

Lloyd would have facepalmed, but he had to keep himself hidden. Merlin was too enthusiastic to finally use his magic, he forgot, that they were going against another sorcerer.

He sighed and pulled his sword. He couldn’t start his attack on Tauren, nor could he move any limp.

It was like the story said, he couldn’t interfere. Was that the reason, why Merlin was knocked out. He also shouldn’t interfere. Lloyd could only watch.

Tauren sneaked up behind Uther.

“I will strive to listen to you more and quarrel with you less. You've been a blessing to me, Morgana. You are the daughter I never had. Your counsel is invaluable, as is your friendship and your love. Without you, I cannot hope to be the king this land deserves.”

“My Lord...!”

“Please forgive me, Morgana.”

Morgana saw Tauren sneaking up behind Uther with a raised sword.

“No! No!”

Uther blocked the blow and wrestled with Tauren. Merlin woke up and saw a frozen Lloyd.

Tauren pinned Uther down and drew a dagger, which Uther tried to block.

“Die, Uther Pendragon!” That was the end. Merlin wasn’t fast enough.

To Lloyds utter surprise Tauren was stabbed in the back. Uther pushed Tauren off and Morgana dropped the dagger she'd used to kill Tauren. Merlin, seeing that he wasn’t needed, came back to Lloyd.

Lloyd finally managed to move again. “Is…?”

“Your father is alive. Morgana killed Tauren.” She changed her mind!?

Lloyd was happy, worried and relieved. Maybe he judged her too harshly. Morgana was her own person and not a copy of Harumi. Maybe she was more resistant, or it needed more trauma for her to change irrevocably.

Chapter Text

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin.

This was bad. Really really bad. They were already hunting a dangerous beast and now it has turned into a troublesome monster. Lloyd looked at Merlin.

Merlin looked a bit out of place.

“Send the signal for retreat. Our beast hunt turned Troublesome.”

“You heard?”

“Yes.”

They started to back away but then heard growling.

“Shouldn’t we get a time to prepare for such things?” Merlin was annoyed.

“Everyone get ready! Use formation hedgehog.”

His order came just in time. The beast jumped at them.
Lloyd was experience with many bizarre animals, but this one took the cake. It had a leopard body and the head like Pythor. It was extremely surreal for him. He was also annoyed that he was standing and gaping instead of fighting.

Lloyd assessed the situation. They were going to lose, because not one weapon managed to wound the beast. Magic it was.

“Merlin, distraction.”

Merlin grabbed something from his back and threw it at the beast. A loud bang was heard and distracted the beast.

“Everyone, run!”

While running Lloyd hoped Merlin would remember the agreed upon excuse. An experimental weapon from the prince himself. He was really annoyed, that flash bombs didn’t exist yet. He knew the ingredients for gunpowder, but getting them was a problem. His teacher in Darkley never taught how to get the raw material.

OxO

He stood in the council chamber.

Gaius explained: “The creature you describe has all the characteristics of the Questing Beast. According to the old books, the appearance of the Questing Beast is supposed to foreshadow a time of great upheaval.”

“Gaius, it's an old wives' tale”, interjected Uther.

“Look, whatever it is, it's spreading panic. The people fear it will enter the city.” Whatever it is, it is dangerous.

“Then we must kill it. Arthur, gather the guard together. You ride at dawn.” Of course, sacrifice the guards and not the precious noble knights, who have better armor.

“I beg you, Sire, do not dismiss this. The beast is an omen. I've seen it come before, the night your wife Ygraine passed away.” Lloyd looked up. That didn’t bode well for him personally.

“I've told you not to speak of that night again. I have conquered the Old Religion. It's warnings mean nothing to me now. Arthur will destroy the beast and we will no longer suffer at its hand.” I beg to differ. Please don’t be my death.

OxO

The next day Lloyd was on his way to the training yard. He had to get the guards ready for a monster hunt.

Suddenly Morgana came from one end of the corridor and Merlin from the other. When they arrived, they simultaneously said: “You’re going to die.” “I saw your death.”

Lloyd looked at them funny. Then he pointed at Morgana. “You’re first.”

“Arthur, you cannot face this. You’re going to die. I dreamed it.”

“Now it’s your turn Merlin.”

“The Questing Beast carries the magical power of life and death itself. One bite, you die and there is no cure.”

“Morgana how exactly do I die?”

Morgana paused as if surprised to be taken seriously.

“Well, I dreamed of a flaming dragon, Merlin yelling ‘NO’, you both running in the woods, Arthur lying sick in bed and the Questing Beast.”

Lloyd got the gist. Don’t get bitten, then you’re not going to die.

“Merlin just to be clear, the Questing Beast is mortal and there won’t be any repercussions if it is killed?”

Merlin, realizing he meant like the fake unicorn answered accordingly. “It is killable by mortal weapons, and no one owns it.”

Lloyd formed a plan, the guards were going to hate it.

OxO

Lamorak was not happy with his work. He could bet his best blanket, that the prince singled them out. Him, Kay and Geraint. But there were also other guards, so he was only betting on his blanket and not something more precious.

“Were digging our own graves”, murmured Geraint.

“Well, I for one trust our prince. Who knows, maybe we get a rare weather pattern in these woods.”

“Kay, be quiet.”

“What. Are you seriously telling me, you didn’t talk.”

Lamorak stood up, his shovel at the ready. “I didn’t mention the sudden whirlwind. Only, that with the prince brilliant planning we managed to win against the bandits.”

“I did that too”, agreed Geraint.

“Fine, I may have talked more about my own fighting prowess, than how we won. Where is the prince?”

“They’re collecting wood for the posts and to conceal the trap.”

“In the end it will look as if it were normal forest floor.”

“Kay keep quite!”

OxO

A little bit later. Kay and Merlin were standing in the middle of the woods. “Why am I heat again?”

“Your friends volunteered you.”

“And why did you accept?”

“You didn’t gain say them.”

Kay scowled. He could have said something, but when he knew that he would be at Merlin’s side, he didn’t. Being at Merlin’s side was the safest, were as being near Arthur was a sure way to get hurt.

“When do we run?”

“Did you hear that?”

“No?”

“That’s exactly it. The Questing Beast isn’t taking the bait. It’s after Arhtur!” Merlin sprinted in the direction of Arthur.

When they arrived, the prince was fine as day.

The prince appeared from behind a thin tree. Kay wondered how he managed to keep himself hidden.

“I hear no growling. Did you get cold feet and needed to sprint to get them warm?”

“It isn’t taking us. The Questing Beast is after you.”

Arthur swore. Some of those must have been foreign words, because he didn’t know them.

“New plan. Merlin and I go nearest to the beast lair and then lure it to the trap. Lamorak, I give you command.”

It didn’t take long for the prince and his secret sorcerer to come running. Kay was mightily impressed by how they managed to run through the woods and not let themselves be caught by branches or bushes.

Did he shake? Yes, but he will omit that detail. Also, someone cried like a lady or that two tried to run away after the beast tried jumping out. He grabbed his spear tighter and rammed it into the trap. Again, and again. Others threw rocks and another boiling water. The prince wanted every possible way within a safe distance for the beast to die.

It was working.

OxO

Nimueh hit the water surface of her scrying pool. It splashed over the pools edge. This should not have happened. Arthur was going to be bitten while attacking the Questing Beast. His death would be the ultimate revenge against Uther.

What was she doing wrong? Why was it so difficult to kill one measly boy?

She put her fingertips on her lips. The prince got help, that was undeniable. A very capable magic user. She shied away from his true nature.

First and foremost was her goal to get revenge against Uther. Just killing him is easy, but she wanted him to be in pain like he but her in pain. Kill the dearest to him. That was his son Arthur.

For just a few seconds she lingered on his ward Morgana. That would also be doable, but why should she spill the blood of an innocent woman? She wanted Uther’s blood to flow. If only it wasn’t her destiny to kill him.

The Afanc should have worked. Uther’s second weakness his people, were dying. It was wide enough spread, that it wasn’t a direct attack on the prince. It only failed, because she didn’t anticipate a magic user helping.

She corrected that in her second attempt to kill Merlin. She acknowledges that she underestimated the prince’s willingness to help those in need. It was obvious, but she thought it wasn’t an inherent trait of him, but a front.

Performing necromancy on Tristan de Bois was a stroke of genius. The wraith would go through everyone to reach Uther and Arthur would try defending his father and fail. Where in all the powers of the Triple Goddess did, they get a magic sword! And now it was much more difficult to kill the prince. Not even a portent could lay a claw on the prince.

A new plan was needed. She should stop with the outside threats, they don’t work. What she needed to do was sow discord between father and son. Even better, Uther already did something unforgivable, so there was no need for her to invent something. How was she going to tell the prince that he was born of magic. He wouldn’t believe her, if she told him directly. Thinking she was up to no good, even if that was true.

Merlin. He would believe Merlin. So how should she tell him? How much pressure should she need for him to believe. Gaius, that traitor, would confirm the truth or his silence will do it.

She’ll only get to use his weakness once.

OxO

Merlin wanted to relax, but it just wasn’t possible. Arthur was still on edge. His argument, that the first there is a little problem, that spins into a much bigger one hold true. On the other hand, they stopped any problem with the fake unicorn, so maybe they had already gone over that hurdle.

“Merlin. You need to use more force to crush those leaves. I don’t understand. Your learning magic like a sponge but come learning medicine you turn into that.” Gaius was pointing at a stool or was he pointing at the messy shelf?

“I try it. It’s just difficult.”

“Magic is difficult. Medicine is only mildly challenging.”

Before Merlin could give a retort, a trembling diseased hand opened the door to the Physicians Chambers.

Merlin looked up to greet the guest or patient and froze.

His mother walked in, covered in sores, struggling to breathe. Then she collapsed and broke her fall.

“Mother!”

“Merlin.”

“What's happened to you?”

“She's gravely ill.” Gaius was quickly at her side.

“Do something!”

“If I only could.”

“Please, Gaius!”

“Merlin, this is no ordinary illness.”

„This cannot happen. “

“Merlin what did you do?”

“Do you think I would do anything against my mother!”

“Of course not. I meant what did you do in the last days, who did you anger?”

Merlin got suspicious. “You know what my ails my mother?”

Gaius looked resigned. “I knew it would happen someday, that you would have to meet them.”

“Who is them?”

“This is the work of the high priestesses of the old religion. Nimueh did this.”

Merlin was angry. What would Nimueh get for cursing his mother. Normally she went after Arthur, Uther or Camelot.

“So, what did you do Merlin, that got her so angry, that she cursed Hunith?”

“We killed the Questing Beast.”

“That’s all? It doesn’t make sense. It isn’t the first beast of her, that you killed.”

“Maybe she lashed out, because we killed the Questing Beast cleanly without losing anyone.”

“That would fit her character.”

“How do we cure my mother?”

“We can’t. The only two possibilities are, that the high priestess takes the curse back or dies.” Gaius stopped when he saw Merlin’s gaze. “Merlin! You’re not strong enough against her.”

But Merlin was determined. “That was the last straw. It’s high time I put an end to her machinations. She cursed the wrong mother.”

Gaius didn’t stop him. “I can’t stop you, but I also can’t help you. I don’t know where she resides.”

Merlin looked very intensely at Gaius. Unseen power was radiating from him. Gaius feeling that Merlin was going all out, gave his only kernel of news. “The high priestesses reside on the Isle of the Blessed, but I don’t know where that is.”

Merlin nodded. He would ask his scaly friend. If that didn’t work, he would ask for help from Arthur, then the whole kingdom would hunt after Nimueh.

OxO

Nimueh felt him before she saw him. Why didn’t she feel that power before? He was just like a little apprentice, but now… She was prepared, she didn’t need to worry about her life.

Merlin stepped into the fortress and looked around.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Merlin.”

“You.”

“Do you know who I am?”

“Nimueh. You tried to kill me and Arthur. Now you went after my mother.”

“Yes. Look before you. The wineskin is filled with water drawn with the Cup of Life. Rub the water over her sores and she will get better.”

She saw how he looked suspicious at the wineskin. His shoulders relaxed just a little bit.

“Why are going to all that trouble, when you’re already offering the reason, I came.”

“To show you how serious I am with my information.”

He carefully took the wineskin and bound it to his belt.

“I’ll hear you out.”

She smiled. “That’s what’s going to happen. I tell you the important information, then we swear an unbreakable pact and then we continue living on.”

“I don’t fallow.”

“I want you to tell the information to prince Arthur on the pain of your mothers’ death. On the other hand, I will honor your part of the pact.”

“Whatever I want?”

“Well, I have to agree to it.”

“You only want me to tell Arthur what you tell me and that’s my end of the deal done?”

“Within a week. It will be difficult to tell him, so I will give you a week. If you don’t, your mother will die.”

“And if I keep my word, you will have to keep yours?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. I want you to stop going after king Uther, prince Arthur and everyone in Camelot.”

Oh, that stupid boy. He left her with a loophole. Prince Arthur won’t stay a prince forever. There will be only a short time, where she can’t go against Camelot.

“I’m alright with that.” He was looking disbelieving at her but then nodded.

“Once there was a king, that wanted desperately for an heir. He knew the problem didn’t lay with him, but with his wife. She was barren, so he asked me for help. He turned to his friend a high priestess of the old religion for help. She told him the price for creating life, there had to be a death. The balance of the world had to be repaid. Still the king and queen agreed.

The queen got pregnant and died after giving birth. The king, angry at having lost his heart and soul, turned against magic. He threw his friend from court and started slaughtering all of her kind.”

Merlin’s mouth was agape. “That’s his reason for his war against magic. He thought someone else would die so his heir would be born!?”

“He often used my services, so he knew the laws of magic. And still he thought himself above them.”

“It will destroy Arthur and Uther’s relationship.”

“Exactly.” Nimueh was near her triumph. She could taste it.

“So, how much to you want me gone from Camelot?”

The deal was struck. The pact took hold.

OxO

Lloyd was starting to worry about Merlin, he left for an important task from Gaius, while his sick mother lay in his chambers. He didn’t know if that was a threat against Camelot or she just got unlucky.

When he finally came back, not only did his mother start getting better, but he also got more skittish in his presence. It was annoying.

“Out with it. Whatever you have to say, say it or you will explode.”

Merlin was fiddling with his clothes. “Hypothetically speaking, what would you do if you found out, that your blood line carries a dangerous secret.”

Finding out you have Oni and Dragon blood?

“What? Did one of your ancestors got frisky with a dragon?” He tried to make light of the situation, but Merlin made a deep scowl.

“It would change the relationship between father and son.”

“Merlin, I don’t regard my father very high. There isn’t a possible thing he could do, that would make this worse.”

Finally, Merlin told him what that was all about.

Lloyd was wrong, his regard for Uther plummeted even lower. He blamed the fire for burning him, while holding his hand in the fire. No, he knew how his mother in this life died. She and Uther agreed to a death sentence. Did she know it would take one of them?

Somehow, he should be angry, that Uther’s action killed her, but he already got disappointed by one mother, would his second one have been better?

It didn’t matter. This universe didn’t have time travel so he couldn’t ask her.

“Arthur.” Merlin’s voice was very quiet.

“Yes?”

“What are you going to do?”

Lloyd thought very hard and then made a choice. “Nothing. It changes nothing. I still have to do my duty as the crown prince of Camelot. The reason why it started doesn’t help in ending it. While my father is king, the word is law. And the law condemns magic and its use.”

Merlin’s shoulders sacked down in relief. “I was afraid, you would go after your father.”

“That’s the difference between you and I. You have got a loving mother and no father. I got a dead mother and a hart father. Your really lucky.”

They went along with the day.

Chapter Text

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin.

Loud drilling and banging noises can be heard throughout the palace.

Lloyd wasn’t sure if he heard right, but it would track, that what they’re going to find will be problematic.

“Merlin. Merlin!”

“Yes, Sire?” Sire? Well he’s also very irritated.

“Are you deaf?”

“I wish.” Me too.

“I want you to go down there and tell them to stop.”

“But they're working under the King's orders.”

“I heard it.”

“Are you sure. With all that noise going around.”

“Yes, I’m sure. I go talk to the king.”

“Do you think we can stop it before it starts?” Merlin was really hopeful.

“I wont count on it. It wouldn’t make for a good story. Looks like we got lucky just once.”

V_V

They were a little bit to late, figures. The digging only stopped, because they found something. A tomb. A tomb with functioning traps. A cold feeling was crawling down his spine. It reminded him too much of Aspheeras tomb. They were going to wake up an ancient evil that they were not equipped to deal with. Who turned up the difficulty. Or did he finally reach level two. Before Merlin came was the Tutorial and the first level when he came until now?

No, that can’t be it.

Uther was way too pleased standing in the tomb and seeing all the wealth for his taking.

“Well this is quite a find. You see, Gaius, I was right. There is treasure to be found under Camelot. Which of my predecessors do I have to thank for all this? Gaius?”

“Uh, I'd have to look into it, Sire.” That wasn’t good. The intentionally forgotten are even more trouble.

“How did he die?” Uther was pointing on a dead corpse.

“He seems to have unwittingly triggered a trap here.”

“Well, there's plenty in here people would want to steal. Have them secure the tomb. Guarding it is your responsibility, Arthur.“

„Yes, Father.“ He needs wood, many big stones, maybe a guard dragon. No, guard dragon. Kilgharrah couldn’t do the job, too narrow. When was cement invented?

V_V

Lloyd’s skin was prickling. Someone with bad intentions was watching him. Was this the true trouble? No. It was always connected.

He was going to hunt with the knights. Merlin was currently assisting him onto his horse.

When suddenly the saddle slid off the horse, taking him with it. He was sitting dazed on the floor. Did someone just prank him? A juvenile mischief. Against him. The uncrowned king of pranks.

Lloyd got angry. “Merlin!”

“I don't understand.”

“Well, there's a surprise.”

“I did that girth up myself.”

“Well, I think that might have been the problem!”

“It wasn't my fault.”

“Well, who would go to the trouble?” He hoped Merlin would find the hint. They really should establish safe words or hand signs. Why didn’t he think of that before?

Someone approached them.

“Would you like me to fit the girth properly for you, Sire.”

Every knight tensed. Lloyd wanted to scowl, he wasn’t that bad to the servants, was he. Mentally he cataloged every servant he had. He was that bad, but his servants didn’t have ninja qualities. Where his demands too high? No. This realm just didn’t have many people like Merlin. If he didn’t come, Lloyd would have lost his mind for loneliness.

The smile on the stranger started to hurt his face.

Oh right. They are waiting for his response.

“Thank you.” Somehow the tension just managed to rise a level higher.

“It's an honour to be of service to the Prince.” That guy was laying his flattery a little to thick on.

“An honour. Do you hear that, Merlin?”

“Allow me the honour of brushing your clothes down.” Now Lloyd was alarmed. That wasn’t a normal sycophant. He was sure that was their problem of the week.

Lloyd let him brush his clothes. Was he going to be pickpocket?

“Anything else I can do for you, sir.” Did he want to ingrain himself into his household?

“What's your name?”

“Cedric. I've come to Camelot in search of work.”

“Good. You can be a beater on the hunt. We're short of a man or two.” Lets keep an eye on you.

“You're too kind, Sire.”

Merlin gave Cedric a beater. A little bit more forcefully than necessary.

V_V

The hunting party stalked through the woods, beating the foliage for prey. They spooked a giant boar. The boar was going on the attack. Lloyd threw a spear at it but it glanced off what angered the boar even more. It charged towards him.

Before he even drew Excalibur the boar was killed by a thrown spear. Lloyd looked around impressed.

“Who threw that?”

No one answered. That would mean it was Merlin’s work, and he did it by using magic.

Then he heard someone clear his throat. It was Cedric.

“Was it you?” Are going to steal the credit?

“Honestly, sire, it was nothing.” Way to modest.

“You must be rewarded.”

“No, I couldn't possibly.” Come on. What do you really want?

“Come on. What do you wish for?”

“I desire only one thing, Sire.”

“Anything.”

“A position in the royal household.” Called it. It will be so easy to catch you red handed.

“Good. Consider it done. Ha-ha!”

Cedric was smiling very sickly. He didn’t even see, how the knights were taking a step back from him.

V_V

The next morning Cedric was serving him an extravagant breakfast, while Merlin entered with a solitary plate of food.

“Is that lunch?”

Cedric was looking at Merlin triumphal.

“The prince is taking to you, Cedric.”

“What?” It looked like Merlin was enjoying Cedrics baffled look.

“If you would have asked me or the cooks you would have already know, that the prince starts his morning really early. He already eats a light snack before his training. After that he does his pinkly work and then he eats the normal breakfast. Do you want the prince to fatten up?”

Cedric left the chamber angrily.

“Princely duties?”

“I didn’t want him to know what you are truly doing.”

Lloyd shook his head. It was very entertaining to watch those two go against each other.

“Bring this feast back to the kitchens, I take your plate.”

Lloyd started eating, but Merlin didn’t start his work.

“I spoke with Gaius, he found out, that the tomb belongs to the sorcerer Sigan. He was said to be the most powerful sorcerer to have lived.”

“Well, you’re going to be better than him.” Merlin went red.

“You can’t take a compliment? Really Merlin.”

“Ahem. He could change day into night, turn the tides, and legend has it, his spells helped build Camelot itself.”

“What happened?”

“In the end, he grew too powerful and the king at that time ordered his execution.”

“If he's dead, why are you so worried?”

“Sigan couldn't bear the thought that his wealth and power would die with him, so he became obsessed with finding a way to defeat death itself.”

“You think he might have succeeded?”

“Let's hope not, for all our sakes.”

Lloyd was staring at Merlin and Merlin was staring back.

“Were going to meet Sigan, wont we?” Merlin slummed his shoulders down.

“And I think Cedric will be the trigger.”

The next moment Morgana stormed in and stopped.

“Did you get pregnant for needing that much food?”

Lloyd rolled his eyes.

“Good think your figure isn’t my problem. Just keep looking handsome, its one of your only good qualities.”

“Good morning to you too Morgana.”

“Right. Well. I. Also. I dreamedofaraven.”

“Could you repeat that more slowly!”

“I dreamed of a raven.”

A moment of silence, then Merlin clapped in his hands. “Sigan means raven.”

Morgana looked surprised. “You already know?”

“The tomb belongs to Sigan, a dead sorcerer, but it looks like not so dead.”

“And my new servant will bring him back unknowingly. Cedric is that kind of dumb.”

“Then why aren’t you putting him in the dungeons?”

“With what reason?”

“Then make one.”

Morgana and Lloyd looked at Merlin.

“Why me?”

“Didn’t you offer to help him.”

“No. I did not.”

“Then go and offer.”

V_V

Lloyd didn’t know how it got worse.

Horses were running amok through the lower town, scaring villagers and knocking over stalls. The guards were working on rounding them up.

He himself headed to the stables and found Merlin asleep, face down in a pile of manure. Lloyd crouched to his side and Merlin woke up.

“Sire!”

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

“Shouldn’t you look at the horses.”

“The hor-ses. Oh!”

Cedric was approaching. Lloyd had to crank up the acting.

“One mistake I can understand. Everyone has a bad day now and then, but this is one thing after another!”

“Sire. Please, Sire, don't be too hard on him. He's a good servant, he just...he's tired.” Cedric tried to placate him.

“Oh, I know Merlin. What I don’t know is, where were you? Shouldn’t you by his side and learn? When he fell asleep, why did you let the horses go.”

Cedric was surprised by the accusation. “I just left for a moment for …”

Lloyd stopped him. “I don’t want your excuses. Do you know through how many servants I went before Merlin? Nearly every month, because they work to my expectations. You have responsibilities and you didn’t take it seriously. So, get out of Camelot or go to the dungeons for two days and reflect on yourself.”

Cedric swallowed hard. “I take the dungeons.”

“You’re a brave one. I give you that.”

Behind Cedric Merlin was grinning from ear to ear.

V_V

Merlin brought dinner to Arthur’s chamber.

“That went well. Now we only have to seal the tomb, and everything is done.”

Lloyd was playing with his food. I don’t trust it. Cedric is only two days in the dungeon, it will begin anew.”

“Gaius found out, that if the big jewel like rock in the tomb isn’t broken, then everything is alright.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sigans soul is in the jewel. If someone breaks it, then he will possess them.”

Lloyd was staring with an open mouth. That was a new one. Ghosts can possess, but they don’t take over the original person, but Sigan wasn’t a ghost, he made himself something else. Would Excalibur even work? Or would Sigan just possess another person?

Lloyd got a bad feeling and looked for his keys. One was missing.

“When did he steal my key?”

“The horses! I slept and you were occupied with the horses. Now no one is looking for him, because everyone thinks he is in the dungeons. Did we check if he truly went there?”

They sounded the alarm.

Lloyd stood before the entrance to Sigans tomb. Many big rocks were put aside, and the door was open. How did a guy like Cedric manage to put them aside? Two guards were needed to lift one. The needed machines didn’t exist, there were no creatures like that in Camelot, if you didn’t count Merlin with his powerful magic….

Lloyd was a dumbass. Cedric knowing magic would explain all those mishaps. Especially Merlin falling asleep.

They needed to be ready for the worst case.

What was he going to do? Intervening in a fight between sorcerers was a bad idea. He believed that Merlin got the power, but he didn’t have the needed experience. Two against one was bad. His knights and guards would be useless and a hindrance.

He needed more specialized guards. Lancelot would be great addition. He couldn’t wait for his return. Before that he needed to train those three up, they had potential.

V_V

Sigan would have liked to unleash his revenge on Camelot the moment he was back. He forgot that bodies needed food and drink to survive. He didn’t stop with one piece of pie or one pie. After he vomited, he started again, it was just that delicious and then he fell asleep. You would have thought that after sleeping centuries in his soul gem he would be fit as a fiddle.

It was embarrassing yielding to the bodies’ demands. The only good thing was that no one saw it.

He only wondered where all the cooks and other staff went, but it didn’t matter his revenge would start now.

Sigan went to the battlements. “I am returned. Ic cume eft to Camelot. swá þæt ic mæg min fæhþ awrecan! Nu 'ic lybbe ece and ic mæg rædan min burh!

His spell animated the stone statues. They began flying about and attacking the citizens. Their cries were music in his ears…

Sigan stopped. He didn’t hear cries of anguish. No. He instead heard battle cries. To his utter astonishment knights weren’t fighting battles one against one, no they fought as a unit. They used chains, banners and other utensils to catch and trip his creatures. Then they would hit at the most breakable parts, arms, legs and necks.

If two rock creatures attacked together, they would scatter, while one stayed and baited the creature into a bottleneck. If one creature swung its massive fists a knight was ready to block with a big shield.

It was so beautifully done, that there must be a capable commander.

It didn’t matter if they won a few rounds. The opposite, he could go full power.

When a boy entered the square, he was standing in. Such brave stupidity.

The next moment he was knocked away.

What was that? Who knocked him out?

Before he got his wits together, he was knocked away again. That one got him angry, and he managed to stop the next attack.

“I underestimated you. You can use magic without speaking aloud, not bad, but you’re just a boy.”

He was knocked away again. Was that the only spell this infernal apprentice knew? Two could play at that game.

Without words he blasted a fireball out of each hand. Let’s see how the apprentice was going to block them.

He sidestepped them.

“That’s against the rules! You have to block or change the trajectory!”

“Thank you for the advice.”

Sigan blocked the attack, but then the ground pulled away like a carpet.

His hands touched the ground and earth spikes began to grow rapidly towards his adversary.

The next blow he blocked, but he didn’t block the next one. To his utter disgust he was attacked by flying manure.

“That’s for letting me fall asleep in the stables.”

Sigan had enough. That boy was not also powerful, but also annoying. He was a much better body to possess.

It was so easy to transfer his soul into the boy.

Sigan anticipated that there would be a battle before he took control of the body. What he didn’t expect was an old man looking down at him and a young knight attacking him with a sword. The boy meanwhile was cheering the knights on.

The young knight fought dirty and that was his doom.

Sigan was so occupied that he didn’t hear the spell Merlin chanted.

V_V

Lloyd visited Merlin after in the physician’s chamber. He had to command the knights to look at the damage and then to bring back the evacuated people.

He trusted Merlin to go against Sigan alone. His job was to keep Camelot from falling in the meantime.

“You look like shit.”

“I used that on him.” Lloyd shook his head.

“It couldn’t have been that easy. I don’t know why we got enough time to evacuate. What was the prince to win against Sigan?”

Merlin looked into the distance. “I didn’t lose or gain anything.”

Lloyds shoulders dropped a little bit. He was worried Sigan had left something behind in Merlin. Moro left terror and a feeling of helplessness.

“I only had to give a promise.”

Lloyd didn’t ask who or for what. It was obvious.

“When?”

“I don’t know. It looks like I can’t free him now. The chains must be too strong. But something in the future will likely appear.” Merlin lowered his head. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. He already expected that he would be set free, now we know you’ll going to do it. We could stretch your reacting time into getting the citizens of Camelot evacuated again.

The knights and guards get training in keeping Kilgharrah away until we find a solution against him. Because I don’t think he will sit still for me to plunge Excalibur into his heart.”

Merlin laughed.

“And I should put a troop of citizens together to put out the fires. They will be fire fighters.”

Lloyd grinned at his own joke.